Backstop (Cybertron)

The name or term "Backstop" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Backstop (disambiguation).

Backstop is an Animatronian Autobot from the Cybertron portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Short, wide rhino seeks chick for long walks on beach, eating parasites off hide.

A wise elder of Animatron, the Jungle Planet, Backstop sought enlightenment beyond the boundaries of his world. But when he returned, he found himself focused not on the things he'd learned offworld, but on the strife of his people. Thus, he attempted to teach a new generation of Transformers what he learned and the ways of peace, only to see his brightest pupil, Scourge, succumb to the evils of tyranny.

Fiction

Beast Wars Reborn

Backstop was an environmental ranger on Animatron. One day, when a foreign gorilla Transformer was knocked aside by Scourge in the dragon's fight with a bear Transformer, Backstop went to the gorilla's aid and introduced himself. Planetfall

Cybertron cartoon

Voice actor: Scott McNeil (English), Masahiko Tanaka (Japanese), Jari Salo (Finnish), Wolf Frass (German), Salvador Serrano (Castilian Spanish), Jhonny Torres (Latin-American Spanish, episode 11), Rolman Bastidas (Latin-American Spanish, episode 14), Zoltán Tóth (Hungarian, 1st dub), Gwangju Jeon (Korean)

Years ago, Backstop sought to teach the young warriors of Jungle Planet the ways of peace and the honorable warrior. Their planet had long since been ravaged by raiders, and he thought that this new philosophy of "peaceful aggression" would usher in a new age for their people. His students included both Scourge and Snarl. To them, he was like a father, and his charges saw one another as brothers.

However, their bond was torn apart when Scourge resolved to take the fight to the raiders. Backstop protested this, saying that Scourge would begin a cycle of vengeance that would only lead to more pain. Scourge left his master's side, and Snarl went with him, deciding to stand by his friend rather than his master.

Backstop's words would ring true; after Scourge defeated the raiders, his honor and decency began to fade, and the dragon-bot had all of Jungle Planet in his iron-fisted grip. What had began as a fight for peace turned into a dictatorship. Honor

Because Rhinox was already taken.

Years later, Backstop encountered Overhaul, who had been weakened by the harsh environment of Jungle Planet. Surprised by the fact that Overhaul could turn into a vehicle rather than a beast (though he did recognize the form), Backstop would later learn that Overhaul was in fact from the Transformers' ancient world of Cybertron. Deep With Snarl's help, Backstop managed to secure an audience with Scourge. Overhaul would be able to request the Cyber Planet Key from the planet's leader in order to neutralize a black hole threatening the universe. Unfortunately, Overhaul was too forward in his demands. Though Backstop tried his best to have the conversation remain civilized, Overhaul and Scourge soon came to blows. Race Backstop urged Overhaul to stand down from the fight, but the Autobot wouldn't hear it. As Backstop warned, Scourge turned out to simply be too powerful during Overhaul's first bout against him... though by tapping into Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Overhaul managed to upgrade himself into the more formidable "Leobreaker." Detour

Vector Prime and Optimus Prime next arrived on Jungle Planet, and Backstop helped explain what had come to pass for Overhaul to become Leobreaker to the newcomers. Backstop became affiliated with the Autobots just in time for Scourge and his entourage to turn up and force the off-worlders from both factions against one-another. Backstop managed to prevent Snarl from being taken away for execution while Optimus and the others clashed, eventually emerging victorious from the confrontation when the Autobot leader combined with Leobreaker into their "Savage Claw mode." Savage The Autobots were lured into another confrontation against the Decepticons by the trickster Sideways. This brawl was brought to an end once more by Optimus and Leobreaker, and the Autobots interrogated Sideways after pinning him down. Sideways offered a story that he was an undercover Autobot agent, but none of the Autobots fell for his lie. He managed to get away from them nonetheless when a call from Speed Planet distracted the whole team. Sand

Backstop eventually told Scourge's story to Optimus Prime to give him a better understanding of Jungle Planet's hierarchy. With the insight given by Backstop's tale, Optimus resolved to meet Scourge on the dragon-bot's own terms. Honor Backstop witnessed the opening of the space bridge over Jungle Planet, revealing the menace of the Black Hole. Revelation After a time, even Backstop learned that one had to fight at some point, and he went to tell Scourge that Optimus would be challenging him. At the same time, Backstop reminded Scourge that Optimus fought for the things Scourge had forgotten.

Optimus and Leobreaker defeated Scourge, and afterwards, Backstop helped the Autobots in their attempt to get Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key off the planet. He would remain on his homeworld, even after Scourge left to seek vengeance on Optimus, though he did see the effects of the Black Hole when a space bridge appeared over his world.

Much later, Backstop joined the multi-world alliance and rushed to help Scourge (who had learned the error of his ways) to right the massive engine that was meant to restore Jungle Planet to its rightful position in space. Unfinished He then oversaw a tournament to decide the new leader of Jungle Planet and declared Scourge the rightful and honorable ruler.

