The Transformers (European toyline)

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Originally, European countries got the same The Transformers toys Hasbro had previously released in the USA, although different countries got different toys - and sometimes, the toys sported noticeable differences from their US counterparts. Initially, various sub-contracted companies were responsible for releasing the toys in the individual European countries (which involved language variations on the packaging), but over time, they were either bought out by Hasbro or simply dropped in favor of a more and more unified European market.

After the original The Transformers toyline ended in the US, the line continued in Europe until it was renamed into Generation 2 in 1994.

1984 (United Kingdom only)

A number of the toys from series 1 (i.e. toys released in the USA in 1984) were also available in the UK in 1984. Given that the Marvel UK comic launched in September of that year (complete with advertisements touting that the toys were "In the shops now!") it seems likely that they were on-sale by mid-summer at the latest, only a few months after the line's US launch.

Little is known about the earliest toys released in the UK. The common consensus is that they supposedly came in English-only packaging virtually indistinguishable from the packaging used for the United States releases. Recounts of which toys were and which weren't available in the UK vary depending on who you ask. A surprising omission from the initial wave of 1984 toys was Megatron, whose absence on the shelves was noted in the letters page of the Marvel UK comic. Also of note is that the line's UK tag-line initially was "Warrior Robots in Disguise", and this was seen on much of the early ancillary merchandise, including the UK comic.

The assortment names used below are those seen in the leaflet which accompanied the 1984 range.

Robot Cars Ratchet Mirage Jazz Bluestreak Hound Sideswipe		Leader Truck Optimus Prime		Mini Cars Bumblebee Huffer Cliffjumper Brawn Windcharger Gears		Robot Car Sideswipe
Cassete Man / Spy-Cassetes Soundwave and Buzzsaw Rumble and Ravage Frenzy and Laserbeak		Strike Planes Thundercracker Starscream Skywarp

Cliffjumper and Bumblebee were both available in red and yellow in 1984, and again in 1985, this time with rubsigns. Cliffjumper appears in yellow in the 1984 catalogue, but this was corrected for the following year's photos.

1985

The Transformers toy line officially started in most European countries in 1985. It should be noted, though, that various European companies had already released licensed versions of Takara's Diaclone and Microman toys domestically prior to that ("Trasformer" by GiG in Italy; "Diaclone" by Joustra in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands; in addition, Takara themselves had released Diaclone-branded figures in Finland), some of which had already sported characteristics that originated with Hasbro's Transformers toys (some of GiG's "Trasformer" versions of the Autobot Cars sported color schemes originally conceived by Hasbro; Joustra's versions of the Minicars already sported Autobot logos), because by that point, Takara were shifting production of the toys from Diaclone to Transformers for good (and were in the process of canceling Diaclone in favor of their own domestic release of Transformers). But it wasn't until 1985 that Transformers toys were officially introduced to the various European markets under that very name.

United Kingdom

All of the toys introduced in 1984 were still available in 1985, now with the addition of rubsigns. They were joined by the figures that had initially been omitted, namely the remaining Autobot cars and Megatron, who was reported by Hasbro to be available from around Easter. Alongside with a variation of Optimus Prime that sported red instead of blue feet, Megatron was manufactured by French company Ceji as part of a deal with Hasbro, and the red-footed version of Optimus Prime was also released by Milton Bradley in mainland Europe (see below).

The line was expanded further by the introduction of the second-year Autobot Cars (aka "Robot Cars") and Decepticon Planes (aka "Strike Planes"), as well as the Insecticons, Jumpstarters, and Triple Changers.

For the first time however, numerous toys were left out of the UK range, never to see official release, perhaps most notably Swoop, Shockwave and Blaster. The Constructicons would appear as a semi-official import release in the early 1990s and then again recolored in yellow in 1992. Some of the non-Takara sculpts were likely to have been dropped due to licensing arrangements (Omega Supreme, for example, was available as part of the competing Grandstand Convertors line around this time under the name of Omegatron). (Due to his absence from the 1985 Hasbro catalog, Jetfire has long been believed to have been held over until the 1986 range, but he was featured in the Autumn 1985 Argos catalog.)

Robot Cars
• Ironhide
• Prowl
• Sunstreaker
• Trailbreaker
• Wheeljack
• Inferno
• Hoist
• Grapple
• Red Alert
• Skids
• Smokescreen
• Tracks
Mini-Vehicles
• Powerglide
• Beachcomber
• Warpath
• Seaspray
• Cosmos
Dinobots
• Grimlock
• Snarl
• Sludge
• Slag



Megatron, imported by Ceji

Jumpstarters

• Topspin
• Twin Twist
Jetfire
• Jetfire
Decepticon Leader
• Megatron
Insecticons
• Shrapnel
• Kickback
• Bombshell
Strike Planes
• Ramjet
• Dirge
• Thrust

Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain

The earliest toys released in continental Europe (minus Italy) were distributed by Milton Bradley, which was in the process of being taken over by Hasbro at that point. There's no solid evidence that all the MB toys were available in all these countries, but the packaging is sporting the four languages German, French, Dutch and Spanish. Therefore, MB covered the markets where Joustra's Diaclone toys were previously available, with the addition of Spain. As a matter of fact, the first wave of MB-branded toys was a rather odd selection, a result of Joustra holding the rights to many of the remaining toys, among them Optimus Prime. As a consequence, Jetfire was initially marketed as Autobot leader. Following a deal between Hasbro Bradley and Joustra's struggling parent company Ceji, a large amount of unsold Joustra toys was repackaged (literally) and released as the second wave of MB Transformers.

The entire MB lineup, most of them confirmed, is as follows:

Wave 1

Autobot Leader



Jetfire, the new Autobot leader

• Jetfire
Autobot Deluxe Vehicles
• Roadbuster
• Whirl
Autobot Communicator
• Blaster
Dinobots
• Grimlock
• Slag
• Snarl
• Sludge
Jumpstarters
• Topspin
• Twin Twist
Autobot Mini Vehicles
• Seaspray
• Warpath
• Cosmos
• Beachcomber
• Powerglide
Decepticon Leader
• Megatron
Decepticon Communicator
• Soundwave
Decepticon Aeroplanes
• Dirge
• Ramjet
• Thrust
Decepticon Triple Changers
• Blitzwing
• Astrotrain
Deluxe Insecticons
• Venom
• Barrage
• Ransack
• Chop Shop
Insecticons
• Kickback
• Bombshell
• Shrapnel
Constructicons
• Bonecrusher
• Scavenger
• Scrapper
• Hook
• Long Haul
• Mixmaster
Devastator is listed under his own number in the MB dealer catalog, but thus far, no evidence of an MB Devastator giftset has surfaced.

