Transformers character
Optimus Primal
Affiliation	Maximal, later Autobot
Sub-Group	Basic Beasts, Deluxe Beasts, Super Beasts, Transmetal, Ultra Beasts, Voyagers
Function	Starship Captain Maximal Commander Maximal Leader Autobot Spirit Guide
Motto	“Peace is the absence of conflict and the presence of justice. Maximals are a faction in the Transformers toyline by Hasbro and the accompanying Animated television series Beast The Autobot, a faction of Sentient Robots from the planet Cybertron are the main Protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, ” (Timelines) “Organic life is often hidden, sometimes overcome, but seldom extinguished!” (Deluxe Beast Machines) “The true key to victory lies in the strength of the mind, not the fist. ” (Mega Beast Machines) “We will win if we believe in ourselves and our unity. ” (Robots in Disguise and Universe)
Alternate Modes	Three-wheeled vehicle (Timelines), Silverback Gorilla (Later Transmetal), Jet and Land assault vehicle (As Optimal Optimus), Techno-organic Gorilla
Series	Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise, Universe, Robot Masters
English voice actor	Gary Chalk
Japanese voice actor	Takehito Koyasu (BW/BM) Yuto Kazama (Robot Masters)

Optimus Primal (Convoy, later Beast Convoy to differentiate him from the original Convoy, Blackjack in some European markets) is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline, and the leader of the Maximal forces and the main protagonist in the Beast Wars television series. Beast Wars Transformers ( Beasties on YTV, due to YTV discomfort over the name is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro Beast Machines is an Animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment and distribuited by Universal Pictures that was a direct Transformers Robots in Disguise is the title of the 2001 English- dubbed version of the Japanese television series Transformers Car Robot Transformers Universe is a line of toys consisting of repainted re-releases from various Transformers toy lines Transformers Robot Masters is a Transformers toy-line created by the Japanese toy company Takara to run as an accompaniment to "Transformers Superlink" Gary Chalk (born November 13, 1953) is a British -born Canadian Actor and Voice actor. is a very popular and prolific Seiyū ( Voice actor) Career According to the Anime News Network, as of April 2008 Koyasu is the most prolific Yūto Kazama (風間勇刀 Kazama Yūto, born September 30, 1970) is a Seiyū who was born in Tokyo. This refers to the original character For other uses see Optimus Prime (disambiguation Optimus Prime (known as Convoy in Japan The Transformers is a line of toys produced by the toy companies Takara and Hasbro. Maximals are a faction in the Transformers toyline by Hasbro and the accompanying Animated television series Beast Beast Wars Transformers ( Beasties on YTV, due to YTV discomfort over the name is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro

Beast Wars

Like his ancestor, Optimus Prime, whose name he took in reverence, Optimus Primal was not originally a warrior. This refers to the original character For other uses see Optimus Prime (disambiguation Optimus Prime (known as Convoy in Japan Years earlier, Optimus Prime had been thrust into a civil war by the actions of the Megatron from his own time. Megatron So, too was Optimus Primal, who had been a starship captain on a scientific exploration mission, unexpectedly thrust by another Megatron with dictatorial tendencies into a conflict that would define the fate of the history of the universe.

He shares his namesake's love of honor, life, peace and freedom. His loyalty to his friends is matched only by the respect he gives his enemies, and he is dedicated to working for the betterment of others, so much so that he might even become depressed if he cannot accomplish it. Optimus Primal's most repeated quote is "Well, that's just prime", or simply "Prime".

Although some aspects of Primal's story are not in continuity with the larger bulk of the fiction, they are all related in a very strict, clear chronological order relative to each other.

Transformers: Timelines

The 2006 BotCon tale Timelines: Dawn of Futures Past offered the earliest information available on Primal's life before the Beast Wars. BotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" (or OTFCC is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors His bio claims that he graduated near the top of his class at the Maximal Military Academy and was a prominent commander in The Great War with the Predacons. He believed that striking a balance between being a warrior and a peaceful explorer and scientist is what made the original Optimus Prime so great and is something he tries to live up to. This refers to the original character For other uses see Optimus Prime (disambiguation Optimus Prime (known as Convoy in Japan His Cybertronian mode was an assault speedster.

