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With sales of the [[Generation 2 (toyline)|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''' was the result. | |||
[[Image:Crosssell-beastwars.jpg|right|400px|thumb|In the beginning, came the beasts, and all that creeps, crawls and flies. But nature lies, they | 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 [[Maximal]]s and evil [[Predacon (BW)|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 G1's Dinobots and Terrorcons. | ||
[[Image:Crosssell-transmetals.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Transmetals! They | |||
[[Image:Crosssell-transmetal2.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Transmetals 2! They | [[Image:Crosssell-beastwars.jpg|right|400px|thumb|In the beginning, came the beasts, and all that creeps, crawls and flies. But nature lies, they're robots in disguise!]] | ||
[[Image:Crosssell-transmetals.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Transmetals! They're extreme!]] | |||
[[Image:Crosssell-transmetal2.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Transmetals 2! They're extremely extreme!]] | |||
The Beast Wars toyline brought poseability to full fruition. Whereas G2 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. | The Beast Wars toyline brought poseability to full fruition. Whereas G2 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, G2 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. | Concealed parts and weapons also became standard during Beast Wars. Again, G2 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. | 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 the Cybertron franchise, 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, which was also the first Transformer toy to feature a true vehicle mode since the end of G2. | ||
The toyline evolved over its three and a half year run. | The toyline evolved over its three and a half year run. 1996–97 featured purely-organic beasts exclusively. 1998 was dominated by two sublines: [[Fuzor]]s, whose beast modes combined aspects of two different animals, and [[Transmetal]]s, which featured metallic-finished chrome and sleekly mechanical beast modes. In 1999, the Transmetal 2s 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. | 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, and a [[Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|10th anniversary line]] in 2006. And [[Beast Wars Telemocha Series|another 10th anniversary line]] for Japan in 2007. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 26: | ||
== 1996 == | == 1996 == | ||
===Maximal=== | ===[[Maximal]]s=== | ||
[[Image:Rattrapbeastwarsbasic.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Rattrap]] | [[Image:Rattrapbeastwarsbasic.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Rattrap]] | ||
[[Image:BeastWars Dinobot 1996 toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Dinobot]] | [[Image:BeastWars Dinobot 1996 toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Dinobot]] | ||
[[Image:Optimusprimaltoyultraape.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ultra Primal]] | [[Image:Optimusprimaltoyultraape.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ultra Primal]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Armordillo]] (armadillo) | *[[Armordillo]] (armadillo) | ||
*[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimus Primal]] (fruit bat) | *[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimus Primal]] (fruit bat) | ||
*[[Rattrap]] (rat) | *[[Rattrap]] (rat) | ||
*[[Razorbeast]] (razorback) | *[[Razorbeast]] (razorback) | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (cheetah) | *[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (cheetah) | ||
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'') | *[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (''Velociraptor'') | ||
| Line 46: | Line 44: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Polar Claw]] (polar bear) | *[[Polar Claw]] (polar bear) | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimus Primal]] (gorilla) | *[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimus Primal]] (gorilla) | ||
'''McDonald's Happy Meal Toys''' | '''McDonald's Happy Meal Toys''' | ||
*[[Panther]] (panther) | *[[Panther]] (panther) | ||
*[[Rhino]] (rhinoceros) | *[[Rhino]] (rhinoceros) | ||
*[[Under-3]] (lion head) | *[[Under-3]] (lion head) | ||
===Predacon=== | ===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s=== | ||
[[Image:Blackarachniabwtoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Blackarachnia]] | [[Image:Blackarachniabwtoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Blackarachnia]] | ||
[[Image:Bwmegatron toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ultra-class Megatron. | [[Image:Bwmegatron toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ultra-class Megatron. In 1996, this was seriously the most complex Transformer ever.]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] (frilled lizard) | *[[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] (frilled lizard) | ||
