Commercial/International

The US and Japan aren't the only countries that have Transformers commercials. Just about every country that received the original The Transformers toyline had their own television advertising campaign for it. Approaches to the commercials differed quite a bit, with most countries simply receiving dubbed US spots, some getting their own unique spots (early UK, Spain) or, in the case of Italy, a combination of both. The reason for these different approaches (besides needing to adjust for different cultures) is that during the early years of the Transformers brand, Hasbro did not yet have local offices to handle the marketing and distribution of its toys outside of the US and Canada. As a result, marketing and distribution was licensed out to companies with ties to various local markets. Commercials for Generation 1 after 1990 were largely the same across Europe, originally produced for Milton Bradley in English and then dubbed for the other markets. By the time Generation 2 was being released in the US, Hasbro had started to open foreign offices. As a result, foreign advertising campaigns began to shift away from unique commercials and towards a more economical approach of simply dubbing the spots created for the US. Since 2001, practically all foreign Transformers advertising in Hasbro markets uses dubbed spots.

Since many modern international ads are merely U.S. ads dubbed for non-English markets, only post G1 ads with either changes to the order of footage or entirely new footage will be listed here.

Europe

United Kingdom

Optimus Prime [1]

Animation: Prowl, Sideswipe and Jazz takeoff; Optimus Prime transforms and fires; Black helmet Megatron takes aim. All were re-used from the early American commercials.

Toy segment: Two kids play with Optimus Prime, all of the pre-movie Autobot Cars and at least four Seekers: Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Ramjet. They do so in a "mountainous area just outside a big city" diorama with the tabletop and city skyline in a red and white grid pattern inspired by G1 Autobot packaging.

Notes: Optimus is referred to as being the Autobots' "battle headquarters" as well as their leader.

Optimus Prime, we need you!

Megatron [2](short clip)

Animation: Unknown.

Toy segment: Megatron is played with in front of a purple and white grid backdrop inspired by G1 Decepticon packaging.

Autobot cars & Decepticon planes [3](clips)

Animation: The "Autobot cars meet the Seekers" portion of the The Transformers #1 spot.

Toy segment: Essentially the same as the Optimus Prime spot but without Prime.

Notes: The Ratchet toy used in the commercial is the cross variant.

Ultra Magnus and Galvatron [4]

Animation: Blitzwing swoops down; Ultra Magnus and his carrier full of Autobots transform in front a volcano. Appears to be a brand new animation sequence.

Toy segment: Ultra Magnus rolls through a rocky diorama and transforms; Galvatron rolls onto a plateau, transforms and shows off his eye flashing ability.

Notes: Galavatron's electronic noises are played constantly during his section of the ad.

The magnificent ULTRA MAGNUS!

Metroplex [5]

Animation: Metroplex drives and shoots. Re-used from the American commercial.

Toy segment: Ominous music plays while Cyclonus and Scourge fly towards Metroplex and Wheelie, Scamper and Blades demonstrate Metroplex's base mode features. Metroplex then triumphantly transforms into robot mode only to have the ominous question asked: But can Metroplex beat up the new Decepticons?

Notes: The same red sweater wearing kid's hand from the previous commercial is shown moving the toys.

This is Metroplex, Autobot city.

Pretenders [6]

Animation: The Autobot Pretenders splitting from their shells; Re-used from American spots.

Toy segment: Re-used bits from the various American Pretender commercials plus a bit from the American Pretender Beasts commercial.

Notes: In addition to new narration, a new rendition of the music from the American Pretender commercials plays over this spot.

And watch out for Pretender Beasts!

Powermasters [7]

Animation: Joyride and Getaway uniting with their Powermaster partners. Re-used from the American commercials.

Toy segment: Re-used from the American commercial.

Notes: The narration and music have again been re-recorded.

Powermaster Optimus Prime [8]

Animation: Powermaster Prime shooting at Darkwing and Dreadwind. Re-used from the American commercials.

Toy segment: Re-used from the American commercial.

Notes: Same re-recorded Powermaster music.

Optimus Prime's back! He's bigger, super Optimus Prime!

2007 Robots In Disguise DVD Boxsets [9]

A Megatron-soundalike proclaims "We are back" while clips of the series play.

