Tonbot
- Tonbot is an Insectron from the Beast Wars II portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Technically, the Insectron Tonbot (トンボット Tonbotto) is a spy, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a good spy. Spies are usually discreet and inconspicuous. Tonbot is neither of those things. Rather, Tonbot is hyper, excitable, flighty, weird, undisciplined and annoying. He may, in fact, be the worst spy in the history of espionage. Yes, even worse than Counterpunch.
Possibly because his mind is forever lost in a clouded, impenetrable fog, Tonbot's most useful ability is his power to drape the battlefield in a cloudy, impenetrable fog. With his foes lost in the mist, he can easily pick them off with his water cannon from the skies, assuming they don't hear him coming from a mile away.
Tonbot is positively despised by the Autoroller named Autojetter. The Predacon claims it's because dragonflies constantly gunk up his jet engines, but it's more likely because Tonbot just won't shut up.
Fiction
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Beast Wars II cartoon
- Voice actor: Kenichirō Tanabe (Japanese)
Tonbot and the Insectrons were wanderers who came to the planet Gaia to live in peace. Fiercely territorial, they defended their lands in the South Continent when the Maximals and Predacons arrived. Tonbot and Bigmos drove off Dirge, Thrust, and the Autorollers when they tried to build a fortress in Insectron territory. Starscream of the Predacons enacted a long-term scheme to manipulate the Insectrons into believing the Maximals were their true foes. He set up a bug-trap that snared Tonbot and Bigmos, then freed them and claimed the trap was set by Lio Convoy and his crew. Tonbot nearly threw Starscream off his game by eagerly begging the famous Maximal to sign his autograph book.
Starscream's data disc told Tonbot and the Insectrons all about the horrible deeds of Lio Convoy and his warriors. Tonbot and Bigmos attacked Bighorn and Apache next time they saw them. The Maximals tried to avoid fighting back, but when Bighorn detonated a missile against a rocky column as a show of force, it only made the Insectrons more fearful of the Maximals. Tonbot obscured the Maximals in one of his magnetic smokescreens as they continued firing. When Lio Convoy and Tasmania Kid arrived, the battle briefly stopped as the sides began talking to one another. The hidden Starscream and BB couldn't allow that, so they fired missiles at the gathering. Lio Convoy warned the Insectrons of the incoming missiles, and he and the Maximals shielded Tonbot and Bigmos from injury with their own bodies. Unsure what to think of the Maximals in the aftermath, Bigmos ended the fight and he and Tonbot left. The Insect Corps Arrive
Starscream's next plot lured the Insectrons to Mikazuki Island with the promise of an oil party. Tonbot arrived with Powerhug, Bigmos and Drill Nuts, and a recording from the Predacon told them to start without him. The super-refined oil quickly put the Insectrons into a drunken state, starting a brawl between them. The Maximals and remaining Insectrons arrived to stop the squabbling, and the two groups joined forces against an equally plastered Galvatron, who had inadvertently gotten into the same stash of spiked oil. In the aftermath, the Maximals and Insectrons made peace. The Strongest Tag Team?
Tonbot was soon dragged into a feud between Bigmos and Autostinger. Loyal to his Insectron leader, Tonbot agreed not to interfere with the Autoroller's schemes against the Maximals, as Bigmos was bound by a life-debt to follow Autostinger's commands. Bigmos soon found a way to cancel the debt by saving Autostinger's life, but the Autoroller demanded on a duel. In a cave, Bigmos fought with Autostinger while Tonbot went one-on-one with Autojetter. Eventually, after the Combatrons tried to cause a cave-in to bury their enemies, the Autorollers and Insectrons had to work together to escape. The rivals then agreed to part ways peacefully, but only for the moment. Autorollers Roll Out!
Megastorm soon organized a mass offensive by the Predacons, prompting the Maximals and Insectrons to fight together again. Predacon General Offensive!
Through the machinations of Moon, the Jolly Roger from the Seacons' photon sailer (with a stain shaped like the Sea Continent) flew into Bigmos and Tonbot's direction. Realizing the significance of the flag, the two rushed to the Sea Continent, where they found Lio Convoy's Maximals helpless out at sea against God Neptune. After knocking over the combiner and spitting acid onto his face, the two Insectrons held Lio Convoy up in the air so that he could finish off the giant with his Lion Typhoon. Showdown in the Sea
Tonbot later joined the other Insectrons acting as recon for Lio Convoy. They reported to the Maximals when Majin Zarak arrived at Point B-2, a narrow box canyon that would put the behemoth Predacon at a strategic disadvantage. Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!
When the Angolmois energy deposits began heating up all over the globe, Tonbot and the Insectrons reunited with the Maximals to work together and stop the Angolmois energy from erupting any further. The Great Angolmois Freezing Tactic Tonbot and the Insectrons then helped the Maximals complete a launching platform so that Lio Convoy and his crew could reach the Nemesis out in space before it could drain Gaia of it's Angolmois energy. Fly Out! Planet Gaia
Beast Wars Neo cartoon
After the defeat of Unicron, Tonbot returned to Cybertron, where he helped with reconstruction. Graduation Ceremony!!
Beast Wars II manga
When the Predacons rampaged on Gaia with the Galvatron Dekazura Tank, Bigmos and Tonbot assisted the Maximals in stopping it. Tonbot in particular dropped Tasmania Kid onto the tank so he could enter it. Demolish the Superdreadnought Tank!
Tonbot was later part of an assembled Maximal force that took off in the Yukikaze to reach Nemesis. All hands survived the destruction of the ship by the Predacons and engaged their enemies in battle on the artificial planet's surface. All Hands, Make a Special Attack on the Evil Planet!
IDW Beast Wars comics
In the past, Tonbot travelled to hundreds of worlds and became well-versed in a wide variety of languages and cultures. His battle prowess also benefited from his travels, as he learned a wide array of martial arts and became familiar with a wide array of weapons from over a dozen different planets. Beast Wars Sourcebook #4
Tonbot was part of an Angolmois-infected crowd rioting on Cybertron. The Ascending #4
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Tonbot was one of Onyx Prime's Maximals. During Onyx's invasion of Cybertron, he was one of the many Maximals who battled Arcee and lost; Jetfire and Aileron came across his remains shortly afterwards. Endless Forever
Toys
Beast Wars
- Tonbot (Deluxe Class, 1998)
- Japanese ID number: C-19
- Accessories: 2 missiles
- A redeco of the Predacon Jetstorm, Tonbot transforms into an organic dragonfly. His beast mode's inner head (which is his robot mode head) features a water-squirting gimmick with an internal bellows located in his tail. His dragonfly tail conceals a pair of spring-out spring-loaded missile launchers that swing forward at the push of a button. These launchers are available in robot mode as well, but due to their construction, fire mostly upwards.
- Tonbot VS Autojetter (VS pack, 1998)
- Japanese ID number: VS-19
- Accessories: 2 missiles
- Tonbot was available both as an individual and in a two-pack with the Predacon Autojetter. Both toys are identical to their individual releases.
Notes
- "Tonbot" (トンボット Tonbotto) is a portmanteau of "tonbo" (蜻蛉 or トンボ), meaning dragonfly, and "bot" (ボット botto). An alternate romanization is Tombot, which is used by a Japanese trading card and closer to how it is pronounced in Japanese.
- To say that Tonbot speaks with an American accent wouldn't even be close to doing his speech quirk justice. Tonbot substitutes almost every other noun with an English language equivalent and constantly shouts out simple English phrases when descending into fits of silliness. It goes well beyond being an "accent" and winds up sounding like language salad.
