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Power Surge (episode)

2011-10-19T12:37:06Z

190.21.32.91: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BW
|ep=6
|image=Power Surge Terrorsaur pointing.jpg
|caption=Uncle Terror wants '''YOU'''.
|title="Power Surge"
|airdate= [[September 25]], 1996
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Nicholas Kendall]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Waspinator#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Waspeeter]]
}}

'''Terrorsaur discovers a cache of energon on a floating mountain that gives him enough power to overthrow Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
A wild and free bird majestically soars through the air, experiencing the wonders of aviation as it feels the wind flow around its proud wings. The bird explores its domain with a grace and sincerity and deliciousness. The lattermost attribute is of interest to a hungry [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], who quickly swallows the bird as a snack.

[[Image:Power Surge Floating mountain.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Maybe it's made of very light rock?]]
Terrorsaur discovers a [[flying mountain|massive mountain elevated into the sky]]—defying gravity. Flying closer, he discovers the mountain houses an incredible cache of [[energon]]. To check the energon's stability, he transforms into his robot mode, at the risk of having raw energon radiation harm his circuits. When he tries to take a sample for study, bolts of pure energy surge though him, greatly enhancing his abilities. Naturally, the first thing the overcharged [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] does is fly back to his base to overthrow [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. Luckily, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] also finds the airborne crag, and watches Terrorsaur leaving at top speeds.

[[Image:Power Surge Megatron down.jpg|right|200px|thumb|They just don't make Megatrons like they used to.]]
Outside of the [[Darksyde|Predacons' crashed ship]], Megatron shows his troops some newly installed territorial defenses. Terrorsaur arrives, and flowing with power, immediately announces that he's taking over the Predacons. Megatron obviously disagrees, and the two fight, but the pumped-up Terrorsaur easily blasts Megatron over the edge of a cliff, where he lands in pieces. With the remaining Predacons under his control, Terrorsaur announces the [[Maximal]]s are his next target. Cheetor, having followed Terrorsaur from the floating mountain, perceives the new developments as bad news.

Before he can lead the final battle against the Maximals, Terrorsaur finds his new charge has a short life and he must return to the floating mountain to reinvigorate himself. [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] follows in secret, eager to steal the source of Terrorsaur's new capabilities. [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] is left alone with [[Waspinator]], so the two begin to re-assemble and repair Megatron.

Cheetor rushes back to the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]] and scrambles onto the bridge, where he spits out an incoherent sequence of words vaguely relating to the current crisis. Giving explanations a second try, Cheetor explains the story thus far to his fellow Maximals. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] concludes that the floating mountain isn't totally scientifically impossible, given enough energon. [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Rattrap]] prepare to destroy the entire island.

[[Image:Power Surge Terrorsaur Primal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Gutbuster Workout doesn't prove to be quite what Primal thought.]]
A weakened Terrorsaur flaps back to the island; on the ground, Tarantulas climbs a webline up to the suspended formation. Optimus and his cargo, Rattrap, arrive moments later. The two watch Terrorsaur re-charge his systems. To give Rattrap time to plant the explosives, Optimus Primal engages Terrorsaur in an airborne chase. Primal swiftly dodges most of what Terrorsaur fires, but eventually is hit by his [[Optic weaponry|optic blasts]]. He lands to deliver the finishing blast to Primal, who is now trapped in his beast mode thanks to energon buildup. But before a final shot can be fired, Terrorsaur's energon enhancements run out again, and he is forced to go for another recharge, promising to return to finish Optimus.

[[Image:Power Surge Optimus Rattrap jump.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Fly my pretties!]]
Rattrap meanwhile, has been tussling with Tarantulas, the two of them staying in their Beast Modes as they wrestle. With a toss of mud, Rattrap blinds Tarantulas and the spider blindly runs off the side of the mountain to the ground far, far below. Rattrap is passed by the flapping Terrorsaur, and concludes that Optimus Primal must have lost their bout. Terrorsaur, meanwhile, discovers the timed charges Rattrap left, and flees in panic without recharging.

The explosives detonate, causing the energon crystals to collapse and explode. Before the ground loses form, Optimus arrives to carry Rattrap away from annihilation. With his ratty companion, Optimus Primal swan dives off the exploding alp and somehow the two survive thanks to Primal grabbing onto a tree.

Terrorsaur, no longer having the island's resources to rely on, returns home to meet a very, very angry Megatron.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (2)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (7)
*[[Rattrap]] (8)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (9)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (1)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (4)
*[[Waspinator]] (5)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"Terrorsaur, you treacherous worm. I'll finish you forever!"
:—'''Megatron'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s famous last words.

"Well?" 
"Well what?" 
"If you're second in command, what is your command?" 
"..."
:—'''Waspinator''' and '''Scorponok'''. Be patient, Waspinator.

"Demolition charges?! Th..They'll blow this mountain to PIECES!"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' realizing the source of his energon addiction is coming to an explosive end.

"You do know... that was crazy." 
"Eh, sometimes crazy works. By the way, you did good up there!" 
"Eh, you weren't so bad yourself. But, er...don't tell anybody I said so!"
:—'''Rattrap''' witnesses '''Optimus Primal''' coin his motto.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Tarantulas shoots a line up to the floating mountain and begins scurrying up it—yet the mountain is revolving. What is his line anchored to?

