[[Image:OtherVisits2 title.jpg|thumb|350px|]]

'''With the alien craft in his possession, Megatron intends to use it to conquer Cybertron!'''

{{episodenav |BW |season=2 |7 |prev=Other Visits (Part 1) |next=Bad Spark}}

==Summary==
Extended summary

==Quotes==
"He-heh yeah, like Megatron is going to invite us in for oil and cookies! (door opens) ...not that I couldn't use a snack."

--'''Rattrap''' thinks about food that isn't cheese.

To airborne alien metalhunter: "Awww, no 'aint that a sight!"

--'''Quickstrike''' the stupid sightseeing hick.

(Megatron) "Let them! In time I will destroy them as I will your precious Maximals! And the Autobots too!" (Quickstrike) "The boss sure likes to think big"

--commentry from '''Quickstrike'''.

(to Megatron) "You're mad!"

--'''Optimus''' and his astute powers of obsrvation

"This time, you lose Megatron!"

--It seems '''Optimus''' is instead having cheesy thoughts in this episode.

==Stats==
'''Writers:''' [[Larry DiTillio]]<br>
'''Original Air Date:''' February 15, 1998

'''Major Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters<br>
'''Minor Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters

==Notes==
* Before Megatron places the alien disk into the control column, he gives it a kiss for luck. Truly.

===Technical/Animation Glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity Errors===
*Error

===Transformers References===
*References

===Real-World References===
*The whole process of the Predacons invading the weapon designed to kill them, to be "invisble" or "at one with" once inside, and then Megatron using it machinate his evil scheme, with Tarantulas eventually destroying it with his datatrax Viron could be seen as a grand, abstract reference to HIV. More likely, it is an episode of a television show about battling transforming robots stranded on prehistoric Earth.

==External Links==
*Link

{{epstub}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Other Visits (Part 1)

2008-03-10T19:06:52Z

212.219.74.29: /* Quotes */

[[Image:OtherVisits1 title.jpg|thumb|350px|Sorry. I haven't rendered the rest of the environment yet.]]

'''A new alien site and device are discovered, and Megatron intends to have both for himself.'''

{{episodenav |BW |season=2 |6 |prev=Maximal, No More |next=Other Visits (Part 2)}}

==Summary==
Rhinox scans the all known alien sites, with Dinobot playing "back seat computer operator". Both notice a pattern, and Rhinox is concerned, as the next location looks like it is on course with Tigatron and Airrazor's scout patrol. They try to alert the pair but are unable due to Megatron's jamming tower. Dinobot announces he and Rattrap will go to destroy the tower. Rhinox informs the other Maximals of the danger Tigatron and Airrazor are in, so the flyers set off to warn them.

Tarantulas is repairing his web in his lair, moaning to himself that no one will help him, as "they're all too busy helping Megatron, even that vile..." when he is interrupted by his computer alerting him to the presence of the aliens. He quickly transforms into his motorbike mode and races off.

In the ''Darksyde'', Blackarachnia is nearly dozing off on scout duty, as "working for Megatron sure is boring!". This doesn't please the purple guy much, as he happens to be eavesdropping. Suddenly, she notices Tarantulas on the scanners, zipping along at breakneck speed. At the mention of the spider, Megatron reveals himself, accompanied by Inferno, and begins giving Blackarachnia orders, with Inferno enforcing his master's wishes. Blackarachnia suggests they follow Tarantulas to see what he's up to, but Megs seems reluctant. Inferno then reports of an attack on the jamming tower and asks if he should back up Waspinator and Quickstrike. Megatron once again decides this is a foolish move. Instead, he reveals to the spider and Inferno that now is a prime time to get the Golden Disk back, with only Rhinox guarding the ''Axalon''.

Tigatron and Airrazor are patrolling when, to their delight and surprise, they see a hint of plant life in the form of a drifting seed. They continue and discover a clearing full of plant life, an area of natural beauty that wasn't destroyed by the alien attack. Airrazor is intrigued by the unique forms of vegetation, so she transforms to get a scan. BIG MISTAKE. Tigatron also transforms. BIG MISTAKE. They both seem to be overcome by it all, and share a brief, cheesy romantic moment. But as the pair cuddle up, tendrils begin to snake up behind them, and suddenly, the two Maximals are entangled. Amidst their screams, they link hands, telling each other that their sparks will always find each other. As they are abducted, Cheetor flies up and tries to rescue them, but to no avail. He screams in protest as he realises he has lost them. As he bemoans the Maximals' inability to warn the abducted pair in time, Tarantulas pops up and blasts Cheetor, knocking him out cold. As Tarantulas begins to check out the site, he realises Optimus is coming, so he retreats.

Optimus and Silverbolt land in the clearing, and Optimus gets Cheetor back online. He hurriedly asks what happened to Tigatron and Airrazor, and Cheetor indicates the plant at fault for their disappearance. At this moment, Rattrap buzzes in, informing the Maximals that he and Dinobot have destroyed the jamming tower. (Actually, Dinobot is still landing a few final blows, which topple the tower on top of Quickstrike and Waspinator.) Upon hearing about the fate of Tigatron and Airrazor, all the Maximals head back to base, all deeply moved.

Optimus com-links Rhinox, who is also shocked by the news, but, being the cool cucumber like he is, goes straight back to scanning the alien abduction and notices two distorted figures in the beam: Tigatron and Airrazor. Before he can investigate further, the base alerts go off, and he notices Megatron outside. Rhinox has no time for fun and games, so he literally brings out "the big guns." However, Megatron is merely acting as a diversion while Blackarachnia and Inferno sneak into the base and shut off the defense systems. Big Green realizes he's in trouble and desperately tries to get through to Optimus, but Inferno enters the room, swings Rhinox's chair up to the table, and puts him at gunpoint just as Optimus finally responds. Inferno offers a "Goodbye!" on Rhinox's behalf and simultaneously blasts Rhinox. Blackarachnia rushes for the disk, but Inferno is more hesitant: "The Royalty said we weren't to touch it until..." He is interrupted by Rhinox grabbing him and yanking him back to express his displeasure. Rhinox and Inferno start to rock 'n' sock each other with chin-punches, and Rhinox soon wins by popping Inferno's block off (or at least up). Blackarachnia grabs the disk, but Rhinox menaces her with "The Chaingun Of Doom." He barely has time to threaten her before Megatron appears behind him and lays verba; claim to the disk. Despite his fear, Rhinox quickly readies to smack Megs in the face, but the Pred is too quick; he grabs Rhinox's hand in his claw, rips it off and sends him sprawling. Megatron grabs the disk, pushes Inferno's head back down, then takes his leave.

The Maximals make it back to the base, and Optimus re-attaches Rhinox's arm. The Maximals then have a council. Cheetor is still upset about Tigatron and Airrazor, insisting they need to rescue those two. However, Dinobot says they need to stop Megatron before the aliens strike, to which Optimus agrees. They set off for the site where Tigatron and Airrazor were abducted.

Megatron is back in the ''Darksyde'', talking about the Golden Disk, but is interrupted by Tarantulas. The spider brags that he is no longer part of the Predacon command, but also reminds his ex-leader that he is Megatron's only chance of surviving the alien attack. Megatron allows Tarantulas to undertake his plan.

The Predacons head to the abduction site, where they go about ramming posts into the ground. Megatron questions Tarantulas's motives, but Tarantulas isn't telling. However, due to the fact they shared minds, Blackarachnia knows it is because he hates the aliens. Megatron doesn't mind, since hatred is an emotion he can trust. When the plan is complete, Megatron and Tarantulas have a brief laughing contest which is interrupted by Primal and the Maximals, who transform and prepare to attack. The Predacons also terrorize, ready for battle, when the aliens' beam comes down, causing a halt in the proceedings. All the Transformers stare on in amazement as a spaceship materializes in front of their very optics.

The top of the ship opens, releasing an energon surge, which blasts into everybody.

[[Other Visits (Part 2)|To be continued...]]

==Quotes==
(Cheetor) "We could have warned them. If only that stinking Megatron hadn't..." (Tarantulas) "Well you didn't!" (blasts Cheetor).

--''harsh'' '''Tarantulas'''

==Stats==
'''Writers:''' [[Larry DiTillio]]<br>
'''Original Air Date:''' February 8, 1998

'''Major Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters<br>
'''Minor Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters

==Notes==
===Technical/Animation Glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity Errors===
*Error

===Transformers References===
*References

===Real-World References===
*The fight between [[Rhinox]] and [[Inferno]] references Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots, a popular fighting game.
*Waspinator says he's pinned like an "[[wikipedia:Iron Butterfly|iron butterfly]]", referencing the 1960s psychedelic rock band that gave the world "[[wikipedia:In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida|In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida]]".

==External Links==
*Link

{{epstub}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

2008-03-06T22:25:31Z

212.219.74.29: /* Real-World References */

Other Visits (Part 2)

2008-03-06T22:19:58Z

212.219.74.29: /* Real-World References */

Cicadacon

2008-03-03T21:56:55Z

212.219.74.29: /* Beast Wars */

:''Cicadacon is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] in the [[Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] continuity family.''

[[Image:GeneralCicadacon.jpg|thumb|300px|Haven't I seen you somewhere before?]]

'''General Cicadacon''' is a member of the [[Tripredacus Council]].

A Predacon Elder, the cruel and clever '''Cicadacon''' is suspected of being very old, indeed. His knowledge of Cybertronian history, especially military history and tactics, is encyclopedic, stretching back even to the era before the [[Great War]]. Some suspect he may have once had a [[Decepticon]] identity, but if this is true, no records of that identity survive. Regardless of the truth of his origin, Cicadacon uses the stories and rumors to engender fear and respect in his followers. Despite his tactical genius, Cicadacon's long-term strategy against the Maximals has become increasingly unpopular with the more [[Megatron (BW)|impatient]] [[Galvatron (BWII)|Predacon]] [[Magmatron|forces]].

He uses chopping rotor blades to spread plague-like destruction and combines with his fellow council members to form [[Tripredacus]].

==Fiction==

====''Timelines: Descent into Evil''====

====''Timelines: Dawn of Future's Past''====
[[Image:Tarantulasdawn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Blink and you'll miss him.]]
As the crew of the ''[[Darksyde]]'' fled [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with the [[Golden Disk]], Predacon secret police agent [[Tarantulas]] was onboard decoding information from it. While his boss [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] wasn't watching, Tarantulas contacted General Cicadacon and updated him on the disk's status.

(The reflection of the screen on Tarantulas' head is the silhouette of General Cicadacon.)

====''Beast Wars''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (English), [[Yukimasa Kishino]] (Japanese)

{{-}}

===IDW Beast Wars===
The Tripredacus Council ordered [[Magmatron]] to assure that no knowledge of the [[transwarp wave]] reached the Maximals. {{storylink|The Gathering, Part 1}} When their [[Ravage|agent]] failed at his task of rounding up the rogue Megatron, the council sent Magmatron to complete the mission. {{storylink|The Gathering, Part 2}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Tripredacus''' (1997)
: Cicadacon transforms into a green cicada (who'da thought). The toy has twin "blades" that store on its wings. These blades become missiles for Tripredacus's weapon. Cicadacon transforms into the head and chest of Tripredacus. The toy's instructions also referred to his insect beak as a "nasal cannon," although this has not been backed up in the sourcebooks.

:This mold was recolored and released in Japan as [[D.J.]].

==External links==
[http://tfu.info/1997/Predacon/Cicadacon/cicadacon.htm Cicadacon at TFU.info]

[[Category: Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category: Combiners]]
[[Category: Predacon leaders]]
[[Category: Timelines characters]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

To sell toys

2008-02-06T16:42:25Z

212.219.74.29: /* Beast Wars */

[[Image:MarvelUS-19.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Hasbro]] wasn't quite sure whether to advertise [[Omega Supreme (G1)#Toys|this expensive toy]] until the fans forced their hand.]]To understand Transformers fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[toy]]s to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally make a profit in their own right, but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't usually sell someone the same toy twice<ref>Except for repaints of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].</ref>, [[HasTak]] constantly introduces new toys, and often requires the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes ([[Mini-Cons]]) this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers (the in-comic explanations for the [[Headmasters]] and [[Targetmasters]] are kinda wonky).

Blatant examples of "to sell toys" in the fiction include:

==Generation One cartoon==
[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Brawn|Guess who's]] no longer in the [[Mini Vehicles]] case assortment?]]
* In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters were killed or changed, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. They were replaced by a slew of new protagonists, such as [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. Indeed, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters.

* Season 3 of the cartoon almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. Bumblebee, by contrast, shows up now and again, as his toy was still shipping.

* [[The Rebirth]] abruptly introduced about 60 new characters, including all the first waves of Headmasters and Targetmasters, all their Nebulan partners, the Clones, Sixshot, and Punch/Counterpunch.

{{-}}

==Generation One comic==
[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Marvel|Publisher]]'s clearing house.]]
* The [[Underbase Saga]]: A super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] killed literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], Headmaster, and Targetmaster ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. Those characters would eventually get their own turn to die two years later, during the climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]], which also showcased many of Starscream's victims returning to action. Their return could largely be attributed to the UK [[Classics (Euro)|Classics]] line re-releasing older toys, and the American [[Actionmaster]]s line, which featured new figures of old characters.

* A similar phenomenon can be witnessed in the Marvel UK comics saga [[Time Wars]], where the body count at the hands of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is similarly high. Albeit a little subtler than the Underbase Saga in characters shuffling off their mortal coils (and from the toy shelves), older, more obscure characters such as [[Roadbuster]], [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]], [[Twin Twist]], and even [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] nonetheless met their ends—sometimes, in decidedly more grisly ways than their US counterparts. And once again, the Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (to wit: Galvatron and Megatron) or newer characters ([[Carnivac]], [[Catilla]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and all of the [[Terrorcons]], for example.)

* Many issues of the [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. (The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: 8, 10, 11, 19, 21, 29, 30, 40, 46, 47, and 60. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.) Sometimes the storyline had to jump through hoops to explain these new characters. (In particular, for both the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s and [[Stunticon]]s, and the introduction of the Pretenders, there was a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical gimmicks at the same time.) Other times, the characters were simply ''there,'' with no explanation for why we'd never seen them before. In both cases, the comic often used blatant exposition to introduce characters and their special powers; see article ''[[introdump]]'' for more.

* An even more extreme example of the above point came in 1987, when Hasbro released too many new toys at one time to be sensibly fit in the existing storyline. The result was the ''[[Headmasters (comic)|Headmasters]]'' miniseries, which existed to introduce the Headmasters, Targetmasters, [[Technobots]], [[Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbots]] (''sixty-two'' characters total), and provide a semi-rational explanation for "little guys who turn into heads and guns", without having to shoehorn all that into the regular comic. (Amusingly, after the miniseries concluded and all the above characters journeyed to Earth, it only took ''two'' issues before another dozen characters (the Pretenders) had to be introduced . . . )

* At one point, Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, Simon Furman wrote a short story arc leading up to ''[[Second Generation!]]'', where [[Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and Shockwave <strike>watched an advert</strike> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams.

* In some cases, old and "beloved" characters were killed off only to be resurrected in new incarnations -- in line with their corresponding toy's re-release using a new "gimmick". The Autobots' leader was, if you'll pardon the pun, a "prime" example of this: killed by explosive detonation in his original form, Optimus Prime's personality was preserved on disk until he was returned to life as a [[Powermaster]], only to be killed again in battle with Unicron, and brought back to life once more by the [[Last Autobot]] ... this time in his [[Actionmaster]] form. Similarly, [[Bumblebee]] was killed off in the US and UK comics, resurrected as [[Goldbug]], killed again by Starscream during the Underbase Saga, and then returned to life once more as a [[Classic Pretender]] in his Bumblebee identity. Needless to say, these bargings back and forth through death's door required [[retcon|increasingly implausible explanations]] and reliance on the idea that Transformer life [[Life cycle|does not operate in the same way as human life]].

* To add insult to injury, some dead characters got no rest ''before'' coming back to life, thanks to the marketing imperative. Optimus Prime, dead for some years in the Marvel US comic, had his first major "return" appearance when used primarily as <strike>a selling point</strike> an integral part of the introduction of the [[Pretenders]]. Not inhabiting a body during the course of that story, Prime instead operated as something of a "presence in spirit" to the Autobot forces in that issue and never conceived of himself as being alive. A similar device was used in the prelude to the Underbase Saga. Optimus Prime and Megatron were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to Earth, but that story introduced (surprise surprise) the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon|Triggercons]] and the [[Triggerbot|Triggerbots]].

{{-}}

==Beast Wars==
[[Image:BW_Scorponok_Terrorsaur_deaths.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]], [[Terrorsaur]], we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] has a bigger fan club.]]

* Hasbro would repeatedly interject its own marketing priorities into the development of series scripts, resulting in some characters having a very odd and confusing history. [[Tigerhawk]] was introduced and then killed off within three episodes, due to corporate uncertainty about whether the toy would actually be produced. [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed--being ''disintegrated''--but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series. Mainframe planned to use [[Wolfang]] but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy (and to save money as his cgi model was only a slight tweak of Cheetor's).

