Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Difference between revisions
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==Continuity== | ==Continuity== | ||
[[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|thumb|250px]] | [[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|thumb|250px]] | ||
Where Japan-exclusive seasons ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' are situated relative to previous ''Transformers'' continuity, the first ''Beast Wars'' series, and any contemporary Earth calendar was a source of confusion for many years. Fans in the West spent years attempting to understand two series that were never officially translated into English, which led to a number of misconceptions based on reports from people who spoke Japanese, observing visual media without the context of translated text, and so on. The [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#JBWchronology|initial understanding]] was that ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' starred characters who were contemporaries to the Maximals and Predacons from the American ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, who lived a mere three centuries after the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. This was mostly a "default" assumption (as in, there was no reason NOT to think it), and it appeared to be confirmed at first by [[catalog#Beast Wars II|the first ''Beast Wars II'' toy catalog]], which depicted Lio Convoy and Galvatron directly interacting with Optimus Primal and Megatron, respectfully. | Where Japan-exclusive seasons ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' are situated relative to previous ''Transformers'' continuity, the first ''Beast Wars'' series, and any contemporary Earth calendar was a source of confusion for many years. Fans in the West spent years attempting to understand two series that were never officially translated into English, which led to a number of misconceptions based on reports from people who spoke Japanese, observing visual media without the context of translated text, and so on. The [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#JBWchronology|initial understanding]] was that ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' starred characters who were contemporaries to the Maximals and Predacons from the American ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, who lived a mere three centuries after the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. This was mostly a "default" assumption (as in, there was no reason NOT to think it), and it appeared to be confirmed at first by [[catalog#Beast Wars II|the first ''Beast Wars II'' toy catalog]], which depicted [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]] directly interacting with [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], respectfully. | ||
By the end of ''Beast Wars II'', however, information surfaces that refute this assumption. Like ancient [[Vok]]-occupied Earth of ''Beast Wars'', the planet Gaia of ''Beast Wars II'' is only later identified as a ''future'' version of Earth, while [[Emissary of the Fourth Planet|episode 36]], reveals that the long-vanished civilization belonged to humanity, who had left the planet behind tens of thousands of years ago, placing it in the distant future relative to both ''Beast Wars'' and other works of ''Transformers'' fiction. Indeed, during [[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!|the ''Beast Wars II'' movie special]], Optimus Primal is pulled out of space and time to Gaia, and Lio Convoy's crew treats him as a legendary figure from the past. The [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|''Beast Wars II'' manga series]], meanwhile, sticks to the backstory as established in that early catalog and treats Lio Convoy and Optimus Primal as contemporaries [[Free the Captured Matrix!|in its third chapter]]. | By the end of ''Beast Wars II'', however, information surfaces that refute this assumption. Like ancient [[Vok]]-occupied Earth of ''Beast Wars'', the planet [[Gaia]] of ''Beast Wars II'' is only later identified as a ''future'' version of Earth, while [[Emissary of the Fourth Planet|episode 36]], reveals that the long-vanished civilization belonged to humanity, who had left the planet behind tens of thousands of years ago, placing it in the distant future relative to both ''Beast Wars'' and other works of ''Transformers'' fiction. Indeed, during [[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!|the ''Beast Wars II'' movie special]], Optimus Primal is pulled out of space and time to Gaia, and Lio Convoy's crew treats him as a legendary figure from the past. The [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|''Beast Wars II'' manga series]], meanwhile, sticks to the backstory as established in that early catalog and treats Lio Convoy and Optimus Primal as contemporaries [[Free the Captured Matrix!|in its third chapter]]. | ||
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==''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers''== | ==''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers''== | ||
[[File:Transformers-Beast-Wars-Jpn-Logo.png|right|250px]] | [[File:Transformers-Beast-Wars-Jpn-Logo.png|right|250px]] | ||