===Transformers references===
* Terrorsaur eating the bird in the beginning of the episode may be alluding to his on-package [[bio]], where it is said that he "ingests entire flocks of birds by flying opened mouthed through their flight pattern". He apparently didn't have much of an appetite in this case.
* When Optimus Primal and Rattrap are flying to the mountain, Rattrap complains that if he wanted to fly, he'd have chosen a [[Optimus Primal/toys| bat]] as an altmode.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'Énergie d'Énergon'''" ("The Energy of Energon")

:*''Title:'' "'''Surcharge'''" (Canada, "Overcharge")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sete di potere per i Biocombat'''" ("Thirst for Power for the Biocombats")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kūchū Sanmyaku Dai Bakuha'''" (空中山脈大爆破, "The Aerial Mountain Explodes")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 5|5 November]] [[1997]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Surto de Energia'''" ("Power Surge")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Descarga de Energía'''" ("Power Discharge")

===Trivia===
*The concept of energon crystals supercharging a Transformer would be used again as an explanation for [[Transformers: Beast Wars Diorama Story#TM-SP Character Data File|the DX Convoy and DX Megatron toys]] in the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Telemocha Series]]'' being of a much larger size than the other toys.
* Megatron's line "I thought you already learned your lesson about challenging me, Terrorsaur" suggests that this isn't the first time Terrorsaur has tried to openly seize leadership of the Predacons. Some possibilities are that this episode was meant to be set after "Double Jeopardy" (the absence of the Predacon [[Autogun]]s in that episode would seem to reinforce that), that Megatron has found out about the attempted coup in "Equal Measures", or simply that Terrorsaur did something before the series started.
* The Predacon Autoguns are introduced in this episode.
* Waspinator doesn't use his normal tic of referring to himself and others in the third person.
* Rattrap plays holographic cards. According to the [[Cybertronix]] text, he's playing old maid.
* Dinobot is mentioned but does not appear.
* Tarantulas's interest in the floating mountain's energon is the first glimpse at his treacherous nature.
* After Terrorsaur informs the rest of the Predacons that "Megatron is scrap" he adds Megatron's practically patented "Yeess".
* When charging on the unstable energon, Terrorsaur appears to flicker in and out of existence. That can't be good.
* When indicating where he saw the floating mountain, Cheetor points to a location in North America.
* A 'Con that wants to overthrow his leader? Where have we seen [[Starscream (G1)|this]] before? (In a twist on the usual formula, ''none'' of the 'Cons take his coup seriously and happily bring Megatron back when he's not looking.)
* When Terrorsaur sees the newly repaired Megatron, his entire body changes from red to white in complete terror.
* This is the only episode in the entire series where Waspinator has actual dialogue and doesn't get damaged in some way, shape or form. WOHOOOO!!! WASPINATOR NOW GETS SOME RESPECT!!!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Chain of Command (BW)

2011-10-19T12:33:09Z

190.21.32.91: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=5
|image=Coc getshorty.jpg
|caption=An armed society is a polite society.
|title="Chain of Command"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 24]], 1996
|written by=[[Jesse Winfield]]
|directed by=[[Andrew Doucette]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Cheetus]]
}}
'''After Optimus Primal is abducted by an alien probe, the remaining Maximals must decide on a new leader.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Chain of Command Standing stones glow.jpg|left|200px|thumb|No wonder Stonehenge is popular.]]
The [[Maximal]]s detect an [[energon crystal]] under the [[wikipedia:cairn|cairn]] in the [[Standing Stones]]. [[Rattrap]] thinks it reeks of 'bait' and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] notes that the [[energon]] on [[Earth|this planet]] isn't natural, as it does not conform to the planet's geology. The [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] attack, putting an end to the discussion. During the battle, [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] purposely fires directly on the buried energon crystal, causing it to destabilize. His prize now useless, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] orders a retreat while the Maximals head for cover as it builds to overload. But instead of a debilitating [[energon wave]], it sends a signal to the stars, depleting the crystal's energy. With the Predacons gone and the energon reduced to dust, the bewildered Maximals return to base.

[[Image:Chain of Command Dinobot probe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You are getting sleepy...]]
Later, an [[Vok probe|alien probe]] emerges from [[Transwarp|transwarp space]] and enters the atmosphere. The Predacons initially mistake it for a [[stasis pod]], but Rhinox immediately recognizes it as something else. Both sides head to intercept it at the Standing Stones. Optimus and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] confront Megatron and [[Waspinator]], but when they transform and begin to battle, the probe puts out an energy burst that renders them unconscious and causes Primal to vanish into thin air.

A disoriented Dinobot awakens in the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'''s [[CR chamber]] and, seeing three angry Maximals standing over him, momentarily mistakes it for a [[Maximal Torture Chamber]]. The probe, as it turned out, somehow dumped Dinobot, Megatron and Waspinator outside of their respective bases. Believing Primal to be destroyed, Dinobot attempts to take command of the Maximals. Rhinox heads off a fight between Dinobot and Rattrap by insisting on a secret ballot, the traditional Maximal method for resolving such problems.

After the vote results in stalemate, with two votes for each contender, Dinobot giddily rebukes the shortcomings of their peaceful solution. He declares that he will break the tie by force and prepares to attack Rattrap. Before the fight can begin, they are contacted by Optimus Primal, who is ''not'' dead. Primal's body has been digitally stored, but his consciousness remains active within the probe. Optimus puts Rattrap in charge. Dinobot glares at him.