Afterwards, Backstop decided to join the crew of the Hyperborea. When it departed, he told Evac that "sometimes the path to enlightenment leads away from home." Beginning

Hasbro bio and key code info

Backstop is a Transformer who once relied on anger until he traveled the galaxy, learning the way of the warrior from Bludgeon and Banzai-Tron. He returned and was eventually defeated in battle by Scourge. He sought to destroy the dragon-bot, having learned the true value of life—life that Scourge does not honor.

Eventually, Leobreaker taught him how to play baseball.

Hasbro's bio presents a very different image of Backstop from the one portrayed on the show. However, the text in his key-code information is more in line with the TV series and also somewhat ties in with his comment about having seen vehicular Transformers prior in his life.

Ask Vector Prime

It was on Klo that Backstop met Banzai-Tron and Bludgeon. Banzai-Tron was an elderly bot, not long for the cosmos, and Backstop became his last student. He learned much from them, not only martial arts but also philosophy. He noted their vehicle forms with interest, but they were reluctant to speak of their history other than to say that their homes "were not worth travelling to." When Banzai-Tron passed, Backstop left Bludgeon to grieve privately and continued his journey through the galaxy, teaching others the lessons he had been taught. His students eventually included Scourge's former bodyguard, Shrapnel, as well as the Mini-Cons Dragoyell, Kobushi, Hyakurai, Ichibi, and Mugen. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/29

Ask Vector Prime

Vector Prime noted that both the Animatron Autobot Backstop and the Mini-Con Backstop existed in Aurex 802.23 Alpha. Ask Vector Prime, 23/6/2015

Legends World

Big Convoy took pity on his student Colada having no money to play around with by giving him something even more fun: Cyber Keys! Having expected money, Colada asked aloud what the use of Cyber Keys was; Big responded that one use was making his Saidos toy's horn longer. Delinquent Colada

Toys

Cybertron

Yup. Definitely related to Rhinox.
(Takara version pictured)

He has two left feet in every mode!
(Hasbro version pictured)

• Backstop (Scout class, 2005)

• Takara ID number: GC-15
• Takara release date: April 14, 2005
• Accessories: Jungle Planet Cyber Key
• Cyber Key Code: stw7
• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy), Tim Bradley (concept artist)

Part of the "Jungle Planet" theme, Backstop transforms into a robotic rhinoceros. In either mode, inserting a Cyber Planet Key into the key slot on the back of his rhino-head activates his spring-loaded ramming horn, which extends outward (but does not actually launch). He features minimal articulation in the arms and rather useless joints in the legs, which only move outwards.

There are several notable differences between the Takara and Hasbro releases of Backstop. Takara's Galaxy Force "Saidos" is overall lighter, with a mainly medium-gray body, silvery beast mode legs, plus coppery plastic and paint deco. Hasbro's Cybertron "Backstop" uses a darker gray with a bit of purple tint for the main body, with medium-gray legs and a more yellow-gold on the accenting. And of course, Backstop's Cyber Key has a Cyber Key Code stamped on its back.

This mold was redecoed to make the 2010 Transformers series Backstop.

• More information on Backstop at TFU.info
• Saidos gallery at TF Kenkon

Universe (2003)

Please buy me.

• Backstop (Scout, 2007)

• Accessories: Jungle Planet style Cyber Key
• Cyber Key Code: stw7

Backstop was one of several Cybertron Scout-class toys also made available on Universe cardbacks, and sold through discount chains like Kay-Bee Toy Works. This version is unchanged from the Cybertron release.

Universe (2008)

Please...

• Backstop (Scout, 2010)

• Series: Cybertron Series
• Accessories: Jungle Planet style Cyber Key
• Cyber Key Code: stw7

Backstop would see a straight re-release again in the 2008 Universe toyline, though oddly enough not until well after the line had vanished from shelves. Backstop, Brushguard and Brakedown appeared as a special display in late 2010 at Walmart stores, with a price tag of a whopping $4 a pop.

Swapticons

• Backstop / Rhinox (2-pack, 2026)

Part of the fourth wave of Swapticons two-packs, Backstop transforms into the back half of a semi-organic/semi-robotic rhinoceros. While his nominal placement is as the back half of a full rhino with his pack-in partner Rhinox, he can attach to any other Swapticon, front or back, to make whatever silly abomination you feel like unleashing.

Notes

He only wanted a hug.

• Backstop's Japanese name is a "coolification" of sai, the Japanese word for "rhinoceros". Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of the name "Rhinox" - indeed, "Rinox" (sic) was a preliminary name for the character.
• Backstop had a normal left arm that unfolded from the back of the rhino very far into the design process, so far as to have a complete sculpt made. According to Hasbro employees, this was changed into his less human-like scooped arm design so that the rhino mode wouldn't appear to have a fist emerging from its rear.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Saidos (サイドス Saidosu)
• Armenian: Kangar' (Կանգառ, "Backstop")
• Hungarian: Bujkáló ("Hider")
• Korean: Saidos (사이도스 Saidoseu)