The Autobots are an iconic and heroic team in pop culture. Transforming from cool cars into even cooler robots is one of the many interesting traits of the Transformers franchise. What remains rather distinct and innovative in the Transformers franchise is when the series abandoned vehicles for the sake of beasts and allowed Autobots and Decepticons to evolve through the centuries, and have beast modes.
The Maximals and Predacons became the primary focus of Transformers’ newest series, Beast Wars. Now, with the 7th installment of the Transformers live-action movies, Beast Wars seems to be coming to reality, as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will explore the characters seen in this animated show, but to what great depths remain unknown.
6 Optimus Primal
A heroic leader of a morally good team of organic machines wouldn’t be complete without Optimus. Beast Wars said goodbye to Optimus Prime and Peter Cullen as the iconic voice and introduced audiences to a new, humble starship captain, Optimus Primal. This character was voiced by Garry Chalk and led the exploration ship Axalon. It wouldn’t take long for mayhem to ensue, and Optimus Primal became the leader of the Maximals to claim peaceful victory over the Predacons.
Optimus Primal may not be like his grand ancestor Optimus Prime, as Primal changes into an organic and hairy silverback gorilla, rather than a great big flame truck. Nevertheless, Primal showed great patience with his team, as well as great compassion and calm. However, Primal shouldn’t be underestimated as a warrior, as challenging Primal is not a risk one would want to take.
5 Descendants Of Autobots
Whereas the Predacons are descendants of Decepticons, the Maximals are descendants of Autobots. Many years have passed since the Great War and the closing of G1’s Transformers. With an all-new cast of characters, in a future far beyond Generation-1, there remains Beast Wars and the debut of the Maximals and their eternal struggle with the devious and vicious Predacons.
The Autobots won the Great War, and with that, came a commitment to peace. They share a lot of characteristics and traits with the Autobots, much like the Predacons and their deception. Maximals are civil and uphold democracy and kindness. It’s always nice to see that no matter how far time progresses, the Autobots still retain dignity and compassion.
4 Beast Modes
The selling point to many for Beast Wars was the fact that instead of transforming into fast cars and brutal vehicles, Autobots and Decepticons could now become organic beasts. This primal sense of fighting was enjoyed by many audiences throughout the years, thanks to its innovation of computer-generated imagery. These beast modes for the Maximals usually consisted of the organic life of mammals, birds, and fish, rather than the dreaded and more sinister appearance of the Predacon’s preference for reptilians.
The way that traditional Maximals were able to transform into organic beasts was through DNA scanners that were integrated into their machinery. This created organic matter over synthetic flesh. However, this soon became integrated into their consciousness, allowing for them to easily become beasts that they find on alien worlds to fit in with the society and ecosystem.
3 Feral Impulses
Changing into an organic beast is not without its problems, as some Maximals may face the dangerous and rare condition of a scan failure. This scan failure makes it so that the programming is unable to scan a beast entirely, and results in an unstable and somewhat deformed version of a Maximal. These can be considered dangerous, and rather horrific, and shows that even machines struggle with technology.
Another thing that Maximals have to worry about is primal impulses. If Maximals decide to stay in their beast mode for too long, then their consciousness, which is combined with the organic beast that they have transformed into, is taken over. This means that their consciousness would reduce them into a state of a wild animal, showing how care and time are needed to transform, rather than just being a car.
2 War Against Megatron
Towards the end of the Beast Wars, the Maximals succeeded in capturing Megatron as their prisoner. What should have been the end of a great conflict that spanned centuries, was only the beginning of another, as Megatron was able to travel back in time to conquer Cybertron. Using the transformation-paralyzing virus, Megatron was able to remove the sparks from the Cybertron population of Maximals and Predacons alike.
When the team of Maximals returned to Cybertron, they found their home in disarray, ruled by Megatron, who had seemed this conquest for centuries. Luckily for Cybertron, Optimus Primal was able to finally beat Megatron and triggered a planetary reforming that allowed Cybertron to thrive, as well as the returned populous of Maximinals and their bodies.
1 Space Presence
As centuries had passed since the Great War between Decepticons and Autobots, many had forgotten the perils, sacrifice, and carnage of this war. The Maximals had moved on from their wars, and in peace and prosperity, sought out the stars. Although they were forbidden from traveling to Earth, the Maximals still retained a rather large space presence and explorative desire.
The Maximals explored strange new worlds, like Regalis V, and did so without disturbing the life forms that existed there. It further shows how peaceful the Maximals are, and their carefulness to not disturb other life. Their technology was vast and allowed them to travel through space and time thanks to transwarp travel. They went on many expeditions to colonize and expand the Maximals for safety throughout space.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is scheduled to release in theatres in 2023.