Transformers Classics

Transformers Classics are a line of Transformers toys that are based on and resemble the characters and figures introduced in the 1980s. The toyline was created to fill the gap in Transformers product releases between the end of the ' series and the start of the toyline based on the live-action movie that was released in summer 2007, and also act as a tie-in to the release of the ' edition.

The character designs have been updated to appeal to a modern audience and fans of the original 1984 toyline. The face and body are now more detailed than those of the 1984 toyline due to advancements in toy design technology. The line is notable for being the first Transformers toyline since the 1984 original to feature Decepticon leader Megatron as having a handgun for an alternate mode. It is also the first line since 1998, except for reissues, to include temperature sensitive insignia, a feature included among second and third year first generation toys as well.

The toys were officially announced to debut in November 2006, [Greg Lombardo, [http://www.hasbro.com/ Hasbro] 's Director of Marketing, [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/default.cfm?page=News%2FItem&newsID=70BEDAAE-D56F-E112-412B14A6033C14A1 "Hasbro Introduces ‘More Than Meets the Eye’ Transformers Classics Line"] ] but have been found in large retail chains, such as Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us, before the announced date.

Main toyline

The main "Classics "toyline consists of all-new molds designed to resemble updated versions of several 1984 Transformers characters.

Wave 1

Autobots:
*Optimus Prime (Voyager, COE semi-trailer truck).
*Rodimus (Deluxe, sports car).
*Bumblebee (Deluxe, Peugeot 206 / Wave Crusher jetski on trailer/flight pack. The initial release of the mold had a slight curve to the roof vent under the rub-symbol. This caused the rub symbol to pull away from the toy. Later releases, including the Cliffjumper repaint, flattened the roof vent to improve adhesion).

Decepticons:
*Megatron (Voyager, Nerf-like handgun).
*Starscream (Deluxe, F-15 Eagle).
*Astrotrain (Deluxe, NASA Space Shuttle/bullet train triple changer).

Wave 2

Autobots:
*Jetfire (Voyager, armored space fighter) - Don Figueroa's design for the character in "" was based on this toy.
*Grimlock (Deluxe, Tyrannosaurus).
*Mirage (Deluxe, Renault R26 Formula 1 racer).

Wave 3

Autobots:
*Cliffjumper (Deluxe, compact car) - repaint of Classics Bumblebee.

Decepticons:
*Ramjet (Deluxe, M-21 Blackbird jet fighter).

Box Sets

The Ultimate Battle:
*Optimus Prime (Deluxe, Kenworth T800 COE semi-trailer truck) - a completely separate mold from the Voyager model above, similar in design to "" G1 Convoy.
*Megatron (Deluxe, tank) - a completely separate mold from the Voyager model above, somewhat based upon his Generation 2 body.
*Bonus DVD

Battle for Autobot City: (Target exclusive)
*Ultra Magnus (Voyager, COE semi-trailer truck) - repaint of Classics Voyager Optimus Prime.
*Skywarp (Deluxe, jet fighter) - repaint of Classics Starscream.

Constructicon Devastator (Wal-Mart exclusive, recolor of "" Constructicon Maximus)
*Decepticon Scrapper (Basic, payloader).
*Long Haul (Basic, crane).
*Bonecrusher (Basic, payloader).
*Scavenger (Deluxe, steam-shovel).
*Hightower (Basic, crane).

Soundwave (Toys R Us Exclusive)
*Soundwave (Based on the modified reissue of Soundwave/Soundblaster tape deck).
*Laserbeak (tape).
*Battle Ravage (tape).

Mini-Cons

Several Mini-Con teams originally intended for release in the "Transformers: Cybertron" toyline were released in the "Classics" line to further expand it. Because they were designed for the former line, they do not resemble any Generation One characters, even though some of them share the same names. Four of these Mini-Cons were released in the "Cybertron" line as pack tie-ins with Cybertron Primus.

Wave One

*Night Rescue Team: Strongarm (police cruiser), Firebot (fire engine), Divebomb (Apache attack helicopter).
*Demolition Team: Broadside (tank), Sledge (front-end loader), Wideload (dump truck).
*Dinobots: Knockdown (Triceratops), Swoop (Pteranodon), Terrorsaur (Tyrannosaurus).

Wave Two

*Dirt Digger Team: Dirt Rocket (dirtbike), Grindor (monster truck), Oil Slick (muscle car).
*Predator Attack Team: Dreadwing (eagle), Overbite (tiger), Snarl (wolf).
*Clear Skies Team: Nightscream (dragon), Steel Wind (A-10 attack jet), Thunderwing (jet fighter).

Classic Legends

Repainted versions of the Micro class "Legends of Cybertron" subline from the "Transformers: Cybertron" toyline. Like the Mini-Cons, although they began life in a different toyline, they were repainted and released under the "Classics" heading to expand the toyline. While they were not designed as Generation One updates like the main line, their names and color schemes are homages to original characters.

