This article shows a list of characters from The Transformers television series that aired during the debut of the American and Japanese Transformers media franchise from 1984 to 1991.
114-462: Transformers: Generation 1 (also known as Generation One or G1 ) is a toy line from 1984 to 1990, produced by Hasbro and Takara Tomy . It was a line of toy robots that could change into an alternate form (vehicles such as cars and planes, miniature guns or cassettes, animals, and even dinosaurs) by moving parts into other places, and it was the first line of toys produced for the successful Transformers toy and entertainment franchise. The line
228-430: A 1980 Chevrolet Corvette . Series 2 features five new Autobot minicars. They consist of Beachcomber, Cosmos, Powerglide, Seaspray, and Warpath. Beachcomber, the geologist , transforms into a dune buggy ; Cosmos, who serves in reconnaissance and communications, transforms into a flying saucer ; Powerglide, a warrior, transforms into an A-10 Thunderbolt II airplane; Seaspray, who serves in naval defense, transforms into
342-487: A Land Rover Defender 4x4 ; Bumblebee transforms into a Classic Volkswagen Beetle ; Cliffjumper, a warrior, transforms into a Porsche Turbo 924 ; Gears, who serves as a transport and in reconnaissance , transforms into a 4WD off-road truck ; Huffer, the construction engineer , transforms into the cabin of a semi truck ; and Windcharger, a warrior, transforms into a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am . A yellow Familia 1500XG minicar dubbed "Bumblejumper" and later known as Bumper
456-629: A hovercraft ; and Warpath, a warrior, transforms into a tank . Series 2 features two Autobot Jumpstarters; Topspin and Twin Twist. Both of them transform into spaceships . Topspin serves in land and sea assault, and Twin Twist serves in demolitions. Series 2 features two Autobot Deluxe Vehicles; Roadbuster and Whirl. Roadbuster, the Ground Assault Commander, transforms into a 4-WD vehicle, and Whirl, who serves in aerial assault , transforms into an AH-1 Cobra Helicopter . The 1984-85 lines became
570-452: A syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers ) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment holding company founded on December 6, 1923 by Henry, Hillel and Herman Hassenfeld and is incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island . Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of Kenner , Milton Bradley , Parker Brothers , and Wizards of
684-402: A 1980s Sony Walkman . The five Decepticon microcassettes are Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Ravage, and Rumble. Buzzsaw, the spy, resembles a condor while in robot form and came packaged with Soundwave. Laserbeak, who serves in interrogation , also resembles a condor while in robot form and was sold with Frenzy, who is a warrior. Ravage, the saboteur , resembles a jaguar while in robot form and
798-638: A Decepticon billed as a "Solo Transformer Assault Group" ("S.T.A.G."), having as many as six modes. This number of modes was unprecedented at the time - Sixshot's instruction leaflet was even sealed shut with a sticker, challenging buyers to figure out all six modes without aid. Twenty limited edition all black versions of the Sixshot toy were produced. The animated series had one more season but only three episodes were produced in America due to Sunbow losing its contract and its subsequent inability of renewal (coinciding with
912-469: A Romper Room toy line. A month-long Teamsters strike and Far Eastern supplier troubles caused the company to post a $ 1 million loss for the year. In 1970, Hasbro began a plan of diversification and opened the Romper Room Nursery School franchise chain to cash in on President Richard Nixon 's Family Assistance Plan which subsidized day care for working mothers. By 1975, the company had ended
1026-401: A Toyota Hi-Lux 4WD tow truck model ; Inferno, who serves in search and rescue , transforms into a fire engine ; Red Alert, the security director , transforms into a fire chief 's Lamborghini Countach; Skids, the theoretician , transforms into a Honda City Turbo ; Smokescreen, the diversionary tactician , transforms into a 1979 custom Datsun 280ZX ; and Tracks, a warrior, transforms into
1140-566: A company selling textile remnants. Over the next two decades, the company expanded to produce pencil cases and school supplies. On January 8, 1926, Hassenfeld Brothers was incorporated in Rhode Island; Hillel left for another textile business while Henry took charge of the corporation. They began making their own pencils after their pencil supplier began making pencil cases as well. Hassenfeld Brothers produced modeling clay and then doctor and nurse kits as their first toys, and they became primarily
1254-571: A crucial role in this conflict. As a mentor and advisor to the Autobots, he provided strategic guidance and invaluable insights into the Decepticons' tactics and weaknesses. His wisdom and experience were instrumental in helping the Autobots navigate the complexities of the war. One of Alpha Trion's most significant contributions during the Great War was his role in the creation of Optimus Prime. Recognizing
SECTION 10
#17328769071281368-407: A detailed article that Hasbro came close to buying Lionsgate , exploring options to expand its entertainment division and bolster its content production capabilities due to interest in film and television ventures, but the deal fell through. On February 16, 2018, Saban Brands appointed Hasbro as the global master toy licensee for Power Rangers with a future collaboration and option to purchase
1482-594: A flying projectile with a sharp metal point causing multiple deaths. The other toy was named The Hypo-Squirt, a hypodermic needle-shaped water gun tagged by the press as a "junior junkie" kit. Both were recalled. Romper Room and its toy line had continued success, although Action for Children's Television citizens group considered the program to be an advertising channel for toys. Merrill Hassenfeld took over as CEO in 1974, and his son Stephen D. Hassenfeld became president. The company became profitable once again but had mixed results due to cash flow problems from increasing
1596-645: A makeover, with rides being redone and renamed to Hasbro properties. Construction was begun later that month and scheduled to wrap up in late 2020. On August 22, 2019, Hasbro announced its purchase of Entertainment One for about US$ 4 billion. The deal was completed on December 30, 2019. On October 24, 2019, Hasbro announced the closing of Backflip Studios, while its Wizards of the Coast subsidiary purchased Tuque Games in October. On February 28, 2020, Hasbro announced that Campbell Arnott's former CMO David McNeil had joined
