Franchises

2012-08-24T04:36:32Z

198.228.201.156: /* Hasbro franchises */

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A '''franchise''', for lack of a better term, is an incarnation or "generation" of the [[Transformers brand|Transformers brand]]. The word is used here to refer to the collection of not just [[Toy|toys]], but also media, merchandise, and ideas that surround each of these incarnations. Because of these other elements, the word "toyline" would not be broad enough; the toyline is just the toy component of the whole thing.

==Hasbro franchises==
There have been many franchises over the two decades that ''Transformers'' has been around. A list follows.

{{note|"Flagship" lines—generally those containing the bulk of new-mold toys and supported by an animated cartoon and other marketing—are listed in '''bold'''. Many of the minor "franchises" are little more than toylines, either with little or no fiction, or else new iterations of previous franchises, primarily ''Generation 1''.}}

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* 1984–1991, 2001– : For the first eight years, there was no "franchise" as such; the brand of "'''The Transformers'''" alone was used on the toyline and associated media (such as the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comics]]). When that toyline was resurrected in the early 2000's, it was retroactively dubbed '''''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'''''. New ''Generation 1'' media and toys continue to be produced to this day.

*1990–1991: ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' was the name of a ''Generation 1'' subline in Europe and Australia, reissuing many toys originating from 1984 through 1987.{{-}}

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* 1993–1995: '''''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''''' was a relaunch of the toy line, a mix of old and new toy designs. A new comic continued the story of the Marvel ''Generation 1'' comics, while the ''Generation 1'' cartoon was re-edited and rebroadcast.

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* 1996–2001: '''''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars: Transformers]]''''' changed the direction of the line with robots that changed into "realistically"-styled animals and soon moved into other varieties of animal-[[Alternate mode|alt-mode]] robots. It was supported by a CGI cartoon.{{-}}

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* 1997: ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers]]'' was a limited line of redecorated older toys, released to capitalize on the popularity of ''Beast Wars''. Fiction was limited to on-package [[bio]]s.

* 1999: ''[[Animorphs]]'' was a short-lived franchise using the ''Transformers'' name but unrelated with regard to fictional backstory. As this line was in support of a non-Transformers fictional universe, no specific fiction was tied to the toy line.

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* 2000–2001: '''''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines: Transformers]]''''' continued the directions of ''Beast Wars'' and added futuristic vehicles to the mix. The latter portion of this franchise was subtitled "The Battle for the Spark". Like ''Beast Wars'', it was supported by a CGI cartoon.{{-}}

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* 2001–2002: ''[[1-2-3 Transformers]]'' was a short-lived line of large, simple toys aimed at younger children. The line's niche was later filled by the ''Go-Bots'' line. No fiction exists for this franchise.

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* 2001–2003: '''''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]''''' was a port of the Japanese ''Car Robots'' toyline and cartoon, padded out with additional toys in the United States. {{-}}

* 2002: ''[[Transformers: Expanded Universe]]'' was a short-lived labeling of [[BotCon]] toys. It was used solely for [[BotCon 2002]] and only consisted of [[CatSCAN]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Glyph (G1)|Glyph]], and [[Tap-Out (G1)|Tap-Out]]. For simplicity, most people combine this line with the later ''Universe'' line.

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* 2002–2003: '''''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]''''' marked a new beginning for the toys and fiction, heralded by the addition of the [[Mini-Con]] faction. The latter portion of the franchise was subtitled "[[The Unicron Battles]]". It was marketed in Japan as ''Micron Legend''. The toyline was supported by a full cartoon series, comic book, pack-in mini-comics, on-line bios, and a great deal of ancillary merchandise. {{-}}

* 2002–2005: The ''[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series]]'' consisted of reissued toys from the first three years of ''Generation 1'', primarily available at Toys "R" Us. The toys had been previously reissued by Takara in Japan in the ''Transformers Collection'' line. As a reissue line, fiction was limited solely to on-package bios. Effectively ended in 2004, with two more delayed releases coming out in 2005.{{-}}

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* 2003–2008: ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Transformers: Universe]]'' supplemented the wildly successful ''Armada'' with [[redeco]]es of older toys and [[BotCon|convention]]-based fiction. Package blurbs provided a general fictional overview, and the line was briefly supported by a comic book. Largely ended in 2005, but still continued in one form or another until early 2008.

