Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline): Difference between revisions

From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
← Older editNewer edit →
undoM Sipher (talk | contribs)
Administrators
43,755 edits
No edit summary
Line 18: Line 18:
''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.
''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 ==
==Hasbro ''Beast Wars'' toyline==
===1996===
<big>'''Basic Beasts</big>'''
<big>'''Basic Beasts</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
Line 93: Line 94:
|}
|}


==1997==
===1997===
===Basic Beasts===
<big>'''Basic Beasts</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 115: Line 116:
|}
|}


===Deluxe Beasts===
<big>'''Deluxe Beasts</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 135: Line 136:
|}
|}


===Mega Beasts===
<big>'''Mega Beasts</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 151: Line 152:
|}
|}


===Ultra Teams===
<big>'''Ultra Teams</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]]'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]]'''
Line 170: Line 171:
|}
|}


===[[MicroVerse]]===
<big>'''[[MicroVerse]]</big>'''
*[[Arachnid#Toys|Arachnid]]
*[[Arachnid#Toys|Arachnid]]
*[[Orcanoch#Toys|Orcanoch]]
*[[Orcanoch#Toys|Orcanoch]]


===Exclusives===
<big>'''Exclusives</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[BotCon 1997]]'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[BotCon 1997]]'''
Line 188: Line 189:
|}
|}


==1998==
===1998===
===Basic Fuzors===
<big>'''Basic Fuzors</big>'''


{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
Line 209: Line 210:
|}
|}


===Deluxe Fuzors===
<big>'''Deluxe Fuzors</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 226: Line 227:
|}
|}


===Deluxe Transmetals===
<big>'''Deluxe Transmetals</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 246: Line 247:
|}
|}


===Mega Transmetals===
<big>'''Mega Transmetals</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 262: Line 263:
|}
|}


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


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


===VHS packs===
<big>'''VHS packs</big>'''
'''Regular'''
'''Regular'''
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (falcon, redeco of Airazor)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (falcon, redeco of Airazor)
Line 279: Line 280:
{{Note|These two VHS packs featured English/German/Italian [[Multilingual packaging|trilingual packaging]] (a unique combination for the line), and accordingly saw release in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]], and [[Italy]].}}
{{Note|These two VHS packs featured English/German/Italian [[Multilingual packaging|trilingual packaging]] (a unique combination for the line), and accordingly saw release in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]], and [[Italy]].}}


===Exclusives===
<big>'''Exclusives</big>'''
'''BJ's Wholesale Club'''
'''BJ's Wholesale Club'''
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'') and [[Tigatron]] (white tiger)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'') and [[Tigatron]] (white tiger)
Line 295: Line 296:


{{-}}
{{-}}
==1999==
===1999===
This year was dominated by the [[Transmetal 2]]s, where the "beast bits" and "bot bits" ended up in a mangled, monstrous, asymmetrical amalgamation of torn skin and jutting metal blades.
This year was dominated by the [[Transmetal 2]]s, where the "beast bits" and "bot bits" ended up in a mangled, monstrous, asymmetrical amalgamation of torn skin and jutting metal blades.


===Basic Transmetals 2===
<big>'''Basic Transmetals 2</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 316: Line 317:
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:BWtoy-SpittorTransmetals2.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Basic Spittor]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:BWtoy-SpittorTransmetals2.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Basic Spittor]]
|}
|}
===Deluxe Transmetals 2===
 
<big>'''Deluxe Transmetals 2</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 335: Line 337:
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Ramulustoy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Deluxe Ramulus]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Ramulustoy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Deluxe Ramulus]]
|}
|}
===Mega Transmetals 2===
 
<big>'''Mega Transmetals 2</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 349: Line 352:
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|}
|}
===Ultra Transmetals 2===
 
<big>'''Ultra Transmetals 2</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
Line 363: Line 367:
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|}
|}
===Fox Kids Deluxe Classics===
 