1710-420: A manufacturer of infant products and the world's largest bib producer, and Knickerbocker Toy Company, a struggling Warner Communications subsidiary. Hasbro paid 37% of its stock to Warner, which was paid into Hasbro's executive-controlled voting trust, and also received a cash infusion. In 1984, Alan G. Hassenfeld took over as president from his brother Stephen, who continued as CEO and chairman. That same year,
1824-414: A new five-year contract. As of fiscal year 2012, Goldner had a total calculated compensation of $ 9,684,285. On July 9, 2013, Backflip Studios sold a 70% stake in the company to Hasbro for $ 112 million in cash. On November 6, 2012, it was rumored that The Walt Disney Company was discussing a multi-billion dollar deal to acquire Hasbro. While Hasbro declined to discuss the rumor, advisors stated there
1938-603: A new logo design for its sixth year. The subgrouping idea was changed as characters were now limited to Pretender and Micromaster groups. These two groups were further subdivided into thematic teams. A few classic characters were revamped as Pretenders. In its final year in the US market, Transformers' last burst was with a more expanded Micromaster line and the introduction of the Action Masters – non-transforming figures of classic characters with transformable vehicles and weapons. Of
2052-638: A probe to study the planet. The computer learns that the planet is inhabited, and in order to survive first contact the computer both repairs the disabled Transformers and re-configures them with physical forms based on vehicles and machines of human origin. The Transformers are now able to hide by changing into vehicles or devices in case humans turn out to be hostile. This initial premise, in all three media of toys, TV series, and comics, became more cosmic in scale. More stories began to be set in outer space and on alien worlds, especially after The Transformers: The Movie . Additional story elements are also added to
2166-439: A race called Transformers – robots that can change into vehicles, mechanical devices and even animal forms. They have waged civil war for eons on their home planet of Cybertron, a war that had started several million years B.C., before humans even existed on Earth. Their planet of Cybertron had become decimated and both factions have been reduced to scavenging for needed supplies, primarily energy. The Autobots leave their planet on
2280-416: A reflection of their adaptability and resourcefulness. Technology and Innovation Cybertron is a hub of technological advancement. The planet is home to some of the most advanced machinery and weapons in the universe. The Transformers themselves are a testament to this technological prowess, with their ability to transform and adapt to different environments. The AllSpark, the source of all Cybertronian life,
2394-619: A robot action figure and back again. The franchise's taglines, "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Robots in Disguise", reflect this ability. The Transformers plot has two factions of sentient alien robots: the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons . (These factions are known as "Cybertrons" and "Destrons" in Japan, respectively, although the English terms are better known world-wide.) Both sides are from
SECTION 20
#17328769071282508-410: A rocky alliance with the Decepticons. The Constructicons are a race of Cybertronians who became construction vehicles and are the first combiners to appear in the show. They used to be friends with Omega Supreme before they were corrupted into serving Megatron . They combine to form Devastator. The Coneheads are a Decepticon group who are mostly jet fighters, and whose heads are in the shape of
2622-527: A scholar and historian. He dedicated himself to the study of Cybertron's past, meticulously recording the planet's history and preserving its ancient knowledge. His vast repository of information would later prove invaluable in the fight against the Decepticons. Role in the Great War The Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons was a defining period in Cybertron's history, and Alpha Trion played
2736-508: A space ship, and the Decepticons follow them in their own vessel. When the Decepticons board the Autobot ship, a battle breaks out, and with nobody controlling the ship, it crashes onto prehistoric Earth and knocks the Transformers unconscious. Millions of years later, in 1984, the dormant volcano the Autobot ship had crashed on becomes active. The eruption re-sets the ship's computer, which deploys
2850-454: A testament to the advanced civilization that once thrived there. Geography and Structure Cybertron is a planet composed entirely of metal and machinery. Its surface is covered with towering skyscrapers, vast cities, and intricate networks of highways and tunnels. The planet's core is a powerful energy source known as the AllSpark, which is responsible for creating new Transformers and sustaining
2964-487: A toy company by 1942. Hillel died in 1943 and Henry Hassenfeld became CEO, while his son Anthony Merrill became president. The company entered the plastic fields during World War II to support its toy line. The Hassenfeld brothers, immigrants from Ulanów , Poland, also spent the war years helping to rescue and employ fellow Jews from Ulanów; Jacob Klapper, a holocaust survivor born in Ulanów, recalled being told when he arrived in
3078-468: A whole new line with a new concept behind it (developed by Hasbro's partners at Marvel Comics ), Hasbro ultimately created what would be one of the longest-running and most popular franchises for both companies. Starting in 1984, the line ran for seven years in America and eight in Europe and Japan (though Takara would break the line up into multiple sub-franchises). In 1983, Hasbro representatives were sent to
3192-752: Is Megatron . Other terms for the Decepticons are Décepticans (in France), Distructor (in Italy), Bedragarna (in Sweden), Bedragoner (in Denmark), Shakranikim (in Israel) and Álca (in Hungary). The Insecticons are a race of Cybertronians who can turn into insects . They possess the ability to eat any matter to power themselves, create clones , sport weather-controlling abilities, and make use of cerebro-shells. They are often in
3306-438: Is a name that resonates with wisdom, history, and the very essence of Cybertronian lore. As one of the oldest and most knowledgeable Transformers, Alpha Trion has played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of Cybertron and its inhabitants. His story is one of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the preservation of Cybertronian heritage. Origins and Early Life Alpha Trion's origins are shrouded in mystery, much like