The subtitle-less first year of the Japanese franchise was released in 1997, one year after its launch in [[Hasbro]] markets. It focused solely on the first year of the cartoon while combining Hasbro's 1996 and 1997 products into one large line. | The subtitle-less first year of the Japanese franchise was released in 1997, one year after its launch in [[Hasbro]] markets. It focused solely on the first year of the cartoon while combining Hasbro's 1996 and 1997 products into one large line. It is notable as the ''Transformers'' dubbing debut of prolific voice director [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]]. More on him later. | ||
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'''''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズII 超生命体トランスフォーマー ''Beast Wars II: Chō Seimeitai Transformer''), pronounced "Beast Wars Second", was the first Japan-only ''Beast Wars'' sub-franchise, debuting in 1998. | '''''Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers''''' (ビーストウォーズII 超生命体トランスフォーマー ''Beast Wars II: Chō Seimeitai Transformer''), pronounced "Beast Wars Second", was the first Japan-only ''Beast Wars'' sub-franchise, debuting in 1998. | ||
The ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon series aired in Japan between season one of ''Beast Wars'' and seasons two and three, in order to fill the gap until the later seasons could be dubbed into Japanese. The Cybertron (Maximal) team starts off with Lio Convoy, [[Apache]], [[Bighorn]], [[Tasmania Kid]], [[Scuba]], and [[Diver (BW)|Diver]]. The Destron (Predacon) side starts off with Galvatron, [[Megastorm]], [[Starscream (BW)|Starscream]], [[BB (BW)|BB]], [[Dirge (BW)|Dirge]], and [[Thrust (BW)|Thrust]]. | The ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon series aired in Japan between season one of ''Beast Wars'' and seasons two and three, in order to fill the gap until the later seasons could be dubbed into Japanese. The Cybertron (Maximal) team starts off with [[Lio Convoy]], [[Apache]], [[Bighorn]], [[Tasmania Kid]], [[Scuba]], and [[Diver (BW)|Diver]]. The Destron (Predacon) side starts off with Galvatron, [[Megastorm]], [[Starscream (BW)|Starscream]], [[BB (BW)|BB]], [[Dirge (BW)|Dirge]], and [[Thrust (BW)|Thrust]]. | ||
The ''Beast Wars II'' toyline consisted almost entirely of [[redeco]]es (and the occasional [[retool]]) of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'', and American [[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toys]], although all new molds were created for the two faction leaders: [[Lio Convoy]], a white lion, [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]], a purple dragon, and [[Moon (BW)|Moon]] an oft-abused robot space bunny anime mascot. Most of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] are mechanical while the [[Maximal]]s all have beast modes. | The ''Beast Wars II'' toyline consisted almost entirely of [[redeco]]es (and the occasional [[retool]]) of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'', and American [[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toys]], although all new molds were created for the two faction leaders: [[Lio Convoy]], a white lion, [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]], a purple dragon, and [[Moon (BW)|Moon]] an oft-abused robot space bunny anime mascot. Most of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] are mechanical while the [[Maximal]]s all have beast modes. | ||
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'''Super 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'') is the third and final Japanese sub-franchise of ''Beast Wars'' released in fall of 1999. | '''Super 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'') is the third and final Japanese sub-franchise of ''Beast Wars'' released in fall of 1999. | ||
The ''Beast Wars Metals'' cartoon consisted of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While | The ''Beast Wars Metals'' cartoon consisted of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]] and his voice team had been fairly judicious with self-referential humor for the franchise's subtitle-less first year, Beast Wars Metals was an unrestrained self-parody, constantly breaking the fourth wall and demonstrating awareness of its own status as a TV series. | ||
Ad libbing was | Ad libbing was cranked to the max and many characters received major personality adjustments to reflect the aggressively comedic nature of the series. For example, [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] was turned into a goofy old man who enjoyed singing fishing songs while transforming, [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] was now psychotically polite with an obnoxious happy-go-lucky attitude, and [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] now talked in the rough-and-tumble dialect of a cartoon street punk. The show was unrelentingly self-aware, regularly acknowledging the camera, the TV channel and, in one of the more oppressive gags, [[Rattrap (BW)|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). For good or ill the show proved a shot in the arm for the franchise, and this success catapulted Iwanami into a brand mainstay. Iwanami's dubbing style has become synonymous with imported Transformers cartoons in Japan, and he continues to voice direct most series to this day, all with the same heavily "punched up" direction. | ||