Taking a scientific exploration mission on board the spaceship Axalon as he believed that it represented the Maximal ideals of peace, Primal was quickly saddled with a more important mission—getting rid of the pod containing the failed Maximal experiment, Protoform X. The Axalon is the name of the Maximal ship in the Beast Wars cartoon and comic books Rampage is the name of two different Fictional characters in the Transformers universes Transformers Generation 1 Rampage was a member of the However, even this important mission would be put on hold when a team of Predacons led by the renegade known as Megatron stole the Maximal relic known as the Golden Disk, as well as the Darkside, a space cruiser equipped with a "transwarp" drive that would allow them to travel anywhere in time or space. Predacons are a faction in the fictional Transformers universe created by Hasbro. The Golden Disk is a fictional artifact from the Transformers universes. In the Beast Wars Television series the Darksyde is the name of the Predacon transwarp ship stolen by Megatron and his Predacon rebels The Axalon, being the closest transwarp-equipped ship, was assigned to pursue the Darkside at all costs, and came under fire as it closed on the villains. Opening a transwarp portal, the Predacons escaped; Primal ordered pursuit, and the Axalon passed through the portal. ^[1]

Beast Wars

Season One

As the Beast Wars animated series began, the Axalon and the Darkside emerged from the transwarp portal above prehistoric Earth. The planet Earth, third from its sun in the Sol System in the Milky Way galaxy as featured in the various Transformers series is similar With both ships badly damaged in the firefight and plummeting towards the planet's surface, Primal ordered that all stasis pods in the Axalon's hold be jettisoned into Earth orbit. Surviving the crash, the Transformers discovered that the planet was saturated with dangerous levels of energon radiation, and adopted organic-skinned "beast modes" to shield themselves from its effects; Primal assumed the form of a silverback gorilla. In the Fictional universe of the Transformers, Energon (pronounced EN-ur-jon like " Energy " is the primary source of power for Transformers Gorillas, the largest of the living Primates are ground-dwelling Herbivores that inhabit the Forests of Africa. One of his first major battles on Earth was a duel with the renegade Predacon Dinobot, whose life Primal then saved—grateful, Dinobot joined the Maximals, and Primal dubbed the ensuing conflict for control of the energon the "Beast Wars". Dinobot is a fictional character from the Beast Wars Transformers universe

Primal's body would be subject to several attacks and alterations during the Beast Wars, the first of which came when an alien probe arrived on the planet at a mysterious standing stone formation. The probe abducted Primal, pulling him within itself and disassembling his body for study, before he was liberated by Rhinox, his body restored. Rhinox is the name of two Fictional characters from various Transformers universes. Later, a virus concocted by the Predacon Scorponok infected Primal's body, with the intent of turning his personality to cowardice, only to backfire and transform him into a raging, uninhibited warrior barely able to suppress his aggression. Scorponok is the name shared by several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Under the influence of the virus, a fighting-mad Primal smashed his way into the Predacon base single-handedly and confronted Megatron for the anti-virus.

The alien influence felt by the Cybertronians would later return in force when another extraterrestrial construct manifested on the planet and took Optimus Primal into itself. Confronted by the aliens behind these bizarre experiments, the Vok, Primal learned that they planned to use an orbital laser weapon—disguised as a second moon—to detonate the planet's energon and wipe their "experiment" clean. The Vok are a race of fictional aliens from the Transformers universe In order to stop them, Primal piloted a reconfigured stasis pod, outfitted with transwarp cells, into the heart of the weapon; although the intent was to abandon the pod before impact, Primal discovered that Megatron, a Predacon, had remotely sealed it shut, and when it detonated, Primal was killed in the explosion.

Season Two

It was not long before Rhinox sprang into action, using the residual transwarp energy to access the Matrix, from which he plucked Primal's spark, installing it within a blank protoform. In the fictional world of the Transformers, protoforms are "basic frames" of a Cybertronian placed in stasis until a suitable form can be found Emerging in a new transmetal body at a moment of great crisis, Primal used his new powers to save the Maximals from a massive Predacon attack with the aid of the Fuzor, Silverbolt. Fuzors was a Transformers subline released in 1997 and 1998 as part of the second wave of Beast Wars figures Silverbolt is the name of several different fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Further conflicts saw Primal captured by the Predacons when Megatron seized control of another alien device, and the revelation of the "dark secret" of the Axalon's voyage—the disposal of the insane Maximal genetics experiment, Protoform X, who was freed and captured by the Predacons and forced to join their ranks as Rampage. Rampage is the name of two different Fictional characters in the Transformers universes Transformers Generation 1 Rampage was a member of the