* The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant: pre-existing characters could gain new bodies that replaced their old ones (itself a conspicuous marketing device that was used many times throughout seasons 2 and 3), but the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of pre-existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]; [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] was killed off one episode after the debut of [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]].

{{-}}

==Robots in Disguise==

* In the first ''four'' episodes, ''eighteen'' <strike>toys</strike> characters are introduced in quick succession.

{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
* The [[Unicron Trilogy]] was noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines: Power-enhancing [[Mini-Cons]] in ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]],'' [[powerlinx]]ing and hyper-modes in ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]],'' and cyber keys in ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]].'' The gimmicks shaped the cartoons as well, with powerlinx training in ''Energon'' and quests for keys in ''Cybertron.'' The Mini-Cons of ''Armada'' practically ''defined'' the plot of the cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons, thus encouraging viewers to emulate their heroes, and buy 'em all. All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[stock footage|recycled footage]]).

* Megatron is turned into Galvatron three times - at the end of each series, he's turned back into Megatron but with a different body. This is due to Hasbro wanting to keep the trademarks "Megatron" and "Galvatron" as well as to sell more toys.

* The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]] - who had just had a new and expensive toy. (In the same story, Jetfire and Optimus abruptly change into their Powerlinx toy colours.)

{{-}}

==Titan Magazines (Movie)==

* The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based Transformers comic]] takes this to more blatant heights. Not only do the movie toys like [[Clocker (Movie)|Clocker]] and [[Skyblast (Movie)|Skyblast]] appear in strips, not only has the editor told readers in Mech Mail that all the toys are great and should be bought...

* ...But there is a specific 4-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which exists solely to promote the newest Transformers merchandise. This has led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was.

{{-}}

==Post-Marvel comics==
[[Image:Nightbeat-devastation1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Conclusion: [[Simon Furman]] must be a [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] fan, since he hasn't had a toy since [[President of the United States|Reagan]] was president.]]

There's also an interesting exception: The [[Dreamwave]] and [[IDW]] comics. The two recent holders of the license to publish Transformers comic books sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (2007)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[The War Within]]'' and ''[[Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a current character in IDW's G1 continuity, has not had a toy in 20 years), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars''). While the details of the licenses these companies received from Hasbro are not available to us, they apparently require the licensee to produce some comics "to sell toys", while also allowing them to do other comics with <I>carte blanche.</i>

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category: Toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Scale

2008-02-01T00:28:43Z

212.219.74.29: /* Real world scale */

[[Image:OptimusSnakeEyes.jpg|right|thumb|300px|And the truck's ''how'' big...?]]
'''Scale''' in ''Transformers'' is, not to put too fine a point on it, screwed.

Virtually no era, franchise, fiction, toyline or other incarnation of ''Transformers'' has presented scale in a logical or believable fashion. (Save perhaps, the 1:24 toys for ''[[Alternators]]'' and ''[[Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'', but they [[Atari Hitotonari|have their own problems]].) Most fans agree that one must either ignore it or accept it, lest they be tempted to explain these problems and in the process fanwank themselves into oblivion.

However, the scale problems of ''Transformers'' still merit description.

==Scale within toylines==
===Toys out of scale with others in the same line===
The early [[Generation 1 (toyline)|Generation 1 toyline]], especially the pre-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] lines, were repackaged and [[redeco]]ed toys from several different Japanese toylines. The crucial point is that the toylines were initially unrelated. The characters ''should'' be in scale to each other as they all have real-world altmodes that (should) pass for real vehicles. However, since ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys were not part of the same line as ''[[Microman]]'' toys, scale issues arose. ''Diaclone'' figures such as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are more-or-less in correct scale to each other, but many of the [[Mini Vehicle]]s from the ''New Microman'' line are clearly far too small by comparison. Even aside from their deformed penny-racer proportions, a [[Bumblebee (G1)|Volkswagen]] Microman toy is disproportionately tiny when compared to a [[Jazz (G1)|Porsche]] Diaclone toy. The disparity becomes even more obvious with [[minibot]]s such as [[Warpath]] (a tank) and [[Seaspray]] (a hovercraft) who should be many times their actual size.

[[Image:DiacloneScale.jpg|left|thumb|350px|That little guy — who comes from the same toyline as all those vehicles — is supposed to be a normal-sized human. Yeeeah.]]

Another glaring scale problem comes in the form of the [[Seeker]]s, who turn into F-15 Eagles which, in real life, are 63.8′ (19.4m) long. Correctly scaled, this would make their robot modes ''colossal'' compared to most Autobots. Similarly, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, despite also coming from the ''Diaclone'' line, are too small. Far worse is the other ''Diaclone'' combiner team, the [[Trainbot]]s, who have train engine altmodes, yet their toys are among the ''smallest'' of the ''Diaclone'' releases.

{{-}}
===Toys out of scale within teams===
Even toys specifically designed to interact with each other suffer from this problem. The [[Combaticon]]s are wildly out of scale to each other — [[Blast Off]]'s space shuttle mode should dwarf [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]], with the others somewhere in between. Instead, they're about the same size. Among the Constructicons, [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] is designed to look like a gigantic [[Wikipedia:Image:Liebherr_t282_1.jpg|"earth-mover" mining truck]]. He should be able to carry all his teammates in his bed, with some crowding. Similarly, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (a Concorde jet) is dramatically undersized compared to his fighter-jet [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]] teammates. These scale problems are necessary to avoid misproportioned gestalt forms.

===Same altmode, different sizes===
Other scale problems come from characters who transform into the same (or similar) altmodes but whose toys are different sizes. For example [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] transforms into an F-15 Eagle, but his toy is half the size of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s. The same can be said for the Lamborghini Countach [[Breakdown]], who should be the same size as [[Sunstreaker]], not significantly smaller. These discrepancies are also seen in the other [[Scramble City]] combiners with Earth altmodes, whose toys are all smaller than similar earlier toys.

===Toys out of scale with themselves===
[[Triple Changer|Triple-Changers]] create a whole new set of problems. [[Octane]] transforms from a 60′ (20m) tanker truck into a 200′ (65m) jumbo jet. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from an Earth jet into an entire ''aircraft carrier.''

Even a two-mode toy can have this problem. Twentieth Anniversary Optimus Prime has wheels which are pretty tiny for a Freightliner truck, while his rear hitch section is too thick. These out-of-proportion vehicle parts were necessary to give his robot mode [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] proportions.

===Toys with roleplay altmodes===
The characters with roleplay altmodes such as Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], or [[Laserbeak (Armada)|''Armada'' Laserbeak]] are scaled to be human-scale (well, kid-scale). Since the [[size changing]] seen in the fiction is not possible for real toys (at least, that's what [[Takara]] ''wants'' us to think), this human-scaling makes in some cases for inordinately large robot modes. E.g., [[Blaster]]'s toy, in robot mode, is taller than most other Transformers.

The opposite problem is seen with [[Megatron (G1) toys|Masterpiece Megatron]], whose robot mode is in scale with Masterpiece Optimus Prime. The result is that, while he may transform into a very accurately-proportioned handgun, it's much larger than the real thing.

===Fanciful altmodes===
Most post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] Generation 1 characters (for that matter, most post-Generation 1 lines) are difficult to accurately scale, as they generally transform into futuristic or Cybertonian vehicles whose size we don't really know. (Or, indeed, they don't transform into vehicles at all.) The scale of characters such as [[Hot Rod]] or [[Leobreaker]] is fairly arbitrary and can only be estimated by their relative size to other characters in the fiction (although most fiction is highly inconsistent in this regard, see below). Nevertheless, if one assumes that most vehicle altmodes are intended for human passengers, comparing toys such as [[Chromedome]] and [[Lightspeed (Technobot)|Lightspeed]] suggests the combiner scale problem continues.

===Big toys===
It goes without saying that the citybot and planetbot toys (Such as [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Unicron]]) are not remotely to scale with normal Transformer toys. While they are indeed ''large'' toys, they're only two to five times bigger than typical Transformer toys, and thus transform into "cities" and "planets" about the (relative) size of a bungalow. The scale problems extend to the details. Some of the citybot toys have visible windows, which are too large for a city, suggesting instead a medium-sized building.

However, it's hard to begrudge Hasbro not offering us a [[Primus]] toy the size of an asteroid. Where would we keep it?

===An exception===
There has only been one notable exception to all of this scale weirdness in the toys: the ''[[Alternators]]'' toyline, where every toy is a 1:24-scale representation of a real car, and thus they are in perfect scale with each other. Unfortunately, for practical reasons this limits the choice of altmodes. A Blast Off (space shuttle) Alternator toy would be 5.1′ (1.6m) long, while a Broadside (aircraft carrier) Alternator toy would be over 40′ (12m).

== Scale within fictions ==
[[Image:TeenyCliff.jpg|left|thumb|Frighteningly toy-accurate.]]

Scale issues abound within the fiction, especially the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. A lot can be attributed to animation errors, but some "errors" were deliberate choices, for a variety of reasons.

===Animated scale ≈ toy scale===
Very broadly speaking, the Generation 1 cartoon depicts characters to the same relative scale as the toys (including problems discussed above) when depicting the characters in robot modes. Prime, Megatron and Soundwave are generally animated at the same height, Seekers and Autobot cars slightly shorter (though not as much as the toys are), and [[Minibot]]s smaller yet. However, this was ''far'' from consistent.

===Comic scale ≠ toy scale ===
[[Image:OmegaSupremeintro.jpg|thumb|left|175px|No! Don't wash him in hot water! He'll . . .]]

The [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|Generation 1 Marvel comic]] is notorious for changing the relative sizes of various characters. A single Transformer's size is rarely consistent between artists. For example, Rumble and Frenzy vary in height relative to Soundwave. A panel in the [[Time Wars]] shows [[Goldbug]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Scattershot]], and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] all the same height. [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], titanic in his [[Command Performances|original appearance]], shrunk steadily in subsequent issues until he was not much taller than the average.

[[Image:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|thumb|right|. . . too late.]]

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===Variation for characterization===
[[Image:Prime has a huge head.jpg|thumb|right|150px|With 20th Anniversary Prime and Smallest Transformers Bumblebee, you can actually recreate this scene.]]

Some scale problems are for the sake of characterization. For example, Optimus Prime is routinely shown as thoroughly gargantuan, several stories in height, and capable of cradling humans in his palm. If he's the size of a real truck, Prime in robot mode should be 25′-30′ (8m-10m) tall, at best. He's drawn large because he's a leader character.

Conversely, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] is sometimes shown only a few feet taller than an average human, while in reality he would be 10′-15′ (3m-5m) tall (the Marvel comic actually states he's 15' tall{{fact}}). He's drawn small because he's a human-friendly character, and a junior member of the Autobots.

Those pesky [[Seeker]]s remain a major scale problem; with plane altmodes they would be among the largest everyday Transformers and would ''tower'' over their Autobot adversaries, whereas the animation instead depicts characters such as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] as about the same height. Though jets are much larger than cars, they're drawn the same height so the battles appear fair. (And also to make it easier to animate; blocking a shot where characters differ radically in height is difficult.)

In a related vein, [[B.O.T.|sometimes]] Transformers are able to enter human buildings, fitting through their doors and able to run up their staircases without crashing through. A cast that couldn't enter buildings would be grossly inconvenient for telling some stories, so the animators fudge things.

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===Transport characters===
[[Image:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|left|thumb|Definitely ''not'' toy-accurate.]]

Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers will often dramatically change size relative to their compatriots between one shot and the next. These changes in scale are usually attributed to [[Size_changing#Implicit size changing|implicit size changing]] by that portion of the fanbase who like to find explanations for things. The other explanation is that the animators hoped the audience wouldn't notice. (See the [[size changing]] article for more discussion of this topic.)

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===Combiner characters===
[[Image:DreamwaveCover6.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Since when is a sedan nine stories tall?]]

[[Combiner]] characters are often depicted as far larger than the sum of their parts. Characters such as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] are frequently shown as [[That big green, fire-snortin' lizard|Godzilla]]-sized. Given that their limbs are mere cars and construction vehicles, this is patently absurd. ([[Superion (G1)|Superion]], by contrast, ''would'' be building-sized, given that his torso is a 100-seat jetliner.)

Combiners are also often out-of-scale with other Transformers; a combiner with cars for legs and another car for its torso should be only twice as tall as a one-car Transformer, but they are routinely drawn as five to dozens of times taller than their comrades.

===Pretender characters===
The [[Pretender]]s had interesting scale issues. In the [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|original comic]] the Pretenders appeared fairly literally as their toy counterparts; Transformer-sized robots inside Transformer-sized humanoid shells. The result was that the [[Autobot]] Pretenders (in their shells) were giant-sized humans. This successfully disguised them (for about five seconds, literally) from the Decepticons, and also hid their mechanical nature from aliens. However, it was utterly useless at fooling humans. Further, in [[Guess Who the Mecannibals are Having for Dinner?|one story]], the Pretender [[Cloudburst]] exited his shell, transformed into jet mode, and then his shell (and [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]]) boarded him as a passenger. The fact that his ''outer'' shell was now smaller than the ''inner'' robot was quietly ignored; one assumes the sort of size-changing mentioned under ''Transport characters,'' above, was involved.

In the U.S. toy commercials, Grimlock, Bumblebee, and Jazz in their new Pretender forms were small enough to fit in Powermaster Optimus Prime's hand. So, at least in that [[micro-continuity]], they were human-sized.

(The Japanese-only series ''[[Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' featured Pretenders who did not have outer shells but rather an ill-defined holistic transformation which explicitly involved size changing. A vaguely similar explanation appeared in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia.)

===Small Transformers===
The assorted toys produced over the decades to hit the lowest price point usually include "mini" or "micro" in their name, and usually are depicted as smaller than other Transformers in the fiction as well.

====Micromasters====
The [[Micromaster]]s are roughly human-sized in robot mode, and thus virtually all of them turn into Earth vehicles that are patently incapable of seating human passengers inside them. (The Marvel comic featured ''some'' of them implicitly size-changing to vehicles that could carry human passengers, but this was rare.)

The Dreamwave miniseries ''[[Micromasters]]'' had an explanation, suggesting the Micromasters were Transformers scaled to fit a smaller race of humans. This is met with skepticism from fans, in part because it doesn't explain the scale problems ''within'' the line. All Micromasters are about the same height in robot-mode, but they transform into small cars, large trucks, planes, tanks, and other vehicles that should be vastly different sizes. The alleged "smaller race of humans" must vary in size quite a bit, and only the really teeny ones get to fly the planes . . .

To be fair, there is little indication in the fiction that the Micromasters were ''supposed'' to have consistent scale. They were explictly downsized Transformers, and the scale problems inherent to that resizing were tacitly part of the fiction. Their passenger compartments can thus be regarded as vestigial.

====Mini-Cons====
The [[Mini-Con]]s of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] are another race of small robots who stand approximately the same height as humans and, like the Micromasters before them, are clearly modeled to carry passengers. Really teeny passengers. (Notable exceptions are [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] (in his original body), [[Sureshock]], and [[High Wire]], who become small one-man vehicles.) In this continuity, there's no sign of mini-passengers. The prevailing theory is that Mini-Cons scan normal vehicles and then resize them to fit, retaining now-useless passenger compartments. In the [[Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]], the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] have slightly-larger-than-human robot modes, but their alternate modes are large enough for a single human passenger, implying either a little size-changing, or that their cockpits are kinda cramped.

===Big Transformers===
On the other end of the scale, the problems posed by really big Transformers lie in how they interact with normal-sized ones.

====Citybots====
[[Image:EarlyGalvatronTVMagazine1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|If you were ever ''this'' big in the cartoon, ''then'' we might call you a city.]]

The characters [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Trypticon]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] have "city" altmodes (with Fort Max being supposedly the biggest of the four). However, a size at which they could house enough humans, ''let alone'' Transformers, to be reasonably defined as a "city", would suggest a robot-mode that'd make [[Hojoni|Godzilla]] look like a gecko. Suffice to say, they're rarely drawn that big. It doesn't help that these citybots have "small" robots forming vital components. Fortress Maximus and Scorponok both have "human-sized" beings forming their heads. (Fort Max has a [[Cerebros (G1)|middleman]] in there, but still.) [[Full-Tilt]], [[Six Gun]], and [[Slammer]] must logically be building-sized in robot-mode to be in-scale with Trypticon and Metroplex, but, again, are not drawn as such. Aside from the sole depiction of Metroplex in the Marvel UK story [[Space Pirates!|Space Pirates]], no fiction, not even the very large depiction in the ''[[Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters]]'' cartoon, even ''begins'' to approximate the logical size of a true "citybot". In reality, the grossly-undersized depictions of [[Unicron]] (see below) would be closer to the size of a transformed city. This is ironic, as in Season 3 of the Generation 1 cartoon Unicron requires the eyes of a citybot to replace his own. (Though, "realistically", his eyes should be the size of Texas.) Rare examples of a realistic citybot scale include some Japanese promotional art (e.g., at right).