3420-434: Is a powerful artifact that can create new Transformers and grant them unique abilities. The Future of Cybertron The future of Cybertron is uncertain. The planet has been through countless wars and conflicts, and its surface bears the scars of these battles. However, the Transformers are a resilient species, and they continue to fight for the survival and restoration of their homeworld. With the leadership of Optimus Prime and
3534-578: Is a powerful artifact that contains the collective wisdom of the Primes and serves as a symbol of leadership for the Autobots. As the Keeper of the Matrix, Alpha Trion was responsible for safeguarding this precious relic and ensuring that it was passed on to the rightful leader. Throughout the ages, Alpha Trion has been a guardian of the Matrix, guiding and mentoring those who would wield its power. His deep understanding of
Transformers: Generation 1 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3648-494: Is the Autobot Commander and transforms into a tractor trailer truck – specifically a Freightliner COE 1980 . While in its robot form, the toy consists of three separate parts: the main figure, which transforms into the cabin of the truck; an Autobot Headquarters, which transforms into the tractor trailer , serves as a combat deck, and includes a mechanic/artillery robot; and a small scout car named Roller, which launches from
3762-456: Is your evidence that this robot is a "true" Transformer! was operating explanation for the heat sensitive rub signs, as found in the instruction booklets for toys that were new to Series 2, and in brochures that were included with the reissued Series 1 toys. All of the toys released during Series 2, both those that were new to the series, as well as the reissued versions of Series 1 toys, featured heat sensitive rub signs. These would reveal either
3876-639: The Transformers toyline and related spin-off comics and cartoons . Their main leader is Optimus Prime , but other "Primes" have also commanded the Autobots such as Rodimus Prime. They are constantly at war with the evil Decepticons . In the U.S. cartoon line, the Autobots were the descendants of a line of robots created as consumer goods by the Quintessons ; the Decepticons, are descended instead from robots designed as military hardware . Other terms for
3990-693: The Discovery Family network. Hasbro sold Entertainment One to Lionsgate (now Starz Entertainment ) on December 27, 2023, however, it kept eOne's family brands and eOne's stake in Astley Baker Davies , placing them into a new subsidiary called Hasbro Entertainment , founded on August 16, 2023. The company celebrated their 100th anniversary on December 6, 2023. Three Polish-Jewish brothers, Herman, Hillel, and Henry Hassenfeld, founded Hassenfeld Brothers in Providence, Rhode Island , in late 1923,
4104-523: The Tokyo Toy Show [ ja ] , a toy expo in Japan, in search of prospective toys that they could import to the North American market. At the time, Japanese toy manufacturer Takara was showcasing several transforming robot toys from lines such as Diaclone and Micro Change . Hasbro bought the rights to produce the toys, but decided to release them under a single brand to avoid confusing
4218-406: The special operations expert , transforms into a 1976 Porsche 935 Martini (#4); Mirage, the spy , transforms into a Ligier JS11 Formula 1 Racer ; Prowl, the military strategist , transforms into a Datsun Fairlady 280ZX Police Cruiser ; Ratchet, the medic , transforms into a Nissan Onebox Ambulance Vanette ; Sideswipe, a warrior , transforms into a Lamborghini Countach prototype crafted from
4332-465: The 1983 International Tokyo Toy Show [ ja ] , the company licensed the toylines and subsequently launched the successful Transformers toy line along with a children's animated TV series two years later. With the toys and TV series being popular, Stephen Hassenfeld posed with the toys for a People magazine cover photo. In 1982, Hasbro produced the successful toy franchise My Little Pony . In 1983, they purchased GLENCO Infant Items,
4446-464: The Autobot Headquarters. The eleven Autobot cars consist of Bluestreak, Hound, Ironhide, Jazz, Mirage, Prowl, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, and Wheeljack. Bluestreak, the gunner , transforms into a Datsun Fairlady 280ZX ; Hound, the scout , transforms into a Mitsubishi J59 Jeep ; Ironhide, who serves as security , transforms into a 1980 Nissan Onebox Cherry Vanette ; Jazz,
4560-496: The Autobot logo or the Decepticon logo upon being rubbed. Intended as a means of authentication, they were introduced in response to similar, though inferior, bootleg toys that were being released at the time. Series 2 features seven new Autobot Cars. They consist of Grapple, Hoist, Inferno, Red Alert, Skids, Smokescreen, and Tracks. Grapple, the architect , transforms into a crane ; Hoist, who serves in maintenance , transforms into
4674-475: The Autobots are Autorobot (in Italy), Autoboterna (in Sweden), Kibery (in Ukraine), and Robotrikim (in Israel). Cybertron: The Living Planet Cybertron, the homeworld of the Transformers, is a planet unlike any other in the universe. It is a living, sentient world, teeming with life and technology, and serves as the birthplace of the Autobots and Decepticons. This metallic planet is a marvel of engineering and
Transformers: Generation 1 - Misplaced Pages Continue
4788-629: The Autobots but have also played a crucial role in their survival. One of Alpha Trion's most notable inventions is the Key to Vector Sigma, a device that grants access to the supercomputer Vector Sigma. This ancient computer is responsible for creating new Transformers and imbuing them with life. By unlocking the secrets of Vector Sigma, Alpha Trion has ensured the continued existence of the Cybertronian race. Legacy and Influence Alpha Trion's legacy extends far beyond his technological achievements and his role in
4902-535: The Autobots for generations to come. The Dinobots are a faction of Autobots who have dinosaur alternate modes. The first three were created in "S.O.S. Dinobots", while the latter two were created in "War of the Dinobots". In the Transformers cartoon series Power of the Primes , they merge into the combiner Volcanicus. The Aerialbots are a faction of Autobots who were created from Earth-style aircraft by Vector Sigma following Alpha Trion's sacrifice. They are