Primal could not suspect, however, the true agenda Megatron was working towards, or the lengths he would go to see it complete. This deadly mission came to light with the arrival of the Predacon secret agent Ravage, who had tracked the transwarp explosion that had killed Primal back to its source. Ravage is the name of several Fictional characters in the Transformers universes Ravage aided Primal and the Maximals in finally capturing Megatron, but switched sides when he discovered that Megatron was following instructions left by his former commander, the original Megatron. Megatron Ravage liberated Megatron, who headed directly for the ancient Transformer spacecraft, The Ark , which lay buried on Earth, with the intent of killing the legendary Optimus Prime, thereby ensuring Decepticon victory in the war to come. The Ark is an Autobot spacecraft in the fictional Transformers Universe. "Deceptacon" redirects here but is also the name of a song by the group Le Tigre. Primal and his Maximals pursued him, but failed to stop him delivering the deadly blast.

Season Three

With time itself in the balance, Primal sought to forestall Prime's death by taking his spark into his body while his shell was repaired. Transformers Generation 1 Although not officially the soul of a Transformer at this point Marvel comics would occasionally refer to the "spark of life" given to a Transformer With the power of Prime's spark now inhabiting his frame, Primal's body was changed once more, mutated into a new "Optimal" form, half Maximal – half Autobot, with which he fought back the Predacons and saved Prime's life. During that time Primal speaks with a voice more reminiscent of the original Prime, and even quotes Optimus Prime by telling Megatron, "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. " He even used one of Optimus Prime's most famous commands, "Transform and Roll Out!"

Setting up base around the Ark to protect it from further Predacon attacks, the Maximals were soon joined by Depth Charge, an old acquaintance of Primal's, who harbored some degree of hostility for him for his role in the preservation of Protoform X's life. Depth Charge is a character in the Beast Wars: Transformers universe

Even in his new body, Primal was subject to even more bodily invasions. After being infected with delirium-inducing cyber-venom from Tarantulas while battling Megatron's new cloned Cyber-Raptors, Optimus fell victim to the treacherous Predacon again. Tarantulas is a Predacon in the Beast Wars series Due to problems in trade-marking the name later releases of the character were called Predacon This time he had developed a method of controlling his body by remote-piloting it with a suit of armor manipulated by Quickstrike. QuickStrike is the naming of a Collectible card game gaming system developed by Upper Deck Entertainment for use in their games With Optimus under his control in this manner, Megatron was able to duplicate the process that had upgraded his foe, merging his spark with the original Megatron's and assuming a new transmetal dragon form. Megatron Transmetals are a subgroup of Beast Wars in the Fictional Transformers Universe featuring toys with mechanical animal modes and techno-organic This, coupled with the addition of Tigerhawk to the Maximal forces, led Primal to suspect that these events were playing out in accordance with the Cybertronian holy text, the Covenant of Primus. Tigerhawk is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers universes The Covenant of Primus is both an artifact and a group of individuals the Transformers universe Realizing that Megatron sought to use the crashed Decepticon warship, Nemesis, to end the Beast Wars, Primal engaged him in a final confrontation, although per the covenant, he was aware he would not succeed. The Nemesis is a Decepticon spaceship in the fictional Transformers Generation One universe Salvation came in the form of Megatron's Transmetal II clone of the original Dinobot, who turned on his commander, allowing Rhinox to crash an Autobot shuttle into the Nemesis, blowing it out of the sky.

With all the other Predacons dealt with, and Megatron finally their captive, the Maximals clamped him to the hull of the Autobot shuttle, and, with the Beast Wars concluded, headed back to Cybertron.