The cartoon episode "[[Thief in the Night]]" makes a stab at explaining this via an establishing shot that shows Metroplex to be a small sub-section of the "actual" Autobot City, although this was not repeated. Overall, it seems that in Transformer terms, "city" is better read as "building".

Although little fiction to date has featured the Headmaster leaders as cities, in the Japanese cartoons they have been employed in their tertiary modes as starships capable of housing many normal-sized Transformers. Conversely, the Marvel Generation 1 comic depicted Fortress Maximus and Scorponok as merely "large-standard" characters, equal in height to Powermaster Optimus Prime and (in some UK issues) Rodimus Prime. (To be fair, Powermaster Prime was often drawn undersized in the comics).

====Planets and planetbots====
[[Image:Cybertronplanet.jpg|left|250px|thumb|If we're generous and assume Cybertron is only the size of Earth's moon, then the larger visible buildings are roughly the size of Massachusetts stood on end, and you could wedge ''France'' into that gash. (Which would probably improve both Cybertron and France.)]]

Scale when it comes to planets is so fraught it's painful. The problems of describing citybots as "cities" is a thousand times worse if [[Unicron]] is supposed to have a planet alternate mode, and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is in turn supposed to be of similar size. Though different stories have compared Cybertron/Primus and Unicron to drastically different real planets, the fact remains that they are ''planets'', and yet are shown in such insane scale to characters as to suggest they are the size of a ''very'' small moon (or [[Darth Vader|space station]]).

To start with, Cybertron was shown throughout Generation 1 with buildings visible from space. Although this was intended to show that the planet was technological in nature, it makes little sense, as the structures would have to be the size of small ''nations'' to be visible. If the buildings were in fact supposed to be skyscrapers (or even ''2000 A.D.'' style arcologies) sized for 30' (10m) robots, Cybertron would still be less than 100 miles (150km) across. By comparison, the rather [http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/coruscant/index.html Coruscant]-like shots of Cybertron in ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' may be less distinctive or "Cybertronian", but are ''far'' more believable.

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[[Image:UnicronEatsGalvyMmmm.jpg|right|thumb|Either [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvy]] is humungo, or [[Lithone]] is ''tiiinyyy!!!'']]

Unicron is a more extreme problem. Assuming no [[size changing]] occurs during his transformation, in robot mode he would be so massive that any shot featuring a recognizable ''part'' of his body, let alone the whole thing, would be on a scale such that no normal Transformer would even be visible. Scenes in the ''[[The Transformers: The Movie|Movie]]'' in which he directly interacts with normal Cybertronians are blatantly absurd (though totally phat-looking). Shots such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s fleeing his grasping hand, a starship penetrating his eye, or ''especially'' him picking up Galvatron between his fingers before swallowing him, break any concept of "planetary" scale. If Unicron is the size of a planet, his hands would be the size of continents. This would make Galvatron (in the image to the right) the size of Great Britain.

There is no explanation for any of this. Just go with it.

The depiction of Unicron's scale in ''[[Armada]]'' was (debatably) a slight improvement, in that physical interaction with normal beings was not attempted. He preferred instead to communicate with normal Transformers by possessing [[Sideways|one of them]]. Nevertheless, shots featuring [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] standing on his neck are still ''farcically'' out of scale.

===An exception: The 2007 ''Transformers'' movie===
[[Image:Moviescale1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scale is absolutely not an issue in the movie. Riiight.]]

The creators of the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]] took great pains to avoid out-of-scale issues. (Well, greater than previous franchises.) This is sometimes reflected in the choice of vehicle or the design of their robot mode. E.g., [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] is an extended-hood cab in order to have more mass to make a taller robot mode with. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s robot mode is nearly as wide as it is tall, with shorter, digitigrade legs, so the massive jet-former won't end up twice as tall as Optimus. In the case of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], his huge alternate mode simply results in a hulking, towering robot mode.

There are still minor scale issues to be found, though. For example, Optimus Prime can hold both [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] and [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] in one hand. Comparing this shot with when he picks up [[Archibald Witwicky]]'s glasses a few minutes later, it seems the glasses have lenses a foot (30cm) in diameter. This is a visual cheat so the glasses are visible to the audience. There's also debate about whether [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head could compact itself into a slim mobile phone. The movie-franchise toys, meanwhile, are only intermittently consistent (particularly since some of the secondary ones are redecos of toys from previous lines), though many of the wheeled vehicles are close to 1:35 scale.
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===Scale problems and size-changing===
Some fans interpret the many otherwise-unexplained scale issues above to all be the result of [[size changing]], but this is debatable. If virtually all characters use mass-shifting (or whatever) to gain or drop a few feet of height for no logical reason, the technology would be pointlessly mundane. There's also no known reason for (e.g.) the Seekers to choose to get ''shorter'' when going into battle. A to-scale Starscream in robot mode could kick Bumblebee around like a soccer ball. There's simply no positive evidence that size-changing is so widespread.

==Official Scale Guides ==
[[Image: tfcartoonscaleguideic1.jpg|left|thumb|Official Scale Guides]] Animators and comic book artists received official scale guides showing relative and (in some cases) absolute heights. Some of these were published in the character model guide ''[[Transformers:_The_Ark|Transformers: The Ark]].'' Though they were sometimes ignored, they still give insight into the official scale of characters in Generation 1. However, even here, there are problems. Devastator in the Season One scale guide was approximately 2.5 times the height of Optimus Prime, but by Season Two he was somewhat less than twice Prime's height.
{{-}}

==Show scale vs. toy scale==
[[Image:Omegagrab.jpg|right|thumb|I know he's meant to be ''big'', but holy crap, dude!]]Some characters have great discrepancies between their cartoon scale and their toy scale. "Giant" characters such as [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] are, even aside from any [[size changing]] for transport purposes, clearly not in the same scale in toy form as they are depicted on screen. [[Mini-Cassette|Cassette characters]] such as [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s toys are roughly the same height as most [[Minibot]]s, while in the show they are usually portrayed as human-sized.

[[Hot Rod|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are usually shown to be of a fairly similar height (although Magnus is much bulkier), whereas there is a considerable difference between the size of their toys. By the same token, Rodimus is always depicted as being an equal stature to his opposing leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], whereas the toy Galvatron is instead the same size as Magnus. Optimus Prime is also usually shown as only a head or so shorter than Magnus (if that), which gets very strange when you realise that a redco of Prime's toy forms but a small part of Magnus' robot mode.

[[Image:ShrinkingHeavy.jpg|left|thumb|I lost thirty tons, thanks to the Jump-Cut! Thank you, Jump-Cut!]]

[[Metroplex (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Metroplex]] and the other citizens of [[Gigantion]] are depicted as gargantuan in animation, whereas the toys are merely among the normal boxed size-classes. (Although, the Japanese ''[[Galaxy Force]]'' release, dubbed "Megalo Convoy", included an exclusive [[redeco]] of the [[Legends of Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to indicate the "correct" scale.) Within the animation, though, this causes problems with their Mini-Con partners, who are depicted as human-sized in robot mode by themselves, but when directly interacting with their larger partners, have their relative size in relation to the toy . . . meaning some temporarily gigantic Mini-Cons!

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== ''Beast Era'' scale ==
[[Image:RattrapLOVEScheetor.jpg|thumb|right|I'm tellin' ya, ''all'' da rats in Brooklyn are dis big!]]

In the [[Beast Era]], scale is not such a large issue, although it does crop up in less obvious ways.

===Real world scale===
Although the Beast Warriors are consistent day-to-day in their relative size to each other, their scale in relation to their real-world animal equivalents is more complex. While the bug characters such as [[Waspinator]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] are obviously scaled-up, ''most'' of the characters are subtly not quite the right size.

[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]] are the only characters shown standing next to real members of their species, and they are both the same size as the animals in question. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}} This makes them (and Cheetor in particular, since he's around more) the measuring sticks for the other characters. Therefore, [[Rattrap]] is a monstrously huge rat, the size of a large dog (indeed, the writers stated{{fact}} that Season 1 Rattrap was 5' (1.5m) tall). [[Dinobot]] is considerably larger than a real velociraptor, closer in size to a ''[[Wikipedia: Utahraptor|Utahraptor]]''. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is a rather small rhinoceros, and [[Optimus Primal]] is a roughly normal gorilla. However, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is a rather small specimen of t-rex. This is presumably due to the chosen Beast mode being fitted to the size of each character when they acquired it, rather than they assuming the beast form's size (this doesn't matter as the alternate forms were not acquired for disguise).

In their interactions with (adult) [[protohuman]]s, the Transformer characters seem between twice and three times their height. Considering our ancestors really were smaller than modern humans, this issue is not extremely wrong, but it deserves noting.

=== Dawn of Future's Past Scale===
After the Great Upgrade (see below), the Maximals posessed roughly human-size bodies, yet they still turned into vehicles (albeit "Cybertronic" ones). Because the toys of the characters are redecoes of other characters, oddities in scale crop up. [[Cheetor]]'s car mode still has seats, and most other characters feature a cockpit, a similar problem to the [[Micromaster]]s. (see above).

=== Scale relative to Generation 1 ===
[[Image:Beastwarriors scale.jpg|thumb|left|Beast Megatron's size vs. Optimus Prime in America... and Japan. I guess the Blasty Zone adds on a few tons to [[Beast Era]] characters]]

Between the [[Great War]] and the Beast Era, the majority of the Cybertronian race considerably downgraded in size, apparently in the [[Maximal Upgrade]] Program. (A necessary premise of the show, as the Beast Warriors are supposed to transform into roughly-normal-sized animals, not vehicles.) When entering the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', the Beast Warriors are quite small compared to the dormant Generation 1 characters, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. One can easily imagine them sitting inside the passenger compartments of the Generation 1 characters. When interacting with the Autobot technology of the ''Ark'' and the [[Autobot shuttle]], the Maximals are visibly dealing with equipment grossly oversized for them (standing on the chairs to reach the controls, turning knobs the size of their heads), but overall manage okay. This does not always apply, as the ''Ark'' also seems to feature some human-sized control panels, such as the computer in [[Master Blaster]]. Without any height booster, Blackarachnia can interface well with the controls. A similar situation crops up in Season 1 of the original cartoon, such as when Chip Chase can easily type on and manipulate Teletraan-1.

On the other hand, ''[[Robot Masters]]'' depicted Generation 1 and ''Beast Wars'' characters like Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal as being exactly the same size. Lovely. It's possible that passage through the [[Blasty Zone]] may somehow [[Wikipedia:Boom tube#Later Additions to the Concept|account for this discrepancy]].

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=== Toy scale vs. cartoon scale ===
[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Airazor picks the Ultra-class figure.]]

The Season 1 cast of ''Beast Wars'' were not designed with the same relative sizes as the toyline. The most noticeable problem is Optimus Primal, who has an Ultra toy (almost twice the size of the next-largest Maximal toys), while in the show he's shorter than both Dinobot and Rhinox. Further, Cheetor and Tigatron's toys use the same mold, but Tigatron is a head taller in the show (both because tigers are larger than cheetahs, and because Cheetor is "a kid").

From Season 2 onwards, new characters, and new bodies for old characters, became more consistent in size (and appearance) with their toys.

The ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]''' toyline was ''far'' worse in size discrepancies with the cartoon. Of the Maximals featured in the show, the tallest character, [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]], is the ''shortest'' toy, while the diminutive [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] is a massive Ultra-class toy. And, sadly, the most show-accurate toy, Air Attack [[Optimus Primal]], is a ''ginormous'' Supreme figure, towering over the other toys. (Weirdly, the King Kong-like size of this toy became canon [[Prime_Spark|in one specific]] [[micro-continuity]].)

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==External links==
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6db411e03e75a342?dmode=source Estimated "real-life" heights for several Transformers, derived from the size of their alt-modes, archived from alt.toys.transformers on groups.google.com]
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[[Category: Toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Nemesis Part 1

2008-01-29T19:19:44Z

212.219.74.29: /* Continuity errors */

{{disambig3|Nemesis}}
'''Down but not out, Megatron discovers Tarantulas's secret tunnel network that leads to the Decepticon warship, the ''Nemesis''.

[[Image:BW_Nemesispt1_title.jpg|thumb|350px|Lightning- illuminate the NIGHT!]]

{{episodenav |BW |season=3 |12 |prev=Other Victories |next=Nemesis Part 2}}

==Summary==
The [[Maximal]]s, secure for the first time since they moved into [[Mount St. Hilary]], begin searching for the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, who have been vulnerable since [[Tigerhawk]] destroyed the ''[[Darksyde]]''. [[Optimus Primal]] quotes a verse from the ''[[Covenant of Primus]]'', believing Tigerhawk's arrival to be divine prophecy. The Predacons are growing disaffected with Megatron. (Even [[Waspinator]] is mouthing off.) [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], ever loyal to his "queen", declares that a new "colony" will resecure them. Megatron orders him to take Waspinator and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]], while he, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], and [[Dinobot 2]] search the remains of [[Tarantulas's lair]]. Dinobot finds a hatch which leads to an underwater tunnel, which in turn leads to something that greatly excites Megatron.

[[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] and [[Depth Charge]] spot Inferno, Waspinator, and Quickstrike leaving. Optimus orders them to fall back, but Depth Charge heads in. Optimus leaves with [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and Tigerhawk to support them. As Primal arrives, Depth Charge finds the hatch—and a bomb. The explosion fails to kill any of the Maximals, but Silverbolt is damaged, and Blackarachnia and Cheetor escort his parts back to base. At the Protohumans' cave dwellings, Inferno declares that the caves will be their new "colony". He orders Quickstrike and Waspinator to engage, but Waspinator angrily refuses. Something has finally snapped in Waspy's central processor, and he declares that he is out of the Beast Wars. After a tirade against Megatron, the Predacons, life in general, and always being blown up, Waspinator tells them that they can kiss his stinger. Inferno and Quickstrike blast him, and proceed to attack the Protohumans (who have become much tougher, having learned from the example of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and the Maximals).

In the tunnels, Primal, Tigerhawk, and Depth Charge continue searching. After locating a data terminal, Primal accesses it and discovers what Tarantulas found and Megatron desires—the ''Nemesis'', the flagship of the [[Decepticon fleet]] and the vessel which shot down the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Realizing the threat the Decepticon warship holds, Depth Charge heads out to locate it. Meanwhile, Megatron and Dinobot find that Tarantulas modified the vessel with a [[transwarp]] cell, installed a Predacon control console, and left behind a ''Covenant of Primus'' to boot. Megatron and Dinobot begin powering up the vessel for an attack. Reaching the sunken behemoth, Depth Charge engages Rampage. The two enemies fight, and Depth Charge grabs an [[energon crystal]]. He drives it into Rampage's [[spark]], and the explosion destroys both Transformers and also causes Dinobot 2 to cry out in pain. Optimus, though mourning Depth Charge's loss, is relieved to know the threat of the ''Nemesis'' has been dealt with.

[[Image:BW_Nemesispt1_Nemesisrises.jpg|thumb|"The most powerful warship ever built! . . . and, I just had it washed."]]
That is, until the ''Nemesis'' rises from the ocean, fully powered and targeting them. [[Nemesis Part 2|To be continued...]]
{{-}}

==Quotes==

"Ant-Bot not find own thorax with both hands and a road map."
: —- '''Waspinator''' gets a decent dig in for once. Inferno dropped him on his head for this.

"I said '''no!''' [[Megatron (BW)|Dragon-Bot]] command ''you,'' [[Sub-Commander]] [[Inferno (BW)|Kiss-Butt]]! Dragon-Bot not command Waspinator! Not any more! Waspinator sick of being evil. Sick of being Predacon! ''And'', Waspinator especially sick of getting blown to '''scrap''' all the time! Sooo, Waspinator ''quit!'' As of ''now'', which means [[Inferno (BW)|Ant-Bot]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Two-Head]] can just pucker their mandibles and plant [[Kiss|big, wet, juicy one]] right here on Waspinator's big...fat...stripy..."
: -— '''Waspinator''' finally stands up for himself...and gets blown to scrap by Inferno and Quickstrike.

''[Silverbolt has been injured in an explosion]''<br>
'''Silverbolt''': "Worry not, my love. 'Tis but a...scratch."<br>
''[Silverbolt's arm falls off]''<br>
'''Optimus''': "Maybe. But I think you're due some time in the CR chamber."<br>
'''Silverbolt''': "Sir, I'm fine. I —"
<br>'''Blackarachnia''': "Shut up and obey your commander, bone-brain."<br>
''[Silverbolt's head falls off]''<br>
'''Silverbolt''': "Yes, dear."
: -— '''Silverbolt''' is pretty whipped.

"You have to stop Megatron! No matter the cost."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' telling Depth Charge what must be done.

"Hmm... impressive."<br>
"Oh, it is more than that, my malevolent minion. That is the most powerful Decepticon warship in transformer history. The ship that shot down the ''Ark'' itself! THE ''NEMESIS''! The ''Nemesis''..."
:—'''Dinobot II''' compels '''Megatron''' to give his most dramatic exposition...in this episode.

