Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)

2012-08-19T23:49:06Z

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'''''Transformers: Generation 2''''' was the first Transformers toy revamp, relaunching the line in 1993, two years after the last of the original ''Transformers'' figures were off the shelves in the United States. It began with recolored versions of Generation 1 toys, but soon consisted entirely of new molds made for the line.

''Generation 2'' saw more-or-less simultaneous release in the US and [[Transformers: Generation 2 (European toyline)|European markets]], but Japan would not start the line (or even have any ''Transformers'' product at all on shelves, for that matter) until 1995.

==Overview==
[[Image:G2Prime toy.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Optimus Prime's first G2 toy, essentially a re-release of the original toy but with a new [[soundbox]] and weapons.]]
Initially, the line featured re-releases of several [[The Transformers (toyline)|"Generation 1" toys]] with new accessories and tweaked decos, alongside several molds that had been recently released as part of the European-market line (many of which would be ''re''-released in Europe under the ''Generation 2'' banner.)

Because of this early product, and particularly because of the radically redecorated [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], ''Generation 2'' is sometimes inaccurately and unfairly remembered by fans as consisting ''solely'' of garishly recolored Generation 1 toys. As the line continued, however, numerous new molds and play features were introduced. Among them were:

* [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]] - ''Hot Wheels''-styled figures with simpler transformations and "precision" wheels
* [[Rotor Force]] - featured firing plastic rotor weapons
* [[Laser Rod]]s and [[Laser Cycle]]s - featured light-up LED weaponry
* [[Cyberjet]]s - realistic fighter planes with complex transformations.

These last groups also featured unprecedented articulation.

[[Image:G2Megatron toy.jpg|right|180px|thumb|G2 Megatron, one of the line's more famous molds.]]
Multiple new versions of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] were also released: though Optimus's original toy saw re-release with tweaked deco and new accessories, Megatron received the first all-new mold of the line early on as a colossal tank, as making him a handgun no longer seemed feasible. Both characters would receive multiple toys over the course of the line, in the form of both new molds and redecoes of previous characters' toys. Late in the line's run, [[Hasbro]] would use the same general tactic, applying numerous Generation 1 characters to toy redecoes in the hopes of stirring up nostalgic interest.

Later toys included a pop-up bio card, referred to on the packaging as a "[[Real Action Pop-Ups 3-D Transformer Trading Card]]!"

==Decline and cancelation==
[[Image:G2-toy_MantaRay.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Manta Ray, one of the awesome awesome awesome [[Rotor Force]] toys, which, if we haven't mentioned it yet, are awesome.]]

The series debuted to lackluster sales, despite featuring fan-favorites like the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. Some fans blamed [[Neon|color selections]], but it seems ''far'' more likely that it was simply a case of bad timing combined with too much product "your older brother has in the attic". Kids still weren't into robots that turned into cars at the time, it seems, and the "older nostalgic" market (which can rarely sustain a major toy brand at nationwide retail even today) was downright microscopic at the time. Being up against the then-new ''[[Saban Entertainment|Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', the still-popular ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' brand and the ever-growing popularity of home video game consoles certainly didn't help. The toyline also was not supported by a new cartoon, relying instead on [[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|repackaged G1 episodes]].

[[Image:G2 Jolt toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Jolt, one of the super-posable [[Laser Rod]] toys.]]
''Generation 2'' was ended after about two and a half years, with several new products trapped in development limbo. A handful saw release in the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (European toyline)|European market]] (namely the [[Power Master]]s), but most of those canceled new molds stayed unreleased for years. As Hasbro had recently acquired [[Kenner]], and the ''Transformers'' franchise facing extinction, the decision was made to shift the boys'-toy production to Kenner and take ''Transformers'' in a different direction to hopefully revitalize the seemingly-tired concept... ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''.
{{-}}

==1993==
===[[Autobot]]s===
[[Image:G1G2 Skram toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Skram, a re-used late-Generation 1 mold from Europe.]]
[[Image:G2Bumblebee Minicar toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee]]
[[Image:G2 Gobots toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Gobots]]
'''Leader'''
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]

'''Cars'''
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
*[[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]

'''[[Color Changer]]s'''
*[[Drench (G2)|Drench]]
*[[Gobots]]

'''[[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]'''
*[[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]

'''[[Mini Vehicle|Mini-Cars]]'''
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]]
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]]
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]

