Cheetor (BW)/toys

Being the yellow kid-appeal character of the Beast Era, Cheetor gets a lot of toys!

Toys

Beast Wars

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File:BeastWars Cheetor Original.jpg

From robot... to brick.

• Cheetor (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
• Japanese ID number: C-3
• Accessories: Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

Cheetor transforms into an organic, big cat-like creature somewhat resembling a cheetah. As such, he is yellow and covered in spots. In robot mode, he is armed with a rifle made out of his hindquarters and tail, along with a second "gut gun" formed out of his stomach. As with most early Beast Wars toys, he features a "mutant head" that replaces his face.

There are several variations of this toy. The initial "rocky bubble" version of the toy features blue cheetah eyes and was incredibly hard to find due to delayed shipping. The "smooth bubble" release later in the year gave him red cheetah eyes. He was released again in 1997 (what with being a popular show character) in Beast Wars's second year, this time with bright green cheetah eyes, and the gold robot eyes of the previous two versions were changed to green.

Takara released two different Cheetor toys; one that was the same as the original, red-eyed version, and a running change version that not only has various color tweaks to make him slightly more show-colored (including dark green cheetah eyes, a gold head crest instead of blue, and red robot eyes), but also has a slight mold tweak to keep the beast head pointed forward in robot mode, which has been retained on all versions thereafter, excepting Hasbro's initial release of Tigatron.

This mold was later redecoed for a "<a href="#DxFK" title="">Fox Kids</a>" version, as well as <a href="#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary" title="">both the Hasbro and Takara 10th anniversary versions</a> of the character.

This mold was also used to make Shadow Panther/Tripredacus Agent and Tigatron. It was slated to be used for Universe Nightprowler, but that toy set was canceled.

<span id="DxJVs"></span>

Is it possible to win a battle of the losers?

• Showdown of the Quickest: Cheetus VS Waspeeter (VS pack, 1997)
• Japanese ID number: VS-3
• Accessories: Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

In Japan, Cheetor was available both separately and in a VS pack with Waspinator. Both toys are identical to their original releases.

Currently, it is unknown if the latter "show-like" version of the two toys were ever released in the VS set.

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• Cheetus golden version (Deluxe, 1997)
• Accessories: Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

A one-of-a-kind, all-gold version of Cheetor was awarded in Japan for a TV Magazine contest.

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File:BeastWars TransmetalCheetor.jpg

I taste things with my hands!

• Cheetor (Transmetal Deluxe, 1999)
• Japanese ID number: C-42
• Accessories: Tail-whip

Transmetal Cheetor is the first mostly robotic Cheetor toy. As with most first-wave Transmetal toys, his beast mode is entirely robotic, but his robot mode has organic elements in its design. In beast mode, two rocket boosters can be flipped out of the sides of the cat torso to create a "flight mode", plus his tail rotates 180 to provide a "stabilizer" fin. In robot mode, his removable tail becomes a spiked whip, but he has no ranged weaponry, though you can put his hideous hands together to simulate the "gun" he used on the show. The toy suffers from a design flaw in that the breast plate's hinges that holds both arms up in beast-mode gets a lot of stress on it, and over time, can't hold the cheetah head up properly anymore.

The Takara Beast Wars Metals release of the Transmetal Cheetor toy features five changes from the Hasbro version. The more immediately noticeable is that the "CHEETOR" tampograph on his beast mode was changed to "CYBERTRON" and the Maximal faction symbol. The other changes make Takara's version closer to Cheetor's show appearance than the Hasbro version. The Takara Cheetor has green robot-mode eyes (Hasbro's version has light blue), the robot mode chest has a full coat of yellow paint (Hasbro's version fades to the gray plastic at the outer edges), the cheetah teeth are painted (Hasbro's are unpainted), and the gray plastic is less brown than Hasbro's.

