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 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, 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 Cassettes

  • Ravage

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.
  • Ravage was sold carded all by himself, rather than as a two-pack with Rumble as in the USA.
  • The box front of MB's version of Jazz sported an additional "Porsche" remark after his name. The significance of this is still unknown by this point.
  • 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.
  • Aside from Optimus Prime, none of the Autobot Cars were featured in the first MB catalog either.
  • 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). Also, red Tracks was the only Autobot Car in MB packaging sporting the 1985 US battle scene on the back of the box rather than the 1984 one, thus indicating that he might have been one of the last Transformers released in MB packaging.

Italy

GiG had originally released toys based on their Diaclone license from Takara under the name "Trasformer", occasionally sporting color schemes only found on Hasbro's Transformers versions. Eventually, Hasbro cracked down on GiG and made them acquire a second license from them as well. In 1985, GiG 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"). A small remainder of the old "Trasformer" logo would remain on the packaging until 1989. Known GiG Transformers releases are:

Autorobot Leader

  • Commander (Optimus Prime)

Autorobot Cars

  • Tigre (Jazz)
  • Freccia (Sideswipe)
  • Mistero (Mirage)
  • Canguro (Hound)
  • Alert (Red Alert)
  • Inferno
  • Gancio (Grapple)

Dinorobots (Dinobots)

  • Tiran (Grimlock)

Distructor Triple Changers

  • Triplex Uno (Astrotrain)
  • Triplex Due (Blitzwing)

Distructor Planes

  • Astrum (Starscream)
  • Vampiro (Thundercracker)
  • Corvo (Skywarp)

Escavators (Constructicons)

  • Scudo (Bonecrusher)
  • Braccio (Scavenger)
  • Ringhio (Scrapper)
  • Rostro (Hook)
  • Macigno (Long Haul)
  • Rollo (Mixmaster)
  • Devastator (giftset)

Notes

  • The Mini-Cars/Mini-Vehicles were apparently never released by GiG. Any Italian names for their characters are based on the Italian dub of the animated series.
  • Similar to Thundercracker being available in a Starscream box from MB, GiG released Astrum (Starscream), Vampiro (Thundercracker) and Corvo (Skywarp) in a multi-purpose box sporting all three names and tech specs for all three characters.
  • Whereas Mirage sported "Citanes" decals everywhere else in the world, GiG released their "Mistero" version with "Ligier" decals instead - originally as factory-applied stickers over the "Citanes" tampos, later with actual "Ligier" tampos.
  • The Constructicons came in small boxes based on the Takara versions, rather than on cards like the versions released everywhere else in the world. The boxes even sported numbers from "31" to "36", like the Takara versions did, and omitted the "Hasbro" logo on the packaging in favor of a "Takara" logo. The first of many examples of the liberties resulting from GiG's unique relationship with Takara.
  • A later variant of Commander (Optimus Prime) sported plastic wheels instead of rubber tires and plastic instead of diecast feet, similar to the US KB Toys exclusive variant of Ultra Magnus.

Greece

A company named El Greco released a small number of Transformers toys to the Greek market. The Autobots were called Αυτορομπότ (Aotorobots). The only known El Greco releases include seven Autobot Mini-Vehicles and two combiner giftsets. Known 1985 releases are:

Classic Heroic (Autobot Mini-Vehicles)

  • Ahtipitos? (Warpath)
  • Kiriarhos? (Cosmos)
  • Αγγελιοφόρος (Agelioforos = Beachcomber)
  • Egefalos? (Brawn)
  • Γίγαντας (Gigantas = Huffer)
  • Κεραυνός (Keravnos = Powerglide)
  • Thalassolikos? (Seaspray)

Notes

  • The cards the toys were available on were based on the Hasbro cards and sported Hasbro logos in addition to the "El Greco" logo.

