The Transformers (European toyline): Difference between revisions

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{{Note|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.}}
{{Note|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.}}

Revision as of 13:56, 19 June 2022
Generation 1 continuity family
The Transformers »

Originally, European countries got the same The Transformers toys Hasbro had previously released in the USA, although different countries got different toys (with the occasional noticeable variant). Initially, numerous 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.

Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: European-release toys in-package, GiG cars with ridiculous "bopper" missiles

1984

While The Transformers would not reach most of Europe until 1985, a number of the toys from the 1984 US line were also available in the UK the same year. Given that the Marvel UK comic launched in September '84 (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. Common consensus is that they came in English-only packaging virtually indistinguishable from the US packaging. Recounts of which toys were and weren't available in the UK vary depending on who you ask. A surprising confirmed omission from the initial wave of 1984 toys is Megatron, whose absence on the shelves was even 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", seen in the comic and on much of the early ancillary merchandise.

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


Mini Cars Spy-Cassetes[sic] Robot Cars Cassete Man[sic]
Robot Car Sideswipe
Strike Planes Leader Truck
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; Takara themselves released Diaclone in Finland). Some of the toys in those lines sported Hasbro-series changes, including color schemes and even Autobot symbols(!), as Takara was already shifting production of the toys from Diaclone to 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 name.

United Kingdom

All 1984 toys 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).[1][2]

Oddly, numerous toys were left out of the UK range, never to see official release: notably Swoop, Shockwave and Blaster. The Constructicons were also missing; in the early 90s they got a semi-official import release, and a de-combiner'ed redeco release (see "1992" below). Some of the non-Takara sculpts were likely dropped due to licensing arrangements (Omega Supreme, for example, was available as part of the competing Grandstand Convertors line around this time as "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.[3])


Mini-Vehicles Insecticons Robot Cars
Megatron, imported by Ceji
Jumpstarters Dinobots Strike Planes Decepticon Leader
Jetfire


Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, 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 German, French, Dutch and Spanish text. Therefore, MB covered the markets where Joustra's Diaclone toys were previously available, with the addition of Spain. 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 were literally repackaged and released as the second wave of MB Transformers.[2]

Special Note: the tech specs feature inconsistencies for the Dutch (Functie / Funktie) & Spanish (Función / Cometido) across the line. Usage appears to be figure consistent, meaning you will only see use of one or the other within the wave.

Wave 1
Autobot Mini Vehicles Constructicons Insecticons Jumpstarters
Jetfire, the new Autobot leader
Decepticon Triple Changers Dinobots Autobot Deluxe Vehicles Deluxe Insecticons
Decepticon Communicator Autobot Communicator Decepticon Aeroplanes Decepticon Leader
Decepticon Laser Gun Autobot Leader
Devastator is listed under his own number in the MB dealer catalog, but thus far, no evidence of an MB Devastator giftset has surfaced.


Wave 2
Autobot Mini Vehicles Decepticon Cassettes Robot Cars
Optimus Prime Ceji variant
Decepticon Planes Autobot Commander


Italy

GiG ("Geegh", but sometimes misspelled "GiGi") originally released licensed Diaclone toys under the name "Trasformer", occasionally sporting color schemes only found on Hasbro's Transformers versions (very likely because Takara was shifting production of the toys from Diaclone to Transformers at the time). 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").[4] In addition to the official Transformers logo, a small remainder of the old Trasformer logo would remain on the packaging until 1987.

Speaking of Trasformer remnants, the "Autorobot Cars" and the "Distructor Planes" all sported unique "safety" missiles with large rubber boppers on the end instead of the individual missiles the versions released everywhere else had.

The Autobot Minicars/Mini Vehicles were apparently never released by GiG. The Italian names for their characters come from the Italian dub of the animated series.

Escavators (Constructicons)
  • Rostro (Hook)
  • Scudo (Bonecrusher)
  • Devastator (giftset)
    		•  Autorobot Cars
  • Lince (Sunstreaker)
  • Mistero (Mirage, "Ligier" markings)
  • Saetta (Wheeljack)
  • Tigre (Jazz)
    		•
    Distructor Triple Changers
  • Triplex Uno (Astrotrain)
  • Triplex Due (Blitzwing)
    		•  Dinorobots (Dinobots)
  • Bronto (Sludge)
  • Reptilo (Swoop)
  • Stego (Snarl)
  • Tiran (Grimlock)
  • Tricex (Slag)
    		•  Distructor Planes
  • Astrum (Starscream)
  • Corvo (Skywarp)
  • Vampiro (Thundercracker)
    		•  Autorobot Leader
  • Commander (Optimus Prime, has plastic variant)
    • Let's see what you can see...

    This article is in need of images.

    Specifics: Autobot with the big hilarious bopper missile


    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 Mini-Vehicles Aerialbots Protectobots Constructicons (yellow)
    Stunticons Combaticons Battlespringers (Battlechargers) Triple Changers
    Autobot Vehicles (Autobot Cars)
    		Decepticon Planes Autobot Leader
    Autobot City Decepticon Communicator
    An instruction sheet for Scourge exists sporting the languages French, English, Dutch and Spanish. No packaged sample has surfaced thus far.