Decepticon Laser Gun

• Shockwave

Wave 2

Autobot Commander



Optimus Prime Ceji variant

• Optimus Prime
There were two variants of Optimus Prime available in MB packaging: The first version, manufactured by Takara, sported blue feet like most other versions; the second version, manufactured by Joustra's parent company Ceji, sported red feet instead.

Autobot Mini Vehicles

• Windcharger
• Gears
• Brawn
• Huffer
Robot Cars
• Prowl
• Tracks
Due to being a repackaged Joustra Diaclone toy, MB's version of Tracks was red (the toy's Diaclone main color) rather than blue (his Transformers main color). When the toy was re-released in "Hasbro"-branded packaging the following year, he was available in his standard Transformers colors.
• Wheeljack
• Ratchet
• Mirage
• Jazz
The box front of MB's version of Jazz sported an additional "Porsche" remark after his name. The significance of this is still unknown at this point.
• Trailbreaker
• "Sideswipe" (actually Sunstreaker)
Although MB marketed the toy as "Sideswipe", the packaging actually contained Sunstreaker, whose toy (in Transformers colors) was part of Joustra's Diaclone line-up. Since the Sideswipe toy was not part of Joustra's Diaclone line-up, it's unlikely that the correct toy was ever sold in MB "Sideswipe" packaging.

Decepticon Planes

• Starscream
• Thundercracker (in Starscream packaging)
Thundercracker was sold in "Starscream" boxes and with factory-applied Starscream stickers. The actual Starscream toy was also sold in the same packaging.

Decepticon Cassettes



Laserbeak

• Laserbeak
• Ravage

Laserbeak and Ravage were sold carded all by themselves, rather than as a two-packs with Frenzy and Rumble, respectively, as in the USA.

Italy

GiG ("Geegh", but sometimes misspelled "GiGi" by non-Italian people) had originally released toys based on their Diaclone license from Takara under the name "Trasformer", occasionally sporting color schemes only found on Hasbro's Transformers versions, very likely because Takara was in the process of permanently shifting production of the toys from Diaclone to Transformers. Whether it was pressure from Hasbro or a mere marketing decision, GiG eventually acquired an additional license from Hasbro and launched their own version of the Transformers line, with the toys often sporting original Italian names (for example, the Autobots became "Autorobots", and the Decepticons "Distructors"). In addition to the official "Transformers" logo, a small remainder of the old "Trasformer" logo would remain on the packaging until 1987.

The Autobot Minicars/Mini Vehicles were apparently never released by GiG. Any Italian names for their characters are based on the Italian dub of the animated series.

Known GiG Transformers releases are:

Autorobot Leader
• Commander (Optimus Prime)
A later variant of Commander (Optimus Prime) sported plastic wheels instead of rubber tires and plastic instead of die-cast feet, similar to the US KB Toys exclusive variant of Ultra Magnus.

Autorobot Cars

The Autorobot Cars sported unique "safety" missiles with large rubber boppers instead of the individual missiles the versions released everywhere else had.
• Tigre (Jazz)
• Freccia (Sideswipe)
• Lince (Sunstreaker)
• Mistero (Mirage)
Whereas Mirage sported "Citanes" decals everywhere else in the world, GiG released their "Mistero" version with "Ligier" decals instead - originally as factory-applied stickers over the "Citanes" tampos, later with actual "Ligier" tampos.



Canguro

• Canguro (Hound)
• Saetta (Wheeljack)
• Giaguaro (Red Alert)
The Italian name for Red Alert was changed from "Giaguaro" to "Alert" in 1987.
• Inferno
• Gancio (Grapple)
Dinorobots (Dinobots)
• Tiran (Grimlock)
• Reptilo (Swoop)
• Bronto (Sludge)
• Tricex (Slag)
• Stego (Snarl)
Distructor Triple Changers
• Triplex Uno (Astrotrain)
• Triplex Due (Blitzwing)
Distructor Planes
• Astrum (Starscream)
• Vampiro (Thundercracker)
• Corvo (Skywarp)
GiG's versions of "Astrum", "Vampiro" and "Corvo", while released individually, were all sold in the same multi-purpose box sporting all three characters' names and tech specs.

Escavators (Constructicons)

• Scudo (Bonecrusher)
• Braccio (Scavenger)
• Ringhio (Scrapper)
• Rostro (Hook)
• Macigno (Long Haul)
• Rollo (Mixmaster)
• Devastator (giftset)
As the first of many examples of the liberties resulting from GiG's unique relationship with Takara, the "Escavators" came in small boxes based on the Takara versions, rather than on blister cards like the versions released everywhere else in the world. The boxes even sported numbers from "31" to "36", like the Takara versions did, and omitted the "Hasbro" logo on the packaging in favor of a "Takara" logo.

1986

UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain

Presumably, Transformers didn't sell well in Germany in 1985, as German was dropped as a language from the packaging until Generation 2. Instead, Hasbro (who had finished taking over MB) consolidated the UK market with the rest of Europe (except for Italy, again). The 1986 releases that were now available in packaging with "Hasbro" rather than "MB" logos sported the four languages English, French, Dutch and Spanish (the order between English and French could occasionally be swapped). Confirmed European Hasbro releases from 1986 are:

Autobot Leader
• Optimus Prime
Autobot Mini-Vehicles
• Bumblebee
• Wheelie
• Hubcap
• Swerve
• Outback
• Pipes
Along with the regular Pipes, a European variant (dubbed "Puffer" by fans) existed which was actually Huffer's original sculpt in Pipes' colors. (This is not to be confused with the Mexican version of Pipes, which was also the original Huffer mold but sported slightly different colors.)