<big>'''Fox Kids Deluxe Classics</big>'''
Celebrating the move to the [[Fox Kids]] programming block, a series of special [[redeco]]s were made available to get classic show characters back on shelves... albeit in some pretty un-show-like coloration. Initial Hasbro solicitations gave the toys "power up"-style descriptors, but these did not make it to their final packaging.
Celebrating the move to the [[Fox Kids]] programming block, a series of special [[redeco]]s were made available to get classic show characters back on shelves... albeit in some pretty un-show-like coloration. Initial Hasbro solicitations gave the toys "power up"-style descriptors, but these did not make it to their final packaging.
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
Line 382: Line 387:
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Tarantulas-FKTM.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Fox Kids Tarantulas]]
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Tarantulas-FKTM.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Fox Kids Tarantulas]]
|}
|}
===Exclusives===
<big>'''Exclusives</big>'''
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Walmart'''
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Walmart'''
Line 398: Line 403:
|}
|}


==2000==
===2000===
===Deluxe Beasts===
<big>'''Deluxe Beasts</big>'''
{{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.}}
 
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:Rattrap transmetal2000.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Fox Kids Rattrap]]
Line 420: Line 426:
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (Transmetal hornet, Fox Kids redeco)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (Transmetal hornet, Fox Kids redeco)


===Exclusives===
<big>'''Exclusives</big>'''
'''[[BotCon 2000]]'''
'''[[BotCon 2000]]'''
*[[Shokaract]] (Transmetal crab, redeco of Rampage)
*[[Shokaract]] (Transmetal crab, redeco of Rampage)


==2001==
===2001===
[[File:TripredacusAgent toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Tripredacus Agent (Ravage)]]
[[File:TripredacusAgent toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Tripredacus Agent (Ravage)]]
===Exclusives===
<big>'''Exclusives</big>'''
'''Walmart'''
'''Walmart'''
*[[Ravage (G1)/toys|Tripredacus Agent]] (Transmetal 2 black jaguar, redeco of Transmetal 2 Cheetor)
*[[Ravage (G1)/toys|Tripredacus Agent]] (Transmetal 2 black jaguar, redeco of Transmetal 2 Cheetor)
'''[[BotCon 2001]]'''
'''[[BotCon 2001]]'''
*[[Tigatron]] (Transmetal white tiger, redeco of ''Beast Wars Metals'' Jaguar)
*[[Tigatron]] (Transmetal white tiger, redeco of ''Beast Wars Metals'' Jaguar)
{{--}}
 
{{-}}
==Takara ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' toyline==
 
* [[1997]] — ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers|Beast Wars]]''
* [[1998]] — ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]''
* [[1999]] — ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]''
* 1999–[[2000]] — ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (franchise)|Beast Wars Metals]]''
{{stub}}
 
{{-}}
==Post-''Beast Wars'' releases==
{{stub}}
 
{{-}}
==Innovations and lasting effects==
==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'' 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.

Revision as of 07:56, 28 November 2016
Generation 1 continuity family
« Beast Wars »

With sales of the 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 Transmetals 2 packaging sported "Hasbro" logos again. The European multilingual packaging variants already shifted back to "Hasbro" with the Fuzors and Transmetals.

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 Maximals and evil 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.

In the beginning, came the beasts, and all that creeps, crawls and flies. But nature lies, they're robots in disguise!
Transmetals! They're extreme!
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 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. Portions of the system continue to be used today (the Basics were "Scouts" during 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: Fuzors, whose beast modes combined aspects of two different animals, and Transmetals, which featured metallic-finished chrome and sleekly mechanical beast modes. In 1999, the 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 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 store exclusives, convention exclusives, a 10th anniversary line in 2006, and another 10th anniversary line for Japan in 2007.

Hasbro Beast Wars toyline

1996

Basic Beasts

Comic 2-pack Wave 1 Wave 2
File:Rattrapbeastwarsbasic.jpg
Basic Rattrap

Deluxe Beasts

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
Deluxe Blackarachnia

Mega Beasts

Ultra-class Megatron. In 1996, this was seriously the most complex Transformer ever.