*[[Insecticon (BW)|Insecticon]] (stag beetle) | *[[Insecticon (BW)|Insecticon]] (stag beetle) | ||
| Line 71: | Line 65: | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (black widow spider) | *[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (black widow spider) | ||
*[[Buzz Saw (BW)|Buzz Saw]] (wasp) | *[[Buzz Saw (BW)|Buzz Saw]] (wasp) | ||
| Line 78: | Line 71: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (scorpion) | *[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (scorpion) | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (''Tyrannosaurus rex'') | *[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (''Tyrannosaurus rex'') | ||
'''McDonald's Happy Meal Toys''' | '''McDonald's Happy Meal Toys''' | ||
*[[Beetle]] (beetle) | *[[Beetle]] (beetle) | ||
*[[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] (manta ray) | *[[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] (manta ray) | ||
==1997== | ==1997== | ||
===Maximal=== | ===[[Maximal]]s=== | ||
[[Image:Airazorbwtoy1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Airazor]] | [[Image:Airazorbwtoy1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Airazor]] | ||
[[Image:BW BBoom toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|B | [[Image:BW BBoom toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|B'Boom]] | ||
[[Image:Cj transmetal.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Claw Jaw (UK exclusive release)]] | [[Image:Cj transmetal.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Claw Jaw (UK exclusive release)]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (falcon) | *[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (falcon) | ||
*[[Claw Jaw]] (Humboldt squid) | *[[Claw Jaw]] (Humboldt squid) | ||
| Line 103: | Line 92: | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Bonecrusher (BW)|Bonecrusher]] (American bison) | *[[Bonecrusher (BW)|Bonecrusher]] (American bison) | ||
*[[Cybershark]] (hammerhead shark) | *[[Cybershark]] (hammerhead shark) | ||
| Line 110: | Line 98: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[B'Boom]] (mandrill) | *[[B'Boom]] (mandrill) | ||
*[[Grizzly-1|Barbearian]] (grizzly bear) | *[[Grizzly-1|Barbearian]] (grizzly bear) | ||
'''Ultra Combiner [[Magnaboss]]''' | '''Ultra Combiner [[Magnaboss]]''' | ||
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (African elephant) | *[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (African elephant) | ||
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (lion) | *[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (lion) | ||
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (bald eagle) | *[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (bald eagle) | ||
''' | '''[[MicroVerse]]''' | ||
*[[Orcanoch]] (orca whale/Maximal base) | *[[Orcanoch]] (orca whale/Maximal base) | ||
'''Egg | '''[[Egg Beast]]s''' | ||
*[[Eggbird]] (egg/bird) | *[[Eggbird]] (egg/bird) | ||
*[[Eggbot]] (egg) | *[[Eggbot]] (egg) | ||
*[[Eggleo]] (egg/lion) | *[[Eggleo]] (egg/lion) | ||
===Predacon=== | ===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s=== | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]] (Boll weevil) | *[[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]] (Boll weevil) | ||
*[[Lazorbeak]] (''Pteranodon'') | *[[Lazorbeak]] (''Pteranodon'') | ||
| Line 141: | Line 124: | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Jetstorm (BW)|Jetstorm]] (dragonfly) | *[[Jetstorm (BW)|Jetstorm]] (dragonfly) | ||
*[[Manterror]] (praying mantis) | *[[Manterror]] (praying mantis) | ||
| Line 148: | Line 130: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Double Punch (BW)|Double Punch]] (scorpion) | *[[Double Punch (BW)|Double Punch]] (scorpion) | ||
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (fire ant) | *[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (fire ant) | ||
| Line 154: | Line 135: | ||
'''Ultra Combiner [[Tripredacus]]''' | '''Ultra Combiner [[Tripredacus]]''' | ||
*[[Cicadacon]] (cicada) | *[[Cicadacon]] (cicada) | ||
*[[Ram Horn (BW)|Ram Horn]] (rhinoceros beetle) | *[[Ram Horn (BW)|Ram Horn]] (rhinoceros beetle) | ||
*[[Sea Clamp]] (lobster) | *[[Sea Clamp]] (lobster) | ||
''' | '''[[MicroVerse]]''' | ||
*[[Arachnid]] (spider/Predacon base) | *[[Arachnid]] (spider/Predacon base) | ||
'''Egg | '''[[Egg Beast]]s''' | ||
*[[Dark Eggbird]] (egg/bird) | *[[Dark Eggbird]] (egg/bird) | ||
*[[Dark Eggbot]] (egg) | *[[Dark Eggbot]] (egg) | ||
| Line 170: | Line 148: | ||
==1998== | ==1998== | ||
===Maximal=== | ===[[Maximal]]s=== | ||
[[Image:Torca toy1998.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Torca]] | [[Image:Torca toy1998.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Torca]] | ||
