Beast Machines: Transformers

Beast Machines: Transformers is an animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment as part of the Transformers franchise. Hasbro has the full distribution rights to the show as of 2011. It was a direct sequel to Beast Wars, taking place within the continuity of the original Transformers series.[1][2] The show ran for two seasons, airing on YTV and Fox Kids from 1999 to 2000.[3] Of the Transformers animated series produced in North America, Beast Machines was the only one to have been completely conceptualized and outlined in advance, lending it a more serialized and linear storyline than the others. Prior to Transformers: Prime in 2010, Beast Machines was also the last, and second only entirely computer-animated Transformers series produced, along with its predecessor Beast Wars. The Beast Machines intro theme was "Phat Planet", by Leftfield. It is also the final installment in the Generation 1 cartoon era, and compared to much of its predecessors, the show features more mature storytelling elements than most children's television programs.

Beast Machines: Transformers
Beast Machines Transformers complete series DVD boxset
Also known asBeast Machines: Battle for the Spark (Season 2)
Genre
Based onTransformers
by Hasbro
Developed byMarty Isenberg
Robert N. Skir
ComposerRobert Buckley
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producersIan Pearson
Mark Ralston
ProducerAsaph Fipke
Running time21 minutes
Production companies
DistributorHasbro
Release
Original network
Picture formatNTSC
Audio formatStereo
Original releaseSeptember 18, 1999 (1999-09-18) –
November 18, 2000 (2000-11-18)
Chronology
Preceded byBeast Wars: Transformers

Synopsis
Main article: List of Beast Machines characters

Following their victory in the Beast Wars the surviving Maximals – Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Blackarachnia and Rattrap – finally return to Cybertron only to discover that their people have vanished and the world is now ruled by the mindless Vehicons. To make matters worse, the quartet are trapped in their beast forms without any of the upgrades they gained during the Beast Wars – and they are swiftly losing their memories of anything but each other. Forced to retreat deep underground, the Maximals discover the Oracle, a powerful supercomputer that reformats their bodies into new, even more powerful techno-organic forms.

The Maximals soon learn that their old enemy Megatron – who managed to break free and return to Cyberton before them – is the malevolent intelligence behind the Vehicons. Megatron has declared war on both beast modes and free will itself, imprisoning the sparks of Cyberton's entire population. With the odds stacked against them, the Maximals set out to free the sparks of their people, discover what really happened to their allies Silverbolt and Rhinox, and bring organic life to Cyberton once more.

Cast

Production

According to commentary of the Beast Machines DVD the series was initially to be called Beast Hunters. The character Jetstorm was initially called Skybolt, but the writers changed the name to make it harder to theorize Silverbolt's connection to the Vehicon. The first five episodes of the series were filed with the name Skybolt, and later edited to reflect the change. At one point, Thrust was going to be carrying Silverbolt's spark, but the writers decided to have him carry Waspinator's spark instead on a whim. In the episode Home Soil, the character Thrust made a gesture similar to the middle-finger to Optimus while racing to the crashed ship and in the episode "Savage Noble", Thrust also made a gesture similar to the middle-finger to Cheetor when they briefly banded together to search for Savage. In the flashback featuring Waspinator, the heads of Inferno and Quickstrike make cameo appearances, as do the pre-humans Hammer, Jack, Una, and others.

Episodes

Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113September 18, 1999 (1999-09-18)December 18, 1999 (1999-12-18)
213August 5, 2000 (2000-08-05)November 18, 2000 (2000-11-18)

Season 1 (1999)

This season picked up a short time after the events of the third season of Beast Wars. Four of the six main characters from the previous series/season, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Cheetor and Blackarachnia, are on Cybertron with no memory of how they arrived there and why they are being pursued by hostile Transformers. These characters try to discover what happened to themselves and to Cybertron and what the ancient computer the Oracle has in store for the characters. There are noticeable information gaps and characters missing from the previous series that are addressed throughout the season. New characters are brought into the cast.

