Some of the comments on today's video are making me regret some of my word-choices; as a neurotypical person I can't speak for anyone on the spectrum, but I'd like to take a minute to better explain it, based on discussion and conversation I've seen surrounding in the episode in the many years since it aired. Rather than "aged poorly," I should really have said the original "Transmutate" episode was "a product of its time." The way I described it makes it sound like the issue is the presence of the euthanasia allegory in the story, but that's not how I meant it to come across; I should have more clearly communicated that the problem is that it is a disability allegory in which the disabled character is a prop for other characters to have arguments about and feelings over. The only agency the plot allows Transmutate is the choice that kills her, in order for the abled characters to feel sad about her. Several commenters have noted that the arguments the characters have are realistic ones that real-life people sadly have, treating disabled people as if they were not full people, and that's perfectly true and almost certainly what the episode was intended to reflect - but that's where the issue lies. It is a story about disability by and about abled people, to make abled people feel sad. This doesn't mean it's not a tragic, touching story that genuinely emotionally affected viewers, nor does it mean you are "bad" if you found it affecting, it's just a very common way media tells stories about disability - by framing disability from the perspectives and feelings of the abled characters, rather than the disabled characters themselves. Additionally, discussing this subject matter in the video wasn't a case of me airing my personal views on the original episode, but me attempting to sum up why the "Beast Wars Uprising" writers made the choices they made in reinventing Transmutate. The BWU story purposefully does what the original did not, making Transmutate disabled but giving her agency of her own, allowing her to make choices that drive the story, while still retaining the idea that others have treated her as "less-than" because of her condition, but not making it about those characters or their feellings the way the "Beast Wars" episode did. Though I might have failed to communicate this as clearly as I could have, I'm nonetheless very happy to see so many viewers on the spectrum discovering Transmutate and seeing themselves reflected in her!
Look, you want my opinion, as an autistic person, I'm getting tired of people continually turning to Autism for people like me to identify with or even use when they can't think of another kind of disability. The original Transmutate was more like someone who had to live with a type of lobotomy rather than be Autistic. Until I read the Beast Wars Uprising Transmutate, I find her offensive to Autistics.
Listen, I appreciate the honesty, but I'm gonna spoke as frankly as an Asperger like me tries to avoid. I've studied psychology because of my own autistic spectrum, and I can say that while Low-function people have indeed agency, it's a kind of agency so alien and different to the mind of a general Neurotypical person who didn't deeply study the subject beforehand that it can't really be represented in most forms of storytelling with adeguate faithfulness. The writers (that is, the ones of Beast Wars) are absolutely not at fault in my eyes, since they averted many harmful autistic tropes, like for example autistic characters with (embarrassingly presented) mental superpowers. Transmutate's power instead was completely unrelated to her mental state. They indeed avoided Transmute's agency for most of the episode, but that arguably was done on purpose to make more powerful the fact that the resolution of the entire episode verged on her choice alone. I've seen many representation of low functioning people on fictional media, and Beast Wars' was objectively one of the most respectful, in my modest option. Ps: The comment has been edited to make it more readable, but I assure that the arguments were not changed.
@@silverbullet1620 Speaking as someone who is also autistic, A: I've read it and it's not and B: This comment shows so much of what's wrong with this comments section: deciding something is or isn't a good portrayal without even engaging with the original material. It's even more frustrating seeing it from people who are openly stating they aren't disabled in any way.
Ya I guess nevermind the fact that silver bolt and rampage fighting and how their actions do the damage to transmutate being a metaphor for parents who struggle to raise a child with a developmental disabilities. Naw it’s all about “feeling sad”
Silverbolt's line of "Are we to destroy anything that does not fit our view of perfection?!" still sticks in my mind, as does the whole episode's theme of disability.
Agreed, which is why the idea they had to "fix" her character by making an Arcee repaint seems off. Silverbolt's whole stance was that she was fine just the way she was, disabled or not. I think the message given that the rest of the Maximals were wrong in this instance was pretty obvious, even to kids.