"Raw energon! Right through your twisted spark! Take it! Take it straight to the pit, you SICKENING PIECE OF SLAG!"
:—'''Depth Charge'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final words before killing Rampage.

==Stats==
'''Writer:''' [[Bob Forward]]
'''Original air date:''' May 6, 1999

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Maximals]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Predacons]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (3)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
*[[Depth Charge]] (8)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (6)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (7)
*[[Tigerhawk]](1)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Dinobot II]] (9)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (13)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (11)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (12)
*[[Waspinator]] (14)

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*[[Chak and Una|Una]] (15)
*[[Protohuman]]s (16)

|}

==Notes==
===Technical/Animation glitches===
* When Dinobot squeezes the piece of Rampage's spark he possesses to pacify his "half-brother", his shoulder pads are missing. Also, the spark seems to float freely when it is released, in contrast to previous episodes where it was held in place by Dinbot's spark chamber.
* At the very beginning when Optimus is reciting, in the background you can see Cheetor, in his normal Transmetal body, walking with Blackarachnia.

===Continuity errors===
* The flashbacks to the battle between the ''Ark'' and the ''Nemesis'' recounted by Optimus Primal and Megatron neglect to mention that the Decepticons boarded the ''Ark ''before the crash. This was probably done either to simplify the retelling, increase the significance of the ''Nemesis'''s involvement, or both.
* Some fans state the inclusion of a space battle and the lack of a tractor beam is an error, but these elements (or lack of them) were only present in the animated series's version of the crash. Additional versions, such as the crash depicted in the Marvel Comics, did indeed have a space battle and didn't involve a tractor beam. (In fact, the ''Nemesis'' did not crash, but instead it was parked beneath the ocean by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]].) It should be mentioned that ''Beast Wars'' is not a direct continuation of any specific continuity by design, seeking to treat all previous ''Generation 1'' stories as if they were Arthurian legend, so most claims of continuity error in the flashback would be fruitless. Also, this is a visualisation of the tale Optimus tells Tigerhawk, and he is presumably unaware of the finer points of the battle.
* The bomb Megatron left behind as a trap for the Maximals has some very curious properties. It had enough power to severely damage Silverbolt, and created a powerful energy wave that was felt by the approaching Cheetor and Tigerhawk, who were miles away (even disintegrating a butterfly in the process). However, despite all of the above, Optimus and Depth Charge suffer absolutely no ill effects from the bomb, despite being in extremely close range and very little time (or even room, given the terrain) to run for cover.
* How ''exactly'' did Megatron construct a bomb from scratch, to begin with? With his base destroyed in the previous episode, it seems very unlikely that he would have the materials to create one on hand.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron refers to Tarantulas as [[Unicron]]'s spawn.
*This is the first source to give the Decepticon vessel that attacked the ''Ark'' a name.
*Optimus Primal tells Depth Charge to stop Megatron "no matter the cost," which echoes Optimus Prime in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the Transformers movie]] during the [[Battle of Autobot City|Decepticon siege of Autobot City]] on Earth.

===Real-world references===
*Inferno calls Rampage a drone at least once in this episode. It is unknown whether the writers knew that a drone is a male ant whose main purpose is to mate with the queen, who in this case would be Megatron.
*When contacting the Maximals, Optimus encodes transmission "M Sipher", a reference to [[Greg Sepelak]].

===Trivia===
* The death of Rampage is the only time in the series that a Maximal kills a Predacon (not for lack of trying).
* "Nemesis" was originally going to be a three-part episode, but was later compressed to two. {{fact}}


[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Waspinator (BW)

2008-01-28T16:27:26Z

212.219.74.29: /* ''Beast Wars'' */

:''Waspinator is a [[Predacon]] in the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Waspinatorbw.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Waspinator: chew-toy of fate.]]

Why [[Primus|God]] pick '''Wazzpinator''' az hiz whipping boy? If something go wrong, it happen to Wazzpinator! If something blow up, Wazzpinator usually at epicenter of explosion. Stupid Maximalz, alwayz blasting Wazzpinator into component parts! Stupid [[Rattrap|Ratbot]] even make collection of parts! Wazzpinator not have trouble talking...Wazzpinator talk juzzt like everybody elzze! Wazzpinator wishezz stupid [[Cheetor (BW)|Cat-Bot]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Two-Head]] would stop making fun of Wazzpinator. (Wazzpinator knows everybot'zz real namezz, but Wazzpinator likes uzzing nicknames.) Megatron think Wazzpinator is expendible...especially after [[Transmetal|Transmetal]] upgrades that enable Dragon-Bot to take to the sky. Sigh.

Grrr. Wazzpinator not stupid! Wazzpinator knows hizz lot in life. Wazzpinator tries to avoid hizz fate as often as pozzzzible, but fate alwayzz finds Wazzpinator. Friends, foes, fleshy-bots, even Mother Nature. Lucky that Wazzpinator is supernaturally durable. Wazzpinator can survive the most devastating or humiliating of defeatzz! Wazzpinator not sure if this is boon or curse, though. Hmmm.

{{quote|Inferno blow up, Wazzzpinator muzt ''zalvage''. Wazzzpinator blow up, ''nobody'' zalvage! Why univerze ''hate'' Wazzzpinator?|Waspinator laments his lot in life|"[[Deep Metal]]"}}

:''Spanish name'': '''Avispón'''<br>
:''French name'': '''Bourdon''', '''Bizznator'''<br>
:''Italian name'': '''Punginator'''<br>
:''Japanese name'': '''Waspitar'''<br>
:''Bulgarian name'': '''Осинатор'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====''Timelines: Dawn of Future's Past''====
[[Image:Waspinatordawn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Waspy is mi kopilot, but hoo on Sibertron is mi spelcheker?]]

While [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], his [[Dinobot (BW)|lieutenant]], and [[Scorponok (BW)|another underling]] stole a Maximal relic, the [[Golden Disk]], the Predacon who would later name himself Waspinator stole a ship with the help of an accomplice he nicknamed "[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Beakbot]]." The two had a contest to name the ship, but "Waspinator" lost, and thus the stolen ship was dubbed the ''[[Darksyde]]''. "Waspinator" believed ''Buzzerbot'' would have been a better name. For reasons known only to [[Primus]], Megatron agreed.

After escaping [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the ''Darksyde'' was intercepted by the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', but after an intense space battle, only the ''Darksyde'' and the ''Axalon'' remained. Megatron ordered "Waspinator" to ''excecute'' their planned [[transwarp]] jump, opening up a portal which both ships entered. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

====''Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Waspinator.jpg|right|thumb|Give him an orange parka and call him Kenny]]

:''Voice Actor'': [[Scott McNeil]] (US), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japan), [[Ivo Roberto]] (Brazil)

Waspinator, part of Megatron's rogue band of Predacons, landed on an unknown planet with dangerous levels of unstable [[energon]]. To protect themselves from the energon, the Predacons took organic beast modes. In Waspinator's case, he now transformed into a large green wasp. The first conflict between the stranded Predacons and their Maximal pursuers came when the Maximal [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] stumbled across Waspinator.

When [[Rhinox]] had his personality program converted to that of a Predacon, he started surreptitiously taking out the various Predacons. He swung a cargo crate into Waspinator, giving him a concussion. As a result, Waspy flew around in a daze, claiming to be the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] [[Shrapnel]] as well as the great [[Ben Yee|Wonko the Sane]]. This dementia was apparently reversed when Cheetor later got annoyed at his yattering and shot him down. {{storylink|Dark Designs}}

The "ghost" of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] traveled through time and possessed his body (even changing the Predacon sigil on his helmet to a [[Decepticon]] one). It took a major [[energon]] explosion to dislodge Starscream's immortal [[spark]] from Waspinator's body. {{storylink|Possession}}

After the [[Vok|mysterious aliens]] detonated the unstable energon on the planet using the [[Planet Buster|artificial second moon]], Waspinator fell into the Restoration pool on the bridge of the ''Darksyde'' as the ship was rocked by the force of the [[transwarp]] wave resultant from the moon's explosion. Bathed in the regenerative fluids, this prevented him from becoming a [[Transmetal]]. He was also the first to realize that this seemingly unknown planet was, in fact, [[Earth]]. [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] had made the same realization and stole into the ''Darksyde'' to retrieve both of Megatron's disks. Waspinator proposed the two work together to steal the discs, and much to his surprise, Dinobot agreed... and threw him into the security shield. Waspinator was crushed into a cube by the disks' security contraption, leaving Dinobot free to steal the discs unharmed, while Waspinator crawled away to the CR chamber using two fingers. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}}

After the destruction of the ''Darksyde'' at [[Tigerhawk]]'s hands, Megatron sent Waspinator, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] on an errand to find a new base, which was really nothing more than pointless busywork while Megatron went to do more important things. As the trio staked out an early [[human]] tribe that had taken up residence in a series of caves, Waspinator decided he'd finally had enough and ripped off his [[Faction symbols|Predacon symbol]], declaring himself out of the Beast Wars.

''"I said '''no!''' [[Megatron (BW)|Dragon-Bot]] command '''you,''' [[Sub-Commander]] [[Inferno (BW)|Kiss-Butt]]! Dragon-Bot not command Waspinator! Not any more! Waspinator sick of being evil! Sick of being Predacon! And Waspinator especially sick of getting blown to '''scrap''' all the time! Sooo, Waspinator '''quit!''' As of '''now,''' which means [[Inferno (BW)|Ant-Bot]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Two-Head]] can just pucker their mandibles and plant [[Kiss|big, wet, juicy one]] right here on Waspinator's big . . . fat . . . stripy . . . "''

At this point Waspinator was interrupted by getting blown to scrap by Inferno and Quickstrike. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}

His parts recovered by the tribe, Waspinator remained on Earth while all the other surviving Transformers set off for Cybertron, and led the tribe, declaring that he was finally...happy. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

For a bit, at least.

====''Tales of the Beast Wars'' comics====

====''Beast Machines''====
[[Image:Wazzpinator.jpg|right|thumb|Why [[Vector Sigma#Beast Era|Oracle]] hate Waspinator?]]

Sadly for Waspinator, the Protohumans he had ruled over grew tired of his presence and forced him to leave the planet and return to Cybertron (and his proper time) under his own power (quite how this could be acheived is unclear). There, his spark was removed and used to power the Vehicon general [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]].

Influences from his inner spark caused Thrust to save [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia's]] life several times, causing her to believe he carried [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt's]] spark. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} She later tried to bring his original mind back and discovered, to her disgust, that she'd spent all her effort getting Waspinator back. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Waspinator remained in the "background" and let Thrust run the show, until [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] used an [[Spark extractor|extractor]] to remove Waspinator's spark from the body shell. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}} After Cybertron's [[technorganic]] reformatting (thanks to Optimus Primal, through the cost of his life and Megatron's life) Waspinator returned in his beast mode with Thrust's head, now the size of a standard wasp. He complained to Rattrap about how much he wanted glory and power and never gets what he wants... at which point Rattrap swatted him away. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

{{note|While the suggestions that Thrust was really Silverbolt turned out to be a red herring, his actions could suggest Waspinator has some feelings for Blackarachnia that are strong enough to impact Vehicon programming - something Silverbolt's spark ''hadn't'' done. Or perhaps, as he notes, he simply wanted to impresses the "chick-bots" in general, and Blackarachnia was the only game in town.}}

====''Universe''====
Waspinator is part of a team sent to rescue victims of [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|OTFCC 2004 Live-Action Drama}}

{{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
{{charstub}}

===''Beast Wars: Transmetals'' (N64 & PSX)===
[[Image:TMWaspinator-Render.jpg|left|thumb|Full Metal Yellowjacket]]
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (US), ??? (Japan)

In an alternate timeline, [[Transmetal]] Waspinator joins his fellow Predacons in distributing various one-on-one beat downs to the Maximals. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}

===''Legends'' anthology===

===15 Go! Go! manga===
The time-traveling [[human]] [[Atari Hitotonari]] and the [[Sparkbot]] [[Star Dust]] witnessed a battle between Waspinator and Optimus Primal. However, the two interlopers could not be seen by either of the warriors.

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-3'''

: Waspinator transforms into a large organic wasp. His stinger separates to become a hand-held spring-loaded missile launcher for his robot mode; the bolts are stored on the underside of his insect-wings. His head is on a vertical column that rotates around a horizontal axle; each end has a different head, one "mutant", one "robot". The "mutant" head was used as the base for his CGI model, and thus the norm for his fictional portrayals.

: The [[Takara]] version of Waspinator uses slightly brighter, more primary colors than the [[Hasbro]] version.

: This mold was also used to make [[Buzz Saw (BW)|Buzz Saw]] and [[Dirge (BWII)|Dirgegun]].

*'''Cheetas vs. Waspitor''' (Multi-pack, 1997)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-3'''

: In Japan, Waspinator was available both individually and in a two-pack with [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]. The two-pack version was unchanged from the normal individually-packaged one.

[[Image:Waspinatorplanzxe6.jpg|right|thumb|Waspinators have plans.]]

*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 1998)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-42'''

: Now an almost completely robotic figure, [[Transmetal]] Waspinator transforms into a robotic wasp and features a third "jet" mode, flipping and folding his wins into a fighter-jet configuration as well as flipping a cockpit/nosecone between his insect-head mandibles.

: Though he appears solid black at first glance, he is actually made of very dark transparent-black/green plastic.

: The Takara version of this toy is almost completely identical, except the "WASPINATOR" [[tampograph]] was replaced with "DESTRON" and the Predacon sigil.

*'''Metals Cheetas vs. Metals Waspitor''' (Multi-pack, 1999)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-42'''

: In Japan, Transmetal Waspinator was available both individually and in a two-pack with Transmetal Cheetor. The two-pack version was unchanged from the normal individually-packaged one.

*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe, 1999)

: This toy is a [[redeco]] of the first Waspinator toy. A "[[Fox Kids|FoxKids!]]" sticker on the packaging promoted the cartoon, which was playing on Fox at the time. It is also hideously ugly, consisting primarily of slate blue and green-gold plastic, with dark blue (barely) translucent parts.

*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 2000)

:This toy is a [[redeco]] of the Transmetal Waspinator toy. A "FoxKids!" sticker on the packaging promoted the cartoon, which was playing on Fox at the time. The toy's new deco bears more than a passing resemblance to [[Buzz Saw]].

===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary===
*'''Waspinator''' (Tenth Anniversary, 2006)

: This toy is a slight [[redeco]] of the first Waspinator toy to make it closer to Waspinator's cartoon appearance. He came with the head to [[Transmutate]] plus a DVD with the episode "[[Possession]]".

* '''Waspitor''' (Telemocha figure, 2007)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-04'''

: This toy is a ridiculously-extensively-painted redeco of the first Waspinator toy to make it almost completely [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] to Waspinator's cartoon appearance (forgiving mold issues and [[unpaintable plastic]], of course). He came with a DVD of the episode "[[Power Surge]]".

===Timelines===
*'''Darksyde Megatron and Darksyde Waspinator''' (Bagged set, 2006)

: Available [[Exclusive|exclusively]] at the [[BotCon 2006]] event itself, this two-pack represents Waspinator and Megatron before the events of the ''Beast Wars'' show. "Darksyde Waspinator" is a Basic-sized figure, originally used for ''[[Machine Wars]]'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], which autotransforms to robot mode from a [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Dassault Rafale|Dassault Rafale fighter jet]]. (One can surmise, however, that it is meant to represent a Cybertronic design in this case.) His rifle splits into two pieces, which store in the backs of his lower legs.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Beast Wars II]]'' [[Dirge (BWII)|Dirge]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Skyfire (RID)|Skyfire]], and ''[[Robot Masters]]'' [[Wing Stun]].

===Unreleased===
For a brief time, [[Hasbro]]'s official website checklist featured listings for two "Halloween Horrorcon Value Packs" that were to be Wal*Mart [[exclusive]]s... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of other ''Transformers'' exclusives were canceled during the ''[[Universe]]'' era.)

In 2004, several test-shots appeared on ebay in a group, among them the Transmetal Waspinator toy with opaque-salmon wings and lavender insect legs. This, presumably, was to have been the ''Universe'' incarnation of Waspinator, as the other toys in the group line up with the names given for the two Halloween sets. He was to come in a "Vs." two-pack with the presumably-[[Autobot]] character [[Nightprowler]].

{{-}}
==Trivia==
* Waspinator was originally chosen by [[Hasbro]] to be one of the characters killed off for the second season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon to help make way for new characters ([[To sell toys|read: product]]). However, story editors [[Bob Forward]] and [[Larry DiTillio]] convinced them to spare Waspinator on the grounds of his popularity with the online fan-base, so [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] took the plunge instead.

* Waspinator was originally slated to appear in the very first [[Beast Wars Transformers (game)|''Beast Wars'' video game]], and even had a character model built. However, he was ultimately unused and only appeared in footage taken from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.