Autobot Vehicles (Autobot Cars)

• Tracks
Unlike the MB version of Tracks, which was a repackaged Joustra Diaclone toy in its predominantly red Diaclone deco, the European Hasbro version of Tracks sported the character's regular Transformers colors, with a blue vehicle mode.
• Red Alert
• Sideswipe
• Inferno
• Grapple
• Hoist
• Smokescreen
• Trailbreaker
• Hound
• Hot Rod
• Kup
• Blurr
Triple Changers
• Broadside
• Octane
• Sandstorm
• Springer
Autobot City
• Metroplex
Constructicons



Devastator

• Bonecrusher
• Scavenger
• Scrapper
• Hook
• Long Haul
• Mixmaster
These versions of the Constructicons, which were available in continental Europe, replaced the green plastic with yellow. They are not to be confused with the later, non-combining versions available in 1992 (see below).

Aerialbots

• Air Raid
• Skydive
• Fireflight
• Slingshot
• Silverbolt
Protectobots
• Streetwise
• Groove
• Blades
• First Aid
• Hot Spot
Combaticons
• Brawl
• Swindle
• Blast Off
• Vortex
• Onslaught
Stunticons
• Dead End
• Breakdown
• Wildrider
• Drag Strip
• Motormaster
Battlespringers (Battlechargers)
• Runabout
• Runamuck
Decepticon Planes
• Scourge
• Cyclonus
An instruction sheet for Scourge exists sporting the languages French, English, Dutch and Spanish. No packaged sample has surfaced thus far.

Italy

Known Italian releases of 1986 toys are:

Aerialbots



Pentajet

• Tornado (Air Raid)
• Log (Skydive)
• Optor (Fireflight)
• Vertic (Slingshot)
• Radiant (Silverbolt)
• Pentajet (Superion giftset)
Protectobots
• Phantom (Streetwise)
• Chips (Groove)
• Rasor (Blades)
• Sirena (First Aid)
• Drago (Hot Spot)
• Defensor (giftset)
Just like the individual Constructicons before them, GiG's versions of the Aeriabolts, Protectobots, Stunticons and Combaticons also came in boxes based on the Takara versions (including prominent "C" and "D" numbers and "Takara" instead of "Hasbro" logos). This only applied to the combiner limbs, though; the leaders/torsos came in boxes based on the Hasbro versions, including "A5", "P5", "S5" and "D5" numbers.

Autorobot City

• Guardian (Metroplex)
Autorobot City Commander
• Convoy (Ultra Magnus)
Stunticons
• Cobra (Dead End)
• Caimano (Breakdown)
• Squalo (Wildrider)
• Iguana (Drag Strip)
• Barracuda (Motormaster)
• Pentacar (Menasor giftset)
Combaticons
• Bomber (Brawl)
• Crasher (Swindle)
• Exploder (Blast Off)
• Vortex
• Destroyer (Onslaught)
• Multiforce (Bruticus giftset)
Whereas no solid evidence for the existence of a Hasbro Bruticus giftset has surfaced thus far, GiG did indeed release Multiforce (Bruticus) as a giftset. The box layout was based very closely on the standard Hasbro combiner giftsets at that time, down to the inclusion of a Hasbro product code number; but unlike the other GiG combiner giftsets, Multiforce lacked the Hasbro logo on the front of the box, and the individual components sported Takara numbers from D-64 to D-68 before their names.

Distructor City

• Tripticon (Trypticon)
Predacons
• Zannar (Razorclaw)
• Felin (Rampage)
• Torox (Tantrum)
• Rinox (Headstrong)
• Falcon (Divebomb)
The individual Predacons were available in boxes based on the Hasbro versions. Apparently, Predaking was not available as a giftset from GiG.

Distructor Planes

• Sheriff (Scourge)
• Ciclone (Cyclonus)

Greece

A company named El Greco released a small number of Transformers toys to the Greek market. The Autobots were called Αυτορομπότ (Autorobots). The only known El Greco releases include seven Autobot Mini-Vehicles and two combiner giftsets. The cards the toys were available on were based on the Hasbro cards and sported Hasbro logos in addition to the "El Greco" logo.

It's not entirely clear when exactly the following toys were first available in Greece; however, they couldn't have been released before 1986, since they depict the "Decipher the Decepticon" poster artwork on the back of their cards.

Classic Heroic (Autobot Mini Vehicles)



Gigantas

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1987

UK, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium

Apparently realizing that tech specs in four different languages aren't exactly the optimal choice, Hasbro started breaking up the languages again. The UK got toys in English-only packaging, whereas France, Belgium, and the Netherlands got toys in bilingual French/Dutch packaging. Germany only got the English versions with safety warning stickers in German. Presumably, all toys were available in all language variants, but without solid evidence, this is pure speculation. Known European toys from 1987 in French/Dutch packaging are:

Decepticon City Commander



Galvatron

• Galvatron
An instruction sheet for Galvatron exists which only sports the languages French and Dutch. It is therefore assumed that he was available later than Scourge, whose instruction sheet still sported texts in English and Spanish as well.


Duocons

• Battletrap
• Flywheels

Italy

Known Italian toys from 1987 are:

Autorobot Headmasters

• Duobot (Chromedome)
• Cruiserbot (Highbrow)
• Goblin (Brainstorm)
• Blindobot (Hardhead)
Tecnobots (Technobots)
• Radarbot (Afterburner)
• Argobot (Nosecone)
• Rocketbot (Strafe)
• Starbot (Lightspeed)
The individual Tecnobots (Technobots) and Terrorbots (Terrorcons) were once again available in boxes with "Takara" logos and Takara numbers from C-87 to C-90 and from D-80 to D-83, respectively.
• Scatterbot (Scattershot)
• Computron (giftset)
The box for the Computron giftset was based on the Hasbro version, but lacked a "Hasbro" logo on the front of the box.

Monsterbots

• Drekbot (Doublecross)
• Tigerbot (Grotusque)
The Monsterbots were available in boxes that were based on the Hasbro versions, but sported "Takara" instead of "Hasbro" logos and Takara numbers from C-99 to C-100.