@@Kanyon85 The idea they they have Transmutate a Arcee Repaint didn't really bother me when you think about the original and how it got that way. It's more of a what-if idea if her pod was not damaged and it took that concept of Disability to a more natural direction as that version may not look like one, how she interacted shows instead.
Her solo episode is actually one of my favorites despite the hate it gets. It was nice to see a side of rampage that we never saw before. The caring compassion he had for Transmutate added a new layer of depth to the character.
On top of that, the idea that it had no agency is baffling. In the end TM chose to risk it's life and make the ultimate sacrifice for it's friends, literally refuting both the positions of Optimus and Megatron that it was incapable or unable to make decisions.
@@robertnewman4854 This is so important to point out; A lot of people think those of us with learning disabilities and/or Autism don't have agency, but we do-- Even those who are "low functioning". The fact that it was her decision alone is significant: It proves that she had agency.
I think the fossil transformation made a lot more sense than the motorcycle for the setting. I kind of get the idea that the motorcycle was more as a nod to the voice actress!
I like how Transmutate has a motorcycle alt mode, but wouldn't it make sense for her to have a jet mode? Since she was able to fly in her original appearance? Inspiration!
As a person who has Aspergers Syndrome I believe the episode has aged beautifully with both the Maximals and Predicons being in the wrong when it came to Transmutate, With Silverbolt and Rampage being the only ones to ever give them a fair chance. And the depiction of her in the comics is also great and one of the most accurate written interpretations of Autism I've ever seen. Difficulty interacting with others and picking up on Social Cues is something I have long since struggled with ever since I was a child, I for one hope they keep this character around for future generations to see and enjoy as she is a perfect example of how representation can be done right in fiction and storytelling.
Mhmm, it's strangely sweet! Although as someone who was also diagnosed with what used to be called "aspergers" and is now just a point on the asd spectrum, it's worth real quick pointing out that the name was cahnged and is no longer used for a combination of it's inaccuracy, depicting it as a kind of autism rather than a way it just happens to present sometimes, and also it being named after a Nazi scientist, so it's best to not use it anymore
@@karapalmer7228 while I agree that the Asperger’s definition is definitely outdated (and named after a piece of shit), because it is a very specific form of Autism, it should still have it’s own name similar to adhd, ocd, and others. That’s why I call myself an “aspi”. So I don’t say the actual thing, but still get the point across that I was diagnosed with it. Similar to how other bad words (such as curse words) have harmless alternatives. But that’s just me being I’m weird. No one is obligated to agree with me.
@@ethanemerson4862 That's the main reason it needs to stop being used, it's actually not a specific form of autism, it's just a word for an arbitrary point on the austim spectrum and can actually present in many different ways, it's not as unique as it seems and infact a diagnosis with it can fuck you over like it did to me, where I was given less support because I had aspergers not autism, when it turned out aspergers meant nothing and actually there's so much more to it, it actually means nothing, there are no forms of autism, just a whole spectrum of which we're all a mix and mash of different parts of different intensities
Mood. To paraphrase one of her quotes, "I am only pointing out what is going wrong. Why am I being punished." That was such a mood I can empathize with. You report what is going wrong, only to get buried because you unknowingly reported to the one that did it on purpose. It accurately shown our analytical nature and our struggles to read social cues and identifying "friend" from "foe."
I actually think the Fossilizer Transmutate is the best and most inspired toy of her. It makes logical sense for her to take that form: corrupting transformation meaning she can't take on a full animal form, her transformation isn't like any others, and it helps her stand out as completely different from every other Maximal or Predacon.