1986

UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain

Presumably, Transformers didn't sell well in Germany in 1985, therefore 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 Leader

  • Optimus Prime

Autobot Cars

  • Tracks
  • Red Alert
  • Inferno
  • Grapple
  • Hoist
  • Smokescreen

Autobot Mini-Vehicles

  • Pipes

Triple Changers

  • Broadside

Protectobots

  • Streetwise
  • Groove
  • Blades
  • First Aid
  • Hot Spot

Combaticons

  • Brawl
  • Swindle
  • Blast Off
  • Vortex
  • Onslaught

Stunticons

  • Dead End
  • Breakdown
  • Wildrider
  • Drag Strip
  • Motormaster

Decepticon Planes

  • Scourge

Notes

  • Being a prominent character, Optimus Prime was re-released in Hasbro packaging. Additionally, a variant of this Hasbro Optimus Prime has been confirmed released in France that also sports red feet, just like the version from Ceji previously released in the UK. Reportedly, there are slight differences between the two red feeted Optimus Primes.
  • Because MB's red version of Tracks proved to be unpopular, the toy was re-released in blue, just like the US version. Since he is the only one of the Autobot Cars in European Hasbro packaging that sports the 1985 US battle scene on the back of the box rather than the 1986 one, it can be assumed that he was one of the earliest releases following the completion of the MB takeover.
  • The European version of Pipes was actually an unremolded Huffer in Pipes colors. This is not to be confused with the Mexican version of Pipes, which was also the original Huffer mold but sported slightly different colors.
  • An instruction sheet for Scourge exists sporting the languages French, English, Dutch and Spanish. No packaged example has surfaced thus far.

Italy

Known Italian releases of 1986 toys are:

Aerialbots

  • Tornado (Air Raid)
  • Log (Skydive)
  • Optor (Fireflight)
  • Vertic (Slingshot)
  • Radiant (Silverbolt)
  • Pentajet (Superion giftset)

Protectobots

  • Phantom (Streetwise)
  • Chips (Groove)
  • Rasor (Blades)
  • Sirena (First Aid)
  • Drago (Hot Spot)
  • Defensor (giftset)

Autorobot City

  • Guardian (Metroplex)

Autorobot City Commander

  • Convoy (Ultra Magnus)

Stunticons

  • Cobra (Dead End)
  • Caimano (Breakdown)
  • Squalo (Wildrider)
  • Iguana (Drag Strip)
  • Barracuda (Motormaster)
  • Pentacar (Menasor giftset)

Combaticons

  • Bomber (Blast Off)
  • Crasher (Swindle)
  • Exploder (Blast Off)
  • Vortex
  • Destroyer (Onslaught)
  • Multiforce (Bruticus giftset)

Distructor City

  • Tripticon (Trypticon)

Predacons

  • Zannar (Razorclaw)
  • Felin (Rampage)
  • Torox (Tantrum)
  • Rinox (Headstrong)
  • Falcon (Divebomb)

Notes

  • Just like the individual Constructicons before them, GiG's versions of the Aeriabolts, Protectobots, Stunticons and Combaticons also came in boxes based on the Takara versions (including prominent "C" and "D" numbers and "Takara" instead of "Hasbro" logos). 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.
  • Whereas no solid evidence for the existence of a Hasbro Bruticus giftset has surfaced thus far, GiG did indeed release Multiforce (Bruticus) as a giftset. The box layout was based very closely on the standard Hasbro combiner giftsets at that time, down to the inclusion of a Hasbro product code number; but unlike the other GiG combiner giftsets, Multiforce lacked the Hasbro logo on the front of the box, and the individual components sported Takara numbers from D-64 to D-68 before their names.
  • The indivudal Predacons were available in boxes based on the Hasbro versions. Apparently, Predaking was not available as a giftset from GiG.

Greece

Aside from the seven Autorobot Mini-Vehicles, El Greco apparently only released two combiner giftsets before going bankrupt in the mid-Eighties. Known El Greco releases from 1986 are:

Combiner giftsets

  • Excavator (Devastator)
  • Defensor

Notes

  • The layout of the combiner giftsets boxes differs from the Mini-Vehicles' cards. Apparently, the boxes were based on the Italian giftsets by GiG. The small additional "Trasformer" logo is present, and the "El Greco" logo is placed in an oval bubble where the "GiG" logo would be placed on Italian toys, whereas the Mini-Vehicles sported a blue "El Greco" logo without a bubble. Also, both Excavator's and Defensor's names are spelled in Latin rather than in Greek characters, Excavator's function is stated as "Fighter Excavator" (also in Latin), and furthermore, he's called a "Decepticon" (even though his faction is called "Distructors" elsewhere on the packaging), and Defensor is called an "Autobot" (also in Latin), even though the Mini-Vehicles were "Autorobots". The individual Constructicons' and Protectobots' names are their original English names, spelled in Latin characters on the packaging.