Racerbots (Throttlebots)

• Wagenbot (Goldbug)
• Scoutbot (Chase)
• Saterbot (Freeway)
• Trollbot (Rollbar)
• Strobobot (Searchlight)
• Rollerbot (Wideload)
The Racerbots (Throttlebots) were also available in small boxes rather than on cards, sporting "Takara" rather than "Hasbro" logos and Takara numbers from C-92 to C-97.

Duoform (Clones)

• Booster/Gemini (Fastlane/Cloudraker)
• Roboclon/Rapax (Pounce/Wingspan)
Distructor Headmasters
• Tifon (Snapdragon)
• Tagor (Apeface)
Sixchanger
• Iperbot Sei Azioni (Sixshot)
Terrorbots (Terrorcons)



Thundertron

• Crudelbot (Cutthroat)
• Battlebot (Rippersnapper)
• Spectrobot (Blot)
• Bifronbot (Sinnertwin)
• Grifobot (Hun-Gurrr)
• Tundertron (Abominus giftset)
Like Multiforce (Bruticus) before him, Tundertron (Abominus) was also available as a giftset from GiG even though Hasbro hadn't released the toys in giftset form in the USA. The box layout was again based very closely on the standard Hasbro combiner giftsets at that time, but it lacked the Hasbro logo, the individual components sported Takara numbers from D-79 to D-83 before their names, and the giftset itself sported the Takara number D-84.

Decepticon Citybot

• Scorpion (Scorponok)

1988

UK, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium

Toys were still available in English-only and French/Dutch packaging. The UK toys started sporting a yellow "Original HASBRO Transformers" sticker on their packaging, possibly as a reaction to the sudden flood of Mexican toys (although those didn't come out in Europe until late 1988/early 1989). This sticker is also the only way to tell a European toy in English packaging apart from its US counterpart, as the packaging itself appears to be identical. 1988 toys were available in Germany in English-only packaging including the "Original HASBRO Transformers" sticker, with additional safety warning stickers in German. Known European toys from 1988 are (UK = English packaging with "Original HASBRO Transformer" sticker; F/NL = French/Dutch packaging)

Powermasters



Dreadwind

• Getaway (UK, F/NL)
• Slapdash (UK, F/NL)
• Joyride (UK, F/NL)
• Dreadwind (UK, F/NL)
• Darkwing (UK, F/NL)
• Doubledealer (UK, F/NL)
• Optimus Prime (UK, F/NL)
Sparkabots
• Fizzle (UK, F/NL)
• Sizzle (UK, F/NL)
• Guzzle (UK, F/NL)
The Sparkabots were referred to as "Sparkler Minibots" in the comics by Marvel UK and Condor Verlag based on early model sheets, but the toys apparently sported the standard US name.

Firecons

• Cindersaur (UK, F/NL)
• Flamefeather (UK, F/NL)
• Sparkstalker (UK, F/NL)
Triggerbots
• Backstreet (UK, F/NL)
• Override (UK, F/NL)
• Dogfight (UK, F/NL)
Triggercons
• Windsweeper (UK, F/NL)
• Ruckus (UK, F/NL)
• Crankcase (UK, F/NL)
Double Targetmasters
• Landfill (UK, F/NL)
• Quickmix (UK, F/NL)
• Scoop (UK, F/NL)
• Spinister (UK, F/NL)
• Needlenose (UK, F/NL)
• Quake (UK, F/NL)
Seacons
• Overbite (UK, F/NL)
For reasons unknown, Overbite was referred to as "Jawbreaker" in the comics by Marvel UK. The toy was apparently still released as "Overbite" regardless.
• Nautilator (UK, F/NL)
• Seawing (UK, F/NL)
• Skalor (UK, F/NL)
• Tetakil (UK, F/NL)
• Snaptrap (UK, F/NL)

Italy

Starting with the Pretenders, GiG finally dropped the small remainder of the old "Trasformer" logo from their packaging. Known Italian releases from 1988 are:

Pretenders Autorobot



Super Commander

• Super Commander (Cloudburst)
• Febos (Landmine)
• Falcon (Waverider)
• Zanna (Catilla)
• Ursus (Chainclaw)
• Rotor (Sky High)
• Felin (Groundbreaker)
• Squalos (Splashdown)
Waverider and Groundbreaker's Italian names, "Falcon" and "Felin", were already used as Divebomb and Rampage's Italian names.

Pretenders Distructor

• Korno (Skullgrin)
• Reptilo (Submarauder)
• Lobos (Bomb-Burst)
• Ghigno (Carnivac)
• Verros (Snarler)
• Razzak (Finback)
• Squamos (Iguanus)
• Insector (Bugly)
Submarauder's Italian name, "Reptilo", was already used as Swoop's Italian name.

Triggerbots

• Furio (Override)
• Orage (Dogfight)
• Bitume (Backstreet)
Triggercons
• Rafale (Windsweeper)
• 4x4 (Crankcase)
• Rallye (Ruckus)
Grandi Set/Superset Transformers
• Devastator
• Pentajet (Superion)
• Defensor
• Multiforce (Bruticus)
• Computron
• Tundertron (Abominus)
Each of the aforemented Combiner giftsets were released in 1988 with a pack of 5 random "Exogini Transformers" as a freebie. The assortment was called "Superset Transformers" on the 1988 Christmas catalog and "Grandi Set Transformers" in TV and print commercials.

1989

UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain

In 1989, all releases received French names, but not Dutch names. Spain started getting toys in Spanish-only packaging (which are not to be confused with the unofficially imported Mexican toys by IGA). The smaller Pretenders, the Classic Pretenders, the Micromaster Stations and the Micromaster Transports were once again available in Germany in English packaging.