Transmutate having TFP Arcee's design is something. The color scheme is beautiful. All i can say is "the lore deepens and the plot thickens" Thankyou for providing us with this episode mate. Godspeed
@@untunedguitar45 Rhinox.... Tank.... Corp....!!! If anything Beast Wars was the last time Transformers felt like it wasn't trying to play it safe or appeal to a contemporary audience
As someone on the spectrum myself, I found the fact that Transmutate being on it as well (and in the comic very high functioning at that) to be very interesting. Thank you for telling me about yet another way I can connect to this beloved franchise, this time, on a very personal level. Transmutate seeing through the person trying to manipulate her and Rampage as you described it sat very close to home for me. Seeing shades of gray in situations for people on the spectrum is literally a learned and trained skill. We must learn and hone what neurotypical people take for granted in certain cases. And it can be different on a case by case basis. That is why Autism is a spectrum.
I was just about to write something similar. Neat. Always nice to meet someone else on one of the various spectrums I'm on. (I'm also somewhere on the asexual spectrum and the gender fluid spectrum, in case you're wondering. Not sure if they're related to how my Autism manifests in me or not, but they are as much a part of me as my Autism is.)
This video is my first time learning that there was another version of transmutate, making her effectively an autistic transformer which, as someone on the high functioning spectrum myself, was intrigued by it. It's rare but always nice to see depictions of autistic characters in media not reduced to "person with barely functioning behaviors but possesses some superpower only autistic people have" Okay, with transmutate being a point one percenter that *kinda* falls into that category, but at least she's on the higher functioning side of the spectrum.
You say it hasn't aged well but it's HIGHLY REALISTIC and even RELEVANT today when you hear and participate conversations involving Disability rights and services where the recipient is highly reliant on other. If anything it was ahead of its time in trying to bluntly and honestly talk about a difficult topic people shy away from. I grew up with and work with my severely autistic and blind little brother, so this one strikes deep for me.
I think he meant that if you tried to do an episode like that today cancel culture would destroy you. It's sad but it's true, the show would be called offensive and insensitive despite the fact that it would be attempting to shed light on a very serious and, as you said, relevant issue. And if by some miracle the show wasn't cancelled the episode in question would most likely either be removed from viewing platforms or heavily edited.
@@ariadnefrolich7243 Nah, he sounded more like he would be the part of the canceling and getting offended. I honestly don't understand what exactly aged horribly with that episode.
@@artur6912 yeah, as someone with autism who just discovered this channel it was a huge red flag when he said that. It reeks of the ableism bulshit that passes for sensitivity these days.
@@datboigroovin8200 as someone who is also autistic (Asperger's) I kind of, not fully, disagree. The episode in question did imo kind of age not the best and can be seen as insensitive. I get it may have been *trying* to spread awareness to how disabled people are treated but I don't think it did it that amazingly. The comic book version mentioned in this video is done much better. Edited for clarity.
@@Jormyyy I think you’re right that the comic is more sensitive (in that it is more empowering). I’m also Aspergers, so I get that the message is more encouraging for people in our place on the spectrum. However, (having worked with kids from all over the spectrum) I think the original episode is a much better demonstration of how people with ASD ARE treated in society. Tldr: the comic is more empowering, but the show is more realistic, which makes it a better demonstration (in my mind) to show neurotypicals the injustice of our treatment.
hey I have known only a guy that "said" he was autistic, he was not, he self diagnosed because it was kinda "cool"-_- how is it? Imean from your point of view, I can imagine is not as fun as tumblr always said it is
@@ALDAL My brother and a few of my friends have it, can't say what it's like internally but from the outside they simply operate off of a slightly different software, so to speak. My brother has a hard time seperating the evenets going on around him from his own being, so when something like a death in the family happens he sometimes feels like it's his fault just because it happened near him.
The death of Dinobot basically kicks off a string of episodes that really push the plot forward to it's conclusion or introduces major status quo changes. Transmutates episodes is like one of two episodes that don't do that but still important none the less.
I don't know why, but I always felt Transmutate and Rampage made an amazing pair, I have the Rampage Colletors Club Toy and barely missed out on Transmutate. I actually like the storyline of them being .01%, because it explains just how insanely strong they are. Rampage may have been a borderline insane berserker, but Transmutate was his perfect opposite and calm and free-spirited.
