Trasformer

2012-03-21T02:31:00Z

108.21.227.252: /* History */

{{picsneeded|logo, box design something.}}
'''''Trasformer''''' {{sic}} was a unique international release of [[TakaraTomy|Takara's]] ''[[Diaclone]]'' and ''[[Micro Change|MicroChange]]'' lines by an Italian company named [[GiG]] that was launched in [[1983]]. The toys are infamous for featuring several characteristics of Hasbro's ''Transformers'' versions of those toys, even though GiG initially only had a license from Takara for importing their ''Diaclone'' versions.

==History==
In [[1983]], GiG had acquired the license for selling imported Diaclone and MicroChange toys on the Italian market from Takara. Initially, GiG simply released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'', such as the Dia-Battles combiner, the Dia-Train or the Power Bases playsets.

[[Image:GiGmissiles.jpg|thumb|200px|right|And you thought American safety standards were ridiculous.]]However, when [[Hasbro]] had launched their ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' version of the line with considerable success the following year, GiG quickly realized the potential. Since GiG didn't want to pay for a second license, they came up with quite an original concept: As they couldn't directly mimick Hasbro's ''Transformers'' toys, they would now release the ''Diaclone'' toys in color schemes based on the Hasbro versions, even using the same sticker sheets as the Hasbro toys, omitting the pilots (in most cases, anyway) and renaming the line into ''Trasformer'', with the ''Diaclone'' "Car Robos" (the Autobot Cars) being called "Auto Robots". The packaging, however, was still more or less based on Takara's ''Diaclone'' packaging, and the toys featured no bios or any kind of fiction that would identify them as Hasbro's Transformers characters. The ''Trasformer'' line also included the ''Diaclone'' [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|jet-helicopter]] [[Triple Changer]], which was never released as part of the ''Transformers'' line. On the other hand, GiG also undertook some bizarre [[For safety reasons|safety modifications]], replacing the toys' regular missiles with all-new missiles that featured ridiculously oversized rubber tips. Interestingly enough, GiG also released their version of the [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] mold as part of the ''Trasformer'' line, even though the toy wasn't licensed from Takara, but another company named ToyBox.

Obviously, Hasbro weren't too happy about this and thus quickly pressured GiG into acquiring a proper license. In [[1985]], GiG then abandoned the ''Trasformer'' line and instead re-released the toys in actual ''Transformers'' packaging, albeit keeping a small remainder of the old ''Trasformer'' logo in addition to the larger ''Transformers'' logo (the small ''Trasformer'' logo would finally be dropped for good starting with the Pretenders toys from 1988). Still, GiG would keep their ties with Takara, which allowed them to release toys as part of the Transformers line which Hasbro would never release (such as a [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] [[giftset]] or [[Galaxy Shuttle]]).

==Toys==
The following list is not a complete overview of the entire line but lists some of the pre-transformers that made it into the Gig Trasformer line.

===Auto Robot===
[[Image:Topolino Datsun Fairlady Z.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Shiny!]]
*No 1 Countach LP 500S (Pre-[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]])
*No 2 Super Countach LP 500s (Pre-[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]])
*No 3 Fuoristrada J59 (Pre-[[Hound (G1)|Hound]])
*No 4 Ligier JS11 F-1 (Pre-[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]])
*No 5 Fairlady Z 280Z (Pre-[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]])
*No 6 Fairlady Z Police Car (Pre-[[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]])
*No 7 Porsche 935 Turbo (Pre-[[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]])
*No 8 Fairlady Z Racing Type (Pre-[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]])
*No 9 Ambulance (Pre-[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]])
*No 10 Lancia Stratos Turbo (Pre-[[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]])
*No 11 4WD Hilux (Pre-[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]])
*No 12 Honda City Turbo (Pre-[[Skids (G1)|Skids]])
*No 13 Corvette Stingray (Pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], or Pre-[[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]])
*No 14 New Countach LP500S Police Car (Pre-[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], or Pre-[[Clamp Down]])
*No 15 4WD Hilux Autogru (Pre-[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]])
*No 16 Cherry Vanette (Pre-[[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]])
*No 30 Camion Pompieri (Pre-[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]])
*No 31 Camion Gru (Pre-[[Grapple]])
*No 50 Camion Convoy Portauto - Diaclone Powered Convoy (Pre-[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]])
*Camion Convoy (Pre-[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]])
{{--}}