* Waspinator appears to be the inspiration for [[Buzzer-Bot]] from the ''[[Go-Bots (toyline)|Playskool Go-Bots]]'' line.

* As a side note, Waspinator's original toy contains a high number of [[ball joint|ball]] and [[swivel joint]]s, which more than easily separate. Makes him a little more [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]], after all.

* When Waspinator is hit from behind by a stasis pod ship made by Blackarachnia, a toilet is seen falling from Waspinator's smashed body. Now Waspinator need new waste disposal unit!

* According to Waspinator's profile in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'', he likes flying and nectar.

* Waspinator has yellow tongue in robot mode.

* Waspinator has heard rumors from [[David Kaye]] that Waspinator may make an appearance in ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''. Maybe Universe not hate Waspinator after all!
{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Waspinator/waspinator.htm Waspinator at TFU.info]

*[http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/binalternator/unreleased/nightprowler_vs_waspinator/ Gallery of Nightprowler vs. Waspinator test-shots]

[[Category: Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category: Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category: Convention exclusives]]
[[Category: Predacons]]
[[Category: Timelines characters]]
[[Category: Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category: Transmetals]]
[[Category: Universe characters]]
[[Category: Unreleased toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Waspinator (BW)

2008-01-28T16:26:23Z

212.219.74.29: /* ''Beast Machines'' */

:''Waspinator is a [[Predacon]] in the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Waspinatorbw.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Waspinator: chew-toy of fate.]]

Why [[Primus|God]] pick '''Wazzpinator''' az hiz whipping boy? If something go wrong, it happen to Wazzpinator! If something blow up, Wazzpinator usually at epicenter of explosion. Stupid Maximalz, alwayz blasting Wazzpinator into component parts! Stupid [[Rattrap|Ratbot]] even make collection of parts! Wazzpinator not have trouble talking...Wazzpinator talk juzzt like everybody elzze! Wazzpinator wishezz stupid [[Cheetor (BW)|Cat-Bot]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Two-Head]] would stop making fun of Wazzpinator. (Wazzpinator knows everybot'zz real namezz, but Wazzpinator likes uzzing nicknames.) Megatron think Wazzpinator is expendible...especially after [[Transmetal|Transmetal]] upgrades that enable Dragon-Bot to take to the sky. Sigh.

Grrr. Wazzpinator not stupid! Wazzpinator knows hizz lot in life. Wazzpinator tries to avoid hizz fate as often as pozzzzible, but fate alwayzz finds Wazzpinator. Friends, foes, fleshy-bots, even Mother Nature. Lucky that Wazzpinator is supernaturally durable. Wazzpinator can survive the most devastating or humiliating of defeatzz! Wazzpinator not sure if this is boon or curse, though. Hmmm.

{{quote|Inferno blow up, Wazzzpinator muzt ''zalvage''. Wazzzpinator blow up, ''nobody'' zalvage! Why univerze ''hate'' Wazzzpinator?|Waspinator laments his lot in life|"[[Deep Metal]]"}}

:''Spanish name'': '''Avispón'''<br>
:''French name'': '''Bourdon''', '''Bizznator'''<br>
:''Italian name'': '''Punginator'''<br>
:''Japanese name'': '''Waspitar'''<br>
:''Bulgarian name'': '''Осинатор'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====''Timelines: Dawn of Future's Past''====
[[Image:Waspinatordawn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Waspy is mi kopilot, but hoo on Sibertron is mi spelcheker?]]

While [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], his [[Dinobot (BW)|lieutenant]], and [[Scorponok (BW)|another underling]] stole a Maximal relic, the [[Golden Disk]], the Predacon who would later name himself Waspinator stole a ship with the help of an accomplice he nicknamed "[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Beakbot]]." The two had a contest to name the ship, but "Waspinator" lost, and thus the stolen ship was dubbed the ''[[Darksyde]]''. "Waspinator" believed ''Buzzerbot'' would have been a better name. For reasons known only to [[Primus]], Megatron agreed.

After escaping [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the ''Darksyde'' was intercepted by the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', but after an intense space battle, only the ''Darksyde'' and the ''Axalon'' remained. Megatron ordered "Waspinator" to ''excecute'' their planned [[transwarp]] jump, opening up a portal which both ships entered. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

====''Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Waspinator.jpg|right|thumb|Give him an orange parka and call him Kenny]]

:''Voice Actor'': [[Scott McNeil]] (US), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japan), [[Ivo Roberto]] (Brazil)

Waspinator, part of Megatron's rogue band of Predacons, landed on an unknown planet with dangerous levels of unstable [[energon]]. To protect themselves from the energon, the Predacons took organic beast modes. In Waspinator's case, he now transformed into a large green wasp. The first conflict between the stranded Predacons and their Maximal pursuers came when the Maximal [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] stumbled across Waspinator.

When [[Rhinox]] had his personality program converted to that of a Predacon, he started surreptitiously taking out the various Predacons. He swung a cargo crate into Waspinator, giving him a concussion. As a result, Waspy flew around in a daze, claiming to be the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] [[Shrapnel]] as well as the great [[Ben Yee|Wonko the Sane]]. This dementia was apparently reversed when Cheetor later got annoyed at his yattering and shot him down. {{storylink|Dark Designs}}

The "ghost" of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] traveled through time and possessed his body (even changing the Predacon sigil on his helmet to a [[Decepticon]] one). It took a major [[energon]] explosion to dislodge Starscream's immortal [[spark]] from Waspinator's body. {{storylink|Possession}}

After the [[Vok|mysterious aliens]] detonated the unstable energon on the planet using the [[Planet Buster|artificial second moon]], Waspinator fell into the Restoration pool on the bridge of the ''Darksyde'' as the ship was rocked by the force of the [[transwarp]] wave resultant from the moon's explosion. Bathed in the regenerative fluids, this prevented him from becoming a [[Transmetal]]. He was also the first to realize that this seemingly unknown planet was, in fact, [[Earth]]. [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] had made the same realization and stole into the ''Darksyde'' to retrieve both of Megatron's disks. Waspinator proposed the two work together to steal the discs, and much to his surprise, Dinobot agreed... and threw him into the security shield. Waspinator was crushed into a cube by the disks' security contraption, leaving Dinobot free to steal the discs unharmed, and crawled away to the CR chamber using two fingers. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}}

After the destruction of the ''Darksyde'' at [[Tigerhawk]]'s hands, Megatron sent Waspinator, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] on an errand to find a new base, which was really nothing more than pointless busywork while Megatron went to do more important things. As the trio staked out an early [[human]] tribe that had taken up residence in a series of caves, Waspinator decided he'd finally had enough and ripped off his [[Faction symbols|Predacon symbol]], declaring himself out of the Beast Wars.

''"I said '''no!''' [[Megatron (BW)|Dragon-Bot]] command '''you,''' [[Sub-Commander]] [[Inferno (BW)|Kiss-Butt]]! Dragon-Bot not command Waspinator! Not any more! Waspinator sick of being evil! Sick of being Predacon! And Waspinator especially sick of getting blown to '''scrap''' all the time! Sooo, Waspinator '''quit!''' As of '''now,''' which means [[Inferno (BW)|Ant-Bot]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Two-Head]] can just pucker their mandibles and plant [[Kiss|big, wet, juicy one]] right here on Waspinator's big . . . fat . . . stripy . . . "''

At this point Waspinator was interrupted by getting blown to scrap by Inferno and Quickstrike. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}

His parts recovered by the tribe, Waspinator remained on Earth while all the other surviving Transformers set off for Cybertron, and led the tribe, declaring that he was finally...happy. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

For a bit, at least.

====''Tales of the Beast Wars'' comics====

====''Beast Machines''====
[[Image:Wazzpinator.jpg|right|thumb|Why [[Vector Sigma#Beast Era|Oracle]] hate Waspinator?]]

Sadly for Waspinator, the Protohumans he had ruled over grew tired of his presence and forced him to leave the planet and return to Cybertron (and his proper time) under his own power (quite how this could be acheived is unclear). There, his spark was removed and used to power the Vehicon general [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]].

Influences from his inner spark caused Thrust to save [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia's]] life several times, causing her to believe he carried [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt's]] spark. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} She later tried to bring his original mind back and discovered, to her disgust, that she'd spent all her effort getting Waspinator back. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Waspinator remained in the "background" and let Thrust run the show, until [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] used an [[Spark extractor|extractor]] to remove Waspinator's spark from the body shell. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}} After Cybertron's [[technorganic]] reformatting (thanks to Optimus Primal, through the cost of his life and Megatron's life) Waspinator returned in his beast mode with Thrust's head, now the size of a standard wasp. He complained to Rattrap about how much he wanted glory and power and never gets what he wants... at which point Rattrap swatted him away. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

{{note|While the suggestions that Thrust was really Silverbolt turned out to be a red herring, his actions could suggest Waspinator has some feelings for Blackarachnia that are strong enough to impact Vehicon programming - something Silverbolt's spark ''hadn't'' done. Or perhaps, as he notes, he simply wanted to impresses the "chick-bots" in general, and Blackarachnia was the only game in town.}}

====''Universe''====
Waspinator is part of a team sent to rescue victims of [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|OTFCC 2004 Live-Action Drama}}

{{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
{{charstub}}

===''Beast Wars: Transmetals'' (N64 & PSX)===
[[Image:TMWaspinator-Render.jpg|left|thumb|Full Metal Yellowjacket]]
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (US), ??? (Japan)

In an alternate timeline, [[Transmetal]] Waspinator joins his fellow Predacons in distributing various one-on-one beat downs to the Maximals. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}

===''Legends'' anthology===

===15 Go! Go! manga===
The time-traveling [[human]] [[Atari Hitotonari]] and the [[Sparkbot]] [[Star Dust]] witnessed a battle between Waspinator and Optimus Primal. However, the two interlopers could not be seen by either of the warriors.

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-3'''

: Waspinator transforms into a large organic wasp. His stinger separates to become a hand-held spring-loaded missile launcher for his robot mode; the bolts are stored on the underside of his insect-wings. His head is on a vertical column that rotates around a horizontal axle; each end has a different head, one "mutant", one "robot". The "mutant" head was used as the base for his CGI model, and thus the norm for his fictional portrayals.

: The [[Takara]] version of Waspinator uses slightly brighter, more primary colors than the [[Hasbro]] version.

: This mold was also used to make [[Buzz Saw (BW)|Buzz Saw]] and [[Dirge (BWII)|Dirgegun]].

*'''Cheetas vs. Waspitor''' (Multi-pack, 1997)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-3'''

: In Japan, Waspinator was available both individually and in a two-pack with [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]. The two-pack version was unchanged from the normal individually-packaged one.

[[Image:Waspinatorplanzxe6.jpg|right|thumb|Waspinators have plans.]]

*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 1998)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-42'''

: Now an almost completely robotic figure, [[Transmetal]] Waspinator transforms into a robotic wasp and features a third "jet" mode, flipping and folding his wins into a fighter-jet configuration as well as flipping a cockpit/nosecone between his insect-head mandibles.

: Though he appears solid black at first glance, he is actually made of very dark transparent-black/green plastic.

: The Takara version of this toy is almost completely identical, except the "WASPINATOR" [[tampograph]] was replaced with "DESTRON" and the Predacon sigil.

*'''Metals Cheetas vs. Metals Waspitor''' (Multi-pack, 1999)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-42'''

: In Japan, Transmetal Waspinator was available both individually and in a two-pack with Transmetal Cheetor. The two-pack version was unchanged from the normal individually-packaged one.

*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe, 1999)

: This toy is a [[redeco]] of the first Waspinator toy. A "[[Fox Kids|FoxKids!]]" sticker on the packaging promoted the cartoon, which was playing on Fox at the time. It is also hideously ugly, consisting primarily of slate blue and green-gold plastic, with dark blue (barely) translucent parts.

*'''Waspinator''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 2000)

:This toy is a [[redeco]] of the Transmetal Waspinator toy. A "FoxKids!" sticker on the packaging promoted the cartoon, which was playing on Fox at the time. The toy's new deco bears more than a passing resemblance to [[Buzz Saw]].

===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary===
*'''Waspinator''' (Tenth Anniversary, 2006)

: This toy is a slight [[redeco]] of the first Waspinator toy to make it closer to Waspinator's cartoon appearance. He came with the head to [[Transmutate]] plus a DVD with the episode "[[Possession]]".

* '''Waspitor''' (Telemocha figure, 2007)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-04'''

: This toy is a ridiculously-extensively-painted redeco of the first Waspinator toy to make it almost completely [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] to Waspinator's cartoon appearance (forgiving mold issues and [[unpaintable plastic]], of course). He came with a DVD of the episode "[[Power Surge]]".

===Timelines===
*'''Darksyde Megatron and Darksyde Waspinator''' (Bagged set, 2006)

: Available [[Exclusive|exclusively]] at the [[BotCon 2006]] event itself, this two-pack represents Waspinator and Megatron before the events of the ''Beast Wars'' show. "Darksyde Waspinator" is a Basic-sized figure, originally used for ''[[Machine Wars]]'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], which autotransforms to robot mode from a [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Dassault Rafale|Dassault Rafale fighter jet]]. (One can surmise, however, that it is meant to represent a Cybertronic design in this case.) His rifle splits into two pieces, which store in the backs of his lower legs.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Beast Wars II]]'' [[Dirge (BWII)|Dirge]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Skyfire (RID)|Skyfire]], and ''[[Robot Masters]]'' [[Wing Stun]].

===Unreleased===
For a brief time, [[Hasbro]]'s official website checklist featured listings for two "Halloween Horrorcon Value Packs" that were to be Wal*Mart [[exclusive]]s... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of other ''Transformers'' exclusives were canceled during the ''[[Universe]]'' era.)

In 2004, several test-shots appeared on ebay in a group, among them the Transmetal Waspinator toy with opaque-salmon wings and lavender insect legs. This, presumably, was to have been the ''Universe'' incarnation of Waspinator, as the other toys in the group line up with the names given for the two Halloween sets. He was to come in a "Vs." two-pack with the presumably-[[Autobot]] character [[Nightprowler]].

{{-}}
==Trivia==
* Waspinator was originally chosen by [[Hasbro]] to be one of the characters killed off for the second season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon to help make way for new characters ([[To sell toys|read: product]]). However, story editors [[Bob Forward]] and [[Larry DiTillio]] convinced them to spare Waspinator on the grounds of his popularity with the online fan-base, so [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] took the plunge instead.

* Waspinator was originally slated to appear in the very first [[Beast Wars Transformers (game)|''Beast Wars'' video game]], and even had a character model built. However, he was ultimately unused and only appeared in footage taken from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.

* Waspinator appears to be the inspiration for [[Buzzer-Bot]] from the ''[[Go-Bots (toyline)|Playskool Go-Bots]]'' line.

* As a side note, Waspinator's original toy contains a high number of [[ball joint|ball]] and [[swivel joint]]s, which more than easily separate. Makes him a little more [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]], after all.

* When Waspinator is hit from behind by a stasis pod ship made by Blackarachnia, a toilet is seen falling from Waspinator's smashed body. Now Waspinator need new waste disposal unit!

* According to Waspinator's profile in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'', he likes flying and nectar.

* Waspinator has yellow tongue in robot mode.

* Waspinator has heard rumors from [[David Kaye]] that Waspinator may make an appearance in ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''. Maybe Universe not hate Waspinator after all!
{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Waspinator/waspinator.htm Waspinator at TFU.info]

*[http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/binalternator/unreleased/nightprowler_vs_waspinator/ Gallery of Nightprowler vs. Waspinator test-shots]

[[Category: Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category: Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category: Convention exclusives]]
[[Category: Predacons]]
[[Category: Timelines characters]]
[[Category: Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category: Transmetals]]
[[Category: Universe characters]]
[[Category: Unreleased toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Dinobot (BW)

2008-01-23T23:27:22Z

212.219.74.29: /* Trivia */

{{Template:Disambig3|Dinobot}}

:''Dinobot is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] and [[Maximal]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Dinobotbwx.jpg|thumb|right|250px| "You lived like a warrior ans died to an hero."[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/ee52db9e103fd5a8?hl=en&]]]

'''Dinobot''' is a Predacon ruled by honor. He lives to die gloriously in battle. When he aided [[Megatron_(BW)|Megatron]] in the theft of the [[Golden Disk]] under the order of [[Cryotek]], Dinobot believed he was in the pursuit of endless glory. But when he and his Predacon peers crashed on what seemed to be the wrong planet alongside a Maximal exploration vessel, he rebelled against Megatron and joined the Maximal team. It would be an uneasy alliance, fraught with turns of loyalty and turns of Shakespearean phrase. But it also led to strong friendships and even the salvation of all humanity.

{{quote|The question that has haunted my being has been answered: The future is not fixed. My choices are my own. And yet, how ironic, for I now find I have no choice at all. I am a warrior; let the battle be joined.|Dinobot|"[[Code of Hero]]"}}

:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Kong-long'''(meaning Dinosaur)/'''Muo-long''' (meaning Demonic Dragon/Dinosaur)

==Fiction==
===''Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye''===

During the theft of the [[Golden Disk]], [[Megatron (BW)|He Who Would Be Megatron]] also scanned the historical datatrax of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He failed to notice the approaching guard until Dinobot dispatched him with his sword and insisted they speed up the operation.