Roll Out Command Optimus Prime [10]

Notes: Very similar to the American spot, but doesn't point out Megatron's sound gimmick and additionally features Voyager Bulkhead

Burger King Transformer 6-pack [11]

A guy returns to the kitchen table to find one his Transformer 6-pack burgers gone. His friend responds to being accused of the theft by blaming it on the washing machine, claiming "its door changed into a giant claw and it devoured it in one swoop." Right. The man is not swayed. The friend tries further persuasion: "It's plotting massive destruction." <washing machine kicks into high gear> "Oh no...IT'S COMING BACK FOR MORE!"

France

France got dubs of the US commercials for their Generation 1 advertising. While most were straight dubs, some spots re-ordered the US footage while others combined footage from multiple US commercials. Bizarrely, the new audio tracks for the Pretender, Micromaster, Action Master, and Classics commercials were largely comprised of a bright, upbeat tune better suited to an 80's chewing gum commercial, if not for the Transformers-specific lyrics.

Optimus Prime [12]

Notes: Uses several clips re-ordered from the US commercial.

Megatron [13]

Notes: Uses the Megatron segment from the US Optimus Prime and Megatron commercial plus brand new footage of the toy being transformed by hand.

Optimus Prime and Megatron [14]

Notes: Edited down and dubbed version of the American commercial.

Transformers toys [15]

Notes: Combines several clips of the toy segment from the first US toy commercial, one shot from the commercial for Blaster and a shot or two from the commercial for Optimus Prime. Also uses the stop motion Seekers from the first US toy commercial.

Constructicons [16]

Notes: Same as the US commercial, but dubbed and trimmed down a bit.

Insecticons [17]

Notes: A trimmed down version of the US commercial with footage of the toy segment from the Dinobots commercial tacked on at the end.

Blitzwing & Springer [18]

Notes: Uses the toy segment from Triple Changers & Perceptor, plus the toy segment from Springer and Wreck-Gar. Also uses the animation from Triple Changers & Perceptor which, considering the animation doesn't actually feature Blitzwing, must have seemed odd to French viewers.

Aerialbots/Protectobots/Stunticons/Combaticons [19]

Notes: Uses the animation from the Stunticons & Aerialbots commercial along with a newly filmed toy segment featuring the four teams combining.

Powermasters [20]

Notes: Animation and toy segments are re-used and re-ordered from the American spot. Re-uses the flying asteroid intro from the first two Headmaster toy commercials.

Pretenders [21]

Notes: Animation and toy segment footage are re-used from the third American Pretender commercial. The asteroid intro is re-used again.

Mega Pretenders & Pretender Beasts [22]

Notes: Re-uses and re-orders animation and footage from the American spot.

Le Pretenders Trans-for-mers!

Classic Pretenders [23]

Notes: Re-orders the animation and toy segment footage from the American spot.

Micromasters [24]

Notes: Re-orders the animation and toy segment footage from the Micromaster Patrols commercial.

Micromaster Battle Stations [25]

Notes: Recycles toy segment footage and animation from the US Micromaster Battle Stations and Micro Bases commercials.

Micromaster Combiners [26]

Notes: Re-orders animation and toy segment footage from the American ad.

Micromaster Battlefield Headquarters [27]

Toy segment: A kid rolls the Headquarters in truck mode along some barren terrain with a few trees in the distance. Overflow and Full-Barrel are removed from the back of the truck. The kid is amazed to find the truck-mode Headquarters splits in half, before transforming the two components. This is followed by a stop motion sequence of the two components transforming. As they transform, the Micromaster Combiners drive out of the rear component, with Overflow staying behind and Full-Barrel continuing to the other component.

Action Masters [28]

Notes: Re-uses the Decepticon Action Master animation and re-orders footage from the US spot's toy segment. The "smashing fist" intro is retained.

Action Master Vehicles [29]

Notes: Combines re-used toy segment footage from the Action Master Wheeljack, Sprocket and Gutcruncher commercial with (apparently) new toy segment footage of Megatron and his Neutro-Fusion Tank.

Action Master Exo-suits [30]

Toy segment: Circuit drives along as Thundercracker flys overhead. Both transform their vehicles into exo-suits before using them in battle. Rumbler and Slicer roll along, transform their vehicles into exo-suits, then continue to roll along in their exo-suits.

