The Transformers (toyline)

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This article is about the original toyline. For the 2010 toyline simply known as "Transformers", see Transformers (2010 toyline). For a list of other meanings, see Transformers (disambiguation).
Generation 1 continuity family
The Transformers »
“ Look! Two more Transformers to add to our collection! ”

—Starscream is excited to find Dirge and Ramjet, "Starscream's Brigade"

The Transformers (retroactively called Generation 1 or G1) started as a joint venture between two companies: Hasbro of America and Takara of Japan. After an idea to rebrand and sell Takara's Diaclone and Microchange robot toys as a whole new line with a new concept behind it, Hasbro unknowingly would wind up creating what would be one of its longest-running franchises.

Ahh, 1984's book of dreams.

In contrast to today's franchises, which tend by design to run 12 to 18 months, Generation 1 was essentially an unbroken line from 1984 to 1991; its logo and packaging format only underwent one major change in that time. Toys tended to linger longer in the line; a few (Starscream, Bumblebee) were even sold for three years in a row (the record for non-re-issues is four years, set by cassettes Frenzy, Rewind, Steeljaw, Ramhorn, and Eject). The changing circumstances of retail have made this a thing of the past; toy lines now require yearly rebranding.

The Generation 1 line introduced a number of concepts which would stay with subsequent iterations of the brand. Most prominent among these were package art showing the character's robot form, Tech Specs rating the character's abilities, bios giving a personality profile of the character represented by the toy, and (in the Japanese toylines) ID numbers for each figure to identify them. Other "premiums" which didn't survive the 1980s included Robot Points and various mail order exclusives.

In addition to the toy and its weapons and accessories, Generation 1 toys typically included a sticker sheet, instructions showing how to transform the toy and apply the stickers, and a toy catalog flyer showing the entire year's toy line. In the early years of the line, a red plastic "tech spec decoder" and various mail-away offers were included as well.

The line began with toys already designed by Takara and other companies, but over time it expanded into numerous original designs and concepts. While its run ostensibly ended after seven years with the advent of Generation 2, it was resurrected almost a decade later in Japan via the The Transformers Collection line of reissues, supplemented by e-HOBBY-exclusive reissues and new creations. A year later, Hasbro began retooling many of those reissues and selling them in North America as the Commemorative Series. Even after Hasbro discontinued that line, TakaraTomy continued selling reissues under the Encore label. This toyline has changed direction and focus so many times that a year-by-year breakdown is the only way to get the full picture.

See also:

1984

Overview

Prowl, one of the 1984 line's more iconic toys. In today's secondary market, he's usually found with his roof broken off. Prowl was redecorated to make two other characters as well, which was pretty common in the first two years.

The first two years of Transformers product in America mostly consisted of toys from the two Takara lines. A wide range of sizes and price points, from $3 Mini-Vehicles up to larger toys costing $20 or more, ensured that every kid could pick up at least a few Transformers, and still have a few left for the Christmas wishlist — a marketing strategy that continues up to the present day.

The early G1 toys were largely marked by attention to vehicle mode detail, rubber tires, the frequent use of die-cast metal (particularly on larger toys), and a variety of loose parts which had to be kept track of and attached separately. The early toys were also marked by a lack of posability — not a single one of the Autobot cars had knee joints, and most had feet that were fused together. The Decepticon jets couldn't do anything but raise their arms forward.

The combination of heavy die-cast and the brittle plastics of the time also made many of the toys fragile; toys such as Prowl and Mirage are infamous for winding up broken.

Due to products coming from different pre-existing product lines, the 1984 toys were highly inconsistent in terms of relative scale. Later years would not do much to mitigate this issue.

Many of the 1984 toys included the pack-in brochure Reinforcements from Cybertron!

Autobots

Autobot Mini-Cars


Although the official catalogs and the box artwork depict Bumblebee in yellow and Cliffjumper in red, both toys were actually available in both colors. Additionally, a third toy of a similar design was also available in yellow, and sold on Cliffjumper cards. That toy was not officially marketed by Hasbro as a separate character, but was later dubbed "Bumblejumper" by fans, which was shortened to just "Bumper" by the time he was officially integrated into the fiction as a character in his own right.