    Italy

    GiG was still doing their own thing at this point, with a bit of mix of Hasbro and Takara-style packaging. Notably, GiG's versions of the Aeriabolts, Protectobots, Stunticons and Combaticons came in boxes based on the Takara versions (including prominent "C" and "D" numbers and "Takara" instead of "Hasbro" logos), just like the previous year's Constructicons. 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.

    Known Italian releases of 1986 toys are:

    Aerialbots Protectobots Stunticons Combaticons
    Pentajet
    Predacons Distructor Planes Autorobot City Commander Autorobot City
    Distructor City


    Greece

    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 (which all have minor coloration differences) 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)
  • Keravnos (Powerglide)
  • Kyriarchos (Cosmos)
  • Thalassolykos (Seaspray)
    		•  Giftsets

    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:

    Technobots Duocons Autobot Headmasters Autobot Targetmasters
    Galvatron
    Decepticon Headmasters Decepticon Targetmasters Autobot Leader Autobot City Commander
    Decepticon City Commander Autobot Space Shuttle Decepticon City Headmaster Decepticon Base
    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.


    Italy

    GiG continued to have their own slightly-different take on Transformers, mainly in packaging; the "Racerbots" (Throttlebots), "Tecnobots" and "Terrorbots" (it should be obvious) came in Takara-styled boxes complete with Japanese ID numbers. "Tundertron" (Abominus) was available as a giftset even though Hasbro hadn't released the toys in that form in the USA; the box layout was again based very closely on the standard Hasbro combiner giftsets at that time, but lacking the Hasbro logo, and sporting the toys' Takara ID numbers. The "Tecnobot" and "Terrorbot" advertisement flyers depict Scattershot and Hun-Gurrr erroneously wearing their respective combiner heads in their uncombined robot modes. The Monsterbots' boxes were based on the Hasbro versions, but sported "Takara" instead of "Hasbro" logos and Takara ID numbers.

    Known Italian toys from 1987 are:

    Racerbots (Throttlebots) Tecnobots (Technobots) Terrorbots (Terrorcons) Duoform (Clones)
    The Terrorbots
    Autorobot Headmasters Monsterbots Distructor Headmasters Sixchanger
    Decepticon Citybot


    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 (all of the toys on this list have been found in both English stickered packaging and French/Dutch packaging):

    Sparkabots Firecons Triggerbots Triggercons
    Seacons Double Targetmasters Powermasters Six Changer


    Italy

    Starting with the Pretenders, GiG finally dropped the small remainder of the old Trasformer logo from their packaging. The most interesting releases this year are the "Grandi Set Transformers" (also called "Superset Transformers" in the 1988 Christmas catalog), re-releases of the prior Combiner giftsets with a pack of five random "Exogini Transformers" (Decoys) as a freebie.

    Known Italian releases from 1988 are:

    Triggerbots Triggercons Pretenders Autorobot
    Pretenders Distructor
    		Grandi Set/Superset Transformers

    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.

    Confirmed releases include:

    Alternate-language names are not given here to save space. UK: English packaging, F/NL: French/Dutch packaging, S: Spanish packaging
    Small Pretenders Micromaster Patrols Micromaster Transports Micromaster Bases
    Micromaster Battle Stations


    Italy

    Known Italian toys from 1989 are:

    Pretender Monsters Small Pretenders Microtransformers Pattuglias (Micromaster Patrols) Microtransformers Deluxes (Micromaster Transports)
    Microtrasformer[sic] Stations (Micromaster Stations) Microtransformer Bases (Micromaster Bases) Set Commandos (Classic Legends)


    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 Generation 2.

    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 include:

    Alternate-language names are not given here to save space. UK: English packaging, F/NL: French/Dutch packaging, S: Spanish packaging, I: Italian packaging with alternate names
    Micromaster Patrols Micromaster Combiner Squads Micromaster Combiner Transports Micromaster Combiner Autobot Battlefield Headquarters
    Cannon Transport
    Attack Copter with Over-Run
    Micromaster Combiner Anti-Aircraft Base
    Action Master Figures
    		Action Master Action Blasters Action Master Action Vehicles
    Galaxy Shuttle
  • Galaxy Shuttle (I)
    • Galaxy Shuttle was originally from the Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers toyline. The Italian GiG release is the only non-Takara release of the toy. How/why is anyone's guess.


    Not 2006.

    "Classics" (Europe & Australasia)

    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, under the name "Classics". Germany got the "Classics" toys in English packaging. Unlike the English and French/Dutch versions, the Italian and Spanish "Classics" don't actually say "Classic" anywhere on the packaging. The toys themselves are functionally identical to their original releases, complete with rubsigns. (Some toys released this year were altered the following year, but we'll talk about the details of that then.)

