maximal

Maximals are a faction in the Transformers toyline by Hasbro and the accompanying animated television series Beast Wars. They respect all life and follow a path of peace before war. They follow the tenets of the Pax Cybertronia. The Maximals are opposed by the Predacons. The Maximals are descendants of the Autobots.

The Maximals and Predacons are much smaller than their Autobot and Decepticon ancestors, standing at roughly human size, rather than twenty or more feet tall. The storyline reason for the change in size was that their smaller forms were more energy-efficient.

Beast Wars/Beast Machines Maximals

Maximals were first introduced as the crew of the starship, Axalon (led by Optimus Primal), pursued the Predacons (led by Megatron) to prehistoric planet Earth. To survive the unrefined and unstable energon-radiation, the Maximals scanned some of the planet's indigenous animals to gather the information needed to create protective, alternative beast modes. Upon returning to Cybertron at the end of the Beast Wars, the Maximal survivors of the war gained new technorganic forms to combat the debilitating effects of Megatron's anti-transformation virus.

Other Beast Wars/Beast Machines Maximals

Many Maximals were not included in the Canadian TV series; some of them did appear alongside other Maximals in the Japanese series Beast Wars Second and Beast Wars Neo. The survivors of the Beast Wars in the Canadian series went on to be showcased in Beast Machines.

Beast Wars Second Maximals

These Maximals were referred to as Cybertrons (the same title used for "Autobots" within Japan) in the Japanese series. Led by Lio Convoy, the Cybertrons pursued the Destrons (led by Galvatron) to Planet Gaia, resulting in their ship crash-landing on the planet's surface. To survive the planet's corrosive atmosphere, the Cybertrons scanned some of the planet's indigenous animals to gather the information needed to create protective, alternative beast modes. Most toys from this line are recolors and/or remolds in Japan, with few exclusives.

Beast Wars Neo Maximals

These Maximals were referred to as Cybertrons in the Japanese series. Big Convoy is assigned as mentor to a team of cadets as they travel the universe to gather all the Anglomois Capsules before the Destrongers led by Magmatron do. Most toys from this line are exclusive to Japan, with a few recolors and/or remolds.

Transformers Animated

Waspinator and Blackarachnia arrive on a strange prehistoric world. Waspinator, blown to pieces, crawls away, but Blackarachnia finds herself face-to-face with animals resembling the alt-modes of Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Cheetor, and Rhinox.

See also

• List of Maximals