===''Timelines: Dawn of Future's Past''===

Megatron and Dinobot joined [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] in escaping the archives with the Golden Disk, avoiding patrolmen [[Unit 1]] and [[Unit 2]]. They made their way to the rendezvous with the [[Darksyde]], and headed off into space to activate their transwarp drive. The [[Axalon]] and the [[Chromia 10]] took chase, but Dinobot blew the smaller ship out of the sky.

===Beast Wars===
''Voice Actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (English), [[Keiji Fujiwara]] (Japanese), [[Luiz Carlos de Moraes]] (1st voice), [[Jorge Barcellos]] (2nd voice) (Brazil)

[[Image:BWDinobot_arrival.jpg|left|thumb|"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair... wher''ever'' the hell we are."]]

When Megatron stole the Golden Disk and fled to prehistoric [[Earth]], Dinobot was among his followers. But immediately after crash-landing, Dinobot turned on his leader, claiming that he had led them to the wrong planet. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} Unfazed by the tirade, Megatron had Scorponok blast him, and he left Dinobot for dead.

Focused solely on Megatron's destruction, Dinobot sought out the Maximals and attempted to take command of that group. He forced [[Optimus Primal]] into a fight to the death, which was interrupted by a Predacon attack. After Dinobot helped the Maximals, Optimus accepted him into the fold - not as a leader, of course, but still as a valued team member. This didn't sit well with the other Maximals, particularly [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], but over time the two became a strange sort of friends. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}}

Dinobot provided not only brute force, but an understanding of the enemy: When [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] infiltrated the Maximal base, Dinobot feigned a desire to team up with him and overthrow Megatron. Lulling him into a false security, Dinobot eventually took care of him with the trash disposal unit - all without firing a shot, and the other Maxies never even knew. {{storylink|Equal Measures}}

But through it all, Dinobot had only one true loyalty: to his personal sense of honor. This he described as Predacon in nature, although he often appeared far nobler than his former comrades. Still, he was really no Maximal either; his ethics stemmed from his hard, warrior outlook. Always the first to call for action, he was often the recipient of Primal's lectures. For instance, when the Maximals unexpectedly created a transporter to the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], Dinobot demanded they send a bomb to destroy them all. Primal, however, insisted on a thirty-second timer to allow them time for evacuation, along the theory that if they lose their base, they're helpless anyway - no need to kill them outright.

[[Image:2char8.jpg |thumb|right|[http://xahlee.org/p/titus/act4s2.html "Villain, I have done thy mother."]]]

As time went on, Dinobot inevitably became attached to the Maximals (This was especially obvious in his love hate relationship with Rattrap, and the respet shared between Optimus and himself). When a Cybertronian probe was detected, he helped his teammates attempt to contact it, despite the fact he dreaded a return home. After all, he was a criminal even in Predacon terms, and he had no hope for a warm Maximal reception. {{storylink|The Probe}} Thus, when the Maximals later thought that Megatron's band had been destroyed, Dinobot elected to remain on Earth while the Maximals repaired their ship and launched it. However, just as Dinobot wandered off to explore the world that had become his, he stumbled across the not-so-dead Predacons, who attacked the Axalon and grounded the Maximals once again.{{storylink|Victory (Beast Wars episode)|Victory}}

Despite his increasing loyalty to the team, his violent heart occasionally created rifts. Most notably was his reaction to [[Tigatron]]'s pacifism: When the tiger tried to leave the Maximals in grief over the accidental death of his best friend, Dinobot argued vociferously with the "coward." He simply could not comprehend what Tigatron was saying: that in order to stop the fighting, someone had to lay down his gun. Dinobot could only see desertion, and for that he nearly killed Tigatron, who refused to fight back. But Primal interrupted before any damage was done, and Tigatron later came back to battle to save Dinobot from a Predacon attack, making the whole point moot. {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}}

[[Image:Coc getshorty.jpg|thumb|left|"The course of true love never did run smooth".]]
The confrontation with Tigatron revealed more than just Dinobot's warrior ethic. He explained to Tigatron a bit of his motives for turning against Megatron: He feared that if Megatron used Earth's energon supply to wage a new war, Cybertron would burn as a result. But, of course, Dinobot had helped Megatron steal the disk in the first place, the stated goal having been to find energon. This appeared to be a contradiction (or massive change of heart) on Dinobot's part, but later revelations would fill in a larger picture.

The catalyst for these insights would be the destruction of the [[Planet Buster]] moon and most of the energon deposits, making it obvious that they were on Earth after all. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} Dinobot broke into the Predacon base and stole the golden disks. He gave the [[Alien Disk|Vok disk]] to [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], but the Voyager disk he hid from both sides. He knew that it contained information about the future, and it cut to the core of his being: "If the future is indeed immutably foretold, then my demise is but moments from that confirmation, for I could not live if not the master of my fate."

[[Image:BWDinobot_decision.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"To Bay or not to Bay; that is the question, and here is the sunset"]]

His desire to discover whether the future could be changed kept him focused on Megatron's actions. When Predacon installations were placed in a Voyager-disk-like pattern, Dinobot remarked, "So, Megatron, your plan proceeds even without the disk." {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} This apparent knowledge of Megatron's plans had two implications: It explained Dinobot's original allegiance to the thief, which had nothing to do with energon-gathering. And it gave him reason to rejoin Megatron's circle as the possibility of the original plan's fruition reemerged.

Thus, he resubmitted himself to Megatron's command, but the Maximal influence still showed itself. When he was pitted in a deathmatch against [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] in a bizarre test of loyalty, Dinobot subdued his foe but refused to kill him, offering to train him instead. But Megatron accepted the prodigal son anyway, as long as he returned the Golden Disk. Dinobot complied. He admitted to himself that he might be sacrificing his own race, but "either way I will know the truth at last."

After the artifact was back in Megatron's hands, Rattrap attacked and was quickly immobilized. As a final test of allegiance, Dinobot was ordered to kill his former teammate. This task proved too much for him, and he turned once again on the Predacon leader. Megatron retreated with the disk in his possession, and it's implied that Dinobot then told Optimus about Megatron's plan to attack [[Ark (G1)|the Ark]].

After contemplating suicide and enduring Rattrap's recriminations, Dinobot decided to set things right. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} He tracked Megatron down and found him testing the Voyager disk. Megatron had discovered a mountain whose image was recorded on the disk, and he was blowing the peak up just as Dinobot arrived. From a distance, Dinobot saw his greatest hope and worst fear simultaneously: The disk's image changed. Dinobot's future was his own... but Megatron had virtually limitless power.

[[Image:Dinbot_funeral.jpg|left|thumb|"Out, out, brief spark! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor mech that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more"]]

When the Predacons launched an attack on a tribe of proto-humans, attempting to destroy the future human race, Dinobot singlehandedly took all of the Predacons on. Having already been blindsided by Tarantalus, he waded through the attack squad. Ignoring the damage he sustained, the warnings of his own internal computer, and the danger to himself, Dinobot defeated everyone save Megatron. Mocking the weakened Dinobot, Megatron tallied the score firmly in his own favor: He had unimaginable power via the disk, the valley of the proto-humans was in ruins, and he had hostages. Refusing to quit, Dinobot jammed a rock through a stick and attacked with the makeshift hammer. Megatron dropped the disk, and Dinobot blasted it to pieces with his last bit of energy. A short time after the rest of the Maximals arrived, Dinobot's spark left his frame.

He was given a hero's funeral, with his body cremated as the Maximal fliers executed a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_man_formation Missing Man formation]. His legacy remained even with the anthropoids, who found his hammer and used it as a weapon.

Dinobot died as he lived: paraphrasing Shakespeare. "Tell my tale to those who ask," his last words had been, "Tell it truly—the ill deeds along with the good—and let me be judged accordingly. The rest... is silence."

Except then Megatron [[Dinobot II|cloned him]]. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Dinobot''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-4''', '''VS-4'''

[[Image:BeastWars_Dinobot_1996_toy.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Wasn't he in ''Jurassic Park''?]]

: Part of the first wave of ''Beast Wars'' product, Dinobot transforms into something kinda resembling an organic Utahraptor. His tail detaches and separates to form a gear-powered spinning-blade weapon, while the central "tail bone" separates to be used as a sword. The entire assembly can store in robot mode by flipping down the tail-mount and pegging the blade's base to the peg on his lower back. Like all early Deluxe-and-up ''Beast Wars'' toys, he has a "mutant mask", halves of a dino-skull that flip up to cover his more robotic head.

: The original Dinobots shipped on cards with "rocky"-shaped bubbles. Later (and more numerous) assortments moved to a smooth, rounded bubble, leading the first packaging type to become sought-after collectibles on the secondary market.

: In Japan, Dinobot was available both individually and in a "Vs" set with [[Tarantulas]]. This version was identical to the [[Hasbro]] version. In January 1997, Takara [[redeco]]ed many of the ''Beast Wars'' toys and re-released them in slightly more show-like tones; Dinobot actually got ''less'' tan to his dino-skin (moving further from the show model), and his helmet was painted in metallic gold. This version was also sold in a Vs set.

:It should also be noted that this and the Fox Kids redeco, as well as some other versions of this mold, had the robot mode's biceps on the wrong arms, with the skin-like texture inside and the weight-reducing cavities on the outside. Later molds, such as the 10th Anniversary release, had this error corrected.

: This mold was used to make... lots of guys. ''Beast Wars'' [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], ''[[Dinobots (toyline)|Dinobots]]'' [[Grimlock (Dinobots)|Grimlock]], ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' [[Hardhead (BWN)|Hardhead]], [[Dinotron]], and [[Thrust (BWII)|Thrustor]].

*'''Dinobot''' (Happy Meal Transmetal, 1998)

: Part of the second McDonald's ''Beast Wars'' Happy Meal promotion, [[Transmetal]] Dinobot transforms into a metal velociraptor. his molding looks more like a Transmetal 2 than a normal Transmetals, though.

*'''Dinobot (Fox Kids)''' (Deluxe, 1999)

===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary===

*'''Dinobot''' (Tenth Anniversary Deluxe, 2006)
[[Image:BW10Dinobot_toy.jpg|left|thumb|300px|He disagrees with everything that T-Rex says, but you know they're best friends.]]

: This release is a redeco of the original Dinobot toy, though its "show-accuracy" is questionable at best, with and excessively dark (faintly bronzed) brown base-colour and oddly using blue on his kneepads, metallic green on his rib-like shin ridges, and inexplicably substituting the red interior of his rotor weapon with blue.

: ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' Dinobot came with the left arm to the "build-a-bot" figure [[Trans-Mutate]], plus a DVD containing the obvious Dinobot episode, "[[Code of Hero]]".
{{-}}

===Timelines===
*'''Darksyde Dinobot''' (Dawn of Futures Past multi-pack Deluxe, 2006)
[[Image:Botcon2006Dinobot_toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Can you dig it?]]

: Part of the five-toy [[BotCon 2006]] [[exclusive]] boxed set (along with [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rattrap]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]), "Darksyde Dinobot" is a redeco of the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Longrack (Cybertron)|Longrack]] mold, itself a [[retool]] of ''[[Armada]]'' [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]. Dinobot uses almost all of Longrack's new-mold parts save for the head; Hoist's was a dead ringer for Dinobot in the first place. He transforms into a Cybertronic excavator. Inserting a [[Cyber Key]] or [[Golden Disk Key]] into his shoulder assembly unlocks a shovel-punch attack activated by pressing on the plunger mechanism above the key port. Like Longrack, he does ''not'' come with a [[Mini-Con]] partner (dammit).

: The original version of this mold was also used to make ''[[Universe]]'' [[Ransack (Universe)|Ransack]].

===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary (Japan)===
[[Image:Japanese10thDinobot.jpg|left|thumb|250px|At last, I CAN TALK!]]

*'''Dinobot''' (Deluxe, 2006)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-05'''

:Celebrating Japan's (one year later than the West) 10th anniversary of ''[[Beast Wars]]'', this version of Dinobot is another redeco of the venerable tooling. While definitely more [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] than the Hasbro 10th Anniversary version from the previous year, some of its color-scheme decisions favor the robot mode, such as bronze/gold shoulder joints. The effect of this however is to have a less consistently colored beast mode than the Hasbro version. It is worth noting that even this version lacks the medium blue used for the base of the show model's lower legs and torso (though this may be due to them being on the same sprue as his "lightpipe" and mutant helmet), so the "ultimately totally show-accurate-colored" version still has yet to be done.

: Perhaps most significant of all, however, is that this version of Dinobot ''finally'' has a mouth, though it is in the form of a paint operation, rather than a newly-sculpted head.

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
*'''Dinobot mini bust''' (2007)

[[Image:BWDinobot_minibust.jpg|right|thumb|100px|Legs are for the weak]]

: In 2006, [[First 4 Figures]] announced a seven-inch tall mini-bust of Dinobot, featuring his upper torso mounted upon a Maximal pedestal. He was sculpted by Ryan Bailey and is limited to 1,996 pieces. He is based upon his animated appearance, mounted on a silver pedestal adorned with the Maximal sigil.

: As of writing, this product has not been released yet.

{{-}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWRConcept04.jpg|left|thumb|Dinobot's control art. The beast head displays a more rigid grill structure.]]

* It's been rumored that Dinobot's first toy borrowed some molding from an unproduced [[Kenner]] ''Jurassic Park'' dino. There's no evidence at all to support this, however, and is incredibly unlikely to begin with.

[[Image:TMDinobotConcept.jpg|right|thumb|Raptor and... squatting Raptor? It's a jet powered squat, surely.]]

* An actual (IE non-McDonald's affiliated) Transmetal Dinobot apparently made it to concept art stages, but not much further. It would have been notable for having the lamest "transport mode" of all the Transmetals if produced, however. Several elements of the design were recycled on Transmetal [[Terrorsaur]].

* The [[Timelines]] "Darksyde Dinobot" color scheme is actually based on his Tenth Anniversary toy.

* Some fans humorously refer to Dinobot's spinning blade weapon as a "Rotate Blade". However, both the full-length version of the first ''Beast Wars'' toy commercial and a later commercial (starring Dinobot, Waspinator and Tarantulas) refer to the weapon as being his "spinning Veloci-Rotor blades" whereas his packaging referred to it as a "Cyberslash" weapon.

* Dinobot was second under Megatron before rebelling....probably because he was the only one who knew one end of a blaster from the other

*It's interesting to note that almost every single character in the Beast Wars gets thrashed twice as hard as Dinobot in his final battle and yet they all came back good as new. [[Waspinator|Some]] rarely even have to bother with Stasis Lock. Funny, that.

*Dinobot's death was likely related more to energon depletion than actual damage, evidenced by his internal computer urging him into stasis lock because of a critical loss in power. The injuries he received are probably what caused this depletion, making them the indirect cause of his demise, but not the sole contributing factor.
{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/Dinobot/dinobot.htm Dinobot at TFU.info]
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/ee52db9e103fd5a8?hl=en& "Dinobot's Old Technology" by MG-Dinobot]

{{charstub}}
[[Category: Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category: Convention exclusives]]
[[Category: Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category: Maximals]]
[[Category: Predacons]]
[[Category: Timelines characters]]
[[Category: Turncoats]]
[[Category: Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category: Transmetals]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Blast from the Past

2008-01-21T20:59:47Z

212.219.74.29: /* Miscellaneous trivia */

{{Cleanup|January 2008}}

{{episodenav|animated|6|season=1|prev=Total Meltdown|next=The Thrill of the Hunt}}

[[Image:DinobotsAnimated.jpg|thumb|400px|"When they opened Disneyland in 1955, nothing worked."<br>"Yes, but, [[wikipedia:John Hammond (Jurassic Park character)|John]], when Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists."]]

'''Professor Sumdac upgrades a trio of animatronic dinosaurs from a local theme park, but the creatures develop minds of their own and become rampaging Dinobots, bent on destroying the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==

[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] takes the [[Autobot]]s to "[[Dino Drive]]", a [[dinosaur]] exhibit, in order to teach them some of [[Earth]]'s history. On the way, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] accidentally destroys every car in the parking lot. Once inside, [[Tutor Bot]] explains about the dinosaurs' prowess, and the Autobots see the animatronic dinosaurs and become amazed by the creatures' power. Bulkhead becomes so fascinated, he tries to get the ''Pteranodon'' to fly and do other things to amuse him. This only succeeds in having the robot ''Pteranodon'' fall and cause a ''Triceratops'' and ''Tyrannosaurus'' robot to collide and break each other, crushing Tutor Bot. The Autobot take the broken animatronics to [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] for repair.

