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Out of the Past

2014-02-23T07:06:39Z

Jboy1021: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 43
|prev=Hurt
|next=New Recruit
|image=OutofthePast-Shockwave.jpg
|caption=Arcee's partners are all dead.
|title="Out of the Past"
|airdate=[[August 31]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Mike Johnson]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Arcee recalls the time she and Cliffjumper discovered Shockwave and Starscream were building a space bridge.'''

==Synopsis==
:''The ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' flies through space. On the bridge, [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] is dragged before [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] who's interested in decrypting an Autobot signal he's intercepted. While Arcee defies his "offer" by telling him where to go, Starscream reveals he has another prisoner—[[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]].''

In the present day, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is struggling with his recovery, with [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] providing some "encouragement" in the form of ordering him around. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] is similarly struggling to decode the recovered Iacon database. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] says Bulkhead needs a break, despite Miko being annoyed at the slow progress her friend is making. She storms out of the base, but Arcee follows and finds her crying atop the plateau in which the base is located. The Autobot tries to talk to her friend about Bulkhead, and the conversation leads to Miko asking about Cliffjumper.

[[Image:OutofthePast-CliffArcee.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Did it have anything to do with those sirens around noon?" "I said I ''don't'' want to talk about it!"]]
:''Cliffjumper is dumped in the cell, having undergone torture but has resisted talking. He and Arcee discuss how they came to be back on Cybertron. Elsewhere Starscream complains about the failure of his interrogation, and [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] suggests taking them down on the planet's surface. Starscream and some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] are soon leading the two prisoners through [[Kaon]] to a laboratory. Cliffjumper is concerned at the sight of the many tools lying ready to be used, even more so when Starscream introduces them to [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] himself. The two Autobots are strapped to tables, and Shockwave uses a [[cortical psychic patch]] to hook in to Arcee's mind. The process is successful and Starscream uses it to decode the transmission—which turns out to be Optimus Prime's message to bring the other Autobots to [[Earth]].''

:''Though the Decepticons have assumed Arcee is dead, she is very much alive and surreptitiously begins freeing herself. As Shockwave prepares to finish off Cliffjumper, Cliff suggests Starscream should be the one to do it. Shockwave leaves them to it, but as Starscream moves in, he's attacked by Arcee. She straps him to the free table and releases Cliffjumper. Starscream quickly folds under questioning and confesses Shockwave remained on the planet because he's building a [[space bridge]]. Knocking the 'Con out, Arcee goes to shut down the space bridge, and Cliffjumper insists on going along, despite her skepticism about his capacity for stealth. As they walk, Cliff suggests they should join Optimus's team, but Arcee isn't as keen, and rejects the idea that Cliff is her partner. Cliffjumper believes she shouldn't close herself off just because of [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death.''

Miko recognizes the truth of this advice, but asks Arcee what happened next.

[[Image:Cliffjumper and Shockwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Thumbs up if you think Shockwave is weird!" "0_0" "He's right behind me, isn't he?"]]
:''Arcee and Cliffjumper find the space bridge, with two Vehicons operating it. While Cliff provides a distraction, Arcee starts sabotaging the bridge to overload it. Unfortunately Shockwave arrives and attempts to fix the bridge. Cliffjumper dispatches the Vehicons before sparring with Shockwave, ultimately being defeated by the hulking Decepticon. Arcee lends a hand, bringing the roof down on the Decepticon, but the pair become pinned down by Starscream and some Vehicons. Starscream demands they reverse the damage to the space bridge, but they instead head through it. Halfway through the space bridge tunnel, Shockwave catches up with the two Autobots and they exchange fire until Arcee shoots him in the eye. The space bridge deposits Cliffjumper and Arcee on Earth seconds before exploding, and after declaring themselves partners, they go to find Optimus.''

Arcee finishes her story as the sun goes down, saying she misses Cliffjumper. Miko rests her hand on Arcee's in a gesture of comfort as they watch the sunset.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (WFC) | Arcee]] (2)
*''[[Cliffjumper (WFC) | Cliffjumper]] (5)''
*[[Bulkhead (Prime) | Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC) | Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (WFC) | Ratchet]] (9)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC) | Bumblebee]] (10)
* ''[[Tailgate (Prime) | Tailgate]] (13)''
|c2=
*''[[Vehicon (Prime) | Vehicons]] (1)''
*''[[Starscream (WFC) | Starscream]] (3)''
*''[[Soundwave (WFC) | Soundwave]] (4)''
*''[[Shockwave (WFC) | Shockwave]] (11)''
*''[[Airachnid (Prime) | Airachnid]] (12)''
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"If you push a patient too far, too fast, you risk exasperating their injuries. Bulkhead needs to rest!"
:—'''Ratchet''' bestows his medical expertise to Miko.

"After I lost my first partner—Tailgate—I pushed everyone away, until Cliffjumper came along." 
"What was he like?" 
"Cliff was...quite the conversationalist."
:—'''Arcee''' tells '''Miko''' about her late partner.

"So this is Kaon, huh? Love what you Decepticons have done with the place. The ruins are especially picturesque."
:—'''Cliffjumper''' saying a one liner.

"Your reasoning is hardly... ''logical''."
:—'''Shockwave'''

"While it often pains me, I ''try'' to be a team player."
:—'''Starscream'''

"Only Starscream could fail to dispose of a helpless captive."
:—'''Shockwave'''

"They should really stop shooting at us if they want our help."
:—'''Cliffjumper''' saying yet another one liner.

"Funny. At first I didn't think I'd ever get used to Cliff's constant chatter. Now, there's nothing louder to me than the silence."
:—'''Arcee''' trying to be deep to the audience.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Within the space bridge, Cliffjumper is by Arcee's side while shooting at Shockwave, but disappears when it's just Arcee facing the Decepticon. He reappears as Arcee shoots Shockwave's eye.
* When Starsream and Shockwave are listening to Optimus Prime's transmission, Shockwave is seen on the left of Starscream. When it ends, he's on the right. Of course, he might have changed position while the camera was focused on the Autobots.
* The bottom part of Arcee's head crest is red, but turns silver when she and Cliffjumper are interrogating Starscream. This happens again when they are in the space bridge vortex.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode retells the prequel story told in [[Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|the IDW graphic novel]] (also written by Mike Johnson). The story's still about Arcee and Cliffjumper learning about Optimus Prime on Earth, uncovering a Decepticon plot to reestablish forgotten [[space bridge]] technology, Cliffjumper pretending to forfeit to the Decepticons as a cover for Arcee's hijinks, and them running for the space bridge portal to Earth while being blasted at by Decepticons. However, each of these stories occur in an incompatible way, and the episode gives responsibility for the space bridge project to Shockwave instead of Starscream. A notable change to the timeline see the episodes contradict the graphic novel's statement that Starscream had been on Earth with Megatron during the initial clash between the Autobots and Decepticons there (three years prior to the start of the cartoon), and only returned to Cybertron to set up the space bridge; on-screen, it is clear he has ''not'' been to the planet before, given that he requires Prime's signal to locate it (which in the comic only served to provide Cliffjumper and Arcee with knowledge of Prime's location).
* Cliffjumper is voiced by [[Billy Brown]], whose imitation of [[Dwayne Johnson]] generally sounds quite convincing.
* Bulkhead has regained consciousness since the events of "[[Hurt]]", but he can barely walk.
* Optimus tries to decode the rest of the Iacon database gained in "[[Triage]]".
* As a nod to Cliffjumper's eventual fate, Starscream decides to eliminate Cliffjumper "the old-fashioned way": [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|by eviscerating him with his claws]].

===Transformers references===
* Cliffjumper mentions getting lost in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]], which did sort of happen in ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron| Fall of Cybertron]]'', and he was, kind of, separated from his unit (if you count [[Sideswipe (WFC)|two]] [[Jazz (WFC)|bots]] as a unit). However, Cliff ''did'' have Jazz to talk to. (Talk "at")
* Shockwave stayed behind on Cybertron, much like how his G1-counterpart remained on the planet.
* Arcee's declaration that space bridge technology was lost for a long time was true in the ''Transformers: Exodus'' novel.
* Throughout several continuities, Shockwave has kept to logic as his sense for reason.
* This isn't the first time that [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] has attempted to extract [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|codes]] from [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]. The same happened [[This Is Why I Hate Machines|towards]] [[Endgame, Part I|the end]] of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]''.
* Cliffjumper pretends to be an Autobot traitor. In [[Cliffjumper (G1)|another life]], Cliffjumper [[Traitor|accused]] [[Mirage (G1)|other Autobots]] of being traitors. In [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|yet another life]], Cliffjumper [[Autoboot Camp|sent]] an [[Wasp|innocent Autobot]] to prison for being framed as a traitor, ironically by [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]].
* Arcee tells Starscream to get [[frag|fragged]].

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
* Shockwave is apparently the inventor of the illegal cortical psychic patch. Not surprising, considering he's also responsible for some "certain" changes made to some "certain" [[Dinobot (FOC)|Autobots]].
* As in "[[Predatory]]", the primary characters use the same models, meaning they all have Earth-mode kibble well before ever visiting Earth.
* Starscream gloats about how he captured the uncaptureable Arcee. Apparently he never heard of [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s [[Predatory|encounter]] with [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. This is consistent with comments he makes in the episode "[[Partners]]", in which he asks "Who's Tailgate?", accidentally revealing to Arcee that it was he who killed Cliffjumper.
** In general, Starscream's interrogation of Arcee at the beginning of the episode is very similar to Airachnid's attempts to extract information from her, although Arcee takes the former's threats better than the latter's.
* Arcee's flashback of Tailgate's death happens during the flashback of her adventure with Cliffjumper. A flashback within a flashback. Flashbackception. ''BWAMMMM''.
* Shockwave doesn't think very highly of Starscream, and by the same token Starscream doesn't like him and considers him an arrogant glory hog despite this episode not providing any hints of it. Then again, this is Starscream we're talking about.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Schatten der Vergangenheit'''" ("Shadows from the Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 2|2 February]] [[2013]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tsuioku Henkei! Arcee no Kako'''" (追憶変形!アーシーの過去, "Reminiscent Transformation! Arcee's Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 26|26 January]] [[2013]]
*Shockwave is given a speech quirk, spouting the word "shock" every other time he does something and weaving it into many of his lines, causing him describe much of what happens as "shocking". For example, when Cliffjumper's blasts don't harm him, he responds with "Shocking, isn't it? That doesn't work on me." This is similar to how [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|''Armada'' Tidal Wave]], who was named Shockwave in Japan, talked.

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''No Passado'''" ("In The Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 25|25 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Adaptations]]
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Team Prime

2014-02-16T06:50:14Z

Jboy1021: /* Titan Magazines Prime comics */

{{faction|autobot}}
:''Team Prime is an [[Autobot]] group from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:Rebellion-Autobotgroupshot.jpg|500px|thumb|''WE ARE LEGEND HEROOOOOOES!!!!'']]

'''Team Prime''', later the '''Beast Hunters''', is the Autobot team stationed in [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Outpost Omega One]], led by none other than Optimus Prime himself. Allied with the [[United States of America|United States]] government, the group consists of a wide variety of members, from [[Prime (rank)|Primes]] to [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] to agents of [[Unit:E]]. Though they bicker from time to time and have their differences, the team always sticks together, even in the face of termination itself. When pushed, this group is so strong, even [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] has learned not to underestimate them. Sure, they may be at a disadvantage in the war, but as Optimus Prime has observed, this has made them grow closer than ever; not just as a team, but as a family.

