Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline): Difference between revisions
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After three years of the successful [[Beast Wars]] franchise, Hasbro felt it was time to revamp the line, leading to the bold and adventurous '''Beast Machines'''. The [[Maximal]] faction and a number of its main characters carried over, as they faced off against Megatron's army of | After three years of the successful ''[[Beast Wars]]'' franchise, [[Hasbro]] felt it was time to revamp the line, leading to the bold and adventurous '''Beast Machines'''. The [[Maximal]] faction and a number of its main characters carried over, as they faced off against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron's]] army of [[Vehicon]]s. Both factions had radical new design elements: unorthodox designs, translucent plastic, chrome finishes... uh... okay, maybe not ''quite'' so radical. The Maximals were a smooth blend of the organic and robotic (unlike the reversed feel of the [[Transmetal]]s, or the almost painful fusion of Transmetal 2s). The Vehicons had very Cybertronian vehicle forms (often with articulated "sensors") and unorthodox robot modes, often with inhuman faces, odd-shaped limbs, and unusual forms of locomotion such as [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust's]] optional uni-wheel or [[Jetstorm (BW)|Jetstorm's]] legless hover mode. | ||
Several experimental | Several experimental sub-lines appeared during ''Beast Machines'': the [[Beast Riders]], non-transforming vehicles to scale with the smaller figures, and [[Deployers]], beasts that changed to weapons usable by the larger figures. A less-experimental sub-line was the [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]], [[redeco]]ed molds from both the Hasbro ''Beast Wars'' line and the [[Takara]] ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' series, sold in the same packaging assortments with the normal figures in the line. | ||
While the relative scale of characters has never translated perfectly from toy to show in any Transformers line, Beast Machines is especially notorious for it. Of the Maximals who appeared on the show, Nightscream is the smallest, yet his toy is a hulking Ultra, making him to scale with only the largest toys (Supreme Cheetor and, perhaps, Air Attack Primal -- the latter not even released till well after Beast Machines ended.) Silverbolt is the tallest show Maximal, but has a Basic-sized toy. | While the relative scale of characters has never translated perfectly from toy to show in any ''Transformers'' line, ''Beast Machines'' is especially notorious for it in a few instances. Of the Maximals who appeared on the show, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] is the second-smallest, yet his toy is a hulking Ultra, making him to scale with only the largest toys (Supreme [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and, perhaps, Air Attack [[Optimus Primal]] -- the latter not even released till well after ''Beast Machines'' ended and in a [[Robots in Disguise|different franchise]] to boot.) [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] is the tallest show Maximal, but has a Basic-sized toy. [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], the largest character of all, was only a modestly-sized Mega. Toy-[[Rattrap]] is larger than [[Blackarachnia]]; Primal came in Deluxe and Mega sizes, with the more widely-available Deluxe size being notably different than his show appearance. | ||
Show-accuracy, in fact, was widely variable across the entire toy line. Mainframe apparently began animating the characters from early concept sketches, designs that of necessity changed a great deal during the translation into toy form. Thus many characters' depictions in toy and cartoon bear relatively little resemblance to one another. The late-arriving Motorcycle Drone and Tank Drone toys, both highly show-accurate, may have been an explicit attempt to mitigate this. | Show-accuracy, in fact, was widely variable across the entire toy line. Show production house [[Mainframe Entertainment]] apparently began animating the characters from early concept sketches, designs that of necessity changed a great deal during the translation into toy form. Thus many characters' depictions in toy and cartoon bear relatively little resemblance to one another. The late-arriving [[Motorcycle Drone]] and [[Tank Drone]] toys, both highly show-accurate, may have been an explicit attempt to mitigate this. | ||
