The Transformers (European toyline)
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 was 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.
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 on, with the addition of Spain. Known MB releases are:
Autobot Leaders
- Jetfire
- Optimus Prime
Autobot Cars
- Prowl
- Tracks
- Wheeljack
- Ratchet
- Mirage
- Jazz
Autobot Mini-Vehicles
- Windcharger
- Warpath
- Cosmos
- Beachcomber
- Seaspray
- Gears
- Powerglide
Jumpstarters
- Topspin
- Twin Twist
Autobot Communicator
- Blaster
Autobot Deluxe Vehicles
- Roadbuster
- Whirl
Dinobots
- Grimlock
- Slag
- Snarl
- Sludge
Decepticon Leader
- Megatron
Decepticon Laser Gun
- Shockwave
Decepticon Planes
- Starscream
- Thundercracker
- Dirge
- Ramjet
- Thrust
Decepticon Communicator
- Soundwave
Decepticon Triple Changers
- Blitzwing
- Astrotrain
Insecticons
- Kickback
- Bombshell
- Shrapnel
Deluxe Insecticons
- Venom
- Barrage
- Ransack
- Chop Shop
Constructicons
- Bonechrusher
- Scavenger
- Scrapper
- Hook
- Long Haul
- Mixmaster
- Devastator (giftset)
Notes
- Thundercracker was sold in "Starscream" boxes and with factory-applied Starscream stickers.
- Tracks was originally avalable in red rather than blue, based on the Diaclone version. Hasbro re-released Tracks in blue a year later, but due to the toy sporting a different color than its animated counterpart, red Tracks was selling poorly (which in turn later resulted in the toy being a much sought-after rarity).
- Optimus Prime was originally not released by MB. A Dutch manufacturer of kitchen utensils claimed ownership of the "Optimus" trademark, and as a result, MB held back the release of Optimus Prime in Europe until the dispute had been settled and initially marketed Jetfire as the Autobot leader instead.
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
- Omega Spreem (similar to Omega Supreme)
- Windmill (similar to Ultra Magnus)
Decepticons
- Double Punch (similar to Black Zarak)
- Turbo Master (head and torso are very similar to Bruticus)
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