[[Image:Chain of Command Rhinox device.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"How's it going?" "Good, good". "...you just welded your hand to it didn't you?" "Yes, yes I did".]]
Megatron, also believing Primal dead, sends [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and Waspinator to the Standing Stones while the other Predacons attack the Axalon. Dinobot fights Megatron one-on-one, ignoring Rattrap's order to disengage and reset the Axalon's failing [[shield circuitry]]. Rattrap scrambles and is able to restore the shields at the last moment. The Predacons retreat when Dinobot beats Megatron back, and Dinobot apologizes to Rattrap for not following his orders, affirming himself "dishonored". Dinobot's uncharacteristic deference and respect makes Rattrap uncomfortable, and he brushes it off.

[[Image:Chain of Command Maximals probe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Maximals prepare to fight [[Trukk not munky|G1 fanatics]].]]
The Maximals head to the Standing Stones with a device Rhinox has built to attempt to extract Optimus from the probe. The Predacons attack them at the Stones, Rhinox unloading his frustrations on Waspinator when his device malfunctions, blasting him to bits with his chaingun. Waspinator shorts out and comes in contact with one of the stones which activates, revealing the entire Standing Stones site is a single device. The probe opens in response, and Primal materializes. The Predacons retreat before his considerable firepower, but the probe dematerializes before the Maximals can decide what to do with it.

Optimus commends Rattrap on his performance as commander, though Rattrap is more than happy to hand the title back. The Maximals are left wondering what the probe's purpose was, and Rhinox ominously observes the [[Vok|aliens]] have learned they have the ability to reason... and of their destructive capabilities.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (1)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (2)
* [[Rattrap]] (3)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (4)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Waspinator]] (7)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (8)
* [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (9)
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (10)

|c4=
* [[Vok probe]] (11)

}}

==Quotes==
"Hey power down! You're on our side now, remember?" 
"And Maximals don't have torture chambers! Though, you know... I could get behind that idea."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Rattrap''' to Dinobot

"Wait, stand by here! Who died and made you Prime, scaleface?"
:—'''Rattrap''' trying to show Dinobot who's boss.

"Megatron back! Megatron back! Scorponok alone with Tarantulas and Terrorsaur. Very ''bad!''"
:—'''Scorponok''' loses coherence under pressure.

"I know just how the weakling Maximals will response to Optimus's death. Confusion! Bickering! Recriminations! The perfect opportunity for a surprise attack."
:—'''Megatron''' deals with loss like a true villain.

"Ha ha, great system, your 'democracy.' No mechanism to break a tie!"
:—'''Dinobot''', who's actually a socialist, believe it or not.

"Make a device to extract physical molecular structure from an alien probe? Man, I've gotta be a miracle worker!"
:—'''Rhinox''', channeling Scottie

"You were selfless in putting that shield back online. I ought to have followed your command I... am dishonored." 
"Ehh.... next time."
:—'''Dinobot''' and an uncomfortable '''Rattrap'''

"But why would they want to know? And more importantly, who are they? Friends, enemies, or... something ''more''?"
:—'''Dinobot''', on the mysterious aliens

==Notes==
* The initial fight by the [[Standing Stones]] features shadow, a rare luxury in early ''Beast Wars'' episodes.
* Optimus Primal is reading late at night below the ''Axalon'' when the probe comes down, a rare quiet character moment.
* The Maximals are not entirely convinced Dinobot didn't off Primal himself for the job, as he attempted to 3 episodes prior.
* During the battle at the Maximal base, Megatron tries to gain the upper hand by ramming his face into Dinobot's airborne foot. Megatron clearly fails at this attempt and takes note to dodge easily evadable flying kicks in the future.
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] exhibits his "babbling" personality in this episode as, apparently, being left alone with the scheming Terrorsaur and Tarantulas while Megatron is undergoing major repairs makes him ''extremely'' nervous. Given Tarantulas's dietary habits, this might be understandable...
* This episode features the debut of Rhinox's "Chaingun of Doom" (occasionally called the "Chaingun of Command" after this episode) and possibly the start of Waspinator getting utterly butchered in almost every episode. NOOOO!!!!! WASPINATOR DOESN'T WANT TO GET SCRAPPED!!!!!!!
* It is fairly certain that Rhinox is the one who voted for Rattrap and Cheetor is the one who voted for Dinobot. Rhinox was clearly unpleasantly surprised by the second vote for Dinobot, and when Optimus tells them that Rattrap is in charge, Cheetor is seen visibly annoyed in the background while Rhinox pats Rattrap happily on the back.

===Animation and technical errors===
* If that's a solar eclipse in the opening shot, how come there's light coming from below the horizon?
* During the initial fight, as Waspinator and Terrorsaur swoop up towards Optimus, Terrorsaur's upper body distorts for a fraction of a second before the shot changes.
* Towards the end of the episode, Scorponok's missiles have a Predacon instead of a Maximal insignia.
* When Dinobot executes his flying kick, his foot actually passes through Megatron's head.

===Transformers references===
* The episode opens with the [[Planet Buster|second moon]] eclipsing the sun. The moon's unnatural nature will again be mentioned in "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]", and it plays a critical role in the season finale.
* The ongoing [[Vok]] storyline put in its first appearance since "[[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]", it will feature again in "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]". The Vok will not be named until the series is almost over.

