Anibot
The Anibots were a team of characters developed in early drafts of The Transformers: The Movie. Their ranks include:
- Clump the rhinoceros
- Pardo the leopard
- Shriek the eagle
- Simba the lion
- Thump the buffalo
The Anibots merge to form the giant, lightning-breathing Dragon Beast. Given their alternate mode descriptions, it seems highly likely that the characters were eventually reworked to become the Predacons.
Per an April 1985 draft of the film by Ron Friedman, the Anibots would have lived in the "Roboto-zoo" in the south quadrant of Autobot City. When the Constructicons attacked as part of Megatron's forces during the Battle of Autobot City, Ultra Magnus released the Anibots from their cages as a desperation move. Although the Anibots' unexpected appearance and unbridled ferocity initially gained them the upper hand, the Constructicons were able to turn the tide, forcing them into retreat with concentrated weapon fire. Later, when the Constructicons merged into Devastator to break through the city's walls as seen in the finished film, Wheeljack would have merged the Anibots into their colossal Dragon Beast form. Dragon Beast and Devastator battled, causing as much damage to the city around them as to one another, until the arrival of the Dinobots occupied Devastator's attention. Dragon Beast took advantage of the opportunity to smash Dirge and Ramjet.