[[Image:Transmetal rhinox toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Transmetal Rhinox]] | [[Image:Transmetal rhinox toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Transmetal Rhinox]] | ||
[[Image:Mcdinobot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|McDinobot. | [[Image:Mcdinobot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|McDinobot. Not to be confused with MG-Dinobot.]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Air Hammer]] (hammerhead shark/hawk [[Fuzor]]) | *[[Air Hammer]] (hammerhead shark/hawk [[Fuzor]]) | ||
*[[Bantor]] (baboon/tiger Fuzor) | *[[Bantor]] (baboon/tiger Fuzor) | ||
| Line 181: | Line 158: | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Transmetal]] falcon) | *[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Transmetal]] falcon) | ||
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (Transmetal cheetah) | *[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (Transmetal cheetah) | ||
| Line 190: | Line 166: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimus Primal]] (Transmetal gorilla) | *[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimus Primal]] (Transmetal gorilla) | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Depth Charge]] (Transmetal manta ray) | *[[Depth Charge]] (Transmetal manta ray) | ||
'''Super''' | '''Super''' | ||
*[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimal Optimus]] (Transmetal gorilla) | *[[Optimus Primal toys|Optimal Optimus]] (Transmetal gorilla) | ||
'''McDonald's Happy Meal Toy''' | '''McDonald's Happy Meal Toy''' | ||
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (Transmetal ''Velociraptor'') | *[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (Transmetal ''Velociraptor'') | ||
===Predacon=== | ===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s=== | ||
[[Image:BW Megatron Transmetal.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Transmetal Megatron]] | [[Image:BW Megatron Transmetal.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Transmetal Megatron]] | ||
[[Image:BW Rampage toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rampage]] | [[Image:BW Rampage toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rampage]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Buzzclaw (BW)|Buzzclaw]] (praying mantis/lizard Fuzor) | *[[Buzzclaw (BW)|Buzzclaw]] (praying mantis/lizard Fuzor) | ||
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (scorpion/cobra Fuzor) | *[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (scorpion/cobra Fuzor) | ||
| Line 216: | Line 187: | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Injector]] (lionfish/hornet Fuzor) | *[[Injector]] (lionfish/hornet Fuzor) | ||
*[[Sky Shadow (BW)|Sky Shadow]] (iguana/dragonfly Fuzor) | *[[Sky Shadow (BW)|Sky Shadow]] (iguana/dragonfly Fuzor) | ||
| Line 224: | Line 194: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Antagony]] (fire ant) | *[[Antagony]] (fire ant) | ||
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (Transmetal Tyrannosaurus rex) | *[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (Transmetal Tyrannosaurus rex) | ||
| Line 230: | Line 199: | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (Transmetal crab) | *[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (Transmetal crab) | ||
'''McDonald's Happy Meal Toys''' | '''McDonald's Happy Meal Toys''' | ||
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetal black widow spider) | *[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetal black widow spider) | ||
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (Transmetal scorpion) | *[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (Transmetal scorpion) | ||
==1999== | ==1999== | ||
===Maximal=== | ===[[Maximal]]s=== | ||
[[Image:Ramulustoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ramulus]] | [[Image:Ramulustoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ramulus]] | ||
[[Image:Prowl tm2 fktoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Prowl]] | [[Image:Prowl tm2 fktoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Prowl]] | ||
[[Image:BW Tigerhawk toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Tigerhawk]] | [[Image:BW Tigerhawk toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Tigerhawk]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Night Glider]] (Transmetal 2 flying squirrel) | *[[Night Glider]] (Transmetal 2 flying squirrel) | ||
*[[Optimus Minor]] ([[Transmetal 2]] spider monkey) | *[[Optimus Minor]] ([[Transmetal 2]] spider monkey) | ||
| Line 251: | Line 217: | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (cheetah, [[Fox Kids]] redeco) | *[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (cheetah, [[Fox Kids]] redeco) | ||
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (Transmetal cheetah, Fox Kids redeco) | *[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (Transmetal cheetah, Fox Kids redeco) | ||
| Line 264: | Line 229: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetal 2 black widow spider) | *[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (Transmetal 2 black widow spider) | ||