Known European toys from 1989 are (UK = English packaging with "Original HASBRO Transformer" sticker; F/NL = French/Dutch packaging; E = Spanish packaging):

Small Pretenders
• Doubleheader (UK, F/NL: Bicéphale/Doubleheader)
• Longtooth (UK, F/NL: Longues Dents/Longtooth)
• Pincher (UK, F/NL: Scorpion/Pincher)
• Bludgeon (UK, F/NL: Ossement/Bludgeon)
• Octopunch (UK, F/NL: Pieuvre/Octopunch)
• Stranglehold (UK, F/NL: Étrangleur/Stranglehold)
Micromaster Patrols
• Air Strike Patrol (F/NL: Patrouille Aérienne)
• Sports Car Patrol (F/NL: Patrouille Voitures de Sport)
• Battle Patrol (UK, F/NL: Patrouille de Combat)
• Off-Road Patrol (F/NL: Patrouille Tous Terrains/Patrouille Terreinwagens)
• Race Car Patrol (UK, F/NL: Patrouille Routière)
• Rescue Patrol (UK, F/NL: Patrouille de Sauvegarde)
Micromaster Transports



Roughstuff

• Flattop (UK, E, F/NL: L'Invincible/Flattop)
• Erector (UK, E, F/NL)
• Overload (UK, E, F/NL: Surchage/Overload)
• Roughstuff (UK, E, F/NL: Convoi/Roughtstuff)
Micromaster Bases
• Groundshaker (E, F/NL: Tank/Groundshaker)
• Skyhopper (F/NL: Hélico/Skyhopper)

Italy

Known Italian toys from 1989 are:

Small Pretenders



Medusa

• Biclonius (Doubleheader)
• Medusa (Octopunch)
• Demon (Stranglehold)
• Teskior (Bludgeon)
Pretender Monsters
• Spettro (Bristleback)
• Raptor (Scowl)
• Pipistrello (Icepick)
• Avvoltoio (Birdbrain)
• Vampiro (Wildfly)
• Artiglio (Slog)
Icepick and Wildfly's Italian names, "Pipistrello" and "Vampiro", were already Mindwipe and Thundercracker's Italian names.

Set Commandos (Classic Pretenders/Legends)

• Saetta, Folgore, Drago & Tornado (Bumblebee, Jazz, Grimlock & Starscream set)
The Classic Pretender/Legends versions of Bumblebee, Jazz, Grimlock and Starscream were released as a giftset without their pretender shells. The packaging of the set was based on the Japanese "Hero Set". The names of the individual toys were not the same Italian names the original toys/characters had sported - rather, they were given seemingly random names of other Transformers toys. Bumblebee ("Maggiolino" in the Italian dub of the animated television series, since the original toy had not been released in Italy) became "Saetta" (originally the Italian name for Wheeljack); Jazz (originally "Tigre") became "Folgore" (originally the Italian name for Hot Rod); Grimlock (originally "Tiran") became "Drago" (originally the Italian name for Hot Spot); and Starscream (originally "Astrum") became "Tornado" (originally the Italian name for Air Raid).

Microtransformers Pattuglias (Micromaster Patrols)

• Expeditors (Off-Road Patrol)
• Sprintforce (Race Car Patrol)
• Interceptors (Air Strike Patrol)
• Pattuglia Soccorso (Battle Patrol)
• Pattuglia Guastatori (Sports Car Patrol)
The early patrols (Expeditors/Off-Road Patrol, Sprintforce/Race Car Patrol, Interceptors/Air Strike Patrol) are called "Micromaster" rather than "Microtransformers".

Microtransformers Deluxes (Micromaster Transports)

• Tractor (Erector)
• Tornado (Roughstuff)
"Tornado", the Italian name for Roughstuff, was already used for Air Raid and the Set Commandos release of Starscream.

Microtrasformer Stations (Micromaster Stations)

• Radar (Ironworks)
• Argon (Hot House)
• Assalt (Greasepit)
• Lancer (Airwave)
For reasons unknown, GiG's versions of the Micromaster Stations are called "Microtrasformer" rather than "Microtransformer" like the rest of the Italian Micromaster releases.
"Argon", Hot House's Italian name, was also Sky Lynx's name in the Italian dub of the original cartoon. The original Sky Lynx toy was never released in Italy.

Microtransformer Bases (Micromaster Bases)

• Titano (Groundshaker)
• Rotor (Skyhopper)
The Italian name of Skyhopper, "Rotor", was already used as Sky High's Italian name.

Unofficial Mexican imports

In addition to the regular toys released by Hasbro and GiG, Europe was also hit by a flood of Transformers toys imported from Mexico. While these toys had been officially produced by IGA with the intention to release them on the Mexican market, a large unsold stock remained that was eventually exported to Europe without Hasbro's involvement. The toys were available in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Romania, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. This created a strange situation where unofficially imported (but officially produced) toys competed with official European releases. These toys are considered official for Mexico but unofficial for Europe.

1990

By 1990, Hasbro had mostly streamlined their European markets. Presumably, all toys that came out in one country were also available everywhere else. Even the Italian releases now sported a uniform look with the toys that were available elsewhere in Europe (even though they still sported a "GiG" logo and Italian names) - with one exception. Also, with Hasbro cancelling the Transformers line in the USA for the time being, the European Hasbro branches continued releasing new toys which the USA would never get. By this time, Australia also was receiving releases, re-releases and exclusives in a pattern similar (if not exactly the same) to that of the European market - this would continue at least as far as the 'Generation 2' era.

Micromasters

Known European Micromaster releases are (F/NL = French/Dutch packaging; E = Spanish packaging; I = Italian packaging with alternate names):

Micromaster Patrols
• Air Patrol (E)
• Construction Patrol (E)
• Hot Rod Patrol (E; I: Pattuglia Inseguitori; F/NL: Patrouille Routiere)
• Military Patrol (I: Pattuglia Militare; F/NL: Patrouille Militaire)
• Monster Truck Patrol (UK; E; I: ?; F/NL: Patrouille De Poids Lourds)
• Race Track Patrol (E)
Micromaster Combiner Squads (Microtransformers Combin in Italy)
• Astro Squad (UK; I: Squadriglia Interstellare)
• Metro Squad (I: Squadriglia Metropolis)
• Battle Squad (I: Squadra Combattenti)
• Constructor Squad (UK; E; I: Squadra Demolitori)
Micromaster Combiner Transports (Microcombiners in Spain)



Cannon Transport

• Tanker Truck (UK; E: Camion Cisterna)
• Cannon Transport (UK; E: Remolque de Cañon)
• Missile Launcher (E: Lanzamisiles)
Micromaster Combiner Autobot Battlefield Headquarters
• Battlefield Headquarters ( E: Cuartel General; I: Super Camion Fortezza)

Action Masters (Super Azione in Italy)

Presumably, Germany got the UK versions of the 1990 Action Masters in English-only packaging. Also, GiG gave at least some of the Action Masters toys that were based on older characters the original Italian names again.