Beast Wars II Movie

In the interim between the first and second seasons of the Beast Wars animated series, the Beast Wars II anime was produced in Japan to fill the gap, and produced a feature film entitled "Lio Convoy is in Imminent Danger!" In this film, the Predacons of the series discover a mysterious transwarp device that allows them to summon the monstrous Majin Zarak from Cybertron's past to aid them. Majin Zarak is the name of a fictional character in the Beast Wars Transformers universe Beast Wars II Majin Zarak (' Majin In response to this, the Maximals use the device to pluck Optimus Primal, referred to as "Convoy" in the Japanese continuity, from prehistoric Earth at a point prior to his becoming a transmetal to join with their leader, Lio Convoy to battle the demonic Transformer. Leo Prime is the name of a Fictional character in various the Transformers universes. Combining the power of their Matrixes and transforming into "Flash Lio Convoy" and "Burning Convoy", they struck Maijin Zarak's weak spot and destroyed him, with Primal then returning to Earth. The Matrix of Leadership or Creation Matrix in the fictional Transformers universes is the Autobot talisman of legend passed down from

The Beast Wars II movie is an example of a story that is not in continuity with the English fiction, as it displays Primal in possession of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, which he most certainly does not have in western stories.

Robot Masters

The short-lived 2004 Transformers: Robot Masters toyline from Japan once again revisited the concept of Transformers coming together from different periods of time. Transformers Robot Masters is a Transformers toy-line created by the Japanese toy company Takara to run as an accompaniment to "Transformers Superlink" Pursuing Megatron into the mysterious "Blastizone," pre-transmetal Optimus Primal arrived on Earth in the early 21st Century, where he joined forces with the original Optimus Prime (as both characters were named "Convoy" in Japan, Primal received the modifier of Beast Convoy to differentiate himself from this predecessor). Uniting their powers, Primal and Prime could create the "Double Convoy Tornado," later bolstered by the addition of Lio Convoy's power, creating the "Triple Convoy Tornado Link Attack. "

Optimus Primal was oddly depicted as standing as large as Optimus Prime in this series, and had the ability to use his weapons in beast mode, completely unlike how he was depicted in the Beast Wars television series.

Devil's Due Publishing

Pre-transmetal Primal received an unusual name check in Devil's Due's comic book series, G. I. Joe vs. Transformers: The Art of War, when the android intelligence Serpent O.R. scanned Soundwave's databanks for information on Cybertron's history. Serpentor is a fictional character from GI Joe A Real American Hero, a line of Military -themed toys created by Hasbro. Soundwave is the name of several Fictional characters from the ''Transformers'' universes. Included among the recordings was a reference to and image of Optimus Primal, but this seems to be chronologically anomalous, as Primal would not yet exist on Cybertron. A recent interview with writer Tim Seeley indicated that the use of Teletran-1 by the Maximals and Predacons during the Beast Wars imprinted itself on the computer, allowing the information to be passed down to other Transformers. Tim Seeley is the Staff Artist for Devil's Due Publishing in Chicago IL [1]

Beast Machines

On the Maximals return trip to Cybertron after the end of the Beast Wars, Megatron was able to break free and exited the timestream, returning to Cybertron before the Maximals. When the Maximals arrived on the planet at their intended destination time, they found a world that Megatron had conquered using a transformation-freezing virus and an army of Vehicon drones. Vehicons are a faction in the fictional Transformers, appearing in the animated cartoon series Beast Machines. Exposed to the virus, Primal, Rattrap, Cheetor and Blackarachnia were reverted back to their original beast modes and left almost amnesiac (they couldn't remember what had happened since they arrived on Cybertron), fleeing from the Vehicons. Primal was contacted by the ancient Cybertronian computer known as the Oracle and led the Maximals beneath Cybertron's surface, where the Oracle used its powers to reformat them into new technorganic bodies immune to the virus. In the Fictional universe of the first Transformers animated series Vector Sigma is the "mega-computer" that gives sentience ("Sparks" Primal's new form was that of a technorganic gorilla, but he soon discovered that transformation was no longer simply a matter of command codes and on board computers - now, he and the Maximals had to find their “spiritual” centers and focus upon their transformations, growing as both machines and animals. Using the power of the Oracle, Primal could technorganically reformat other Maximals that required it, such as Nightscream. Nightscream is the name of several Fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.