Autobot Cars

Autobot Commander

Decepticons

Decepticon Cassettes

Another Decepticon Cassette, Buzzsaw, was available with Soundwave.
File:Redeco.jpg
L to R: Skywarp, Starscream, Thundercracker

Decepticon Planes

Decepticon Communications

Decepticon Leader


1985

For the toyline released in Japan this year comprising many of these toys and the 1984 figures, see: Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)

Overview

The 80s! When toy companies actively encouraged you to play with fire!

The initial toyline was wildly successful, making "Transformers" a household word for the rest of the 1980s and leading to an ever-expanding product line. 1985's offerings more than doubled those of 1984. Additional cars, jets, and mini-vehicles were released; many of the standard cars and jets were retooled versions of 1984 toys (or of each other, in the case of Grapple and Inferno).

The line also veered into mechanical dinosaurs and insects, and futuristic vehicles. Some of these toys were designed and manufactured by companies in competition with Takara, among them Jetfire, the Deluxe Insecticons and the Deluxe Vehicles. These toys are among the few G1 toys with good articulation. However, their conflicting origins doomed most of them never to appear in the cartoon, as Takara did not wish to sponsor a show advertising its competitor's products. See Jetfire for more.

This year's toys' primary pack-in brochures were "Earthlings: THE S.T.A.R.S. need your help now!", and later "Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?".

In 1985, the Transformers line (with a few deletions) was ported back to Japan, as Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers.

Autobots

Autobot Mini Vehicles

The "Mini-Cars" were renamed into "Mini-Vehicles" beginning with 1985. The 1984 Mini-Cars/Mini-Vehicles were re-released. 1985 Mini-Vehicles were briefly available with extra Mini-Spies, later shipments replaced the Autobot symbols with rubsigns like the ones first featured on the Mini-Spies, and still later shipments of the rubsign versions were available with iron-on patches. Bumblebee and Cliffjumper still featured color variants. The Bumper mold was no longer available.

Autobot Cars

The 1984 Autobot Cars were re-released, but unusually, the Autobot Cars assortment was released in two different cases: One mixed the 1985 figures Skids, Red Alert, Grapple and Hoist with the 1984 figures Sunstreaker, Bluestreak, Ratchet, Jazz and Trailbreaker, whereas the other one mixed the 1985 figures Smokescreen, Inferno and Tracks with the 1984 figures Sideswipe, Hound, Mirage, Prowl, Ironhide and Wheeljack. All of the re-released 1984 figures were packed one per case, whereas the 1985 figures were all packed two per case, with the exception of Skids, who got the short end of the stick. All figures released in the 1985 assortments sported rubsigns.

Dinobots

Jumpstarters

Autobot Deluxe Vehicles

Autobot Air Guardian

Autobot Communicator

Autobot Scientist

Autobot Motorized Defense Base

Powerdashers

The Powerdashers were only available via mail-order. Figure names are in quotes because these figures were not given individual names at the time. Only Cromar/Jet Type has received one in the years since.

Omnibots

The Omnibots were only available via mail order.

Promotional toys

A limited-edition variant of Optimus Prime was available with additional "Pepsi" stickers on the trailer. The Canadian version sported yet another variant with a large sticker covering the entire side of the trailer.
  • "Cookie Crisp" Jazz
A variant of the Jazz toy was available as a Cookie Crisp promotional premium via mail order. Unlike the regular version, the "Martini" decals are missing from the doors.

Notes

  • The entire 1984 lineup was still available in 1985, only now sporting rubsigns.

Decepticons

Insecticons

Deluxe Insecticons

Constructicons

Triple Changers

Decepticon Planes

Decepticon Military Operations Commander

Notes

  • The entire 1984 assortment of Decepticons was still available in 1985, in updated packaging, now also sporting rubsigns.