Confirmed releases are (UK = English packaging, F/NL = French/Dutch packaging; E = Spanish packaging; I = Italian packaging with alternate names):

Action Master figures

• Grimlock with Anti-tank cannon (UK,I:Tiran & Cannone Anti-Carro)
• Snarl with Tyrannitron (UK)
• Blaster with Flight Pack (UK,I: Blaster & Condor)
• Bumblebee with Heli-pack (UK)
• Jazz with Turbo Board (I: Bionic con Turbo Veicolo)
• Jackpot with Sights (I: Inspector & Falcon)
• Soundwave with Wingthing (UK)
• Shockwave with Fistfight (UK)
• Devastator with Scorpulator (UK)
• Mainframe with Push-Button (I: Omicron & Orione)
• Rad with Lionizer (I: Cronos & Lince)
• Rollout with Glitch (I: Ciclope & Goblin)
• Treadshot (I: Raptor & Pantera)
"Tiran" was Grimlock's Italian name in the original toyline. Blaster kept his original name instead of being called "Radiorobot" like in the Italian dub of the original cartoon or "Audiobot" like in the dub of Headmasters, even though the original Blaster toy was never released in Italy. Jazz is renamed "Bionic" rather than "Tigre". Meanwhile, Lionizer, Glitch, Threadshot and Catgut's Italian names are "Lince", "Goblin", "Raptor" and "Pantera", which were already used as the Italian names of Sunstreaker, Brainstorm, Scowl and Prowl respectively.



Attack Copter with Over-Run

Action Master Action Blasters

• Attack Copter with Over-Run (F/NL)
Action Master Action Vehicles
• Wheeljack (I: Saetta con Super Turbo)
• Starscream (I: Arcan)
Again, while Wheeljack in Italy is called "Saetta" like in the original toyline, Starscream is called "Arcan" rather than "Astum"

European and Australasian "Classics"



Not 2006.

Possibly taking a cue from the popularity of the Classic Pretenders, Hasbro started re-releasing original toys from 1984-1987 in "gold" packaging based on the Classic Pretenders' boxes. It's impossible to determine whether this was an idea Hasbro had originally intended for the US market that fell victim to the cancellation of the line in the USA and which therefore only came out in Europe, Australia and New Zealand or whether Hasbro was trying to fulfill the demand for original toys/characters, possibly in an attempt to react to the imported Mexican toys that flooded European and Australasian shelves. Germany got the Classics toys in English packaging. Unlike the English and French/Dutch versions, the Italian and Spanish Classics don't say "Classic" anywhere on the packaging. Known European/Australasian "Classic" releases from 1990 are (UK = English packaging; F/NL = French/Dutch packaging; E = Spanish packaging; I = Italian packaging with alternate names):

Classic Aerialbots
• Air Raid (UK)
• Skydive (UK)
• Fireflight (UK; F/NL)
• Slingshot (UK)
• Silverbolt (UK; E)
Classic Stunticons
• Dead End (UK; F/NL; E; I: Cobra)
• Breakdown (UK; F/NL)
• Wild Rider[sic] (UK; F/NL; E)
• Drag Strip (UK; F/NL; E; I: Iguana)
• Motormaster (UK; E)
Classic Heroes
• Inferno (UK; E)
• Ironhide (UK)
• Jazz (UK; E)
• Prowl (UK; E)
The "Classic" version of Prowl sported a sticker sheet that was based on the Diaclone version of the toy. The police badges actually sport the word "Diaclone", which was omitted from the 1984 Hasbro version, the 1985 Takara Transformers version and all the modern-day reissues.
• Sunstreaker (UK)
• Wheeljack (UK; E)
The "Classic" versions of Sunstreaker and Wheeljack mark the last uses of these molds to this very day. While Hasbro have confirmed the Wheeljack mold (as well as the Mirage mold) as "long since depleted", the fate of the Sunstreaker mold is still unknown.

Italian exclusives



Galaxy Shuttle

As a last glimmer of GiG's unique relationship with Takara, Galaxy Shuttle, which was originally released as part of Takara's Victory line, was available in Italy. The Italian packaging was loosely based on the original Japanese packaging, but with a lot of elements taken from the European releases at that time. The Japanese "C-326" number was omitted from the packaging this time around.

1991

Hasbro continued releasing new toys to the European and Australasian markets. Those included new Action Masters that never came out in the USA, entirely new Action Master concepts, more "Classic" re-releases of older toys and even toys that were originally only available in Japan, slightly redecoed for the European market. Again, Action Masters were available in English packaging in Germany.

Known European/Australasian toys from 1991 are (UK = English packaging; F/NL = French/Dutch packaging; E = Spanish packaging; I = Italian packaging with alternate names):

Action Masters (Super Azione in Italy)

Action Master figures



Action Master Tracks

• Powerflash with Road Rocket (UK; F/NL; I: Flash)
• Sideswipe with Vanguard (UK; F/NL; I: Freccia)
• Tracks with Basher (UK; I: Puma)
• Bombshell with Needler (UK; F/NL; I: Prudox)
• Charger with Fire Beast (UK; F/NL; I: Lampo)
• Take-Off with Screech (UK; F/NL; I: Rapax)
The Italian versions of Action Master Sideswipe and Tracks are named "Freccia" and "Puma", respectively. These are the characters' original Italian names. "Prudox" was also Bombshell's name in the Italian dub, hence the original toy was never released. Meanwhile "Flash", "Lampo" and "Rapax" were originally Blurr, Windcharger and Thrust's Italian names.

Exo-Suit Action Masters

• Circuit with Supersonic Racing Car (UK; F/NL)
• Thundercracker with Solo Mission Jet Plane (UK)
Motorized Exo-Suit Action Masters
• Rumbler with 4WD All-Terrain Vehicle (UK; F/NL)
• Slicer with 4WD Assault Vehicle (UK)
Action Master Elites



Double Punch

• Omega Spreem (intended to represent Omega Supreme)
• Windmill
• Double Punch (similar in appearance to BlackZarak)
• Turbo Master (head and torso are very similar to Bruticus)
The Action Master Elites are rumored to have originally been designed as wave 5 of the standard Action Masters, but to have been redesigned for licencing reasons, as Hasbro UK is a separate company from the US Hasbro according to this rumor. The Japanese "Transformers Generations" book contains concept designs for an unreleased Action Master version of Bruticus; it's assumed that some parts originally designed for AM Bruticus ultimately ended up on Turbo Master.

