Editing Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)

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With sales of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|''Generation 2'' toyline]] proving unremarkable by 1995, [[Hasbro]] faced a choice: end the Transformers brand for a second time, or completely revamp the concept. They chose the second option, and '''''Beast Wars: Transformers''''' was the result. The toys were initially developed and distributed by Hasbro's [[Kenner]] division, but with the massive success of ''Beast Wars'', the parent company eventually reclaimed control of the brand. ''Beast Wars'' packaging was branded "Kenner" until the 1998 [[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] packaging sported "Hasbro" logos again. The European [[multilingual packaging]] variants already shifted back to "Hasbro" with the [[Fuzor]]s and [[Transmetal]]s.

The new franchise consisted entirely of robots who transformed into beasts: insects, mammals, and more. The traditional factions of Autobot and Decepticon were replaced with heroic [[Maximal]]s and evil [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. Most radically, the beast modes were intended to represent fully natural and organic animals, as opposed to the "mechanical beasts" represented by the likes of Generation 1's Dinobots and Terrorcons.

[[File:Crosssell-beastwars.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|In the beginning, came the beasts, and all that creeps, crawls and flies. But nature lies, they're robots in disguise!]]
[[File:Crosssell-transmetals.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Transmetals! They're extreme!]]
[[File:Crosssell-transmetal2.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Transmetals 2! They're extremely extreme!]]
The ''Beast Wars'' toyline brought poseability to full fruition. Whereas ''Generation 2'' marketed a handful of toys as "super poseable", ''Beast Wars'' made it standard for virtually every toy. Heavy use of ball joints gave the figures unprecedented degrees of freedom — often greater than that of a normal, non-transforming action figure. Poseability — a rarity in the days of G1 — became commonplace and expected after ''Beast Wars''.

Concealed parts and weapons also became standard during ''Beast Wars''. Again, ''Generation 2'' had introduced a number of toys whose [[kibble]] had a place to store when not in use, but it was ''Beast Wars'' that made it a universal feature.

''Beast Wars'' also introduced a standardized [[Size class|system of price points]] to Transformers: $5 Basics, $10 Deluxes, $15 Megas, and $20 Ultras. The price for Basics eventually rose to $7, but the system remained largely unaltered through the end of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]''. Portions of the system continue to be used today (the Basics were "Scouts" during ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'', and the Mega has been replaced with the $20, slightly-larger "Voyager".) A rarely-seen, extra-large Super class was introduced with the Optimal Optimus toy in 1998''.

The toyline evolved over its three and a half year run. 1996–97 featured purely-organic beasts exclusively. 1998 was dominated by two sublines: [[Fuzor]]s, whose beast modes combined aspects of two different animals, and [[Transmetal]]s, which featured metallic-finished chrome and sleekly mechanical beast modes. In 1999, the [[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] were the primary offering, featuring asymmetrical and often bizarrely patchwork fusions of mechanical and organic in both modes. 

''Beast Wars'' largely ended as a toyline when Hasbro elected to revamp the franchise and re-introduce vehicular Transformers, leading to the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Machines'' toyline]]. Though a new franchise, ''Beast Machines'' continued many aspects of the ''Beast Wars'' toyline including a number of major characters, the Maximal faction, and beast forms that combined mechanical and organic aspects. Furthermore, the ''Beast Wars'' title would continue to grace sporadic toys such as [[Exclusive|store exclusives, convention exclusives]], a [[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|10th anniversary line]] in 2006, and [[Transformers: Beast Wars Telemocha Series|another 10th anniversary line]] for Japan in 2007.

== 1996 ==
===Basic Beasts===
[[File:Rattrapbeastwarsbasic.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Rattrap]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] (frilled lizard)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (rat)
*[[Razorbeast]] (razorback)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (''Pteranodon'')

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Armordillo]] (armadillo)
*[[Insecticon (BW)|Insecticon]] (stag beetle)
*[[Snapper]] (snapping turtle)

===Deluxe Beasts===
[[File:BeastWars Dinobot 1996 toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Dinobot]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]] (cheetah)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'')
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (tarantula)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (wasp)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (rhinoceros)
*[[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] (wolf)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (black widow spider)
*[[Buzz Saw (BW)|Buzz Saw]] (wasp)
*[[Tigatron]] (white tiger)

===Mega Beasts===
*[[Polar Claw]] ([[polar bear]])
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (scorpion)

===Ultra Beasts===
[[File:Bwmegatron toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Ultra-class Megatron. In 1996, this was seriously the most complex Transformer ever.]]
*[[Megatron (BW)/toys|Megatron]] (''Tyrannosaurus rex'')
*[[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimus Primal]] (gorilla) 

===Comic 2-Pack===
*[[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimus Primal]] (fruit bat) vs [[Megatron (BW)/toys|Megatron]]! (crocodile)

===Exclusives===
[[File:Manta ray bw toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Manta Ray]]
'''McDonald's Happy Meal'''
*[[Beetle]] (beetle)
*[[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] (manta ray)
*[[Panther]] (panther)
*[[Rhino]] (rhinoceros)
*[[Under-3]] (lion head)