1986

For the nearly-identical toyline (minus Sky Lynx) released in Japan this year, see: Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (toyline)

Overview

Collect all five! The little ones are cheap, and you can bug your mom to buy you the big one!

1986 broke more ground with multiple combiner teams, two large "city" robots, and a full-length feature film to push a new crop of toys. By this point, Hasbro had gone through almost all of the "suitable" Diaclone and Microman toys, and were using up the last of the pre-existing (yet previously unmade) Takara design concepts, mostly in the form of the Scramble City-style combiner teams and the two citybots; thus the toys for The Transformers: The Movie became the first original designs developed by Hasbro (and also the first of a very few times that characters' in-fiction designs predated their toy designs). That year also marked the end of rubber tires and die-cast metal in the toys, as shipping and manufacturing costs dictated an all-plastic approach; many toys from that year were available both with and without rubber and die-cast. Though many fans regard this as a drop in quality, it had the effect of creating much sturdier toys.

Starting with 1986, the first Transformers toys - the Mini-Cassettes, the Triple Changers, the newly introduced Special Teams Mini-Vehicles and the Special Teams Large Vehicles - were available in mixed assortments that contained both Autobot and Decepticon characters. The 1986 toys are still listed as Autobots and Decepticons for simplicity's sake.

Some assortments of the movie character toys included one of four free posters promoting the Decipher the Decepticon contest. Many toys included the S.T.A.R.S. advertisement You Have Been Chosen. Mini Vehicles included an iron-on patch promoting the Prizes in Disguise contest.

Autobots

Autobot Mini-Vehicles

Bumblebee, Beachcomber, Seaspray, Cosmos, Powerglide and Warpath were re-released. All twelve 1986 Mini-Vehicles were alternatively available with or without an iron-on patch.

Autobot Mini-Cassettes

Aerialbots

Protectobots

The smaller Aerialbots and Protectobots were alternatively available with or without an iron-on patch. Silverbolt and Hot Spot have never been found with a poster.

Triple Changers

All 1986 Triple Changers were alternatively available with or without a poster.

Autobot Cars

All three 1986 Autobot Cars were alternatively available with or without a poster.

Heroes

Autobot City Commander

A variant version of Ultra Magnus was available exclusively from KB Toys stores, replacing the diecast parts and rubber tires with plastic parts and sporting unpainted heads.

Motorized Autobot Space Shuttle

Autobot City

Notes

  • A limited edition version of Optimus Prime was available with a "Movie Edition" certificate.
  • Sunstreaker, Mirage, Ratchet and Wheeljack, none of which were shipping to regular stores anymore by this point, were made available again via mail order.

Decepticons

Decepticon Mini-Cassettes

  • Ratbat & Frenzy (available as a two-pack)
Frenzy was a re-release of the 1984 Decepticon Cassette, now available as a two-pack with the new sculpt Ratbat rather than with Laserbeak. The two-pack of Ravage and Rumble was also re-released.

Stunticons

Combaticons

While packaged samples might exist, Bruticus was presumably never officially released in giftset form in the USA.
The smaller Stunticons and Combaticons were alternatively available with or without an iron-on patch. Motormaster and Onslaught have never been found with a poster.

Predacons

Predaking was never available in giftset form outside of Japan.

Sharkticons

All five Predacons as well as Gnaw were alternatively available with or without a poster.

Triple Changers

Blitzwing and Astrotrain were re-released. All 1986 Triple Changers were alternatively available with or without a poster, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing are very difficult to find.

Decepticon Planes

Starscream, Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust were re-released. Only Scourge and Cyclonus have been found with or without a poster. The other four jets in the asortment have never been found with a poster.

Battlechargers

Decepticon City Commander

Motorized Decepticon City

Reflector

Reflector was only available via mail order.

Notes

  • A limited edition version of Megatron was available with a "Movie Edition" certificate.
  • Thundercracker, who was no longer shipping to regular stores by this point, was made available again via mail order.

