History Trivia / BeastWars

* HeAlsoDid: Yoshikazu Iwanami is a rather polarizing figure in both the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise and in the Anime industry in general. This is largely due to his reputation for turning productions into {{Gag Dubs}}, which not only includes later entries like ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', but his dub work for ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' and films such as ''Film/ThePerfectStorm'', ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. He is also well known (and derided) as sound effects designer for plenty of notable anime titles including ''Anime/Berserk2016'', ''Anime/KillLaKill'', most of Creator/PolygonPictures' library and the entire anime runs of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer''; along with both ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' and ''Anime/TransformersEnergon''.

* HeAlsoDid: Yoshikazu Iwanami is a rather polarizing figure in both the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise and in the Anime industry in general. This is largely due to his reputation for turning productions into GagDubs, which not only includes later entries like ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', but his dub work for ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' and films such as ''Film/ThePerfectStorm'', ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. He is also well known (and derided) as sound effects designer for plenty of notable anime titles including ''Anime/Berserk2016'', ''Anime/KillLaKill'', most of Creator/PolygonPictures' library and the entire anime runs of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer''; along with both ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' and ''Anime/TransformersEnergon''.

* HeAlsoDid: The Japanese dub was directed by Yoshikazu Iwanami, a rather polarizing figure in both the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise and in the Anime industry in general due to his work not only on later series like ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' (which much like ''Beast Wars'', he turned into a full-on GagDub), but his dub work for ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' and films such as ''Film/ThePerfectStorm'', ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. As well as sound effects design for plenty of notable anime titles including ''Anime/Berserk2016'', ''Anime/KillLaKill'', most of Creator/PolygonPictures' library and the entire anime runs of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer''.

* HeAlsoDid: The Japanese dub was directed by Yoshikazu Iwanami, a rather polarizing figure in both the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise and in the Anime industry in general due to his work not only on later series like ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', but his dub work for ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' and films such as ''Film/ThePerfectStorm'', ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. As well as sound effects design for plenty of notable anime titles including ''Anime/Berserk2016'', ''Anime/KillLaKill'', most of Creator/PolygonPictures' library and the entire anime runs of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer''.

* CreatorBacklash: Hirofumi Ichikawa decried Yoshikazu Iwanami's take on the Japanese dub, which he considers it as a {{Macekre}} that removes the sci-fi seriousness in the original English version.

* ThrowItIn: In 'Before the Storm' Megatron gives one of his trademark rants, laughs, then coughs before continuing. This wasn't scripted; David Kaye really had to clear his throat mid speech. But he worked it into the dialogue so perfectly they left it in, going so far as to animate Megatron coughing and clearing his throat for no particular reason (especially since, as a robot, he doesn't need to breathe, let alone cough). For added effect, they even animated Blackarachnia's surprised reaction to it.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The dated CGI makes it clear that this is a 90s show.

*** Early in the series' development, the crew wanted to have Chris Latta reprise his role as Starscream. Unfortunately, he died in 1994, two years before "Possession" aired, and they had to have Terrorsaur's VA, Doug Parker, impersonate him.

** During early production, Primal and Megatron would have ''four'' modes, including the bat and alligator forms their early toys took. This was far too difficult to animate so they got stuck with the gorilla and T. rex modes. Except, numerous scripts had already been written with Primal flying around due to his bat mode. The bat mode was dropped but his flight capabilities were retained to avoid having to rewrite things, even if his ability to fly didn't make logical sense now.

* CreatorBacklash: Hirofumi Ichikawa decried Yoshikazu Iwakami's take on the Japanese dub, which he considers it as a {{Macekre}} that removes the sci-fi seriousness in the original English version.

** Rattrap, Dinobot, Silverbolt and Waspinator are voiced by Creator/ScottMcNeil.

* TheOtherDarrin: A few G1 cameos pop up with speaking roles. However, their [=VAs=] were either busy (G1 Megatron) or deceased (Starscream).

* ChannelHop: After ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'' began on Creator/FoxKids, edited reruns of ''Beast Wars'' made their way to that block.

** As seen [[https://twitter.com/walruslaw/status/1237479170692784128 here]], Rampage was originally going to be a helicopter instead of a tank in his third mode.

* AscendedFanon: The Predacon base's name, "Darksyde", came from a {{fanon}} [[LadyMondegreen misinterpretation]] of a line spoken by Terrorsaur in the episode "Equal Measures". ("Welcome to the dark side!") It was given an official name first in the ''Beast Wars Transmetals'' video game, and then in the {{prequel}} video ''Dawn of Future's Past''.

