PremiumAll you need to know about the Maximals before Transformers: Rise of the Beasts drops on OTT
The Maximals, also a Cybertronian race that transform into animal form, made their debut in Transformers Rise of the Beasts, but who are they and what can they do?
Last Updated: 05.53 PM, Jul 11, 2023
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts marked the big-screen debut of the Maximals, a faction of Cybertronian Transformers who fought against the Predacons during the Beast Wars era. Unfortunately, although the film was called Rise of the Beasts, the Maximals – four of who were introduced, were not in the thick of the action. With the film set to drop on Amazon Prime Video this week, here’s a quick guide for those who are not familiar with the Maximals or the Beast Wars animated series, about these beasts.
Like the Transformers, the Maximals also originate from the planet Cybertron, and are descendants of the heroic Autobots, carrying on their legacy of protecting peace and justice. Unlike the Transformers, the Maximals transform into animal forms. While Autobots typically transform into vehicles, the animal forms of the Maximals range from mammals like cheetahs, gorillas, and wolves to birds, reptiles, and even insects.
Read our review of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - Transformers – Rise of the Beasts review: The Maximals are here, but it's not enough
The Maximals are led by a commander, often Optimus Primal, a wise and courageous leader who values the protection of life and the preservation of freedom. Other notable Maximals include Rhinox, Cheetor, Airazor, Rattrap, and Dinobot, among others.
The Maximals' most famous conflict is known as the Beast Wars. During this era, the Maximals and Predacons crash-landed on Earth during prehistoric times and took on animal forms to blend in with the native creatures. The Beast Wars storyline is depicted in various Transformers media, including an animated series, which is highly regarded for its engaging storytelling and character development. There are also comic book series featuring Maximal characters.
Transformers: Rise of the Beast introduces four Maximals – Optimus Primal, Airazor, Cheetor and Rhinox. Optimus Primal, voiced by Ron Perlman, who takes on a gorilla form, wields the powerful Cybertronian artifact known as the Matrix of Leadership, which grants him increased power and wisdom. Cheetor (Tongayi Chirisa) is in cheetah form, known for his incredible speed and reflexes, making him an excellent scout and warrior. Rhinox is a rinoceros with immense physical strength and durability, making him a formidable force on the battlefield. Rhinox (David Sobolov) is also a skilled technician and engineer, responsible for repairing and upgrading the Maximal's base, although the film does not touch upon this aspect. And last, but not the least, there’s Airazor (Michelle Yeoh), an eagle, who is an excellent scout and aerial combatant, possessing keen eyesight and the ability to fly at high speeds.
Die-hard fans of the franchise are hopeful that now that the Maximals are a part of the Transformers Cinematic Universe, future instalments will see them in action. Some commented in jest that like the Planet of the Apes franchise, which had a Rise of the Planet of Apes movie in 2011, followed by a Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in 2014 and War for the Planet of the Apes in 2017, Transformers has got the Rise of the Beasts in order, and that now, the Dawn and War are pending.
About the author: Chandragupta is part human brain, part generative AI. The former provides intellect while the latter does the heavy lifting of an artificial neural network. The name, if you haven’t already worked it out, is a backronym of ChatGPT.