1987

For the marginally different toyline released in Japan this year, see: Transformers: The Headmasters (toyline)

Overview

28 dollars?! But in 1987, that was like... um... factor inflation... multiply by 2.1314159... carry the 1... um... a LOT!

1987 was dominated by two sublines, the Headmasters and Targetmasters. It also marked the peak of the line's ambition, as it introduced the two-foot-tall Fortress Maximus toy — which would remain the largest Transformer ever produced for over 25 years and, at nearly $100 in 1987 dollars, is still one of the most expensive.

At the other end of the price scale, the $3 Mini-Vehicles of previous years were replaced by the Throttlebots. Apart from them, the line was dominated for the first time by fictional vehicle modes (variously explained as "Cybertronian" or "futuristic") and mechanical monsters and beasts.

The smaller carded toys were sometimes available with a rubber decoy figure, as well as a bonus mini-comic. Larger toys included the pack-in mail-away brochure Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.

Autobots

Technobots

The Aerialbots and Protectobots were also re-released. All individual Aerialbots, Protectobots and Technobots were alternatively available with or without a rubber decoy.

Throttlebots

The Throttlebots were alternatively available with or without a rubber decoy.

Autobot Clones

Autobot Double Spy

Monsterbots

Large Targetmaster Autobots

Large Headmaster Autobots

Headmaster Autobot Base

Notes

  • Metroplex, Rodimus Prime, Wreck-Gar, Ultra Magnus and Sky Lynx were also still available.
  • The Autobot Mini-Cassette two-packs of Rewind/Steeljaw and Ramhorn/Eject were re-released.

Decepticons

Terrorcons

Abominus was never officially released in giftset form in the USA.
The Stunticons and Combaticons were also re-released. All individual Stunticons, Combaticons and Terrorcons were alternatively available with or without a rubber decoy.

Decepticon Mini-Cassettes

The two-pack of Ratbat and Frenzy was also re-released.

Duocons

Decepticon Clones

Decepticon Six Changer

Large Targetmaster Decepticons

Large Headmaster Decepticons

Headmaster Horrorcons

Headmaster Decepticon Base

Notes

  • Galvatron, Trypticon, the Predacons and the Sharkticon figure Gnaw were also still available.

1988

For the noticeably different toyline released in Japan this year, see: Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (toyline)

Overview

Bomb-Burst, a typical full-sized Pretender.
Finally! They're selling Optimus Prime again!

1988 introduced a new logo design and tagline (More... MUCH more than meets the eye), but otherwise continued the directions of 1987, with a new line of Headmasters and the new Powermaster gimmicks, and a mixture of realistic and fanciful vehicle forms.

1988 also introduced the Pretenders, bringing non-transforming figures into the line for the first time. The Pretenders tended to have very simplified transformations and often unconvincing vehicle modes, though their designs make them among the most well-articulated of all G1 toys. The outer shells, by contrast, rarely featured any articulation beyond a swivel joint at the shoulders.

Other sublines of note included the Triggercons, Triggerbots, Sparkabots and Firecons, which took the Throttlebots' place as the line's low-end offerings.

G1 tended to be extremely non-self referential; until 1988, only one existing character, Bumblebee, had ever been revived with a new toy after having his older toy discontinued. That year, however, Hasbro seemingly began to realize the strength of the characters they had developed, as the line featured the return of Optimus Prime in Powermaster form following his death in Transformers: The Movie two years prior. The following two years would see more 1984/1985 characters return in Pretender and Action Master form.

This year's toys included the pack-in mail-away brochure The Autobots Are Under Attack!.

Autobots

Sparkabots

Triggerbots

Autobot Cassettes

The Rewind/Steeljaw and Ramhorn/Eject two-packs were also re-released once again.

Small Targetmaster Autobots

The Large Targetmaster Autobots Pointblank, Sureshot and Crosshairs were also still available.

Small Headmaster Autobots

The Large Headmaster Autobots Chromedome, Hardhead, Brainstorm and Highbrow and the Headmaster Autobot Base Fortress Maximus were also still available.