'''[[BotCon 1996]]'''
*[[Onyx Primal]] (bat)

==1997==
===Basic Beasts===
[[File:Airazorbwtoy1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Airazor]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (falcon)
*[[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]] (fiddler crab)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Claw Jaw]] (Humboldt squid)
*[[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]] (Boll weevil)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Lazorbeak]] (''Pteranodon'')

'''Wave 4'''
*[[Powerpinch]] (earwig)
*[[Snarl (BW)|Snarl]] (Tasmanian Devil)
*[[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] (poison arrow frog)

===Deluxe Beasts===
[[File:BWBantorToy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Bantor]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cybershark]] (hammerhead shark)
*[[Jetstorm (BW)|Jetstorm]] (dragonfly)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Bonecrusher (BW)|Bonecrusher]] (American bison)
*[[Manterror]] (praying mantis)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]] (''Velociraptor'')

'''Wave 4'''
*[[K-9]] (German Shepherd)
*[[Retrax]] (pill bug)

===Mega Beasts===
[[File:BWtoy-Inferno.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Inferno]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (fire ant)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[B'Boom]] (mandrill)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Transquito]] (mosquito)

===Ultra Teams===
[[File:Magnaboss-bw-toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Magnaboss]]
*[[Magnaboss]], includes:
**[[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Beast Wars|Ironhide]] (African elephant)
**[[Prowl (G1)/toys#Beast Wars|Prowl]] (lion)
**[[Silverbolt (G1)#Toys|Silverbolt]] (bald eagle)
*[[Tripredacus]], includes:
**[[Cicadacon]] (cicada)
**[[Ram Horn]] (rhinoceros beetle)
**[[Sea Clamp]] (lobster)

===[[MicroVerse]]===
*[[Arachnid]] (spider/Predacon base)
*[[Orcanoch]] (orca whale/Maximal base)

===Exclusives===
'''[[BotCon 1997]]'''
* [[Fractyl (BW)|Fractyl]] (''Pteranodon'') & [[Packrat]] (rat)

==1998==
===Basic Fuzors===
[[File:BW-toy Quickstrike.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Quickstrike]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Air Hammer]] (hammerhead shark/hawk [[Fuzor]])
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (scorpion/cobra Fuzor)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Noctorro]] (bull/bat Fuzor)
*[[Terragator]] (alligator/terrapin Fuzor)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Bantor (BW)|Bantor]] (baboon/tiger Fuzor)
*[[Buzzclaw (BW)|Buzzclaw]] (praying mantis/lizard Fuzor)

===Deluxe Fuzors===
[[File:Torca toy1998.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Torca]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (wolf/eagle Fuzor)
*[[Sky Shadow (BW)|Sky Shadow]] (iguana/dragonfly Fuzor)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Injector]] (lionfish/hornet Fuzor)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Torca]] (orca whale/elephant Fuzor)

===Deluxe Transmetals===
[[File:Transmetal rhinox toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Transmetal Rhinox]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]] ([[Transmetal]] cheetah)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (Transmetal rhinoceros)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (Transmetal tarantula)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (Transmetal rat)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (Transmetal wasp)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (Transmetal falcon)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (Transmetal Pteranodon)
[[File:BW Megatron Transmetal.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Transmetal Megatron]]
===Mega Transmetals===
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Megatron (BW)/toys|Megatron]] (Transmetal Tyrannosaurus rex)
*[[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimus Primal]] (Transmetal gorilla)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Scavenger (BW)|Scavenger]] (Transmetal fire ant)

===Ultra Transmetals===
[[File:BW Rampage toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Rampage]]
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (Transmetal manta ray)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (Transmetal crab)

===Super Transmetals===
*[[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimal Optimus]] (Transmetal gorilla)

===VHS packs===
'''Regular'''
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (falcon)
*[[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]] (fiddler crab) 
'''European exclusive'''
*[[Claw Jaw]] ("Transmetal" Humboldt squid)
*[[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] ("Transmetal" poison arrow frog)
{{Note|These two VHS packs featured English/German/Italian [[Multilingual packaging|trilingual packaging]] (a unique combination for the line), and saw release in at least the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Germany]].}}

===Exclusives===
'''BJ's Wholesale Club'''
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'') and [[Tigatron]] (white tiger)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (rhinoceros) and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (black widow spider)
*[[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] (wolf) and [[Buzz Saw (BW)|Buzz Saw]] (wasp)
{{note|These two-packs include 1996 Deluxe Beasts, identical to their original releases. The two carded toys are joined together by a larger piece of cardboard.}} 
[[File:Mcdinobot.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|McDinobot. Not to be confused with MG-Dinobot.]]
'''McDonald's Happy Meal'''
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetal black widow spider)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (Transmetal ''Velociraptor'')
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (Transmetal scorpion)
'''[[BotCon 1998]]'''
* [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] (fire ant)
* [[Vice Grip]] (earwig)