'''Small Cars''' (sometimes known as [[Axelerator]]s)
*[[Rapido]]
*[[Skram (G2)|Skram]]
*[[Turbofire]]
*[[Windbreaker]]
{{-}}

===[[Decepticon]]s===
[[Image:G2 Ramjet toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ramjet]]
[[Image:G2Devastator toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Devastator]]
'''Leader'''
*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]

'''[[Color Changer]]s'''
*[[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]]
*[[Jetstorm (G2)|Jetstorm]]

'''[[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]'''
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
''Combine to form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]''

'''[[Seeker (body-type)|Jets]]'''
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]

'''[[Skyscorcher]]s''' (also known as the "Skirmish Patrol"){{fact}}
*[[Afterburner (G2)|Afterburner]]
*[[Eagle Eye (G2)|Eagle Eye]]
*[[Terradive (G2)|Terradive]]
*[[Windrazor (G2)|Windrazor]]
{{-}}

==1994==
===Autobots===
[[Image:G2superion toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Superion]]
'''[[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]'''
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]
''Combine to form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]].''

'''Heroes'''
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]

'''[[Laser Rod]]s'''
*[[Electro]]
*[[Volt]]

'''[[Rotor Force]]'''
*[[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]]
*[[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]]
{{-}}

===Decepticons===
[[Image:G2bruticus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Bruticus, after a run-in with [[Professor Princess]] perhaps?]]
'''[[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]'''
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]
''Combine to form [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]''

'''Heroes'''
*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]

'''[[Laser Rod]]s'''
*[[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]]
*[[Sizzle (G2)|Sizzle]]

'''[[Rotor Force]]'''
*[[Powerdive]]
*[[Ransack (G2)|Ransack]]

'''Others'''
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] with [[Smokescreen (G2)|Smokescreen]]

'''Exclusives'''
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
{{-}}

==1995==
===Autobots===
[[Image:G2-toy Firecracker.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Firecracker]]
[[Image:G2RoadRocket-toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Road Rocket]]

'''Leader'''
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Laser Optimus Prime]]

'''[[Cyberjet]]s'''
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]

'''[[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]]'''
*[[Blowout]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]]
*[[Double Clutch (G2)|Double Clutch]]
*[[Firecracker]]
*[[Gearhead]]
*[[High Beam]]
*[[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
*[[Motormouth]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]

'''[[Laser Cycle]]'''
*[[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]]
{{-}}

===Decepticons===
[[Image:HooliganG2-toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hooligan]]
'''[[Auto Roller]]s'''
*[[Dirtbag]]
*[[Roadblock (G2)|Roadblock]]

'''[[Cyberjet]]s'''
*[[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]]
*[[Skyjack]]
*[[Space Case (G2)|Space Case]]

'''[[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]]'''
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]]

'''[[Laser Cycle]]'''
*[[Road Pig (G2)|Road Pig]]

'''[[Exclusive]]s'''
* [[Nightracer]]

{{note|For toys not released in the United States market but in other markets, see ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (European toyline)]].}}

==2012==
*Bruticus
{{note|In 2012, Amazon Released a redeco of Fall of Cybertron Bruticus in G2 packaging, so we can list it here, goddamitt.]].}}

==Unreleased==
'''Advanced Tactical Bomber (A.T.B.)'''
*[[:Image:G2toy_ATB_megs_and_screamer.jpg|A.T.B. Megatron with Starscream]]

'''Auto Rollers'''
*[[:Image:Un autorollers.jpg|General Optimus Prime]]
*[[:Image:Un autorollers.jpg|Sgt. Hound]]
*[[:Image:G2Autolauncher.jpg|Unknown APC]] (later became [[Autolauncher]])
*[[:Image:G2AutoJetter.jpg|Unknown jet]] (later became [[Autojetter]])

'''Combat Heroes'''
*[[:Image:CombatHeroMegatron.jpg|Combat Hero Megatron]]
*[[:Image:CombatHeroPrime.jpg|Combat Hero Optimus Prime]]

