Who is your favourite Basic Beast Wars Transformer?

[GoktimusPrime]

In Kenner's defence, they were based on the way that velociraptors were portrayed in Jurassic Park, which was a main competitor against Transformers during the G2 years. It's not paleontologically correct, but it's what was popular with kids. Kenner had the unenviable task of saving Transformers from extinction so it would've been very important for them to capitalise on whatever was popular with kids at the time, according to their market research. And it worked. Hasbro's Beast Wars packaging had the Saurian eye and scales on it, reminiscent of the iconic scene from Jurassic Park where the 'raptor stares at the camera.

[Arctorro]

In Kenner's defence, they were based on the way that velociraptors were portrayed in Jurassic Park, which was a main competitor against Transformers during the G2 years. It's not paleontologically correct, but it's what was popular with kids. Kenner had the unenviable task of saving Transformers from extinction so it would've been very important for them to capitalise on whatever was popular with kids at the time, according to their market research. And it worked. Hasbro's Beast Wars packaging had the Saurian eye and scales on it, reminiscent of the iconic scene from Jurassic Park where the 'raptor stares at the camera.

Oh, I agree. I completely blame Hollywood for the misconceptions with dinosaurs that continue to this day. If they had gone with something more accurate everyone (me included at the time) would've panned them for their "inaccurate" dinosaurs. Everyone (almost) believed that the Jurassic Park movies were accurate and that was what we wanted.

Beast Wars is my favourite TV show, transformers or otherwise, hands down. I don't care about any inaccuracies, I just love it.

[GoktimusPrime]

Inaccuracies in extinct species like velociraptors is one thing but inaccuracies in extant species like Tasmanian Devils is harder to excuse. Most people's initial exposure to velociraptor would've been through Jurassic Park, and unless you'd read up on the animal, you wouldn't have known any better. But Tasmanian Devils still exist and can be found in zoos! And there are plenty of photos and videos of these creatures.

These aren't the only inaccuracies though. Hasbro refers to Megatron as a crocodile, whereas Takara refers to him as an alligator. In actuality it's a fairly generic crocodilian, but the protruding fang would mean that it's not a crocodile, but the snout structure is more similar to a caiman than an alligator (although caimans are more closely related to gators than crocs). Then there's Iguanus who's more like a mythological creature than a real animal; he's got the head of a Komodo dragon, a frilled neck, and the body of an alligatorid! You'd expect Perseus to come along and fight this thing.

But hey... like I said, this was early days for Beast Wars in a time when Kenner were desperately trying to do something to rescue a nearly dead Transformers franchise. No one TF series is perfect, and Beast Wars' strengths far outnumber its weaknesses (as evidenced by its resounding success). Besides, how often do we have Transformers whose vehicle mode isn't entire accurate to the real thing, or are a hybrid of different vehicles, or are completely fictitious.