Metals was a smaller line than its predecessors, sticking entirely with characters who appeared in the show (even if not in Transmetal bodies). The first wave of toys had different, more "show-accurate" decoes and, notably, name tampographs were replaced with generic "CYBERTRON" and "DESTRON" markings. However, toys in later waves were functionally the same as Hasbro releases (other than minor changes to Optimal Optimus/Powered Convoy). The line also included a Takara-only retool of Transmetal Cheetor into Ravage (a character that appeared on the show in that design), which was quickly a very sought-after item outside Japan. | Metals was a smaller line than its predecessors, sticking entirely with characters who appeared in the show (even if not in [[Transmetal]] bodies). The first wave of toys had different, more "show-accurate" decoes and, notably, name tampographs were replaced with generic "CYBERTRON" and "DESTRON" markings. However, toys in later waves were functionally the same as Hasbro releases (other than minor changes to Optimal Optimus/Powered Convoy). The line also included a Takara-only retool of [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#TM1|Transmetal Cheetor]] into [[Ravage (G1)/toys#Metals|Ravage]] (a character that appeared on the show in that design), which was quickly a very sought-after item outside Japan. | ||
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==Post-series media== | ==Post-series media== | ||
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[[File:BWUprising logo.jpg|right|250px]] | [[File:BWUprising logo.jpg|right|250px]] | ||
{{main|Beast Wars: Uprising}} | {{main|Beast Wars: Uprising}} | ||
[[Fun Publications]]' [[2015]] English language prose epic ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' made heavy use of ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' characters in its dramatic reimagining of the ''Beast Wars'' setting from the ground up, centering ''Beast Wars II'' commander Lio Convoy as the de facto protagonist of the small franchise. | [[Fun Publications]]' [[2015]] English language prose epic ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' made heavy use of ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' characters in its dramatic reimagining of the ''Beast Wars'' setting from the ground up, centering ''Beast Wars II'' commander [[Lio Convoy#Beast Wars: Uprising|Lio Convoy]] as the de facto protagonist of the small franchise. | ||
[[Category:Beast Era]] | [[Category:Beast Era]] | ||
Revision as of 17:50, 15 May 2022
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Beast Wars: Super 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 Transformer) is the title given to Beast Wars franchise in Japan. Like its Generation 1 predecessor it was overseen by Takara directly, and saw yearly branding refreshes accompanied by additional cartoons and toys. It consists of the following components:
- A toyline.
- Various cartoons.
- The Transformers brand's second-ever theatrical release in the form of a triple feature combining content from the 1997 line and Beast Wars II with an early preview of Beast Wars Metals.
- An accompanying comic.
- A stage play.
- And a sausage.
Continuity
Where Japan-exclusive seasons Beast Wars II and Beast Wars Neo are situated relative to previous Transformers continuity, the first Beast Wars series, and any contemporary Earth calendar was a source of confusion for many years. Fans in the West spent years attempting to understand two series that were never officially translated into English, which led to a number of misconceptions based on reports from people who spoke Japanese, observing visual media without the context of translated text, and so on. The initial understanding was that Beast Wars II and Beast Wars Neo starred characters who were contemporaries to the Maximals and Predacons from the American Beast Wars cartoon, who lived a mere three centuries after the end of the Great War. This was mostly a "default" assumption (as in, there was no reason NOT to think it), and it appeared to be confirmed at first by the first Beast Wars II toy catalog, which depicted Lio Convoy and Galvatron directly interacting with Optimus Primal and Megatron, respectfully.
By the end of Beast Wars II, however, information surfaces that refute this assumption. Like ancient Vok-occupied Earth of Beast Wars, the planet Gaia of Beast Wars II is only later identified as a future version of Earth, while episode 36, reveals that the long-vanished civilization belonged to humanity, who had left the planet behind tens of thousands of years ago, placing it in the distant future relative to both Beast Wars and other works of Transformers fiction. Indeed, during the Beast Wars II movie special, Optimus Primal is pulled out of space and time to Gaia, and Lio Convoy's crew treats him as a legendary figure from the past. The Beast Wars II manga series, meanwhile, sticks to the backstory as established in that early catalog and treats Lio Convoy and Optimus Primal as contemporaries in its third chapter.
Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers
The subtitle-less first year of the Japanese franchise was released in 1997, one year after its launch in Hasbro markets. It focused solely on the first year of the cartoon while combining Hasbro's 1996 and 1997 products into one large line. It is notable as the Transformers dubbing debut of prolific voice director Yoshikazu Iwanami. More on him later.