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Reformatting"William LauMarty Isenberg & Bob SkirSeptember 18, 1999 (1999-09-18)
The Maximals awaken on their homeworld of Cybertron, with no memory of how they got there. Unable to Transform, they are hunted down by mindless vehicle Transformer drones.
22"Master of the House"Steve SacksMarty Isenberg & Bob SkirSeptember 25, 1999 (1999-09-25)
The Maximals learn how to transform and gain access to the Council Citadel. There, they learn that Megatron has taken over the planet and intends to wipe out all organic life.
33"Fires of the Past"John PozerMarv WolfmanOctober 2, 1999 (1999-10-02)
While searching for clues to their missing memories, Blackarachnia and Rattrap encounter Jetstorm, Thrust and Tankor – three deadly new Vehicon Generals created by Megatron.
44"Mercenary Pursuits"Raul Sanchez InglisMichael ReavesOctober 9, 1999 (1999-10-09)
As the Vehicon Generals continue to hunt the Maximals, Rattrap discovers a counter-virus that helps him Transform – but once he starts, he can't stop.
55"Forbidden Fruit"Trenton CarlsonSteven MelchingOctober 16, 1999 (1999-10-16)
The Maximals discover a new Beast Mode Maximal – a bat named Nightscream – and a mysterious fruit tree, neither of which should exist on the machine world of Cybertron.
66"The Weak Component"Andrew CurrieRodney GibbsOctober 23, 1999 (1999-10-23)
Rattrap finally learns how to Transform, only to discover his Robot Mode has no weapons. With nowhere else to turn for protection, he strikes a deal with Megatron.
77"Revelations, Part I: Discovery"James TaylorBrynne Chandler ReavesOctober 30, 1999 (1999-10-30)
The Maximals discover a junkyard facility where the robot shells of the missing Transformers are stored. Meanwhile, Blackarachnia is utterly convinced that Thrust's spark is Silverbolt's.
88"Revelations, Part II: Descent"William LauMarv WolfmanNovember 6, 1999 (1999-11-06)
Cheetor leads a dangerous mission to try to bring out Tankor's old Maximal personality. In doing so, Rattrap discovers a major clue to the Maximal's missing memories and discovers that Tankor has Rhinox's spark. Jetstorm removes Blackarachnia's spark.
99"Revelations, Part III: Apocalypse!"George SamilskiSteven MelchingNovember 13, 1999 (1999-11-13)
Nightscream fights to retrieve Blackarachnia's stolen Spark. Meanwhile, Optimus is able to contact Rhinox's Spark, but Rhinox deals him a major surprise.
1010"Survivor"Dennis HeatonBrynne Chandler ReavesNovember 27, 1999 (1999-11-27)
Megatron sends his Generals and Diagnostic Drone into the catacombs to kidnap Nightscream and learn the secret behind his Beast Mode. Nightscream is forced to relive a painful memory from his past.
1111"The Key"Sean OsborneMarv WolfmanDecember 4, 1999 (1999-12-04)
Tankor uncovers an ancient weapon with the power to turn organic material into cybernetic metal. Nightscream gets hit by the weapon and the Maximals race against time to save him from going off-line, while Tankor's circuits overload for using the Key of Vector Sigma and permanently deactivates. While Megatron and the Maximals are unaware of his schemes, Tankor staged his own death by establishing a double before confronting the Maximals.
1212"The Catalyst"Steve SacksMarty Isenberg & Bob SkirDecember 11, 1999 (1999-12-11)
Rattrap uncovers a catalyst program that speeds up the growth of Cybertron's newfound plant life. Meanwhile, Blackarachnia discovers that Thrust's spark is actually Waspinator's and that Jetstorm's spark is Silverbolt's.
1313"End of the Line"Mark SawersSteven MelchingDecember 18, 1999 (1999-12-18)
Megatron prepares a doomsday weapon that can wipe out everything organic on Cybertron – including the Maximals. Meanwhile, Optimus discovers his own doomsday weapon...

Season 2 (2000): Battle for the Spark

This season was subtitled Battle for the Spark. Season two picked up right where season one ended in a cliff hanger. The season saw the exit of Rhinox, the return of an ally, a bug bot, the appearance of new Transformers from Cybertron's history, and the ultimate demise of not only Megatron, but Optimus Primal as well.

