Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (toyline)

Japanese Generation 1 continuity « Beast Wars Neo » Toyline Cartoon Comic Commercials Duel Fight BW Video Game

The second of the Japanese-exclusive Beast Wars toyline, 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) released a slew of all-new molds in 1999.

Overview

Break, the shelliest shellformer who ever shelled.

The biggest feature of Neo is its large number of all-new molds, many of which have never been used in the West, likely for reasons we'll get to in just a little bit. The Cybertrons (Maximals) kept the mostly-mammals theme, while the Destrons (Predacons) had a theme of dinosaurs and other big scary prehistoric animals. Every new mold also had a pseudo-third mode, typically a weapon or trap, though quite often they were "pile of animal parts with a gimmick sticking off it".

These toys are often notoriously complicated, with several "shellformers", and generally requiring panels on ball-jointed struts to be positioned juuuuuuust right for the beast mode to lock into place. Break, in particular, could have all of his beast-mode panels/parts removed and still leave a fully functional robot mode behind.

It is also notable for being extremely short-lived at retail, with the majority of its product released in a mere five months, quickly making way for Beast Wars Metals.

Neo did not fare well sales-wise. Japanese fans at the time cited the overly-complex toys being too difficult for the younger age group Transformers had been traditionally aimed at in Japan. On top of that, the Cybertrons lacked appeal to kids as they largely had benign, not-exactly-combat-ready beast modes (likely why Hasbro has left those molds alone). Reportedly, Neo sold so bad it actually poisoned the well for the incoming Metals line, as kids largely left Transformers alone... which would force Takara to make some drastic changes a little later on.

Toys

Takara Beast Wars Neo toyline

Wave 1 (01-??-1999) C-29 Longrack C-30 Colada C-31 Stampy C-32 Break C-33 Rockbuster C-34 Randy		D-29 Guiledart D-30 Saberback D-31 Sling D-32 Dead End D-33 Hydra D-34 Crazybolt		VS-29 Savannah Showdown: Longrack VS Guiledart VS-30 Desert Showdown: Colada VS Saberback VS-31 Prairie Showdown: Stampy VS Sling		VS-32 Undersea Showdown: Break VS Dead End VS-33 Backwater Showdown: Rockbuster VS Hydra VS-34 Explosive Showdown: Randy VS Crazybolt		Heinrad Magmatron. Coming to a toyline near you.
Wave 2 (02-??-1999) C-35 Big Convoy D-35 Magmatron S-3 Heinrad VS-35 Cosmic Showdown: Big Convoy VS Magmatron		Wave 3 (03-??-1999) C-36 Mach Kick C-37Sharp Edge C-38 Bump D-36 Archadis D-37 Hardhead D-38 Bazooka		VS-36 Favorites Showdown: Mach Kick VS Archadis VS-37 Master Fencers Showdown: Sharp Edge VS Hardhead VS-38 Extreme Showdown: Bump VS Bazooka		Wave 4 (05-??-1999) C-39 Survive D-39 Killer Punch VS-39 Roaring Showdown: Survive VS Killer Punch
Wave 5 (07-??-1999) X-6 Latolata X-7 Elphaorpha X-8 Drancron		Canceled Unicron

Role Play

• Matrix Cannon

Korean Beast War Neo toyline

In Korea, Takara licensee Sonokong released a selection of Beast Wars Neo toys, under the Beast War Neo (비스트워네오) name.

Individual figures C-05 Mammolike D-05 Magmatron

VS sets DX-01 Giraffot VS Trikero DX-02 Cobrio VS Stegorat DX-03 Stampy VS Dimetron

DX-04 Break VS Ammonat DX-05 Mammolike VS Magmatron DX-06 Mach Kick VS Archadis

Notes

• For whatever reason, the packaging for the line rendered "Cybertron" and "Destron" in English as "Cybertoron" and "Destoron".
• Magmatron was imported to the US via Beast Machines as a Target exclusive. The toy itself was mostly unchanged, but put in Beast Machines packaging that was also adorned with Japanese text.
• Several other Neo toys (and some other Japan-exclusive Beast-line toys) were imported officially through the HasbroCollectors website. Unlike Magmatron, these were just existing Neo stock in their original packaging. Colada VS Saberback, Longrack, Mach Kick VS Archadis, and Stampy could all be bought at a bit of a markup... though ultimately, they would end up being blown out at half-price.