At the lab, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] views the power of dinosaurs through the damaged Tutor Bot and seems very impressed by their destructive potential. Sumdac enters the lab and berates himself for programming the Tutor Bot with such simple information that everyone already knows. Megatron decides finally to speak to him, saying ''he'' never knew these things. Sumdac is shocked, and Megatron, pretending he's just come back online, asks where he is. Professor Sumdac rambles a bit, then says it's a long story. Megatron then reassures him that since he's not going anywhere, he can sit through a long story. After Sumdac gives a brief history of Megatron's discovery and how he relates to modern technology, Megatron convinces Sumdac that he is an old friend of the Autobots and that they'll be more forgiving of Sumdac keeping his secrets if he helps repair their old comrade. However, it would be best to keep it quiet for now. As a sign of good faith, he offers to help Sumdac repair the dinosaur displays and provide information on how to upgrade their technology so they'll be even more convincing. He conveniently forgets to tell Sumdac that he plans on using them for prototype attack drones.

Meanwhile, at the Autobot base, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] is trying to teach Bulkhead how to control his strength and size. This, of course, ends with Bulkhead falling on Prowl. Prowl tries a new tactic and moves the training to an island in Lake Erie. This results in Bulkhead dropping some trees on Prowl.

At Dino Drive, Sumdac reveals his and Megatron's creations to the gathered press and Autobots—the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]]!

After a short display, Megatron takes control, and the Dinobots go on a rampage. As the Autobots try and fight them, Bulkhead tries to recreate Prowl's teaching, but to no effect other then falling into Prowl and knocking him flat on his back. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] then combine their powers to create an electromagnetic pulse to shut down the Dinobots, but Sari's key is somehow drawn to the creatures. She decides to help and plugs the key into Bumblebee. The blast intensifies, blowing the dinosaur skins off them and revealing their robot bodies beneath. Professor Sumdac is confused and brings them back to his lab for maintenance.

At his lab, Megatron becomes perplexed as to why the key activated, thinking it sensed something Cybertronian about the Dinobots. He dismisses this idea and curses the drones for being useless. Then something very surprising happens{{m-}}the ''Tyrannosaurus'' starts to talk, and the other dinosaurs begin to move! And on top of that, Megatron finds he can't control them!

Megatron then surmises that the Autobots must have done something to them, declaring that, somehow, they have [[spark]]s of their own. The ''Tyrannosaurus'' then dubs himself "[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]" and, without fail, Megatron declares that he is the Dinobots' leader. Grimlock doesn't approve of this concept and announces that ''he'' is the leader, and [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] and [[Slag (Animated)|Slag]] seem to agree. The Tutor Bot activates, much to Megatron's annoyance, and explains how dinosaur fossils make fossil fuel, which makes cars and trucks work. Grimlock takes this to mean cars and trucks "eat" dinosaurs and announces that cars and trucks are bad. Megatron takes advantage of their low intelligence and tells them that "fossil feeders" are bad and the only thing worse are car robots, a.k.a. Autobots. He shows them how to use one of their more destructive powers, and they use it to destroy the Tutor Bot. Grimlock is pleased with this, but does not know how he did it. Megatron explains how he designed them, then tells them that the fossil feeders want them dead, so the Dinobots go to defend themselves.

As they start on their rampage, [[Captain Fanzone]] arrives to attempt to stop them. Suddenly, Slag whips a car with his tail, and Captain Fanzone's car becomes the first casuality of the Dinobots' war on the fossil feeders as the thrown car lands on it. Fanzone, not missing a beat, takes a bazooka and shoots Slag in the face, but Slag just swallows the incoming missile.

The Autobots then arrive and, at Bulkhead's suggestion, lure them to a park to battle them. As Grimlock sees them transform, he remembers something he'd forgotten: Car robots are worse than cars and trucks. Furious, he orders the Dinobots to attack. As the battle goes on, the Autobots are seriously outmatched, especially since Bulkhead is trying to "access the situation" before acting, as Prowl tried to teach him to do. Prowl, realizing their disadvantage, hollers for Bulkhead not to try and be like Prowl, but to be like ''Bulkhead''. Reassured, Bulkhead quickly drops Slag and Swoop.

At the lab, Sumdac and Megatron are watching, when the professor realizes that the fire-breath was part of Megatron's design specifications. Megatron feigns shame, claiming that he wanted a body again, so he experimented with the Dinobots by adding "features". Sumdac sympathizes with Megatron, promising not to tell the Autobots and to restore Megatron one day.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee and Ratchet are pinned down by Grimlock's fire-breath. Slag and Swoop get up and join in, the heat melting the parking lot behind the two Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] remembers the tar lesson from Dino Drive, and Bulkhead throws all three Dinobots into the newly formed pool. The Dinobots use their flames in an attempt to free themselves from the "black, sticky stuff", but only make things worse for themselves.

The Dinobots are trapped with only their heads sticking out. Professor Sumdac promises to melt them down due to their danger to society. Optimus approves of this, but Prowl does not, feeling that they have shown they have minds and sparks of their own. When Sumdac returns the next morning, he finds the Dinobots have escaped from their tar prison.

[[Image:AnimatedGrimlockRobot01.jpg|thumb|left|180px|By the Power of Greyskull, ME GRIMLOCK KING!]]

On the [[Dinobot Island|deserted island]] where Prowl and Bulkhead trained, the Dinobots are freed into a large crater which houses a beautiful natural environment. Prowl and Bulkhead see how happy they are and decide to keep it their little secret. With that, Prowl sets a hologram up to keep them hidden and safe from the world.

After they leave, Grimlock dubs cars and trucks bad, but nature good. Two birds promptly defecate on him, which makes him rethink his claim and dub nature stupid. He orders them to come down and fight like a Dinobot. He spits out a flame but the birds simply fly away. Furious, Grimlock suddenly activates another of Megatron's "features" and transforms! Slag and Swoop stare in amazement as Grimlock draws a [[Energo-sword|giant, flaming sword]]. Grimlock like...

{{-}}

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Kevin Hopps]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]], [[Ben Jones]], & [[Kentaro Mizuno]]
*'''Original airdate:''' January 12, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s

|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (6)
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Slag (Animated)|Slag]] (10)
* [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (11)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (7)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
* [[Captain Fanzone]] (12)
* [[Isaac Sumdac]] (8)
* [[Sari Sumdac]] (1)

|}

==Quotes==
"Sorry I'm late, guys. Uh, did I miss anything?"<br>
"No, I'd say you hit just about every car in the lot."
:—'''Bulkhead''' can't seem to catch a break.

"Nice, Prowl. Maybe next you can teach an engine block to float."
:—'''Ratchet''' being a crotchety old goat

"This is the perfect place to train. Peaceful, calm, and most important, nothing for you to break.
:-'''Prowl''' who is wrong.

"The primitive materials available on this planet are useless. It will take countless solar cycles to create attack drones capable of my needs, and without more substantial robotics for my own body, my prospects are grim, locked in this prison of a lab."<br>
"Grim...lock...Grim...lock."
:—'''Megatron''' learns why '''Grimlock'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s name doesn't start with an "S".

"Me Grimlock."<br>
"Then listen well, Grimlock. I am Megatron, your leader."<br>
"[[Grimlock (G1)|Me Grimlock leader.]]"
:—'''Grimlock''' and '''Megatron'''. Some things never change.

"Bulkhead... what are you ''doing''?"<br>
"I'm doing what you do!"<br>
"...better idea! Do what ''you'' do!"<br>
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Bulkhead''' discuss strategy.

"Just because something's big and lumbering and destructive doesn't mean you give up on it."<br>
:—'''Prowl''' delivering the most backhanded compliment ever

"Me Grimlock...like."
:—'''Grimlock''' upon transforming. And the world trembled.

{{-}}

==Other notes==

===Animation errors===

*In one scene, Slag's head is coloured grey instead of gold.
*Prowl removes his autobot symbol because of it's hologram emitter. However,in the next shot,he still has it.

===Transformers references===
*A far-off island that becomes a training ground for a lumbering warrior to hone his skills without causing collateral damage to the Autobots' base? Gee, [[Dinobot Island|that sure sounds familiar...]]
*After smashing into Slag, Bulkhead cheerfully apologizes with "Excuse me!" in much the same way that ''Generation 1'' [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] did after stomping on a [[Quintesson]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* Grimlock's line "Car Robots worse!" may be taken as a subtle jab at ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Transformers: RiD]]'', which was called ''Car Robots'' in Japan.
*Movie megatron's automorph sound can be vaguely heard during one battle.

===Real-world references===
* The entrance of Dino Drive is remarkably similar to the entrance of Jurassic Park in the movie of the same name, and music reminiscent of the ''Jurassic Park'' theme can be heard during some of the Dino Drive scenes.
* Speaking of Jurassic Park, Grimlock's roar sound a lot like the one from the ''T-Rex'' in that movie.

===Miscellaneous trivia===

* This marks the first time the Dinobots have been used in a ''Transformers'' TV series since Generation 1. There is much joy.

* The Dinobots' color schemes are lifted directly from the Generation 1 cartoon, with some minor variations. This is most obvious in Swoop's torso being blue, rather then the red featured in Generation 1 Swoop's comic and toy incarnations. The ''[[Diaclone]]'' version of [[Swoop (G1)|Generation 1 Swoop]]'s toy likewise had a blue chest, so this is possibly an homage, but is more likely coincidence.

* Unlike Generation 1, the Dinobots' alt modes match up much more closely with how dinosaurs are depicted in the fossil record (no sluggishness, more mammal/bird-like, Grimlock bent over horizontally, no bowleggedness, etc.). There was still a lack of feathers before they were de-skinned, though. (However, since it's doubtful ''T. Rex''es had a feather covering like smaller therapods, and pterosaurs only had down, it's not really an issue)

*In this episode, Tutor Bot actually teaches Sari and the Autobots about dinosaurs and fossil fuels. He's back on form, however, when the pre-Transformer Grimlock squashes him.

* It seems somewhat odd (but not terribly surprising) that Humanity have developed advanced robotics and such, but still use fossil fuels in their cars.

* According to Ratchet, the Transformer race is over 10 billion years old.

*Despite what Tutor Bot says, fossil fuels are ''not'' made from Dinosaur fossils. Fossil fuels are made from various [[wikipedia:Hyrdrocarbon|hydrocarbon]]s, which are mostly formed from plant matter that has long since settled in the Earth's crust. For more, see [[wikipedia:Fossil fuel|this]].

*The Jurassic is not 200 million years old. Tutor Bot needs to check his facts.

*Also, most of the dinosaurs featured (especially Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops and the pterasaur Pteranodon) hail from the Late Creatceous, not the Jurassic. Tutor bot needs to check more facts.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers

2007-12-07T21:32:02Z

212.219.74.29: /* Other */

Over the years, many misconceptions and urban legends have sprung up within Transformers [[fandom]], often resulting from such factors as fuzzy childhood memories, inaccurate catalog illustrations, and mistranslations of foreign material.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''A now-rare (and thus valuable) blue variant of Bluestreak was available during Generation 1.'''

:The very earliest [[Generation 1 (toyline)|Generation 1]] toy catalogs used a photo of a blue-sided ''[[Diaclone]]'' Fairlady Z to represent [[Bluestreak]], giving rise to a long-standing myth that a blue Bluestreak toy was sold under the ''Transformers'' brand during Generation 1, with some people going so far as to "remember" owning blue Bluestreaks as children, or at least knowing someone else who did. Adding to the confusion, ''[[Wikipedia:ToyFare|ToyFare]]'' magazine has a long history of listing the supposed blue Bluestreak as a "foreign [[variant]]" in its monthly price guide.

:However, actual samples of a blue-sided Bluestreak in a sealed ''Transformers'' box have ''never'' appeared, and the [[Karl Hartman|collectors who have been at it since the very beginning]] and [[Jon Hartman|amassed ''insane'' numbers of rare Transformers]] have never seen one.

*'''A show-accurate Skyfire toy was available during Generation 1.'''

:Due to some legal entanglements, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] was renamed "Skyfire" for the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], with a character model that bore only a vague resemblance to the toy. Some confused viewers seem to have come away assuming that there had to be a [[Show accuracy|show-accurate]] Generation 1 toy by the name of Skyfire. (The ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' Jetfire toy is actually designed as a mix between the original toy and the cartoon character model.)

*'''A green variant of Trailbreaker was available in some European countries.'''

:This belief seems to stem from the fact that [[IGA]]'s Mexican version of [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (which, like most Mexican Transformers, was widely available on the European gray market circa 1989) used the same head sculpt as [[Trailbreaker]]. But like the Bluestreak, no samples have been found.

*'''Some Generation 1 toy molds were in use as long ago as 1974.'''

:Some ''[[Microchange]]''-derived toys have the text "©1974 TAKARA" stamped on them, and as a result are occasionally sold on eBay with descriptions such as "original 1974 [[Ravage]]". However, the date 1974 refers to the introduction of the original [[Microman]] franchise; the first ''Microchange'' toys weren't even designed until the early 1980s.

*'''A winged variant of Sludge was available during Generation 1.'''

:A [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] [[knockoff]] that featured wings and a pterodactyl-like beast head was fairly commonplace during the Generation 1 era, and in some cases people who owned this knockoff as children seem to have misremembered it as being a [[HasTak]]-produced [[variant]]. [http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Knockoffs/Sludge1.html]

*'''A "giant"-sized Optimus Prime toy was available during Generation 1.'''

:In at least a few cases, claims regarding a "giant" Generation 1 Prime may stem from dim memories of coming across [http://www.geocities.com/scrambledcity/skorbia/skorbyg2.html oversized Optimus Prime knockoffs that were made in Korea]... or because they had the ''normal'' Prime as kids, when they (the former kids) were about ''half'' the height they are now.

===Generation 2===
*'''"Generation 2" means "after [[The Transformers: The Movie]]."'''

:This common but explicitly false idea probably stems from the many casual fans who grew up with the original Transformers line but stopped paying much attention around 1986, when the animated ''Transformers: The Movie'' debuted and the Transformers craze began to die down. Many such fans regained some interest in Transformers many years later, particularly with hype surrounding the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]]. Seeing the phrase "G2" batted around in fandom, it might seem natural to assume it refers to the big changeover that happened with the animated film. It certainly didn't help that, early in the life of [[Dreamwave]], [[Pat Lee]] shared in this misconception, leading other new arrivals to the fandom to ape his use of the term.

:While the original animated movie certainly marked a change from one "generation" of toys to another, along some new design trends, the phrase "Generation 2" means [[Generation 2|a very specific franchise]], marketed from 1992 to 1995 -- years after the animated film had come and gone. Its relative obscurity probably contributes to the mis-attribution of the term, as G2 marks a low point in popularity for Transformers as a whole.

{{-}}

===Robots in Disguise===
*'''The ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline was known as "Transformers 2000" in Japan.'''

:As information about the then-new [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|''Car Robots'' toyline]] began to trickle out of Japan in 2000, early rumors purportedly from Japanese sources indicated that it was officially named "Transformers 2000".<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e6436b92178f0c0a/3a0dfb6f548a05dd?hl=en&lnk=st&q=#3a0dfb6f548a05dd]</ref> It's possible those Japanese sources were also going by early, inaccurate rumors or perhaps a soon-to-be-discarded working title for the line. The idea persisted with many Western fans well after the true name of the show was revealed, encouraged by online import retailers (who were equally misinformed) using the title to promote pre-orders on their sites.

{{-}}
===Other===
*'''Takara's Japanese-market releases are always of intrinsically better quality than their U.S. counterparts. (E.g., they have sweeter exclusives, and are always more show-accurate, have more accessories, and have tighter quality control.)'''

: This one depends a bit on the speaker, as it can either be a genuine misconception, a matter of opinion, or at worst, [[Personal canon|willful]] [[True fan|snobbery]]. But, like any broad generalization, it does have some basis.

:*"Better quality" can refer to the fact that Japanese versions of individual toys sometimes have clear plastic instead of painted-on windows like [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Movie Bumblebee]], or have vac-metallized parts where the equivalent U.S. release doesn't, like [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|''Energon'' Optimus Prime/Grand Convoy]]. Or, "better" quality can refer to the fact that Japan is a less litigious society, with different toy safety laws, and Takara can thus give [[Optimus Prime (G1) toys|Prime]] toys old-school long smokestacks, which are now shortened in the litigious U.S. These laws also mean that [[Megatron (G1)|Masterpiece Megatron]] is freely available in Japan, but hard to get in the U.S. (the exact opposite of ''real'' handguns, ironically).

:*"More [[Show accuracy|show-accurate]] decos" does have some basis, as Takara frequently releases its toys later than Hasbro does Stateside, and thus they are better able to reflect discrepancies between late-run changes to a character's coloration in a show (such as with the original [[Rattrap]] or [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|''Armada''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Tidal Wave]]). The most extreme example of this was '''[[Beast Machines|Beast Wars Returns]]'', the Japanese release of ''Beast Machines'', which was ''years'' later than in the U.S., allowing Takara to add a lot of the deco that was added to the characters by [[Mainframe Entertainment]] that was not the original toys. (''See also'': [[Show-accuracy]])

:*"More accessories" mostly comes from the fact that ''some'' of Takara's releases have some extra accessories, but the only cases of this before the recent reissues were [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s two swords, Megatron's sword and bullets (even though the Japanese release lacked the barrel, scope and stock extensions) and clear cases from the various cassettes. Recently, Japanese reissues have included additional accessories from the cartoon (the axe, chain mace, Energon cubes and gun-mode Megatron in the [[Transformers Collection]] reissues of Optimus and Megatron, Insecticons and Starscream, respectively, the Matrix from New Year's Convoy). Some ''[[Energon (franchise)|Superlink]]'' releases came with [[redeco]]ed [[Energon weapon]]s as well.