Classics

Again, Classics toys were available in English packaging in Germany. However, the Classic Combaticons might have not been available in Germany, due to the unpopular "war" theme. Also, again, the Italian and Spanish Classics don't say "Classic" anywhere on the packaging, unlike the English and French/Dutch versions. The rubsign indents on the Classic Protectobots, Combaticons, Throttlebots, and Triple Changers Springer, and Octane were filled in. The Throttlebots also had standard Autobot symbols instead of rubsigns.

Classic Throttlebots (Motorizatti Rollerbots in Italy)

• Chase (UK; I: Scoutbot)
• Freeway (UK; I: Saterbot)
• Goldbug (UK; I: Maggiolino)
• Rollbar (UK; I: Trollbot)
• Searchlight (UK; I: Strobobot)
• Wideload (UK; I: Rapidbot)
The original Italian releases of the Throttlebots were named "Racerbots"; the Italian versions of the Classic Throttlebots were called "Motorizatti Rollerbots" instead. Also, Scoutbot (Chase), Saterbot (freeway), Trollbot (Rollbar) and Strobobot (Searchlight) used their original Italian names; however, Goldbug, who had originally been named "Wagenbot" in Italy, was called "Maggiolino" for the Italian version of his "Classics" incarnation instead, which was the Bumblebee's name in the Italian dub of the animated television series (since the original Bumblebee toy was never released in Italy); and likewise, Wideload, who had originally been named "Rollerbot" in Italy (which had now become the name of the entire team), was renamed into "Rapidbot".

Classic Dinobots (Nuovo Dinorobots in Italy)

• Grimlock (UK)
• Sludge (UK; I: Bronto)
• Snarl (UK; I: Stego)
The Italian versions of the Classic Dinobots were available as packs with re-releases of old combiner giftsets.

Classic Triple Changers

• Sandstorm (UK; E)
Classics Sandstorm had black plastic feet painted orange, as opposed to the original orange-painted metal and later orange plastic versions. Sandstorm came without a rubsign but the indent was not removed.
• Springer (UK; E)
• Astrotrain (UK; E)
• Octane (UK; E)
Classic Protectobots
• Streetwise (UK; E)
• Groove (UK; E)
• Blades (UK; F/NL; E)
• First Aid (UK; E)
• Hot Spot (UK; E)
Classic Combaticons
• Brawl (UK; F/NL; E)
• Swindle (UK; F/NL; E)
• Vortex (UK; E)
• Blast Off (UK; E)
• Onslaught (UK; F/NL; E: Oslat)
For reasons unknown, the Spanish "Classic" version of Onslaught is the only known Spanish version of a toy sporting an alternate name, "Oslat".

Classic Heroes

• Sideswipe (UK; E)
• Tracks (UK; F/NL; E)
Other Classics
• Optimus Prime (UK; E)

Imported Japanese toys

Motorvators (Super Autorobots in Italy)



Flame

• Flame (UK; I: Ghibli)
• Gripper (UK; I: Phantom)
• Lightspeed (UK; I: Starbot)
The Motorvators are redecos of the Japanese Brainmasters Blacker, Braver, and Laster, but do not include the parts for forming Road Caesar.
"Starbot" was previously also the Italian name of the Technobot Lightspeed. It's currently unknown whether this is supposed to imply that the Motorvator and the Technobot are supposed to be the same character. For what it's worth, "Ghibli" was previously the Italian name of Triple Changer Sandstorm.

Others

• Overlord (UK; F/NL; I)
Overlord is slightly recolored from his 1988 Japanese release. Make that very slightly, as the only difference is that some violet accessories are now indigo.
Both Overlord and the Motorvators came in boxes sporting the same overall layout as the boxes used for the "Classic" toys.
It's speculated that Overlord and the Motorvators might have been a "test" to see how well larger toys sell in Europe. By using existing molds already released by Takara, Hasbro minimised the financial risk.

Greece

Along with the classic toy-line, GiG RE-produced two giftsets in 1990-1991 (these came with a Dinobot classic attached on the back or front of the box) under the brand name "El Greco" for sale in Greece. While these toys are often mistakenly thought to have been produced in 1986, they have small differences from the versions previously released. There are differences in colors (Excavator, for example, is a brighter green), projectiles and the toys do not have rubsigns. Like the Italian rereleases, do not be misled by the date on the box, these giftsets were only sold in 1990-1991:

Combiner giftsets

• Excavator (Devastator)
• Defensor
The layout of the combiner giftsets boxes differs from the Mini-Vehicles' cards. Apparently, the boxes were based on the Italian giftsets by GiG. The small additional "Trasformer" logo is present, and the "El Greco" logo is placed in an oval bubble where the "GiG" logo would be placed on Italian toys, whereas the Mini-Vehicles sported a blue "El Greco" logo without a bubble. Also, both Excavator's and Defensor's names are spelled in Latin rather than in Greek characters, Excavator's function is stated as "Fighter Excavator" (also in Latin), and furthermore, he's called a "Decepticon" (even though his faction is called "Distructors" elsewhere on the packaging), and Defensor is called an "Autobot" (also in Latin), even though the Mini-Vehicles were "Autorobots". The individual Constructicons' and Protectobots' names are their original English names, spelled in Latin characters on the packaging.

1992

Hasbro continued with a few new toys exclusively designed for the European market, as well as a few strange re-releases of combiners lacking their combining ability. After this year, Hasbro decided European sales were good enough to indicate trying it in the US again.

