CHUG

2021-02-08T17:18:04Z

TheLazyEyebrow:

[[File:ClassicsPrime Voyager.jpg|thumb|310px|"A bogstandard retail toyline targeted towards adult collectors? How silly! Like that's ever going to sell..."]]
'''CHUG''' is a common fan [[Abbreviations|acronym]] derived from the ''[[Transformers: Classics|'''C'''lassics]]'', ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|'''H'''enkei]]'', ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|'''U'''niverse]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|'''G'''enerations]]'' toylines, although it also designates later series following the same aesthetic and design philosophy. It is sometimes referred to as Uniclasserations

These lines are all unified by being modern re-imaginations of classic ''Transformers'' characters, most often from [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] but also occasionally including later eras like ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'', ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'', ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]''. Sculpts and engineering are also shared between these lines, with groups like the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s having their individual characters being sequentially released across the span of different CHUG series. Prior to the launch of what is now known as the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', these lines didn't really have any line-wide gimmicks, unlike most mainline ''Transformers'' series.

If seen as a single unified toyline, CHUG can be considered the longest running series in the ''Transformers'' franchise, having been in production since 2006.

==Toylines generally accepted as CHUG==
*''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' (2006 - 2007)
:Initially conceived as a brief filler line between ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' and [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|the first live action film]], ''Classics'' was Hasbro's first attempt at producing a series consisting primarily of modernized Generation 1 characters in Deluxe and Voyager sizes, all of them being new original molds. Some ''Cybertron'' figures redecoed into G1 characters were also included in the Legends price point, and ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Constructicon Maximus]] was redecoed into [[Devastator (G1)#Classics 2|Constructicon Devastator]]. As an homage to the original toys, most figures featured the interesting inclusion of [[rubsign]]s. Despite its short run, the series proved to be successful enough to lay the foundations for the later ''Universe'' and ''Generations'' toylines.

*''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' (2008 - 2009)
:Directly following up on the success of ''Classics'', ''Universe'' was a substantially bigger and more intricate toyline, heavily expanding on the original concept of modernized G1 characters with various new molds and also expanding its scope in its second year--the 25th anniversary of the [[Transformers brand|brand]]--with the introduction of some figures based around ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' and the [[Beast Era]]. These figures were generally more complex than those introduced in ''Classics'', a design choice which is commonly attributed to the concurrent [[Live-action film series|live-action movie]] toylines. This line was also supplemented by redecoes of various molds from older lines, particularly ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]''. Every figure was labelled to indicate which 'sub-series' it was a part of - for instance, [[Dropshot (G1)#Universe (2008)|Dropshot]] was labelled 'Classics Series' while [[Overload (Armada)#Universe (2008)|Overload]] was labelled 'Cybertron Series' - despite both being redecoes of [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|the same mold]]!

*''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' (2008 - 2009)
:Concurrently available with Hasbro's ''Universe'' line, ''Henkei! Henkei!'' was [[TakaraTomy]]'s Japanese equivalent for both ''Classics'' and ''Universe'', featuring more cartoon-accurate paintjobs and pack-in mangas. These figures all had various areas cast in [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metalized plastic]], whether it made much sense or not. Some exclusive Takara releases would be sold under the name ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)#Gentei! Gentei!|Gentei! Gentei!]]'' instead, a small subline that is generally considered to be part of the ''Henkei'' range.

*''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' (2010 - )
[[File:TR_Trypticon_Robot.jpg|thumb|320px|right|"... Well, damn."]]
:From 2010 on, ''Generations'' became Hasbro's umbrella term to designate all upcoming releases based on the same concept. Initally limited to the Deluxe price point, it was later expanded to include figures in other sizes as well. As the years have gone by, the ''Generations'' toyline has been given different subline names (see [[Prime Wars Trilogy]], [[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]], and [[Studio Series]]) but all have remained conceptually based on updating older characters with more modern engineering.

*''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' (2010 - 2011)
:Concurrently available with the original run of ''Generations'', ''Reveal the Shield'' was a confusing [[subline imprint]] by Hasbro that incorporated both figures originally intended for the ''Generations'' line (with some sculpts shared between both lines) and Movie-verse characters under the same label. Most notably, these all featured [[rubsign]]s, hence the title of the toyline.