This mold was retooled into Metals Jaguar and BotCon 2001's Tigatron, and slightly retooled to make Armada Cheetor. It was also used as the model for the non-toy character Cataclysm.

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• Hurricane Showdown: Metals Cheetus VS Metals Waspeeter (VS pack, 1999)
• Japanese ID number: VS-42
• Accessories: Tail-whip

Once again Cheetor was packaged in a VS pack with Waspinator, this time in their "Metals" forms. Again, both toys are identical to the individual releases.

<span id="TM2"></span>

A body only Primal could love.

• Cheetor (Transmetal 2 Deluxe, 1999)
• Japanese ID number: C-49
• Accessories: Launcher, missile, tail-flail

Transmetal 2 Cheetor is the first major departure from the usual Cheetor styling, but maintains the standard "stand up cat"-style transformation, for which the robot mode is essentially the beast mode standing on its hind legs. Transmetal 2 Cheetor transforms into a saber-toothed tiger-type big cat with a large rocket engine grafted into his back. In robot mode, this rocket engine becomes a spring-loaded missile launcher.

As with all Transmetal 2 toys, he features a spark crystal, a small, clear-colored ball with a vacuum-metalized faction logo inside. Cheetor's spark is placed on his left hind leg.

This mold was later redecoed into Tripredacus Agent. (Notice the pattern yet?)

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• Cheetor (Fox Kids Deluxe, 1999)
• Accessories: Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

In 1999, a redeco of the <a href="#Dx1" title="">original Cheetor toy</a> was released, with "Fox Kids" branding on the packaging to advertise the show's move from syndication to a network. Aside from changing the black spots on his fur to a strange maroon color, at first glance, FK Cheetor seems identical to his original counterpart. However, a closer look shows that both the blue and the gold robot parts were all replaced with a metallic blue trim.

Product listings gave this toy the name "Jungle Strike Cheetor", but that name never made it to packaging.

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• Cheetor (Fox Kids Transmetal Deluxe, 1999)
• Accessories: Tail-whip

Shortly afterwards, <a href="#TM1" title="">Transmetal Cheetor</a> received a "Fox Kids" redeco, released along with a redeco of Transmetal Tarantulas. This red-and-dark-green version of Cheetor proved to be hard to come by, as this assortment did not ship for very long at all. Shipping lists listed the toy as "Mech-Tech Cheetor", but that name never made it to the packaging.

In Japan, this toy was released as a JafCon convention exclusive, along with the "Fox Kids" versions of Transmetal Airazor and Transmetal Rattrap.

Beast Machines

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File:BM Mega Cheetor toy.jpg

Once again, a body only Primal could love.

• Cheetor (Mega, 2000/2005)
• Japanese ID number: BR-02
• Accessories: Tail-whip

Part of the first assortment of Beast Machines Megas, Cheetor transforms into a super-lean technorganic cheetah. In keeping with the early Beast Machines design trend of "articulated features", turning the beast-mode head causes its jaw to open and close. His left foreleg has a gear-spring horizontal "swiping" action activated by pushing a section of the above shoulder-armor towards his body.

In robot mode, his head has the same feature; turning it left or right opens and closes his Muppet-like jaw. The "swiping"-action arm—now on his right side—is still available in this mode and can be used to swing his tail-whip around. Because of cheetor's unusual body proportions and very small feet, he has issues standing up properly in this mode, especially with his legs positioned in the proper cat-like digitigrade style.

In 2005, the Mega Cheetor toy was re-released as part of the Japanese Toys "R" Us exclusive Beast Wars Returns line. It does not appear that any significant changes were made to it. Reportedly, this item had a run of only 4000 pieces.

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• Cheetor (McDonald's Happy Meal, 2000)
• McNumber:

This tiny, softer-plastic representation of Cheetor is great for the yung'uns. As one of ten toys in the McDonald's Beast Machines Happy Meal promotion, it features an incredibly simplistic transformation with no removable parts.

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So near, yet so far!