Powermaster Autobots

Powermaster Autobot Leader

Autobot Six Changer

Large Autobot Pretenders

Autobot Pretender Beasts

Autobot Pretender Vehicles

The Autobot Double Spy Punch-Counterpunch, the Autobot Clones two-pack of Fastlane/Cloudraker and the Monsterbots Grotusque, Doublecross and Repugnus were also still available. The Technobots were re-released.

Decepticons

Firecons

Seacons

The Piranacon giftset only included five of the six individual Seacons; Nautilator was left out for reasons unknown.
The Terrorcons were also re-released.

Triggercons

Decepticon Cassettes

The Slugfest/Overkill two-pack was also re-released.

Small Targetmaster Decepticons

The Large Targetmaster Decepticons Triggerhappy, Slugslinger and Misfire were also still available.

Small Headmaster Decepticons

The Large Headmaster Decepticons Skullcruncher, Mindwipe and Weirdwolf, the Headmaster Horrorcons Apeface and Snapdragon and the Headmaster Decepticon Base Scorponok were also still available.

Powermaster Decepticons

Powermaster Mercenary

Large Decepticon Pretenders

Decepticon Pretender Beasts

Decepticon Pretender Vehicles

The Deception Clones two-pack of Pounce/Wingspan and the Decepticon Six Changer Sixshot were also still available.

1989

For the totally different toyline released in Japan this year, see: Victory (toyline)

Overview

Thunderwing, a Mega Pretender. This toy commands shocking secondary market prices as a result of the character's prominent appearances in the later Generation 1 comics.

By 1989, Hasbro's Transformers releases had been effectively split into two almost distinct sub-lines - Pretenders and Micromasters - that were available concurrently, a separation that was stronger from a marketing standpoint than the Autobot/Decepticon distinction from previous years.

The Pretender subline expanded to include a combiner team and increasingly complex gimmicks, including robots with multiple shells, and outer shells which could transform themselves and even combine with their inner robots.

The 1-inch-tall Micromasters attempted to capitalize on the popularity of the Micro Machine toyline. They were originally sold in carded 4-member "patrols", and later with various bases and vehicles. Micromasters tended to have realistically styled vehicle forms. Though the first five patrols featured relatively diverse transformation schemes, as the subline proliferated, their designs would become extremely standardized.

Pretenders

Autobots

Small Autobot Pretenders

Autobot Classic Pretenders

Autobot Legends

  • Bumblebee
  • Grimlock
  • Jazz
The Legends figures were identical to the Pretender Classics' inner robots, but lacking the Pretender shell. They were exclusively available from KMart stores. Curiously, Jazz and Bumblebee appear to have switched weapons.

Autobot Mega Pretenders

Autobot Ultra Pretenders

Notes
  • Powermaster Optimus Prime, the Autobot Cassette two-packs of Rewind/Steeljaw, Ramhorn/Eject and Grand Slam/Raindance and the Large Autobot Pretenders were also still available.

Decepticons

Pretender Monsters

Monstructor was never available in giftset form anywhere!

Small Decepticon Pretenders

Decepticon Classic Pretenders

Decepticon Legends

  • Starscream
The Legends figures were identical to the Pretender Classics' inner robots, but lacking the Pretender shell. They were exclusively available from KMart stores.

Decepticon Mega Pretenders

Decepticon Ultra Pretenders

Notes
  • The Decepticon Cassette two-packs of Slugfest/Overkill and Squawktalk/Beastbox and the Large Decepticon Pretenders were also still available.

Micromasters

Here a novelty; soon an infestation.

Autobots

Micromaster Autobot Patrols

Micromaster Autobot Transports

Micromaster Autobot Stations

Micromaster Autobot Bases

Micromaster Autobot Rocket Base

Decepticons

Micromaster Decepticon Patrols

Micromaster Decepticon Transports

Micromaster Decepticon Stations

Micromaster Decepticon Bases

Micromaster Decepticon Jet Command Center

1990

For the totally different toyline released in Japan this year, see: Transformers: Zone (toyline)

Overview

Action Master Jazz, reintroducing a character from the line's early years.

