Transformers timeline

This article is about real world events. For the 'Timelines' convention-exclusive toy and comic series, see Timelines.

This is a timeline of Transformers-related events that occured in the "real" world, including release dates and other major occurences.

1980s

1982

• March - The first two toys from Takara's Diaclone Car Robo line, No.1 Countach LP-500S Super Tuning (red version) and No.2 Onebox Cherry Vanette (black version), are released to stores in Japan.

1983

• January - The first three toys from Takara's New Microman: MicroChange line, MC-01 Micross (available as blue and red variations), MC-02 Jaguar (available as blue and black variations) and MC-03 Condor (available as blue and black variations), are released to stores.

1984

The Transformers launches in the US, in toy, comic and cartoon formats, forever ruining Transformers.

• February - Hasbro Bradley unveils their new Transformers toyline at Toy Fair.
• March - Marvel Age #17 announces the April debut of the Transformers comic book.
• May 8? - Issue one of the Marvel comic is released.
• May 22 - The first Usenet post about Transformers is posted by Ted Nolan to net.comics.
• Spring - Transformers toys start filtering into stores across the United States.
• September 17 - More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1 premieres on U.S. television Saturday morning.
• September 20 - The Marvel UK comic begins publication.
• December - Transformers mania is in full swing, as the figures fly off store shelves, becoming the year's best seller for Hasbro.

1985

• July 6th - Seasons 1 and 2 of the US cartoon begin airing in Japan as Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer.
• Hasbro starts releasing Transformers toys to the continental European market, initially using Milton Bradley's facilities due to a lack of resources on their own. The MB toys would be available in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany and include lots of oddities unique to Europe, such as a red version of Tracks.
• October 6 - The first Usenet post about the Transformers cartoon is posted to net.comics by Bill Flanagan.

1986

• August 8 - The Transformers: The Movie is released in theatres in the United States. International releases follow, except for Japan and Germany.

1989

• August 9 - The Transformers: The Movie finally is released in Japan, where it is not actually called "Matrix Forever".

1990s

1990

• The last year of Generation 1 toys are released in North America, while the franchise continues in Japan and Europe.

1991

• (Cover date of July) - The Marvel Comic ends in the United States with issue 80.

1992

• Operation Combination comes to an end, signalling the end of the original Transformers series in Japan.

1993

• Generation 2 attempts to revive the Transformers franchise in North America.
• The last year of Generation 1 toys are released in Europe.

1994

• July 16 - The first BotCon is held, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
• Generation 2 is released in Europe.

1995

• Generation 2 begins in Japan, the first Transformers series there in years.
• Generation 2 craps out in every market, including Japan.
• August 5-6 - BotCon 1995 is held in Dayton, Ohio.

1996

• Beast Wars is launched. The fandom declares it will forever destroy Transformers and nobody will ever like it ever, certainly not ten years into the future.
• Beast Wars revives the franchise.
• Beast Wars is the best Transformers anything ever.
• July 12-14 - BotCon 1996 is held in Rosemont, Illinois.

1997

• July 18-20 - BotCon 1997 is held in Rochester, New York, by the newly-formed 3H Enterprises.

1998

• June 19-20 - BotCon 1998 is held in Anaheim, California.

1999

• July 16-18 - At BotCon 1999 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the first episode of Beast Machines, "The Reformatting" is previewed, to overwhelming fan enjoyment.

2000s

2000

• Everyone hates Beast Machines.
• July 28-30 - BotCon 2000 is held in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

2001

• Everyone loves "Transformers 2000," but they hate Robots in Disguise.
• July 13-15 - BotCon 2001 is held in Durham, North Carolina.

2002

• April 3 - Dreamwave Productions begins publishing Transformers comics with Transformers Generation 1 #1. There is much rejoicing.
• Aaron Archer does his best to kill Transformers through incredible sales; Armada kicks off the Unicron Trilogy, the toys appear on store shelves in mid-July, the cartoon premieres in August.
• July 6 - Armada toys begin arriving in small toy stores and Kay-Bee. [1]
• July 26-28 - BotCon 2002 is held in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

2003

• July 25-27 - OTFCC 2003 is held in Chicago, Illinois.

2004

• June 19-20 - Although no longer the official convention, BotCon 2004 is held in Pasadena, California.
• July 30-August 1 - OTFCC 2004 is held in Chicago, Illinois.

2005

• January 4 - Dreamwave Productions goes bankrupt. Many artists complain about being unpaid for their work and/or being stuck with FedEx fees. Pat Lee gives them the finger and drives off in his Porsche.
• May 19 - IDW Publishing acquires the Transformers comic book license.
• September 22-25 - BotCon 2005 is held in Frisco Texas, for the first time by Fun Publications. It's the official convention again.
• October 19 - Infiltration #0, IDW's first Transformers comic, is released in comic book stores.

2006

• January 18 - Transformers Infiltration #1 is released in comic book stores.
• May 29 - Filming begins on the live-action Transformers motion picture.
• July 24 - Peter Cullen is announced at San Diego Comic-Con as the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers film.
• September 15 - The first Classics toys arrive at a small store in Canada.
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.