Transformers

Article summary

Transformers is a mecha media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the villainous Decepticons led by Optimus Prime's arch-enemy Megatron, the two alien robot factions at war that can "transform" into other forms, such as vehicles and animals. The franchise encompasses toys, animation, comic books, video games and films. As of 2011, it generated more than ( ) in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. Ownership of the franchise is currently split between Hasbro (US and rest of the world) and Tomy (within Japan).

Key claims

1. publication date: 2007 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. publication date: 2020-12-07 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. release date: 2018 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. release date: 2011 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. release date: 2012 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. release date: 2009-06-24 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. release date: 2011-06-29 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
8. release date: 2014-06-27 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
9. release date: 2017-06-21 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
10. release date: 2018-12-21 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
11. release date: 2023-06-09 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
12. release date: 2016-07-26 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
13. release date: 2020-07-08 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
14. release date: 2022-03-25 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the publication date is "2007". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the publication date is "2020-12-07". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the release date is "2018". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the release date is "2011". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the release date is "2012". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the release date is "2009-06-24". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the release date is "2011-06-29". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. The record states that the release date is "2014-06-27". What evidence would count against this claim?
10. The record states that the release date is "2017-06-21". What evidence would count against this claim?
11. The record states that the release date is "2018-12-21". What evidence would count against this claim?
12. The record states that the release date is "2023-06-09". What evidence would count against this claim?
13. The record states that the release date is "2016-07-26". What evidence would count against this claim?
14. The record states that the release date is "2020-07-08". What evidence would count against this claim?
15. The record states that the release date is "2022-03-25". What evidence would count against this claim?
16. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
17. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377266389