In 2001 the Transformers franchise was at a crossroads. Beast Wars was coming to an end an the next version of Transformers (Armada) was not ready. But Hasbro didn't want to have NO Transformers on TV. So what to do? Look to Japan, where they had an entirely different continuity going, pinch one of their shows, put the Power Rangers guys on it and transform it into Transformers: Robots in Disguise! Easy money!