===Real-world references===
* Rattrap makes a mention to "B-movies", a uniquely [[human]] concept.
* The "Standing Stones" resemble many European stone circles, of which [[wikipedia:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]] is the most famous. Most evidence points to Beast Wars not being set in Europe, however.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La Disparition'''" ("The Disappearance")

:*''Title:'' "'''Disparition'''" ("Disappearance")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il passaggio del comando'''" ("The Passage of the Command")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kieta Convoy'''" (消えたコンボイ, "Convoy Disappeared")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 29|29 October]] [[1997]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cadeia de Comando'''" ("Chain of Command")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cadena de Mando'''" (America, "Chain of Command")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Beast Wars (Part 1)

2011-10-19T12:27:38Z

190.21.32.91: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BW
|ep=1
|image=BWPart1 crashland.jpg
|caption=They carry within them the last sons of Kryp—oh, wait, never mind.
|title="Beast Wars" (Part 1)
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 22]], [[1996]]<ref>Though this episode played several days earlier in several US markets, its most widespread screening was on the 22nd.</ref>
|packaged with=[[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|DX Convoy]]
|written by=[[Bob Forward]]
|directed by=[[Ian Pearson]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''A Maximal science vessel and a fugitive Predacon starship crash land on a mysterious, primitive world.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:BWPart1 strangenewworld.jpg|left|180px|thumb|In space, no one can hear you transform.]]
In an unknown star system, a [[transwarp]] portal opens, releasing two starships, a fleeing Predacon warship and a pursuing Maximal vessel. Already carrying the scars of battle, both ships immediately open fire upon each other. On the Maximal ship, [[Cheetor (BW)|a youthful crewmember]] reports on their damaged condition, in response to which [[Rattrap|another crew member]] bitterly complains about their non-combat exploration vessel not being cut out for this mission. Their commander, [[Optimus Primal]], states that they were the only ship in range capable of intercepting the fugitives.

On the fleeing Predacon starship, [[Dinobot (BW)|the first officer]] urges his leader,[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], to finish off the Maximals while their opponents' shields are down. Megatron arrogantly rebuffs this suggestion, preferring to toy with his opponents. A broadside attack cripples their enemies' engines and causes significant damage to their stasis hold. Optimus Primal orders the Maximals' cargo of [[stasis pod]]s be released into safe orbit before firing the forward plasma cannons, strafing the Predacons' hull. With no engines, both ships are caught in the planet's gravitational pull and plummet to its surface.

[[Image:BWPart1 beastmodes.jpg|right|180px|thumb|And the fandom complained... for about five minutes.]]
Both ships are non-flightworthy after their crashes. The Maximals have landed on a cliff above a lake; the Predacon warship has landed smack in the middle of the ash-hardened opening of an active shield volcano. The Predacon computer informs Megatron that their location is unknown, as while the course settings were accurate, the readings were not consistent with what was to be expected of the location. Dismissing this for the time being, Megatron demands to know if the mysterious planet has [[energon]], which the computer confirms to his elation. However, it warns that there is so much energon that prolonged exposure would permanently damage their robot modes. Declaring that they will take the forms of the most powerful creatures on the planet, Megatron orders [[Tarantulas (BW)|his science officer]] to scan for local lifeforms which they could adapt as alternate modes to survive on this world. The Predacon ship launches a drone, scanning the fossils of a tyrannosaurus rex, velociraptor and pteranodon, as well as a living spider and wasp.

At the cliff, the Maximals have the same idea, scanning a gorilla, rat, rhino and cheetah. The Maximals check out their new forms and bicker amongst themselves, till Optimus Primal orders the crew to moderate their conflict circuits, reminding them that their new beast forms are to protect them from the long-term effects of the abundant energon fields: While they need energon for power, their robot modes will short out after a few minutes of exposure. Optimus notes that they are on a very unusual planet, wherever it is. Rhinox points out that the transwarp drive allows them to journey through space '''and''' time, so they could be in any place, any time. Optimus expresses concern about the stasis pods in orbit, as it means the Maximals are outnumbered.

[[Image:BWPart1 beastfaceoff.jpg|left|180px|thumb|We'll tumble. Rumble style!]]
Back at the other crash site, the Predacons are testing out their new beast modes, bar one. First officer Dinobot, studying the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] he and his cohorts had stolen, is furious, declaring that this world cannot be [[Earth]]. He accuses Megatron of failure, both in battle against the Maximals and in failing to guide them to the right planet. Megatron laughs off Dinobot's accusations, and has Scorponok blast the treacherous Dinobot over the horizon. Megatron informs the other Predacons that it doesn't matter which planet they are on, as they had come looking for energon to fuel their war with the Maximals, and this planet is rich with it. Megatron dispatches his crew to seek out and destroy their enemies.

[[Image:BWPart1 Predsopenfire.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Shouldn't they be seeking cover of some sort?]]
Meanwhile, the Maximals are surveying the land around them and cleaning up the wreckage on the ''Axalon''. Rattrap complains about all the fuss over the Golden Disk, but Optimus Primal reminds him that the Disk is Cybertron's most closely guarded relic, a guide to a major source of energon, which is why Megatron stole it. Rattrap doesn't care, retorting they were supposed to be performing deep-space exploration and that it isn't his job to chase after criminals. He sarcastically speculates on Primal's readiness to handle a command position. Optimus further reminds him of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], noting that if the Predacons are able to secure a massive source of energon, they wouldn't hesitate to start a new one. Rattrap isn't convinced.

Deciding to show off (and goof off), Cheetor gives chase to two cheetahs running on the plains near the ship. Optimus tries to call him back, but the energon radiation severely limits the range of their communications equipment.