Led by Megatron to believe that he had lost the Beast Wars and caused the current state of Cybertron - all of its inhabitants' sparks removed and held captive by Megatron - Primal's fixation on correcting his mistake lead to a mindset comparable to zealotry. His connection to the Oracle and the visions it gave him caused him to believe that the computer wanted Cybertron to become a wholly organic world, and he would rarely entertain suggestions from his troops. The revelation that Megatron's Vehicon general Tankor contained the spark of Rhinox hit Primal hard, even more so when Rhinox revealed that he had adopted Megatron's techno-centric viewpoint. Tankor is the name of several Fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. Using the Oracle to feed Primal a false vision, Rhinox tricked Primal and Megatron into unleashing the powers of the Plasma Energy Chamber and the Key to Vector Sigma respectively, almost destroying the planet. In the Fictional universe of the first Transformers animated series Vector Sigma is the "mega-computer" that gives sentience ("Sparks" Primal saved Cybertron by taking the energies into his body, which was destroyed, and was then reborn by the Oracle with a new understanding - the Oracle did not desire a completely organic Cybertron, but a balance between the organic and technological.

With the Oracle now downloaded into his own mind, Primal redoubled his efforts to achieving the perfect technorganic Cybertron. Megatron, however, was able to deceive him and acquire a portion of the Oracle data by posing as a holographic recording of Optimus Prime - but Primal was able to use this mind-link to his advantage, by stealing from Megatron's mind the knowledge of where the captive Transformer sparks were concealed.

Attacking Megatron's "Grand Mal" spacecraft body to liberate the sparks within, the Maximals ousted his spark and seized control of the craft. A retaliatory attack by the Vehicons crashed the ship, and the Maximals subsequently fell one by one until only Primal was left to face off with Megatron, who had installed his spark in a copy of Primal's old "Optimal" body. The two enemies fought in a battle that raged across Cybertron until Megatron finally captured Primal and prepared to absorb all of the sparks into his own, and use the Key to Vector Sigma to convert Cybertron into the perfect techno-sphere. Primal struck back, however, using the strength of the sparks to force both himself and Megatron tumbling through the portal the villain had opened to the planet's core, where, using the power of the Oracle that existed within both of them, Primal sacrificed himself and Megatron to reformat Cybertron into a technorganic paradise.

3H Enterprises

With this heroic act, Primal earned his place in the Allspark, but even this would not be the end of his ongoing battles. When a spirit guide was required for the Optimus Prime of another dimension, Primal's spark was chosen for the task. As the Transformers franchise has grown more continuities separate from the original series and its subsidiaries have come into existence each featuring Optimus Primes of their own Then, when the dark god Unicron began his plan to pit Autobots and Decepticons from across the multiverse in conflict to initiate his resurrection, Vector Sigma and Alpha Trion chose Optimus Primal to lead the "Children of Primus" against this threat. Unicron is a Fictional character from the ''Transformers'' universe and toyline. Alpha Trion is a Fictional character in the Transformers animated series Primal's spark was pulled from the Allspark and installed within a new body - an upsized version of his original beast form.

Optimus Primal found himself teamed up with War Within Grimlock and Armada Megatron in rescuing captive Cybertronians from Unicron.

His pleas to the Maximal High Council that the threat of Unicron be taken serious fell on deaf ears. Freed by Snarl, Primal was charged by Alpha Trion and Primus with selected warriors to fight with him; Primal selected Rhinox, happy to gain a chance at redemption, and Depth Charge, who did not take so kindly to be returned to life. Snarl is the name of several different fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Primus is the "benevolent" godlike entity in the fictional Transformers comic universe who fought against the Chaos-Bringer Unicron. The inextricable link that had been forged between them in the reformatting of Cybertron, however, meant that when Primal returned to life, so too did Megatron . . .

Fun Publications

Leading the Children of Primus in many battles against the Minions of Unicron, Primal discovered that the radiation from Unicron himself was slowly killing him. To survive, Primal was reformatted into yet another new body, immune to the effects of Unicron and carrying the Matrix of Purification, which can purge other Transformers of Unicron's influence.

In this new form, Primal was later seen leading the Children of Primus in yet another assault on Unicron in the pages Balancing Act. Suddenly, caused by the collapse of Unicron in the parallel universe of the "Unicron Trilogy" and the formation there of a black hole containing his essence, Unicron began to crumble beneath Primal's feet. The Unicron Trilogy is a series of Television programs Comic books and toy franchises in the Transformers maxi-series Primal and the Children of Primus were able to teleport safely back to Cybertron, although his team-mate Omega Prime was shunted into the Unicron Trilogy Universe to aid in the battles there. Omega Prime is a Fictional Character from the Transformers toyline

Toys

Bat Optimus Primal

• Beast Wars Basic Optimus Primal vs. Megatron (1996)