*''[[Transformers United|United]]'' (2010 - 2012)
:In the style of ''Henkei'', ''United'' would be Takara's primary equivalent for Japaneses releases of ''Generations'' figures for a while. Much like ''Henkei'', these would also go on to feature more show-accurate paintjobs.

*''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' (2014 - 2018)
:From 2014 on, ''Legends'' became Takara's own umbrella term to designate its ''Generations''-based releases, also following in the same show-accurate tradition of ''Henkei'' and ''United''.

*''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' (2015 - 2017)
:Takara's equivalent for the Deluxe and Voyager combiner teams of ''Combiner Wars'', strangely enough being released as their own individual line. The non-combiner Leader molds were simply sold as regular ''Legends'' figures.

===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:ClassicsStarscream_toy.jpg|''Classics'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]], a figure which would get redecoed for many other CHUG toylines. Note the rubsign.
File:Henkei_Starscream_toy.jpg|''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]. Note the cartoon-oriented deco accented with chrome, distinguishing it from the original Hasbro release.
File:Sunstreakeruniverse2008toy.jpg|''Universe'' [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]], cleverly designed to function back-to-front as his brother [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys|Sideswipe]].
File:Generations_Drift_toy.jpg‎|''Generations'' [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], the first CHUG figure based definitively on an IDW-original character.
File:TF2010_deluxe_SpecialOpsJazz.jpg‎|''Reveal the Shield'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. Note the rubsign.
File:Unitedtoy-AutobotJazz.jpg|''United'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. Note the metallic plastic.
File:Generationstoy-VoyagerSpringer.jpg|''Thrilling 30'' [[Springer (G1)/toys|Springer]], one of the first Voyager Class CHUG [[Triple Changer]]s released. Based on [[Nick Roche]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' design.
File:TF-Legends-LG-19-Springer.jpg|''Legends'' [[Springer (G1)/toys|Sprung]], featuring a more animation-accurate colour scheme
File:Defensor Combiner Wars.jpg|''Combiner Wars'' [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], made up of [[Groove (G1)|one Legends Class figure,]] [[First Aid (G1)|four]] [[Streetwise (G1)|Deluxe]] [[Rook (Generations)|Class]] [[Blades (G1)|figures]], and [[Hot Spot (G1)|one Voyager Class figure.]] '''EACH SOLD SEPARATELY.'''
File:Unite-Warriors-UW-03-Guardian.jpg|''Unite Warriors'' [[Defensor (G1)|Guardian]], released exclusively through [[TakaraTomy Mall]].
File:TitansReturntoy-Hardhead.jpg|''Titans Return'' [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Duros|Furos]]. Note the [[Titan Master]] and vehicle mode cockpit.
File:PowerOfThePrimestoy-Jazz.jpg|''Power of the Primes'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. Note the combiner peg peeking out from underneath his chest.
File:WFCS-Voyager-Soundwave.jpg|''War for Cybertron: Siege'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]]. Note the "battle damage" deco.
File:TF-WFC-E-Voyager-Grapple.jpg| ''War for Cybertron: Earthrise'' [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]].
File:WFC-Kingdom Voyager Cyclonus.jpg|''War for Cybertron: Kingdom'' [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Cyclonus]].
File:TF-Studio-Series-86-04-Deluxe-Autobot-Hot-Rod.jpg|''Studio Series 86'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Studio Series|Hot Rod]].
</gallery>

==Toylines loosely considered as CHUG==
[[File:PCC-toy Huffer.jpg|thumb|200px|upright=2.2|CHUG or Bayverse? Guess it's up to [[you]] to decide!]]
*''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' (2003 - 2005)
:Although debuting a good three years before ''Classics'', the 2003 ''Universe'' toyline could be seen as a very early version of what would become CHUG, featuring a handful of attempts at replicating characters from previous eras in a regular retail line like [[Red Alert (RID 2001)|Red Alert]], [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Universe|Skywarp]], and [[Devastator (Universe Ultra)|Devastator]] - these were, however, limited to redecos instead of actual original sculpts and were often interspersed with more generic repaints, hence why the line is often disregarded as not necessarily being a part of the abbreviation. Still, considering how some of the released toys do match the aesthetics of early ''Classics'' and 2008 ''Universe'' figures, it sounds fair to say they aren't completely negligible either.

