Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)

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The name or term "Universe" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Universe (disambiguation).

The 2008 Universe is the second Transformers franchise to use the name. Like the previous franchise, this line is intended to be something of a catch-all for toys that don't fit in the main line. While the contemporary main line for this Universe is Transformers Animated, for some reason Hasbro has actually included a few Animated figures in it too.

The franchise consists of:

Additional fictional support has been provided by the contemporaneous comic book series, which uses a number of toy designs from the series. Another comic uses the Universe name and logo, but does not use the toys.

Hasbro first announced the line at BotCon 2007, stating that it would not have an overall story arc. The "main" focus of the line are the price points Legends Class, Deluxe Class, Voyager Class and Ultra Class, which consist of new molds for "classic" characters from various previous lines, as well as redecos of existing toys from older lines (such as Cybertron and the 2006 Classics line). In addition, there are also numerous store exclusive single and multi-packs, which also consist of redecos of toys from older lines.

Many of the new-mold toys are meant to feature "realistic" vehicle modes (a niche left otherwise unfilled after the end of the 2007 movie line), although that aspect has since been muddled with the introduction of Legends Class toys for characters from the current Animated line (which have not-so-realistic vehicle modes) and Beast Wars characters (which have animal forms as their alternate modes, not vehicles). The G1 series also causes trouble, as suitcase-sized microcassetes aren't really that common, and flying spaceships aren't masters of disguise. Unless you're on Cybertron or something.

And just to break the vehicle-mode-based pattern completely, Universe also continues the non-transforming, super-cute Robot Heroes line.

The Universe toys are attributed to various "series". Those are:

  • Classic Series, continuing the Classics franchise. This was originally the most prevalent sub-line.
  • Generation 1 Series (alternatively also named G1 Series on some toys' packaging), rooted in the original Generation 1 franchise. This is currently the most prevalent sub-line. The exact difference between "Classic Series" and "Generation 1 Series" is unclear, and further muddled as the line progresses. However, the one thing that can be said is that some characters can have their G1 altmodes instead of the insistence that everyone is a vehicle, like spaceships and suitcase sized microcassetes.
  • War Within Series, based on the War Within comic. Thus far only used for one store exclusive two-pack.
  • Armada Series, adding to the Armada franchise.
  • Animated Series, representing the Transformers Animated franchise.
  • Beast Wars Series
  • Beast Machines Series
  • Robots in Disguise Series
  • Cybertron Series

In January 2008, Hasbro launched a web page for the new Universe line, featuring a preview of the first "Classic Series" wave and a CGI reimagining of the battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime from the original animated Transformers movie. The tagline for the video, in keeping with the toyline's theme, was "They were always real to me."

In 2009, the packaging gained a "25 Years" corner logo to commemorate Transformers' 25th anniversary, as the toyline's offerings expanded to include updates of key characters from every franchise.

Toys

General retail

Legends Class

Wave 1
File:Universelegendsredalert.jpg
Red Alert, a Legends Class toy.
Wave 2
Wave 3
Wave 4
Wave 5

Deluxe Class

Wave 1
File:Universe AcidStorm toy.jpg
Acid Storm, a Deluxe Class toy.
Wave 2
Wave 3
Wave 4
Wave 5
Wave 6

Voyager Class

Wave 1
Heavy Load, a Voyager Class toy.
Wave 2
Wave 3
Wave 4
Wave 5

Ultra Class

Wave 1
Onslaught, an Ultra Class toy.
Wave 2
Wave 3
Wave 4

Robot Heroes

Wave 1
Robot Heroes Megatron and Rattrap.
Wave 2
Wave 3
Wave 4
International release
Canceled

More than Meets the Eye 25th Anniversary Pack

Exclusives

Costco exclusives

  • Ultra Twin-Pack (Cybertron Series) contains:
  • Optimus Prime (unchanged Cybertron: Galaxy Force Leader Class Optimus Prime)
  • Crumplezone (unchanged Cybertron Voyager Class Crumplezone)

Hasbro Toy Shop exclusives

This toy was originally sold at the Hasbro Toy Shop booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2008, and was later offered on the online store's website. It was also available as a non-exclusive mass retail release in Hong Kong and Malaysia.
According to Hasbro, the "Special Editions" were originally intended for the non-Japanese Asian market, but were also made available to Western fans via the Hasbro Toy Shop website as well. They have also been released at general retail in Australia.

Kmart exclusives

File:Kmart suppressor toy.jpg
Suppressor, an exclusive Armada Series Mini-Con.
This twelve-pack is also available as a Woolworths exclusive in the United Kingdom - or it was before Woolworths went bankrupt and closed down - and a Zellers AND Toys R' Us exclusive in Canada. The Mini-Cons are also being sold individually on Transformers Universe 25th Anniversary cards at Big Lots stores in the United States.

Sam's Club exclusives

Target exclusives

Legends 5-packs

Ratbat, an exclusive War Within Series Deluxe toy.

Voyager Deluxe Comic 2-packs

All of the above are available as Zellers exclusives in Canada, and are exclusive to Toys"R"US in Australia.


Toys"R"Us exclusives

Ultra Class
Supreme Class
  • Unicron (unchanged Supreme Class Armada Unicron in new packaging) (Armada Series)

International releases

These five-packs have thus far only been released in Australia and Singapore. It is unclear whether they're also going to be released in Universe packaging in North America, since Superion has been announced to be released in North America as a Target exclusive under the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen toy line.
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