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"Fallout"Raul Sanchez InglisRobert N. Skir & Marty IsenbergAugust 5, 2000 (2000-08-05)
Optimus destroys Cybertron and realizes that the oracle sent them to Earth to bring back organic life, for there to be a balance between technology and organic.
152"Savage Noble"Greg DonisLen WeinAugust 19, 2000 (2000-08-19)
While trying to recruit the Vehicons, the Maximals discover themselves being stalked by an all-new threat.
163"Prometheus Unbound"Sebastian BrodinMarv WolfmanAugust 26, 2000 (2000-08-26)
The Maximals attempt to infiltrate Megatron's former fortress, only to have their mission threatened by their supposed new ally!.
174"In Darkest Knight"George SamilskiSteven MelchingSeptember 2, 2000 (2000-09-02)
Blackarachnia finally revives Silverbolt, although he is dissatisfied with his new form.
185"A Wolf In The Fold"William LauBrynne Chandler ReavesSeptember 9, 2000 (2000-09-09)
The Maximals are infected with a virus that turns them against each other. Optimus has second thoughts about his plan for harmony.
196"Home Soil"Dennis HeatonMeg McLaughlinSeptember 16, 2000 (2000-09-16)
A seemingly empty spaceship crashes onto Cybertron. When Optimus re-formats the transformer she joins the Maximals. Her name is Botanica.
207"Sparkwar Part I: The Strike"Steve SacksBrooks WachtelSeptember 23, 2000 (2000-09-23)
Megatron unleashes a new set of generals – who are not exactly as they appear!.
218"Sparkwar Part II: The Search"Gino NicheleMichael ReavesSeptember 30, 2000 (2000-09-30)
Desperate to thwart Megatron, the Maximals search for the missing Sparks.
229"Sparkwar Part III: The Siege"Luke CarrollSteven MelchingOctober 7, 2000 (2000-10-07)
Having discovered the location of the missing Sparks, the Maximals race against time to stop Megatron from achieving his ultimate Ascension.
2310"Spark of Darkness"Greg DonisNick DuboisOctober 28, 2000 (2000-10-28)
In the wake of Megatron's demise, something horrible haunts the planet Cybertron.
2411"Endgame Part I: The Downward Spiral"Angela StevensonMichael ReavesNovember 4, 2000 (2000-11-04)
Banding together inside Megatron's floating fortress, the Maximals must protect the Sparks from the depraved tyrant.
2512"Endgame Part II: When Legends Fall"George SamilskiSteven MelchingNovember 11, 2000 (2000-11-11)
Horribly outnumbered, the Maximals make their final stand in a desperate attempt to protect the sparks.
2613"Endgame Part III: Seeds of The Future"William LauRobert N. SkirNovember 18, 2000 (2000-11-18)
With the other Maximals' sparks taken by Megatron, Optimus must face his nemesis, (in the "Optimal Optimus" form previously seen in the third season of Beast Wars,) alone. As they face off, Megatron absorbs the stolen sparks but Optimus pushes him into the planet's organic core, causing the reformatting of Cybertron and the destruction of the two rivals.

Home releases

Beast Machines: Transformers (Episodes # 1–5)

  • Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Audio: 2.0 Dolby Surround
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rating: PG in Canada
  • Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Canada
  • DVD Release Date: August 10, 2004
  • Run Time: 107 minutes

Canada / United States

Beast Machines: Transformers – The Complete Series

  • Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Audio: 5.1 Dolby Surround & 2.0 Stereo
  • Number of discs: 4
  • Rating: Not Rated
  • Studio: Kid Rhino Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: February 28, 2006
  • Run Time: 700 minutes

Canada / United States

Beast Machines – Transformers: Series 1

  • Format: Dubbed, Full Screen, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Audio: 5.1 Dolby Surround & 2.0 Stereo
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: PG (Parental Guidance)
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 16 July 2007
  • Run Time: 264 minutes

Beast Machines – Transformers: Series 2

  • Format: Dubbed, Full Screen, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Audio: 5.1 Dolby Surround & 2.0 Stereo
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: PG (Parental Guidance)
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 19 November 2007
  • Run Time: N/A

UK

Beast Machines – Transformers: Season 1 – Volumes 1 & 2

  • DVD Release Date: 20 June 2007
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Region: Region 4

Classification: PG (Parental Guidance)

Beast Machines – Transformers: Season 2 – Volumes 1 & 2

  • DVD Release Date: 23 October 2007
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Region: Region 4
  • Classification: PG (Parental Guidance)

US / Canada Beast Machines: Transformers – The Complete Series

  • Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Audio: 5.1 Dolby Surround & 2.0 Stereo
  • Number of discs: 4
  • Rating: Not Rated
  • Studio: Shout! Factory
  • DVD Release Date: September 2, 2014
  • Run Time: 690 minutes

Other information

Written into a special edition comic book was a character by the name of Primal Prime. Appearing only in this book, he is a side character to the Beast Machines story and was later written into the toy lines of both Beast Machines and Transformers: Universe. In the Universe story line he eventually gains a new body, which combined with Apelinq to create Sentinel Maximus.

The head writers used to post and answer questions on a message board known as Bottalk.

Toys

The Hasbro toys for Beast Machines are infamous for the fact that many bear little resemblance to the characters on the show, in both shape and color. They were also scaled out of proportion to each other. The reason for this was that although basic concept sketches were made of the major characters, the show creators and toy creators developed the characters independently from that point in the first year. After the first year of toys was released, a number of slightly more show-accurate toys were released.

Many of the characters created as toys never made it on the television series, although some did appear in the comic books. Oddly, the transforming plant Botanica from the television series was not made into a toy for any of the related toy lines.