{{bigquote|The members of Team Prime are not cogs in a machine. They have grown into something greater than an army. They have become [family].|[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Evolution]]"}}
==Members==
[[Image:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|250px|The original team line up]]
*'''Autobots'''
**[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (leader)
**[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]
**[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]
**[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]
**[[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] (offline)
**[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]
**[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]]
**[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]
*'''Humans'''
**[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]]
**[[Raf Esquivel]]
**[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]]
**[[William Fowler]]
**[[June Darby]]
*'''Decepticons'''
**[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' comic===
Team Prime, then consisting of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], were already based in the missile silo when [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] answered Optimus's call and arrived on Earth. Optimus and Bumblebee used the [[GroundBridge]] to rescue the two from [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|Prime}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:PrimeTS-Autobots.jpg|right|400px|thumb|We could handle Team Edward and Team Jacob.]]
At some point, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Ratchet travelled to the planet [[Earth]]. They were appointed [[William Fowler]] as an official human-Cybertronian liaison and given an abandoned missile silo as housing, which was eventually converted into [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]]. Some time afterwards, Team Prime received reinforcements in the shape of Arcee and Cliffjumper, who had commandeered a Decepticon [[space bridge]] in order to reach Optimus Prime's current location. After landing on Earth, they obtained Earth vehicle forms and joined the team. {{storylink|Out of the Past}} After three years of little Decepticon activity, Cliffjumper was killed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} Some time afterwards, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] briefly arrived on Earth, but eventually left to continue travelling the stars. {{storylink|Con Job}}. Team Prime continued to cope with a number of threats, including [[Scraplet]]s, {{storylink|Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap}} [[MECH]], {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}} attempted infiltration by the Decepticons, {{storylink|Con Job}} Bulkhead's mind almost being overwritten, {{storylink|T.M.I.}} [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s drug problems, {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}} and even Megatron himself possessing Bumblebee's mind. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

While they struggled to stop the Decepticons getting components to build a new space bridge, {{storylink|One Shall Fall}} it became clear that there was a larger menace in play—[[Unicron]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} Such was this threat that it required Team Prime to join with Megatron and venture into Earth's core {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} where they vanquished Unicron, albeit at the cost of Optimus Prime's memories. Believing himself to be simple Orion Pax, he left with Megatron, leaving Team Prime with Ratchet as acting leader. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} The rest of Team Prime endeavored to restore Optimus's memories, leading to Jack and Arcee undertaking a trip to Cybertron to visit [[Vector Sigma]] and successfully bringing Prime back to them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

While Team Prime dealt with the repercussions of Optimus's temporary defection, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] returned to Earth and became an honorary member of Team Prime, although he spent much of his time away from base. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}. The Autobots found themselves in an arms race with the Decepticons to recover Cybertronian relics previously launched into space from [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] during the final days of the war. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} {{storylink|Flying Mind}} Bulkhead was later critically injured by the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] [[Hardshell (Prime)|Hardshell]], leaving him gravely injured and unable to fight. {{storylink|Toxicity}} Wheeljack and Miko's ensuing quest for revenge not only killed Hardshell, but alienated the former from the team for putting the latter in harm's way. {{storylink|Hurt}} However, a new Autobot named [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] landed on Earth, and became the newest member of the team. {{storylink|New Recruit}} Bulkhead eventually recovered. {{storylink|Legacy}}

When the Decepticons built [[Darkmount (Earth)|a huge fortress]] outside Jasper and launched an attack on the base - a battle in which Wheeljack and Fowler proved their loyalty to the Autobots when they came to their aid - and Optimus had the team split up while he stayed behind to destroy the GroundBridge. The Decepticons destroyed the base with Optimus still inside. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}} Smokescreen rescued the dying Optimus and hid with him underground as the Decepticons tried to find the scattered Autobots, {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} though Optimus believed his death was imminent and believed Smokescreen to be his successor as leader of the team. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Not long after, [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived on Earth, {{storylink|Scattered}} and was able to reunite Ratchet, Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, the humans, and Wheeljack. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Magnus led an assault on Darkmount that ended in failure, but when all hope seemed lost, Optimus Prime, returned, having been upgraded by the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] thanks to Smokescreen. The battle was renewed and the fortress came crashing down with help from Agent Fowler. The Autobots regrouped at a military base, and Optimus welcomed Ultra Magnus to the team. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} Upon finding out about Megatron's plans of cloning a Predacon army and unleashing it on mankind and the Autobots, Optimus redubbed the team, the "Beast Hunters". Tensions began brewing in the team with the arrival of Ultra Magnus as the new second-in-command,{{storylink|Project Predacon}} climaxing when Magnus nearly caused Wheeljack to leave the team during a Predacon bone hunt in Scotland, {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)}} but luckily he is convinced to stay by Arcee. {{storylink|Plus One}} Magnus finally realized his negative effect on the team when they prove to favor Optimus over him, and he and Wheeljack mended their differences when facing off against the newly-sentient [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] after destroying Shockwave's Project Predacon. {{storylink|Evolution}}

When the Decepticons turned their efforts toward stealing Earth's technology for their latest scheme to rebuild the [[Omega Lock]], the Autobots are able to capture [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], who confesses nothing, and ultimately is freed by [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] and captures Ratchet, taking him back to the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Minus One}} The team tried their best to cope without their medic, and devised a plan to find him and the Decepticon's warship, while Ratchet was persuaded to help perfect the synthetic Energon necessary to restore Cybertron. {{storylink|Persuasion}} Though they failed to find the ''Nemesis'' on their own, Ratchet was eventually able to disable the vessel's shield, letting the entire team storm the ship for a final battle. {{storylink|Synthesis}} Optimus and Megatron battled each other; Jack, Miko and Raf banished Soundwave to the [[Shadowzone (dimension)|Shadowzone]]; the Wreckers engaged the Decepticon troops; and Arcee, Ratchet, and Smokescreen fought Starscream and Shockwave. Bumblebee attempted to get the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] to Optimus, but was killed by Megatron before he could do so. Before Megatron could kill Optimus, he was slain by Bumblebee (restored by the Omega Lock's [[Cyber-matter]]) with the Saber. The team took control of the ''Nemesis'' and used the Omega Lock to restore Cybertron, where Knock Out failed to talk his way onto the team. The Autobots returned to Cybertron to rebuild, while Ratchet stayed behind with [[Unit:E]] on Earth. {{storylink|Deadlock}}

[[Image:Team Prime Final.png|left|400px|thumb|New Member!]]
Optimus and Wheeljack departed for [[Theta Scorpii]] to retrieve the long-lost [[AllSpark]]. After a failed attempt at diplomacy with Predaking, Unicron returned to Cybertron in Megatron's body, and with Optimus and Ultra Magnus out of the picture (the latter having been mauled by newly cloned Predacons [[Darksteel (Prime)|Darksteel]] and [[Skylynx]]), Ratchet inspired Bumblebee to take up leadership of the team for the time being. After Knock Out finally earned his place on the team after halting Starscream's attempted coup of the ''Nemesis'', Bumblebee led the last stand against Unicron, allying with the Predacons in defense of Cybertron. Optimus returned just in time to defeat Unicron, albeit at the cost of merging the AllSpark with the Matrix of Leadership. Optimus announced to his team of his impending necessary sacrifice to bring new life to the planet, and did not choose a successor as team leader, in favor of allowing a leader to rise on their own based on their actions. The team - now consisting of Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, Ultra Magnus, and Knock Out - witnessed their leader's final transformation and the dawn of a new age on their home. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
{{--}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
Ratchet constructed the [[Safe]], a training room on one of the lower levels of the base. In the process of testing it, the Autobots uncovered a live nuclear bomb. The warhead, which should have been taken away when the base was originally stripped, almost led to the discovery of the base by Vehicons. Luckily Raf was able to keep the bomb busy until Fowler arrived with some scientists to defuse it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.1|The Safe and the Failsafe}}

[[Image:Titan4.3 ice rink Omega One.jpg|thumb|270px| This is one cool gym]]
The Autobots decorated their base for [[Christmas]], however when Fowler told them the Decepticons had taken over a [[Yamal|nuclear-powered ship]], Optimus left Bulkhead and Arcee behind to work on their differences. On Raf's suggestion, the pair tried to find a common like, and eventually settled on ice skating. Then they turned the base into an indoor ice rink, which Ratchet didn't seem too enthusiastic about. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Ice Breaker}}

When Raf became hypnotised by a video game and activated the GroundBridge, hordes of Vehicons started pouring into the base. Ratchet activated the base's defenses, providing pop-up metal shields as cover while the Autobots fought back. Raf was eventually snapped out of his trance and turned the GroundBridge into a vacuum that sucking the Vehicons back out, though there were a few loose parts left behind. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.4|Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!}}

== Games ==
=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game ===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game|Prime - The Game}}

==Notes==

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]

Team Prime

2014-02-16T06:48:00Z

Jboy1021: /* Members */

{{faction|autobot}}
:''Team Prime is an [[Autobot]] group from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:Rebellion-Autobotgroupshot.jpg|500px|thumb|''WE ARE LEGEND HEROOOOOOES!!!!'']]

'''Team Prime''', later the '''Beast Hunters''', is the Autobot team stationed in [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Outpost Omega One]], led by none other than Optimus Prime himself. Allied with the [[United States of America|United States]] government, the group consists of a wide variety of members, from [[Prime (rank)|Primes]] to [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] to agents of [[Unit:E]]. Though they bicker from time to time and have their differences, the team always sticks together, even in the face of termination itself. When pushed, this group is so strong, even [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] has learned not to underestimate them. Sure, they may be at a disadvantage in the war, but as Optimus Prime has observed, this has made them grow closer than ever; not just as a team, but as a family.

{{bigquote|The members of Team Prime are not cogs in a machine. They have grown into something greater than an army. They have become [family].|[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Evolution]]"}}
==Members==
[[Image:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|250px|The original team line up]]
*'''Autobots'''
**[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (leader)
**[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]
**[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]
**[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]
**[[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] (offline)
**[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]
**[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]]
**[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]
*'''Humans'''
**[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]]
**[[Raf Esquivel]]
**[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]]
**[[William Fowler]]
**[[June Darby]]
*'''Decepticons'''
**[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' comic===
Team Prime, then consisting of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], were already based in the missile silo when [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] answered Optimus's call and arrived on Earth. Optimus and Bumblebee used the [[GroundBridge]] to rescue the two from [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|Prime}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:PrimeTS-Autobots.jpg|right|400px|thumb|We could handle Team Edward and Team Jacob.]]
At some point, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Ratchet travelled to the planet [[Earth]]. They were appointed [[William Fowler]] as an official human-Cybertronian liaison and given an abandoned missile silo as housing, which was eventually converted into [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]]. Some time afterwards, Team Prime received reinforcements in the shape of Arcee and Cliffjumper, who had commandeered a Decepticon [[space bridge]] in order to reach Optimus Prime's current location. After landing on Earth, they obtained Earth vehicle forms and joined the team. {{storylink|Out of the Past}} After three years of little Decepticon activity, Cliffjumper was killed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} Some time afterwards, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] briefly arrived on Earth, but eventually left to continue travelling the stars. {{storylink|Con Job}}. Team Prime continued to cope with a number of threats, including [[Scraplet]]s, {{storylink|Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap}} [[MECH]], {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}} attempted infiltration by the Decepticons, {{storylink|Con Job}} Bulkhead's mind almost being overwritten, {{storylink|T.M.I.}} [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s drug problems, {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}} and even Megatron himself possessing Bumblebee's mind. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

While they struggled to stop the Decepticons getting components to build a new space bridge, {{storylink|One Shall Fall}} it became clear that there was a larger menace in play—[[Unicron]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} Such was this threat that it required Team Prime to join with Megatron and venture into Earth's core {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} where they vanquished Unicron, albeit at the cost of Optimus Prime's memories. Believing himself to be simple Orion Pax, he left with Megatron, leaving Team Prime with Ratchet as acting leader. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} The rest of Team Prime endeavored to restore Optimus's memories, leading to Jack and Arcee undertaking a trip to Cybertron to visit [[Vector Sigma]] and successfully bringing Prime back to them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