===Dinosaur Robots===
*1 Tyrannosaurus (Pre-[[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]) blue crotch Diaclone version, later versions had the usual red crotch
*2 Triceratops (Pre-[[Slag (G1)|Slag]]) Blue and white Diaclone version, later versions were red
*3 Brontosaurus (Pre-[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*4 Stegosaurus (Pre-[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]) Black chest, later versions were red
*5 Pteranodon (Pre-[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] Not released by GiG, but distributed in Japanese box

===Tripla Trasformazione===
*Aereo A Tripla Trasformazione (Pre-[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], or Pre-[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]])
*Elicottero A Tripla Transformazione (jet/helicopter Triple Changer; [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|never released as a Transformer]])

===Scatter===
*Aragon (Pre-[[Powerdasher]] car)
*Zetar (Pre-[[Powerdasher]] drill)
*Cromar (Pre-[[Powerdasher]] jet)
[[Image:1985_Topolino_Walther_P-38_UNCLE.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.]]

===Destroy Car===
*[unnamed] (Diaclone Change Attacker "Oneboxcar Vanette"; never released as a Transformer)
*[unnamed] (Diaclone Change Attacker "Starion Turbo 2000"; never released as a Transformer)
*[unnamed] (Diaclone Change Attacker "Lamborghini Cheetah"; never released as a Transformer)

===Others===
TAKARA
*MC-11 Magnum Robo (No Transformer release)
*MC-12 Walther P-38 (Predecessor of the Japanese version of [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]])
*MC-13 UNCLE Walther P-38 (Predecessor of the US/European version of [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]])
*MC-17 Lock Robo Dial Man. (Transforms from a working dial lock to a robot. No Transformer release)
*MC-18 Lock Robo Magneman. (Transforms from a working key lock to a robot. No Transformer release)
*A number of watches including Crono Laser

OTHERS
*Megarobot multi-azione (Pre-[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]])
*357 Magnum Robo. (No Transformer release, but see [[Treadshot (G1)#Notes|Treadshot]].)
{{-}}

==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
Image:Camion_Convoy.jpg|It only exists when no one's looking.
Image:Topolino Padlock Dude.jpg|Security more questionable than Red Alert.
Image:Topolino Trasformer Watches.jpg|James Bond WISHES he was this cool.
Image:GiG_Devastator.jpg|A contest? As if anyone needed incentive to want DEVASTATOR.
</gallery></center>

==Notes==
* "Ligier JS11 F-1", the ''Trasformer'' version of [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], sports "Ligier" decals on the sides of the vehicle mode rather than the standard "Citanes" logos found on the ''Diaclone'' and ''Transformers'' versions. Two known variants exist, with either "Ligier" stickers covering the original tampographed "Citanes" logos, or tampographed "Ligier" logos. The "Citanes" version was first, the "Ligier" decals were a later version, and the tampographed "Ligier" was the last of the ''Trasformer'' releases (1984) before GiG released the Hasbro-style "Mirage". However, the first release boxes contained the "Citanes" logo ''Trasformer'' figure.

*The GiG versions of Powered Convoy and the Diaclone "Car Robots" had the same boxes as the Takara versions, except for the Italian inserts.

* The police version of pre-[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was released in Italy and Spain from 1983 to 1987. The spoiler and the chrome intake were painted white and the Japanese stickers removed; the spoiler sticker read "Polis Countach". This could be one of the rarest of the "pre-Transformers".

==External links==
*[http://www.nijirain.com/Lady-ToysDIA.htm Overview of pre-''Trasformer'' Diaclone releases by GiG]
*[http://digilander.libero.it/tfitalia/toys/trasformer/index.htm Catalog images of GiG's ''Trasformer'' toys]
*[http://www.reocities.com/futuristgroup/vitaly.html Information on Italian Transformers and Pre-Transformers toys]
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/eurous/gig_template.html GiG article at TF-1.com]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsc-AWO1ZsM Trasformer commercial featuring the over-sized missiles]

[[Category:Generation 1 franchises]]
[[Category:Toylines]]

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Trasformer