One of the biggest changes made in The Transformers: The Movie, released 35 years ago this week, revolves around the violent send-off to most of the characters from the first two seasons of the animated series. Aside from the death of Optimus Prime, a percentage of Decepticons were given the mechanical boot, including their leader. Megatron was the primary antagonist of the Autobots for two seasons, but with the introduction of Unicron, the status quo changed in a big way.
The massive transformer's introduction sent shockwaves through the canon that are still felt today. Now, Megatron isn't the biggest enemy out there, as there are even more powerful forces at work. However, thanks to one film, its new era of villains changed how the franchise looks at enemies, each in their own unique way.
Unicron
In The Transformers: The Movie's first minutes, Unicron is shown as a massive spherical object bearing down on an inhabited planet. The beautifully animated scene shows the large mass is actually alive as it devours the planet. In those few minutes, viewers are shown the massive power of Unicron and why he's a more dangerous threat when compared to enemies like Megatron. The film doesn't explore his backstory, but it does present him as an unstoppable force only able to be beaten by Rodimus Prime and the Matrix of Leadership. Since his introduction, his story has expanded, revealing he is a God-like being as old as Primus and acts like a devil to his angel, making deals with those willing to do his bidding.
Galvatron
Following a violent final battle with Optimus Prime, Megatron is left gravely wounded. Rather than heal him, Starscream throws him into the void of space. There he encounters Unicron, who gives him the tools necessary to obtain the Matrix of Leadership. However, this means he is now a slave to the massive planet. Galvatron is even more powerful than his previous form and much more focused, even though he actively detests answering to another. Galvatron survives to be the main enemy in the third and fourth seasons of the animated series.
Scourge
Along with Megatron, other classic G1 Decepticons were left adrift in space. However, when Megatron accepted Unicron's offer, they were also reformatted into new minions for Galvatron. One of Starscream's Seekers, Thundercracker, becomes the Decepticon huntsman, Scourge, while two Insecticons, Shrapnel and Kickback, become his subordinates known as the Sweeps. Scourge is third-in-command and a far more capable Decepticon than many of the others in Megatron's army. Nevertheless, he survives along with Galvatron to continue as one of his highest officers.
Cyclonus
Along with Scourge and Galvatron, a third minion is created by Unicron called Cyclonus. The Insecticon Bombshell is upgraded into the Decepticon warrior while another Seeker, Skywarp, becomes a part of his armada. Cyclonus is a warrior and second-in-command to Galvatron, who pilots him in jet mode. He's also a brilliant warrior who only lives to stop the Autobots. Because of his skills and ability to take orders, he survives The Transformers: The Movie to join Scourge and Galvatron in terrorizing the Autobots in the show's final seasons.
Quintessons
While the Quintessons first appear in The Transformers: The Movie, they've been around since the beginning. In the film, Hot Rod and Kup are given a trial with the Quintessons, and they're fed to their minions, the Sharkticons. However, the duo work out an escape (thanks to the Dinobots) and take the fight to the Sharkticons and Alicon guards. After surviving the film, it's explained in the cartoon that the Quintessons are the creators of the Transformers, but they ruled the Autobots and Decepticons poorly, leading to rebellion and their hatred of both factions. Almost every appearance in the series reveals them as antagonistic with an unending hatred for their "children."
Each villain in The Transformers: The Movie does more than usher in a new toy line for kids to collect. They changed how the franchise looked at villains forever. Through Unicron and the Quintessons, the lore expanded, establishing creators and God-level transformers. However, Galvatron and his subordinates showed how the Decepticons learned from their past to become a more powerful outfit. The Transformers: The Movie proved that while the classic villains were great, there's always something more dangerous looming.