• Cheetor (Supreme, 2000)
• Accessories: Tail-sword, 2 missiles

One of the largest Transformers toys, nearly as tall as Fortress Maximus in robot mode, Supreme Cheetor was heavily hyped as an "ultimate" toy. Aside from having the most show-accurate sculpting of any Beast Machines Cheetor toy, he features electronic lights and sounds in both modes, articulated jaws on both his beast and robot-mode heads, and raising "hackles" on his beast mode back. Each arm contains a gimmick as well. His left arm has a geared up-and-down "slashing" movement, with extending fingers (yes, fingers) that can spring out of his hand. His right arm contains a spring-loaded twin missile launcher that fires two missiles out of his palm when the arm is pulled back at the elbow. Even with his wide and rubber-padded feet, like <a href="#BMMega" title="">Mega Cheetor</a> he has balance issues in robot mode thanks to his top-heavy construction and oddly jointed legs. His teeth-clenched grin in robot mode is also somewhat off-putting.

This toy was an ultimately inauspicious start for the Supreme price point. It shelfwarmed pretty badly and ended up in blowout sales at online retailers for upwards 75% off its original price tag.

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File:BM NightSlashCheetor toy.jpg

This is totally backwards. The black repaint is supposed to come AFTER the yellow one.

• Night Slash Cheetor (Deluxe, 2001)

Part of the first wave of the rebranded "Battle for the Spark" Beast Machines Deluxes, "Night Slash" Cheetor is a much more angular and mechanical-looking version of the character, with a more show-like face sculpt. Each bicep holds a spring-loaded sword attached by a brace that flips into his waiting hands when released. He has a Spark Crystal mounted on his upper back between his shoulders, and just behind that, a pair of thrusters on his back as well. His interior chest has a red and silver column that spins within a reflective silver dish when his Spark Crystal is pressed, meant to show the power of his Spark. However, this does not work terribly well given the opacity of the transparent plastic that normally covers it.

This mold was used to make CatSCAN.

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"Optimus, I don't wanna be mint in sealed box!"

• Perfect Choice Cheetus (Mega, 2005)

The <a href="#BMMega" title="">original Mega Cheetor toy</a> was redecoed in black and silver as a special Beast Wars Returns promotional contest prize. By ordering the cartoon series through the digital cable provider, you were automatically entered in a drawing for the toy, along with several other smaller merchandise prizes. All of the gimmicks from the first version are retained in this one.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-0" title="">[1]</a></sup>

It is currently unknown how many "Perfect Choice Cheetus" prizes were awarded.

• Cheetor (Jollibee Kids Meal, 2009)
• Accessories: Container in Disguise

Cheetor was available as one of three figures in a Jollibee promotion. The toy is a greatly simplified version of his Beast Machines Mega toy.

Transtech

It's an evolution revolution!

• Cheetor (Deluxe?)

A new (seemingly Deluxe scale) version of Cheetor was designed for Transtech, the proposed follow-up to Beast Machines, which would have turned into a Cybertronic F-1 race car with a cheetah motif. It made it at least as far as a resin hardcopy, seemingly with near-final engineering. Aside from featuring a launching, spring-loaded front bumper, it is uncertain what gimmicks it may have had. The toy was ultimately scrapped alongside the rest of the Transtech line.

An earlier version of the Transtech Cheetor design was the basis for the Transcendent Technomorph version of Cheetor.

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Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.

Proceed on your way to oblivion.<br />This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

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Universe

File:Tscheetoruniverse.jpg

My love for primal is like the sun and the moon, knowing they can never touch...

<span id="UNSC"></span>

• Night Slash Cheetor (Deluxe, 2005)

A redeco of the <a href="#BMNSC" title="">Beast Machines Night Slash Cheetor toy</a>, the Universe Autobot version gives Cheets a predominantly orangey-yellow coloration again, but this time with a lot of red and some super-dark blue accents. All of his gimmicks from the previous version are retained.