[[Image:BWPart1 Primalflying.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"I'm a rocket man, rocket man, burnin' out his fuse up here alone."]]
Some distance away, Cheetor's two cheetah buddies are freaked out by a rather large wasp. Realizing it's a '''Robot in Disguise''', Cheetor transforms and fires unprovoked. The Predacon Waspinator transforms and retaliates. Back at the ''Axalon'', the other Maximals move out to give Cheetor backup, with Rhinox ramming his way through a pile of boulders to speed their progress. Waspinator manages to get the better of Cheetor when the Maximal's rifle jams, but fortunately, the other Maximals have arrived by then. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Predacons have arrived as well.

[[Image:BWPart1 coverfire.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"I'll activate my Hero Shield!"]]
Optimus Primal tries to convince Megatron to not engage in hostilities, as the Maximals and Predacons have been at peace for centuries. Megatron spits back that while the Maximals may have been at peace, the Predacons, like all enemies who appear "peaceful", were merely biding their time. The Predacons have never forgotten their goal of galactic conquest, but were merely waiting for the right time to strike.

Both sides transform, and the battle is joined. As the Maximals seek cover, Cheetor is blasted by one of Scorponok's missiles and ends up with his leg trapped under a boulder. Optimus Primal orders Rattrap to assist Cheetor while he provides cover fire, but Rattrap flatly refuses to risk his life for anybody else, to Optimus' anger. The Maximal leader flies to Cheetor's position himself but is hit by Predacon fire, much to Rattrap's smug delight. Nonetheless, Optimus manages to free Cheetor while Rhinox "persuades" Rattrap to help provide the pair with cover fire. With the Predacons now seeking cover of their own, the Maximals make their escape. Megatron orders pursuit, but he and his Predacons succumb to the effects of the energon buildup and are forced to revert to beast mode.

[[Image:BWPart1 bridgefaceoff.jpg|left|180px|thumb|You shall not pass!]]
On the way back to base, Optimus Primal chews out Rattrap for disobeying a direct order, explaining to the petulant Maximal that he could have given better cover fire, an explanation which Rattrap accepts rather grudgingly. Cheetor notes that they seem to have escaped the Predacons. Primal isn't sure, as the Golden Disk theft reports indicated there were six Predacons, but they only encountered five in the previous battle.

They don't have to wait long. Dinobot appears, barring their way across a stone bridge to the ''Axalon''. Dinobot states that he has left the Predacons to join the Maximals... as leader. He challenges Optimus Primal to a one-on-one battle, with the winner to lead the Maximals, the loser to be destroyed!

[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|To be continued...]]
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (4)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (7)
*[[Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (9)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm a cheetah! No... I'm ''Cheetor''!" 
:—'''Cheetor''' is most imaginative.

"Ah-hahaha... there's more to being a leader than simple courage. Well, there's cleverness and cunning as well. Isn't that right, Scorponok?" 
[''Scorponok fires a missile, blasting Dinobot away''] 
"Loser."
:—'''Megatron''' deals swiftly with Dinobot's belligerence.

"You wanted exploration, and here we are on an unknown planet. What more do you want?" 
"Well, uh, call me picky but a working spacecraft might be nice." 
''[sighs]'' "Just no pleasing some people."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Rattrap'''

"Mzzzzz! Wazzzpinator under attack! Wazzzpinator engage enemy! Wazzzpinator, TERRORIZEZZZZZZZZ!!!"
:—'''Waspinator''' engages Cheetor.

"Ahh, a treacherous, under-handed sneak attack. Oh-ho-ho, I like you, pussycat, yesss."
:—'''Megatron''''s response to Cheetor's unprovoked attack

"This guy's got bearings of chrome steel."
:—'''Rhinox''' on Dinobot's bid for Maximal group leader

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Waspinator fights Cheetor, the stripes on his thighs are mapped on the wrong axis.
* As Optimus, Rhinox and Rattrap ride out to give Cheetor support, Rhinox breaks through a "roadblock" of boulders. However, in the previous shot of this location, the boulders were not present.
* When Rhinox picks up Rattrap and swings him around to face the Predacons, Rattrap's gun clips right through the boulder in front of them.
* Scorponok is among the Predacons milling about outside the ship in their beast modes, yet he appears from within the ship to blast Dinobot only a few moments later.
* During the battle between Dinobot and Optimus, Dinobot's spinning blades are severely shortened and misshapen, making them appear to have been chibified.
*Also during their battle, when Dinobot transforms his knee-pads and the bones around his ankles are absent.

===Continuity errors===
* Cheetor spends the longest time in the open while in robot mode, but does not suffer the effects of energon overload that the Predacons do.

===Transformers references===
* Optimus Primal mentions the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], which is what the Transformers of the Beast era called the conflict between the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]].

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Animutants - 1re partie'''" ("Animutants - 1st Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

:*''Title:'' "'''Pilote 1'''" (Canada, "Pilot 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'atterraggio'''" ("The Landing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chō Seimeitai Transformer Tōjō'''" (超生命体トランスフォーマー登場, "Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 1|1 October]] [[1997]]
[[Image:BeastWarsEp1JapanOpen01.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Star Wars (franchise)|Dun dun dun DUN! DAN! Dan dan dan DAAAN! DAN! Dan dan dan DAAAN! DAN! Dun dun dun DUN!]]]]
::*The Japanese version of this episode begins with a [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]-style scrolling recap of the history of the Transformers, narrated by both the Maximal and Predacon computer voices talking simultaneously. This worked out fairly well, since the episode begins with a placid pan of an outerspace backdrop, followed by a running battle between spaceships, as if it was tailor-made for this kind of parody.