*''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' (2005 - 2017)
:Being the umbrella name for [[BotCon]] and [[Fun Publications]] exclusives, Timelines does encompass some sets and figures that fit in with the regular CHUG toylines (particularly as most of the molds used to come from those toylines). However, it also often goes for direct tie-ins with other continuities, such as ''Beast Wars'', ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' and ''Animated''.

*''[[Power Core Combiners]]'' (2010 - 2011)
:The ''Power Core Combiners'' hold a strange place in terms of continuity, with Hasbro themselves admitting they aren't particularly tied to any specific series. On one hand, the line follows the CHUG premise of reinventing classic characters (mostly combiners) with modern designs and packaging sporting the same graphical patterns of the concurrently released ''Generations'' figures. On the other hand, most of the characters were exclusively featured in Movie tie-in media, like [[Smolder (PCC)|Smolder]] in ''[[Transformers: Cyber Missions]]'' and [[Bombshock (PCC)|Bombshock]] in ''[[Transformers Classified]]''. Complicating matters further, they were released as ''United'' figures in Japan, under the ''United EX'' label, making them very explicit CHUG derivatives in that region but maybe not in the rest of the world. Even the character designs themselves look like a middle ground that could go in either direction, with most figures being relatively chonky and colorful like those of ''Generations'' and yet also occasionally featuring the more alien-esque head sculpts and wedgy limb greebling that you would generally expect from Movie characters.

*''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' (2014 - 2015)
:Much like PCC, ''Cloud'' is a somewhat confusing toyline to pin down. It was released as a separate series from ''Legends'' with its own story and continuity, but it also tries to reinvent the classic G1 characters... By mostly reusing the ''Generations'' sculpts of other previously reinvented classic characters, like by turning [[Doubledealer#Generations|Doubledealer]] into [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Cloud|Starscream]] and [[Springer (G1)#Voyager|Springer]] into [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Cloud|Hot Rodimus]]. Still, its aesthetic is certainly compatible with most of CHUG.

*''[[Transformers (2014 toyline)|Transformers]]'' (2014 - 2015)
:This small line, with the generic title ''Transformers'' (though it was named "Classic" and "Generation One" on Hasbro's website), included redecos from some of the "CHUG" toylines listed above, most of them being released alongside the [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (toyline)|Age of Extinction]] figures. It also included some redecos of ''Movieverse'' and ''Prime'' toys. However, it had no new molds and an odd release cycle, which made it unknown to many fans.

*''[[Transformers Authentics|Authentics]]'' (2017 -)
:Following in the footsteps of the above toyline, Hasbro created a dedicated "[[evergreen]]" design series for merchandise and budget markets, also based around the most popular characters that can be easily marketed without the necessity of any attached tie-in media. The series also had a couple of unique molds released under the ''Authentics'' subline, all of which are even simpler and more rudimentary than those of ''Cyber Series'' - though they still fit into the niche of customizers and collectors of smaller ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]''-scaled CHUG figures. The [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Power of the Primes|''Power of the Primes'' version of Starscream]] is also directly based on his evergreen design.

===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:TFU03-toy Skywarp.jpg|''Universe'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], redecoed from ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]].
File:TL Sunstorm-toy.jpg|''Timelines'' [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], redecoed from the aforementioned ''Classics'' Starscream.
File:PCC-toy Combaticons.jpg|''Power Core Combiners'' [[Bombshock (PCC)|Bombshock]] with [[Combaticon (PCC)|Combaticons]]
File:Takaratomy-cloud-Starscream.jpg|''Cloud'' [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
File:TF2014toy-LegionStrafe.jpg|''Transformers'' [[Swoop (G1)|"Strafe"]]
File:Cyber-Battalion-Shockwave.jpg|''Cyber Series'' [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Cyber Series|Shockwave]]. Despite its rudimentary articulation and engineering, it was cherished as the closest to a CHUG Shockwave [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|for a short while]].
File:Authentics 5inch Optimus.jpg|''Authentics'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]
</gallery>

[[Category:Fan terminology]]
[[Category:Toys]]

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CHUG