The Energon Pub

It has almost been 20 years since Beast Wars first aired in 1996. With 20th Anniversary of the Beast Wars series on the way. What are your hopes/expectations for the for the upcoming anniversary?

(My hopes for the upcoming anniversary)
Beast Wars Game (By High Moon Studios preferably)

Re-Release of the toy line

I wouldn't want a re-release of the toyline, I would like new more show accurate toys, preferably favouring the bot mode over the alt-mode.
A proper official prequel by the actual creative team of the show.

Dead Metal wrote:I wouldn't want a re-release of the toyline, I would like new more show accurate toys, preferably favouring the bot mode over the alt-mode.
A proper official prequel by the actual creative team of the show.

You know now that I think about it. That would be amazing. I would even be ok with really high quality figures of each character in robot mode only made by Play Arts and/or McFarlane.

Generations Beast Wars figures. That's what I want. Show-accurate ones done in a similar vein to Henkei! Henkei! Dinobot.

Cheetor, however, was blah in both Universe and Henkei! versions, so he needs a new one too.

They could even release the RobotMasters Deluxe molds of Primal and Megs in their Telemocha Series decos repackaged for Generations.

But, Rhinox should be first to get a new figure, preferably a Voyager class Generations and show-accurately molded and colored.

I'd like some more organic beasts in general. Blackarachnia in particular needs a not-repaint-of-Tarantulas update.

Reboot comic series. I think they can do so much more in a comic series when they arent limited "animation budgets".

And I might be in the minority, but I thought the toys were fine. For the most part they were cartoon acurate (transmetal rattrap and blackarachna being noted exceptions). I certainly don't want more like universe cheetor. Dinobot was alright, but looked odd. I can't really explain it.

id like to see a show/comic of the transition from autobot/decepricon to maximal/predicon.

njb902 wrote:id like to see a show/comic of the transition from autobot/decepricon to maximal/predicon.

The BotCon "Descent into Evil" story was set in a time period very much like that... except for the notion that its author insists that it takes place in a different continuity.

Though, a story like that would have to be handled very carefully since the Beast Wars cartoon doesn't directly follow on after either the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. Rather, what we know as "Generation 1" to them is a vague history wrapped in myth and legend, with bits and aspects taken from both, favoring neither over the other.

Sabrblade wrote:

njb902 wrote:id like to see a show/comic of the transition from autobot/decepricon to maximal/predicon.

The BotCon "Descent into Evil" story was set in a time period very much like that... except for the notion that its author insists that it takes place in a different continuity.

Though, a story like that would have to be handled very carefully since the Beast Wars cartoon doesn't directly follow on after either the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. Rather, what we know as "Generation 1" to them is a vague history wrapped in myth and legend, with bits and aspects taken from both, favoring neither over the other.

Which comes from the way they had to research, the fanbase basically not remembering stuff correctly and believing the comics and cartoon to take place in the same universe. After all that was before DVDs, trades, and wikis became widely available.

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

njb902 wrote:id like to see a show/comic of the transition from autobot/decepricon to maximal/predicon.

The BotCon "Descent into Evil" story was set in a time period very much like that... except for the notion that its author insists that it takes place in a different continuity.

Though, a story like that would have to be handled very carefully since the Beast Wars cartoon doesn't directly follow on after either the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. Rather, what we know as "Generation 1" to them is a vague history wrapped in myth and legend, with bits and aspects taken from both, favoring neither over the other.

Which comes from the way they had to research, the fanbase basically not remembering stuff correctly and believing the comics and cartoon to take place in the same universe. After all that was before DVDs, trades, and wikis became widely available.

Yet, to this day, so many are adamant about Beast Wars being in the G1 cartoon continuity.

While this is certainly true for the Japanese dubs of each (FSRLTF and BWSLTF), the English-language Beast Wars cartoon is set in A G1 continuity that is neither the G1 cartoon nor the G1 comics, but a unique one that borrows little elements from both.

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

njb902 wrote:id like to see a show/comic of the transition from autobot/decepricon to maximal/predicon.

The BotCon "Descent into Evil" story was set in a time period very much like that... except for the notion that its author insists that it takes place in a different continuity.

Though, a story like that would have to be handled very carefully since the Beast Wars cartoon doesn't directly follow on after either the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. Rather, what we know as "Generation 1" to them is a vague history wrapped in myth and legend, with bits and aspects taken from both, favoring neither over the other.

Which comes from the way they had to research, the fanbase basically not remembering stuff correctly and believing the comics and cartoon to take place in the same universe. After all that was before DVDs, trades, and wikis became widely available.

Yet, to this day, so many are adamant about Beast Wars being in the G1 cartoon continuity.

While this is certainly true for the Japanese dubs of each (FSRLTF and BWSLTF), the English-language Beast Wars cartoon is set in A G1 continuity that is neither the G1 cartoon nor the G1 comics, but a unique one that borrows little elements from both.

Yes, by accident. Mainframe wanted to tie it into the cartoon canon, but had to rely on information given to them by fans, who then provided them with information from both the cartoon and the comics. Which then lead to the show being set in a weird hybrid of the two.