Another characteristic of this toy line was its packaging. Unlike other Transformers lines, wherein each toy had a photo or illustration of themselves on the front of the packaging, almost all Beast Machines packages had an illustration of Cheetor on the front – regardless of character or faction. The one exception was Nightscream.[4]

The toys released in the Beast Wars Returns (a release of Beast Machines in Japan) toy line by Takara were recolored to more closely resemble the show colors. Molds from the drones in the Vehicon Army, which bore more resemblance to the Vehicon Generals, were recolored and used as the Vehicon Generals instead in the Beast Wars Returns toy line.

A line of simple McDonald's Beast Machines toys was sold which did look more like the show characters, and this line was recolored for release in other countries by other fast food restaurants.

Non-show groups

A number toy sub-groups didn't make it into the animated series, but had small stories on their toy boxes.

  • Beast Riders
Two deluxe sized vehicles that resembled heads of animals and could be ridden by larger figures. Both were redecoed once each, but their boxes remained unchanged.
  • Deployers
Three sparkless Maximal drones that turn into weapons usable by larger toys. All three were redecoed in new colors, but their boxes remained unchanged. The dark blue recolor of Rav was used to represent the character of Chro in the 3H Comic series, which the three Deployers in their original colors also appeared in.
  • Dinobots
A set of Maximals, all recolors of older toys from the Beast Wars, Beast Wars Neo lines. Commanded by Magmatron and T-Wrecks, members included Airraptor and others. Like the Deployers, they appeared in the 3H Beast Machines comics.

Non-show characters

A number of characters appeared in the Beast Machines toy line who didn't make appearances in the television series. These included:

  • Blastcharge – A Vehicon who turns into a six-wheeled missile truck. The character does appear in the Wreckers comics.
  • Buzzsaw – A Maximal who transforms into a wasp. The character does appear in the Transformers: Universe comics.
  • Battle Unicorn – A Maximal who turns into a unicorn.
  • Che – A Beast Rider whose form is a cheetah head. The character was to appear in the un-produced Wreckers #4.
  • Chro (Name given to purple Rav repaint) – Appears in Wreckers comics.
  • Dillo – A Maximal Deployer who turns from an armadillo into a weapon. The character does appear in Wreckers comics.
  • Geckobot – A Maximal who transforms into a flying lizard.
  • Hammerstrike – A Maximal who transforms into a hammerhead shark.
  • Longhorn – A Maximal who turns into a bull. The character was to appear in the un-produced Wreckers #4.
  • Mechatron – A Beast Rider whose form is a dragon head.
  • Mirage – A high speed Vehicon race car. The character appears in Apelinq's War Journals, his drones appear in Wreckers comics.
  • Mol – A Maximal Deployer who turns from a mole into a weapon. The character did appear in Wreckers comics.
  • Nightviper – A Maximal who transforms into a cobra.
  • Primal Prime – A repaint of Beast Wars Optimal Optimus. The character does appear in the Wreckers comics.
  • Quickstrike – A Maximal who transforms into a wolf. The character does appear in the Transformers: Universe comics.
  • Rav – A Maximal Deployer who turns from a bird into a weapon. The character does appear in the Wreckers comics.
  • Scavenger – A Vehicon Demolitions expert. The character does appear in the Wreckers comics.
  • Skydive – A Maximal who turns a pterodactyl. The character was to appear in the un-produced Wreckers #4.
  • Snarl – A Maximal who turns into a lion. The character does appear in the un-produced Wreckers #3, and the Transformers: Universe comics
  • Spy Streak – A Vehicon stealth jet. The character does appear in the Wreckers comics.

Transtech

After Beast Machines ended, Hasbro planned a follow-up series called Transtech. The series was supposed to bring back some of the characters who died in Beast Wars along with some characters from the original 1980s cartoon, all in new, organic-looking bodies, with vehicle alternate modes instead of the animals used in Beast Machines. Many concept sketches and even a few toy prototypes were made, but Hasbro scrapped the idea, bringing Car Robots to American markets as a placeholder until Transformers Armada.

Concept sketches or prototype toys have been seen for Blackarachnia, Cheetor, Depth Charge, Megatron, Nightscream, Optimus Prime, Scavenger, Shockwave, Soundwave, Starscream, and a new character called Immorticon. There were also rumors of a Transtech Dinobot.

It is generally believed that the concept for Transtech Cheetor inspired the design of Transformers: Cybertron Brakedown and the concept for Transtech Megatron inspired Armada Megatron.

Transformers: Universe

The storyline of Beast Machines is continued in the short-lived comic book Transformers: Universe by 3H Publishing, which has stories taking place during the second season of Beast Machines (In the Transformers: Wreckers comic) and after the Beast Machines story (in the Transformers: Universe comic).

References
  1. "The History of Transformers on TV". IGN. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  2. "A brief history of the Transformers". Malaysia Star. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  3. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 871. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  4. TFW2005.com – Ultra Jetstorm – See gallery for box packaging
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