:*"Sweeter exclusives" is really a matter of taste. If endless redecos of Generation 1 toys as completely unprecedented Generation 1 characters, buying $40 worth of toys you got a month ago for a single [[Mini-Con]], and shelling out half your mortgage for [[Lucky Draw]] gold chrome figures is what floats your boat, then yeah, Japan has better exclusives.

:*"Tighter quality control" is a total myth. Takara products are manufactured under much the same production conditions as Hasbro's (pretty much everything for both markets is made in China), and their standards of quality control are just as likely to let mistakes creep through.

*'''Hasbro is responsible for your local store not having the newest toys right now.'''

: Hasbro actually has almost nothing to do with distribution (when Product A arrives in Store B) beyond making sure the manufactured product leaves the factories and shipyards of China at the desired time. Once the items arrive on US shores, they are almost immediately sent from the ships to the distribution centers for the retail chains that ordered them. From there, it's more truck rides to various regional warehouses, which is all controlled by the retailers, not Hasbro. After that, the schedule for taking product from those warehouses and putting it on shelves is dictated by each chain's inventory system.

: It's ''conceivable'' that Hasbro could take more control of the situation, but that would require chains like Wal-Mart to release the vice-like death grip they have on manufacturers' nuts that lets them dictate how the system works... and they're sooooooo not doing that.

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====The original cartoon====
*'''The original ''The Transformers'' series was redubbed anime which originated in Japan, just like ''Battle of the Planets'', ''Voltron'', ''Robotech'' and other such shows screened in the '80s.'''

: Although most moderate-to-hardcore fans are well aware that this is a fallacy, there are those more casual fans (or those who have not rewatched the Generation 1 cartoon since childhood) who are under the misconception that [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|''The Transformers'']] was an anime.

: Although the original toyline and thus the characters' basic visual designs were taken from Japanese-originated products, the original characters, names, factions and entire story premise of the whole Transformers franchise were developed in the United States by [[Hasbro]], [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and eventually [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]]. Although the animation was farmed out, the writing and original voice recording of [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|all four seasons of the original series]] plus ''[[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|The Movie]]'' were entirely done in America.

: This misconception probably stems from distant childhood memories of the cartoon, coupled with the later realization that shows like the aforementioned ''Robotech'' were redubbed anime (presuming they didn't know this when they were kids) and, due to ''Transformers''<nowiki>'</nowiki> obvious Japanese influence, have made the assumption that it too was anime. This ''may'' also be due to passing exposure to ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] shows which, viewed as an adult, are ''very'' obviously redubbed anime.

*'''''Headmasters'' was going to be dubbed into English and shown in America.'''

: In America, "Season 4" consisted of "The Rebirth", a 3-episode mini-series. In Japan, "The Rebirth" was ignored, and a full-fledged series titled ''Headmasters'' continued the story instead. Rumors once swirled in the fandom of an American-led dub of ''Headmasters'' series; the dub was largely finished, goes the story, till the materials were lost in a warehouse fire.

: Given the meandering pace of the series (common for Japanese shows but anathema to American sensibilities), the presence of numerous characters who had no toy equivalent on US shelves, the incompatibility with the "[[Nebulan]]" head characters, the number of Japanese cultural references, and the very existence of "[[The Rebirth]]", this rumor seems unlikely on the surface.

: More to the point, no official confirmation or other evidence has ever surfaced to back it up.

{{-}}
====The Transformers: The Movie====
*'''There exists an "uncut version" of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' containing all sorts of non-kid-friendly content.'''

: These stories stem mainly from the fact that many home-video releases of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' omit two relatively minor instances of characters using profanity, which during the 1990s resulted in some [[alt.toys.transformers]] posters advertising "uncut" VHS copies of the movie for sale, thus either intentionally or unintentionally creating the myth of a really foul-mouthed and ultra-violent alternate version of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. A much stranger rumor, whose origins are unclear, claims that the original theatrical cut of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' depicted [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] crumbling into dust after dying, and that that scene was cut by the distributor in mid-release because children were traumatized by the imagery.

*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was never released in Japan.'''
: A widespread (but false) assumption among Western fans holds that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' is not part of Japanese Generation 1 [[canon]], and that ''[[Scramble City]]'' was effectively its Japanese replacement. ''The Transformers: The Movie'' went unreleased in Japan until August 1989, and the various discrepancies between it and subsequent Japan-only Generation 1 fiction are largely a matter of the Japanese animators and writers being unaware of the precise details of ''The Transformers: The Movie''.<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216153#post216153] </ref><ref>[http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216478#post216478] </ref><ref>[http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?threadid=30800]</ref>

*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was released in Japan under the title ''Matrix Forever''.'''

: ''[[Matrix Forever]]'' was actually the title of a 20-minute video created to promote the Japanese release of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', but some Western (and even Japanese) fans have been confused into thinking that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' itself was renamed ''Matrix Forever''.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/a5d29844863d2c29]</ref>

{{-}}
====Japanese Generation 1 fiction====
*'''In Japanese continuity, Megatron and Galvatron are two separate characters.'''

:There a few instances of Japanese fiction that would seem to support this notion, all of which can be attributed to a lack of communication between [[Hasbro]] and [[Takara]] prior to the release of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. There is also a ''Transformers: 2010'' [[manga]] story that depicts [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] commanding a legion of automatons created in [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's]] image, which some non-Japanese-speaking fans have interpreted as depicting Galvatron and Megatron co-existing.<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=179]</ref>

*'''In Japanese continuity, the Destrons (Decepticons) were invaders from a planet called Destron.'''

: The Autobots were renamed "Cybertrons" in the Japanese translation, resulting in a misconception that the Destrons must hail from somewhere other than the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, the Japanese translation also renamed Cybertron "Seibertron" in order to avoid confusion.<ref name="tfa522">[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522]</ref>

*'''Black Shadow and Blue Bacchus are both members of a "Space Mafia".'''

:[[Black Shadow]] and [[Blue Bacchus]], two characters from ''[[Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'', both have their function listed as "Space Gangster". An early fan translation of their [[tech spec]]s misinterpreted the Japanese word for "gangster" to mean "Mafia", hence the belief that a "Space Mafia" exists in the Japanese Generation 1 universe.

*'''Metrotitan is a zombie version of Metroplex.'''

: [[Metrotitan]] was a Destron [[redeco]] of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] from the [[Zone]] portion of Japanese Generation 1 continuity. For unclear reasons, Western fans believe that Metrotitan was a "zombified" version of Metroplex, and a stranger variation on this rumor holds that Metrotitan was somehow "regrown" from one of Metroplex's legs.<ref name="tfa522"/>

{{-}}
====European Generation 1 fiction====
*'''Starscream and Shrapnel are female characters in the French dub of Generation 1.'''

: This rumor is only partly true. The Transformers Generation 1 animated medium used three different dub teams for the French version: one for the TV show's dub broadcast in Quebec, one for the TV show's dub broadcast in France and one for the 1986 movie used in both countries. Neither of the TV show's dubs use Starscream as a female as he uses a distinctively male voice,<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhOCYZRxypM]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMXCeXw5Vdo]</ref> however the movie's dubbing team used a female voice for Starscream, and at one point Megatron calls Starscream "une imbécile" (articles in French are gender-specific), clearly cementing Starscream's movie status as a female.<ref>[http://bigbot.com/mp3/transformers_mp3.shtml#Femmes]</ref> All the same is also true for Shrapnel, who is even referred to as "Mademoiselle Shrapnel" by Kickback in the movie.

*'''The German version of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was edited and didn't depict Starscream's death scene.'''

: German TV didn't air a dubbed version of the Generation 1 cartoon until 1989. ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was aired for the first time on German TV in 1994, with only one repeat. For unknown reasons, a rumor was circulating for several years claiming that Starscream's death was considered too "violent" for German TV standards for children's programs and had therefore been edited out. However, recordings of the TV airing still exist, which don't feature any obvious edits other than Spike's infamous "swear" line. Furthermore, a German DVD edition of the movie released in 2004 that features an entirely different dub also depicts Starscream's death in all its glory.

{{-}}

===Beast Wars===
*'''In Japanese ''Beast Wars'' continuity, Optimus Primal and Megatron were the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes.'''

: Although the Japanese dub of the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon originally did state that [[Optimus Primal|Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] were new incarnations of the Generation 1 faction leaders (possibly due to a communications breakdown with Hasbro and/or [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]]), the translators eventually backed away from that idea.<ref>[http://www.bwtf.com/bw/toys/techspecs/primalultra.shtml] </ref><ref>[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=180]</ref>

*'''In ''Beast Wars II'', Apache is a drunkard as part of a Native American stereotype.'''

: [[Apache]] did indeed get drunk in the first episode of the ''[[Beast Wars II]]'' cartoon... but only in grief, believing (erroneously) that his actions earlier had caused the death of [[Lio Convoy]] (which didn't happen). He did not get drunk again for the duration of the cartoon, nor did he ever do so in the manga. Outside of that, the Native American stereotype "common" to Japanese fictions is a stoic, silent, and often mystical warrior... none of which could be used to accurately describe Apache at all.

{{-}}
===Robots in Disguise===
*'''The Japanese ''Car Robots'' cartoon was a direct sequel to ''Beast Wars Neo''.'''

: Some fans seem to have concluded, based on the similar animation style and overall tone, that the [[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|''Car Robots'' cartoon]] was meant to pick up where ''[[Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' had left off, but all indications are that ''Car Robots'' wasn't meant to take place in any pre-existing TF continuity. But now Takara says it's in the Generation 1 continuity. Along with the 2007 movie. Oooookay.<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=490]</ref>

{{-}}
===Transformers (2007)===
*'''''Transformers'' was nearly rated R by the MPAA.'''

: In the spring of 2007, it was reported that ''[[Wikipedia:Disturbia|Disturbia]]'', a then-upcoming [[DreamWorks]] film starring [[Shia LaBeouf]] and produced by [[Steven Spielberg]], had received an R rating from the [[Wikipedia:Motion Picture Association of America|Motion Picture Association of America]]. That film's rating was eventually lowered to PG-13 on appeal, but in the meantime some Transformers fans became confused and believed that it was ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'' that had been rated R, leading to some heated discussion on Transformers message boards.

{{-}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

{{-}}
==External links==
* [http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 Ten popular but incorrect rumors about Japanese Transformers]

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Lists]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Terrorsaur (BW)

2007-11-08T18:47:44Z

212.219.74.29: /* ''Beast Wars'' */

{{picsneeded}}{{disambig3|Terrorsaur}}

:''Terrorsaur is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] in the [[Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1]]/[[Beast Era]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Terrorsaur-jp.jpg|thumb|300px|Smugly [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]]ish]]

Power-hungry and opportunistic, '''Terrorsaur''' never misses a chance to improve his standing within the Predacons. From cutting deals with [[Maximal]]s to finding and keeping new power sources to himself, Terrorsaur is always thinking two steps ahead. Unfortunately, the big guns of the Beast Wars are usually thinking at least ''four'' steps ahead, and Terrorsaur always ends up on the short end.

:''French name:'' '''Dinomenace'''<br>
:''Japanese name:'' '''Terrorsaurer'''<br>
:''Spanish name:'' '''Terrorsaurio'''

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====''Timelines: Dawn of Future's Past''====
[[Image:Terrorsaurbwdawn.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Don't let him name your stolen ship.]]
While Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] stole the [[Maximal]] relic, the [[Golden Disk]], the Predacon who would later call himself Terrorsaur, along with [[Waspinator|an accomplice]], stole a ship to use for their escape. The two had a contest to decide who would get to name the ship, and "Terrorsaur" won. He settled on ''[[Darksyde]]'', though Megatron agreed that the loser's suggested name, ''Buzzerbot'', would have been more desirable.

Picking up the rest of their group, with the Golden Disk in tow, they left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron's]] orbit. After a space battle with the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']], the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', and an unidentified Predacon ship, both the ''Axalon'' and the ''Darksyde'' entered a [[transwarp]] portal into an indisclosed time and place.

( Note- terrorsaur's pre-beast mode seems to be based on Cybertron wingsaber's model )

====''Beast Wars''====
'''Voice Actor:''' [[Doug Parker]] (English) [[Nobuo Tobita]] (Japanese), [[Marcos Henrique Melo Hailer]] (Brazil)

One of the original members of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron's]] crew that stole the [[Golden Disk]], Terrorsaur usually teamed up with [[Waspinator]] to act as the Predacons' air power. Throughout the Beast Wars Terrorsaur turned on Megatron at the drop of a hat, and was willing to team up with anyone who suggested doing so. [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Rattrap]], and an evil [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] each took a turn "teaming up" with Terrorsaur in his efforts.{{storylink|Equal Measures}} {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}} {{storylink|Dark Designs}} In Double Jeopardy Megatron exposed Terrorsaur's incompetence to the rest of the Predacons, which made any remote possibility of them ever wanting to work for him even more remote.

His shining moment came when Terrorsaur discovered a floating mountain with an unstable cache of [[energon]] that super charged his frame and allowed him to easily depose Megatron. However, the power boost was brief in duration, and the Maximals were able to destroy the floating mountain before Terrorsaur could implement any of his grand designs. Even worse, none of the Predacons followed his lead and they brought Megatron back online while he was fighting the Maximals.{{storylink|Power Surge}}

Eventually, after being beaten back into line after each attempted takeover, Terrorsaur seemed to resign himself to his station... or, at least, decided to bide his time.

Terrorsaur's Beast Wars adventure came to an end when he was knocked into a lava pool by the [[quantum surge]] that resulted from the [[Planet Buster]]'s destruction. His hand was briefly seen glowing, indicating that Terrorsaur was going through [[transmetal|transmetalization]]. This was probably included as a "Trap Door" so the writers could resurrect Terrorsaur or Scorponok if they needed them later. They didn't, which sucks for Terrorsaur.

===Beast Wars Metals Manga===

===Beast Wars Playstation Game===
Terrorsaur flew rescue missions, using his flight capabilities to rescue captured Predacons from the Maximals' prison ships.

===3H Universe Comics===
Terrorsaur (or an alternate-universe incarnation of him) was one of the many Cybertrons kidnapped from his timestream by agents of [[Unicron]] and held in the [[Cauldron]]. Terrorsaur escaped and (presumably) returned to his timestream thanks to the efforts of [[Trailbreaker]] and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]].

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Terrorsaur''' (Basic)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-5'''

: Part of the first wave of ''Beast Wars'' toys, Terrorsaur transforms from an organic pteranadon to robot mode with a spring-loaded one-step transformation. In Japan, there are two different versions of this toy: one nearly identical to the [[Hasbro]] version, another with a more show-like coloration, lacking the green spots and purple paint, adding yellow to its beak and lightening the black plastic to gray.

: This mold was later used for [[Fractyl]], [[Hydra (BWN)|Hydra]], [[Lazorbeak]] and [[Dinobots (toyline)|Dinobots]] [[Terranotron (Dinobots)|Terranotron]].

*'''Terrorsaur''' (Deluxe Transmetal)
: ''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-43'''

: Transmetal Terrorsaur transforms into a robotic pteranodon. It has a third "vehicle" mode; reconfiguring its wings and revealing VTOL fans, plus its tail section splits open to reveal twin thruster engines. In robot mode, its wing-tips detach to form blade weapons.

: This mold was later [[redeco]]ed and slightly [[retool]]ed to make [[Beast Machines]] [[Terranotron (BM)|Terranotron]], and then redecoed and retooled ''differently'' to make [[Armada]] Terrorsaur. The mold was also the base model for the non-toy characters of ''Wreckers'' [[Fractyl]] and ''Armada'' [[Ravenus]].

===Merchandise===
* A [[Kabaya]] "[[candy toy]]" version of Terrorsaur was made available in Japan. Since he was [[gang molding|gang molded]] with the other three toys in the assortment, this unpainted plastic kit was mainly peach and yellow.

* An adorable "super-deformed" magnet of Terrorsaur was made as part of a set of show-cast ''Beast Wars'' magnets in Japan.

===Trivia===
Terrorsaur apparently knows how to disarm a bomb (if he has enough time), since in Equal Measures Megatron orders him to disarm the Maximal bomb that was sent in the Predacon base.

{{-}}
==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Terrorsaur/terrorsaur.htm Terrorsaur at TFU.info]

{{stub}}
[[Category: Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category: Predacon leaders]]
[[Category: Predacons]]
[[Category: Timelines characters]]
[[Category: Transmetals]]
[[Category: Universe characters]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>