Transformers: Classics

2012-09-07T15:57:05Z

Necrothug: Updated the logo image to a version with the background removed.

{{disambig3|Classics}}
<div class="center">[[Image:TF Classics.png|none|300px|]]</div>
When the [[Transformers (film)|live-action ''Transformers'' film]] was pushed back from November 2006 to July 2007, [[Hasbro]] needed to create a filler line to bridge the gap in their product offerings. That bridge was a revisitation of the original [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] characters, dubbed '''''Transformers: Classics'''''. The line featured many original toy designs as well as some [[Mini-Con]]s which were originally meant for the tail end of the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' line. A handful of [[redeco]]ed [[Legends Class]] figures rounded out the selection.

''Classics'' has a Japanese counterpart in ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'', and later gained spiritual successors in the 2008 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, the ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' line and the ''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' sub-segment of the 2010 ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' line.

==Toys==
===Legends class===
====Wave 1====
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]
*[[Lio Convoy|Leo Prime]]
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]

====Wave 2====
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]]
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
*[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]
*[[Whirl (G1)|Autobot Whirl]]

{{note|The second wave had very minimal distribution and was effectively only available from online retailers and specialty stores.}}
====Cybertron Collection====
{{note|These toys were re-releases of past ''[[Legends Class|Legends]]'' figures in unchanged decos and ''Classics''-style packaging; they were found at [[KB Toys]], [[Kmart]], Dollar General, Family Dollar, Big Lots and Meijer stores in 2008. It's possible they were already available in 2007—nobody really seemed to care.}}
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Hot Shot]] (Legends of Cybertron)
* Leo Prime (Classics Legends)
* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]] (Legends of Cybertron)
* [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] (Legends of Cybertron)

===Mini-Cons===
====Wave 1====
*[[Demolition Team]]
**[[Broadside (Classics)|Broadside]]
**[[Sledge (Classics)|Sledge]]
**[[Wideload (Classics)|Wideload]]
*[[Dinobot (Classics)|Dinobots]]
**[[Knockdown (Classics)|Knockdown]]
**[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
**[[Terrorsaur (Classics)|Terrorsaur]]
*[[Night Rescue Team]]
**[[Divebomb (Classics)|Divebomb]]
**[[Firebot (Classics)|Firebot]]
**[[Strongarm (Classics)|Strongarm]]

====Wave 2====
*[[Clear Skies Team]]
**[[Nightscream (Classics)|Nightscream]]
**[[Steel Wind]]
**[[Thunderwing (Classics)|Thunderwing]]
*[[Dirt Digger Team]]
**[[Dirt Rocket (Classics)|Dirt Rocket]]
**[[Grindor (Classics)|Grindor]]
**[[Oil Slick (Classics)|Oil Slick]]
*[[Predator Attack Team]]
**[[Dreadwing (Classics)|Dreadwing]]
**[[Overbite (Classics)|Overbite]]
**[[Snarl (Classics)|Snarl]]

===Deluxe class===
====Wave 1====
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] (with the [[Wave Crusher]])
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus]]
*[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]

====Wave 2====
*[[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]

====Wave 3====
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (with the [[Wave Crusher]])
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]

===Voyager class===
====Wave 1====
*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]

====Wave 2====
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]

===Box sets===
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]: The Ultimate Battle (versus two-pack with DVD). In 2007, Walmart had an exclusive "Bonus buy" version of the Classics "Ultimate Battle" Optimus Prime/Megatron multipack that had two random members of the Giant Planet Team attached to the top of the box. All the toys involved were unchanged from their original separate releases.
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] vs [[Skywarp (G1)/toys|Skywarp]]: Battle for Autobot City (versus two-pack, Target exclusive)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Constructicon Devastator]] (Wal-Mart exclusive giftset, includes:)
**[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
**[[Hightower (Classics)|Hightower]]
**[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
**[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
**[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]

===Miscellaneous===
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] (20th Anniversary "DVD Edition" redeco with talking base)
*"Commemorative Edition" [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] with [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Battle Ravage]] (Generation 1 reissue; uses the [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundblaster]] version of the mold, which had a remolded door that can hold two cassettes.), [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive

{{note|Ravage is called "Battle Ravage" on the back of the box, but simply "Ravage" in the instruction sheet.}}
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Pepsi Optimus Prime]] (Hasbro release of [[Pepsi Convoy]]), available as a prize for winners of the Pepsi-sponsored [[Mountain Dew|Transform Your Summer]] contest and as a [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] "[[exclusive]]"
*[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Masterpiece Starscream]] (G1-colored redeco), [[Walmart]] exclusive

===BotCon 2007 exclusives===
*"Games of Deception" boxset, featuring:
**[[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] (with [[Tidal Wave (Classics)|Tidal Wave]])
**[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]
**[[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]]
**[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
**[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage (clear version)]] as a "Primus package" freebie
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] & [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] set
*[[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] with [[Beta Maxx]] & [[Weirdwolf]] set

===Non-US market Hasbro releases===
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]]/[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] two-pack (Deluxe Bumblebee and Astrotrain on a new, shared cardback)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus]]/[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]] two-pack (Deluxe Rodimus and Starscream on a new, shared cardback)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] Twin Pack (Voyager Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus from the "Battle for Autobot City" two-pack in a new box similar to the Soundwave reissue)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]] Twin Pack (Voyager Jetfire and Deluxe Grimlock in a new box similar to the Soundwave reissue)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] (from the "Ultimate Battle" two-pack, on a new, individual cardback)
*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]] (from the "Ultimate Battle" two-pack, on a new, individual cardback)

==Fiction==
Although no cartoons or comic books were planned for the line by Hasbro, [[Fun Publications]] picked up the ball for their [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Official Transformers Fan Club Magazine comic]], making ''Classics'' the basis of their 2007 story-arc, "[[Crossing Over]]". The story uses the old [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel ''Generation 1'' comic]] as backstory, but disregards the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]] material and the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] that followed, taking things in a new direction instead. The ''Classics'' fiction has since been expanded by several exclusive on-line prose stories, single issue comics available through the club or at BotCon, and through Bios available on the club website or in the magazine.

A brief timeline of the ''Classics'' universe includes:
* [[The New World]] - on-line prose
* [[Revelations Part 6|Revelations]] - 6 part story from 2006 OTFCC comic (only the very end takes place in the Classicverse)
* [[Crossing Over]] - 6 part story from 2007 OTFCC comic
* [[Games of Deception]] - BotCon 2007 convention comic
* [[Withered Hope]] - on-line prose (only the epilogue takes place in the Classicverse)
* [[Cheap Shots]] - one-time comic special, available through the club
* [[At Fight's End]] - on-line prose
* [[Invasion (issue)|Invasion]] - BotCon 2012 convention comic

Also of note is that, after "Crossing Over", Classics [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] embarks on his own adventures in the [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (fiction)|''Shattered Glass'']] universe. On a similar note, the Classicsverse itself ceases to exist after [[Invasion (issue)|Invasion]] as the result of [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]]'s dimensional tampering, save for its version of Earth (which was absorbed into the Shattered Glass universe and is now orbiting Cybertron).

==What counts as ''Classics''?==
[[Image:UltimateBattleClassics.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
The term "Classics" is universally accepted and used by both fans and Hasbro, but it appears with surprising irregularity around the toys themselves. The first year of packaging only labeled them "Transformers" (with the tag line "Robots in Disguise" occasionally being mistaken for a secondary title), with "Classic" appearing solely as a prefix to some of the [[size class]]es, such as "Classic Deluxe" or "Classic Voyager".

On the other hand, the photo gallery of the toy line included on the ''[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]'' DVD invited its viewers to "check out all the awesome TRANSFORMERS Classics figures!". Furthermore, Hasbro's official Transformers website prominently featured the name "Classics" in multiple places at the time, including a "Transformers Classics" overview page. The accompanying toy list included almost all the toys listed above, explicitly identifying assortments such as "Classic Legends" and "Classic Mini-Con 3-packs" by name. The Hasbro website also featured a variation of the toy line logo that included the secondary title "Classic", which can also be found, of all places, on the bottom of the packaging for [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' versions of all the figures that originated from the US Classics line, just like those figures whose Hasbro counterparts were released under the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toy line sport a small ''Transformers: Universe'' logo on the bottom of their packaging.