*Bumblebee (sports car) - repaint of "LoC" Hot Shot.
*Fireflight (cargo jet) - repaint of "LoC" Jetfire. Originally intended to be Powerglide, but Hasbro couldn't obtain a trademark on that name.
*Jetfire (jet fighter) - repaint of "LoC" Thundercracker.
*Leo Prime (lion) - "repaint of LoC Leo Breaker", a homage to "Beast Wars II" Lio Convoy.
*Menasor (flatbed truck) - repaint of "LoC" Optimus Prime. Originally intended to be Motormaster, but Hasbro couldn't obtain a trademark on that name.
*Perceptor (satellite rocket carrier) - repaint of "LoC" Cybertron Defense Red Alert.
*Trypticon (three-headed dragon) - repaint of "LoC" Scourge.
*Whirl (helicopter) - repaint of "LoC" Evac.

Foreign Release / Special Packaging

Several countries had the main line toys released into new packaging.

Two Packs
*Optimus Prime (Voyager) and Ultra Magnus(Voyager)
*Jetfire (Voyager) and Grimlock (Deluxe)
*Optimus Prime (Voyager) and Megatron (Voyager)

Other
*The deluxe versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron (Tank version) released as the two pack "Ulitmate Battle" were packaged individually on cards in Europe.

BotCon 2007

Exclusive toys at BotCon 2007, although sold under the label, have been made as an extension to the "Classics" line.

Games of Deception convention boxed set:
*Thundercracker (Deluxe, jet fighter) - repaint of Classics Starscream.
*Dirge (Deluxe, jet fighter) - repaint of Classics Ramjet.
*Thrust (Deluxe, jet fighter) - remold of Classics Ramjet with new wings.
*Bugbite (Deluxe, compact car) - repaint of Classics Bumblebee. Based on the eHobby redeco of Bumblebee as a Decepticon.
*Dreadwind (Voyager, armored space fighter) - repaint of Classics Jetfire with new head.

Other toys:
*Mirage (Deluxe, Formula One racer) - recast in clear blue plastic. This was the special attendance toy given to convention goers who purchased the Games of Deception boxed set.
*Springer (Deluxe, armored assault vehicle) and Huffer (Basic semi tractor) - repaints of Cybertron Defence Hotshot and "Cybertron" Armorhide.
*Weirdwolf (Deluxe, wolf) - repaint of "Cybertron" Snarl. Weirdwolf was sold with Alpha Trion, a repaint of Vector Prime with a new head, featured in the previous Transformer Collectors Club story. While Weirdwolf was given a Classics bio card that matched those of Games of Deception figures and the other BotCon 2007 exclusives, Alpha Trion's bio card was instead in the pattern of earlier club exclusives such as Astrotrain.

Prospective toys

At BotCon 2006, a few prospective items were mentioned at the Hasbro design panel. However, given the focus on the upcoming movie tie-in line, the fate of any future Classics figures is currently dubious at best, beyond other toys released as part of the BotCon 2007 event or from the Transformers Collectors Club.

*Cosmos - Concept art for Cosmos was shown at BotCon 2006, but it was announced that Hasbro marketing thought the design was not financially viable. Cosmos was intended to be a Deluxe figure.
*Seacons - It was stated, that if a store will accept them as an exclusive boxed set, they would be packaged as Classics, in the fashion of the Constructicon Devastator set.
*Jazz - Name mentioned as one they'd like to make.
*Elita One - Has been seen in previews of the club comic, a repaint of Cybertron Thunderblast. She is also depicted on the Classics poster from BotCon 2007, and is rumored to be released later as a Transformers Collectors Club exclusive.

Transformers: Universe (Classics 2.0)

It was revealed at BotCon 2007 that the "Classics" toyline will be moved to the "" toyline in 2008. [ [http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/toyfare/005405515.cfm Wizard Entertainment: SDCC TRANSFORMERS TRIPLE THREAT] ] [ [http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/toyfare/005398687.cfm Wizard Entertainment: SDCC TRANSFORMERS] ]

Fun Publications

The Hasbro Club Collector's Comic, distributed through the club newsletter, was the first to feature the Classics Transformers in fiction. Continuing an earlier story where Skyfall and Landquake fell into an alternate universe based on the Marvel Comics, the story featured Megatron, Optimus Prime, Skyfire, Mirage and Grimlock in their Classics forms. The upcoming BotCon "Timelines" comic will also feature the Classics toys [http://www.transformersclub.com/] . Previews have shown Ultra Magnus, Skywarp and Strongarm appearing, as well as a figure based on Action Master Snarl.

Transformers Battle Circuit

The Classic line appeared in a simple Flash-based video game on the Hasbro web site. In this one-on-one fighting game you press the right and left arrow keys to try to overpower your opponent. In the came you can play Rodimus, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jetfire, Starscream, Astrotrain, Trypticon or Menasor. Optimus Prime and Megatron each appear as the boss you must defeat to win the game. [ [http://www.hasbro.com/monkeybartv/default.cfm?page=Entertainment/OnlineGames/GameSelect&game=1787 Entertainment/OnlineGames/GameSelect/Action Games/Transformers/Transformers Battle Circuit ] ]

Additional items

One of the exclusives available at BotCon 2007 was a lithograph entitled "The Classicverse" by Don Figueroa, which featured a battle scene showcasing the "Transformers: Classics" vrsions of the characters in their robot modes. The characters of Menasor, Perceptor and Whirl featured new heads based on their Generation One toys.

Among the food tie-ins released for the Transformers in 2007 was a gummy candy shaped like Classic Deluxe Bumblebee.

External links

* [http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/henkei/index.html Tomy] (Japanese)

References