A Brief History of Hasbro’s Transformers Toy Line

The Transformers toy line carved its own niche in a hall of fame that includes giants like G.I. Joe, He-Man, and Star Wars, primarily thanks to its ingenious twist — robots that could transform into vehicles. This meant kids got two toys for the price of one — a robot action figure for epic battles and a vehicle for high-speed adventures. This clever design, combined with a great cast of transforming figures, made Transformers a beloved staple of 1980s pop culture.

Which Toy Company Brought Transformers to Life?

In 1923, three Providence, Rhode Island entrepreneurial-spirited brothers — Herman, Hillel, and Henry Hassenfeld (aka the Hasbros) — created a company called Hassenfeld Brothers, initially carving its niche in the textile industry. The company later branched out, manufacturing pencil cases and a variety of school supplies. In the late 1940s, the company shifted towards toy production — eventually taking on the name Hasbro Industries in 1968. It quickly became a powerhouse in the world of toys and entertainment — a powerhouse we now know as Hasbro.

The Genesis of Transformers

In 1983, Hasbro partnered with the Japanese toy company Takara to launch their own version of Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change toys for the Western Market. In 1984, the Transformers line was born. Compared to other toy lines of the era, Transformers made an innovative leap in toy design and functionality.

Although, it should be noted that the Transformers line wasn’t the first transforming robots to hit the market. Tonka’s Gobots debuted a year prior in 1983. Like Hasbro with Takar, Tonka’s Gobots were originally created by another Japanese company named Bandai. Bandai continued to produce GoBots in Japan under the Machine Robo line, which was the original Japanese version of what became known internationally as GoBots.

Despite being beaten to the market as the first transforming robot toy line, Transformers outpaced Gobots sales, thanks in due part to a better overall toy design and a further reaching marketing campaign with a better-expanded universe.

Like the 3 ¾-inch era G.I. Joe line, Transformers had a compelling storyline with a diverse cast of characters involving the good-guy Autobots and their fight for justice over the evil Decepticons.

Expanding the Transformers Universe

Hasbro took the same route it did with its G.I. Joe line of the same era by boosting product awareness through a successful Sunbow cartoon. Premiering in 1984, the animated series introduced children to the Transformers universe.

Like G.I. Joe, the characters were also brought to life in more depth by the release of the Marvel Transformers comic that same year.

Standout Transformers Figures

The Transformers toy line boasted an impressive roster of characters, but some became icons of the franchise. Optimus Prime, the noble leader of the Autobots, and his arch-nemesis Megatron, the cunning leader of the Decepticons, were at the forefront.

Optimus Prime 

The original Optimus Prime figure was a two-part package. You had the robot figure that could transport into a semi-truck. You also had a trailer that converted into a battle station with a repair platform and a combat deck. The combat deck housed a small scout car, Roller, which could be stored inside the trailer or launched from it. These features made the original Optimus Prime figure a standout piece in the Transformers toy line.

Megatron

Megatron had a unique design. He transformed from the Decepticon leader’s robot form into a Walther P38 pistol, complete with a scope that doubled as a cannon in robot mode, a silencer, and a stock, which could be combined to form a larger weapon or used to enhance the pistol's appearance. The figure also featured a sword and a small gun, adding to its arsenal. Megatron's ability to transform into a handheld weapon set it apart from other figures in the Transformers toy line, making it a memorable and sought-after piece for fans and collectors.

Soundwave

Every toy line of the 1980s usually had its signature badass character that was always a bit cooler than the rest. G.I. Joe had Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow (Firefly was another). Star Wars had Boba Fett. For the Transformers line, that character and figure was Soundwave. 

The Transformers cartoon portrayed the character in amazing fashion, with the coolest and smoothest robot voice you could imagine. The figure is recognized for its distinct design, transforming from a Decepticon communications officer into a portable cassette player (remember those?). He had his signature shoulder-mounted rocket launcher and hand-held blaster. But the key feature of Soundwave was his ability to house one of his five cassette Decepticon minions (Buzzsaw was included while the rest were sold separately in two-packs) in his chest compartment, which could be ejected by pressing a button. The minions — Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Ravage, and Rumble — transformed from cassette tapes into various robotic forms. Soundwave's multifunctional design and interactive elements with his cassette minions made him a unique and popular character within the Transformers toy line.

Collectibility of Transformers Toys

Transformers continue to be one of the most collectible toy lines from the 1980s. The toy line is one of the greats — a surefire hall-of-Famer and arguably one of the faces of the all-time Mount Rushmore of action toy lines. A robust secondary market for Generation One Transformers continues to go strong to this day.