The Transformers (franchise)

2011-04-27T14:42:21Z

121.121.143.136: /* Japanese release */

{{Disambigr|The Transformers|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
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'''''Generation 1''''', originally known as '''''The Transformers''''', is the original Transformers [[franchise]] which took the United States by storm in 1984.

The term "Generation 1" (G1) was originally a fan-coined back-formation from ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''. Until the Transformers: ''Generation 2'' line was released, ''Generation 1'' was simply called ''The Transformers''. Over the years, the use of the term G1 has become fairly universal and has frequently been [[Canonizing|used in official materials]]. It has appeared on [[Takara]] toy packaging, [[Hasbro]]'s official Transformers website and reissue [[toy]] packaging, and as a series under the second [[Universe (2008 franchise)|''Universe'' toyline]].

The ''Generation 1'' franchise as it ran in the 1980s/90s featured the following primary components:

*[[The Transformers (toyline)|An American toyline]]
*[[Generation 1 (European toyline)|A European toyline]]
*[[The Transformers (cartoon)|A cartoon series]]
*[[List of Generation 1 comics|Several comic book series]]
*[[List of Generation 1 books|Innumerable story and coloring books]]
*Two story [[posters]]: [[Battle in the Desert Valley]] and [[The Power Struggle]].
*Various promotional [[The Transformers (merchandise)|merchandise]].

''Generation 1'' also included an avalanche of ancillary licensed merchandise, more so than any other Transformers franchise outside of Japan. This has resulted in a higher number of [[micro-continuities]] in G1 than in any other Transformers franchise. This licensing was revived in the early 2000s due to retro-appeal at retailers like Hot Topic. It has continued at varying levels of intensity since.

==Japanese release==
In Japan, rather than simply be identified as ''The Transformers'' throughout its lifespan, the franchise was rebranded with a new title and a shift in storytelling every year. This led to a collection of mini-franchises within the larger ''Generation 1'' franchise, each featuring their own individual components. They are:

*1985 - ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''
*1986 - ''[[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Transformers 2010]]''
*1987 - ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|The Headmasters]]''
*1988 - ''[[Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]''
*1989 - ''[[Victory (franchise)|Victory]]''
*1990 - ''[[Zone (franchise)|Zone]]''
*1991 - ''[[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''
*1992 - ''[[Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination]]''<nowiki>[noob]</nowiki>

==Continuations and addenda==
When the ''Generation 1'' franchise came to an end, the first few subsequent franchises (such as ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' and ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'') continued in the same [[continuity family]]. Thus, someone like [[Optimus Primal]] is listed as being ''"a character from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]."'' Click that last link for more information on other G1-inspired franchises.

Occasionally, new products will be released under the banner of the old ''Generation 1'' franchise. These have included:

* TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Collection]]'' line of [[Generation 1 reissues|reissue]]s.
* TakaraTomy's [[e-Hobby]]-exclusive reissues and [[redeco]]s of ''Generation 1'' toys, most into new characters.
* Hasbro's ''[[Commemorative Series]]'' releases of many of those same toys.
* New ''Generation 1'' comic book series, first from [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and then from [[Devil's Due Press|Devil's Due]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]].
* New ''[[Titanium Series]]'' molds of old characters, often labeled with a "Generation 1" subtitle.
* TakaraTomy's ''[[Encore]]'' line of reissues, in the same spirit as ''Transformers Collection''.
* Modern Transformer figures redecoed (or created entirely new) as ''Generation 1'' characters for the ''Generation 1 Series'' in the [[Universe (2008 franchise)|2008 ''Universe'' franchise]].

[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Generation 1| ]]
[[Category:Generation 1 franchises]]

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The Transformers (franchise)