*[[Cybershark]] (Transmetal 2 great white shark) | *[[Cybershark]] (Transmetal 2 great white shark) | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Tigerhawk]] (Transmetal 2 tiger/falcon Fuzor) | *[[Tigerhawk]] (Transmetal 2 tiger/falcon Fuzor) | ||
===Predacon=== | ===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s=== | ||
[[Image:BW Transmetal2 Iguanus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Transmetal 2 Iguanus]] | [[Image:BW Transmetal2 Iguanus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Transmetal 2 Iguanus]] | ||
[[Image:BWdragonmegs toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Transmetal 2 Megatron]] | [[Image:BWdragonmegs toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Transmetal 2 Megatron]] | ||
'''Basic''' | '''Basic''' | ||
*[[Scarem]] (Transmetal 2 stag beetle) | *[[Scarem]] (Transmetal 2 stag beetle) | ||
*[[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] (Transmetal 2 poison arrow frog) | *[[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] (Transmetal 2 poison arrow frog) | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] (Transmetal 2 ''Velociraptor'') | *[[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] (Transmetal 2 ''Velociraptor'') | ||
*[[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] (Transmetal 2 frilled lizard) | *[[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] (Transmetal 2 frilled lizard) | ||
| Line 289: | Line 250: | ||
'''Mega''' | '''Mega''' | ||
*[[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]] (scorpion) | *[[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]] (scorpion) | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (Transmetal 2 dragon) | *[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (Transmetal 2 dragon) | ||
==2000== | ==2000== | ||
[[Image:Rattrap transmetal2000.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Fox Kids Rattrap]] | [[Image:Rattrap transmetal2000.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Fox Kids Rattrap]] | ||
=== | ===[[Maximal]]s=== | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Transmetal]] falcon, Fox Kids redeco) | *[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Transmetal]] falcon, Fox Kids redeco) | ||
*[[Rattrap]] (Transmetal rat, Fox Kids redeco) | *[[Rattrap]] (Transmetal rat, Fox Kids redeco) | ||
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (Transmetal rhinoceros, Fox Kids redeco) | *[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (Transmetal rhinoceros, Fox Kids redeco) | ||
===Predacon=== | ===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s=== | ||
[[Image:BW FoxKidsTransmetal Waspinator toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Fox Kids Waspinator]] | [[Image:BW FoxKidsTransmetal Waspinator toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Fox Kids Waspinator]] | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Waspinator]] (Transmetal hornet, Fox Kids redeco) | *[[Waspinator]] (Transmetal hornet, Fox Kids redeco) | ||
'''Ultra''' | '''Ultra''' | ||
*[[Shokaract]] (Transmetal crab) | *[[Shokaract]] (Transmetal crab) | ||
=== | ===[[Mutant]]s=== | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Icebird]] (polar bear/snowy owl [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]) | *[[Icebird]] (polar bear/snowy owl [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]) | ||
*[[Poison Bite]] (barracuda/scorpion Mutant) | *[[Poison Bite]] (barracuda/scorpion Mutant) | ||
| Line 324: | Line 279: | ||
==2001== | ==2001== | ||
===Predacon=== | ===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s=== | ||
[[Image:TripredacusAgent toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Tripredicus Agent (Ravage)]] | [[Image:TripredacusAgent toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Tripredicus Agent (Ravage)]] | ||
'''Deluxe''' | '''Deluxe''' | ||
*[[Ravage (G1)|Tripredacus Agent]] (Transmetal 2 black jaguar, Wal-Mart exclusive) | *[[Ravage (G1)|Tripredacus Agent]] (Transmetal 2 black jaguar, Wal-Mart exclusive) | ||
[[Category:Beast Wars]] | |||
[[Category:Toys]] | [[Category:Toys]] | ||
Revision as of 18:21, 26 March 2009
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 was the result.
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 G1's Dinobots and Terrorcons.
The Beast Wars toyline brought poseability to full fruition. Whereas G2 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, G2 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 the Cybertron franchise, 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, which was also the first Transformer toy to feature a true vehicle mode since the end of G2.
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 Transmetal 2s 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, and a 10th anniversary line in 2006. And another 10th anniversary line for Japan in 2007.