** The reason why there are so few characters [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters compared to G1]] is because CGI was quite expensive when it was created (the first season alone cost an estimated $18 million to produce), forcing the creators to limit the number of characters on each side. This even led to several characters being bumped off to keep costs down. Of course, fewer characters meant a stronger focus on the characterization of the existing characters, so it wasn't all bad.

** Rattrap was going to be a more tragic figure. Based on the exposed "brain" on his toy, Rattrap was going to be heavily malformed due to faulty scanning equipment. Over the show, Rattrap would learn to [[InspirationallyDisadvantaged overcome his disabilities]] and become a [[HandicappedBadass competent warrior]]. It was scrapped because the technology was not yet able to render his organic innards correctly.

** Early test animations shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVJAxel0sx0 here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaLU_BnqfO4 here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQP9OHDxTWA there]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3566v35718 there]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERscrqEbkc here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6iSy7l4CE here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLaPpISVe9E here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ns_lcOfZ0 and there]], show that most of the characters resembled their toys much more accurately due to the demands from Hasbro that every piece of the toy be on the characters in some way. They were changed because it limited the animation of the characters especially when they transforming into their beast modes.

** Early test animations shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVJAxel0sx0 here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaLU_BnqfO4 here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQP9OHDxTWA there]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3566v35718 there]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERscrqEbkc here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6iSy7l4CE here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLaPpISVe9E here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ns_lcOfZ0 and there]], show that most of the characters resembled their toys much more accurately due to the demands from Hasbro that every piece of the toy be on the characters in some way. They were changed due to difficulties animating the characters making it much more limiting, especially transforming them into their beast modes.

** Early test animations shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVJAxel0sx0 here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaLU_BnqfO4 here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQP9OHDxTWA there]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3566v35718 there]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERscrqEbkc here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6iSy7l4CE here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLaPpISVe9E here]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ns_lcOfZ0 and there]], show that most of the characters resembled their toys much more accurately but possibly due to the [=FCC's=] regulations on TV show advertising towards children, they were changed to look different from the toys to make it less obvious despite Creator/{{Hasbro}} demanding that every piece of the toy be on the characters in some way.

* AscendedFanon: The Predacon base's name, "Darksyde", came from a {{fanon}} [[{{Mondegreen}} misinterpretation]] of a line spoken by Terrorsaur in the episode "Equal Measures". ("Welcome to the dark side!") It was given an official name first in the ''Beast Wars Transmetals'' video game, and then in the {{prequel}} video ''Dawn of Future's Past''.

** In "The Agenda, Part 2", the writers wanted Creator/FrankWelker to reprise his role as [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 G1 Megatron]]. Sadly, Mr. Welker had a very busy schedule, and the cost involved for just a few lines prompted the writers to drop the idea. Creator/GaryChalk filled in for the role.

** The reason why there are so few characters [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters compared to G1]] is because CGI was quite expensive when it was created, forcing the creators to limit the number of characters on each side. This even led to several characters being bumped off to keep costs down. Of course, fewer characters meant a stronger focus on the characterization of the existing characters, so it wasn't all bad.

** The fourth season would've had the show leave Earth and go into space to chase Megatron after he escaped in the ''Nemesis'', with the series rechristened as ''Beast Hunters''. A planned subplot would've been the Maximals questioning if they can trust Tigerhawk since he was a Vok emissary, G1 Megatron's Spark trying to take control of his descendant's body, and the Coneheads being recurring villains.

** Tigatron/Tigerhawk, the Vok and Unicron are voiced by Blu Mankuma.

** Originally, Waspinator was going to die at the beginning of the second season alongside [[spoiler:Scorponok]], while [[spoiler:Terrorsaur]] was going to survive and become a Transmetal. However, [[PopularityPower Waspinator's popularity]] as TheChewToy saved him, with [[spoiler:Terrorsaur]] dying instead. [[spoiler:Scorponok]] was already planned to die, however, because [[spoiler:Inferno was a more entertaining character and would serve as TheDragon to Megatron even better]], giving him little reason to remain alive [[note]] Terrorsaur had been made similarly redundant due to Tarantulas serving as a far more competent [[TheStarscream treacherous Predacon]] [[/note]]. Both characters who perished did so because the costly limitations of CGI at the time (which lead to a limited character count) meant that characters needed to be removed so that new ones could be introduced and [[MerchandiseDriven promote the toyline]], among other things. Incidentally, this also lead - in part - to the meticulous plotting of [[spoiler:Dinobot's redemptive StoryArc]], so some good came out of it all by the end.

* PropRecycling: In the first episode Megatron pre-Beastmode form is the same model for the "Giant Mecha Robot" from the Season 2 episode of ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' "Nullzilla", The model is recolored and lacking certain details.