1983

«	1983	»

The year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) predates the launch of the Transformers brand by one year.

For further information, see: Transformers timeline

Events

Non-Fiction

• The Family Computer, commonly abbreviated as the Famicom, a video game console and the Japanese equivalent of the Nintendo Entertainment System is released in Japan by Nintendo.

• Saban Entertainment is formed.

• Hasbro approaches Sunbow Productions about a television series based on their toyline of G.I. Joe action figures.

• In the fall of 1983, Richard Marcej graduates from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and begins working for Hasbro.

• Robin Riggs begins working for the UK Marvel Comics department.

• Don Hudson begins working for Marvel Comics.

• The Microman story is being told exclusively through text and manga pages in the toys' pack-in catalogues, with no tie-in fiction.

• GiG acquires the license for selling imported Diaclone and MicroChange toys on the Italian market from Takara.

• Trailbreaker's orignal toy the Diaclone "4WD Hi-Lux" (as the Diakron "DK-3" Car/Robot), the red Diaclone version of Sunstreaker (as Diakron "DK-1" Car/Robot) and the black Diaclone version of Ironhide (as the Diakron "DK-2" Car/Robot) are being sold by Takara in North America, seemingly just a few months before the toy would be rebranded as a Transformer.

• The mold that would become Autobot is released in the 1983 Microman Micro Change line as MC-06 Watch Robo, available in four different colors.

• The mold that would become Wheeljack is released under the Diaclone line.

• A new "Microchange" theme in the Microman toyline is introduced, under which all but a few of the robots and vehicles made to interact with the figures will have the ability to disguise themselves as ordinary household objects.

• The toy that would ultimately end up as the original Optimus Prime toy is originally released in August as No.17 Battle Convoy from Takara's Diaclone Car Robo toyline in Japan.

• Henry Orenstein convinces George Dunsay, Hasbro's Vice President of R&D, to acquire a license for releasing Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change toys on the North American market

• In late 1983, Hasbro first approaches Griffin Bacal and asks them to adapt two Japanese toy lines, Diaclone and Micro Change, for the American market. Hasbro later approaches Marvel Comics to create a storyline around a series of transforming toy robots they had licensed from Takara.

October

• October 15 — The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk (alt mode of Predator Falcon, Shadow Jet, Skyjack, G1 Air Raid), and others) starts being used by the United States Military.

November

• November 1 — Hasbro's licensing agreement with Takara is formalized.

Births

April

• April 5 — Andrew Elder

May

• May 20 — Josh Perez

July

• July 29 — Tania Gunadi

December

• December 22 — Yui Kano
• December 26 — Omar Soto

Fiction

2007 Movie

• Sector Seven is at least partially aware of the events of their universe's Beast Wars as early as 1983, as they are mentioned in the Takara Agreement.

March

• March 15 — To control the previous year's leaks about the Transformers to the public, S7 Industries collaborated with Japanese toymaker Takara to produce a movie based on the 'video game' about giant robots they were developing, allowing them to dismiss any claims relating to the Transformers or their world as fictional characters- hiding them in plain sight. This operation is codenamed Hungry Dragon.