5016-405: The Autobots' first combiners faction. The combine to form Superion. The Protectobots are an Autobot faction and the second of their combiner faction who are charged with protecting the humans, rescuing them, and enforcing the law. They combine to form Defensor. There are some Female Autobots in the group, who had never left the planet cybertron. The Technobots are an Autobot faction and
5130-468: The Autobots, there is hope that Cybertron can be rebuilt and restored to its former glory. I hope you find this essay on Cybertron informative and engaging! If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask. can you make a 1200 word essay on Alpha Trion from TRANSFORMERS Absolutely! Here's an in-depth essay on Alpha Trion, one of the most revered characters in the Transformers universe: Alpha Trion: The Sage of Cybertron Alpha Trion
5244-685: The CEO and chairman of the board. Between 1978 and 1981, Stephen reduced the Hasbro product line by one-third and its new products by one-half. Hasbro focused on simple, low-cost, longer life-cycle toys like Mr. Potato Head. Hasbro thus stayed out of the electronic games field which went bust in the early 1980s. In 1982, Hasbro revived its G.I. Joe line with the help of Marvel Comics , as an anti-terrorist special forces team based on current events. Following an interest in Takara 's Diaclone and Micro Change toylines in
5358-449: The Coast was bought in a deal worth $ 325 million. Wizards of the Coast is now a subsidiary of Hasbro and has Avalon Hill as its division. In 2001 money-losing Hasbro Interactive was sold to Infogrames , a French software concern, for $ 100 million. Hasbro entered the building block toy with its Built to Rule line in 2003, which did not hold together well or were too hard for the targeted age group, thus ended in 2005. In 2004,
5472-699: The Coast , among others. As of August 2020, over 81.5% of its shares were held by large financial institutions. Among Hasbro's products are Transformers , G.I. Joe , Power Rangers , Rom the Space Knight , Micronauts , M.A.S.K. , Monopoly , Furby , Nerf , Potato Head , Ouija boards , Play-Doh , Twister , and My Little Pony , and with the Entertainment One (now Lionsgate Canada ) acquisition on December 30, 2019, franchises like Peppa Pig and PJ Masks . Hasbro also spawned TV shows to promote its products, such as Family Game Night on
5586-509: The Coast subsidiary "posted revenue of $ 816 million last year, up 24% from 2019, fueled by what Hasbro says were record years for" Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering . ICv2 reported, "the WotC and Digital Gaming segment is over $ 112 million more than the operating profit for Hasbro's entire consumer products segment" and that "Wizards of the Coast on its own is also more profitable than Hasbro's consumer products segment [...]. From
5700-457: The Dinobots, Constructicons and Insecticons . Toward the end of the animated series’ second season, several characters from the 1986 line were introduced, particularly the Combiner teams. Other characters were taken from different toy lines of other companies. The year of 1986 saw Hasbro start using original designs for many characters as fewer Microman and Diaclone molds were recycled. This
5814-461: The Far East as an important market to expand. In 1992, Hasbro purchased Nomura Toys Ltd. in Japan, and majority ownership of Palmyra, a Southeast Asian toy distributor. These increased the proportion of international sales from 22% in 1985 to 45% ($ 1.28 billion) in 1995. In 1993, Hasbro lost its bid for J. W. Spear & Sons , a U.K.-based game maker, to Mattel . In the US, Hasbro's growth since 1980
SECTION 50
#17328769071285928-463: The G.I. Joe cartoon meeting their demise), leaving only the comics to support the toy line. Transformers continued on, despite less support and still managed to introduce a plethora of new characters. New Headmaster and Targetmaster characters were introduced, but the new driving forces for the line were the Pretenders and Powermasters (which featured the return of Optimus Prime). The toy line received
6042-399: The Great War. He is revered as a symbol of wisdom, compassion, and selflessness. His teachings and philosophies have shaped the values and principles of the Autobots, guiding them in their quest for peace and justice. Even after his physical form was lost, Alpha Trion's spirit and influence have endured. His teachings continue to inspire new generations of Autobots, and his presence is felt in
6156-819: The Hasbro Toy Group. Meanwhile, Mattel purchased Fisher-Price and retook the top spot in the toy industry. Hasbro Interactive was started in 1995 and released the Monopoly game on CD-ROM. Mattel also proposed a merger that year, but was turned down by the Hasbro board in 1996 due to antitrust issues and Justice Department investigation into exclusionary policies between toy manufacturers and toy retailers, particularly Toys "R" Us . In 1998, Hasbro bought Avalon Hill for $ 6 million and Galoob for $ 220 million. That same year, Milton Bradley merged with Parker Bros. to form Hasbro Games. In 1999, Hasbro paid $ 325 million for rights to Pokémon toys. The same year, Wizards of
6270-498: The Hasbro tie-in comic book G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero , based on the Hasbro action figure G.I. Joe . Marvel was approached once again to provide a backstory for the new toy line. Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter created an overall story, and editor Bob Budiansky created names, short descriptions and profiles for the characters. The designs for the original 28 figures were made by renown anime character and mecha designers Shōji Kawamori and Kazutaka Miyatake . When
6384-502: The Hasbro trade name, and it shortened its name to Hasbro Industries on July 12, 1968, and sold a minor stake in the corporation to the public. The Vietnam War was at its height in 1969, so Hasbro redesigned GI Joe to be less militaristic and more adventure-oriented. Its promotional efforts included the catchphrase "Boy Oh Boy! It's A Hasbro Toy!" in television commercials and print ads. Also in 1969, Hasbro bought Burt Claster Enterprises which produced " Romper Room " and had just begun
6498-477: The LP500S model; Sunstreaker, who is Sideswipe's twin brother, and is also a warrior, transforms into a Lamborghini Countach LP500S; Trailbreaker, the defense strategist , transforms into a Toyota Hi-Lux 4WD ; and Wheeljack, the mechanical engineer , transforms into a Lancia Stratos Turbo #539 "Alitalia" . Almost all of the first year Autobot cars were nearly identical in appearance to their Diaclone counterparts with
