Transmutate
Encyclopedia
Transmutate is the name of a fictional character
from the various Transformers universes
. She is a damaged, but powerful, Maximal protoform
who befriends both the Maximal Silverbolt and his enemy the Predacon Rampage.
Transmutate was pitched to the show creators by the writer, who was under strict orders not to add any new characters. She pitched the character as not being a new character, but an amalgamation of existing characters.
Transmutate was voiced by Susan Blu, the voice director of Beast Wars and the voice actor of Arcee
in the original Transformers series.
A Maximal created from a stasis pod that was so extensively damaged that it created it with permanent neurological and physical impairments, and without a beast mode or any alternate form. Its name is derived from comments made by Rampage, who referred to it as "a" transmutate (as though that were a type of transformer technology). Transmutate was inarticulate in speech or thought, and unable to transform, but deeply emotional and powerful; it was capable of flight and carried inside it a directed/beam energy weapon and a general, wide dispersal "blast" energy weapon which could be used to push objects away from it. Transmutate befriended both the Maximal Silverbolt, who sought to protect it, and the Predacon Rampage
, who knew the pain of being labeled a "freak," and sought to form a sympathetic friendship with it. Megatron
saw Transmutate as having no value as a combatant and initially wanted to destroy it. Rampage convinced Megatron to give it a chance to prove itself, which Megatron did, saying he would spare it if it brought the heads of the Maximals attacking his jamming station. It helped in a successful ambush, but at the last second sided with the Maximals and flew Silverbolt to safety. With Transmutate's immense physical powers but limited mental capacity, Optimus Primal
viewed it as a threat and thought it best if it were temporarily shut down. This caused a moral divide between Optimus Primal and Silverbolt. Silverbolt and Rampage battled over custody of Transmutate. Unable to tolerate watching its friends fight, it sacrificed itself to protect Silverbolt and Rampage from each other, leaving Maximal and Predacon to mourn for its passing. Its episode served as an extremely powerful metaphor for euthanasia
and is arguably one of the most morally provocative stories ever written for Transformers.
It is unknown why the Maximals could not remove its spark and put it in a blank protoform like they had done with Optimus Primal. The Maximal Rhinox only says that its datatracks and higher reasoning circuits are damaged but not its spark. Likely though, it was the fact that there were no blank protoforms to use. Every protoform on the Axalon was in orbit, and each had an accompanying spark. It was only through sheer luck, good or ill—depending on perspective, that there was one, whose spark had died, that they could give to Optimus. Moreover, the original script for the episode describes her spark as unstable and rippling of raw, uncontrolled energies, thus widening the risk of damaging a new host body unnecessarily.
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the various Transformers universes
Transformers universes
is an entertainment franchise. It began with the Hasbro Transformers toy line, centered on two factions of warring alien robots which are called the Autobots and the Decepticons...
. She is a damaged, but powerful, Maximal protoform
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.-"Beast Wars: Transformers" :...
who befriends both the Maximal Silverbolt and his enemy the Predacon Rampage.
Transmutate was pitched to the show creators by the writer, who was under strict orders not to add any new characters. She pitched the character as not being a new character, but an amalgamation of existing characters.
Beast Wars
Transmutate could fly, had enhanced senses and could emit a powerful sonic cry. In the last few seconds of its appearance on the show it was able to create an energy field.Transmutate was voiced by Susan Blu, the voice director of Beast Wars and the voice actor of Arcee
Arcee
Arcee is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. She is a female Autobot, usually pink in color. Being the most famous of the Female Transformers, she has two primary forms...
in the original Transformers series.
Animated series
Transmutate appeared only in the second season episode of the same name, although it was among the stasis pods ejected in the Beast Wars series' pilot.A Maximal created from a stasis pod that was so extensively damaged that it created it with permanent neurological and physical impairments, and without a beast mode or any alternate form. Its name is derived from comments made by Rampage, who referred to it as "a" transmutate (as though that were a type of transformer technology). Transmutate was inarticulate in speech or thought, and unable to transform, but deeply emotional and powerful; it was capable of flight and carried inside it a directed/beam energy weapon and a general, wide dispersal "blast" energy weapon which could be used to push objects away from it. Transmutate befriended both the Maximal Silverbolt, who sought to protect it, and the Predacon Rampage
Rampage (Transformers)
Rampage is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Rampage is a fictional character of the Transformers Predacons, with his alternative form being a mechanical tiger....
, who knew the pain of being labeled a "freak," and sought to form a sympathetic friendship with it. Megatron
Megatron (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)
The Beast Wars and Beast Machines version of Megatron is the main antagonist from the aforementioned parts of the Transformers animated series, toy lines, and multiverse...
saw Transmutate as having no value as a combatant and initially wanted to destroy it. Rampage convinced Megatron to give it a chance to prove itself, which Megatron did, saying he would spare it if it brought the heads of the Maximals attacking his jamming station. It helped in a successful ambush, but at the last second sided with the Maximals and flew Silverbolt to safety. With Transmutate's immense physical powers but limited mental capacity, Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal 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. He is sometimes called Optimal Optimus...
viewed it as a threat and thought it best if it were temporarily shut down. This caused a moral divide between Optimus Primal and Silverbolt. Silverbolt and Rampage battled over custody of Transmutate. Unable to tolerate watching its friends fight, it sacrificed itself to protect Silverbolt and Rampage from each other, leaving Maximal and Predacon to mourn for its passing. Its episode served as an extremely powerful metaphor for euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
and is arguably one of the most morally provocative stories ever written for Transformers.
It is unknown why the Maximals could not remove its spark and put it in a blank protoform like they had done with Optimus Primal. The Maximal Rhinox only says that its datatracks and higher reasoning circuits are damaged but not its spark. Likely though, it was the fact that there were no blank protoforms to use. Every protoform on the Axalon was in orbit, and each had an accompanying spark. It was only through sheer luck, good or ill—depending on perspective, that there was one, whose spark had died, that they could give to Optimus. Moreover, the original script for the episode describes her spark as unstable and rippling of raw, uncontrolled energies, thus widening the risk of damaging a new host body unnecessarily.
IDW Publishing
Transmutate had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW PublishingIDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
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Toys
- Beast Wars Transmutate (2005–06)
- In 2005–06 Hasbro released six 10th anniversary painted Beast Wars figures, each of which contained a piece of Transmutate. They referred to it as "Trans-Mutate". The figures which included pieces of Transmutate were CheetorCheetorCheetor is several fictional characters from various Transformers universes.- Beast Wars :Cheetor's original tech spec indicated he was a seasoned and confident warrior always in search of battle with the Predacons, seemingly in contrast to his youthful and impulsive portrayal in the original show...
, DinobotDinobotDinobot is a fictional character from the Beast Wars Transformers universe.-Beast Wars:Dinobot originally debuts in the series' premiere as a subordinate of Megatron, leader of the villainous Predacons. However, Dinobot challenges Megatron's leadership, and is shortly expelled from his crew. He...
, Rattrap, RhinoxRhinoxRhinox is the name of three fictional characters from various Transformers universes.-Beast Wars:Rhinox's character in the Beast Wars television series is very different from how the toy was depicted. As one of the first year toys, the toy of Rhinox was created before the television series came...
, TarantulasTarantulas (Transformers)Tarantulas is a Predacon in theBeast Wars series who turns into a tarantula. Due to problems in trade-marking the name, later releases of the character were called Predacon Tarantulus by Hasbro.-Beast Wars:...
and WaspinatorWaspinatorWaspinator is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. He is sometimes called Wasp. The original Waspinator was voiced by Scott McNeil in the Beast Wars animated series.-Beast Wars:...
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