Pre-Transformers

This article is about the fandom term for toys derived from lines that existed before Transformers. For the Autobot leader, see Guardian Prime.

In fan terminology, pre-Transformers is an umbrella term for the Diaclone and Micro Change toylines, as well as for the original, non-Transformers-branded versions of such toys as Jetfire and the Mini-spies.

Pre-Transformer lines

Micro Change Microcassette

• Takara
  • Diaclone
  • Micro Change
  • Mecha Warriors — Mini-spies

• Takatoku Toys
  • Armored Insect Battalion Beetras — Deluxe Insecticons
  • Special Armored Battalion Dorvack — Deluxe Vehicles
  • Super Dimension Fortress Macross — Jetfire

• Toy Box — "Super Change Robo Mechabot-1" (Omega Supreme) and Sky Lynx (never actually released prior to the Transformers version)

• ToyCo — "4 Cheangeable Astro Magnum" (Shockwave)

Licensed international releases of pre-Transformers

Hasbro's Transformers line was originally just one of several international venues for many of these figures. It was only when Transformers became such a huge worldwide success that it completely eclipsed these other versions, resulting in weird transitional phases in many instances.

United States

• Takara — Diakron (featuring Diaclone figures, including the Powerdashers that were first named as such here)
• Radio Shack — "Galactic Man" (a version of Shockwave)
• Village Toys — Convert-A-Bots (featuring "N-4-SR", another version of Shockwave in two different color schemes)

United Kingdom

• Grandstand — Convertors (featuring "Omegatron", a version of Omega Supreme)
• Tandy — "Galactic Man" (almost identical to Radio Shack's version)

France

• Joustra — Diaclone (featuring Takara Diaclone and MicroChange figures, some of them already sporting Autobot and Decepticon insignia stickers)
• Orli Jouets — "Robotrack" (a nigh-identical version of Omega Supreme in Hasbro colors, with the TV commercial even featuring footage from the Transformers cartoon)

Italy

• GiG — Trasformer (featuring Diaclone and MicroChange figures, some of them already in their unique Transformers colors; as well as "Megarobot", a version of Omega Supreme)

Finland

• Takara — Diaclone (featuring Diaclone figures, including a unique black version of Tracks)

Honorable mention

• The Action Master Treadshot's design was inspired by a Sunmayor Ohkawa toy.

External links

• Pre-Transformers!
• The Pre Transformer Page