Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)

2007-08-24T01:43:57Z

24.207.186.130: /* A Dramatic Change / Ruined FOREVER */

[[Image:BWlogo.jpg|right|250px]]

'''Beast Wars''' is a Transformers franchise that began in 1996, following the end of the [[Generation 2]] toyline.

Beast Wars follows two factions of Transformers, the [[Maximal]]s and the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], who are accidentally transported from the future to Earth's distant past.

''"Beast Wars" is frequently used as a catchall term for the [[Beast Era]] in which Beast Wars and other series occur.

Beast Wars was directly followed by the [[Beast Machines]] franchise.

==Franchise Elements==
The ''Beast Wars'' franchise featured the following primary components:
*[[Beast Wars (toyline)|A toyline]] — (1996-2000)
*[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|A cartoon series]] — (1996-1998) called "Beasties" in many overseas markets.<ref>At the time many markets in the European Union banned shows with excessively violent titles. (Has this changed, the Wikipedia article for TMNT indicates Ninja is no longer banned, but nunchucks still are...?)</ref>
*[[Beast Wars Metals (manga)|A manga series]] to go with seasons 2/3 - Japan only, 'natch.

===Expanded Universe===
There are several 'expanded' Beast Wars storylines featuring events taking place 'just offscreen' of the cartoon series. Though the ''events'' of cartoon series are understood to occur just as had been portrayed, the ''context'' may be different, taking place in different time period, etc. These contradictory stories all co-exist within the vast Transformers [[Multiverse]].
* From 1997 - 2004 [[3H]] featured a series of comics, toy-exclusives and text stories set in the same continuity as the Beat Wars and Beast Machines cartoon series, continuing into the [[Universe (franchise)|Transformers: Universe]] series.
* In 2006 [[IDW]] published [[The Gathering]], a 4-issue comic book occurring parallel to the final season of the Beast Wars cartoon. A followup is planned for late 2007.

Other expanded storylines are less congruent with the original cartoon, and are perhaps better considered 'alternate' versions rather than expanded stories.
* [[Dreamwave Productions]] planned a Beast Wars comic book series, but the company declared bankruptcy in 2004 with only [[Ain't No Rat|1 'sneak-peak']] story published.<ref>The planned Dreamwave Beast Wars comic is believed to be very similar to the later IDW Beast Wars series, which would be produced by the same writer and artist.</ref> A framing sequence to their [[More Than Meets The Eye|G1 profile series]] featuring [[Megatron (BW)|BW Megatron]] establishes that Dreamwave's version of the Beast Wars has some [[Golden Disk (MTMTE)|significant divergences]] from the original cartoon.

* [[Fun Publications]] [[Timelines]] imprint (2005 — ) has published several Beast Wars comics and text stories.

=="Other" Beast Wars==
* The initial toys and the [[mini-comic]] packed with the basic Optimus Primal VS Megatron two-pack toy strongly implied that Beast Wars was a continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict on present day Earth, with Primal and Megatron simply new forms of the original Prime and Megatron. This setting was abandoned when the 1996 cartoon established its futuristic setting. This remains an intriguing [[Micro-Continuities|micro-continuity]].
* A version of the Beast Wars occoured in the past of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]]. One text story ([[Fire in the Dark]]) in the 2004 [[Transformers Legends]] anthology is set in this version of Beast Wars. {{see|Beast Wars (Armada)}}
* The [[Movie (franchise)|2007 live-action movie franchise]] has a version of the Beast Wars in its past.<ref>[[Sector Seven]] had the shattered [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|golden disk]] (and possibly the [[Covenant of Primus]]) in its archives 1898, some 80 years before the disk's creation.</ref><ref>The [[Sector Seven (game)|Sector Seven Alternate Reality Game]] indicates Sector Seven is at least partially aware of the events of the Beast Wars as early as 1983, as they are mentioned in the [[Takara Agreement]].</ref>

==A Dramatic Change / [[Ruined FOREVER]]==
The major change in direction for Transformers followed organizational changes within [[Hasbro]]. Hasbro had recently{{fact}} bought out their rival toy manufacturer, [[Kenner]], and in 1995, they transferred their boys toylines from the Hasbro headquarters in Rhode Island to Kenner's Cincinnati, Ohio offices. Kenner was asked to revitalize the brand with new ideas, and that is exactly what they did.

Beast Wars was the first complete reinvention of the [[Transformers brand]], discarding the previous setting/characters/factions to create a new story, set several hundred years in the future. Transformers in the Beast Era are much smaller (often human-sized) and transform into 'fleshy' non-robotic animals. Initially met with outrage by fans (for a variety of reasons) Beast Wars would eventually become highly regarded, largely due to the exceptional quality of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|cartoon series]].

Almost every '[[Generation 1]]' series that followed has established Beast Wars as 'the future.'

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category:Beast Era]]
[[Category:Beast Wars| ]]<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>

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Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)