This toy was one of the last toys in the original Universe toyline sold at normal wide-release retail.

Beast Wars 10th Anniversary

File:BW10Cheetor toy.jpg

Not completely show-accurate.

• Cheetor (Beast Wars 10th Anniversary, 2006)
• Accessories: Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

In 2006, Hasbro redecoed the <a href="#Dx1" title="">original Cheetor toy</a> for their Beast Wars 10th Anniversary reissue line. He was cast in a different shade of yellow, and unlike most of the other toys in the line, he was actually further off-model than his original toy, the biggest difference being that the newer toy lacks the gold paint on its forearms and feet found on the show model. His right beast mode shoulder was tampographed with a Maximal sigil. He came packed with build-a-figure Transmutate's torso and a DVD disc containing the episode "Equal Measures".

At this point the mold for the gut gun had degraded somewhat, and a new mold had to be made.

Timelines

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• Dawn of Future's Past (Multi-pack, 2006)
• Accessories: Engine-blaster, left & right side-pipes, Maximal "Golden Disk Key"

"Axalon Cheetor" is a redeco of Cybertron Clocker, transforming into a low-ridin' Cybertronian race car with a large Maximal sigil on his hood and a cheetah-pattern deco for his upholstery. Stylin'! Inserting a "Golden Disk Key" into the slot on his back pops up a pair of gun barrels, which can be held in robot mode as his pre-beast Quasar gun. His head is also retooled from the original body to represent his Beast Wars head more closely, making his face even more show-accurate then the original toy's.

He was available only as part of the BotCon 2006 "Dawn of Future's Past" box-set, with "Axalon" versions of Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Rattrap, and "Darksyde" Dinobot.

This toy—with the retooled head—was used to make "Unit 2". The original version was also used to make Cybertron Swerve and movie-verse Clocker. It was also the basis for many many non-toy Maximal Command Security Force members.

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Beast Wars Telemocha Series

Now THAT'S gorgeous!

• Cheetus (Deluxe, 2007)
• Japanese ID number: TM-03
• Accessories: Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

In 2007, Takara did the 10th Anniversary thing for the Beast Wars Telemocha Series line, except much more show-accurate than Hasbro, with a high number of paint applications in order to be show-accurate.

This release came with a DVD of "Convoy Disappeared", the Japanese dub of "Chain of Command".

Titanium Series

• Cheetor (Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
• Accessories: 2 scimitars

File:Titanium Cheetor.jpg

ooh...shiny

Titanium Series Cheetor is based heavily on the <a href="#TSTrivia" title="">design of Cheetor seen in the Beast Machines cartoon</a>, albeit with some differences, notably much thicker limbs, making him far more stable in robot mode. His twin scimitars can peg onto his hips for storage and are made of softer, rubbery plastic. His die-cast metal is limited to his shoulders, torso, and thighs.

Care must be taken when transforming Cheetor into beast mode. His robot head must be pushed back into his beast mode's neck until it clicks. Failure to do so will cause his robot mode head to get stuck inside the chest after the cheetah mode's neck is pushed into it, and may require disassembling the torso to get it out again.

Universe (2008)

File:Cheetoruniverse.jpg

He went through five bodies... and then back to this.

• Cheetor (Deluxe, 2008)
• Accessories: Tail-whip, throwing blades

First available in the fourth wave of Universe Deluxes, this version of Cheetor is based on the original Beast Wars Cheetor, transforming into an organic cheetah that's much closer in proportions to the real animal than any previous attempt, with a robot face sculpt based much more on the CGI show model. Alas, the compromise is that he has a far less show-accurate robot mode due to a markedly different transformation scheme that sadly involves his entire beast-chest ending up as a huge hunchback in robot mode. His cheetah-mode eyes can change colors, a bizarre homage to the differing eye-colors the <a href="#Beast_Wars" title="">original Cheetor toy</a> went through in its many releases, as well as the show. His tail becomes a whip-weapon, plus he comes with a pair of triple-bladed throwing stars.