Dead Metal wrote:Yes, by accident. Mainframe wanted to tie it into the cartoon canon, but had to rely on information given to them by fans, who then provided them with information from both the cartoon and the comics. Which then lead to the show being set in a weird hybrid of the two.

I think most of the G1 info they got came form Ben Yee.

Though, at first, Mainframe wanted to make it its own, non-G1 series, with the only clue of it ever being related to any previous Transformers material was a vague mention of something called the "Great War".

It was later in season 1 that elements started being put in to tie back to G1, but the original plan was to make it its own unrelated series. Though, I gotta wonder what it would have been like if Beast Wars really had been carried out as its own continuity family without anything to do with G1. What sort of directions it would have gone without all the callbacks or references, and being something complete autonomous from G1

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:Yes, by accident. Mainframe wanted to tie it into the cartoon canon, but had to rely on information given to them by fans, who then provided them with information from both the cartoon and the comics. Which then lead to the show being set in a weird hybrid of the two.

I think most of the G1 info they got came form Ben Yee.

Though, at first, Mainframe wanted to make it its own, non-G1 series, with the only clue of it ever being related to any previous Transformers material was a vague mention of something called the "Great War".

It was later in season 1 that elements started being put in to tie back to G1, but the original plan was to make it its own unrelated series. Though, I gotta wonder what it would have been like if Beast Wars really had been carried out as its own continuity family without anything to do with G1. What sort of directions it would have gone without all the callbacks or references, and being something complete autonomous from G1

I don't want to know what it would be like.
It would take away a large portion of why the show is so good. Its History, Beast Wars and Beast Machines are currently the only shows with a sense of history and real mythology. Since it's a completely different set of characters in a different time and with different technology, but with references to the its past, which we the audience have witnessed "first hand" (well those who've seen/ read G1 before).
Taking that away would harm the show and make it less interesting.

The only problem I have with it when I think back on it is no prehistoric animals from four million years ago. You only see a sabertooth once when it attacks BA and SB.

Aniformer wrote:The only problem I have with it when I think back on it is no prehistoric animals from four million years ago. You only see a sabertooth once when it attacks BA and SB.

Most of them were already dead, as evidenced by the dinosaur fossils scanned by Megatron, Dinobot, and Terrorsaur.

After all, the dinosaurs died 65 million years ago, while the Beast Wars cartoon was set in one of three time periods: Either 180,000 BC; 70,000 BC; or 3 million years ago.

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

njb902 wrote:id like to see a show/comic of the transition from autobot/decepricon to maximal/predicon.

The BotCon "Descent into Evil" story was set in a time period very much like that... except for the notion that its author insists that it takes place in a different continuity.

Though, a story like that would have to be handled very carefully since the Beast Wars cartoon doesn't directly follow on after either the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. Rather, what we know as "Generation 1" to them is a vague history wrapped in myth and legend, with bits and aspects taken from both, favoring neither over the other.

Which comes from the way they had to research, the fanbase basically not remembering stuff correctly and believing the comics and cartoon to take place in the same universe. After all that was before DVDs, trades, and wikis became widely available.

Yet, to this day, so many are adamant about Beast Wars being in the G1 cartoon continuity.

While this is certainly true for the Japanese dubs of each (FSRLTF and BWSLTF), the English-language Beast Wars cartoon is set in A G1 continuity that is neither the G1 cartoon nor the G1 comics, but a unique one that borrows little elements from both.

I kinda disagree.Isnt Starscream ghost a confirmation that the series took place in cartoon continuty?I dont remenber it happening in the comics.

(FSRLTF and BWSLTF)

What does this mean?

TulioDude wrote:I kinda disagree.Isnt Starscream ghost a confirmation that the series took place in cartoon continuty?I dont remenber it happening in the comics.

Marvel G1 had some alternate timelines that included the events of TF:TM.

And Dreamwave G1 hinted at leading up to said events, despite it being later and ultimately canceled.

Plus, the biggest thing that links BW to Marvel is the Vok, whose only official backstories tie them directly to the Swarm of Marvel G2.

TulioDude wrote:

(FSRLTF and BWSLTF)

What does this mean?

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers
Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers

For the topic itself,i would like see some more interviews,documentaries or backround material,something we havent seen yet,to give a new perspective on it.
I dont think all characters need a new figure,just a few remolds here and there and they're perfect.For example,i'm sure they could make the cannons of Optimal Optimus retract like did on the show with technology today.

Sabrblade wrote:Plus, the biggest thing that links BW to Marvel is the Vok, whose only official backstories tie them directly to the Swarm of Marvel G2.

Didn't the creators had more than one version of The Vok origins,though?

TulioDude wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Plus, the biggest thing that links BW to Marvel is the Vok, whose only official backstories tie them directly to the Swarm of Marvel G2.

Didn't the creators had more than one version of The Vok origins,though?

The only ones that were published (and therefore made canonical) were the ones linking them to the Swarm.

