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When it comes to the leader of the good guys in most Transformers works, many will immediately think of Autobot leader Optimus Prime. Because of the character's popularity, he's had many incarnations across various cartoons, anime, video games, comic books and movies. He's not the only leader, however, with the many anime presenting characters who are just as big as heroes.

Generation 1 Optimus Prime is just one version of the character, and he might not even be the best Autobot leader. Likewise, there's also the heroic Maximal faction, which includes and is led by descendants of Optimus Prime's Autobots. When these characters are factored together, it makes the issue of the best leader a much more tough question to answer.

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25 years ago, a now-obscure Transformers anime took the concept of the Beast Wars subseries in a much different direction. Now, social media is showcasing a closer look at an early design for the main Maximal hero in the 1999 series.

Hisashi Yuki, aka Roboyuki, has once again taken to X (formerly Twitter) to display concept art for a forgotten Transformers anime. The artwork in question involves Big Convoy, the Maximal leader in Beast Wars II: Super-Lifeform Transformers. Over two decades later, the design for this character and his corresponding toy remain a fan favorite and a holy grail to fans and collectors.

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Beast Wars: Transformers Reveals Concept Art for the Most Obscure Maximal Leader BWãƒã‚ªé…信スã...

The Transformers franchise has seen several "Titan Class" Autobot and Decepticon action figures that outright dwarf their fellow Cybertronians. Now, a line of third-party toys is adding two more massive villains to its lineup, albeit in a smaller form than most are used to.

Released by third-party toy developer Dr. Wu, two new figures reimagine anime-exclusive Transformers antagonists. Retaining many of the elements of their original toys, these villainous miniatures even turn into small cube-like objects. Retooling and redecoing previous molds from the line, the toys are smaller than expected but still more than meets the eye.

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While the Transformers franchise has several fans, not even the most hardcore aficionados can remember all of the brand's iconic characters. This is even the case for Generation 1, which started the property and is the most well-known incarnation. On the other hand, it also introduced several obscure Cybertronians who aren't quite as remembered today.

Obscure Transformers were seen in several anime, from G1 to the Beast Wars era. Some of these were barely represented in the fiction and only showed up in the form of toys. While a few of them have gone on to be referenced in some way, they're far from being as recognizable as Optimus Prime or Megatron.

Dinoking Was a Dim-Witted Combiner Alternate Mode: N/A

Debuting in Transformers: Victory, Dinoking was the combined form of the Dinoforce. These characters had toys which were repaints of the Decepticon Pretender Monsters, with the addition of armored dinosaur Pretender shells.

Transformers has crossed over with numerous brands throughout the years for official collaborations, with 2024 being the peak of this concept. Now, the robots in disguise are using "energon no jutsu" with the latest mashup, which unites the series' concept with one of the most popular anime and manga properties in the world.

Naruto has been a major franchise for over two decades, with the original manga now turning 25 years old. Likewise, Transformers is commemorating the brand's 40th anniversary, with part of the celebration involving a new two-pack "Transformers Collaborative Naruto Shippuden x Transformers" action figure set by Hasbro. From beast to bots, these ninja Transformers will have fans of both franchises saying "dattebayo!"

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Hasbro's Newest Transformers Figure...

The latest Transformers toy line has featured both iconic and more obscure characters from the franchise's history. Now, an anime-exclusive combiner roars back from the edge of extinction.

Revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 and reported on via TFW2005, the new Transformers Legacy United: Dinobot Dinoking Multipack is a deepcut that will have fans reaching for their wallets. Combining six mighty Decepticon warriors, this underrated team finally gets a chance to shine on international toy aisles. The same is likewise the case for a similar Autobot rival, who's also a part of the Transformers: Legacy line.

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As part of the 40th anniversary celebration for Transformers, several figures are being released within the iconic toyline. This will now include a new version of an anime hero that fans of the Japanese version of Beast Wars will recognize.

Recently revealed as a sketch by Takara Tomy, a new figure for Maximal commander Lio Convoy is on the horizon. Representing the character's appearance in the Beast Wars II: Super Life-Form Transformers anime, the mighty lion seems to be based on a pre-existing toy. Potentially altered to recreate a key feature of the original figure from the 1990s, this anime-exclusive Transformer will roar like never before.

Related Transformers Missing Link Toyline Adds G1 Bumblebee and Cliffjumper The Transformers Missing Link line is expanding with modern updates of the original Generation Bumblebee and Cliffjumper action figures. Takara Tomy Is Releasing a New Lio Convoy/Leo Prime Figure

Revealed as part of...

Magmatron, a relatively obscure character from a Japanese-exclusive Beast Wars anime, is receiving his first new toy in decades. Magmatron is unique as a "Triple Changer," with three different forms, and his design and beast mode set him apart from other Transformers. Despite his limited appearances in Transformers media, Magmatron's design and abilities make him a formidable and cool villain in the franchise.

Across the multiverse of Transformers franchises, there are several robots in disguise that fans will recognize. Many of these characters have shown up in various continuities, while others were mostly contained to a scant few appearances. Such was the case with one Predacon Emperor of Destruction who's about to receive his first new toy in decades.

Magmatron isn't exactly a mainstream character in the franchise, but he was the main villain in a Japanese-exclusive Beast Wars: Transformers anime. He's also particularly unique due to his design and beast mode,...

The following contains spoilers for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, in theaters now.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts maximizes the movie franchisability by bringing in an element from the property's most bestial incarnation. The Maximals from Beast Wars: Transformers fight alongside their Autobot ancestors, even if their own origins are somewhat muddy. In fact, the world they hail from is never named, though it may be tied to a forgotten Transformers anime.

Beast Wars II: Super Life-Form Transformers was one of several anime entries in the franchise, and part of a Japanese-exclusive duology during the Beast Era. It contained its own cast of Maximals and Predacons, both of whom fought for an alien energy source on a mysterious planet. Said planet may actually be the one seen in Rise of the Beasts, giving the Maximals a notable distinction in the movie.

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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be bringing Optimus Primal and the Maximals into the world of live-action alongside their Autobot ancestors. Uniting traditional Generation 1 Autobots with the cast of Beast Wars, it's a movie and story that fans have been desperately waiting for since the film franchise began. As exciting as this is, it's actually not the first time that the Beast Wars have been brought to the big screen.

In the 1990s, Takara handled its own Beast Wars anime to coincide with the Japanese dub of the CGI series. This culminated in the release of a theatrical movie of the first of these shows. Bringing Maximal leader Optimus Primal together with another Maximal commander, this anime film was the first true rise of the beasts in theaters.

Related: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Forgot the Most Important Maximal

The Most Overlooked Beast Wars Series Was Handled By Japan

As mentioned,...