The very first Optimus Primal toy was a bat, packaged alongside an alligator version of Megatron. The pack-in comic book, however, indicated that this Primal and Megatron were in fact new incarnations of the original Optimus Prime and Megatron - before the Beast Wars animated series began and established its fiction. The figure was later redecorated in traditional Prime red-and-blue colours for a Japanese-exclusive release as "Convobat. "

It was later repainted yet again, this time black and gray and named Onyx Primal, a former Predacon assassin turned Maximal. Onyx Primal is the name of a fictional character in the Beast Wars Transformers universe. Because of the original model’s obscurity (and because Optimus did not appear as a bat in the TV Series) this model is occasionally referred to as the more well-known repaint: Onyx Primal. Onyx Primal is the name of a fictional character in the Beast Wars Transformers universe.

Although not seen in the animated series in this form, the early commercials for Beast Wars featured computer generated fight scenes between this Optimus Primal and the alligator version of Megatron.

In a Toys R Us Christmas magazine they called this Optimus Primal: Optimal Primus.

• Ultra Optimus Primal (1996)

Primal's original gorilla body, loaded with hidden weapons and special gimmicks. The toy features a set of spring-loaded cannons which flip up over its shoulders and fire rockets, spares of which can be stored in compartments behind the head, or loaded into the second double-barreled launcher, which flips out of the left forearm. The other forearms contains a compartment with a flail weapon, and features other melee weapons in the form of two curved swords, which store in its back. The flail is a medieval weapon made of one (or more weights attached to a handle with a hinge or chain. There is a switch on the figures back which activates the movement of his arms - depending on the position of a sliding switches on either arm, Primal can either beat his chest gorilla-style, or spin his forearms for combat with his weaponry. The figure was the largest individual Maximal toy released in the pre-transmetal era. Because the animators made changes to the model, it was not totally accurate to the animated series - in addition to a "battle mask" and the lack of his mouth-slit (leaving him with a face looking much more like the original Optimus Prime), the toy was much larger compared to the other Beast Wars figures than Primal was in the show. This toy was sold under the name Optimus Primal Black Jack in Europe. ^[2]

A transparent "Clear Convoy" redeco of this figure was released in Japan in 1997, and a flaming red-and-orange redeco was released as part of Beast Wars II in 1998 to represent his "Burning Convoy" form from the animated film.

• Micro Optimus Primal (1997)

A small, non-transforming Optimus Primal toy that came with the Orcanoch Micro playset. This toy looked like a tiny version of Ultra Optimus Primal in robot mode.

Transmetal Optimus Primal

• Transmetal Optimus Primal (1997)

Primal's new transmetal form, released in the "Mega" size class, reducing him in height from his earlier "Ultra" size, bringing him closer in scale to his fellow Maximals as seen in the animated series. Transmetal Primal wields two maces, which can fire from his hand-held missile launcher or store on his backpack. The animated series also featured an alternate transformation for the backpack, where the maces became cannons; it is possible to configure the toy into this form. The toy still transforms into a gorilla, and features a "transport mode" in the form of a hover-board that deploys from Primal's legs. This toy was sold as Optimus Primal Metal Gorilla in Europe.

Transmetal Primal was later redecoed into the BotCon 1998 exclusive toy, Apelinq.

• Optimal Optimus (1998)

The only "Super" size-class Beast Wars figure, Optimal Optimus can transform from robot to transmetal gorilla, with the addition of land-vehicle and aircraft configurations. He features blast shields that can mount on his shoulders, or lock into his forearms, from which they can be "blasted" off with spring-loaded action, and is armed with a twin missile-launcher that lights up with the trigger mechanism is pulled back. This toy is often mistakenly believed to be part of the "Transmetal II" line, but the box states it is a "Transmetal".

Optimal Optimus was later remolded and re-colored into Primal Prime, a character created from the battlesuit briefly used by the Predacons to control Primal's body. Primal Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers toy and story lines For this version of the toy, the electronic lights were reworked to be activated by the press of a button, rather than a pull of the launcher.

