History WesternAnimation / BeastWars

Bit of [[FridgeBrilliance Fridge Brilliance]]:[[spoiler: For fear of messing with the timestream, The Maximals try to stay in the Ark as little as possible. Ninety percent of the time, we see them in the command bridge, and they seem to be moving their possessions INTO the Ark as per the contingency plan, suggesting that they actually live at the tunnel gate outpost.]]

Despite the cries of "[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks TRUKK NOT MUNKY!]]" from the purists, ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' was actually quite innovative for its time; not only because of the aforementioned CGI, but also because of the tight, involving storyline, significant character development, and revolutionary ball joint technology that not only made the toys much easier to play with and pose, but also provided more realistic and believable transformations and alt-modes. (Not to mention graphic violence that was let slip because [[SymbolicBlood flying robot parts have been permissible]] since time immemorial.)

* AGodAmI: Megatron's view of himself, or what he soon will be throughout the final episodes of the series. He refers to his "imminent godhood" and quotes from the covenant of Primus in reference to himself. This leads nicely into his view of himself all through BeastMachines as destined to ascend to godhood and contrasts with his more limited goals to conquer Cybertron when BeastWars began.

* AnArmAndALeg: Losing limbs is a relatively common dramaic device, [[GoodThingYouCanHeal as they can always be reattached later]].

* MindRape: As makes sense given their robot nature, multiple plots involve hacking or messing with their minds/sparks; the screaming and struggling that acompanies it makes it clear that this is not a clean process.

* RetCanon: Prior to the series preimere, the toyline painted the events as happening on present day Earth and instead of being {{Legacy Character}}s from Optimus Prime and the original Megatron, Optimus Primal and Beast Megatron ''were'' the same characters as their G1-namesakes, just with new forms. Needless to say, noce the cartoon debuted, the toyline's backstory was changed to match up with it.

** The Standing Stones seen in ''Chain of Command'' resemble european structures like Stonehenge.

'''Beast Wars''' treats the events of [[TransformersGeneration1 Transformers Generation One]] as a mixture of history and legend; it never gives [[BroadStrokes enough details]] to figure out ''which'' Generation One ([[Series/TheTransformers cartoon]], [[Comicbook/TheTransformers comics]] or something else) it comes from.

The sequel series, '''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines''', was, uh, [[BrokenBase less well-regarded]], due mainly to characterization changes, a focus on longer plot arcs, and [[DarkerAndEdgier a darker tone in general.]] Despite this, it has its own fanbase. See its own page for more information.

In Japan, two traditionally animated series were created to fill in the production gaps between seasons. '''BeastWarsII''' and '''BeastWarsNeo'''. They were never dubbed, as they don't fit in very well with the {{continuity}} of either the source material or each other. Both shows are much more light-hearted than their Western counterparts, and aimed at a much younger audience than Beast Wars (which could plausibly be called the first Transformers series aimed at teenagers, not just children). It's also worth noting that the Japanese release of the CGI ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' cartoon also [[{{Redubbing}} changed the dialog]] for a younger audience, almost to the point of being a GagDub.

* ConvectionSchmonvection: The characters themselves get very close to lava without any adverse effect, but they are alien robots and can survive in environments that living beings can not.
** Somewhat averted in "Double Dinobot". Rattrap is hanging onto a log for dear life, and the log is some distance above a lava flow. The log still catches fire. However Rattrap seems unaffected by the heat.

* IdiotBall: Oh so much, on both sides. Most of the first season Predacons aren't very bright. Dinobot even refers to Scorponok as "notoriously incompetent".

* IdiotBall: Oh so much, on both sides.

* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: Maximals and Predacons shouting out their activation codes ("Maximize" and "Terrorize" rspectively). At first, it seems like this was a requirement to transform to robot mode, but the trope wound up being subverted as the series wore on. After the first season, activation codes were said less often.

* LeaderFormsTheHead: Magnaboss has Prowl form the face and center of the torso, but pretty much every other visible part comes from Ironhide to compensate for that. This results in Ironhide being rather confusingly built in his standalone form.

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BWlogo.jpg]]

* TheWorfEffect: Absolutely everyone succumbs to this not long after their initial introduction.

** Especially egregious since this tactic wasn't necessary in the G1 series, a series ostensibly created ''just to sell the toys''
** Also, as characters were named after their beast modes (which were unique) it was hardly more helpful than relying on kids to ask for "the rat one" or "the cheeta"

In Japan, two traditionally animated series were created to fill in the production gaps between seasons. '''BeastWarsII''' and '''Beast Wars Neo'''. They were never dubbed, as they don't fit in very well with the {{continuity}} of either the source material or each other. Both shows are much more light-hearted than their Western counterparts, and aimed at a much younger audience than Beast Wars (which could plausibly be called the first Transformers series aimed at teenagers, not just children). It's also worth noting that the Japanese release of the CGI ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' cartoon also [[{{Redubbing}} changed the dialog]] for a younger audience, almost to the point of being a GagDub.

The series that rebooted the ''{{Transformers}}'' franchise after a years-long recession, ''BeastWars'' premiered in 1996 and was animated in CGI. It was produced by the now bought-out MainframeEntertainment, hot on the heels of its predecessor ''ReBoot''. Hugely controversial among the UnpleasableFanbase that are Transfans due to the [[{{Spinoff}} wildly different direction it took from the original series]], ''BeastWars'' was not based around the familiar Autobots and Decepticons, but their descendants, the Maximals and Predacons, who now transform into Earth animals instead of vehicles or household items. Lumped with this series is the sequel, ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines,'' although they are not considered a single story arc.

Despite the cries of "[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks TRUKK NOT MUNKY!]]" from the purists, ''BeastWars'' was actually quite innovative for its time; not only because of the aforementioned CGI, but also because of the tight, involving storyline, significant character development, and revolutionary ball joint technology that not only made the toys much easier to play with and pose, but also provided more realistic and believable transformations and alt-modes. (Not to mention graphic violence that was let slip because [[SymbolicBlood flying robot parts have been permissible]] since time immemorial.)

In Japan, two traditionally animated series were created to fill in the production gaps between seasons. '''BeastWarsII''' and '''Beast Wars Neo'''. They were never dubbed, as they don't fit in very well with the {{continuity}} of either the source material or each other. Both shows are much more light-hearted than their Western counterparts, and aimed at a much younger audience than Beast Wars (which could plausibly be called the first Transformers series aimed at teenagers, not just children). It's also worth noting that the Japanese release of the CGI ''BeastWars'' cartoon also [[{{Redubbing}} changed the dialog]] for a younger audience, almost to the point of being a GagDub.

''TransformersTimelines'' has provided a few {{prequel}} stories to ''BeastWars''

** This would have made more sense with the 80's cartoon where they did indeed look a lot a like. With animal forms, it's much easier. Perhaps Hasbro hadn't caught up themselves?