Beast Wars Transformers @ The Cartoon Scrapbook

Prod. Notes:

September 1996 - May 1999, syndicated

Mainframe Entertainment

Cast:

Air Razor ........................................................................ Pauline Newstone

Black Arachnia ....................................................................... Venus Terzo

Cheetor ........................................................................... Ian James Corlett

Depthcharge ......................................................................... David Sobolov

Dinobot .................................................................................... Scott McNeil

Inferno ........................................................................................ Jim Byrnes

Megatron ..................................................................................... David Kaye

Optimus Primal ........................................................................... Gary Chalk

Predacon Computer ....................................................... Carol Savenkoff

Proto-Humans ............................................................................. Gary Chalk

Quickstrike .......................................................................... Colin Murdoch

Rampage ................................................................................. Campbell Lane

Rattrap ..................................................................................... Scott McNeil

Ravage .......................................................................................... Lee Tockar

Rhinox ............................................................................... Richard Newman

Scorponok .................................................................................... Don Brown

Sentinel .......................................................................... Ian James Corlett

Silverbolt ................................................................................ Scott McNeil

Tarantulas ............................................................................... Alec Willows

Terrorsaur ................................................................................ Doug Parker

Tigatron ................................................................................... Blu Mankuma

Tigerhawk ............................................................................... Blu Mankuma

Vok ............................................................................................. Blu Mankuma

Waspinator ............................................................................. Scott McNeil

Synopsis:

Set about 300 years after the original Transformers, Beast Wars found new factions fighting on the ‘bot planet Cybertron. The Maximals, led by Optimus Primal (named after Autobot hero Optimus Prime) chased the criminal Predacons, led by Megatron (new bad guy, same name).

The two groups slipped into a time/space warp and ended up crash-landing on Earth around the dawn of man. At the time, the planet was filled with pure energon crystals, a source of energy for the ‘bots. When the undiluted energon proved to be too much to handle, both Maximals and Predacons spliced their “cybergenetic code” with DNA from native animal species. The end result was a continuation of the transforming robot idea of the original Transformers. Optimus Primal transformed from robot to metallic blue gorilla, and Megatron transformed into a purple and red T-rex.

The syndicated series also continued its predecessor’s complex storylines, often in multiple parts. Plots were ongoing, characters switched loyalties and occasionally even died. Among the Maximals were Silverbolt, Cheetor, Rhinox, Rattrap, Tigatron, Air Razor, and the ex-Predacon Dinobot. The Predacons included Scorponok, Terrorsaur, Tarantulas, Waspinator, Black Arachnia, Inferno, and Quickstrike.

The fully-rendered computer-animated series chewed up the competition in the kids’ TV syndicated market. Together with a successful new toy line, Beast Wars revived the aging Transformers franchise, redefining it for a new generation. Later seasons found the titles changed to Beast Machines Transformers, but the cool CGI and all-out robot warfare remained unchanged.

Episodes:

Season 1

Beast Wars, Part 1

Beast Wars, Part 2

The Web

Equal Measures

Chain of Command

Power Surge

Fallen Comrades

Double Jeopardy

The Probe

Gorilla Warfare

A Better Mousetrap

Victory

Dark Designs

Double Dinobot

The Spark

The Trigger, Part 1

The Trigger, Part 2

Spider's Game

Call of the Wild

Dark Voyage

Possession

The Low Road

Law of the Jungle

Before the Storm

Other Voices, Part 1

Other Voices, Part 2

Season 2

Aftermath

Coming of the Fuzors, Part 1

Coming of the Fuzors, Part 2

Tangled Web

Maximal No More

Other Visits, Part 1

Other Visits, Part 2

Bad Spark

Code of Hero

Transmutate

The Agenda, Part 1

The Agenda, Part 2

The Agenda, Part 3

Season 3

Optimal Situation

Deep Metal

Changing of the Guard

Cutting Edge

Feral Scream, Part 1

Feral Scream, Part 2

Proving Grounds

Go With the Flow

Crossing the Rubicon

Master Blaster

Other Victories

Nemesis, Part 1

Nemesis, Part 2