• Beast Machines Optimus Primal (1999)

Due to the rush involved in the production of the Beast Machines animated series, the design used for Optimus Primal's animated avatar was based on an earlier concept for the toy, which underwent extensive revision further down the line. Consequently, this deluxe-sized Primal figure bears little resemblance to his animated counterpart, save in the design of the head. It becomes a gorilla through an unorthodox method of transformation and is armed with an energy-shuriken, which can store in Primal's hip, or be launched from the hand of his spring-loaded arm. Shuriken (手裏剣 lit "sword hidden in the hand" is a traditional Japanese Concealed weapon that were generally used by shinobi no mono (or ninja as

This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley. Hasbro ( is an American Toy company It is one of the largest toy makers in the world second only to the toy giant Mattel. Tim Bradley may refer to Tim Bradley (toy designer Timothy Bradley, a boxer ^[3]

• McDonalds Optimus Primal (2000)

Given away with Happy Meals in 2000 was a small, simple, and only slightly more show accurate Optimus Primal toy. " Happy Meal " is a Meal specially tailored for Children sold at the fast-food chain McDonald's since June 1979

• Blast Punch Optimus Primal (2001)

Despite the new qualifier added to his name, this toy of Optimus Primal continues to represent his one-and-only Beast Machines body, and is sculpted to much better resemble his animated self, although the coloration skews towards an abundance of orange. By cranking his forearm cover to charge the mechanism and pressing his spark crystal to release it, Primal's fist shoots forward in a "blast punch" action, also launching a spring-loaded missile. When Beast Machines was released in Japan as Beast Wars Returns in 2004, this was the figure they chose to release as the one and only Optimus Primal toy.

• Air Attack Optimus Primal (2002)

Originally intended for release during the Transtech toyline, this figure was aborted, then revived for the Transformers: Robots in Disguise line, which had proven popular beyond anticipation and required bolstering. Transformers Robots in Disguise is the title of the 2001 English- dubbed version of the Japanese television series Transformers Car Robot Primal was added to the line with the "spiritual guide" fiction mentioned above included in his packaging bio to justify his presence. A practically perfect representation of his animated incarnation, the toy is brimming with electronics-related gimmicks - a press of his chest activates the electronics, then, pressing either his beast or robot head causes the toy to speak phrases lifted directly from the TV series, with Gary Chalk's voice. The figure can launch a disc from his stomach with an electronic blast, and has spring-loaded punching arm accompanied by a grunt. The primary feature of the toy, however, is his jets - by pressing a button on his back, the jets deploy with a constant electronic "flying" sound effect that alters in response to the way the toy is held, as if he were ascending or descending in flight. However, despite being the most "show-accurate" version of BM Primal, the figure is not particularly compatible with other toys of the Beast Machines line as the very large figure is grossly out of scale with his fellow Maximals.

Universe Optimus Primal

• Transformers: Universe (2003)

A brown, green, burgundy and yellow recolor of Primal's original Beast Wars toy, representing his new body after his rebirth in the Transformers: Universe comics. Transformers Universe is a line of toys consisting of repainted re-releases from various Transformers toy lines Although the same size as the Beast Wars coloration of this mold, he was depicted as much larger in the comics, standing eye-to-eye with Depth Charge and Razorclaw, and slightly shorter than Alpha Trion (who may have been upgraded as a Maximal and therefore smaller than his original form, which stood as tall as Optimus Prime). Unlike all previous versions of Optimus Primal, this was sold as an Autobot, not a Maximal.

Robot Masters Beast Convoy toy.

• Robot Masters (2004)

A newly-designed toy based on Primal's original gorilla body, this "Beast Convoy" figure features over-the-shoulder rocket launchers, two wrist cannons, and a pair of swords. It was later recolored into the "Burning Beast Convoy" color scheme, and again into a black color scheme, as "Black Beast Convoy," representing a virus-infected body, exclusive to Hobby Japan. HobbyJAPAN CO is a Japanese Hobby Magazine and Publishing company, specializing in Roleplaying, war, and Tabletop

• Deluxe 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal (2006)

Representing Primal's new body after he is upgraded to rid himself of Unicron's taint, this toy was released as part of a series of figures commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Beast Wars line. Although the other figures in the series were simple recolorings of earlier figures designed to be more accurate to the cartoon, Primal and Megatron received entirely new sculpts with Jungle Planet Cyber Key gimmicks. Jungle Planet (Also called the Beast Planet on occasion is a fictional planet home to beastial Transformers in the animated television program A Cyber Planet Key ( Planet Force in Galaxy Force) is one of four mystical items that form the crux of Transformers Cybertron 's Primal, specifically, comes with a hoverboard that transforms into a cannon when the key is inserted, and also comes with a small model of the Axalon. In the comics this toy is depicted as being as large as Universe Optimus Primal, despite only being a Deluxe sized figure. ^[4]