Like 1989 before, 1990 also effectively saw two almost distinct Transformers sub-lines being available concurrently: the vastly-expanded Micromasters, and the non-transforming Action Master figures. The Micromasters came both in the $5 carded patrols and with transforming bases, some of which were quite large. The Action Masters likewise came as carded figures with small transforming partners, and also with larger boxed vehicles.

The European version of the "G1" line, which continued after Hasbro had abruptly cancelled the line in the USA, would furthermore add the "Classics" sub-line to the mix.

Waning popularity led to the line's cancellation at this point; Transformers disappeared from shelves for two years, not returning until the debut of Generation 2.

Micromasters

Autobots

Micromaster Autobot Patrols

Micromaster Autobot Combiner Squads

Micromaster Autobot Combiner Transports

Micromaster Combiner Autobot Battlefield Headquarters

Notes
  • The Micromaster Transports Overload and Erector, the Micromaster Stations Hot House and Ironworks and the Micromaster Autobot Rocket Base Countdown were also still available.

Decepticons

Micromaster Decepticon Patrols

Micromaster Decepticon Combiner Squads

Micromaster Decepticon Combiner Transports

Micromaster Combiner Decepticon Anti-Aircraft Base

Notes
  • The Micromaster Transports Flattop & Roughstuff, the Micromaster Stations Greasepit and Airwave and the Micromaster Decepticon Jet Command Center Skystalker were also still available.

Action Masters

Autobots

Autobot Action Master Figures

Autobot Action Master Action Blasters

Action Master Autobot Vehicles

Action Master Autobot Armored Convoy

Decepticons

Decepticon Action Master Figures

Decepticon Action Master Action Blasters

Action Master Decepticon Attack Vehicles

2000

For the line of Generation 1 reissues begun in Japan this year, see: The Transformers Collection

2001

For the supplementary, store-exclusive Japanese line of Generation 1 reissues and new creations begun this year, see: e-HOBBY

Overview

BotCon 2001 exclusive Arcee was a late addition to the Transformers franchise.

Autobots

2002

For the North American counterpart to the Japanese Generation 1 revival, see: The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series

2006

For the Titanium Series toys with a "Generation 1" sub-label, see: Titanium Series

2007

For the line of Generation 1 reissues begun in Japan this year, see: Transformers Encore

2008

For the "Generation 1 Series" toys, see: Universe

Innovations and lasting effects

Naturally, the original toy line introduced the original "gimmick" of transforming converting. Aside from that and introducing a plethora of "classic" characters, there were other notable features coming out of the original line:

  • Like transformation itself, spring-fired projectiles were a common feature from the get-go (except where the springs were removed for safety reasons).
  • 1985 saw the introduction of the combiner concept. 1986 expanded on that with the introduction of Scramble City-style combiners with interchangeable limbs.
  • 1985 also introduced Triple Changers, the first toys with multiple alternate modes. 1987 went a step further with the introduction of Six Changers.
  • Furthermore, 1985 introduced rubsigns.
  • In the early years, every new toy was designed and marketed as an entirely new character. Hasbro's policy in this regard changed gradually: 1987's Goldbug was the first toy to be clearly designed as the same character as 1984's Bumblebee; but despite being marketed as such, he was still sold under a different name. In 1988, Powermaster Optimus Prime was the first new toy to be designed as a new version of an older character and which sported the same name. This was followed by the Classic Pretender line-up in 1989, and then half the Action Master line-up in 1990.
  • In the early years, Hasbro also released a plethora of different gimmicks in multiple assortments each year, some of them shipping in Autobot- or Decepticon-specific assortments and others in mixed assortments. It wasn't until 1989 that Hasbro made their first attempt at streamlining the brand into unified gimmicks with mixed Autobot/Decepticon assortments (excluding larger toys that shipped all by themselves), in this case "Pretenders" and "Micromasters". The releases for 1990 followed suit, with the year's entire Transformers output divided into "Micromasters" and "Action Masters".
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