While Team Prime dealt with the repercussions of Optimus's temporary defection, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] returned to Earth and became an honorary member of Team Prime, although he spent much of his time away from base. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}. The Autobots found themselves in an arms race with the Decepticons to recover Cybertronian relics previously launched into space from [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] during the final days of the war. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} {{storylink|Flying Mind}} Bulkhead was later critically injured by the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] [[Hardshell (Prime)|Hardshell]], leaving him gravely injured and unable to fight. {{storylink|Toxicity}} Wheeljack and Miko's ensuing quest for revenge not only killed Hardshell, but alienated the former from the team for putting the latter in harm's way. {{storylink|Hurt}} However, a new Autobot named [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] landed on Earth, and became the newest member of the team. {{storylink|New Recruit}} Bulkhead eventually recovered. {{storylink|Legacy}}

When the Decepticons built [[Darkmount (Earth)|a huge fortress]] outside Jasper and launched an attack on the base - a battle in which Wheeljack and Fowler proved their loyalty to the Autobots when they came to their aid - and Optimus had the team split up while he stayed behind to destroy the GroundBridge. The Decepticons destroyed the base with Optimus still inside. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}} Smokescreen rescued the dying Optimus and hid with him underground as the Decepticons tried to find the scattered Autobots, {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} though Optimus believed his death was imminent and believed Smokescreen to be his successor as leader of the team. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Not long after, [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived on Earth, {{storylink|Scattered}} and was able to reunite Ratchet, Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, the humans, and Wheeljack. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Magnus led an assault on Darkmount that ended in failure, but when all hope seemed lost, Optimus Prime, returned, having been upgraded by the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] thanks to Smokescreen. The battle was renewed and the fortress came crashing down with help from Agent Fowler. The Autobots regrouped at a military base, and Optimus welcomed Ultra Magnus to the team. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} Upon finding out about Megatron's plans of cloning a Predacon army and unleashing it on mankind and the Autobots, Optimus redubbed the team, the "Beast Hunters". Tensions began brewing in the team with the arrival of Ultra Magnus as the new second-in-command,{{storylink|Project Predacon}} climaxing when Magnus nearly caused Wheeljack to leave the team during a Predacon bone hunt in Scotland, {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)}} but luckily he is convinced to stay by Arcee. {{storylink|Plus One}} Magnus finally realized his negative effect on the team when they prove to favor Optimus over him, and he and Wheeljack mended their differences when facing off against the newly-sentient [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] after destroying Shockwave's Project Predacon. {{storylink|Evolution}}

When the Decepticons turned their efforts toward stealing Earth's technology for their latest scheme to rebuild the [[Omega Lock]], the Autobots are able to capture [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], who confesses nothing, and ultimately is freed by [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] and captures Ratchet, taking him back to the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Minus One}} The team tried their best to cope without their medic, and devised a plan to find him and the Decepticon's warship, while Ratchet was persuaded to help perfect the synthetic Energon necessary to restore Cybertron. {{storylink|Persuasion}} Though they failed to find the ''Nemesis'' on their own, Ratchet was eventually able to disable the vessel's shield, letting the entire team storm the ship for a final battle. {{storylink|Synthesis}} Optimus and Megatron battled each other; Jack, Miko and Raf banished Soundwave to the [[Shadowzone (dimension)|Shadowzone]]; the Wreckers engaged the Decepticon troops; and Arcee, Ratchet, and Smokescreen fought Starscream and Shockwave. Bumblebee attempted to get the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] to Optimus, but was killed by Megatron before he could do so. Before Megatron could kill Optimus, he was slain by Bumblebee (restored by the Omega Lock's [[Cyber-matter]]) with the Saber. The team took control of the ''Nemesis'' and used the Omega Lock to restore Cybertron, where Knock Out failed to talk his way onto the team. The Autobots returned to Cybertron to rebuild, while Ratchet stayed behind with [[Unit:E]] on Earth. {{storylink|Deadlock}}

[[Image:Team Prime Final.png|left|400px|thumb|New Member!]]
Optimus and Wheeljack departed for [[Theta Scorpii]] to retrieve the long-lost [[AllSpark]]. After a failed attempt at diplomacy with Predaking, Unicron returned to Cybertron in Megatron's body, and with Optimus and Ultra Magnus out of the picture (the latter having been mauled by newly cloned Predacons [[Darksteel (Prime)|Darksteel]] and [[Skylynx]]), Ratchet inspired Bumblebee to take up leadership of the team for the time being. After Knock Out finally earned his place on the team after halting Starscream's attempted coup of the ''Nemesis'', Bumblebee led the last stand against Unicron, allying with the Predacons in defense of Cybertron. Optimus returned just in time to defeat Unicron, albeit at the cost of merging the AllSpark with the Matrix of Leadership. Optimus announced to his team of his impending necessary sacrifice to bring new life to the planet, and did not choose a successor as team leader, in favor of allowing a leader to rise on their own based on their actions. The team - now consisting of Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, Ultra Magnus, and Knock Out - witnessed their leader's final transformation and the dawn of a new age on their home. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
{{--}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
Ratchet constructed the [[Safe]], a training room on one of the lower levels of the base. In the process of testing it, the Autobots uncovered a live nuclear bomb. The warhead, which should have been taken away when the base was originally stripped, almost led to the discovery of the base by Vehicons. Luckily Raf was able to keep the bomb busy until Fowler arrived with some scientists to defuse it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.1|The Safe and the Failsafe}}

[[Image:Titan4.3 ice rink Omega One.jpg|thumb|270px]]
The Autobots decorated their base for [[Christmas]], however when Fowler told them the Decepticons had taken over a [[Yamal|nuclear-powered ship]], Optimus left Bulkhead and Arcee behind to work on their differences. On Raf's suggestion, the pair tried to find a common like, and eventually settled on ice skating. Then they turned the base into an indoor ice rink, which Ratchet didn't seem too enthusiastic about. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Ice Breaker}}

When Raf became hypnotised by a video game and activated the GroundBridge, hordes of Vehicons started pouring into the base. Ratchet activated the base's defenses, providing pop-up metal shields as cover while the Autobots fought back. Raf was eventually snapped out of his trance and turned the GroundBridge into a vacuum that sucking the Vehicons back out, though there were a few loose parts left behind. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.4|Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!}}

== Games ==
=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game ===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game|Prime - The Game}}

==Notes==

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]

Team Prime

2014-02-16T06:47:28Z

Jboy1021: /* Members */

{{faction|autobot}}
:''Team Prime is an [[Autobot]] group from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:Rebellion-Autobotgroupshot.jpg|500px|thumb|''WE ARE LEGEND HEROOOOOOES!!!!'']]

'''Team Prime''', later the '''Beast Hunters''', is the Autobot team stationed in [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Outpost Omega One]], led by none other than Optimus Prime himself. Allied with the [[United States of America|United States]] government, the group consists of a wide variety of members, from [[Prime (rank)|Primes]] to [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] to agents of [[Unit:E]]. Though they bicker from time to time and have their differences, the team always sticks together, even in the face of termination itself. When pushed, this group is so strong, even [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] has learned not to underestimate them. Sure, they may be at a disadvantage in the war, but as Optimus Prime has observed, this has made them grow closer than ever; not just as a team, but as a family.

{{bigquote|The members of Team Prime are not cogs in a machine. They have grown into something greater than an army. They have become [family].|[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Evolution]]"}}
==Members==
[[Image:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|250px|The original team line up]]
*'''Autobots'''
**[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (leader)
**[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]
**[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]
**[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]
**[[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] (offline)
**[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]
**[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]]
**[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]
*'''Humans'''
**[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]]
**[[Raf Esquivel]]
**[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]]
**[[William Fowler]]
**[[June Darby]]
'''Decepticons'''
**[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' comic===
Team Prime, then consisting of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], were already based in the missile silo when [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] answered Optimus's call and arrived on Earth. Optimus and Bumblebee used the [[GroundBridge]] to rescue the two from [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|Prime}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:PrimeTS-Autobots.jpg|right|400px|thumb|We could handle Team Edward and Team Jacob.]]
At some point, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Ratchet travelled to the planet [[Earth]]. They were appointed [[William Fowler]] as an official human-Cybertronian liaison and given an abandoned missile silo as housing, which was eventually converted into [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]]. Some time afterwards, Team Prime received reinforcements in the shape of Arcee and Cliffjumper, who had commandeered a Decepticon [[space bridge]] in order to reach Optimus Prime's current location. After landing on Earth, they obtained Earth vehicle forms and joined the team. {{storylink|Out of the Past}} After three years of little Decepticon activity, Cliffjumper was killed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} Some time afterwards, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] briefly arrived on Earth, but eventually left to continue travelling the stars. {{storylink|Con Job}}. Team Prime continued to cope with a number of threats, including [[Scraplet]]s, {{storylink|Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap}} [[MECH]], {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}} attempted infiltration by the Decepticons, {{storylink|Con Job}} Bulkhead's mind almost being overwritten, {{storylink|T.M.I.}} [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s drug problems, {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}} and even Megatron himself possessing Bumblebee's mind. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

While they struggled to stop the Decepticons getting components to build a new space bridge, {{storylink|One Shall Fall}} it became clear that there was a larger menace in play—[[Unicron]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} Such was this threat that it required Team Prime to join with Megatron and venture into Earth's core {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} where they vanquished Unicron, albeit at the cost of Optimus Prime's memories. Believing himself to be simple Orion Pax, he left with Megatron, leaving Team Prime with Ratchet as acting leader. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} The rest of Team Prime endeavored to restore Optimus's memories, leading to Jack and Arcee undertaking a trip to Cybertron to visit [[Vector Sigma]] and successfully bringing Prime back to them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

While Team Prime dealt with the repercussions of Optimus's temporary defection, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] returned to Earth and became an honorary member of Team Prime, although he spent much of his time away from base. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}. The Autobots found themselves in an arms race with the Decepticons to recover Cybertronian relics previously launched into space from [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] during the final days of the war. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} {{storylink|Flying Mind}} Bulkhead was later critically injured by the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] [[Hardshell (Prime)|Hardshell]], leaving him gravely injured and unable to fight. {{storylink|Toxicity}} Wheeljack and Miko's ensuing quest for revenge not only killed Hardshell, but alienated the former from the team for putting the latter in harm's way. {{storylink|Hurt}} However, a new Autobot named [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] landed on Earth, and became the newest member of the team. {{storylink|New Recruit}} Bulkhead eventually recovered. {{storylink|Legacy}}

When the Decepticons built [[Darkmount (Earth)|a huge fortress]] outside Jasper and launched an attack on the base - a battle in which Wheeljack and Fowler proved their loyalty to the Autobots when they came to their aid - and Optimus had the team split up while he stayed behind to destroy the GroundBridge. The Decepticons destroyed the base with Optimus still inside. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}} Smokescreen rescued the dying Optimus and hid with him underground as the Decepticons tried to find the scattered Autobots, {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} though Optimus believed his death was imminent and believed Smokescreen to be his successor as leader of the team. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Not long after, [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived on Earth, {{storylink|Scattered}} and was able to reunite Ratchet, Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, the humans, and Wheeljack. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Magnus led an assault on Darkmount that ended in failure, but when all hope seemed lost, Optimus Prime, returned, having been upgraded by the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] thanks to Smokescreen. The battle was renewed and the fortress came crashing down with help from Agent Fowler. The Autobots regrouped at a military base, and Optimus welcomed Ultra Magnus to the team. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} Upon finding out about Megatron's plans of cloning a Predacon army and unleashing it on mankind and the Autobots, Optimus redubbed the team, the "Beast Hunters". Tensions began brewing in the team with the arrival of Ultra Magnus as the new second-in-command,{{storylink|Project Predacon}} climaxing when Magnus nearly caused Wheeljack to leave the team during a Predacon bone hunt in Scotland, {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)}} but luckily he is convinced to stay by Arcee. {{storylink|Plus One}} Magnus finally realized his negative effect on the team when they prove to favor Optimus over him, and he and Wheeljack mended their differences when facing off against the newly-sentient [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] after destroying Shockwave's Project Predacon. {{storylink|Evolution}}

