Rhinox (ROTB)

The name or term "Rhinox" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Rhinox (disambiguation).

Rhinox is a Maximal from the Rise of the Beasts portion of the movie continuity family.

Lead me to the promised land, rhino!

Rhinox is a rhinoceros! He's the kind of hard-hitting, take-no-prisoners, rock solid big bruiser found on any team worth their salt. Rhinox is a Maximal of few words, and tends to let either his mighty hammer or his love of plowing through enemies in rhino mode do the talking for him.

Fiction

Rise of the Beasts film

Voice actor: David Sobolov (English, casting only)

"Wild bean vines... not appearing in this film."

Somewhere in time and space, Rhinox was among the Maximals left on their homeworld when Unicron attacked. Making their way through enemy hordes, he and Cheetor met up with their leader Apelinq, and fellow Maximals Optimus Primal and Airazor, who had just fended off several hostile new arrivals on their planet. As the situation grew dire, he witnessed Apelinq transfer leadership of the Maximals to Primal, as the former ordered them to retreat with the Transwarp Key. All Rhinox and the other Maximals could do was watch from their ship as Scourge overpowered Apelinq, as they entered the Transwarp bridge towards a prehistoric Earth.

By the year 1994, Rhinox, Cheetor, and Primal had settled in the jungles of Peru. When Noah Díaz and Elena Wallace arrived searching for the other half of the Transwarp Key, Optimus Primal mobilized the Maximals, including Rhinox, to intercept them. As Primal had them cornered, the Autobot Wheeljack arrived in an attempt back up the pinned Mirage, which prompted Rhinox to strike and lift him upward on a ledge. Before the situation could escalate any further, Airazor flew in and eased the tension.

Look out, my butt transforms into a chaingun!

Later, Rhinox and the other Maximals led the Autobots to meet the human tribe that had kept the Maximals safe on Earth, present the Autobots the other half of the Transwarp Key. The next day, the Autobots and Maximals were alerted to a battle on top of a mountain, only to find a distraught Primal and an offline Airazor, who was forced to be deactivated after Scourge's corruption rendered her mad. Rhinox mourned for his fallen comrade. They did not have time to grieve Airazor however, as Scourge had already activated the Transwarp Key from the nearby volcano, ready to bring Unicron in. Hoping to distract their enemies, Prime and Primal led their respective teams to face the Terrorcon army head on, hoping to lead them away from Noah, Elena and Mirage working their way towards the control panel. As the Autobots and Maximals approached the Terrorcon army, Primal ordered Cheetor and Rhinox to maximize, making swift work of the Terrorcon drones. Rhinox put his mighty hammer to good use, clobbering many of his foes. Eventually, the endless hordes of drones exhausted both the Autobots and Maximals, with Rhinox being overwhelmed by the faster Nightbird. As Unicron's reinforcements entered the Transwarp bridge, Bumblebee swooped in, turning the tide of the battle, and giving them a boost in morale. As Elena finally reached the control panel, and with Scourge being handled by Optimus, Rhinox and the rest of the Autobots and Maximals held back the army that was diverted towards the control panel. Rhinox continued to plow his way through the horde, and even lent Arcee a ride on his back in beast mode at one point. Eventually, the control panel was destroyed, forcing Optimus to sacrifice himself to destroy the key. Rhinox and the rest of the Maximals were then ordered to retreat.

Fortunately, Primal saved Prime and they escaped the ensuing fallout. Rhinox and the others then regrouped at a valley overlooking the volcano. They acknowledged that Unicron had definitely survived the collapse of the Transwarp bridge, and he may return to destroy them. Despite this, Rhinox and the others remained steadfast, as they now had a newfound alliance between their factions, ready to take on Unicron, whenever he may return. Rise of the Beasts

Rhinox's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the book "The Search Is On".

Toys

Rise of the Beasts

Mirage said with my boxy beast mode the kids would love me at the piñata shop, I wonder wh-OUCH OW OUCH!!!

• Rhinox (Voyager Class, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Voyager Class Rhinox
• TakaraTomy ID number: BV-03
• TakaraTomy release date: October 28, 2023
• Accessories: horn, 2 chain guns

Released in the second wave of "Core" Rise of the Beasts Voyager Class figures, Rhinox is based on early concept art for his movie appearance, and transforms into a mechanical rhinoceros. He comes with two spinning chain gun accessories that can store on the shoulders of his beast mode. The rhino horn is also removable and is meant to be worn on his robot shoulder.

In the US, Rhinox was exclusive to Walmart along with the rest of the Voyager assortment, where he would go on to be a major shelfwarmer. He was a general retail release in other markets.

Hey, rhinoooo!!!

• Rhinox (Smash Changers, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Papapatto Change Rhinox
• TakaraTomy ID number: BPC-03
• TakaraTomy release date: August 5, 2023
• Accessories: Rhinoceros head

This 9-inch Rhinox toy changes automatically from rhinoceros to robot by tapping his feet against a surface three times. His rhino head is removable and can mount on his wrists in robot mode.

