I was young enough to have some late G1 and some G2 stuff but Beast Wars was where it really started for me. But it wasn't until Animated/Prime Era that I started to get really into it again and buying the toys. It's pretty much been something that's following me around my whole life, though lately my interest in Tfs has somewhat dialed back.

Been a fan forever, but like Kiryu above me, I haven't really been into it as of late (Don't really care about RID, REALLY don't care about the new movie, and the G1 bootlicking that are the other toys is just unappealing to me).

The fandom is just like every other fandom. You got the good, you got the bad, you got the sensible, you got the irrational, and you got everything in between.

I've been a fan since the mid 90's since Beast Wars. I was born in 1991, so G1 ended long before I was born and the franchise was kinda dead in the US at the time before 1996.

Beast Wars had animals and dinosaurs which what I was into as a kid at the time. I remember seeing ads for Beast Wars on Fox Kids back in 1996 and that got me hook into the series. I did discover G1 Transformers sometime later and I was surprise that there was more shows at the time. I remember renting the G1 movie back in 1997 and it blow me away on how cool it was. I never join TFW2005 or any popular fan sites, but I did lurk around them for years.

I first got into Transformers during G2. I remember watching the G2 version reruns of the G1 cartoon, I had a few issues of the Marvel G2 comic, and I think my first figure was either G2 Bumblebee or Seaspray. But Beast Wars was what cemented me as the hardcore Transformers fan I am today. Since then I never looked back.

The same with every fandom; you get the good eggs with the bad.

I started with Beast Wars, kinda dropped out during DOTM and got back due in part of the IDW toys Hastak produces.

Also as odd as it may sound the TF fans may have calmed down over the years. The TMNT fans, on the other hand seem to have taken their place as the over-reactionary "my version or the highway!" buffoons and I can't say I'm sorry I left such a toxic group of people.

Well, much like TF, TMNT reinvigorated a series of what would be dormant fans with the recent movie. Older fans joining the fandom once again, new guys hopping aboard, etc. It's not too surprising that things would get a little more annoying for them.

True; there's always strong opinions in regards to something so beloved. I've been reading old reviews on TMNT comics and all I'm thinking about is " TMNT 2012 is what the fans really want?" Still blows my mind.

Anyhoo Has and Paramount revealed the new logos for the next TF movies. They're not bad, just a little too safe for my tastes.

Dormant fans huh? You know, I can't imagine this with all the merch & media surrounding it, but we're there times when Transformers wasn't as prominent in the general public? Was it ever close to ending or being forgotten about? Or has it always been going on strong?

there was time during the beast wars before they thrown it in as being of the transformers franchise. it was orginal new toy line but that what i think it is does quote me on that

It depends on what part of the world your in.

The franchise has always been around in North America and some part of Europe but in Japan it was pretty much dead during the late 80s throughout the 90s while Takara ran the Brave series as a replacement.