The line's overall success was limited. | The line's overall success was seemingly limited. Combined with Hasbro's financial troubles over excessive product glut in their ''[[Star Wars]] Episode 1'' lines, it was decided to drop the sequel series, [[Transtech]], and [[Armada|re-vamp the franchise from the ground up]]. The Japanese ''Car Robots'' series was quickly ported over as "filler" under the name ''[[Robots in Disguise]]'', giving Hasbro and Takara the time needed to coordinate on the next series. | ||
It should be noted that while Takara stamps are present on every Beast Machines toy, Japan did not receive anything relating to the line until 2005. | It should be noted that while Takara stamps are present on every ''Beast Machines'' toy, Japan did not receive anything relating to the line until 2005, as ''Beast Wars Returns'', and in a very limited manner. | ||
==2000== | ==2000== | ||
===Maximal=== | ===Maximal=== | ||
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==2002== | ==2002== | ||
These toys were released under ''Robots in | These toys were released under ''Robots in Disguise'', but were designed for ''Beast Machines'' | ||
===Maximal=== | ===Maximal=== | ||
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* Vehicon [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] - Redeco of ''Beast Machines'' Tank Drone | * Vehicon [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] - Redeco of ''Beast Machines'' Tank Drone | ||
* Vehicon [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] - Redeco of ''Beast Machines'' Motorcycle Drone | * Vehicon [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] - Redeco of ''Beast Machines'' Motorcycle Drone | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
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* On Takara's end of the design process, some design and engineering work was subcontracted out to the designer [[Junichi Akutsu]], alias BEE-CRAFT. | * On Takara's end of the design process, some design and engineering work was subcontracted out to the designer [[Junichi Akutsu]], alias BEE-CRAFT. | ||
[[Category: | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Beast Machines| ]] | ||
[[Category:Toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div> | |||
Revision as of 02:02, 21 June 2007
After three years of the successful Beast Wars franchise, Hasbro felt it was time to revamp the line, leading to the bold and adventurous Beast Machines. The Maximal faction and a number of its main characters carried over, as they faced off against Megatron's army of Vehicons. Both factions had radical new design elements: unorthodox designs, translucent plastic, chrome finishes... uh... okay, maybe not quite so radical. The Maximals were a smooth blend of the organic and robotic (unlike the reversed feel of the Transmetals, or the almost painful fusion of Transmetal 2s). The Vehicons had very Cybertronian vehicle forms (often with articulated "sensors") and unorthodox robot modes, often with inhuman faces, odd-shaped limbs, and unusual forms of locomotion such as Thrust's optional uni-wheel or Jetstorm's legless hover mode.
Several experimental sub-lines appeared during Beast Machines: the Beast Riders, non-transforming vehicles to scale with the smaller figures, and Deployers, beasts that changed to weapons usable by the larger figures. A less-experimental sub-line was the Dinobots, redecoed molds from both the Hasbro Beast Wars line and the Takara Beast Wars Neo series, sold in the same packaging assortments with the normal figures in the line.
While the relative scale of characters has never translated perfectly from toy to show in any Transformers line, Beast Machines is especially notorious for it in a few instances. Of the Maximals who appeared on the show, Nightscream is the second-smallest, yet his toy is a hulking Ultra, making him to scale with only the largest toys (Supreme Cheetor and, perhaps, Air Attack Optimus Primal -- the latter not even released till well after Beast Machines ended and in a different franchise to boot.) Silverbolt is the tallest show Maximal, but has a Basic-sized toy. Tankor, the largest character of all, was only a modestly-sized Mega. Toy-Rattrap is larger than Blackarachnia; Primal came in Deluxe and Mega sizes, with the more widely-available Deluxe size being notably different than his show appearance.
Show-accuracy, in fact, was widely variable across the entire toy line. Show production house Mainframe Entertainment apparently began animating the characters from early concept sketches, designs that of necessity changed a great deal during the translation into toy form. Thus many characters' depictions in toy and cartoon bear relatively little resemblance to one another. The late-arriving Motorcycle Drone and Tank Drone toys, both highly show-accurate, may have been an explicit attempt to mitigate this.