When the Decepticons turned their efforts toward stealing Earth's technology for their latest scheme to rebuild the [[Omega Lock]], the Autobots are able to capture [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], who confesses nothing, and ultimately is freed by [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] and captures Ratchet, taking him back to the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Minus One}} The team tried their best to cope without their medic, and devised a plan to find him and the Decepticon's warship, while Ratchet was persuaded to help perfect the synthetic Energon necessary to restore Cybertron. {{storylink|Persuasion}} Though they failed to find the ''Nemesis'' on their own, Ratchet was eventually able to disable the vessel's shield, letting the entire team storm the ship for a final battle. {{storylink|Synthesis}} Optimus and Megatron battled each other; Jack, Miko and Raf banished Soundwave to the [[Shadowzone (dimension)|Shadowzone]]; the Wreckers engaged the Decepticon troops; and Arcee, Ratchet, and Smokescreen fought Starscream and Shockwave. Bumblebee attempted to get the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] to Optimus, but was killed by Megatron before he could do so. Before Megatron could kill Optimus, he was slain by Bumblebee (restored by the Omega Lock's [[Cyber-matter]]) with the Saber. The team took control of the ''Nemesis'' and used the Omega Lock to restore Cybertron, where Knock Out failed to talk his way onto the team. The Autobots returned to Cybertron to rebuild, while Ratchet stayed behind with [[Unit:E]] on Earth. {{storylink|Deadlock}}

[[Image:Team Prime Final.png|left|400px|thumb|New Member!]]
Optimus and Wheeljack departed for [[Theta Scorpii]] to retrieve the long-lost [[AllSpark]]. After a failed attempt at diplomacy with Predaking, Unicron returned to Cybertron in Megatron's body, and with Optimus and Ultra Magnus out of the picture (the latter having been mauled by newly cloned Predacons [[Darksteel (Prime)|Darksteel]] and [[Skylynx]]), Ratchet inspired Bumblebee to take up leadership of the team for the time being. After Knock Out finally earned his place on the team after halting Starscream's attempted coup of the ''Nemesis'', Bumblebee led the last stand against Unicron, allying with the Predacons in defense of Cybertron. Optimus returned just in time to defeat Unicron, albeit at the cost of merging the AllSpark with the Matrix of Leadership. Optimus announced to his team of his impending necessary sacrifice to bring new life to the planet, and did not choose a successor as team leader, in favor of allowing a leader to rise on their own based on their actions. The team - now consisting of Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, Ultra Magnus, and Knock Out - witnessed their leader's final transformation and the dawn of a new age on their home. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
{{--}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
Ratchet constructed the [[Safe]], a training room on one of the lower levels of the base. In the process of testing it, the Autobots uncovered a live nuclear bomb. The warhead, which should have been taken away when the base was originally stripped, almost led to the discovery of the base by Vehicons. Luckily Raf was able to keep the bomb busy until Fowler arrived with some scientists to defuse it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.1|The Safe and the Failsafe}}

[[Image:Titan4.3 ice rink Omega One.jpg|thumb|270px]]
The Autobots decorated their base for [[Christmas]], however when Fowler told them the Decepticons had taken over a [[Yamal|nuclear-powered ship]], Optimus left Bulkhead and Arcee behind to work on their differences. On Raf's suggestion, the pair tried to find a common like, and eventually settled on ice skating. Then they turned the base into an indoor ice rink, which Ratchet didn't seem too enthusiastic about. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Ice Breaker}}

When Raf became hypnotised by a video game and activated the GroundBridge, hordes of Vehicons started pouring into the base. Ratchet activated the base's defenses, providing pop-up metal shields as cover while the Autobots fought back. Raf was eventually snapped out of his trance and turned the GroundBridge into a vacuum that sucking the Vehicons back out, though there were a few loose parts left behind. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.4|Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!}}

== Games ==
=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game ===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game|Prime - The Game}}

==Notes==

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2014-02-15T04:41:32Z

Jboy1021: /* Characters */

{{Nav-bw}}

'''''Beast Wars: Transformers''''' is a Daytime Emmy award-winning [[computer-generated imagery|computer-animated]] television series that premiered on [[April 22]], [[1996]] in syndication.<ref>Though this episode played several days earlier in several US markets, its most widespread screening was on the 22nd.</ref>

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many ''Transformers'' fans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, ''Beast Wars'' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of ''Transformers'' storytelling.

==Overview==
''Beast Wars'' opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]...

[[File:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth, the characters having been thrown back in time. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their dormant [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
[[File:BW Maximals.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
[[File:BW Predacons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.
{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]* ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Tigerhawk]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Tigatron]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Pauline Newstone]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] ([[David Sobolov]])
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] ([[Don Brown]])
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] ([[Doug Parker]])
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ([[Alec Willows]])
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]† ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] ([[Campbell Lane]])
*[[Dinobot |||]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Vok]] ([[Blu Mankuma]], [[Richard Newman]])
*[[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Protohuman]]s'''
*[[Leader Neanderthal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Chak]]
*[[Una]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Tripredacus Concil]]'''
*[[Ram Horn]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Sea Clamp]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Cicadacon]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Ravage]] ([[Lee Tockar]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon.

† Became a Maximal towards the end of the series, though originally a Maximal protoform.

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan, the ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' cartoon was split into 2 separate 26 episode series.

====''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''====

[[File:BW Logo Japanese.gif|upright=1.66|center]]

'''''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''''' ( ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, ''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers'') aired in 1997, consisting of the North American season 1 episodes. In charge of localization was [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]], an audiography director whose resume included shows such as the [[TV Tokyo]] dubs of [[Saban]]'s ''[[X-Men]]'' and the original ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''. Iwanami's signature style of localization and dubbing relies heavily on satirical comedy and adlibbing, most commonly turning the programs into self-referential parodies of themselves (appropriate in the case of ''Ninja Turtles'', an awkward fit for ''X-Men''). While the early episodes of ''Beast Wars'' were fairly innocuous in their adlibs, as time went on their inclusion became progressively more intrusive and by the last third of the series there was a severe tonal shift.

The adlibbing in ''Beast Wars'' primarily consisted of "noise"; talking for the sake of talking and reducing atmospheric silence or visual subtlety to a minimum. One particular trait of the dub was that each character had their own unique vocal tic with which they would punctuate their sentences or, more commonly, chant incessantly for no apparent reason. For instance, Waspinator would chant "''bun''", Scorponok would chant "''orya''", Blackarachnia would hiss "''tshaa''", Rhinox would ramble "''dana''" and so on. This gimmick was especially pronounced during fight scenes, when characters would repeatedly and comically shout their vocal tics every time they pulled the trigger of their weapons, reducing firefights to a cacophony of unending gibberish.

Many characters underwent considerable changes in personality and characterization, often for no other reason than to add levity. Some of these changes were gradual. Megatron began the series as a gravelly voiced and uncharismatic slob who would loudly hock loogies after fits of maniacal laughter. Gradually, that trait was phased out in exchange for him becoming an effeminate, mood-swinging goofball; his tone of voice transitioning from a ferocious baritone to a silly high pitch at the drop of a hat. He was also made humorously cowardly, shouting out wimpy excuses while retreating (including the claim that he was late for piano practice).

Other characters were fundamentally altered right from the getgo. [[Predacon computer|Naviko]], the Predacon computer, gained a girly and fitful personality and characters would talk ''with'' her rather than ''at'' her. Tigatron was made into a humorous samurai ronin parody. Airazor, perhaps most infamously, had her entire ''gender'' changed, becoming a young male and Tigatron's trusty ward (and later, his lover).

All 26 episodes were aired without any edits for time or content (unlike the Japanese broadcasts of ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' and all future imported Western Transformers shows). However, the episodes ''were'' aired out of the original sequence. The new order was mostly harmless save for one exception: "[[The Spark]]" was aired ''before'' "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]". As a result, that made it seem like the Maximals were abandoning Airazor in their attempt to leave Earth.

''Beast Wars'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. As the second season of the North American ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' was not ready for localization by the time ''Beast Wars'' ended in Japan, a pair of domestically produced cartoon series, ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', were commissioned to fill the gap. The opening theme for ''Beast Wars'' was "[[War War! Stop It]]" by [[Banana Ice]] while the ending theme was "[[For the Dream|FOR THE DREAM]]" by [[Mickey]].

====''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''====

[[File:BWMetals Logo.jpg|center|300px]]

'''''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, ''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals'') aired in 1999, consisting of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While ''Beast Wars'' had been fairly judicious in its self-referential humor, even in its last stretch of episodes, ''Beast Wars Metals'' was an unrestrained self-parody, constantly breaking the 4th Wall and demonstrating awareness of its own status as a TV series.

Adlibbing was done to the extreme and characters all received major personality adjustments to reflect the aggressively comedic nature of the series. For example, Depth Charge was turned into a goofy old man who enjoyed singing fishing songs while transforming, Silverbolt was now psychotically polite with an obnoxious happy-go-lucky attitude and Rampage now talked in the rough-and-tumble dialect of a cartoon street punk. The show was incessantly self-aware, regularly acknowledging the camera, the TV channel and, in one of the more oppressive gags, Rattrap would constantly smell what the audience was eating (making remarks to the effect of, "Oh, that's Sato-san's curry" as he sniffed). Yoshikazu's dubbing style would become synonymous with all imported Western ''Transformers'' cartoons in Japan, as he would be placed in charge of localizing every series through ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'', all with the same overbearingly satirical attitude.

The distribution of episodes for ''Beast Wars Metals'' was complicated. Japan included selected episodes in two separate theatrical releases:

:*''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]")
:*''[[1999 Summer Toei Anime Fair]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]").

Since the above episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by two original [[clip show]]s:

:*Episode 14: "[[Where Is the Banana?]]"
:*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

As with the other installments in the ''Beast Wars'' franchise, ''Beast Wars Metals'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. The series had two opening themes, "[[Tamashī no Evolution]]" and "[[Sen'nen no Soldier]]" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]], and two ending themes, "[[BA-BI-BU-BE Beast Wars]]" and "[[HALLELUYAH]]" also by Kageyama.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then-obscure digital-only channel ITV2.

Channel 5, a terrestrial channel, showed the entire series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully. This got rerun too, leading to the ''Beast Wars'' comics getting [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|used as reprints in Titan's Movie-based comic]].

===France===
In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good-quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.

===Belgium===
Beast Wars aired under its original name with Dutch subtitles, but like the French broadcast, it stopped abruptly after [[The Agenda (Part III)]].

===Vietnam===
In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, as happened in France, only the first two seasons were aired. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.

===Germany===
The German dub used the original title, ''Beast Wars''. The show was initially very successful on the TV Station RTL2 and was released on VHS. However, only the first season was shown and dubbed. Furthermore, the TV broadcast had many fight scenes censored to comply with Germany's strict laws against TV violence; however, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was cancelled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.