- French name (France): Ani Mutants
- French name (Canada): Guerre Bêtes
- Spanish name (South America): Guerra Bestias
- Italian name: Biocombat
1996
Basic
- Armordillo (armadillo)
- Optimus Primal (fruit bat)
- Rattrap (rat)
- Razorbeast (razorback)
Deluxe
Mega
- Polar Claw (polar bear)
Ultra
- Optimus Primal (gorilla)
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys
Basic
- Iguanus (frilled lizard)
- Insecticon (stag beetle)
- Megatron (crocodile)
- Snapper (snapping turtle)
- Terrorsaur (Pteranodon)
Deluxe
- Blackarachnia (black widow spider)
- Buzz Saw (wasp)
- Tarantulas (tarantula)
- Waspinator (wasp)
Mega
- Scorponok (scorpion)
Ultra
- Megatron (Tyrannosaurus rex)
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys
1997
Basic
Deluxe
- Bonecrusher (American bison)
- Cybershark (hammerhead shark)
- Grimlock (Velociraptor)
- K-9 (German Shepherd)
Mega
- B'Boom (mandrill)
- Barbearian (grizzly bear)
Ultra Combiner Magnaboss
- Ironhide (African elephant)
- Prowl (lion)
- Silverbolt (bald eagle)
- Orcanoch (orca whale/Maximal base)
Basic
- Drill Bit (Boll weevil)
- Lazorbeak (Pteranodon)
- Powerpinch (earwig)
- Razorclaw (fiddler crab)
- Spittor (poison arrow frog)
- Megalligator (alligator)
Deluxe
- Jetstorm (dragonfly)
- Manterror (praying mantis)
- Retrax (pill bug)
- Shadow Panther (black jaguar)
Mega
- Double Punch (scorpion)
- Inferno (fire ant)
- Transquito (mosquito)
Ultra Combiner Tripredacus
- Arachnid (spider/Predacon base)
- Dark Eggbird (egg/bird)
- Dark Eggbot (egg)
- Dark Eggleo (egg/lion)
1998
Basic
- Air Hammer (hammerhead shark/hawk Fuzor)
- Bantor (baboon/tiger Fuzor)
- Noctorro (bull/bat Fuzor)
Deluxe
- Airazor (Transmetal falcon)
- Cheetor (Transmetal cheetah)
- Rattrap (Transmetal rat)
- Rhinox (Transmetal rhinoceros)
- Silverbolt (wolf/eagle Fuzor)
- Torca (orca whale/elephant Fuzor)
Mega
- Optimus Primal (Transmetal gorilla)
Ultra
- Depth Charge (Transmetal manta ray)
Super
- Optimal Optimus (Transmetal gorilla)
McDonald's Happy Meal Toy
- Dinobot (Transmetal Velociraptor)
Basic
- Buzzclaw (praying mantis/lizard Fuzor)
- Quickstrike (scorpion/cobra Fuzor)
- Terragator (alligator/terrapin Fuzor)
- Vice Grip (earwig)
Deluxe
- Injector (lionfish/hornet Fuzor)
- Sky Shadow (iguana/dragonfly Fuzor)
- Tarantulas (Transmetal tarantula)
- Terrorsaur (Transmetal Pteranodon)
- Waspinator (Transmetal wasp)
Mega
Ultra
- Rampage (Transmetal crab)
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys
- Blackarachnia (Transmetal black widow spider)
- Scorponok (Transmetal scorpion)
1999
Basic
- Night Glider (Transmetal 2 flying squirrel)
- Optimus Minor (Transmetal 2 spider monkey)
- Sonar (Transmetal 2 bat)
- Stinkbomb (Transmetal 2 skunk)
Deluxe
- Cheetor (cheetah, Fox Kids redeco)
- Cheetor (Transmetal cheetah, Fox Kids redeco)
- Cheetor (Transmetal 2 cheetah)
- Dinobot (Velociraptor, Fox Kids redeco)
- Jawbreaker (Transmetal 2 spotted hyena)
- Prowl II (Transmetal 2 owl)
- Ramulus (Transmetal 2 ibex)
- Rattrap (Transmetal rat, Wal-Mart exclusive)
- Rhinox (black rhinoceros, Fox Kids redeco)
- Windrazor (wolf/eagle Fuzor)
Mega
- Blackarachnia (Transmetal 2 black widow spider)
- Cybershark (Transmetal 2 great white shark)
Ultra
- Tigerhawk (Transmetal 2 tiger/falcon Fuzor)
Basic
Deluxe
- Dinobot (Transmetal 2 Velociraptor)
- Iguanus (Transmetal 2 frilled lizard)
- Scourge (Transmetal 2 locust)
- Tarantulas (Transmetal tarantula, Fox Kids redeco)
- Waspinator (hornet, Fox Kids redeco)
Mega
- Sandstorm (scorpion)
Ultra
- Megatron (Transmetal 2 dragon)
2000
Deluxe
- Airazor (Transmetal falcon, Fox Kids redeco)
- Rattrap (Transmetal rat, Fox Kids redeco)
- Rhinox (Transmetal rhinoceros, Fox Kids redeco)
Deluxe
- Waspinator (Transmetal hornet, Fox Kids redeco)
Ultra
- Shokaract (Transmetal crab)
Deluxe
- Icebird (polar bear/snowy owl Mutant)
- Poison Bite (barracuda/scorpion Mutant)
- Razor Claw (Velociraptor/wolverine Mutant)
- Soundwave (alligator/bat Mutant)
2001
Deluxe
- Tripredacus Agent (Transmetal 2 black jaguar, Wal-Mart exclusive)