Notes: Appears to use the same diorama as the US Action Master commercials. Keeps the "smashing fist" intro.

Classics Dinobots [31]

Toy segment: Grimlock, Sludge, and Snarl amble around in a swamp. Astrotrain swoops in only to be chomped like Blitzwing. Grimlock is transformed by hand to robot mode. All three Dinobots transform to dinosaur mode via stop motion.

Classics Protectobots and Combaticons [32]

Toy segment: The Protectobots are shown together in vehicle mode. Blades is picked up and transformed, then the entire group flashes from vehicle to robot to Defensor. Blast Off receives the same treatment as Blades. Stop motion segment has Bruticus already combined while the Protectobots drive up one by one and form Defensor next to him.

Classics Astrotrain & Springer [33]

Animation: Re-used from the ad for Preceptor & Triple Changers.

Toy segment: Astrotrain flies around in robot mode. Springer converts to helicopter mode, takes off, then transforms to robot mode. Both toys then flash between their modes.

Overlord [34]

Toy segment: Overlord's features and transformation are demonstrated in a rocky desert diorama.

Rotorstorm & Stalker [35]

Toy segment: Rotorstorm swoops over the Turbo Masters then fires one of his missiles. Stalker drives along before a kid removes his cannon and demonstrates his scope gimmick. Stalker is transformed followed by Rotorstorm stop motion transforming. Stalker is felled by a missile fired by Rotorstorm.

Skyquake & Thunder Clash [36]

Toy segment: Skyquake spots Thunder Clash using his scope and proceeds to engage in a bombing run. Thunder Clash transforms and fires at Skyquake from his base. Skyquake transforms via stop motion.

Notes: Unlike other French spots, which use an adult, most of the narration is done by a child.

Turbo Masters & Predators [37]

Toy segment: The Predators take aim at the Turbo Masters. But the Turbo Masters transform and fire back. Stop motion segment has Scorch tumbling in vehicle mode then transforming.

Lightformers, Trakkons and Obliterators [38]

Toy segment: The Lightformers and Trakkon's head towards each other. Ironfist transforms and takes aim at the Trakkon's with laser beam special effects representing his gimmick. Pyro rolls along and takes aim at Clench, thus violating everything he stands for. Clench transforms and rightfully fires back.

Skyscorchers & Axelerators [39]

Toy segment: The Skyscorchers fly among buildings before seeing the Axelrators on the road below. The Skyscorchers land and stop motion transform only to be met by the stop motion transforming Axelerators.

Notes: Stop motion transformations for everyone! Except Hotrider. Features an end tag advertising Overlord.

Stormtroopers & Aquaspeeders [40]

Toy segment: The Stormtroopers race around, firing their water cannons. But the Aquaspeeders are en route. Speedstream and Deluge get hit, changing their colors. Speedstream and Jetstorm transform and fire on Aquablast and Drench.The two teams face-off with Aquablast, Rage, Deluge and Aquafend driving up and transforming in stop motion animation.

Notes: At least one of the Aquaspeeders gets a speaking line. The second line and third lines could belong to a second Aquaspeeder.

G2 Optimus Prime & Megatron [41]

Notes: This commercial (and all other G2 spots) has the American intro replaced with the intro used for the 1992 European ads. Otherwise, this is a dubbed and edited down version of the American ad. The voice box clips have been dubbed as well, though Megatron's is merely the same line spoken with a French accent.

Laser Rods & Rotor Force [42]

Notes: Dubbed and edited down version of the American spot. Sadly, no French rapping to be found.

Combat Hero Prime & Megatron [43]

Notes: Dubbed and edited down from the American version. Again, no rapping.

G2 Dreadwing [44]

Notes: Dubbed and edited down from the American version. Scenes re-ordered as well. Still no rapping.

G2 Gobots [45]

Notes: Appears to be a 30 second infomercial of sorts.

Armada Starscream, Megatron and Red Alert [46]

Notes: A heavily edited version of the US commercial. Features an end tag for a special offer involving Megatron and Robots in Disguise super mode Prowl.

