Transformers Retro

This article is about the 2023 toyline. For the 1990 character, see Retro{{#switch:{{#sub:Retro|-1}}|!=|.=|?=|.}} For a list of other meanings, see Retro (disambiguation).

A hot pink Hot Rod. And it only took 37 years!

Beginning in 2023, Transformers Retro is another in a long line of reissue series designed to get toys from the original The Transformers toyline into the hands of kids and collectors, but with a twist: these original toy molds are presented in lavish decos based on their animated appearances, some for the first time ever. Chrome parts of the original figures are replaced by pale grey plastic, and tampographs take the place of the original stickers.

In 2025, the line flipped the script entirely: instead of cartoon-accurate redecos of vintage toys, it consisted of vintage toy-accurate redecos of modern cartoon-accurate Transformers: Generations toys.

Transformers Retro toys are exclusive to Walmart and Hasbro Pulse in the United States. The packaging designs for these toys make no reference to "Retro," with that naming coming from the Walmart and Pulse product listings.

Toys

The Transformers: The Movie

The first four waves, released throughout 2023, were themed around The Transformers: The Movie. Sadly, the paltry number of G1 molds still usable after 39 years meant only one of the toys used was actually designed for the film, with most of the characters really only having bit parts in the story—c'est la vie. Package artist Marcelo Matere produced new illustrations for the plastic-free boxes, curiously taking reference from recent modern figures of the characters for the most part, rather than the G1 toys in the box! Accounting for their small size, the Insecticons were sold at a slightly lower price point than the rest of the figures.

Wave 1 Autobot Hot Rod Starscream

Wave 2 Autobot Hound Thundercracker

Wave 3 Kickback Perceptor

Wave 4 Shrapnel Skywarp

Retro Autobot Hound

The Transformers

To mark the Transformers franchise's 40th anniversary, 2024's two waves of product instead sported packaging inspired by original The Transformers toyline's initial look. The toys themselves carried on with the same cartoon-accurate style. Bombshell filled the same price point as before by being packed alongside Ramhorn, while Blaster and Soundwave were slightly more expensive to account for their included Mini-Cassettes, with Optimus Prime being sold at his own higher-still price point.

Wave 5 Blaster & Steeljaw Soundwave, Laserbeak, & Ravage

Wave 6 Bombshell & Ramhorn Optimus Prime

Retro Optimus Prime

Generations style

Although the line's direction pivoted towards Generations-style figures for 2025, the previous year's 1980s-inspired package design continued to be used.

Wave 7 Autobot Bumblebee Autobot Gears

Wave 8 Autobot Brawn Autobot Seaspray

Wave 9 Autobot Wheelie Autobot Outback

Retro Autobot Gears

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