Ultra Beasts


Exclusives

McDonald's

BotCon 1996

McDonald's Manta Ray

1997

Basic Beasts

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4
Basic Razorclaw

Deluxe Beasts

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4
Deluxe Grimlock

Mega Beasts

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
Mega Inferno

Ultra Teams

Magnaboss Tripredacus

MicroVerse

Exclusives

BotCon 1997

1998

Basic Fuzors

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
Quickstrike

Deluxe Fuzors

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
Silverbolt

Deluxe Transmetals

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
File:Transmetal rhinox toy.jpg
Transmetal Rhinox

Mega Transmetals

Wave 1 Wave 2
File:BW Megatron Transmetal.jpg
Transmetal Megatron

Ultra Transmetals

Rampage

Super Transmetals

VHS packs Regular

  • Airazor (falcon, redeco of Airazor)
  • Razorclaw (fiddler crab, redeco of Razorclaw)

European exclusives

  • Claw Jaw ("Transmetal" Humboldt squid, redeco of Claw Jaw)
  • Spittor ("Transmetal" poison arrow frog, redeco of Spittor)
These two VHS packs featured English/German/Italian trilingual packaging (a unique combination for the line), and accordingly saw release in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy.

Exclusives BJ's Wholesale Club

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.
McDinobot. Not to be confused with MG-Dinobot.

McDonald's Happy Meal

BotCon 1998


1999

This year was dominated by the Transmetal 2s, where the "beast bits" and "bot bits" ended up in a mangled, monstrous, asymmetrical amalgamation of torn skin and jutting metal blades.

Basic Transmetals 2

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
Basic Spittor

Deluxe Transmetals 2

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3
Deluxe Ramulus

Mega Transmetals 2

Wave 1 Wave 2

Ultra Transmetals 2

Wave 1 Wave 2

Fox Kids Deluxe Classics Celebrating the move to the Fox Kids programming block, a series of special redecos were made available to get classic show characters back on shelves... albeit in some pretty un-show-like coloration. Initial Hasbro solicitations gave the toys "power up"-style descriptors, but these did not make it to their final packaging.

Wave 1 Wave 2
Fox Kids Tarantulas

Exclusives

Walmart BotCon 1999

2000

Deluxe Beasts

2000's Deluxe assortment featured a mixture of Fox Kids-branded redecoes, with large "NEW!" call-outs, and Mutants, which sported a unique Mutant Beast Wars logo.

File:Rattrap transmetal2000.jpg
Fox Kids Rattrap
Mutant Razor Claw

Wave 1

  • Rattrap (Transmetal rat, Fox Kids redeco)
  • Rhinox (Transmetal rhinoceros, Fox Kids redeco)

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Exclusives BotCon 2000

  • Shokaract (Transmetal crab, redeco of Rampage)

2001

File:TripredacusAgent toy.jpg
Tripredacus Agent (Ravage)

Exclusives Walmart

BotCon 2001

  • Tigatron (Transmetal white tiger, redeco of Beast Wars Metals Jaguar)


Takara Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers toyline



You left a piece out!

This article is a stub and is missing information. You can help MediaWiki by expanding it.



Post-Beast Wars releases


You left a piece out!

This article is a stub and is missing information. You can help MediaWiki by expanding it.



Innovations and lasting effects

  • Beast Wars made ball joints, first used on a wider scale by the Generation 2 Cyberjets, a regular feature of Transformers toys.
  • 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 classes/price points and multiple assorted waves of the same price point per year.
  • Furthermore, Beast Wars made redecos and retools 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

Foreign names

  • French: Ani Mutants (France), Guerre Bêtes (Canada)
  • Italian: Biocombat
  • Spanish: Guerra Bestias (America)
Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Beast_Wars:_Transformers_(toyline)&oldid=1144893"