Many people know Transformers as the famous Hollywood blockbuster or the animation beloved by superhero enthusiasts. But who would have thought that one day those giants could be admired in a small backyard of a self-made craftsman in Qidong, China?

Yuan Shitao once worked in the manufacturing and installation of security windows in Shanghai. He then worked at an equipment installation company in Qidong, Nantong.

Yuan decided to become an artist a few years ago. He established a workshop in Shanghai and started to dedicate himself to art. 

In 2008, the movie Transformers was released and quickly became a global smash hit around. It also gave Yuan the idea that he could make Bumblebee, Alpha Trion and Convoy, all characters from the movie, with his own hands. 

Yuan started to collect all kinds of dumped car components -- brake pads, fuel tanks, exhaust pipes. After 10 weeks’ work in 2014, two sets of all-metal transformers stood majestically in Yuan Shitao’s small backyard. 

His transformers are, unlike others, equipped with audio and light-bulb eyes. Their heads, torsos, arms and legs can be repeatedly removed and reinstalled. Yuan Shitao said that he is preparing to install solar panels and thermal light-emitting modules on his works. “When people approach the models, they will automatically emit light and sound,” Yuan said.

The artist has been discussing cooperating with a professional company to produce more sophisticated transformers. 

Yuan Shitao, a Qidong artist, creates two sets of all-metal transformers in his backyard. [Photo/qidongnews.com]