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. These toys' molds would later be used in Transformers as Sunstreaker and Ironhide, respectively.

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. These would later make up the first wave of Mini Cassettes.

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.

1987

The American version of the G1 cartoon ends its run, to be replaced in Japan by the Headmasters cartoon.

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.
• Everyone loves Binaltech / Alternators.

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.
• November 28 - Transformers Escalation #1 is released in comic book stores.
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.