Transformers timeline

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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.

The dawn of time

  • The Big Bang creates the universe as we know it. The protons, neutrons, and electrons that will eventually comprise Transformers are formed.

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.
  • Unknown date - A Hasbro delegation discovers Takara's Diaclone and Microman toys at the Tokyo Toy Show.
  • Late 1983 - Takara releases three of their Diaclone toys (red Sunstreaker, black Ironhide and blue Trailbreaker) in the USA under the name "Diakron". Due to the new licensing agreement with Hasbro, the Diakron line is discontinued following these three toys.

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.
  • Spring - The first animated commercial advertising the Marvel comics airs on US TV.
  • 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. In a prediction of things to come, it is mostly complaints.
  • 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.
  • Unknown date - the UK is the only European country to get Transformers toys this year. Toys are being distributed by Hasbro. Megatron is not available until 1985.
  • 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.
  • Unknown date - Takara conduct test market sales of the Hasbro toys in Japan, under the working name "Henshin Sentai Transformers" ("Change Force: Transformers").

1985

  • July 6th - Seasons 1 and 2 of the US cartoon begin airing in Japan as Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer.
  • The Transformers toyline starts getting released to most European markets, with Hasbro using Milton Bradley's facilities for the continental European market, due to an initial lack of resources on their own. The MB toys would be available in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain and include lots of oddities unique to Europe, such as a red version of Tracks. Concurrently, GiG launches their own version of the Transformers line in Italy, whereas El Greco launches their short-lived version of the line in Greece.
  • 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.

1988

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

1993

  • Generation 2 attempts to revive the Transformers franchise in North America.
  • The last year of Generation 1 toys are released in Europe.
  • On September 11th, the Usenet newsgroup alt.toys.transformers is established. Fans now have a dedicated online public forum on which to discuss whatever is ruining Transformers.

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

1998

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

1999

2000s

2000

2001

2002

2003

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

2007

  • June- The first promotional images for Transformers Animated are released. Take a guess as to the reaction. G'wan.
  • June 27-July 1- BotCon 2007 is held at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island, Hasbro's hometown. It is expected to be the best Transformers convention ever. It is also expected to be the worst Transformers convention ever.
  • July 2- US theatres start showing the live-action Transformers motion picture at 8:00 PM. By midnight, it's made $8.8 million USD.
  • July 3- The Transformers release date. It makes $27.85 million, more money on a Tuesday than any film in history. Transformers ruined forever.
  • July 4- Americans celebrate their Independence Day by giving $29 million to that Hollywood movie about an alien robot summoning his friends to Earth where they disguise themselves as General Motors vehicles and team up with the United States Military to smash the evil robots. Unsuprisingly, this is more money than a movie's ever earned on the Fourth of July. Apparently, what's good for General Motors really is good for the country.
  • July 25- As of this writing, the Transformers movie has grossed $270 million in the United States, with worldwide gross earnings of nearly one half billion dollars US.
  • July 28- A Transformers Animated preview is shown to the public. The fandom rejoiced (and complained).

2008

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