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wojna bestii'''" ("Beast War")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Beast Wars parte 1'''" ("Beast Wars part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La guerra de las bestias [Parte 1]'''" ("The War of the Beasts [Part 1]")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

:*''Title:'' '''Guerra de Bestias Primera Parte'''" (America, "Beast War First Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

===Trivia===
* Before they gain their beast modes, the Maximals and Predacons are shown mostly in shadow. This is probably to save the animators the trouble of coming up with entirely different models for each character. However, if one pays close attention, there are some marked differences to the facial areas shown, and Rattrap's arms are slightly different.
* Megatron, who is seen almost entirely prior to getting his beast form, reuses the body of the Giant Robot from Mainframe's other show, ''ReBoot'', albeit with a few small modifications and Megatron's head slapped on top. The model would continue to be reused, including as Blackarachnia's protoform (again with modifications) and various generic Predacons in "[[The Agenda (Part 1)]]".
* When Rhinox is fixing something outside, the "Gas Bottle" looks like the model sub seen later on in other episodes.
* Rattrap's gun has 3 spider kill-marks on it. Has he killed spider-bots before?
* As this was the first episode, the transformation/catchphrase sequences are rather overbearing by comparison to later episodes of the series.
* If the Beast Warriors are on an "unknown planet", presumably containing animals they've never seen before... how does everybody manage to think up such fitting new beast-mode-based names? (Presumably, not ''all'' information about Earth was off-limits.)
* During the scene in which the Maximals reveal their new beast modes, it is not clear why they (bar Optimus Primal) had to rename themselves. Maximal military or exploration tradition?
* Throughout this episode and "[[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]", Scorponok's missiles have a Maximal insignia on them, meant to indicate Maximal kills. This confused viewers into thinking that they were mistakenly "Maximal missiles", so the symbols were changed.
* Cheetor has the dual honour of being the first character to appear in ''Beast Wars'', as well as the first character to fire a shot (unprovoked) at the enemy. Cheetor also has the honour of speaking the final words of the Beast Era in the final episode of the ''Beast Wars''' sequel, ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''.
* Dinobot has the distinction of being the first ''Beast Wars'' character to transform into robot mode.
* This episode marks the only instance in the entire series in which Dinobot uses the "Terrorize!" [[activation code]], despite nominally being a Predacon. He would later reprogram himself with the Maximal activation code.
* Waspinator fires pink eye lasers (similar to Dinobot's) during his battle with Cheetor. WAZZZPINATOR LOVES ADVANTAGE!!!!!!
* Rattrap is a serious asshole this early in the series.
* The image of a gorilla (Optimus) and a rat (Rattrap) riding on top of a rhino (Rhinox) is ''hilarious''.
* Going by their options for beast modes, it would appear the Maximals crashed in what would become the African continent, while the Predacons crashed in what would become the American continent. This would, however, require that Dinobot's alternate mode is not an actual velociraptor, but rather an american genus of dromaesauridae, as velociraptors are only found in Mongolia.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1997 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Beast Wars (Part 1)

2011-10-19T12:26:50Z

190.21.32.91: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BW
|ep=1
|image=BWPart1 crashland.jpg
|caption=They carry within them the last sons of Kryp—oh, wait, never mind.
|title="Beast Wars" (Part 1)
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 22]], [[1996]]<ref>Though this episode played several days earlier in several US markets, its most widespread screening was on the 22nd.</ref>
|packaged with=[[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|DX Convoy]]
|written by=[[Bob Forward]]
|directed by=[[Ian Pearson]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''A Maximal science vessel and a fugitive Predacon starship crash land on a mysterious, primitive world.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:BWPart1 strangenewworld.jpg|left|180px|thumb|In space, no one can hear you transform.]]
In an unknown star system, a [[transwarp]] portal opens, releasing two starships, a fleeing Predacon warship and a pursuing Maximal vessel. Already carrying the scars of battle, both ships immediately open fire upon each other. On the Maximal ship, [[Cheetor (BW)|a youthful crewmember]] reports on their damaged condition, in response to which [[Rattrap|another crew member]] bitterly complains about their non-combat exploration vessel not being cut out for this mission. Their commander, [[Optimus Primal]], states that they were the only ship in range capable of intercepting the fugitives.

On the fleeing Predacon starship, [[Dinobot (BW)|the first officer]] urges his leader,[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], to finish off the Maximals while their opponents' shields are down. Megatron arrogantly rebuffs this suggestion, preferring to toy with his opponents. A broadside attack cripples their enemies' engines and causes significant damage to their stasis hold. Optimus Primal orders the Maximals' cargo of [[stasis pod]]s be released into safe orbit before firing the forward plasma cannons, strafing the Predacons' hull. With no engines, both ships are caught in the planet's gravitational pull and plummet to its surface.

[[Image:BWPart1 beastmodes.jpg|right|180px|thumb|And the fandom complained... for about five minutes.]]
Both ships are non-flightworthy after their crashes. The Maximals have landed on a cliff above a lake; the Predacon warship has landed smack in the middle of the ash-hardened opening of an active shield volcano. The Predacon computer informs Megatron that their location is unknown, as while the course settings were accurate, the readings were not consistent with what was to be expected of the location. Dismissing this for the time being, Megatron demands to know if the mysterious planet has [[energon]], which the computer confirms to his elation. However, it warns that there is so much energon that prolonged exposure would permanently damage their robot modes. Declaring that they will take the forms of the most powerful creatures on the planet, Megatron orders [[Tarantulas (BW)|his science officer]] to scan for local lifeforms which they could adapt as alternate modes to survive on this world. The Predacon ship launches a drone, scanning the fossils of a tyrannosaurus rex, velociraptor and pteranodon, as well as a living spider and wasp.