==Home video releases==
===Canada===
{{main|Alliance Atlantis}}
[[File:Alliance Beast Wars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure (1996)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (1996)
*''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Optimus Lives! (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Empreinte D'Optimus (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (2005)
{{-}}

===Japan===
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
[[Pioneer]]'s Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Lonely Warrior Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Floating Island Deathmatch (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — The Destrons Make Drama (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — There are 2 Dinobots? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Resurrected Beast Power (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Starscream's Invulnerability (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Farewell Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Cybertron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Destron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Great Quiz Collection (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We're Back! (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Convoy Reborn (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Quit! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Huh? The Face? (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I'm a Crab! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Do Love You! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Groooww Bigger (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Rrray! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — The Movie (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Yeah, I'm Back! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Love Typhoon (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We Have Returned (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Happy? This Should Do It (2000)
[[File:Pioneer BeastWars Laserdisc Box2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;Laserdisc
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD BOX (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 2 (2000)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Universal}}
The entire run of the show ended up on VHS from 2000 to 2001, though "[[Aftermath]]" was only available as a pack-in with [[Claw Jaw#toys|Claw Jaw]], and "[[Optimal Situation]]" could only be obtained as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]]. DVD releases were considerably more spotting, starting from "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]" and releasing only ten episodes across two volumes. In both cases, however, cuts were gone! Characters could rightfully swear!
[[File:UK Beast Wars Vol3 VHS.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Not featuring [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]].]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 3 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 4 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 5 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 6 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 7 ([[March 5]] 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 8 (March 5, 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 (2001)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[File:Rhino BeastWars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px]]
;{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (2003)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season (2004)

;{{main|Shout! Factory}}
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Season One (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': The Complete Series (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Seasons 2 & 3 (2011)
{{-}}

===Australia and New Zealand===
{{main|Madman Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 (2006)
*''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (2009)
{{-}}

===Russia===
Russian DVD sets come only with Russian language dialogues and no subtitles.
;DVD
*''Transformery: Bitvy Zverey'' — Season 1 Vol. 1 (first 13 episodes of the first season) (2011)
{{-}}

===Germany===
;DVD
;[[Pandavision]] (2012)
*''Transformers: Beast Wars'' - Staffel 1 (complete first Season) (April 24, 2012)

===Pack-ins and Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro|Pack-in material}}
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] & [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Bad Spark]] & [[Code of Hero]] (1999)

;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Equal Measures]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[A Better Mousetrap]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[The Spark]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Spider's Game]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Possession]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Code of Hero]] (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)|Super Lifeform Transformers Appear]]" and "[[Victory (episode)|Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|Destroy the Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[The Web|Cheetus's Crisis]]" (2006)
*"[[Equal Measures|Operation: Time Bomb Transfer]]" (2006)
*"[[Chain of Command (BW)|Convoy Disappeared]]" (2006)
*"[[Power Surge|The Sky-Mountains Explode]]" (2006)
*"[[Fallen Comrades|Solitary Warrior, Tigatron]]" (2006)
*"[[Double Jeopardy|Kick of the Spider Woman]]" (2006)
*"[[The Probe|New Weapons of Terror!]]" (2006)
*"[[Gorilla Warfare|The Assassin Virus]]" (2006)
*"[[A Better Mousetrap|Goodbye, Rattle!?]]" (2006)
*"[[The Spark|Falcon Warrior, Airazor]]" (2006)
*"[[The Trigger, Part 1|Floating Island Death Match, Part 1]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 2|Floating Island Death Match, Part 2]]" (2006)
*"[[Dark Voyage|Around and Around the Jungle]]" (2006)
*"[[Possession|The Immortal Starscream]]" (2006)

==Notes==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* There are three known unproduced ''Beast Wars'' episodes: "[[A Greater Ape]]", "[[Bitch Wars]]" and "[[Dark Glass]]".
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine] erroneously claims that ''Beast Wars'' is the first fully CGI television show in the world, a title actually held by ''[[:wikipedia:Insektors|Insektors]]''. Mainframe's own CGI show ''[[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]]'' also predates ''Beast Wars''.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?
* For reasons unknown, the US Rhino release of ''Beast Wars'' season three did not include the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UmCEsbUe6E opening that was televised], which included an original shot of the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' spaceships crashing down to prehistoric Earth. Instead, all season three episodes began with the season two [[title sequence|opening]] for the first part of the beginning credits.
* Also, the ''Beast Wars'' season one release from Rhino used a totally different and shorter [[title sequence|opening sequence]] and a shortened version of the theme.

===Foreign names===

*''English:'' '''''Beasties''''' (Canada)
*''Japanese:'' '''''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, "Beast Wars Super Lifeform Transformers"), '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals''''' (second and third seasons, 超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Metals")
*''French:'' '''''Animutants''''' (France), '''''Robots-Bêtes''''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''''Biocombat'''''
*''Latvian:'' '''''Briesmoņu kari''''' ("Monster Wars")
*''Polish:'' '''''Kosmiczne Wojny''''' ("Cosmic Wars")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bitvi Zverey''''' (Битвы зверей, "Battles of the Beasts"), '''''Zhestokye voini''''' (Жестокие войны, "Cruel wars")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Guerra de Bestias''''' (America)
*''Vietnamese:'' '''''Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ''''' ("Galaxy Monster Wars")
*''Chinese:'' '''''Super-Ultra Warriors''''' (超能勇士)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2014-02-15T04:38:19Z

Jboy1021: /* Characters */

{{Nav-bw}}

'''''Beast Wars: Transformers''''' is a Daytime Emmy award-winning [[computer-generated imagery|computer-animated]] television series that premiered on [[April 22]], [[1996]] in syndication.<ref>Though this episode played several days earlier in several US markets, its most widespread screening was on the 22nd.</ref>

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many ''Transformers'' fans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, ''Beast Wars'' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of ''Transformers'' storytelling.

==Overview==
''Beast Wars'' opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]...

[[File:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth, the characters having been thrown back in time. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their dormant [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
[[File:BW Maximals.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
[[File:BW Predacons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.
{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]* ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Tigerhawk]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Tigatron]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Pauline Newstone]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] ([[David Sobolov]])
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] ([[Don Brown]])
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] ([[Doug Parker]])
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ([[Alec Willows]])
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]† ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] ([[Campbell Lane]])
*[[Dinobot || (BW)]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Vok]] ([[Blu Mankuma]], [[Richard Newman]])
*[[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Protohuman]]s'''
*[[Leader Neanderthal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Chak]]
*[[Una]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Tripredacus Concil]]'''
*[[Ram Horn]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Sea Clamp]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Cicadacon]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Ravage]] (G1)|Ravage]] ([[Lee Tockar]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon.

† Became a Maximal towards the end of the series, though originally a Maximal protoform.

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan, the ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' cartoon was split into 2 separate 26 episode series.

====''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''====

[[File:BW Logo Japanese.gif|upright=1.66|center]]

'''''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''''' ( ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, ''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers'') aired in 1997, consisting of the North American season 1 episodes. In charge of localization was [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]], an audiography director whose resume included shows such as the [[TV Tokyo]] dubs of [[Saban]]'s ''[[X-Men]]'' and the original ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''. Iwanami's signature style of localization and dubbing relies heavily on satirical comedy and adlibbing, most commonly turning the programs into self-referential parodies of themselves (appropriate in the case of ''Ninja Turtles'', an awkward fit for ''X-Men''). While the early episodes of ''Beast Wars'' were fairly innocuous in their adlibs, as time went on their inclusion became progressively more intrusive and by the last third of the series there was a severe tonal shift.

The adlibbing in ''Beast Wars'' primarily consisted of "noise"; talking for the sake of talking and reducing atmospheric silence or visual subtlety to a minimum. One particular trait of the dub was that each character had their own unique vocal tic with which they would punctuate their sentences or, more commonly, chant incessantly for no apparent reason. For instance, Waspinator would chant "''bun''", Scorponok would chant "''orya''", Blackarachnia would hiss "''tshaa''", Rhinox would ramble "''dana''" and so on. This gimmick was especially pronounced during fight scenes, when characters would repeatedly and comically shout their vocal tics every time they pulled the trigger of their weapons, reducing firefights to a cacophony of unending gibberish.

Many characters underwent considerable changes in personality and characterization, often for no other reason than to add levity. Some of these changes were gradual. Megatron began the series as a gravelly voiced and uncharismatic slob who would loudly hock loogies after fits of maniacal laughter. Gradually, that trait was phased out in exchange for him becoming an effeminate, mood-swinging goofball; his tone of voice transitioning from a ferocious baritone to a silly high pitch at the drop of a hat. He was also made humorously cowardly, shouting out wimpy excuses while retreating (including the claim that he was late for piano practice).

Other characters were fundamentally altered right from the getgo. [[Predacon computer|Naviko]], the Predacon computer, gained a girly and fitful personality and characters would talk ''with'' her rather than ''at'' her. Tigatron was made into a humorous samurai ronin parody. Airazor, perhaps most infamously, had her entire ''gender'' changed, becoming a young male and Tigatron's trusty ward (and later, his lover).

All 26 episodes were aired without any edits for time or content (unlike the Japanese broadcasts of ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' and all future imported Western Transformers shows). However, the episodes ''were'' aired out of the original sequence. The new order was mostly harmless save for one exception: "[[The Spark]]" was aired ''before'' "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]". As a result, that made it seem like the Maximals were abandoning Airazor in their attempt to leave Earth.

''Beast Wars'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. As the second season of the North American ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' was not ready for localization by the time ''Beast Wars'' ended in Japan, a pair of domestically produced cartoon series, ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', were commissioned to fill the gap. The opening theme for ''Beast Wars'' was "[[War War! Stop It]]" by [[Banana Ice]] while the ending theme was "[[For the Dream|FOR THE DREAM]]" by [[Mickey]].

====''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''====

[[File:BWMetals Logo.jpg|center|300px]]

'''''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, ''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals'') aired in 1999, consisting of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While ''Beast Wars'' had been fairly judicious in its self-referential humor, even in its last stretch of episodes, ''Beast Wars Metals'' was an unrestrained self-parody, constantly breaking the 4th Wall and demonstrating awareness of its own status as a TV series.

Adlibbing was done to the extreme and characters all received major personality adjustments to reflect the aggressively comedic nature of the series. For example, Depth Charge was turned into a goofy old man who enjoyed singing fishing songs while transforming, Silverbolt was now psychotically polite with an obnoxious happy-go-lucky attitude and Rampage now talked in the rough-and-tumble dialect of a cartoon street punk. The show was incessantly self-aware, regularly acknowledging the camera, the TV channel and, in one of the more oppressive gags, Rattrap would constantly smell what the audience was eating (making remarks to the effect of, "Oh, that's Sato-san's curry" as he sniffed). Yoshikazu's dubbing style would become synonymous with all imported Western ''Transformers'' cartoons in Japan, as he would be placed in charge of localizing every series through ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'', all with the same overbearingly satirical attitude.

The distribution of episodes for ''Beast Wars Metals'' was complicated. Japan included selected episodes in two separate theatrical releases:

:*''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]")
:*''[[1999 Summer Toei Anime Fair]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]").

Since the above episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by two original [[clip show]]s:

:*Episode 14: "[[Where Is the Banana?]]"
:*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

As with the other installments in the ''Beast Wars'' franchise, ''Beast Wars Metals'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. The series had two opening themes, "[[Tamashī no Evolution]]" and "[[Sen'nen no Soldier]]" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]], and two ending themes, "[[BA-BI-BU-BE Beast Wars]]" and "[[HALLELUYAH]]" also by Kageyama.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then-obscure digital-only channel ITV2.

Channel 5, a terrestrial channel, showed the entire series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully. This got rerun too, leading to the ''Beast Wars'' comics getting [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|used as reprints in Titan's Movie-based comic]].

===France===
In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good-quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.

===Belgium===
Beast Wars aired under its original name with Dutch subtitles, but like the French broadcast, it stopped abruptly after [[The Agenda (Part III)]].

===Vietnam===
In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, as happened in France, only the first two seasons were aired. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.

===Germany===
The German dub used the original title, ''Beast Wars''. The show was initially very successful on the TV Station RTL2 and was released on VHS. However, only the first season was shown and dubbed. Furthermore, the TV broadcast had many fight scenes censored to comply with Germany's strict laws against TV violence; however, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was cancelled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.