I'd like a new game (from High Moon) and a prequel of sorts to the events in Beast Wars between G1 and BW about the upgrade maybe? Something animated would be good, but I'm not holding my breath on that. I do like the idea for release of the toys and remold of some of the figures, like Blackarachnia for example. Make them show accurate and favor the bot modes over the beast modes. I'd also like to see a more show accurate Dragon Megatron! Something where the red plastic doesn't break on it either. I had some trouble with mine around the legs a long time ago and the new one I got I don't transform it often. It's sitting in storage right now due to space limitations.

I think the less we know about Beast Wars's G1 the better. Keeping it vague Arthurian Legend works best to avoid making the legendary Decepticon leader Megatron being the same guy who built the giant purple griffin.

There were plenty of G1 references in season 1 of Beast Wars. It wasn't all in season 2 and onward. We had Waspinator thinking he was Shrapnel for a bit and Blackarachnia explaining to Megatron who Shrapnel was. Of course there was also Starscream.

As for comics vs cartoons, I always sided with cartoons, but that's primarily because the cartoons were all I knew as I never read the comics.

As for the origins of the Vok, they were never given any in the show so I pretty much disregard what was said in interviews with the creators/writers well after the fact, as they've reported other info inaccurately in such interviews, not that I can blame them given how much time had usually passed between them actually working on the show and said interviews etc.

Anyway, I'm both happy and quite surprised to see Beast Wars getting all the love it is lately, including the inclusion of several actual Beast Wars figures in the Thrilling 30 line for Generations, especially since they're being called Maximals and Predacons, not Autobots and Decepticons as has often been done with them when integrating BW characters into newer lines.

I agree with the overall sentiment that I'd like to see more re-creations of the Beast Wars characters with the toys being more show accurate using modern engineering. I believe we're in the sweet spot of virtually all of what we saw onscreen being possible, especially when I look at Generations and the Masterpiece line. I think Hasbro and Takara are clearly well aware now that us Beast Wars fans aren't going anywhere and that even though there are way more G1 fans, there are still enough Beast Wars fans to warrant throwing some love that way. To me, Beast Wars was always the continuation of G1 and since I grew up with G1, seeing it while in my late teens/early 20's on TV was like being a kid again.

I too have always hoped for a Beast Wars movie based on the show (as part of the show's continuity, not a reboot/retelling of it or anything, although that would be cool too ) and I'd also love a series/movie/something that really filled in the gaps between the end of Generation One and the beginning of the Beast Wars. If Hasbro could get the original series creators/writers for Beast Wars to do such a thing, that would be the greatest of all. To see those characters and hear those voices again in something new would be so sweet.

Either way, I'm thrilled to see Beast Wars getting so much attention lately and I hope that these Beast Wars commemorations and nods (like Beast Hunters, the Thrilling 30 figures, the comics etc.) do very well so that Has/Tak might be more inclined to do more stuff like this going forward. I don't want Beast Wars nostalgia to completely drown out G1 or any other continuity/toyline etc., but I definitely want to see it continue to be a part of what the Transformers brand has going on.

xyl360 wrote:As for the origins of the Vok, they were never given any in the show so I pretty much disregard what was said in interviews with the creators/writers well after the fact, as they've reported other info inaccurately in such interviews, not that I can blame them given how much time had usually passed between them actually working on the show and said interviews etc.

Which is why I referred to "published" sources specifically, which interviews do not count as being such.

Sabrblade wrote:

xyl360 wrote:As for the origins of the Vok, they were never given any in the show so I pretty much disregard what was said in interviews with the creators/writers well after the fact, as they've reported other info inaccurately in such interviews, not that I can blame them given how much time had usually passed between them actually working on the show and said interviews etc.

Which is why I referred to "published" sources specifically, which interviews do not count as being such.

What sources? Where was it said that the Swarm=the Vok?

xyl360 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

xyl360 wrote:As for the origins of the Vok, they were never given any in the show so I pretty much disregard what was said in interviews with the creators/writers well after the fact, as they've reported other info inaccurately in such interviews, not that I can blame them given how much time had usually passed between them actually working on the show and said interviews etc.

Which is why I referred to "published" sources specifically, which interviews do not count as being such.

What sources? Where was it said that the Swarm=the Vok?

Three places.

Top paragraph of the first page of "Primeval Dawn Part 1", written by Bob Forward:



A rephrased, basic repeat of the above origin stated by the Vok themselves in "Primeval Dawn Part 3".

And the glossary for the trade paperback version of IDW's Beast Wars Sourcebook:

Vok, The:
Eons ago, Primus created a race of robots, giving them the power of procreation. These early Cybertronians could multiply by a procedure similar to cell division and, as time passed, succeeding generations began to reporduce more rapidly, losing all sense of morality. The rapid reproduction also created a byproduct in the shape of the Swarm, and this force spread through the galaxy with little purpose but to devour all in its path. In time, the Swarm was enlightened by a fragment of Primus' essence, becoming an instrument of creation rather than destruction. The collective guilt felt over the destruction it had caused prompted the Swarm to evolve into the Vok, a collective of species including Cybertronian, human, and a mysterious lizard race inhabiting a far off point in space called "Nexus Zero." The Vok's aim is to find the optimal development path for all the races involved in their origin, especially the Cybertronians.