At the cliff, the Maximals have the same idea, scanning a gorilla, rat, rhino and cheetah. The Maximals check out their new forms and bicker amongst themselves, till Optimus Primal orders the crew to moderate their conflict circuits, reminding them that their new beast forms are to protect them from the long-term effects of the abundant energon fields: While they need energon for power, their robot modes will short out after a few minutes of exposure. Optimus notes that they are on a very unusual planet, wherever it is. Rhinox points out that the transwarp drive allows them to journey through space '''and''' time, so they could be in any place, any time. Optimus expresses concern about the stasis pods in orbit, as it means the Maximals are outnumbered.

[[Image:BWPart1 beastfaceoff.jpg|left|180px|thumb|We'll tumble. Rumble style!]]
Back at the other crash site, the Predacons are testing out their new beast modes, bar one. First officer Dinobot, studying the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] he and his cohorts had stolen, is furious, declaring that this world cannot be [[Earth]]. He accuses Megatron of failure, both in battle against the Maximals and in failing to guide them to the right planet. Megatron laughs off Dinobot's accusations, and has Scorponok blast the treacherous Dinobot over the horizon. Megatron informs the other Predacons that it doesn't matter which planet they are on, as they had come looking for energon to fuel their war with the Maximals, and this planet is rich with it. Megatron dispatches his crew to seek out and destroy their enemies.

[[Image:BWPart1 Predsopenfire.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Shouldn't they be seeking cover of some sort?]]
Meanwhile, the Maximals are surveying the land around them and cleaning up the wreckage on the ''Axalon''. Rattrap complains about all the fuss over the Golden Disk, but Optimus Primal reminds him that the Disk is Cybertron's most closely guarded relic, a guide to a major source of energon, which is why Megatron stole it. Rattrap doesn't care, retorting they were supposed to be performing deep-space exploration and that it isn't his job to chase after criminals. He sarcastically speculates on Primal's readiness to handle a command position. Optimus further reminds him of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], noting that if the Predacons are able to secure a massive source of energon, they wouldn't hesitate to start a new one. Rattrap isn't convinced.

Deciding to show off (and goof off), Cheetor gives chase to two cheetahs running on the plains near the ship. Optimus tries to call him back, but the energon radiation severely limits the range of their communications equipment.

[[Image:BWPart1 Primalflying.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"I'm a rocket man, rocket man, burnin' out his fuse up here alone."]]
Some distance away, Cheetor's two cheetah buddies are freaked out by a rather large wasp. Realizing it's a '''Robot in Disguise''', Cheetor transforms and fires unprovoked. The Predacon Waspinator transforms and retaliates. Back at the ''Axalon'', the other Maximals move out to give Cheetor backup, with Rhinox ramming his way through a pile of boulders to speed their progress. Waspinator manages to get the better of Cheetor when the Maximal's rifle jams, but fortunately, the other Maximals have arrived by then. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Predacons have arrived as well.

[[Image:BWPart1 coverfire.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"I'll activate my Hero Shield!"]]
Optimus Primal tries to convince Megatron to not engage in hostilities, as the Maximals and Predacons have been at peace for centuries. Megatron spits back that while the Maximals may have been at peace, the Predacons, like all enemies who appear "peaceful", were merely biding their time. The Predacons have never forgotten their goal of galactic conquest, but were merely waiting for the right time to strike.

Both sides transform, and the battle is joined. As the Maximals seek cover, Cheetor is blasted by one of Scorponok's missiles and ends up with his leg trapped under a boulder. Optimus Primal orders Rattrap to assist Cheetor while he provides cover fire, but Rattrap flatly refuses to risk his life for anybody else, to Optimus' anger. The Maximal leader flies to Cheetor's position himself but is hit by Predacon fire, much to Rattrap's smug delight. Nonetheless, Optimus manages to free Cheetor while Rhinox "persuades" Rattrap to help provide the pair with cover fire. With the Predacons now seeking cover of their own, the Maximals make their escape. Megatron orders pursuit, but he and his Predacons succumb to the effects of the energon buildup and are forced to revert to beast mode.

[[Image:BWPart1 bridgefaceoff.jpg|left|180px|thumb|You shall not pass!]]
On the way back to base, Optimus Primal chews out Rattrap for disobeying a direct order, explaining to the petulant Maximal that he could have given better cover fire, an explanation which Rattrap accepts rather grudgingly. Cheetor notes that they seem to have escaped the Predacons. Primal isn't sure, as the Golden Disk theft reports indicated there were six Predacons, but they only encountered five in the previous battle.

They don't have to wait long. Dinobot appears, barring their way across a stone bridge to the ''Axalon''. Dinobot states that he has left the Predacons to join the Maximals... as leader. He challenges Optimus Primal to a one-on-one battle, with the winner to lead the Maximals, the loser to be destroyed!

[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|To be continued...]]
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (4)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (7)
*[[Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (9)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm a cheetah! No... I'm ''Cheetor''!" 
:—'''Cheetor''' is most imaginative.

"Ah-hahaha... there's more to being a leader than simple courage. Well, there's cleverness and cunning as well. Isn't that right, Scorponok?" 
[''Scorponok fires a missile, blasting Dinobot away''] 
"Loser."
:—'''Megatron''' deals swiftly with Dinobot's belligerence.