==Home video releases==
===Canada===
{{main|Alliance Atlantis}}
[[File:Alliance Beast Wars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure (1996)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (1996)
*''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Optimus Lives! (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Empreinte D'Optimus (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (2005)
{{-}}

===Japan===
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
[[Pioneer]]'s Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Lonely Warrior Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Floating Island Deathmatch (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — The Destrons Make Drama (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — There are 2 Dinobots? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Resurrected Beast Power (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Starscream's Invulnerability (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Farewell Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Cybertron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Destron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Great Quiz Collection (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We're Back! (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Convoy Reborn (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Quit! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Huh? The Face? (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I'm a Crab! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Do Love You! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Groooww Bigger (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Rrray! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — The Movie (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Yeah, I'm Back! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Love Typhoon (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We Have Returned (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Happy? This Should Do It (2000)
[[File:Pioneer BeastWars Laserdisc Box2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;Laserdisc
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD BOX (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 2 (2000)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Universal}}
The entire run of the show ended up on VHS from 2000 to 2001, though "[[Aftermath]]" was only available as a pack-in with [[Claw Jaw#toys|Claw Jaw]], and "[[Optimal Situation]]" could only be obtained as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]]. DVD releases were considerably more spotting, starting from "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]" and releasing only ten episodes across two volumes. In both cases, however, cuts were gone! Characters could rightfully swear!
[[File:UK Beast Wars Vol3 VHS.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Not featuring [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]].]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 3 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 4 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 5 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 6 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 7 ([[March 5]] 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 8 (March 5, 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 (2001)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[File:Rhino BeastWars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px]]
;{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (2003)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season (2004)

;{{main|Shout! Factory}}
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Season One (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': The Complete Series (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Seasons 2 & 3 (2011)
{{-}}

===Australia and New Zealand===
{{main|Madman Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 (2006)
*''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (2009)
{{-}}

===Russia===
Russian DVD sets come only with Russian language dialogues and no subtitles.
;DVD
*''Transformery: Bitvy Zverey'' — Season 1 Vol. 1 (first 13 episodes of the first season) (2011)
{{-}}

===Germany===
;DVD
;[[Pandavision]] (2012)
*''Transformers: Beast Wars'' - Staffel 1 (complete first Season) (April 24, 2012)

===Pack-ins and Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro|Pack-in material}}
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] & [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Bad Spark]] & [[Code of Hero]] (1999)

;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Equal Measures]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[A Better Mousetrap]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[The Spark]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Spider's Game]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Possession]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Code of Hero]] (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)|Super Lifeform Transformers Appear]]" and "[[Victory (episode)|Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|Destroy the Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[The Web|Cheetus's Crisis]]" (2006)
*"[[Equal Measures|Operation: Time Bomb Transfer]]" (2006)
*"[[Chain of Command (BW)|Convoy Disappeared]]" (2006)
*"[[Power Surge|The Sky-Mountains Explode]]" (2006)
*"[[Fallen Comrades|Solitary Warrior, Tigatron]]" (2006)
*"[[Double Jeopardy|Kick of the Spider Woman]]" (2006)
*"[[The Probe|New Weapons of Terror!]]" (2006)
*"[[Gorilla Warfare|The Assassin Virus]]" (2006)
*"[[A Better Mousetrap|Goodbye, Rattle!?]]" (2006)
*"[[The Spark|Falcon Warrior, Airazor]]" (2006)
*"[[The Trigger, Part 1|Floating Island Death Match, Part 1]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 2|Floating Island Death Match, Part 2]]" (2006)
*"[[Dark Voyage|Around and Around the Jungle]]" (2006)
*"[[Possession|The Immortal Starscream]]" (2006)

==Notes==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* There are three known unproduced ''Beast Wars'' episodes: "[[A Greater Ape]]", "[[Bitch Wars]]" and "[[Dark Glass]]".
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine] erroneously claims that ''Beast Wars'' is the first fully CGI television show in the world, a title actually held by ''[[:wikipedia:Insektors|Insektors]]''. Mainframe's own CGI show ''[[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]]'' also predates ''Beast Wars''.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?
* For reasons unknown, the US Rhino release of ''Beast Wars'' season three did not include the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UmCEsbUe6E opening that was televised], which included an original shot of the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' spaceships crashing down to prehistoric Earth. Instead, all season three episodes began with the season two [[title sequence|opening]] for the first part of the beginning credits.
* Also, the ''Beast Wars'' season one release from Rhino used a totally different and shorter [[title sequence|opening sequence]] and a shortened version of the theme.

===Foreign names===

*''English:'' '''''Beasties''''' (Canada)
*''Japanese:'' '''''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, "Beast Wars Super Lifeform Transformers"), '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals''''' (second and third seasons, 超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Metals")
*''French:'' '''''Animutants''''' (France), '''''Robots-Bêtes''''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''''Biocombat'''''
*''Latvian:'' '''''Briesmoņu kari''''' ("Monster Wars")
*''Polish:'' '''''Kosmiczne Wojny''''' ("Cosmic Wars")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bitvi Zverey''''' (Битвы зверей, "Battles of the Beasts"), '''''Zhestokye voini''''' (Жестокие войны, "Cruel wars")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Guerra de Bestias''''' (America)
*''Vietnamese:'' '''''Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ''''' ("Galaxy Monster Wars")
*''Chinese:'' '''''Super-Ultra Warriors''''' (超能勇士)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2014-02-15T04:37:00Z

Jboy1021: /* Characters */

{{Nav-bw}}

'''''Beast Wars: Transformers''''' is a Daytime Emmy award-winning [[computer-generated imagery|computer-animated]] television series that premiered on [[April 22]], [[1996]] in syndication.<ref>Though this episode played several days earlier in several US markets, its most widespread screening was on the 22nd.</ref>

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many ''Transformers'' fans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, ''Beast Wars'' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of ''Transformers'' storytelling.

==Overview==
''Beast Wars'' opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]...

[[File:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth, the characters having been thrown back in time. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their dormant [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
[[File:BW Maximals.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
[[File:BW Predacons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.
{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]* ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Tigerhawk]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Tigatron]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Pauline Newstone]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] ([[David Sobolov]])
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] ([[Don Brown]])
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] ([[Doug Parker]])
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ([[Alec Willows]])
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]† ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] ([[Campbell Lane]])
*[[Dinobot || (BW)|Dinobot]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Vok]] ([[Blu Mankuma]], [[Richard Newman]])
*[[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Protohuman]]s'''
*[[Leader Neanderthal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Chak]]
*[[Una]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Tripredacus Concil]]'''
*[[Ram Horn]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Sea Clamp]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Cicadacon]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Ravage]] (G1)|Ravage]] ([[Lee Tockar]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon.

† Became a Maximal towards the end of the series, though originally a Maximal protoform.

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan, the ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' cartoon was split into 2 separate 26 episode series.

====''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''====

[[File:BW Logo Japanese.gif|upright=1.66|center]]

'''''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''''' ( ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, ''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers'') aired in 1997, consisting of the North American season 1 episodes. In charge of localization was [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]], an audiography director whose resume included shows such as the [[TV Tokyo]] dubs of [[Saban]]'s ''[[X-Men]]'' and the original ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''. Iwanami's signature style of localization and dubbing relies heavily on satirical comedy and adlibbing, most commonly turning the programs into self-referential parodies of themselves (appropriate in the case of ''Ninja Turtles'', an awkward fit for ''X-Men''). While the early episodes of ''Beast Wars'' were fairly innocuous in their adlibs, as time went on their inclusion became progressively more intrusive and by the last third of the series there was a severe tonal shift.

The adlibbing in ''Beast Wars'' primarily consisted of "noise"; talking for the sake of talking and reducing atmospheric silence or visual subtlety to a minimum. One particular trait of the dub was that each character had their own unique vocal tic with which they would punctuate their sentences or, more commonly, chant incessantly for no apparent reason. For instance, Waspinator would chant "''bun''", Scorponok would chant "''orya''", Blackarachnia would hiss "''tshaa''", Rhinox would ramble "''dana''" and so on. This gimmick was especially pronounced during fight scenes, when characters would repeatedly and comically shout their vocal tics every time they pulled the trigger of their weapons, reducing firefights to a cacophony of unending gibberish.

Many characters underwent considerable changes in personality and characterization, often for no other reason than to add levity. Some of these changes were gradual. Megatron began the series as a gravelly voiced and uncharismatic slob who would loudly hock loogies after fits of maniacal laughter. Gradually, that trait was phased out in exchange for him becoming an effeminate, mood-swinging goofball; his tone of voice transitioning from a ferocious baritone to a silly high pitch at the drop of a hat. He was also made humorously cowardly, shouting out wimpy excuses while retreating (including the claim that he was late for piano practice).

Other characters were fundamentally altered right from the getgo. [[Predacon computer|Naviko]], the Predacon computer, gained a girly and fitful personality and characters would talk ''with'' her rather than ''at'' her. Tigatron was made into a humorous samurai ronin parody. Airazor, perhaps most infamously, had her entire ''gender'' changed, becoming a young male and Tigatron's trusty ward (and later, his lover).

All 26 episodes were aired without any edits for time or content (unlike the Japanese broadcasts of ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' and all future imported Western Transformers shows). However, the episodes ''were'' aired out of the original sequence. The new order was mostly harmless save for one exception: "[[The Spark]]" was aired ''before'' "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]". As a result, that made it seem like the Maximals were abandoning Airazor in their attempt to leave Earth.

''Beast Wars'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. As the second season of the North American ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' was not ready for localization by the time ''Beast Wars'' ended in Japan, a pair of domestically produced cartoon series, ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', were commissioned to fill the gap. The opening theme for ''Beast Wars'' was "[[War War! Stop It]]" by [[Banana Ice]] while the ending theme was "[[For the Dream|FOR THE DREAM]]" by [[Mickey]].

====''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''====

[[File:BWMetals Logo.jpg|center|300px]]

'''''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, ''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals'') aired in 1999, consisting of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While ''Beast Wars'' had been fairly judicious in its self-referential humor, even in its last stretch of episodes, ''Beast Wars Metals'' was an unrestrained self-parody, constantly breaking the 4th Wall and demonstrating awareness of its own status as a TV series.

Adlibbing was done to the extreme and characters all received major personality adjustments to reflect the aggressively comedic nature of the series. For example, Depth Charge was turned into a goofy old man who enjoyed singing fishing songs while transforming, Silverbolt was now psychotically polite with an obnoxious happy-go-lucky attitude and Rampage now talked in the rough-and-tumble dialect of a cartoon street punk. The show was incessantly self-aware, regularly acknowledging the camera, the TV channel and, in one of the more oppressive gags, Rattrap would constantly smell what the audience was eating (making remarks to the effect of, "Oh, that's Sato-san's curry" as he sniffed). Yoshikazu's dubbing style would become synonymous with all imported Western ''Transformers'' cartoons in Japan, as he would be placed in charge of localizing every series through ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'', all with the same overbearingly satirical attitude.

The distribution of episodes for ''Beast Wars Metals'' was complicated. Japan included selected episodes in two separate theatrical releases:

:*''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]")
:*''[[1999 Summer Toei Anime Fair]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]").

Since the above episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by two original [[clip show]]s:

:*Episode 14: "[[Where Is the Banana?]]"
:*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

As with the other installments in the ''Beast Wars'' franchise, ''Beast Wars Metals'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. The series had two opening themes, "[[Tamashī no Evolution]]" and "[[Sen'nen no Soldier]]" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]], and two ending themes, "[[BA-BI-BU-BE Beast Wars]]" and "[[HALLELUYAH]]" also by Kageyama.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then-obscure digital-only channel ITV2.

Channel 5, a terrestrial channel, showed the entire series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully. This got rerun too, leading to the ''Beast Wars'' comics getting [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|used as reprints in Titan's Movie-based comic]].

===France===
In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good-quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.

===Belgium===
Beast Wars aired under its original name with Dutch subtitles, but like the French broadcast, it stopped abruptly after [[The Agenda (Part III)]].

