The Transformers (European toyline)

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Originally, European countries got the same 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 the time, they were either bought out by Hasbro or simply dropped in favor of a more and more unified European market. After Generation One ended in the US, the line continued in Europe until it was canceled in 1993 in favor of the Generation 2 Line.

1985

Notes

The Transformers toyline 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), some of which had already sported characteristics directly lifted from 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). But it wasn't until 1985 that Transformers toys were officially introduced to the various European markets under that very name.

UK

Little is known about the earliest toys released in the UK. The common consensus is that they supposedly came in English-only US packaging. Recounts of which toys were and which weren't available in the UK vary depend on who you ask. Probably the most well-known UK release is an (almost) unique version of Optimus Prime *with red instead of blue feet. The packaging is almost identical to the US version, but sports an additional copyright note linking this release to Ceji Revell (misspelled as "Revel"), which is owned by the same company as Joustra. It's possible that the other initial UK releases were also distrbuted by Ceji, but at the current point of time, there's no evidence supporting this theory.

1990

Notes

The classic Aerialbots and Stunticons had the rubsign indents filled in and replaced with any detail the opposite side of the toy had. These changes would remain on the Generation 2 toys.

Classic Aerialbots

Autobots

Classic Stunticons

Decepticons

Classic Heroes

Autobots

1991

Action Masters

Autobots

Decepticons

Exo-Suit Action Masters

Autobot

Decepticon

Motorized Exo-suit Action Masters

Autobot

Decepticon

Action Master Elites

The Elites are rumored to have originaly been designed as wave 5 of the standard Action Masters, but to have been redesigned for licencing reasons, as Hasbro UK is a seperate company from the US Hasbro.

Autobots

Decepticons

Motorvators

The Motorvators are recolors of the Japanese Brainmasters Blacker, Braver, and Laster, but do not include the parts for forming Road Ceaser

Autobots

Classic Throttlebots

Autobots

Classic Dinobots

Autobots

Classic Triple Changers

Autobots

Decepticons

Classic Protectobots

Autobots

Classic Combaticons

Decepticons

Classic Heroes

Autobots

Others

Autobot

Decepticon

Classics Note

The rubsign indents on the Classic Protectobots, Combaticons, Throttlebots, and Tribpe Changers Sandstorm, Springer, and Octane were filled in. The Throttlebots also had standard Autobot symbols instead of rubsigns.

1992

Turbomasters

Autobots

Predators

Decepticons

Rescue Force

The Rescue Force were recolors of four members of the Breastforce, with new weapons replacing the partners. Names are in quotes because no offical names were given. Some parts were remolded 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 Leozak (and the two arms).

Autobots

  • "Drillhorn"
  • "Jaruga"
  • "Killbison"
  • "Leozak"

Constructicons

There are the European yellow G1 constructicons. These are diffrent from the yellow G2 Constructicons, as the purple parts were the darker G1 shade, the soft plastic parts were gray, no combiner parts were included, and there was no G2 stamp. Figure names are in quotes because these figures were not officaly named.

Decepticons

  • "Bonecrusher"
  • "Hook"
  • "Long Haul"
  • "Mixmaster"
  • "Scavenger"
  • "Scrapper"

1993

The Turbomasters and Predators were re-released. All new toys were rereleased in 1994 under the Generation 2 line in Europe, and were identical to the G1 release. The G2 symbol was created for this year's releases as the licence for the G1 symbols to Hasbro Intl. had expired. Some releases of these figures also had the "G2 Stamp" placed somewhere on the figure.

Obliterators

Autobots

Decepticons

Axelerators

Autobots

Skyscorchers

Decepticons

Aquaspeeders

Autobots

Stormtroopers

Decepticons

Lightformers

Autobots

Trakkons

Decepticons

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