6612-414: The Matrix's significance and his ability to unlock its secrets have made him an indispensable figure in the history of the Autobots. Technological Innovations Alpha Trion's contributions to Cybertronian technology are legendary. As a master engineer and inventor, he has created some of the most advanced and powerful devices in Cybertronian history. His innovations have not only enhanced the capabilities of
6726-691: The US line in 1990 with the re-releases of several early toys under the "Classics" banner. However, it was 1991 when the UK line went in its own unique direction. Though there were only a few characters introduced, they were toys that none of the US audience had ever seen. The 1991 and 1992 toys also found their way to Asian and Australian stores. The 1991 line did away with the Micromasters but had additional Action Master characters, in addition to re-uses of some of Takara's previously Japanese-exclusive molds. Hasbro Hasbro, Inc. ( / ˈ h æ z b r oʊ / ;
6840-593: The United States that Hassenfeld Brothers would employ any survivor from Ulanów, no questions asked. Hassenfeld Brothers' first popular toy was Mr. Potato Head , which the company purchased from George Lerner in 1952. In 1954, the company became a Disney major licensee. In 1960, Henry died and Merrill took over the parent company, and his older brother Harold ran the pencil-making business of Empire Pencil. Hassenfeld Brothers expanded to Canada with Hassenfeld Brothers (Canada) Ltd. in 1961. In 1962, Hasbro purchased
6954-402: The ancient history of Cybertron itself. It is believed that he was one of the original Thirteen Primes, a group of legendary Transformers created by Primus, the creator god of the Transformers. As a Prime, Alpha Trion was endowed with immense wisdom and a deep understanding of Cybertronian technology and culture. In his early years, Alpha Trion was known as A3, a name that reflected his status as
SECTION 60
#17328769071287068-615: The building block market since the failure of the Built to Rule line, Hasbro re-entered the market with the Kre-O line in late 2011, starting with some Transformers -based sets. In 2012, Hasbro received a $ 1.6 million tax credit from the state of Rhode Island with a promise to create 245 new jobs in the state. Instead, they laid off more than 125 workers. This was followed in 2013 with further layoffs of North American workers, amounting to 10% of its salaried employees. Meanwhile, CEO Brian Goldner signed
7182-403: The chairman position. However, the executives clashed and Shea left after a few months, and Stephen and Alan returned to their previous positions. On June 6, 1985, the company changed its name again to just Hasbro, Inc. The Jumpstarters toys were the subject of a lawsuit in 1985 when Hasbro sued a toy manufacturer for selling toys based on their Transformers design. Hasbro won the suit. In
7296-683: The company as the managing director for Pacific operations. On September 30, 2020, Renegade Game Studios announced they had acquired licensing for creating tabletop games for multiple Hasbro brands. Several of the games would be using the 5E role-playing system owned by Hasbro's subsidiary Wizards of the Coast. On February 25, 2021, during the 2021 Investor Event, Hasbro announced a company reorganization with three divisions: Consumer Products, Entertainment, and Wizards & Digital. The Wall Street Journal reported that "Hasbro's net revenue fell 8% last year to $ 5.47 billion, due in part to retail shutdowns related to Covid-19," however, its Wizards of
7410-490: The company entered into a deal with Paramount Home Entertainment to release its programs based on its games and toys on VHS and DVD. In 2008, Hasbro acquired game maker Cranium, Inc. for $ 77.5 million. The deal was announced on January 4 and closed on January 25. Hasbro and Universal Pictures signed an agreement in February 2008 to derive four films from seven Hasbro properties for production. In May, Bennett Schneir
7524-518: The company having gone from sales of $ 104 million in the year he took control to 1989 sales of over $ 1.4 billion. Alan succeeded Stephen as chairman and CEO. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka Corp. for $ 486 million, along with its units Parker Brothers , the maker of Monopoly , and Kenner Products . Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers were merged into one division. Alan moved to expand Hasbro overseas with new units in Greece, Hungary, and Mexico. Alan saw
7638-485: The company praise from Greenpeace executive director Phil Radford , who said: "The new Hasbro policy will also increase the recycled and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper in its toy packaging. Hasbro's new commitments are great news for Indonesian rainforests and the people and wildlife that depend on them." By April 2011, Hasbro started 360 Manufacturing Services, a contract OEM game manufacturing operating out of Hasbro's USA plant. Having been absent from
7752-493: The company was the nation's sixth best-selling toymaker, and then acquired the Milton Bradley Company , which was the nation's fifth best-selling toymaker. This brought The Game of Life , Twister , Easy Money , and Playskool into the Hasbro fold and on September 10 transformed Hasbro into Hasbro Bradley . Stephen Hassenfeld became the merged company's president and CEO, with Milton Bradley chief James Shea Jr. taking
7866-521: The company's treatment of the Empire Pencil subsidiary as Empire received lower levels of capital spending relative to profits than did the toy division. With Merrill's death in 1979, Harold did not recognize Stephen's authority as the successor to the chairman and CEO position. As a solution, Hasbro spun off Empire Pencil in 1980, which was the nation's largest pencil maker, with Harold trading his Hasbro shares for those of Empire. Stephen then became both
7980-592: The control of its chief content officer. Hasbro announced that it would launch its own convention, named HasCon , and featuring "all things Hasbro" in 2016, with the inaugural event being held at the Rhode Island Convention Center in September 2017. On November 15, 2017, Mattel, Inc. rejected an offer from the company. At the time, Mattel's worth was $ 5 billion, while Hasbro's worth was about $ 11 billion. On February 27, 2018, Variety reported in
8094-520: The countries Transformers was exported to, Japan and the UK were the only ones to innovate upon the toy line in the interim between 1990 and 1993, before the launch of the next series, Transformers: Generation 2 . The UK releases, while in general following the American releases and storylines, omitted a fairly large selection of the original toys from the US line. The UK line first started branching away from