==1999==
===Basic Transmetals 2===
[[File:BWtoy-SpittorTransmetals2.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Transmetal 2 Spittor]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Optimus Minor]] ([[Transmetal 2]] spider monkey)
*[[Scarem]] (Transmetal 2 stag beetle)
*[[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]] (Transmetal 2 bat)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] (Transmetal 2 poison arrow frog)
*[[Stinkbomb]] (Transmetal 2 skunk)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Nightglider]] (Transmetal 2 flying squirrel)

===Deluxe Transmetals 2===
[[File:Ramulustoy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Ramulus]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]] (Transmetal 2 cheetah)
*[[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] (Transmetal 2 ''Velociraptor'')
*[[Ramulus]] (Transmetal 2 ibex)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Prowl II|Prowl]] (Transmetal 2 owl)
*[[Scourge (BW)|Scourge]] (Transmetal 2 locust)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] (Transmetal 2 frilled lizard)
*[[Jawbreaker]] (Transmetal 2 spotted hyena)

===Mega Transmetals 2===
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cybershark]] (Transmetal 2 great white shark)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetal 2 black widow spider)

===Ultra Transmetals 2===
[[File:BWdragonmegs toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Transmetal 2 Megatron]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Megatron (BW)/toys|Megatron]] (Transmetal 2 dragon)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Tigerhawk]] (Transmetal 2 tiger/falcon Fuzor)

[[File:Tarantulas-FKTM.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Fox Kids Tarantulas]]
===[[Fox Kids]] Deluxe Classics===
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|<s>Jungle Roar</s> Cheetor]] (cheetah)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|<s>Live Wire</s> Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'')
*[[Rhinox (BW)|<s>Energon Surge</s> Rhinox]] (black rhinoceros)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|<s>Power Flight</s> Waspinator]] (hornet)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Cheetor (BW)/toys|<s>Mech-Tech</s> Cheetor]] (Transmetal cheetah)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|<s>Steel Force</s> Tarantulas]] (Transmetal tarantula)
{{note|Initial Hasbro solicitations gave the toys in the Fox Kids assortment "power up"-style descriptors, but these did not make it to their final packaging.}}

===Exclusives===
'''Walmart'''
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (Transmetal rat)
'''[[BotCon 1999]]'''
*[[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] (wolf/eagle Fuzor)
*[[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]] (scorpion)

==2000==
===Deluxe Beasts===
{{note|2000's Deluxe assortment featured a mixture of Fox Kids-branded redecoes, with large "NEW!" call-outs, and Mutants, which sported a unique ''[[Transformers: Mutant Beast Wars|Mutant Beast Wars]]'' logo.}}

[[File:Rattrap transmetal2000.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Fox Kids Rattrap]]
[[File:BWtoy-Razor ClawMutant.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Mutant Razor Claw]]
'''Wave 1'''
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (Transmetal rat, Fox Kids redeco)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (Transmetal rhinoceros, Fox Kids redeco)

'''Wave 2'''
*[[Poison Bite]] (barracuda/scorpion [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]])
*[[Razor Claw]] (''Velociraptor''/wolverine Mutant)

'''Wave 3'''
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Transmetal]] falcon, Fox Kids redeco)
*[[Icebird]] (polar bear/snowy owl Mutant)

'''Wave 4'''
*[[Soundwave (BW)|Soundwave]] (alligator/bat Mutant)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (Transmetal hornet, Fox Kids redeco)

===Exclusives===
'''[[BotCon 2000]]'''
*[[Shokaract]] (Transmetal crab)

==2001==
[[File:TripredacusAgent toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Tripredacus Agent (Ravage)]]
===Exclusives===
'''Walmart'''
*[[Ravage (G1)/toys|Tripredacus Agent]] (Transmetal 2 black jaguar)
'''[[BotCon 2001]]'''
*[[Tigatron]] (Transmetal white tiger, [[BotCon 2001]])
{{--}}
==Innovations and lasting effects==
* ''Beast Wars'' made [[ball joint]]s, first used on a wider scale by the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Cyberjet]]s, a regular feature of ''Transformers'' [[toy]]s.
* ''Beast Wars'' was also the first toy line to commonly integrate the robots' weapons and accessories into the [[alternate mode]], thus avoiding extraneous [[kibble]] (in the original meaning of the term) and/or obvious attached weapons and accessories.
* As noted above, ''Beast Wars'' finally established standardized [[size class|size classes/price points]] and multiple assorted waves of the same price point per year.
* Furthermore, ''Beast Wars'' made [[redeco]]s and [[retool]]s of toys from previous waves a lot more prevalent than had been the case in previous lines.
* Lastly, ''Beast Wars'' packaging introduced the use of twist ties, to the anger of a lot of fans.

==Notes==
*The [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' toyline]] includes toys marked as "Beast Wars series".

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''''Ani Mutants''''' (France), '''''Guerre Bêtes''''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''''Biocombat'''''
*''Spanish:'' '''''Guerra Bestias''''' (America)

[[Category:Beast Wars toylines]]