Armada Rhinox offer [47]

Notes: Re-uses animation from the Laserbeak, Hot Shot and Demolisher ad. Offer is for Rhinox plus a Mini-Con three pack (Air Military Mini-Con Team is pictured).

Armada game A [48] (Hot Shot) [49] (Optimus Prime)[50] (Red Alert)

Notes: Short ten second ads featuring game footage of Tidal Wave, Megatron and one of three Autobots: Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and Red Alert.

Armada game B [51]

Notes: A montage of video game footage with sections for each of the three playable Autobots.

Armada game C [52]

Notes: A more general montage of video game footage.

Armada game C [53] - Slightly edited down version of the previous commercial.

Armada game C [54] - Even further edited down version of the previous commercial.

DVDs #1 [55]

DVDs #2 [56]

DVDs #3 [57]

Notes: All three DVD ads promote Region 2 releases for M.A.S.K., Thundercats and He-Man along with Transformers. Various clips from the More than Meets the Eye three-parter are used.

Star Wars Transformers Millenium Falcon [58]

Notes: A straight dub of the American spot minus the Boba Fett segment.

Germany

Action Master Optimus Prime [59]

Animation: Optimus Prime, re-used from the American Action Masters commercials.

Toy segment: Optimus Prime drives and transforms his transport in what appears to be the same set used for the American Action Master commercials.

Notes: Does not use the "smashing fist" intro.

Overlord [60]

Animation: Really quick snippets of Overlord's eyes glowing, Overlord transforming to robot mode, followed by his two Energon figures who plug into his chest and Overlord splitting into his two vehicle components.

Toy segment: Overlord is shown in his various modes.

2007 Movie Burger King Kids Meal [61]

Kids are shown playing with the various toys.

Burger King Transformer 6-pack [62] - Dubbed version of the U.K. ad.

Italy

Excavator (Devastator) [63]

Animation: Re-used from the American ad.

Kidmation: Mushroom bob-haired kid.

Toy segment: Re-used from the American ad.

Notes: The static shot has been changed from the American version.

Pentacar and Pentajet (Stunticons and Aerialbots) [64]

Animation: Re-used from the American ad.

Kidmation: Re-used from the American ad.

Notes: The Aerialbots fly through the sky while the Stunticons race outside a city. The two teams transform and combine.

Bruticus [65]

Toy segment: The Combaticons drive through a rocky desert before transforming and combing into Bruticus. Bruticus turns and punches the ~~plastic film~~ screen, "breaking it". The concept of rubsigns is emphasized by showing a rubsign on Bruticus' chestplate.

Duoform (Decepticon Clones) [66]

Toy segment: One clone is created from the other in a lab. Stop motion segment of the clones in their alternate modes.

Racerbots (Throttlebots) [67]

Toy segment: The Throttlebots shoot out from their boxes and race around before transforming.

Notes: The end of the commercial shows the toys being sold twenty-four to a display case.

Monsterbots [68]

Toy segment: Only Doublecross and Grotusque are shown. Both toys stand in their alternate modes throwing off enough sparks to qualify as fireworks. They move around a bit in stop motion, still sparking like crazy. Finally, they transform.

Autobot Headmasters [69]

Notes: Dubbed version of the American ad up to and including the kidmation. New static shot follows the kidmation.

Combiners [70]

Toy segment: The Technobots, Terrorcons, Constructions, Combaticons, , Aerialbots, and Protectobots transform and combine, one team at a time. Footage of the Combaticons and Aerialbots is reused from previous commercials.

Combiners and Decoys [71]

A kid walks into an extremely small toy store which apparently sells only Transformers. He asks the shopkeeper, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Ed Wynn, about one of the combiner giftsets. The shopkeeper is overjoyed about this and starts to talk about the set when suddenly the giftsets come to life. The brave shopkeeper ducks down behind the desk, his head only popping up to see what's happening while the kid just looks on excitedly. The gifsets are shown with a ton of decoys in front. The decoys' customization potential is demonstrated by showing blue paint applied to the chest of an Optimus Prime decoy. The decoys then wander into their packaging which becomes applied to the box of a Bruticus giftset. The package slides out of frame to reveal the shopkeeper, no longer in hiding, covered in the decoys.

"Stupendi, stupendi!"