* 2003: ''[[Built to Rule]]'' consisted of Lego-compatible building blocks used to assemble various transformable ''Armada'' characters. It received no fiction independent of ''Armada''.{{-}}

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* 2002–2005: ''[[Transformers: Go-Bots (franchise)|Transformers: Go-Bots]]'', which also went by the names ''Playskool Big Adventures: Transformers'' and just ''Go-Bots'', introduced a line of larger, simple toys aimed at children too young for the mainline toys. Fiction included on-package bios and a short-lived cartoon.{{-}}

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* 2003–2005: '''''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Transformers: Energon]]''''' followed up on ''Armada''. The latter portion of the franchise was subtitled "[[The Powerlinx Battles]]". It was marketed in Japan as ''Super Link''. Fiction included a full cartoon series, a comic book, pack-in mini-comics, and on-line bios.{{-}}

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* 2003–2006: ''[[Transformers: Alternators]]'', a toy-only franchise, combined licensed, 1/24th-scale replica vehicles with complex transformations and ''Generation 1'' characters. It was marketed in Japan as ''Binaltech'', where the toys were packaged with bios and short stories that fleshed out the line's place in continuity. Sadly, the American franchise received no fiction beyond on-package character quotes for the later toys, a brief summary of the original setting of the Japanese ''Binaltech'' story revealed through a promotional Mazda website, and a single toy bio that was never officially released.{{-}}

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* 2005–2006: '''''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: Cybertron]]''''' completed the arc begun by ''Armada'', capping off the "[[Unicron Trilogy]]". The latter portion of the franchise was subtitled "Primus Unleashed". It was marketed in Japan as ''Galaxy Force''. Fiction included a cartoon, on-package blurbs and pack-in "Planet Maps" with character bios and profiles of various worlds.

* 2006–2008: ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars Transformers]]'' combined the transforming play pattern with the characters and vehicles of the popular movie franchise. Fiction was limited to on-package bios, as this line was in support of a non-''Transformers'' fictional universe.

* 2006: The ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' limited line featured six reissues of older ''Beast Wars'' toys with special packaging, new decos and bonus features, and two all-new molds. Fiction included on-package bios and pack-in DVDs of ''Beast Wars'' cartoon episodes.{{-}}

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* 2006–2007: ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' was a line of rehashed ''Generation 1'' characters intended to be a stopgap while the 2007 movie toys were being prepared. Its success prompted Hasbro to continue it as the "Classic Series" under the 2008 ''Universe'' line. Fiction was limited to a fan club comic.

* 2006–2009: The ''[[Titanium Series]]'' was aimed specifically at fans, with a range of characters from older franchises and more obscure corners of the fiction, and die-cast metal designs. As the characters are all based on previous franchises, fiction consisted solely of on-package bios. Effectively ended in 2007, with a few delayed releases coming out as [[exclusive]]s as late as 2009. Later releases were co-branded as part of the ''Movie'' line, ''Universe'' or ''Revenge of the Fallen''.{{-}}

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* 2007–2008: The "'''[[Movie (franchise)|Movie]]'''" franchise marked a new level for Transformers, with [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'']] as its centerpiece. The later portion of the toyline, primarily consisting of redecos, was subtitled "[[AllSpark Power]]", followed by a short-lived second expansion, the [[Premium Series]]. In addition to the movie itself, fiction included various comics, bios, package blurbs, and other ancillary merchandise.{{-}}

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* 2008– : '''''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]''''' is the first American-written cartoon franchise in just under a decade. It carries on the brand with a new look and some old familiar faces. Fiction includes the cartoon, a comic book series, and on-package bios.{{-}}

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* 2008–2009: ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Transformers: Universe]]'' re-uses the catch-all name of several years prior, but is a new umbrella franchise covering products not falling under either ''Crossovers'' or ''Animated''. It is not slated to receive any fiction except for on-package bios.

* 2008– : ''[[Transformers: Crossovers]]'' rebrands the ''Star Wars Transformers'' line, as well as bringing in transforming Marvel characters, following Hasbro's acquisition of the Marvel license.{{-}}

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* 2009–2010: '''''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]''''' continues in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] direction begun by [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'']]. The later portion of the toyline, was subtitled "[[N.E.S.T. Global Alliance]]". {{-}}

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*2010: '''''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''''' is the first franchise in the [[Aligned continuity family]]. {{-}}

*2010– : ''[[Transformers: Generations]]'' continues on from 2008's Universe to be the catch-all franchise covering products not falling under the concurrent ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers (2010)]]'' toyline. It is not slated to receive any fiction except for on-package bios although it includes characters from the game ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)| War for Cybertron]]''.{{-}}

*2010–2011: the non-subtitled ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' toyline builds on the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' toyline but also includes other toys and characters, acting as a general celebration of the Transformers lineage. Sub-sections of this franchise include the [[Hunt for the Decepticons]] promotion and the [[Reveal the Shield]] subline. Reveal the Shield covers the same territory as the concurrent ''Generations'' line, recreating classic characters with new modern designs.