In terms of languages, English and Spanish were now merged into bilingual English/Spanish packaging for the British, Spanish, Australian, and New Zealand markets, whereas France, Belgium, and the Netherlands still got toys in bilingual French/Dutch packaging, but now with alternate (English) names as well, and Italy still got toys in Italian-only packaging from GiG. Known European releases from 1992 are (UK/E = English/Spanish packaging; F/NL = French/Dutch packaging with alternate names; I = Italian packaging with alternate names):

Turbomasters and Predators



Flash

Turbomasters (UK/E: Turbomaster; F/NL: Canon Masters[sic]; I: Turbomaster)

• Boss (UK/E: Boss; F/NL: Blizzard; I: Tigre)
• Flash (UK/E: Flash; F/NL: Flash)
• Hurricane (UK/E: Hurricane; F/NL: Tempest; I: Vortex)
• Scorch (UK/E: Scorch; F/NL: Dragon)
• Rotorstorm (UK/E: Rotorstorm; F/NL: Storm)
• Thunder Clash (UK/E: Thunder Clash; F/NL: Eagle; I: Uragan)



Basic Predators

Predators (UK/E: Predator; F/NL: Scope Masters)

• Falcon (UK/E: Falcon)
• Skydive (UK/E: Skydive; F/NL: Hyena; I: Pyton)
• Snare (UK/E: Snare; F/NL: Trap)
• Talon (UK/E: Talon; F/NL: Demon; I: Bomber)
• Stalker (UK/E: Stalker; F/NL: Buzzard; CA: Stalker/Traqueur)
• Skyquake (UK/E: Skyquake; F/NL: Crash)
The Italian name for Boss, "Tigre", was originally the Italian name for Jazz. Likewise, the Italian name for Hurricane, "Vortex", was also the Italian name for the Combaticon Vortex, and Talon's Italian name "Bomber" was also the Italian name for the Combaticon Brawl.
The Turbomasters were also available in Canada; the Canadian version of Rotorstorm had the alternate names "Storm" (English) and "Tempête" (French).

Non-combining Combiners



Big Rescue Force

Rescue Force

• "Rescue Force drill"
• "Rescue Force buggy"
• "Rescue Force tank"
• "Rescue Force jet"
The Rescue Force were recolors of four members of the Breastforce, originally released by Takara in Japan as part of their Victory line in 1990, with new weapons replacing the partners. Names are in quotes because no official names were given. Some parts were retooled, such as the gun for Killbison now being a set of crane arms. These were not intended to replace the partners. These toys were also released with both red and gray weapons. Note that these toys still combine but lack the head included with the Japanese Leozack (and the two arms).

Constructicons

• "Bonecrusher"
• "Hook"
• "Long Haul"
• "Mixmaster"
• "Scavenger"
• "Scrapper"
The European Constructicons from 1992 are different from the yellow G2 Constructicons, as the purple parts were the darker G1 shade, the soft plastic parts (Bonecrusher and Scrapper's roof parts, Scavenger's shovel arm) were gray, no combiner parts were included, and there was no G2 stamp. Figure names are in quotes because these figures were not officially named. Some fans also refer to these versions of the Constructicons as the "G1½" versions.
Both the Rescue Force and the Constructicon toys came on uniform cards with the same box artwork spotlights for each team member, minimal texts ("Rescue Force" and "Autobot", or "Constructicons" and "Decepticon", respectively), no individual names, no tech specs and strictly image-based instructions that featured all team members.

1993

The Turbomasters, Predators, Rescue Force and Constructicons were still available. All new toys from 1993 would be re-released in 1994 in "Generation 2" packaging in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and were identical to their 1993 releases other than the packaging. The G2 symbol was created for this year's releases; rumor has it that this was due to the international licence for the G1 symbols having expired. Some releases of these figures also had the "G2 stamp" placed somewhere on the figure. Known European/Australasian releases from 1993 are (UK/E = English/Spanish packaging; F/NL = French/Dutch packaging with alternate names; I = Italian packaging with alternate names):

Obliterators



Obliterator Clench

• Pyro (UK/E)
• Clench (UK/E)

Axelerators and Skyscorchers

Axelerators (UK/E; I: Colorflashes)

• Hotrider (UK/E: Hotrider; F/NL: Hotrider; I: Astro) (a.k.a. Turbofire)
• Rapido (UK/E: Rapido; F/NL: Rapido; I: Sirius)
• Skram (UK/E: Skram; F/NL: Smash; I: Mercury)
• Zap (UK/E; F/NL: Rush; I: Folgor) (a.k.a. Windbreaker)
Skyscorchers (UK/E; I: Colorflashes)
• Hawk (UK/E: Hawk; F/NL: Hawk; I: Pyton) (a.k.a. Eagle Eye)
• Snipe (UK/E: Snipe; F/NL: Snipe) (a.k.a. Afterburner)
• Terradive (UK/E: Terradive; F/NL: Nightmare; I: Drake)
• Tornado (UK/E: Tornado; F/NL: Vulcano; I: Diablo) (a.k.a. Windrazor)
Both the Axelerators and the Skyscorchers are called "Colorflashes" in Italy.
"Pyton", the Italian name for Hawk, was already used as the Italian name for Predator Skydive.

Aquaspeeders and Stormtroopers

Aquaspeeders

• Aquafend (UK/E)
• Deluge (UK/E)
• Jetstorm (UK/E)
• Speedstream (UK/E)
Stormtroopers (UK/E: Stormtroopers; F/NL: Stormtroopers; I: Acquamasters)
• Aquablast (UK/E: Aquablast; F/NL: Squall; I: Piranha)
• Drench (UK/E: Drench; F/NL: Hydrocruiser; I: Tempest)
• Hydradread (UK/E: Hydradread; F/NL: Hydroshark; I: Idrosqualo)
• Rage (UK/E: Rage; F/NL: Aquanaught; I: Murena)

Lightformers and Trakkons

Lightformers



Ironfist

• Deftwing (UK/E: Deftwing; F/NL: Blue Arrow)
• Ironfist (UK/E: Ironfist; F/NL: Ironfist)
Trakkons
• Calcar (UK/E: Calcar; F/NL: Roadraider)
• Fearswoop (UK/E: Fearswoop; F/NL: Black Omen)
The Generation 2 re-releases of Pyro and Clench from 1994 were named "Spark" and "Colossus" instead.

Innovations and lasting effects

• The 1992 Turbomasters and Predators introduced the concept of light-piping to create low-tech lighting effects for their eyes, which continued to be used by toys from numerous later lines.

References