8208-523: The end of 2015, Disney gave Hasbro a chance to gain the license given their work on Star Wars , which led to a Descendants license. DCP was also attempting to evolve the brand from one of them less as damsels and more as heroines. In September 2014, Disney announced that Hasbro would be the doll licensee for the Disney Princess line starting on January 1, 2016. On July 13, 2016, Hasbro acquired Dublin-based Boulder Media Limited and placed it under
8322-602: The exception of Bluestreak and Ironhide. All box art as well as catalog and instructions for Bluestreak show a blue Fairlady Z with a silver hood. The toy itself was only sold in solid silver. There has been rumors of a "blue" Bluestreak being released in the US market but no boxed examples have been identified. Ironhide is a red Nissan Onebox Cherry Vannette and the Diaclone version was black. The six Autobot minicars consist of Brawn, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer, and Windcharger. Brawn, who serves in demolitions , transforms into
8436-482: The former Potter & Johnston manufacturing company building on Newport Avenue in Pawtucket, Rhode Island . The Pawtucket plant facilities were eventually expanded to over 300,000 square feet. In 1963 the company introduced Flubber , but reports of sore throats and rashes from the product and knock-offs prompted an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and a voluntary recall by Hassenfeld Brothers. The company
8550-516: The foundation of the Generation 1 series, with all of the classic characters introduced here. The two years were actually one single run, story-wise and thematically. This is most evident in the first and second seasons of the animated series. The toys made use of molds and designs primarily from the Micro Change and Diaclone lines. The 1985 toyline introduced the idea of special subgroup teams like
8664-401: The franchise. On May 1, 2018, Hasbro agreed to purchase Power Rangers and other entertainment assets from Saban Brands for $ 522 million in cash and stock with the licensing fee recently paid with credit. The sale, which also collaborated with My Pet Monster , Popples , Julius Jr. , Treehouse Detectives and additional properties, was expected to close in the second quarter until it
8778-574: The head of the Autobot. The Clonebots are the Autobot's version of the Clonecons. The Junkions are an Autobot tribe race of scrap metal robots who come from the planet of the same name. The Decepticons (known as Destrons or on occasion Deathtrons in Japan) are the enemies of the Autobots , and the villains in the fictional universe of the movie and cartoon Transformers toyline and related spin-off comics and cartoons. Their best known leader
8892-743: The hotel when it opened in 2019. Hasbro granted Kingsmen Creatives a license to build a chain of NERF Action Xperience family entertainment centers, with the first to be opened in Singapore in fall/winter 2019. In November, the company issued a license for family entertainment centers to Kilburn Live, who were to launch a new division for the centers. That December, the company granted a license for theme parks to Imagine Resorts and Hotels, co-founded by Bruce Neviaser. Neviaser had previously co-founded Great Lakes Companies, which launched Great Wolf Resorts indoor waterpark resorts. On December 18, 2019, Hasbro and West Edmonton Mall announced that Galaxyland would get
9006-508: The intent to sell its last two factories, in Ireland and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts (including its 360 Manufacturing Services), to Cartamundi . The deal was set to close in sixty days. Hasbro signed a five-year deal with Cartamundi to produce their board games at the East Longmeadow plant. With Mattel adding two competing lines, and the expiration of their Disney Princess license at
9120-645: The late 1980s, Hasbro moved to increase international sales by taking toys overseas that had failed in the US market and selling them for as much as four times the original price. This increased international sales from $ 268 million in 1985 to $ 433 million in 1988. In 1988, Hasbro purchased part of Coleco Industries' indoor and outdoor children's furniture and ride-on toy product lines for $ 21 million including two just closed manufacturing plants in Amsterdam, New York. In July 1989, Hasbro acquired bankrupt Coleco for $ 85 million. Stephen Hassenfeld died later that year with
9234-419: The machines went into rebellion, known as the 1st Cybertronian War. After successfully seizing control of Cybertron the robots lived in peace until the Decepticons could not resist or overcome their innate desire for military campaign and attempted a coup. The Autobots only overcame the Decepticons in the 2nd Cybertronian war by developing transformation to hide as mundane objects, vehicles, or tools. After copying
9348-455: The market with several series with similar premises. Other toy molds from other companies such as Bandai were used as well. Prior to the Hasbro deal, Takara briefly sold Diaclone toys in specialty toy shops in the U.S. under the "Diakron" moniker, while in some parts of Europe, Diaclone enjoyed a small following with a comic book series for that market. Hasbro had a business relationship with Marvel Comics , which had successfully produced
9462-521: The mid-1980s, Hasbro moved past Mattel to become the world's largest toy company. Hasbro then moved to outsell Mattel's Barbie in the fashion doll market with the 1986 introduction of Jem , a record producer/rock musician dual identity fashion doll. Jem initially posted strong sales but plummeted and was withdrawn from the market in 1987. Hasbro followed up in 1988 with Maxie , a Barbie-sized blonde doll, so that Barbie clothing and accessories would fit. Maxie lasted until 1990. Under Alan's initiative in
9576-409: The movie and was now set in the future while the comics’ storyline continued to be set in the present time. Optimus Prime and Megatron were both offered as a Movie Mail Away. Both figures were identical to their original release with the exception of a more reinforced fist design for Optimus Prime. Both figures came in their standard styrofoam insert but the box was a plain brown mailer box. Each figure
9690-483: The need for a strong and capable leader, Alpha Trion chose Orion Pax, a humble dock worker, to become the next Prime. Through a process known as the "Reconfiguration," Alpha Trion transformed Orion Pax into Optimus Prime, imbuing him with the wisdom and strength needed to lead the Autobots. The Keeper of the Matrix Alpha Trion's connection to the Matrix of Leadership is another key aspect of his legacy. The Matrix