The line's overall success was seemingly limited. Combined with Hasbro's financial troubles over excessive product glut in their Star Wars Episode 1 lines, it was decided to drop the sequel series, Transtech, and re-vamp the franchise from the ground up. The Japanese Car Robots series was quickly ported over as "filler" under the name Robots in Disguise, giving Hasbro and Takara the time needed to coordinate on the next series.
It should be noted that while Takara stamps are present on every Beast Machines toy, Japan did not receive anything relating to the line until 2005, as Beast Wars Returns, and in a very limited manner.
2000
Maximal
Deployers
- Dillo (armadillo)
- Dillo (armadillo) repaint
- Mol (mole)
- Mol (mole) repaint
- Rav (raven)
- Chro (raven) repaint
Beast Riders
Basic
- Buzzsaw (hornet)
- Geckobot (flying lizard)
- Longhorn (bull)
- Nightviper (cobra)
- Quickstrike (wolf)
- Silverbolt (condor)
Deluxe
- Blackarachnia (black widow spider)
- Optimus Primal (gorilla)
- Skydive (Quetzalcoatlus)
- Snarl (lion)
Mega
- Cheetor (cheetah)
Ultra
- Nightscream (Vampire bat)
Super
- Primal Prime (Transmetal gorilla)
Supreme
- Supreme Cheetor (cheetah)
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys
- Blackarachnia (black widow spider)
- Cheetor (cheetah)
- Nightscream (bat)
- Optimus Primal (gorilla)
- Rattrap (rat)
Vehicon
Basic
Beast Riders
Deluxe
- Blastcharge (six-wheeled tank)
- Jetstorm (jet)
- Sonic Attack Jet
- Thrust (motorcycle)
Mega
Ultra
- Jetstorm (jet)
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys
Dinobots
Deluxe
- Airraptor (Archaeopteryx)
- Dinotron (Pachycephalosaurus)
- Striker (Stegosaurus)
- Triceradon (Triceratops)
Ultra
2001
Maximal
Basic
- Battle Unicorn (unicorn)
- Hammerstrike (hammerhead shark)
Deluxe
- Beast Changer (Noble wolf/Savage dragon)
- Night Slash Cheetor (cheetah)
Mega
- Blast Punch Optimus Primal (gorilla)
- Rattrap (rat)
Vehicon
Basic
- Motorcycle Drone
- Spy Streak (recon jet)
- Tank Drone
Deluxe
- Strika (6-wheeler)
Dinobots
Deluxe
- Rapticon (Velociraptor)
- Terranotron (Pteranodon)
2002
These toys were released under Robots in Disguise, but were designed for Beast Machines
Maximal
Supreme
- Air Attack Optimus Primal (gorilla)
Predacon
Deluxe
- Megatron Megabolt (all terrain mobile battle tank)
- Bruticus (Cerberus)
2005 (Beast Wars Returns)
Cybertrons
- Black Widow - Redeco of Beast Machines Blackarachnia
- Cheetas - Beast Machines Mega Cheetor
- Convoy - Blast Punch Optimus Primal
- Nightscream - Beast Machines Nightscream
- Noble Savage - Redeco of Beast Machines Beast Changer
- Rattor - Beast Machines Rattrap
- Silverbolt - Redeco of Beast Machines Silverbolt
Destrons
- Megahead Megatron - Redeco of Robots in Disguise Megatron Megabolt
- Megatron - Beast Machines dragon Megatron
- Vehicon Jetstorm - Redeco of Beast Machines Ultra Jetstorm
- Vehicon Obsidian - Redeco of Beast Machines Obsidian
- Vehicon Stryka - Redeco ofBeast Machines Strika
- Vehicon Tankor - Redeco of Beast Machines Tank Drone
- Vehicon Thrust - Redeco of Beast Machines Motorcycle Drone
Trivia
- The Deployers and Beast Riders were developed by Hasbro Direct, Hasbro's department normally devoted to store exclusives and other retailer-oriented projects, hence their rather dubious compatibility with the rest of the Beast Machines line.
- On Takara's end of the design process, some design and engineering work was subcontracted out to the designer Junichi Akutsu, alias BEE-CRAFT.
