Transformers was undoubtedly one of the most popular cartoons of the 1980’s. The show lasted for 4 seasons, starting in 1984 and finishing in 1987. The Transformers toys however lasted far longer than the TV show. The first wave of Transformers toys hit shelves in 1984 and would continue to do so until the early 1990’s, more than five years after the show had finished!
Every Transformers fan will know that the Transformers are split between Autobots and Decepticons. In total Transformers Generation One had 349 toys released across nine waves of toys. It was among the largest of any toy-lines released in the 1980’s. Take a look below and see how many you recognise!
Transformers Toys (Generation One)
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 1 1984
AUTOBOTS
The first wave of Transformers toys saw the release of eighteen Autobots. This included some of the most popular characters such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ironhide and Jazz.
Full list: Optimus Prime, Brawn, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer, Windcharger, Bluestreak, Hound, Ironhide, Jazz, Mirage, Prowl, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack.
DECEPTICONS
The first wave of Decepticon toys featured only ten figures. Around half of what was released for the Autobots. However it included many popular Decepticon characters such as Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave.
Full list: Megatron, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, Skywarp, Starscream, Thundercracker.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 2 1985
AUTOBOTS
The second wave of Transformers toys was far larger than the first wave the year before. This wave featured the incredibly popular Dinobots, lead by Grimlock. Who of course would feature in the live action movie ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ in 2014.
Full List: Blaster, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, Perceptor, Beachcomber, Cosmos, Powerglide, Seaspray, Warpath, Volks, Grapple, Hoist, Red Alert, Skids, Inferno, Smokescreen, Tracks, Topspin, Twin Twist, Road Buster, Whirl, Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop.
DECEPTICONS
The second wave of Decpeticons featured the awesome Constructicons. This was six Decepticons that combined to make one large robot called ‘Devastator’.
Full List: Devestator, Bonecrusher, Hook, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Scrapper, Shockwave, Bombshell, Kickback, Shrapnel, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Barrage, Chop Shop, Ransack, Venom, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 3 1986
AUTOBOTS
The third series of Transformers toys saw a major change, many of the toys were conceived as futuristic vehicles that didn’t really resemble modern-day machinery. This was due to the TV series and animated movie released that year jumping ahead 20-years and taking place in the year 2005.
This wave did however feature Hot Rod, a Cybertronian sports car, and one of the most popular Transformers characters of all time.
Full List: Defensor, Metroplex, Sky Lynx, Superion, Ultra Magnus, Hubcap, Outback, Pipes, Swerve, Tailgate, Wheelie, Air Raid, Blades, Fireflight, First Aid, Groove, Skydive, Slingshot, Streetwise, Ramhorn, Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, Blurr, Hor Rod, Kup, Broadside, Sandstorm, Springer, Hot Spot, Silverbolt, Rodimus Prime, Wreck-Gar.
DECEPTICONS
The third wave of Decepticons featured the ‘Combaticons’, five separate Decepticons that combined to make ‘Bruticus’. It also featured Galvatron, who was later revealed to be Megatron in a different body created by Unicron.
Full List: Bruticus, Galvatron, Menasor, Reflector, Tyripticon, Blast Off, Brawl, Breakdown, Dead End, Drag Strip, Swindle, Vortex, Wildrider, Ratboy, Frenzy, Runabout, Runamuck, Octane, Motormaster, Onslaught, Divebomb, Gnaw, Headstrong, Rampage, Rzorclaw, Tantrum, Cyclonus, Scourge.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 4 1987
AUTOBOTS
By the fourth wave of toys in 1987 more radical ideas were being introduced. This included the ‘Headmasters’ which came with a partner who transformed into the head, and the ‘Targetmasters’, who’s partners transformed into a weapon.
Full List: Fortress Maximus, Chase, Freeway, Goldbug, Rollbar, Searchlight, Wideload, Afterburner, Lightspeed, Nosecone, Strafe, Blurr, Crosshairs, Hot Rod, Kup, Pointblank, Sureshot, Scattershot, Fastlane, Punch/Counterpunch, Doublecross, Grotesque, Repugnus, Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, Computron.
DECEPTICONS
As with the Autobots, the 1987 Decepticon Transformers toys featured Headmasters and Targetmasters. This wave also featured Scorponok, the largest toy in the the entire toy-line. It had three modes, robot mode, beast-mode which looked like a scorpion and base mode, which featured ramps for smaller Transformers to use.
Full List: Scorponok, Sixshot, Blot, Cutthroat, Rippersnapper, Sinnertwin, Slugfest, Battletrap, Flywheels, Hun-Gurrr, Pounce, Cycolnus, Misfire, Scourge, Slugslinger, Triggerhappy, Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf, Apeface, Snapdragon, Abominus.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 5 1988
AUTOBOTS
In 1988 the introduction of the most controversial line was released. The ‘Pretenders’ consisted of a Transformer contained inside an action figure shell who could “pretend” to be either a human or a monster.
Complaints with this line were numerous, including the lack of articulation of the figures and their increasing lack of resemblance to any sort of recognisable vehicle
Full List: Optimus Prime, Quickswitch, Fizzle, Guzzle, Sizzle, Backstreet, Dogfight, Override, Slamdance, Landfill, Quickmix, Scoop, Hosehead, Nightbeat, Siren, Getaway, Joyride, Slapdash, Cloudburst, Landmine, Waverider, Groundbreaker, Sky High, Splashdown, Catilla, Chainclaw, Gunrunner.