Autobot Pretenders [72]

Toy segment: Each of the three Autobot Pretenders is shown in stop motion exiting their shells, equipping their weapon and transforming to vehicle mode.

Decepticon Pretenders [73]

Kidmation: Kid with jacket slung over his shoulder spins around like a top.

Toy segment: The eyes of Finback's Pretender shell flash, via special effects, before a pair of blue hands reach around. The hands split his shell apart, also via special effects. The inner robot's various modes (robot, equipped robot, vehicle) are flashed on screen. The kid then grabs Finback's shell from the screen and holds it up with his inner robot.

Colorflashes [74]

Animation: Ramjet landing and transforming; Jazz transfoming. Re-used from the Generation 2 comic book ad and the ad for the G2 Autobot cars and Decepticon planes.

Toy segment: The stop motion transformation segments seen in the French ad for the Axelerators and Skyscorchers.

La Grande Battaglia (Ultimate Battle 2-pack) [75]

Animation: Kicker Jones, Ironhide (Energon), and Inferno are pinned down by gunfire; Thundercracker fires his cannon. Taken from episodes of Energon and Cybertron. CGI animation of the DVD case bulging out in different places before exploding.

Toy segment: The DVD is inserted into a DVD player cuing up the animation. Afterwards, Megatron and Optimus Prime are shown transforming with a split-screen shot before clashing in front of a television set playing the included DVD.

Spain

Classics Optimus Prime [76]

Narration: Constantino Romero

Animation: Prowl, Sideswipe, and Jazz fly off into the sky and past Optimus Prime, who tranforms and fires his gun. Re-used from the first American commercial for Transformers toys but in a different order.

Toy segment: Optimus Prime drives through a rocky, Mars-like terrain. Features a stop motion transformation. Possibly re-used from a Japanese spot.

Burger King Transformer 6-pack [77] - A dubbed version of the U.K. ad.

South America

Brazil

Grendene Sandals [78]

A boy wearing Grendene's Transformers sandals runs and jumps through an industrial yard full of oil drums. As he's hopping the last barrel we see him wearing a version of Meantime that the boy got with his sandals. He throws the toy across the yard only to have it magically land in robot mode and on its feet. The boy runs up onto a platform. Upon checking his watch he realizes it's time to go and grabs his backpack.

Notes: Excerpts of Optimus Prime from the 2007 movie are interspersed. The Meantime toy that comes with the shoes is actually a knock-off, the most obvious sign being the fact that it's actually a functional watch unlike the real deal.

Chile

Autobot cars plus Thrust and Dirge [79]

Notes: Dubbed version of the American spot. Interestingly, the kidmation does not have the glowing eyes effect seen in the Amercian version.

Transformers de Bata [80]

Animation: Ravage sees the Autobots delivering a shipment of children's dress shoes and reports back to Megatron and Soundwave. Soundwave plays back Ravage's findings, which include the specifications of the shoes. Apparently having decided he needed a new pair of kicks, Megatron leads an assault on the Autobot convoy. A live action boy and girl, wearing the dress shoes, step out of Bumblebee. The boy DEFEATS the Decepticons by repelling a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon using THE SOLE OF HIS SHOE! That's right. Megatron, mighty warrior and leader of the Decepticons, is felled by FOOTWEAR. After showing Megatron that they have more sole, the Autobots arrive at their destination and start handing out shoes to the local school children. And their was much rejoicing.

Notes: The animation models for the characters have some differences in proportions and details compared to their standard models. This is because the animation was not done by the animation studios normally contracted for such things. Appearing amongst the Decepticons are a Windsweeper/Cylonus hybrid and a bizzare Jazz-like robot with a green helmeted head, upper arms and hands and a new face. Hound is colored a rather bluish green.

Stationary items [81]

Animation: Re-used from Ultra Magnus and Galvatron.

Kidmation: Kid to stop-motion Magnus toy.

Notes: Various erasers, pencils, a pencil bag, a pencil sharpener and coloring books are among the products shown being used by kids.

Triple Changers - Sandstorm, Broadside and Octane [82]

Notes: This is a straight dub of the US spot. The English text used to denote the different modes is retained.

Aerialbots/Stunticons [83]