===Vietnam===
In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, as happened in France, only the first two seasons were aired. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.

===Germany===
The German dub used the original title, ''Beast Wars''. The show was initially very successful on the TV Station RTL2 and was released on VHS. However, only the first season was shown and dubbed. Furthermore, the TV broadcast had many fight scenes censored to comply with Germany's strict laws against TV violence; however, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was cancelled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.

==Home video releases==
===Canada===
{{main|Alliance Atlantis}}
[[File:Alliance Beast Wars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure (1996)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (1996)
*''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Optimus Lives! (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Empreinte D'Optimus (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (2005)
{{-}}

===Japan===
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
[[Pioneer]]'s Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Lonely Warrior Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Floating Island Deathmatch (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — The Destrons Make Drama (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — There are 2 Dinobots? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Resurrected Beast Power (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Starscream's Invulnerability (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Farewell Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Cybertron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Destron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Great Quiz Collection (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We're Back! (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Convoy Reborn (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Quit! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Huh? The Face? (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I'm a Crab! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Do Love You! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Groooww Bigger (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Rrray! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — The Movie (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Yeah, I'm Back! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Love Typhoon (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We Have Returned (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Happy? This Should Do It (2000)
[[File:Pioneer BeastWars Laserdisc Box2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;Laserdisc
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD BOX (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 2 (2000)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Universal}}
The entire run of the show ended up on VHS from 2000 to 2001, though "[[Aftermath]]" was only available as a pack-in with [[Claw Jaw#toys|Claw Jaw]], and "[[Optimal Situation]]" could only be obtained as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]]. DVD releases were considerably more spotting, starting from "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]" and releasing only ten episodes across two volumes. In both cases, however, cuts were gone! Characters could rightfully swear!
[[File:UK Beast Wars Vol3 VHS.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Not featuring [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]].]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 3 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 4 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 5 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 6 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 7 ([[March 5]] 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 8 (March 5, 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 (2001)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[File:Rhino BeastWars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px]]
;{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (2003)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season (2004)

;{{main|Shout! Factory}}
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Season One (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': The Complete Series (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Seasons 2 & 3 (2011)
{{-}}

===Australia and New Zealand===
{{main|Madman Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 (2006)
*''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (2009)
{{-}}

===Russia===
Russian DVD sets come only with Russian language dialogues and no subtitles.
;DVD
*''Transformery: Bitvy Zverey'' — Season 1 Vol. 1 (first 13 episodes of the first season) (2011)
{{-}}

===Germany===
;DVD
;[[Pandavision]] (2012)
*''Transformers: Beast Wars'' - Staffel 1 (complete first Season) (April 24, 2012)

===Pack-ins and Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro|Pack-in material}}
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] & [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Bad Spark]] & [[Code of Hero]] (1999)

;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Equal Measures]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[A Better Mousetrap]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[The Spark]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Spider's Game]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Possession]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Code of Hero]] (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)|Super Lifeform Transformers Appear]]" and "[[Victory (episode)|Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|Destroy the Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[The Web|Cheetus's Crisis]]" (2006)
*"[[Equal Measures|Operation: Time Bomb Transfer]]" (2006)
*"[[Chain of Command (BW)|Convoy Disappeared]]" (2006)
*"[[Power Surge|The Sky-Mountains Explode]]" (2006)
*"[[Fallen Comrades|Solitary Warrior, Tigatron]]" (2006)
*"[[Double Jeopardy|Kick of the Spider Woman]]" (2006)
*"[[The Probe|New Weapons of Terror!]]" (2006)
*"[[Gorilla Warfare|The Assassin Virus]]" (2006)
*"[[A Better Mousetrap|Goodbye, Rattle!?]]" (2006)
*"[[The Spark|Falcon Warrior, Airazor]]" (2006)
*"[[The Trigger, Part 1|Floating Island Death Match, Part 1]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 2|Floating Island Death Match, Part 2]]" (2006)
*"[[Dark Voyage|Around and Around the Jungle]]" (2006)
*"[[Possession|The Immortal Starscream]]" (2006)

==Notes==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* There are three known unproduced ''Beast Wars'' episodes: "[[A Greater Ape]]", "[[Bitch Wars]]" and "[[Dark Glass]]".
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine] erroneously claims that ''Beast Wars'' is the first fully CGI television show in the world, a title actually held by ''[[:wikipedia:Insektors|Insektors]]''. Mainframe's own CGI show ''[[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]]'' also predates ''Beast Wars''.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?
* For reasons unknown, the US Rhino release of ''Beast Wars'' season three did not include the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UmCEsbUe6E opening that was televised], which included an original shot of the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' spaceships crashing down to prehistoric Earth. Instead, all season three episodes began with the season two [[title sequence|opening]] for the first part of the beginning credits.
* Also, the ''Beast Wars'' season one release from Rhino used a totally different and shorter [[title sequence|opening sequence]] and a shortened version of the theme.

===Foreign names===

*''English:'' '''''Beasties''''' (Canada)
*''Japanese:'' '''''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, "Beast Wars Super Lifeform Transformers"), '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals''''' (second and third seasons, 超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Metals")
*''French:'' '''''Animutants''''' (France), '''''Robots-Bêtes''''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''''Biocombat'''''
*''Latvian:'' '''''Briesmoņu kari''''' ("Monster Wars")
*''Polish:'' '''''Kosmiczne Wojny''''' ("Cosmic Wars")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bitvi Zverey''''' (Битвы зверей, "Battles of the Beasts"), '''''Zhestokye voini''''' (Жестокие войны, "Cruel wars")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Guerra de Bestias''''' (America)
*''Vietnamese:'' '''''Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ''''' ("Galaxy Monster Wars")
*''Chinese:'' '''''Super-Ultra Warriors''''' (超能勇士)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2014-02-15T04:27:41Z

Jboy1021: /* Characters */

{{Nav-bw}}

'''''Beast Wars: Transformers''''' is a Daytime Emmy award-winning [[computer-generated imagery|computer-animated]] television series that premiered on [[April 22]], [[1996]] in syndication.<ref>Though this episode played several days earlier in several US markets, its most widespread screening was on the 22nd.</ref>

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many ''Transformers'' fans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, ''Beast Wars'' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of ''Transformers'' storytelling.

==Overview==
''Beast Wars'' opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]...

[[File:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth, the characters having been thrown back in time. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their dormant [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
[[File:BW Maximals.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
[[File:BW Predacons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.
{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]* ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Tigerhawk]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Tigatron]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
**[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Pauline Newstone]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] ([[David Sobolov]])
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] ([[Don Brown]])
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] ([[Doug Parker]])
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ([[Alec Willows]])
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]† ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] ([[Campbell Lane]])
*[[Ram Horn]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Sea Clamp]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Cicadacon]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Dinobot II]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Vok]] ([[Blu Mankuma]], [[Richard Newman]])
*[[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]] ([[Susan Blu]])
'''[[Protohuman]]s'''
*[[Leader Neanderthal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Chak]]
*[[Una]] ([[Susan Blu]])
Tripredacus Concil
*[[Ram Horn]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Sea Clamp]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Cicadacon]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Ravage (G1)IRavage]] ([[Lee Tockar]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon.

† Became a Maximal towards the end of the series, though originally a Maximal protoform.

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan, the ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' cartoon was split into 2 separate 26 episode series.

====''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''====

[[File:BW Logo Japanese.gif|upright=1.66|center]]

'''''Beast Wars: Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''''' ( ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, ''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers'') aired in 1997, consisting of the North American season 1 episodes. In charge of localization was [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]], an audiography director whose resume included shows such as the [[TV Tokyo]] dubs of [[Saban]]'s ''[[X-Men]]'' and the original ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''. Iwanami's signature style of localization and dubbing relies heavily on satirical comedy and adlibbing, most commonly turning the programs into self-referential parodies of themselves (appropriate in the case of ''Ninja Turtles'', an awkward fit for ''X-Men''). While the early episodes of ''Beast Wars'' were fairly innocuous in their adlibs, as time went on their inclusion became progressively more intrusive and by the last third of the series there was a severe tonal shift.

The adlibbing in ''Beast Wars'' primarily consisted of "noise"; talking for the sake of talking and reducing atmospheric silence or visual subtlety to a minimum. One particular trait of the dub was that each character had their own unique vocal tic with which they would punctuate their sentences or, more commonly, chant incessantly for no apparent reason. For instance, Waspinator would chant "''bun''", Scorponok would chant "''orya''", Blackarachnia would hiss "''tshaa''", Rhinox would ramble "''dana''" and so on. This gimmick was especially pronounced during fight scenes, when characters would repeatedly and comically shout their vocal tics every time they pulled the trigger of their weapons, reducing firefights to a cacophony of unending gibberish.

Many characters underwent considerable changes in personality and characterization, often for no other reason than to add levity. Some of these changes were gradual. Megatron began the series as a gravelly voiced and uncharismatic slob who would loudly hock loogies after fits of maniacal laughter. Gradually, that trait was phased out in exchange for him becoming an effeminate, mood-swinging goofball; his tone of voice transitioning from a ferocious baritone to a silly high pitch at the drop of a hat. He was also made humorously cowardly, shouting out wimpy excuses while retreating (including the claim that he was late for piano practice).

Other characters were fundamentally altered right from the getgo. [[Predacon computer|Naviko]], the Predacon computer, gained a girly and fitful personality and characters would talk ''with'' her rather than ''at'' her. Tigatron was made into a humorous samurai ronin parody. Airazor, perhaps most infamously, had her entire ''gender'' changed, becoming a young male and Tigatron's trusty ward (and later, his lover).

All 26 episodes were aired without any edits for time or content (unlike the Japanese broadcasts of ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' and all future imported Western Transformers shows). However, the episodes ''were'' aired out of the original sequence. The new order was mostly harmless save for one exception: "[[The Spark]]" was aired ''before'' "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]". As a result, that made it seem like the Maximals were abandoning Airazor in their attempt to leave Earth.

''Beast Wars'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. As the second season of the North American ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' was not ready for localization by the time ''Beast Wars'' ended in Japan, a pair of domestically produced cartoon series, ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', were commissioned to fill the gap. The opening theme for ''Beast Wars'' was "[[War War! Stop It]]" by [[Banana Ice]] while the ending theme was "[[For the Dream|FOR THE DREAM]]" by [[Mickey]].

====''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''====

[[File:BWMetals Logo.jpg|center|300px]]

'''''Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, ''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals'') aired in 1999, consisting of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While ''Beast Wars'' had been fairly judicious in its self-referential humor, even in its last stretch of episodes, ''Beast Wars Metals'' was an unrestrained self-parody, constantly breaking the 4th Wall and demonstrating awareness of its own status as a TV series.

Adlibbing was done to the extreme and characters all received major personality adjustments to reflect the aggressively comedic nature of the series. For example, Depth Charge was turned into a goofy old man who enjoyed singing fishing songs while transforming, Silverbolt was now psychotically polite with an obnoxious happy-go-lucky attitude and Rampage now talked in the rough-and-tumble dialect of a cartoon street punk. The show was incessantly self-aware, regularly acknowledging the camera, the TV channel and, in one of the more oppressive gags, Rattrap would constantly smell what the audience was eating (making remarks to the effect of, "Oh, that's Sato-san's curry" as he sniffed). Yoshikazu's dubbing style would become synonymous with all imported Western ''Transformers'' cartoons in Japan, as he would be placed in charge of localizing every series through ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'', all with the same overbearingly satirical attitude.

The distribution of episodes for ''Beast Wars Metals'' was complicated. Japan included selected episodes in two separate theatrical releases:

:*''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]")
:*''[[1999 Summer Toei Anime Fair]]'' (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]").

