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)

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, 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 vengeance. 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.

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

Backstop eventually told Scourge's story to Optimus Prime. 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. 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."

Hasbro bio and key code info

Template:Askvectorprime 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 on the planet Klo. 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, he left Bludgeon to grieve privately and continued his journey through the galaxy. He returned and passed on what he knew to others. One of his students, Scourge, would eventually defeated Backstop in battle.

Backstop continued to teach. His students included Scourge's former bodyguard, Shrapnel, as well as the Mini-Cons Dragoyell, Kobushi, Hyakurai, Ichibi, and Mugen. He never stopped learning, either. 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

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

Toys

Cybertron

Yup. Definitely related to Rhinox.

He has two left feet in every mode!

• Backstop (Scout class, 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: GC-15
  • Accessories: Jungle Planet-style Cyber Key

Backstop transforms into a robotic rhinoceros. In either mode, inserting a Cyber Planet Key into his key slot activates his spring-loaded ramming horn, which extends outward (but does not actually launch). He comes with a silver-bordered Jungle Planet-style Key; the Hasbro version has the Cyber Key Code "stw7" on its back.

There are several notable differences between the Hasbro and Takara releases of Backstop. The Takara version is overall lighter, with a mainly medium-gray body, silvery beast mode legs, plus coppery plastic and paint deco. The Hasbro version, however, 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.

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)

• Backstop (Scout, 2007)
  • Accessories: Jungle Planet style Cyber Key

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)

• Backstop (Scout, 2010)
  • Series: Cybertron Series
  • Accessories: Jungle Planet style Cyber Key

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.

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".
• 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)