'''Go-Bots'''
*[[Greasepit (G2)|Greasepit]] and the [[Go-Bots Racing Rig]]
*"Vinny's Pro Stock" (evidently [[Rumble (G1)#Generation_2_2|Rumble]], later became [[Side Swipe (RID)|Side Swipe]])
[[Image:G2GoBotsUnmadeJeepAndCar.jpg|thumb|300px|And then Skywarp rigged the car wash to spray paint instead! It was ''hi''-larious.]]
*"[[:Image:G2Go-BotGTPRacer.jpg|GTP Racer]]" (later became [[Daytonus]])
*"911 Police Car" (later became [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]]/[[Prowl 2]])
*"Black Viper" (later became [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]])<ref>Designations for four unreleased Go-Bots from the [[BotCon 1996]] "Toys For Tots" charity auction listings. Note that "Vinny's Pro Stock" is an inaccurate reading of the sponsor logos on "Rumble" — they actually read "Vinny's Pizza" and "Jerry's Motors", with "Pro Stock" underneath each respective logo.</ref>

{{note|Two additional unmade Go-Bots — a Jeep and an unidentified car — are known to exist, and made it to what may have been the test-shot stage. However, painted samples have never surfaced, and whether the molds got far enough along for actual production is unknown.}}

'''Laser Cycles'''
*[[:Image:LaserCycleJazz.jpg|Jazz]]
*[[:Image:LaserCycleSoundwave.jpg|Soundwave]]

[[Image:G2 Menasor and G2 Defensor.jpg|thumb|300px|Rare. Rare like a mooing steak.]]

'''Stunticons'''
*S1 Motormaster
*S2 Dead End
*S4 Drag Strip
*S5 Wildrider

'''Protectobots'''
*P1 Hot Spot
*P2 First Aid
*P3 Groove
*P4 Streetwise
*P5 Blades

==Innovations and lasting effects==
* ''Generation 2'' was the first line to sport a uniform, gimmick-spanning sub-title in addition to the main "Transformers" name. (Although the "Generation 2" moniker would be dropped for the tail end of the line, mostly affecting toys that would never be released on the US market)
* Though some earlier toys used them, the [[Cyberjet]]s were the first toys to introduce [[ball joint]]s on a wider scale. By the following toyline, ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'', ball joints had become a regular feature of Transformers [[toy]]s.
*The new molds created for ''Generation 2'' also dropped [[sticker]]s in favor of [[paint operation]]s and [[tampograph]]y for deco details.

==Notes==
*Artwork, packaging mock-ups and hand painted prototypes for various toys seemingly intended for release in the ''Generation 2'' toyline have surfaced over the years. Among them:
**[[:Image:G2SludgeBoxart.jpg|Sludge]], [[:Image:Swoop iconic.jpg|Swoop]], and another version of [[:Image:G2GrimlockArtwork.jpg|Grimlock]].
**Recolored card art of [[Power Master]] Ironhide, in yellow and blue, attached to packaging mock-ups bearing the names [[Belzone]], [[Light Speed]], and [[Pothole]].
**Recolored card art of [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] as a new character named [[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]] and a "black death" version of [[:Image:G2BlackDeathStarscream.jpg|Starscream]].
**Hand-painted samples of a jungle themed [[:Image:G2SSJungleprotojet.jpg|Starscream]], blue sky themed Ramjet, a green and purple Mirage and a yellow and blue Sideswipe.
* A ''Generation 2'' exists within the fictional [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe, as a ''toyline''! According to the online [[Cyber Key Codes|Cyber Key Code]] bio for the [[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] Decepticon, [[Shortround]], he is an avid toy collector whose prize pieces are [[Generation 2 Defensor and Menasor]]. However, it is not specified whether or not these items are actually ''Transformers'' toys like their real world counterparts.
* The [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]] toyline includes two toys marked as "Generation 2 series", [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Skyjack|Skyfall]].
* The theme for [[BotCon 2010]] was 'Transformers - Generation 2: Redux'. The convention exclusive figures include the formerly European exclusive G2 Transformer [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] (under the name Spark), which is a redeco of the 2008 Universe version of Inferno (itself based on G2 Inferno).
* ''Generation 2'' shares some engineering with Takara's other transforming robot toy series from around the same time, the [[Brave (franchise)|Brave Series]]. That line also featured in some instances [[Light-piping|light-piped heads]], [[ball joint|ball joints]], Gatling-style missile launchers, and spinning rotor projectiles.

==References==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Earth culture]]
[[Category:Generation 2| Generation 2 (toyline)]]
[[Category:Toylines]]

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Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)