Beast Wars II: Super Life-Form Transformers

Beast Wars II (aka Beast Wars Second or Beast Wars the Second) is the 1998 Japanese Transformers television animated series, movie and toyline. It was created because of the time taken to dub and air new seasons of Beast Wars in Japan. While its position in Transformers continuity has previously been unknown, the IDW comic book miniseries Beast Wars: The Gathering and comments from Transformers writer Simon Furman have shown it is part of the Beast Wars continuity. The series was followed by Beast Wars Neo.

Plot

The series has a much lighter tone and is aimed more towards children, than the more accessible Beast Wars which was enjoyed by a much wider age range. The series also uses conventional animation rather than CGI.

Characters

Maximals

A young crew of the Star Voyager, the Maximals find themselves on a strange planet with mysterious and awesome energy known as Angolmois. They must defend this new Gaia from the forces of Galvatron and his Predacons – or be destroyed in the wake of their ambition!

• Lio Convoy
• Scuba
• Tasmania Kid
• Diver
• Bighorn
• Apache
• Lio Junior: Leader of the Magnaboss squad.
• Skywarp
• Santon

Insecticons

Formerly mercenaries, the Insectrons ended up on the Antarctica region of Gaia where they live peacefully. Starscream tricked them into fighting the Maximals until the ruse was ruined by Galvatron's fits. They later allied themselves with the Maximals. They had encountered their sworn rivals the AutoRollers. The toys for the Insectrons are recolors of several Beast Wars Predacons with insect forms and are meant to be different characters altogether.

• Bigmos (same mold as Transquito in US): The team leader. He was saved by Autostinger in his mercenary days. Beast mode is a mosquito, with a 'antion' mode.

• Powerhug (same mold as Retrax in US): Judo master who sets store by etiquette. Beast mode is a pillbug.

• Tonbot (same mold as Jetstorm in US): A affectioned scout, the fastest flyer in his group. Beast mode is a dragonfly.

• Mantis (Transformers) (same mold as Manterror in US): A lone samurai who doesn't hesitate to attack anybody who gets in his space. Beast mode is a preying mantis.

• Drillnuts (same mold as Drillbit in US): The team inventor, his beast mode is a wevil.

• Scissorboy (same mold as Powerpinch in US): The shatty and shrewd safecracker who becomes good friends with Tasmania Kid. Beast mode is an earwig.

Jointron Brothers

A trio of brothers from Planet Trias, able to Combine to form Tlipledacus. The Jointron Brothers are hispanic in personality then to dress up as a Mexican mariachi band.

• DJ
• Motorarm
• Gimlet

Predacons

The legacy of the ancient Decepticon empire, the Predacons seek to reclaim Seibertron and the universe. But, to do it, they need to claim the powerful and mysterious Angolmois energon on Gaia. They have only to overcome Lio Convoy and his motley crew of Maximal youths to begin their conquest of the galaxy!

Despite many of the Predacons having a vehicle alternate mode instead of a beast mode, they were still considered Predacons, as the faction name does not imply a beast mode. Also, there should be noted that, though several Predacons (besides Megastorm and BB) have classic Decepticon names, they are not the same characters.

• Galvatron

An evil emperor who plots to rule the universe, Galvatron is ambitious, yet shows unexpected affection for his underlings. He is often put to sleep by the Cybertrons' activities or Megastorm's schemes, but when he wakes, he is the mightiest being of all. Of his three forms, his dragon mode's power far surpasses that of Lioconvoy. He has a habit of talking in his sleep.

• Megastorm

Transforms into a tank, in which form his attacks have the highest class of destructive force of any in the story. However, the trouble is he takes too long before he fires. His brother Galvatron is more idealistic and fastidious...while Megastorm has that much more of a realistic atmosphere than his elder sibling about him. Having learned of the "Lord of Angolmois," the fearsome secret of the planet that is the stage for their battles, his brother has become cautious, which has led Megastorm to be disloyal and mistrustful at times.

• Starscream

Small of body but great of pride, Starscream is the hulking BB's superior officer. A robot of unparalleled ambition, more even than Galvatron, he dreams of becoming leader himself. His special abilities are the Formation Scream and his two Screamwinder missiles. He enjoys Wagner, and has even psyched himself up the composer's pieces when starting an attack.

• BB

Though large of form, however much matters are betrayed by Starscream's orders, he responds only with the single word "Roger" and carries out his duties faithfully. There may be some fateful trauma between the two. A rarity among the Destrons, he is a reliable soldier who has restrained his eccentric side. He can launch in rapid fire the Screamwinder missiles, which he shares with Starscream, from his BB Launcher.

• Dirge

A sonic soldier who glides freely through the skies. In character, he is very much the sharp straight man of a comedy duo, spouting forth veritable storms of malicious insults. He can store his weapon (Dirge Gun) in his legs, or change it to a long-barreled form and increase its power. Surprisingly, Dirge is a gourmet, the type who fusses over the quality and cooking methods for energy.

• Thrust

Despite having the personality of a comedy duo's goofy gag man, Thrust is actually the shrewdest of the Destrons. He and his buddy Dirge form a well-known combo. Like Dirge, he can store his weapon in his legs or increase its power by converting it to long-barreled form. Thrust hates sea breezes, as they rust him, and so hates Scuba as well.

Autorollers

• Autostinger

A warrior who once made his name resound throughout all of space as a mercenary, he had fought against and been beaten by the Destrons, but was saved by Galvatron before he was to be executed. Since then, he has placed all his loyalty towards serving directly under Galvatron as captain of his bodyguards. The twin homing missiles on his right arm tenaciously chase down his quarry, while the pincers on his left arm can be used as a stun gun.

