Was the original Transformers cartoon anime too?

[rocklobster]

Ever since we started seeing the new Japanese Transformers cartoons, I've begun to wonder this. Then I go on Youtube and I see Transformers uncensored links and I go "What the?" And then there's the fact that Shoji Kawamori (yes, that Shoji Kawamori!) designed some of them. So, is it anime or is it fake-anime?

[meboeck]

I did a little research, and it looks like the original series was not anime. It was made bySunbow Productions, the same studio thet brought us G.I. Joe.

[Nate]

The G1 series is indeed not anime. It was American produced, up to the episode where some of the Transformers become Headmasters. The three part episode (which used to be available as a DVD entitled "Transformers Heroes") ended the American cartoon.

The Transformers anime, appropriately called "Transformers Headmasters" picks up where the American cartoon ended. There also went on to be a number of anime devoted to Transformers including Transformers Victory, Beast Wars Neo (which unlike the original Beast Wars, was not CG), Car Robots (released as Robots In Disguise in America), and Galaxy Force (released as Transformers Cyberton in America).