"You wanted exploration, and here we are on an unknown planet. What more do you want?" 
"Well, uh, call me picky but a working spacecraft might be nice." 
''[sighs]'' "Just no pleasing some people."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Rattrap'''

"Mzzzzz! Wazzzpinator under attack! Wazzzpinator engage enemy! Wazzzpinator, TERRORIZEZZZZZZZZ!!!"
:—'''Waspinator''' engages Cheetor.

"Ahh, a treacherous, under-handed sneak attack. Oh-ho-ho, I like you, pussycat, yesss."
:—'''Megatron''''s response to Cheetor's unprovoked attack

"This guy's got bearings of chrome steel."
:—'''Rhinox''' on Dinobot's bid for Maximal group leader

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Waspinator fights Cheetor, the stripes on his thighs are mapped on the wrong axis.
* As Optimus, Rhinox and Rattrap ride out to give Cheetor support, Rhinox breaks through a "roadblock" of boulders. However, in the previous shot of this location, the boulders were not present.
* When Rhinox picks up Rattrap and swings him around to face the Predacons, Rattrap's gun clips right through the boulder in front of them.
* Scorponok is among the Predacons milling about outside the ship in their beast modes, yet he appears from within the ship to blast Dinobot only a few moments later.
* During the battle between Dinobot and Optimus, Dinobot's spinning blades are severely shortened and misshapen, making them appear to have been chibified.
*Also during their battle, when Dinobot transforms his knee-pads and the bones around his ankles are absent.

===Continuity errors===
* Cheetor spends the longest time in the open while in robot mode, but does not suffer the effects of energon overload that the Predacons do.

===Transformers references===
* Optimus Primal mentions the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], which is what the Transformers of the Beast era called the conflict between the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]].

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Animutants - 1re partie'''" ("Animutants - 1st Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

:*''Title:'' "'''Pilote 1'''" (Canada, "Pilot 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'atterraggio'''" ("The Landing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chō Seimeitai Transformer Tōjō'''" (超生命体トランスフォーマー登場, "Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 1|1 October]] [[1997]]
[[Image:BeastWarsEp1JapanOpen01.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Star Wars (franchise)|Dun dun dun DUN! DAN! Dan dan dan DAAAN! DAN! Dan dan dan DAAAN! DAN! Dun dun dun DUN!]]]]
::*The Japanese version of this episode begins with a [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]-style scrolling recap of the history of the Transformers, narrated by both the Maximal and Predacon computer voices talking simultaneously. This worked out fairly well, since the episode begins with a placid pan of an outerspace backdrop, followed by a running battle between spaceships, as if it was tailor-made for this kind of parody.

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wojna bestii'''" ("Beast War")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Beast Wars parte 1'''" ("Beast Wars part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La guerra de las bestias [Parte 1]'''" ("The War of the Beasts [Part 1]")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

:*''Title:'' '''Guerra de Bestias Primera Parte'''" (America, "Beast War First Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

===Trivia===
* Before they gain their beast modes, the Maximals and Predacons are shown mostly in shadow. This is probably to save the animators the trouble of coming up with entirely different models for each character. However, if one pays close attention, there are some marked differences to the facial areas shown, and Rattrap's arms are slightly different.
* Megatron, who is seen almost entirely prior to getting his beast form, reuses the body of the Giant Robot from Mainframe's other show, ''ReBoot'', albeit with a few small modifications and Megatron's head slapped on top. The model would continue to be reused, including as Blackarachnia's protoform (again with modifications) and various generic Predacons in "[[The Agenda (Part 1)]]".
* When Rhinox is fixing something outside, the "Gas Bottle" looks like the model sub seen later on in other episodes.
* Rattrap's gun has 3 spider kill-marks on it. Has he killed spider-bots before?
* As this was the first episode, the transformation/catchphrase sequences are rather overbearing by comparison to later episodes of the series.
* If the Beast Warriors are on an "unknown planet", presumably containing animals they've never seen before... how does everybody manage to think up such fitting new beast-mode-based names? (Presumably, not ''all'' information about Earth was off-limits.)
* During the scene in which the Maximals reveal their new beast modes, it is not clear why they (bar Optimus Primal) had to rename themselves. Maximal military or exploration tradition?
* Throughout this episode and "[[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]", Scorponok's missiles have a Maximal insignia on them, meant to indicate Maximal kills. This confused viewers into thinking that they were mistakenly "Maximal missiles", so the symbols were changed.
* Cheetor has the dual honour of being the first character to appear in ''Beast Wars'', as well as the first character to fire a shot (unprovoked) at the enemy. Cheetor also has the honour of speaking the final words of the Beast Era in the final episode of the ''Beast Wars''' sequel, ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''.
* Dinobot has the distinction of being the first ''Beast Wars'' character to transform into robot mode.
* This episode marks the only instance in the entire series in which Dinobot uses the "Terrorize!" [[activation code]], despite nominally being a Predacon. He would later reprogram himself with the Maximal activation code.
* Waspinator fires pink eye lasers (similar to Dinobot's) during his battle with Cheetor. WAZZZPINATOR LOVES ADVANTAGE!!!!!!.
* Rattrap is a serious asshole this early in the series.
* The image of a gorilla (Optimus) and a rat (Rattrap) riding on top of a rhino (Rhinox) is ''hilarious''.
* Going by their options for beast modes, it would appear the Maximals crashed in what would become the African continent, while the Predacons crashed in what would become the American continent. This would, however, require that Dinobot's alternate mode is not an actual velociraptor, but rather an american genus of dromaesauridae, as velociraptors are only found in Mongolia.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1997 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]