Beast Wars II
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Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (ビーストウォーズII 超生命体トランスフォーマー Beast Wars II: Chō Seimeitai Transformer), pronounced "Beast Wars Second", was the first Japan-only Beast Wars sub-franchise, debuting in 1998.
The Beast Wars II cartoon series aired in Japan between season one of Beast Wars and seasons two and three, in order to fill the gap until the later seasons could be dubbed into Japanese. The Cybertron (Maximal) team starts off with Lio Convoy, Apache, Bighorn, Tasmania Kid, Scuba, and Diver. The Destron (Predacon) side starts off with Galvatron, Megastorm, Starscream, BB, Dirge, and Thrust.
The Beast Wars II toyline consisted almost entirely of redecoes (and the occasional retool) of Generation 1, Generation 2, Machine Wars, and American Beast Wars toys, although all new molds were created for the two faction leaders: Lio Convoy, a white lion, Galvatron, a purple dragon, and Moon an oft-abused robot space bunny anime mascot. Most of the Predacons are mechanical while the Maximals all have beast modes.
Beast Wars Neo
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Beast Wars Neo: Super Lifeform Transformers (ビーストウォーズネオ 超生命体トランスフォーマー Beast Wars Neo Chō Seimeitai Transformer) was the second Japanese exclusive sub-franchise, released in spring 1999.
Beast Wars Neo followed (and was a semi-sequel to) Beast Wars II. Of note is the fact that the Beast Wars Neo manga was considerably more different from its anime counterpart than Beast Wars II's had been.
Unlike the Beast Wars II toyline, which consisted almost entirely of redecoes (and the occasional retool), Beast Wars Neo was largely composed of all new original molds with only a few reused American Beast Wars toys to fill them out. The Maximals have organic beast modes of mostly present day animals (with the exception of the Mammoth Big Convoy), while the Predacons featured mainly extinct/prehistoric animals such as dinosaurs.
Beast Wars Metals
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Super 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) is the third and final Japanese sub-franchise of Beast Wars released in fall of 1999.
The Beast Wars Metals cartoon consisted of the North American season 2 and 3 episodes. While Yoshikazu Iwanami and his voice team had been fairly judicious with self-referential humor for the franchise's subtitle-less first year, Beast Wars Metals was an unrestrained self-parody, constantly breaking the fourth wall and demonstrating awareness of its own status as a TV series.
Ad libbing was cranked to the max and many characters 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 unrelentingly 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). For good or ill the show proved a shot in the arm for the franchise, and this success catapulted Iwanami into a brand mainstay. Iwanami's dubbing style has become synonymous with imported Transformers cartoons in Japan, and he continues to voice direct most series to this day, all with the same heavily "punched up" direction.
Metals was a smaller line than its predecessors, sticking entirely with characters who appeared in the show (even if not in Transmetal bodies). The first wave of toys had different, more "show-accurate" decoes and, notably, name tampographs were replaced with generic "CYBERTRON" and "DESTRON" markings. However, toys in later waves were functionally the same as Hasbro releases (other than minor changes to Optimal Optimus/Powered Convoy). The line also included a Takara-only retool of Transmetal Cheetor into Ravage (a character that appeared on the show in that design), which was quickly a very sought-after item outside Japan.
Post-series media
Telemocha
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Ten years after the release of the cartoon, the Beast Wars characters were revisited with the Beast Wars Telemocha Series toys, redecoes of Beast Wars figures packaged with DVDs including first-season episodes as well as a brand new "Diorama Story" feature.
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing's Beast Wars comics from 2006–2008 incorporates a series of events similar to both Beast Wars II and its immediate sequel, Beast Wars Neo, into its rebooted Beast Wars timeline. In this series of events, however, they take place in the past, at some point before the end of hostilities between the Maximals and Predacons. Relevant material includes:
Fun Publications
Fun Publications' 2015 English language prose epic Beast Wars: Uprising made heavy use of Beast Wars II and Beast Wars Neo characters in its dramatic reimagining of the Beast Wars setting from the ground up, centering Beast Wars II commander Lio Convoy as the de facto protagonist of the small franchise.