This figure was quickly recolored in brown and cream and released in the Transformers: Cybertron toyline itself, presented as a new, Jungle Planet body for that universe's Optimus Prime. Transformers Cybertron, known in Japan originally as, is the 2005-2006 Transformers toy line and animated series another co-production between Hasbro The " Unicron Trilogy " version of Optimus Prime (based on the character of the same name) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of this branch Oddly, this repaint was in the colors of Universe Optimus Primal.

This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley. Hasbro ( is an American Toy company It is one of the largest toy makers in the world second only to the toy giant Mattel. Tim Bradley may refer to Tim Bradley (toy designer Timothy Bradley, a boxer ^[5]

• Ultra 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal (2006)

Japan's take on the tenth anniversary of the Beast Wars franchise saw them remold and recolor the original Primal and Megatron toys in a two pack with more show-accurate appearances after demands from the fans. Primal received a new head mold removing his "mutant face" and adding his mouth slit, and several other modifications to his paint applications. This version was released with a similar version of Megatron in a two-pack as a Toys R Us exclusive. Note that the two-pack version of Optimus is not the same as the one sold alone. The two-pack version is a slightly repainted version of the original Ultra Optimus Primal released in 1996. The same applies to Megatron in the two-pack.

• Titanium Optimus Primal (2006)

A three-inch non-transforming die-cast representation of Primal's original gorilla body in robot mode, including a translucent Autobot-symbol display stand.

• Titanium Optimal Optimus (2006)

A six-inch die-cast version of Optimal Optimus, this Triple Changer is able to transform from robot mode to land vehicle mode and jet mode, but strangely lacking in his transmetal gorilla mode. Triple Changers ( Tripletrons in Japan are Transformers that can transform from robot into two different alternate modes Some fans have likened this toy to Optimal Megatron, the form Megatron took in the Beast Machines finale, which was Optimal Optimus without the gorilla mode and with Megatron’s face.

• Transformers: Timelines (2006)

An exclusive toy available only at BotCon 2006, this incarnation of Primal is a retool of the Transformers: Cybertron Crumplezone figure, representing Primal in his original Cybertronian body before acquiring his gorilla mode. BotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" (or OTFCC is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors Transformers Cybertron, known in Japan originally as, is the 2005-2006 Transformers toy line and animated series another co-production between Hasbro Crumplezone is the name of two fictional characters in various Transformers universes. The figure transforms into a three-wheeled racing car, and, with the insertion of his "Golden Disk holder" key (a redecoed Cyber Key) into its port, its deploys two massive missile-firing cannons over his shoulders. This contradicts Transformers: The Ultimate Guide by Simon Furman, which notes that his original alternate was that of a Cybertronian Monster Truck. Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a Comic book writer particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Because of this reference, many fans expected the Timelines Optimus Primal to be a remold of Cybertron Dirt Boss. Dirt Boss is the name of two Fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.

Chinese made unofficial Beast Machines Optimus Primal toy and the official Hasbro version. Note how the unofficial one looks closer to the television character.

• Transformers 3D Battle-Card Game Optimus Primal (2007)

Produced by Wizards of the Coast, wave 2 of their Transformers 3D Battle-Card Game included an Optimus Primal card. Wizards of the Coast (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of Games primarily based on Fantasy and

• Knockoff Optimus Primals

A Non-Takara/Hasbro Chinese-made toy was sold under a variety of bootleg and knockoff toy lines like "Beast Tech Robot Fighters" and "Animism Defenders" line which is actually more accurate to the cartoon version than the Deluxe or Blast Punch versions are. It stands about the same size as the original Beast Wars gorilla Oprimus Primal and came with black versions of that toy's swords.

A variety of other knockoff Optimus Primal toys have appeared over the years, including a scaled down version of his original gorilla form with white robot features (similar to Ultra Magnus), an enlarged version of his bat form in rainbow colors and a variety of smaller, cheaper versions of Optimal Optimus in a variety of colors. Ultra Magnus is the name of several Fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.

References