The Transformers

In 2006, after the movie, Rodimus Prime's Autobots control Cybertron again, and Galvatron's Decepticons live in exile on the planet Chaar. The five-part premiere, “Five Faces of Darkness,” reveals the Quintessons as the Transformers' creators. Starscream returns as a ghost, the city-bot Metroplex takes on Trypticon, and the Predacons, Terrorcons and Technobots debut. At the end, two humans use Optimus Prime's body as bait and spread the Hate Plague, which turns Autobots, Decepticons and humans violent. Revived, Optimus recovers the Matrix and releases its energy to wipe out the plague across the universe. Rodimus goes back to being Hot Rod, Galvatron shakes Optimus's hand, and the old leader takes command of the Autobots again.

1. ReferenceThe makers of the Transformers

   The season opens with the five-part “Five Faces of Darkness,” which introduces the Quintessons as the Transformers' creators.

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2. ReferenceStarscream the ghost

   In “Ghost in the Machine” (S3, ep. 17), Starscream returns as a ghost.

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3. Behind the scenesThe fans brought Optimus back

   Outrage over Optimus's death in the 1986 movie became a letter-writing campaign. Hasbro gave in and revived him in “The Return of Optimus Prime” (S3, eps. 29 and 30).

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4. Behind the scenesGalvatron gets a new voice

   Leonard Nimoy voiced Galvatron only in the movie. On the show, Frank Welker, the original Megatron, takes over.

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5. Behind the scenesA different look

   Toei scaled back, and AKOM, founded by supervising producer Nelson Shin, animated about half the season.

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