Henkei! Henkei!

Chromed, but not Transmetal.

• Cybertron Cheetus (Deluxe, 2008)
• Japanese ID number: C-12
• Accessories: Tail-whip, throwing blades

Henkei! Henkei! Cheetor replaces some of his yellow plastic including his arms, and stomach among other parts, for gold plastic. He has more elaborate and varied paint applications, including painting the insides of his beast mode kibble for a greater contrast. As with all Henkei toys, he has vacuum-metalised plastic parts, specifically his entire head and the bodies of his throwing blades.

Merchandise

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• Cheetus (candy toy kit, 1997)

Part of a set of four Kabaya candy toys, this version of Cheetor, based on <a href="#Dx1" title="">the original toy</a>, is an unpainted and unassembled plastic kit that transforms (and partially re-assembles) from cheetah to robot mode, though much smaller (and cheaper) than the original toy. It is cast entirely in pale yellow and grayish-tan plastics, as are the other three toys in the set: Dinobot, Rattrap, and Terrorsaur.

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• Beast Wars magnet set (1997)

The original cast of ten from the Beast Wars cartoon was rendered in adorable super-deformed style for a set of magnets. Awwwww.

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• Cheetor (3D Battle-Card, 2007)

A 31-point character in the 3D Battle-Card Game's "Energon Wars" expansion, Cheetor "transforms" into a Transmetal 2 cheetah. He uses the same parts layout as Ravage and Rampage.

Robot Heroes

...Nimbus?

• Cheetor / Blackarachnia (2-pack, 2008)

Part of the first wave of Universe-branded Robot Heroes, Cheetor is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. He is depicted in a running pose and is articulated at the shoulders and neck. He has a Maximal faction symbol on his butt.

He was only available in a two-pack with Blackarachnia.

• Cheetor / Tankor

Proudly wearing his faction symbol on his knee.

Cheetor is part of the fourth wave of Universe Robot Heroes and is designated as from the "Beast Machines Series," along with his packmate Tankor. His sculpt and color scheme is derived solely from his television show appearance. Cheetor has articulation at the neck and shoulders, though his left arm's large sword inhibits movement.

Trivia

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The original guns, featuring realistically painted cheetah guts. Hooray!

Cheetor's control art. Yes, that IS Cheetor, not Shadow Panther. Yes, it's not a cheetah.

• The first Cheetor toy was originally intended to be part of the first wave of Beast Wars Deluxes released, but experienced a delayed initial release, coming several weeks afterward. This was likely due to a change made to his "tail gun", which on the toy is much different from the version glimpsed in catalogues, commercials, and toy packaging cross-sells. The prototype gun is held via a handle on the top side of the tail rather than underneath the haunches and has a small blue gun barrel that flips out. Why this change was made and whether it was the actual cause of the delay are currently unknown.

• Cheetor's design art seems to indicate he wasn't originally designed to be a cheetah...or was at least designed to be generically big-cat-like enough to be other types of feline.

<span id="TSTrivia"></span>

• According to Titanium Series concept designer Don Figueroa, making Titanium Cheetor use his Beast Machines body was his idea. It seems he was told simply to make "Cheetor", but his Hasbro supervisors never specified which Cheetor to make. Aaron Archer corroborated this, saying Hasbro had not meant to produce a Beast Machines figure: they had simply put Cheetor's name on a list, and the toy ended up being, as Archer put it, "the wrong one."

References

<ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-0"><a href="#cite_ref-0" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://megatronofcybertron.homestead.com/japanesebeastwarsreturns.html" class="external free" title="http://megatronofcybertron.homestead.com/japanesebeastwarsreturns.html" rel="nofollow">http://megatronofcybertron.homestead.com/japanesebeastwarsreturns.html</a></ol>

External links

• Cheetor at TFU.info