9804-526: The number of toys in the line to offset G.I. Joe's declining sales. Hasbro ended the G.I. Joe line in 1975 because of the rising prices of plastic and crude oil. In 1977, Hasbro's losses were $ 2.5 million, and the company held a large debt load. That same year, Hasbro acquired licensing rights to Peanuts cartoon characters. With the financial situation poor, Hasbro's bankers made the company temporarily stop dividend payments in early 1979. The toy division's losses increased Harold Hassenfeld's resentment regarding
9918-596: The nursery chain. Hasbro also entered the cookware field with the Galloping Gourmet line based on a television cooking show. Two new 1970s toys were public relations disasters. One of the toys was named Javelin Darts which were similar to the ancient Roman plumbata . On December 19, 1988, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lawn darts from sale in the United States due to their hazards as
10032-505: The other between modes was identical. For example: Finally, Thundercracker, Starscream, and Skywarp are functionally identical to one another. The Series 2 Decepticon jets (Thrust, Dirge, and Ramjet) all share the same robot centerline of the Series 1 jets with different attachable wing accessories (Thrust's have molded (non-functional) vertical turbofans in them, Dirge's are elongated like a hyper-performance flyer, and Ramjet's have ramjets). As
10146-568: The other new toys, five are branded as "Dinobots", three are branded as "Omnibots", six are branded as "Constructicons", and seven are branded as "Insecticons"; the Dinobots and the Omnibots are both subgroups of the Autobots, while the Constructicons and the Insecticons are both subgroups of the Decepticons. Each following series of Generation 1 introduced more subgroups to the toy line, and continued
10260-471: The outside, Hasbro looks like a toy company, but with these numbers, it's revealed to be a geek game company with toy and entertainment divisions". In April 2021, Hasbro agreed to sell eOne Music unit to Blackstone for $ 385 million, offloading part of the Entertainment One operations that it acquired in 2019. Quintessons The Autobots (also known as Cybertrons in Japan) are the heroes in
10374-433: The planet's life force. The landscape of Cybertron is constantly changing, with cities rising and falling as the planet evolves. History and Culture The history of Cybertron is marked by conflict and war. The planet was once a peaceful and prosperous world, ruled by the wise and benevolent Primes. However, a civil war broke out between the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the Decepticons, led by Megatron. This war ravaged
10488-401: The planet, leaving it scarred and damaged. Despite the destruction, Cybertron remains a symbol of hope and resilience for the Transformers. Cybertronian culture is rich and diverse, with a deep respect for technology and innovation. The Transformers are a highly advanced species, capable of transforming their bodies into various forms, such as vehicles, weapons, and even animals. This ability is
10602-413: The practice established by Series 2 of aligning those with names ending in the suffix "-bot" with the Autobots, and those with names ending in the suffix "-con" with the Decepticons. Rounding out the seventy-six new toys of the series, are the first two accessories of the toy line to be individually sold. Can you find the black square label on your Transformer? Rub the label-Watch the robot face appear! It
10716-663: The revival of the My Little Pony franchise, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic , which became the network's highest-rated program and attracted a significant cult following among teens and adults . The Hub Network was rebranded as Discovery Family on October 13, 2014. In 2013, Hasbro renewed its deal to produce Marvel Comics and Star Wars toys through at least 2020. In 2011, Greenpeace accused Hasbro of purchasing paper for its packaging from ancient forests in Indonesia. Hasbro changed its paper purchasing policy, earning
10830-455: The series moved farther along beyond the first two series and new characters were introduced, this replication became fewer and farther between. The newer toys tended to share thematic processes (such as the Headmaster and Targetmaster lines) but the physical manipulation of the toy to transform it between modes was generally unique to that character. Series 2 features reissued versions of all of
10944-418: The series, such as establishing the origins of the Transformers race. A cruel and coldly logical race of alien squid-like creatures with five faces and tentacles known as Quintessons , who were the creators of the Autobots and Decepticons. They also created a gigantic factory that would become Cybertron. Eventually the design of the robots would become so sophisticated they developed emotions, self-awareness, and
11058-580: The third combiner group. They were created by Grimlock at the time he had an intelligence boost and they act like scientists. They combine to form Computron. The Throttlebots are an Autobot faction who are known for their speed and agility. The Targetmasters are Transformers who can transform into Weapons. The ones on the Autobots' side were created by the Nebulans who they befriended. The Headmasters are transformers who are partnered with Nebulons in special robot suits that enable them to transform into
11172-527: The toy line was released, it was supported by the Marvel Comics series, an animated television series , and a gamut of other merchandising tie-ins. The 1986 feature film The Transformers: The Movie generated $ 5,706,456 at the United States box office. The premise behind the Transformers toy line is that an individual toy's parts can be shifted about to change it from a vehicle, a device, or an animal, to
11286-417: The toys from Series 1 and also introduced seventy-six new toys. Although in a broad sense, forty-three of these new toys are Autobots, and thirty-one of them are Decepticons, the branding for the toy line became much more specific during this series, as various subgroups began to be introduced. As such, only thirty-five of these new toys are standard Autobots and only eighteen of them are standard Decepticons. Of
11400-517: The transformation ability of Autobots and creating a new leader named Megatron, the Decepticons launched into a 3rd Cybertronian war that would see Cybertron ruined, at which point the TV series begins. Two characters – each the greatest leader of his side, became the most iconic representatives of the series: Optimus Prime of the Autobots and Megatron of the Decepticons . After the featured film, Megatron