• Autocrasher

A tough sergeant with a body strengthened by bulky armor, he is forever browbeating the younger Destron members. The shovel on his chest is particularly sturdy, able to deflect all manner of attacks. His motto is, "A soldier doesn't have to think about why he fights. He just needs to win." The buzz-saw on his left arm can fell forest after forest of insect nests, while the missiles on his right arm are homing types, like Autostinger's left arm can be used as a stun gun.

• Autojetter

An aerial guard, Autojetter preserves air supremacy at Galvatron's side when the latter flies in dragon mode. His personality is somewhat problematic, as he has a habit of enjoying war for his own pleasure. In machine mode, he's crashed after getting dragonflies get sucked into his intakes, and since then has had a serious hatred of insects. The triple rockets on his arms are outstandingly powerful, and can be used on both land and sea.

• Autolaunher

An expert with a spear-gun. Quite the glory hog for a bodyguard, he will neglect Galvatron's safety to be the first into the enemy camp, which has gotten him chewed out by his captain, Autostinger. The disc launcher in his chest also has a timer function, launching discs deep into enemy bases and then exploding them. He is a rival with his fellow "discmaster" Mantis.

Seacon Space Pirates

• Halfshell

Leader of the space pirates known as the Seacons, Halfshell is very highly calculating. He transforms into a mecha sea-turtle. Sees everything in terms of money, but unexpectedly tenderhearted. Big-hearted guy. Merciless against foe, gentle for friends. Armed with Shell Cannon in mecha-beast-mode and Dai Sharin Cutter in robot mode.

• Scylle

Scylle may be the Seacons' only female fighter, but you underestimate her at your peril. She's fond of display, proud woman. She fell love with Scuba at first sight. Name is pronounced "S-Kyu-Leh". Transforms to mecha-squid and is armed with Skelaser in mechabeast- mode. Uses Shi no Nage Kiss in mecha-beast mode.

• Coelagon

An 80,000 years old, knowledgeable coelacanth transformer. However, his 'knowledge' of treasures is frequently false. He knows the existence of Angolmois Energy so that he guides Seacons to Gaia. He transforms into a mecha-coelacanth and is armed with the Siira Fubuki in mecha-beast mode.

• Seaphantom

A shark transformer. Like a bullet, he's a very warlike guy. He likes to make a surprise attacks with hissimple-teleport ability. A great eater that bites everything with his fangs. Transforms into a mechashark. Weapons include Phantom Jaws in mecha-beast mode and Phantom Fin, also in mecha-beast mode.

• Terrormander

A manta transformer, Terrormandar is the youngest of the Seacons. He's a lazy boy, though once he fights, his destructive power is incredible. Transforms to a mecha-manta. Armed with MandarRock in mechabeast mode and MandarBreak in mecha-beast mode.

• God Neptune

The combined form of Halfshell, Scylle, Coelagon, Terrormandar and Seaphantom, achieved when they call out "Five-bot Fusion!" Brandishing his gigantic "Neptune Sword", God Neptune smashes all who defy him. The four members besides Halfshell form the limbs, but it's a lot tougher on those who become the legs, which sometimes leads to arguments, so the combination doesn't go very well. In combined form, he is a match even for Galvatron, and is an especially invincible force in the ocean.

Episodes

• "The New Forces Arrive!"
• "Run, White Lion, run!"
• "Bighorn's Rage"
• "The Lake Trap"
• "Galvatron Revived"
• "Mystery of the Ancient Ruins"
• "The Insectrons Arrive"
• "Friend or Foe? Insect robo"
• "The Strongest Tag Team?"
• "Galvatron Runs Wild"
• "Danger! Scissor Boy."
• "Autorollers, roll out!"
• "Destron general offense!"
• "Combined giant Tripledacus"
• "The Cheerful Jointrons"
• "A terrible combination plan?"
• "Who is the leader?"
• "Black Lioconvoy"
• "Space pirate Seacons!"
• "Who is the strongest warrior?"
• "Scuba is saved"
• "Megastorm's reckoning"
• "Showdown in the Sea"
• "To Face the Setting Sun"
• "The Last Battle"
• "Enter, Liojunior!"
• "Megastorm reborn"
• "New weapon: the Tako Tank"
• "Dark Planet Nemesis"
• "Gigastorm's Treachery"
• "The End of Starscream"
• "Lioconvoy Assassination Plan"
• "The Great Angolmois Freezing Operation"
• "Knock out Nemesis!"
• "Liojunior's revolt?"
• "Emissary of the Fourth Planet"
• "Crisis of Planet Gaea"
• "Fly out! Planet Gaea"
• "Assemble, 39th Warrior"
• "Revenge of the Space Pirates"
• "Breaking into Nemesis"
• "Legend! The Green Warrior"
• "Farewell!, Lioconvoy"

Toyline

The series was primarily repaints of non-show Beast Wars figures and repaints of G2 figures (including two unreleased AutoRoller figures and the black Dreadwing/Smokecreen repaint, planned for the cancelled 1996 assortment of figures)

It did feature new molds for LioConvoy and Galvatron, as well as the TakuTank. G1 Trypticon, and Beast Wars Dinobot, Cybershark, Wolfgang, and Waspinator were remolded as "upgraded" versions of Megastorm, Starscream, BB, Dirge and Thrust. The remolded Cybershark saw release as Overbite in the US as a Target exclusive