Some toys, such as the Magnus/Skywarp two-pack, have no "Classic" label at all. The one unifying factor was the distinctive design of the packaging, which spread to even the [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave re-release]]. This has become the commonly-accepted delineator of the ''Classics'' line, which brings the following toys into the fold even though they don't self-identify as such:

*Prime vs. Megatron Ultimate Battle set
*Magnus vs. Skywarp Battle for Autobot City set
*20th Anniversary Prime redeco
*Mini-Cons (the Mini-Con sets have been referred to as ''Classics'' toys on Hasbro's website, but not on the packaging)
*Toys "R" Us exclusive reissue Soundwave
*BotCon 2007 exclusives
*Pepsi Optimus Prime
*Optimus Prime & Ultra Magnus (Asian market exclusive two-pack, 2007)
*Jetfire & Grimlock (Asian market exclusive two-pack, 2007)
*Masterpiece Starscream Hasbro release

Complicating things further, ''Classics'' would later be subsumed by the relaunched ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' franchise (which also engulfed ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]''). The line replaced the defining ''Classics'' packaging style with the new ''Universe'' design. Only a small "Classic Series" label on their packaging maintained the connection to the previous ''Classics'' toys and separated them from other toys in the ''Universe'' line, labeled "Beast Wars Series", "Armada Series" or "Cybertron Series". However, as the line progressed, "Classic Series" was eventually replaced with "Generation 1 Series", which appears to have been simply an attempt at more consistent labeling.

The 2008 ''Universe'' toy line and the [[Transformers: Generations|2010 ''Generations'' toyline]] are sometimes informally referred to as Classics 2.0 and Classics 3.0.

==Notes==
*Several other toys were planned for ''Classics'', but never made it past the concept or prototype stage. Those include:
**Concept art for [[Cosmos (G1)#Notes|Cosmos]] was shown at [[BotCon 2006]]. The design was rejected because the higher-ups at [[Hasbro]] felt the [[alternate mode]] was too "boring". The art was later printed as part of the supplementary material in the ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' trade paperback collection. The design itself was later revisited for the "Cybertron Heroes" segment of the ''[[Titanium Series]]'', but ultimately never made it past the hardcopy prototype stage due to the cancellation of the ''Titanium Series''.
**A Voyager-sized [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Notes|Soundwave]] was first hinted in an alleged list of the tentative ''Classics'' line-up<ref name="classicslineup">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/possible-transformers-classic-line-up-4336/ Rumor] about the ''Classics'' lineup that turned out to be spot on aside from Voyager Soundwave and Deluxe Optimus Prime.</ref>. Years later, [[Don Figueroa]] unveiled his unused design artwork for an SUV-esque Soundwave.<ref name="donswave">[http://www.unicron.com/news_item/1132/ Don Figueroa, New Concept Art & comics news!]</ref>
**The aforementioned tentative line-up also listed a Deluxe-sized [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Miscellaneous Primes|Optimus Prime]] without a trailer and a version ''with'' a trailer at the Voyager [[size class|price point]]; however, it appears the decision was eventually made to upscale Optimus to Voyager size instead.<ref name="sage">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/cybertron-crosswise-redeco-and-transformers-classics-info-4683/ "Cybertron Crosswise Redeco and Transformers Classics Info"] (via [[Joe Kyde]]'s proxy "SAGE2764")</ref> [[Don Figueroa]]'s [[control drawing]]s for the Deluxe version were leaked before the ''Classics'' line was even released at retail.<ref name="primecontrol">Leaked ''Classics'' Deluxe Optimus Prime control drawings: [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/transformers-classics-optimus-prime-design-sketch-4691/ Vehicle mode], [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/transformers-classics-optimus-prime-robot-mode-design-sketches-4692/ robot mode]</ref> A gray model [[prototype]] was later shown as part of an interview with [[TakaraTomy]]'s staff in ''[[Transformers Generations 2009#Volume 1|Transformers Generations 2009 vol. 1]]''.<ref name="ttinterview">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/general-articles-25/translated-version-of-the-takara-tomy-transformers-henkei--classics-staff-interview-167073/ Translated TakaraTomy Henkei/Classics staff interview]</ref> It's unclear whether the trailer ever made it past the early planning stage before the decision was made to uspscale Optimus to Voyager size.

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Classics}}
[[Category:Classics| ]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Generation 1 franchises]]
[[Category:Toylines]]

File:TF Classics.png

2012-09-07T15:54:30Z

Necrothug: Hi-Resolution TF Classics logo with the background removed.

Hi-Resolution TF Classics logo with the background removed.

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Transformers: Classics

File:TF Classics.png