    Why this line happened is currently unknown, but there are several possibilities. It is known that the Transformers line was only just starting up in China (thanks to some legal shenanigans), and it appears the "Classics" toys were produced in the same Chinese factories, so the molds suddenly being available for production presented possibilities. It is unknown if Hasbro had originally intended for the toys to be released in the US market as well as in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but the line's cancellation in the US killed that. It's also possible "Classics" was a response to the unofficially-imported Mexican toys that flooded European and Australasian shelves with classic characters at the time, and therefore had never intended to be released in the US.

    Confirmed European/Australasian "Classic" releases from 1990:[5]

    Alternate-language names are not given here to save space. UK: English packaging, F/NL: French/Dutch packaging, S: Spanish packaging, I: Italian packaging with alternate names
    Classic Aerialbots Classic Stunticons Classic Heroes
  • Prowl (sticker variant) (UK, S)
  • Sunstreaker (UK)
  • Wheeljack (UK, S)
    		•
    Classic Hero Prowl


    1991

    Although Transformers had come to a stop in the US, Hasbro continued releasing new toys to the European and Australasian markets. Those included numerous Action Masters, 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.

    Confirmed releases include:

    Alternate-language names are not given here to save space. UK: English packaging, F/NL: French/Dutch packaging, S: Spanish packaging, I: Italian packaging with alternate names
    Action Master figures Exo-Suit Action Masters Motorized Exo-Suit Action Masters Action Master Elites
    Action Master Elite Double Punch
    Motorvators Others


    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. As the rubsigns were the only faction symbols on the Throttlebots, they were replaced with paper Autobot symbol stickers.

    Classic Throttlebots Classic Protectobots Classic Combaticons Classic Triple Changers
    Classics First Aid
    Classic Dinobots Classic Heroes Autobot Leader Combiner giftsets
  • Devastator
  • Defensor
    • The Combiner giftsets were released only in Greece by GiG under the brand name "El Greco". These versions also came with a Classic Dinobot attached on the back or front of the box.


    1992

    Predator Stalker (with Snare attached in the lower-right)

    '92 is when the European Transformers line really began to kick into high gear, even if the amount of product was a little on the light side. Hasbro produced new toys exclusively designed for the European market (though some did get imported to Japan), which had a far more cohesive design aesthetic than... well, the line ever had in its past. The Autobots trended towards brighter colors and generally had more "human" faces, and each one used bright-magenta translucent plastic for vehicle-mode windscreens and a new innovation in the line, light-piped eyes which appear to "glow" when light shines through them from behind. The Decepticons trended towards darker, cooler colors, their faces much more "robotic" (usually with facemasks and visor-eyes), and using bright-green translucent plastic for their canopies/optics. Both sides also included spring-loaded missile launchers, a gimmick that had been all but abandoned in Hasbro's markets due to more stringent safety regulations for projectiles in the US.

    Rounding out the year's product are a strange pair of re-released combiner teams lacking their combining ability... or individual names.

    After this year, Hasbro decided European sales were good enough to try to revive Transformers in the US again.[6]

    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.

    Confirmed releases include:

    Alternate-language names are not given here to save space. UK/S: English/Spanish packaging, F/NL: French/Dutch packaging, I: Italian packaging with alternate names
    Turbomasters Predators Rescue Force
  • "Rescue Force buggy"
  • "Rescue Force drill"
  • "Rescue Force jet"
  • "Rescue Force tank"
    		•  Constructicons
  • "Bonecrusher"
  • "Hook"
  • "Long Haul"
  • "Mixmaster"
  • "Scavenger"
  • "Scrapper"
    		•
    Turbomaster Flash


    1993

    Lightformer Ironfist

    While Hasbro rolled out the new Generation 2 toyline in the US, the European line continued under the original branding, with a slew of new all-new-mold toys with a variety of gimmicks… though curiously with the "Generation 2" Autobot and Decepticon symbols applied to them. (A popular rumor claims that this was due to the international licence for the original symbols having expired, which sounds highly dubious.) Some toys even got the "Autobot/Decepticon" text-stamp that was added to every Generation 2 toy in the US.

    On top of all these new molds, last year's Turbomasters, Predators, Rescue Force and Constructicons were still shipping to stores, making for quite a full assortment of toys for the final year of the original Transformers toyline globally. Salut!

    Many fans consider this year a sort of "Generation 1.5", further buoyed by the fact that all of the new molds got re-released in 1994 under the Generation 2 branding in European markets.

    Confirmed releases include:

    Alternate-language names are not given here to save space. UK/S: English/Spanish packaging, F/NL: French/Dutch packaging, I: Italian packaging with alternate names
    Axelerators Skyscorchers Aquaspeeders Stormtroopers
    Obliterator Clench
    Lightformers Trakkons Obliterators


    References

    1. ↑ "Red Footed Optimus Prime" at TF-1.com
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The MB & Joustra Connection" at 20th Century Toy Collector
    3. ↑ Fall 1985 Argos catalog at Issuu.com.
    4. ↑ "The Chicken or the Gig?", Part 1 and Part 2 at TFSource
    5. ↑ http://www.fredsworkshop.com/veurolist.html
    6. ↑ George Dunsay interview at TFArchive: "At the time it was discontinued in the US, it was not a temporary decision. It is only after the success in Europe that the US people decided to reintroduce it"
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