Universe (2008 franchise)



The 2008 Universe is the second Transformers franchise to use the name. Like the previous franchise, this line is intended to be something of a catch-all for toys that don't fit in the main line. While the contemporary main line for this Universe is Transformers Animated, for some reason Hasbro has actually included a few Animated figures in it too.

Hasbro first announced the line at BotCon 2007, stating that it would not have an overall story arc. It comprises several sub-lines, most of which feature toys with "realistic" vehicle modes (a niche left otherwise unfilled after the end of the live-action movie line). Those include:


 * Classic Series, continuing the Classics franchise. This is by far the most prevalent sub-line.
 * Armada Series, adding to the Armada franchise.
 * War Within Series, based on the War Within comic.
 * G1 Series, rooted in the original Generation 1 franchise.

These toys occupy various price-points, and some in the Ultra class feature electronic light and sound.

In addition, some Legends-class toys of Animated characters have gotten their own Universe series, despite their not-so-realistic vehicle modes:


 * Animated Series, representing the Transformers Animated franchise.

And just to break the vehicle-mode-based pattern completely, Universe also continues the non-transforming, super-cute Robot Heroes line. These are also divided into "Series," including:


 * Generation 1 Series
 * Beast Wars Series
 * Beast Machines Series
 * Robots in Disguise Series

In January 2008, Hasbro launched a web page for the new Universe line, featuring a preview of the first "Classic Series" wave and a CGI reimagining of the battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime from the original animated Transformers movie. The tagline for the video, in keeping with the toyline's theme, was "They were always real to me."

In 2009, the packaging will gain a "25 Years" corner logo to commemorate Transformers ' 25th anniversary, as the toyline's offerings expand to include updates of key characters from every franchise.

Wave 1

 * Onslaught (Classic Series)
 * Red Alert (Classic Series)
 * Starscream (Classic Series)

Wave 2

 * Autobot Hound (Classic Series)
 * Autobot Jazz (Classic Series)
 * Megatron (G2) (Classic Series)

Wave 3

 * Bumblebee (Animated Series)
 * Optimus Prime (Animated Series)
 * Prowl (Animated Series)

Future waves

 * Brawn (Classic Series)
 * Beachcomber (Classic Series)
 * Bumblebee (Classic Series)
 * Autobot Cosmos (Classic Series)

Wave 1

 * Prowl (Classic Series)
 * Sunstreaker (Classic Series)
 * Tankor (Classic Series; an update of Octane, not named so due to trademark issues)

Wave 2

 * Acid Storm (Classic Series)
 * Galvatron (Classic Series)

Wave 3

 * Ironhide (Classic Series)
 * Sideswipe (Classic Series)
 * Silverstreak (Classic Series, an update of Bluestreak, not named so due to trademark issues)

Future waves

 * Autobot Hound with Ravage (25th Anniversary Series)
 * Cheetor (25th Anniversary Series)
 * Cyclonus with Nightstick (25th Anniversary Series)
 * Hot Shot with Jolt (25th Anniversary Series)


 * Smokescreen (Repaint of Uiniverse (2008) Prowl)

Wave 1

 * Autobot Blaster with Mini-Con Blockrock (Classic Series)
 * Decepticon Heavy Load with Mini-Con Drill Bit (Classic Series)

Wave 2

 * Autobot Blades (Classic Series)
 * Decepticon Dropshot (Classic Series)

Wave 3

 * Tread Bolt (Classic Series)

Future waves

 * Inferno (Classic Series)

Wave 1

 * Onslaught (Classic Series)
 * Powerglide (Classic Series)

Wave 2

 * Silverbolt (Classic Series)

Wave 3

 * Storm Cloud (Classic Series)

Wave 1

 * Rattrap & Megatron (Beast Wars Series)
 * Cheetor & Blackarachnia (Beast Wars Series)
 * Sunstreaker & Galvatron (Generation 1 Series)
 * Hound &  Blitzwing (Generation 1 Series)

Wave 2

 * Arcee & Decepticon Rumble (Generation 1 Series)
 * Rhinox & Waspinator (Beast Wars Series)
 * Optimus Primal & Predacon Tarantulas (Beast Wars Series)

Wave 3

 * Autobot Blaster & Thrust (Generation 1 Series)
 * Ironhide & Kickback (Generation 1 Series)
 * Silverbolt & (Transmetal) Megatron (Beast Wars Series)

Future waves

 * Cheetor & Tankor (Beast Machines Series)
 * Optimus Prime & Megatron (Robots in Disguise Series)

Other

 * 25th Anniversary Optimus Prime Pack (G1 Series)

Hasbro Toy Shop exclusives

 * Nemesis Prime (Classic Series)

Kmart exclusives

 * Mini-Con 12-Pack (Armada Series), contains:
 * Safeguard Team
 * Flatfoot
 * Heavytread
 * Makeshift
 * Overcast Team
 * Boltflash
 * Cloudraker
 * Skyhammer
 * Landslide Team
 * Backstop
 * Bodyblock
 * Knockdown
 * Ransack Team
 * Blight
 * Brimstone
 * Supressor

Target exclusives
Legends 5-packs
 * Aerial Rivals (Classic Series), contains:
 * Air Raid
 * Autobot Blades
 * Ramjet
 * Skydive
 * Thrust


 * Leadership Team (Classic Series), contains:
 * Autobot Hot Zone (an update of Hot Spot, not named so due to trademark issues)
 * Hun-Gurrr
 * Razorclaw
 * Scattorshot (an update of Scattershot, not named so due to trademark issues)
 * Silverbolt

Voyager Deluxe Comic 2-packs
 * Dirge vs. Autobot Roadbuster (G1 Series)


 * Springer vs. Ratbat (War Within Series)

Toys"R"Us exclusives

 * Unicron (unchanged Supreme Class Armada Unicron in new packaging) {Armada Series)

Costco exclusives

 * Ultra Twin-Pack (Optimus Prime vs. Crumplezone; unchanged Cybertron Leader Class "Galaxy Force" Optimus Prime and Voyager Class Crumplezone) (Cybertron Series)