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*2010– : '''''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]''''' is intended to serve as a basis for the core Transformers line for some time to come. The line began with video games, comics, and a CGI TV show. The toyline began in late 2011 with the subline "First Edition", followed by "Robots in Disguise" in early 2012. {{-}}

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*2011– : '''''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]''''' is built around the third live-action feature film. {{-}}

==Takara franchises==
===Generation 1===
Beginning in 1986, (the second year of the franchise in Japan), [[Takara|Takara]] got into the habit of annually [[Rebranding|rebranding]] the ''Transformers'' property. Moreover, 1987's ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (franchise)|Transformers: The Headmasters]]'' kicked off a trend in which Takara's toylines and fiction branched off from [[Hasbro|Hasbro]]'s versions to increasingly significant degrees. Thus, the later iterations of Japanese Generation 1 are often referred to as "franchises", despite being part of the larger Generation 1 franchise. They include:

*1985: ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''

*1986: ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''

*1987: ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (franchise)|Transformers: The Headmasters]]''

*1988: ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Transformers: Super-God Masterforce]]''

*1989: ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]''

*1990: ''[[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Transformers: Zone]]''

*1991: ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Transformers: Return of Convoy]]''

*1992: ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination]]''

===Beast Wars===
To fill the sometimes-lengthy gap between the seasons of the ''Beast Wars'' television show, Takara decided to augment that series with two Japanese-exclusive franchises.

*1998: ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers]]'', with a toyline mostly consisting of redecorated existing ''Beast Wars'' toys.

*1999: ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo: Super Lifeform Transformers]]'', numerous new molds with additional redecos.

===Post-Beast Wars===
* 2000: ''[[Transformers: Car Robots]]'' was a mixed line of complex new molds and redecorated toys from previous lines. An expanded version was later marketed in America as ''Robots in Disguise''.

*2002–2004: ''[[The Transformers: Micromaster|Micromaster]]'' re-released the various Japanese-exclusive Micromaster combining teams from late in the Generation 1 era.

*2002-2006: ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' consisted of book-boxed reissues of toys from the early years of Generation 1. Many of the same toys would subsequently be reissued in the United States in the ''Commemorative Series'' line.

*2003: ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' (often mislabeled "World's Smallest Transformers") reworked early Generation 1 toys at extremely small scale.

*2003–2008: ''[[Binaltech]]'', Japan's version of ''Alternators''. Originally ended in 2006, later reanimated.

*2003– : ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece]]'' is a collector-oriented series of "ultimate" versions of classic Generation 1 characters, with great complexity and high prices.

*2004–2005: ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' was a line of mixed heritage, collecting characters from several continuities. Most of its toys were redecos or new designs based on larger toys reduced in scale.

*2006–2007: ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Transformers: Kiss Players]]'' picked up the tail end of the ''Binaltech''/''Alternators'' toyline, but with an all-new, all-creepy storyline.

*2007: The ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]'' was Japan's expanded equivalent of the ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' line.

*2007– : ''[[Transformers Encore]]'' revives the trend of reissuing older Generation 1 toys, including many not previously available in Japan.

*2007– : ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (franchise)|Henkei! Henkei! Transformers]]'' uses the molds created for the 2007 ''Classics'' and 2008 ''Universe'' lines and gives them color schemes more accurate to the original Generation 1 cartoon. Fiction exists in the form of a pack-in comic.

===Other franchises===
*2003: ''[[Kid Transformers: Rescue Heroes Go-Bots (franchise)|Kid Transformers: Rescue Heroes Go-Bots]]'' is Takara's answer to Hasbro's ''1-2-3 Transformers'' and ''Transformers: Go-Bots'' lines, using molds from both to create a separate line.

==Merchandising franchises==
Several lines of non-transforming figures have been released, capitalizing on the popularity of the ''Transformers'' characters.

* 2000–?: [[Super Collection Figure]], a Japanese line of PVC figures based on character models from the Generation 1 cartoon. It was later marketed in America as ''Heroes of Cybertron'', with some minor alterations.
* 2002–2003: [[MyClone]], a Transformers iteration of a super-deformed figure line in Japan.
* 2007: ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', adorably cute figurines of various characters. It started out under the ''Movie'' banner (despite originally containing toys based on Generation 1 characters), then continued under ''Universe'' (2008) and ''Revenge of the Fallen''.

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