Beast Alliance

Wild bean vines... hard to digest...

• Rhinox (Beast Battle Masters, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Weapon Rhinox
• TakaraTomy ID number: BW-02
• TakaraTomy release date: April 15, 2023
• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Part of the first wave of Rise of the Beasts Beast Battle Masters, Rhinox is a 2.5-inch figure that transforms from a robotic rhinoceros to a Gatling gun and back. He is cast in dark greyish brown similar to a black rhinoceros, with silver highlights to make his robotic "musculature" and horns stand out. All 4 of his legs are cast in silver-grey unpaintable plastic and ball jointed, though they can only fold inward and spin, meaning they don't add very much poseability. Stock photos show his legs cast in light brown plastic instead.

He can weaponize other figures if they have 5mm ports, though his legs tend to get in the way if attached anywhere besides a hand or narrow forearm. His gun barrel does not spin and is only held on with friction, making it removable.

Like other Beast Battle Masters, Rhinox comes packed on a simple open card with no bubble, held on by plastic bands. His instruction sheet is tucked in the back but with one end folded under the front flap. He is somewhat oddly strapped to the card sideways with legs folded under, likely to prevent the feet from being easily removed.

Bay must be kicking himself for not directing the movie featuring a rhino with explosive farts.

• Rhinox (Battle Changers, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Change Rhinox
• TakaraTomy ID number: BC-02
• TakaraTomy release date: April 15, 2023
• Known designers: Koki Yamada (TakaraTomy), Matthew Cohen (photography)

Released in the first wave of Rise of the Beasts Battle Changers, Rhinox is a simplified 4.5-inch figure that transforms from robot to rhinoceros and back in 6 steps! His chain gun is permanently affixed to his right arm. Interestingly, like several earlier Rise of the Beasts mainline Maximal figures, he appears to feature a significantly different robot mode design, in this case more closely resembling his original Beast Wars self in terms of headsculpt and chest greebling.

His stock photography has his robot mode slightly mistransformed- the rhino mode's head can clip in a little bit further down his back.

Both of his modes are common sights during Kilimanjaro Safari.

• Wheeljack & Rhinox (Beast Weaponizers, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Change Set Wheeljack & Rhinox
• TakaraTomy ID number: BCS-03
• TakaraTomy release date: July 15, 2023
• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Included with Beast Weaponizer Wheeljack is redeco of the above Beast Battle Masters Rhinox, with the gray plastic swapped for brown and no paint besides the horns, somewhat giving a more realistic rhino look.

Studio Series

Silver and gold

• Rhinox (Voyager Class, 2023)

• Movie: Rise of the Beasts
• Hasbro ID number: 103
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS-113
• Accessories: Hammer, "Peruvian Jungle Discovery" backdrop (2nd version)
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy)

Released as part of the 21st wave of Studio Series Voyager Class figures, Rhinox is based on his appearance in Rise of the Beasts, transforming into a mechanical rhinoceros in 29 steps. The rhino mode is surprisingly articulated, with tail, hips, shoulders, front knees, all four ankles, neck, and an opening mouth. The toy includes his spiked hammer which can be held or attached to his back in both modes.

There are two easily forgotten transformation steps: In robot mode, his knee hinges lock into the back of his thighs. His shins also transform slightly by pushing them in for beast mode, out for robot mode. Many of Rhinox's parts use simple friction hinges and can easily pop off, most notably his shoulder pads and forearm panels.

How do you measure its worth? (Pre-release deco)

Oddly, Rhinox’s instructions label him as coming from Revenge of the Fallen, and uses a more saturated blue compared to those of other Maximals. His included "Peruvian Jungle Discovery" backdrop actually displays the cave setting from the film, based on a deleted scene where Rhinox originally would have first appeared.

Early stock photography and the packaging render show Rhinox with brown plastic based on an early design, while the final product uses the gray color scheme seen in the finished film. At least one copy with the initial colors did make it out.

Like his mainline Voyager Class figure, this Rhinox ended up becoming a heavy shelfwarmer soon after release, particularly at Target locations to the point store shelves were overflowing with unsold stock, even appearing as late as January 2025.

Merchandise

Figural Bag Clip

• Rhinox (2023)

Released by Monogram, this 2.5" 3D foam bag clip takes the form of a chibi Rise of the Beasts Rhinox in rhino mode.

It was available only as part of a mystery blind bag collection.

Pop!

• Rhinox (2023)

• ID number: 1378

Released as part of a Rise of the Beasts-themed batch of the Pop! Movies segment and as a Target exclusive, Funko's Pop! Rhinox is a super deformed vinyl figure of the character galloping in rhino mode supported by a translucent stand.

Notes

• Yoshikazu Iwanami originally wanted to bring Daiki Nakamura back to reprise his role as Rhinox from the Beast Wars Japanese dub for Rise of the Beasts, but the lack of proper character dialogue made him abandon it.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Rhinox (ライノックス Rainokkusu)
• Mandarin: Xīniú (犀牛, "Rhinoceros")