11514-440: The very fabric of Cybertronian society. As a mentor and guide, Alpha Trion's impact on the Transformers universe is immeasurable. Conclusion Alpha Trion stands as a testament to the enduring power of wisdom and knowledge. His contributions to Cybertronian history, technology, and culture have left an indelible mark on the Transformers universe. As a sage, mentor, and guardian, Alpha Trion's legacy will continue to inspire and guide
11628-489: Was "absolutely nothing going on" they knew of between the two companies. Additionally, financial analysts said the deal was illogical, as the rumor came out just a week after Disney had acquired Lucasfilm . Hasbro was named by Fortune magazine as one of the top 100 companies to work for in 2013, citing that the "company enhanced its vacation policy by giving new employees three weeks off in their first year instead of having to wait five years." On November 12, 2014, it
11742-594: Was a banner year for the toy line as the tie-in animated feature, The Transformers: The Movie , was finally released. While the movie was not the blockbuster Hasbro hoped for, it marked a change in the direction the series in general was taking. The last use of a non-Takara toy for the Hasbro line was also in 1986: Sky Lynx, originally manufactured by ToyBox. New characters Rodimus Prime and Galvatron replaced Optimus Prime and Megatron in their respective roles. Subgroup teams became prevalent. The number of new characters increased from this year on. The TV series followed
11856-461: Was accompanied with a "Movie Edition" certificate and sticker. As Transformers went on, new characters needed new gimmicks to stand out. As the number of Combiner teams had been reduced, the Headmasters and Targetmasters were introduced. Fortress Maximus and Scorponok became leaders of the Autobot and Decepticon forces respectively. One of the more unusual toys introduced in the year was Sixshot,
11970-466: Was approached in 1963 to license a toy based on The Lieutenant , which they turned down because they did not want to be tied to a possibly short-lived television series. Instead, Hassenfeld Brothers produced the G.I. Joe toy in 1964 which they termed an " action figure " in order to market it to boys who wouldn't want to play with dolls. In 1964 and 1965, G.I. Joe accounted for two-thirds of Hassenfeld's sales. The company had previously sold toys under
12084-538: Was finished with Saban's collab. On October 19, 2018, the company announced plans to cut jobs amounting to less than 10% of its 5,000-plus global workforce in response to changes in how consumers buy toys. In 2018, Hasbro signed a number of licensing agreements for hospitality deals based on Hasbro brands. On May 1, 2018, the Monopoly Mansion hotel agreement was announced by Hasbro, with M101 Holdings overseeing construction and M101's Sirocco Group assigned to manage
12198-486: Was formed for TV development, production and distribution. On December 11, 2012, Hasbro transferred all entertainment divisions to Hasbro Studios, including their LA-based film group, and Cake Mix Studio, the company's Rhode Island–based producer of commercials and short form content. Hasbro collaborated with Discovery on The Hub , a cable television network targeting younger children and families, which launched on October 10, 2010. The venture found unexpected success with
12312-452: Was from acquisitions and the leveraging of the new assets. New product development was not as successful except for film and TV tie-in product lines with Jurassic Park and Barney . Thus, US sales were stagnant in the early 1990s, falling from 1993 to 1995. To turn domestic performance around in 1994, Hasbro merged the Hasbro Toy, Playskool, Playskool Baby, Kenner, and Kid Dimension units into
12426-597: Was hired to lead its Hasbro Films division, while Hasbro also reacquired series based on their properties from Sunbow Productions . The year of his promotion to CEO of Hasbro, Brian Goldner was named CEO of the year by News Corp affiliate website MarketWatch .com. Goldner became the first person not from the founding Hassenfeld family to hold the position. In 2009, the Milton Bradley and Parker Bros. brands were retired after eleven years and eight years of Hasbro ownership respectively. That same year, Hasbro Studios
12540-590: Was originally called The Transformers , with "Generation 1" originating as a term coined by fans of the toys when the Transformers: Generation 2 toy line was released in 1992. Hasbro eventually adopted the term "Generation 1" to refer to any toy produced in that era. The Transformers started as a joint venture between Hasbro of the United States and Takara of Japan . After an idea to rebrand and sell Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change robot toys as
12654-475: Was reformed as Galvatron , and Optimus Prime was replaced for the majority of the third season by Rodimus Prime , only to return at the end. Both Optimus Prime and Megatron continued to appear in one form or another in subsequent Transformers series, where they maintained their leadership roles. The toys of Generation 1 have seven series by year. The first series features twenty-eight characters in all; eighteen Autobots and ten Decepticons. Optimus Prime
12768-527: Was released on Cliffjumper backer cards. No carded examples have been found with the minicar on a Bumblebee backer card. Megatron is the Decepticon Leader and can transform into three different types of guns; a Walther P38 handgun , a particle beam cannon , and a telescopic laser cannon . Soundwave is the Decepticon Communicator and transforms into a microcassette recorder modeled after
12882-417: Was reported that Hasbro was in talks to buy DreamWorks Animation . The proposal reportedly calls for the combined company to take the name "DreamWorks-Hasbro" and for Jeffrey Katzenberg to become its chairman, but as a matter of policy, neither Hasbro nor DWA publicly comment on mergers and acquisitions. Two days later, the talks were reported to have fallen through. On July 14, 2015, the company announced
12996-595: Was sold with Rumble, who serves in demolitions. The three Decepticon planes are Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker. All three of them transform into F-15 Eagles . Skywarp and Thundercracker are both warriors, while Starscream is the Aerospace Commander . To save production costs in developing separate chassis for multiple toys, many of the G1 Transformers are simply re-painted or re-accessorized clones of one another. The physical actions to transform one or
#127872