DECEPTICONS
The fifth wave of Decepticons featured numerous ‘Pretenders’. As with the Autobots, the articulation on these toys were poor. However, it also featured Piranacon, a combiner made up of various different Decepticons that created a far larger robot. This made up somewhat for the lower quality Transformers released in 1988.
Full List: Doubledealer, Piranacon, Cindersaur, Flamefeather, Sparkstalker, Nautilator, Overbite, Seawing, Skalor, Tentakil, Crankcase, Ruckus, Windsweeper, Squawkbox, Needlenose, Quake, Spinister, Fangry, Horri-bull, Squeezeplay, Snaptrap, Darkwing, Dreadwing, Bomb-Burst, Skullgrin, Submarauder, Bugly, Finback, Iguanus, Carnivac, Snarler, Roadgrabber.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 6 1989
AUTOBOTS
By 1989 it was becoming apparent that Transformers was coming to an end. The TV show was no longer in production, and the previous years Transformers toys hadn’t gone down to well with fans. And yet the entire 1989 toy line was nothing but more unwanted ‘Pretenders’ and ‘Micromasters’. Micromasters were far smaller robots created to compete with Micro Machines, another popular toy-line at the time.
Full List: Countdown, Power Train, Highjump, Mudslinger, Tote, Free Wheeler, Roadhammer, Swindler, Tailspin, Big Shot, Flak, Sidetrack, Sunrunner, Fixit, Red Hot, Seawatch, Stakeout, Erector, Overload, Hot House, Ironworks, Doubleheader, Longtooth, Pincher, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jazz, Crossblades, Vroom, Groundshaker, Skyhammer.
DECEPTICONS
As with the Autobots, the Decpeticon released in 1989 were filled with Micromasters. These small Transformers did very little transforming due to their small size.
Full List: Skystalker, Birdbrain, Bristleback, Icepick, Scowl, Slog, Wildfly, Nightflight, Storm Cloud, Tailwind, Whisper, Blackjack, Detour, Hyperdrive, Road Hugger, Flattop, Roughstuff, Airwave, Greasepit, Bludgeon, Octopunch, Stranglehold, Starscream, Thunderwing, Skyhopper, Roadblock.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 7 1990
AUTOBOTS
The seventh wave of Transformers toys in 1990 would be the last into the American market. The release saw more Micromasters and the new Action Masters, non-transforming action figures who came with Transforming companions.
Full List: Battlefield Headquarters, Optimus Prime, Blaze Master, Eagle Eye, Sky High, Tred Bolt, Crumble, Groundpounder, Neutro, Takedown, Big Daddy, Greaser, Hubs, Trip-Up, Big Hauler, Heavy Tread, Hydraulic, Slow Poke, Grimlock, Jazz, Rad, Rollout, Blaster, Bumblebee, Jackpot, Mainframe, Inferno, Kick-Off, Skyfall, Snarl, Barrage, Heave, Phaser, Blast Master, Moonrock, Missile Master, Power Run, Strikedown, Oiler, Slide, Roadburner, Wheel Blaze, Retro, Surge, Pipeline, Gusher, Over-Run, Prowl, Sprocket, Wheeljack.
DECEPTICONS
As with the Autobots, the seventh wave of Decepticons were all Micromasters and Action Masters. By now Transformers toys had really become desperate, and it was no surprise that this was the final wave of Generation One Transformers toys in the USA.
Full List: Anti-Aircraft Base, Barricade, Ground Hog, Motorhead, Roller Force, Bombshock, Dropshot, Growl, Tracer, Soundwave, Treadshot, Devestator, Krok, Banzai-Tron, Shockwave, Direct-Hit, Power Punch, Meltdown, Half-Track, Fireshot, Vanquish, Stonecruncher, Excavator, Grit, Knockout, Sledge, Hammer, Cement Head, Terror Tread, Axer, Starscream, Gutcrucnher, Megatron.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 8 1991
AUTOBOTS
While Transformers had come to an end in the USA, the UK, Canada and Japan was not quite finished. More Transformers toys were released over the next couple of years, however the numbers of toys released was far lower than in previous years.
Because of the limited released, the toys below released between 1991 and 1992 are often known as Generation 1.5.
Full List: Powerflash, Sideswipe, Tracks, Omega Spreem, Windmill, Circuit, Rumbler.
DECEPTICONS
Full List: Bombshell, Charger, Take-Off, Double Punch, Turbo Master, Slicer, Thundercracker.
TRANSFORMERS SERIES 9 1992
AUTOBOTS
Full List: Rescue Force 1, Rescue Force 2, Rescue Force 3, Rescue Force 4, Boss, Flash, Hurricane, Scorch, Rotorstorm, Thunderclash.
DECEPTICONS
Full List: Falcon, Skydive, Snare, Talon, Stalker, Skyquake.
After 349 toys spanning almost a decade, you may have assumed that was it for the Transformers toy line. However, in 1992 as Generation One was ending in Europe, having stopped in the USA two years earlier, production on Transformers: Generation Two began.