Since the above episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by two original [[clip show]]s:

:*Episode 14: "[[Where Is the Banana?]]"
:*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

As with the other installments in the ''Beast Wars'' franchise, ''Beast Wars Metals'' aired on [[TV Tokyo]] in the Wednesday, 6:30pm timeslot. The series had two opening themes, "[[Tamashī no Evolution]]" and "[[Sen'nen no Soldier]]" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]], and two ending themes, "[[BA-BI-BU-BE Beast Wars]]" and "[[HALLELUYAH]]" also by Kageyama.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then-obscure digital-only channel ITV2.

Channel 5, a terrestrial channel, showed the entire series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully. This got rerun too, leading to the ''Beast Wars'' comics getting [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|used as reprints in Titan's Movie-based comic]].

===France===
In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good-quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.

===Belgium===
Beast Wars aired under its original name with Dutch subtitles, but like the French broadcast, it stopped abruptly after [[The Agenda (Part III)]].

===Vietnam===
In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, as happened in France, only the first two seasons were aired. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.

===Germany===
The German dub used the original title, ''Beast Wars''. The show was initially very successful on the TV Station RTL2 and was released on VHS. However, only the first season was shown and dubbed. Furthermore, the TV broadcast had many fight scenes censored to comply with Germany's strict laws against TV violence; however, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was cancelled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.

==Home video releases==
===Canada===
{{main|Alliance Atlantis}}
[[File:Alliance Beast Wars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure (1996)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (1996)
*''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Optimus Lives! (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Empreinte D'Optimus (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (2005)
{{-}}

===Japan===
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
[[Pioneer]]'s Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Lonely Warrior Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Floating Island Deathmatch (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — The Destrons Make Drama (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — There are 2 Dinobots? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Resurrected Beast Power (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Starscream's Invulnerability (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Farewell Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Cybertron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Destron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Great Quiz Collection (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We're Back! (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Convoy Reborn (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Quit! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Huh? The Face? (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I'm a Crab! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Do Love You! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Groooww Bigger (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Rrray! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — The Movie (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Yeah, I'm Back! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Love Typhoon (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We Have Returned (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Happy? This Should Do It (2000)
[[File:Pioneer BeastWars Laserdisc Box2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
;Laserdisc
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD BOX (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 2 (2000)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Universal}}
The entire run of the show ended up on VHS from 2000 to 2001, though "[[Aftermath]]" was only available as a pack-in with [[Claw Jaw#toys|Claw Jaw]], and "[[Optimal Situation]]" could only be obtained as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]]. DVD releases were considerably more spotting, starting from "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]" and releasing only ten episodes across two volumes. In both cases, however, cuts were gone! Characters could rightfully swear!
[[File:UK Beast Wars Vol3 VHS.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Not featuring [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]].]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 3 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 4 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 5 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 6 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 7 ([[March 5]] 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 8 (March 5, 2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 (2001)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[File:Rhino BeastWars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px]]
;{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (2003)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season (2004)

;{{main|Shout! Factory}}
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Season One (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': The Complete Series (2011)
*''Transformers - Beast Wars'': Seasons 2 & 3 (2011)
{{-}}

===Australia and New Zealand===
{{main|Madman Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 (2006)
*''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (2009)
{{-}}

===Russia===
Russian DVD sets come only with Russian language dialogues and no subtitles.
;DVD
*''Transformery: Bitvy Zverey'' — Season 1 Vol. 1 (first 13 episodes of the first season) (2011)
{{-}}

===Germany===
;DVD
;[[Pandavision]] (2012)
*''Transformers: Beast Wars'' - Staffel 1 (complete first Season) (April 24, 2012)

===Pack-ins and Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro|Pack-in material}}
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] & [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Bad Spark]] & [[Code of Hero]] (1999)

;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Equal Measures]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[A Better Mousetrap]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[The Spark]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Spider's Game]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Possession]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Code of Hero]] (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)|Super Lifeform Transformers Appear]]" and "[[Victory (episode)|Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|Destroy the Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[The Web|Cheetus's Crisis]]" (2006)
*"[[Equal Measures|Operation: Time Bomb Transfer]]" (2006)
*"[[Chain of Command (BW)|Convoy Disappeared]]" (2006)
*"[[Power Surge|The Sky-Mountains Explode]]" (2006)
*"[[Fallen Comrades|Solitary Warrior, Tigatron]]" (2006)
*"[[Double Jeopardy|Kick of the Spider Woman]]" (2006)
*"[[The Probe|New Weapons of Terror!]]" (2006)
*"[[Gorilla Warfare|The Assassin Virus]]" (2006)
*"[[A Better Mousetrap|Goodbye, Rattle!?]]" (2006)
*"[[The Spark|Falcon Warrior, Airazor]]" (2006)
*"[[The Trigger, Part 1|Floating Island Death Match, Part 1]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 2|Floating Island Death Match, Part 2]]" (2006)
*"[[Dark Voyage|Around and Around the Jungle]]" (2006)
*"[[Possession|The Immortal Starscream]]" (2006)

==Notes==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* There are three known unproduced ''Beast Wars'' episodes: "[[A Greater Ape]]", "[[Bitch Wars]]" and "[[Dark Glass]]".
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine] erroneously claims that ''Beast Wars'' is the first fully CGI television show in the world, a title actually held by ''[[:wikipedia:Insektors|Insektors]]''. Mainframe's own CGI show ''[[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]]'' also predates ''Beast Wars''.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?
* For reasons unknown, the US Rhino release of ''Beast Wars'' season three did not include the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UmCEsbUe6E opening that was televised], which included an original shot of the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' spaceships crashing down to prehistoric Earth. Instead, all season three episodes began with the season two [[title sequence|opening]] for the first part of the beginning credits.
* Also, the ''Beast Wars'' season one release from Rhino used a totally different and shorter [[title sequence|opening sequence]] and a shortened version of the theme.

===Foreign names===

*''English:'' '''''Beasties''''' (Canada)
*''Japanese:'' '''''Beast Wars Chō Seimeitai Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズ超生命体トランスフォーマー, "Beast Wars Super Lifeform Transformers"), '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals''''' (second and third seasons, 超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズメタルス, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Metals")
*''French:'' '''''Animutants''''' (France), '''''Robots-Bêtes''''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''''Biocombat'''''
*''Latvian:'' '''''Briesmoņu kari''''' ("Monster Wars")
*''Polish:'' '''''Kosmiczne Wojny''''' ("Cosmic Wars")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bitvi Zverey''''' (Битвы зверей, "Battles of the Beasts"), '''''Zhestokye voini''''' (Жестокие войны, "Cruel wars")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Guerra de Bestias''''' (America)
*''Vietnamese:'' '''''Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ''''' ("Galaxy Monster Wars")
*''Chinese:'' '''''Super-Ultra Warriors''''' (超能勇士)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Computer-generated imagery

2014-02-15T04:10:53Z

Jboy1021: /* Transformers: Prime (2010–) */

'''Computer-generated imagery''' (CGI) in Transformers media has gone through six phases thus far.

==Generation 2 (1993–1994)==
[[Image:Cybernet Spacecube.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Cube 4: Superdupercube]]
The [[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|''Generation 2'' "cartoon"]] was simply the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] with a new CGI opening, and new scene-transitions featuring the nefarious [[Cybernet Space Cube]]. These segments added nothing but glitz (and annoyance) to the cartoon, and are mostly forgotten.

CGI was used more extensively in ''Generation 2'''s [[commercial]]s. Entire segments were computer animated for early commercials advertising the toys and the comic. Initially the CGI was quite primitive. Later, more advanced techniques were used to allow computer-animated characters to interact with live-action actors.
{{-}}

==The Beast Era (1996–2000)==
[[Image:BWPart1 beastmodes.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"Tarantulas! Find us some mood lighting, too!"]]
Both ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' were fully CGI, created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]] of Canada. ''Beast Wars'' was a bit primitive, even in its day. (It is notorious for lacking shadows except when vital.) Its animation quality improved steadily over time, most obviously in comparisons of the landscape between first and third seasons. ''Beast Machines'' was a further step forward, and holds up reasonably well even by modern standards. Both are praised for their good use of facial expressions and body language.
{{-}}

==''Robots in Disguise'' (2000–2002)==

The [[Global Space Bridge]] was generally animated in CGI, except [[Landfill (episode)|when it wasn't]].

The [[Honō no Overdrive: Car Robot Cybertron|''Car Robots'' opening]] was done partially in CGI; [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] battling and the transformations of [[X-Brawn]], [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], and [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] were all computer generated. In addition, a brief shot of the Autobots driving through the [[Global Space Bridge]], and [[Team Bullet Train]] driving around on some tracks, were done the same way. In keeping with the show's slightly obsessive [[toy accuracy]], these CGI models look almost identical to the toys, which unfortunately makes the battle itself look a bit dodgy.

The [[Theme_song#Robots_In_Disguise|English version of the opening]] was almost entirely cel-animated, using a mixture of the traditionally animated parts of the Japanese opening and clips from various episodes. However, it did retain a short computer generated shot of the Global Space Bridge.

In addition, the American version used CGI for its [[scene transition]]s. Shiny 3D models of the Autobot, Predacon, and Decepticon [[insignia]] retreated a short distance and flipped to reveal which faction the next scene would focus on.

==''Energon'' and ''Cybertron'' (2004–2006)==
[[Image:CobyLoriWedding.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Well, a firetruck is bigger. Much, much bigger."]]
The last two-thirds of the [[Unicron Trilogy]], ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'', both used shaded CGI for the Transformer characters, and traditional cel animation for almost everything else (humans, backgrounds, etc.). Some episodes (e.g., "[[City]]") used CGI for doing complex environments, particularly when the camera needed to be able to move through the environment quickly.

In comparison to the Beast Era, the character animation in ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron'' was generally unimpressive. For an extensive discussion of its flaws, see ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)#Production flaws|Energon, Production flaws]]''.

On the positive side, the character models were [[Toy-accuracy|toy-accurate]] to a fault, reproducing the design and transformations of the toys in detail.
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==The live-action films (2007–2011)==
[[Image:Movie Scorponok leapsout.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"Oh, crap! He's got 5,000 pieces of geometry, and over 1,000,000 polygons! Run!"]]
The [[live-action film series]], obviously, used CGI extensively, most spectacularly for almost all appearances of the Transformer characters in robot mode. The lion's share of CG work on the films was rendered by [[Industrial Light & Magic]], with [[Digital Domain]] and other companies doing the rest.
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==''Transformers: Prime'' (2010–2013)==
[[Image:DarknessRising5-BulkheadMiko.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Miko, ain't you stubbies s'posed to be cel animated? [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Or was that a bad dream I had?]]"]]
The ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' TV series was a return to fully-CG animation for the brand. Utilizing over a decade of technical evolution and a more than 100-fold increase in computer processing power, a mix of 2D and 3D animation was used to create more realistic landscapes and characters with realistic textures and movement. The show was animated by [[Polygon Pictures]].
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==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics Generation 1 continuity===
[[Image:Protectobots-marvel24.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
The video-game [[Multi-World]] uses advanced computer-generated imagery to project life like simulations for players. Robotic lifeforms that have their minds uploaded into the game can participate in the action like it was real. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}

[[Image:Hyper-fax.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Computer interfaces actually looked like this in 1988.]]
The simulated world of [[Hyper-Fax]] is entirely the creation of computer-generated imagery. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}}

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==Notes==
* If one includes the Generation 2 cartoon, then of the eleven Transformers TV shows that have aired in the U.S., more than half have used CGI, and almost half have used it extensively.
* A [[Toys"R"Us]] Big Book ad airing in late 2009 briefly featured CGI versions of the movie [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] not animated by [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lqn_H0uPL8]. The CGI models appear to be based on the 2009 [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys 2|Leader Class Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Deluxe Class toys 2|Deluxe Class Bumblebee]] toys and utilize the same transformations as the toys without any apparent morphing (essentially computer rendered versions of the toys and their transformations).

[[Category:Media]]