1987

UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain

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 packaging only, France, Belgium and the Netherlands got toys in bilangual French/Dutch packaging, and Spain got toys in Spanish-only packaging. Germany only got the English and French/Dutch 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:

Decepticon City Commander

  • Galvatron

Duocons

  • Battletrap
  • Flywheels

Notes

  • An instruction sheet for Galvatron exists sporting the languages French and Dutch only. It is therefore assumed that he was available later, whose instruction sheet still sported English and Spanish as well.

Italy

Known Italian toys from 1987 are:

Autorobot Headmasters

  • Duobot (Chromedome)
  • Cruiserbot (Highbrow)
  • Goblin (Brainstorm)
  • Blindobot (Hardhead)

Tecnobots (Technobots)

  • Radarbot (Afterburner)
  • Argobot (Nosecone)
  • Rocketbot (Strafe)
  • Starbot (Lightspeed)
  • Scatterbot (Scattershot)
  • Computron (giftset)

Monsterbots

  • Drekbot (Doublecross)
  • Tigerbot (Grotusque)

Racerbots (Throttlebots)

  • Wagenbot (Goldbug)
  • Scoutbot (Chase)
  • Saterbot (Freeway)
  • Trollbot (Rollbar)
  • Strobobot (Searchlight)
  • Rollerbot (Wideload)

Duoform (Clones)

  • Booster/Gemini (Fastlane/Cloudraker)
  • Roboclon/Rapax (Pounce/Wingspan)

Distructor Headmasters

  • Duobot (Chromedome)
  • Cruiserbot (Highbrow)
  • Goblin (Brainstorm)
  • Blindobot (Hardhead)
  • Tifon (Snapdragon)
  • Tagor (Apeface)

Sixchanger

  • Iperbot Sei Azioni (Sixshot)

Terrorbots (Terrorcons)

  • Crudelbot (Cutthroat)
  • Battlebot (Rippersnapper)
  • Spectrobot (Blot)
  • Bifronbot (Sinnertwin)
  • Grifobot (Hun-Gurrr)
  • Tundertron (Abominus giftset)


Notes

  • The Racerbots (Throttlebots) were once again available in small boxes rather than on cards, sporting "Takara" rather than "Hasbro" logos and Takara numbers from C-92 to C-97.
  • Likewise, the individual Tecnobots (Technobots) and Terrorcons Terrorbots (Terrorcons) were also available in boxes with "Takara" logos and Takara numbers from C-87 to C-90 and from D-80 to D-83, respectively.
  • The box for the Computron giftset was based on the Hasbro version, but lacked a "Hasbro" logo on the front of the box.
  • Like Multiforce (Bruticus) before him, Tundertron (Abominus) was also available as a giftset from GiG even though Hasbro hadn't released the toys in giftset form in the USA. The box layout was again based very closely on the standard Hasbro combiner giftsets at that time, but lacked the Hasbro logo, the individual components sported Takara numbers from D-79 to D-83 before their names, and the giftset itself sported the Takara number D-84.
  • The Monsterbots were available in boxes that were based on the Hasbro versions, but sported "Takara" instead of "Hasbro" logos and Takara numbers from C-99 to C-100.

1988

UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain

Toys were still available in English-only, French/Dutch and Spanish-only packaging.

Known European toys from 1988 in French/Dutch packaging are:

Powermasters

  • Getaway
  • Slapdash
  • Joyride

Sparkabots

  • Fizzle
  • Sizzle
  • Guzzle

Firecons

  • Cindersaur
  • Flamefeather
  • Sparkstalker

Notes

  • Powermaster Optimus Prime was available in Germany in English-only packaging, with German safety warning stickers.
  • Dreadwind and Darkwing were available in Germany, but it's currently not known which packaging they came in.
  • The UK apparently got the Seacons, with Overbite renamed into "Jawbreaker" for reasons unknown.
  • The Sparkabots were referred to as "Sparkler Minibots" in the comics by Marvel UK, but at the current point of time it's not known whether the toys also sported that name.

Italy

Known Italian releases from 1988 are:

Pretenders

  • Falcon (Waverider)
  • Korno (Skullgrin)

Triggerbots

  • Furio (Override)
  • Orage (Dogfight)
  • Bitume (Backstreet)

Triggercons

  • Rafale (Windsweeper)
  • 4x4 (Crankcase)
  • Rallye (Ruckus)

Notes

  • Starting with the Pretenders, GiG finally dropped the small remainder of the old "Trasformer" logo from their packaging.

1989

1990

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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