Love them together Really hope the two come back together in future series and manage to find themselves or even maybe with each other hopefully cause it was really heartwarming to see two characters who’ve been through so much be comfortable and open with each other
I feel like transmutate was changed because some people might get angry at them but even then that’s pretty dumb it was episode about morals not dissing the mentality disabled
Agreed, the episode has aged very well when it comes to discussing the issues of more SEVERE cases of autism, retardation, etc. where somebody has little to no agency of themselves. While I do appreciate Beast Wars Uprising's take on milder cases of Autism, or rather Asperger's Syndrome, which is debatably so mild it's argued on whether or not it should be considered "on the Spectrum." Personally, as an "Aspy" myself, I can appreciate the approach of the direction they took with Uprising Transmutate, but that doesn't make the original beast wars version of her and the story that they used to portray her condition as wrong. I love both stories of this tragic misunderstood bot, thus this makes her one of my favorites, and in my opinion, she's actually not THAT obscure of a character, if at all. She's pretty popular even among more casual fans once they know her.
I believe the reason it is seen as aged poorly is due to them killing the character rather than more deeply exploring the concept of disability...both the difficulties and what they can contribute. Yes they were wrong and MAN were they wrong as hell. Their first and only reaction was locking her up?!? With only one of the "heroes" thinking "hey, maybe treat them as a person"? Yeah that did not age well.
@@vantao9408 I believe this video has most if not, all brazilian voice actors for every character in the show. th-cam.com/video/gMwhrE0UVWA/w-d-xo.html
As someone who also struggles understanding social and emotional concepts, I’m very happy they did try and make a cybertronian like that. It makes me feel like they tried to bring an understanding to others what it’s like to not fit in with the rest of the crowd. It’s nice that fans still have good memories of transmutate
Christy Marx was a writer who did not shy away from serious issues in cartoon stories. I'm glad BW gave her the opportunity to write a story that was probably near to her heart.
This was actually one of the reasons I fell in love with beast wars. I think I'll try to rewatch this episode and whole show if I get some free time haha
transmutate is the best bw character to me and her design is terffiying me a lot as a kid,but i really like her skull face/mask is remind me to the lego ninjago skullkins especially samukai-frakjaw and the bionicle skull villans,and to me she's from the kind of genius characters that love his friends and is scared from everything and talk about more bw characters like transquito and also i really like her model as TFP arcee
This one, this one was freaky, the way she looked and moved was just creepy, but she was also hard to hate, her story was sad, and plus, her episode showed a side of rampage we hadn't seen up to that point, so that was nice
As someone autistic I want to read that comic. Transmutate sounds and looks like a cute and relatable character. Something I'd never expect to find in Transformers.
The story that ''hasn't aged well'' actually conveys very well issues around attitudes towards mentally/physically disabled and never portrayed the characters who were making decisions about Transmutate as being right. The modern stories that make Transmutate just another generic female Autobot through fear of offending anyone strip the character of anything unique and brush a mentally disabled character under the carpet. I guess Autism is a bit more palatable for mainstream audiences and easier to market.
While I disagree with your opinion on Uprising Arcee's take of her condition, I do agree that the episode has aged very well when it comes to discussing the issues of more SEVERE cases of autism, retardation, pre-mature birth/birth defects etc. where somebody has little to no agency of themselves because of the way they are born. Something that I do believe is still an important point to talk about today. While I do appreciate Beast Wars Uprising's take on milder cases of Autism, or rather Asperger's Syndrome, which is debatably so mild it's argued on whether or not it should be considered "on the Spectrum," I think Transmutate's debut and final episode was handled well and is like a fine whine, only gets better with time. Personally, as an "Aspy" myself, and one who leans more towards the not on the spectrum camp, I can appreciate the approach of the direction they took with Uprising Transmutate, but that doesn't make the original beast wars version of her and the story that they used to portray her condition as wrong. I love both stories of this tragic misunderstood bot, thus this makes her one of my favorites, and in my opinion, she's actually not THAT obscure of a character, if at all. She's pretty popular even among more casual fans once they know her, which kind of makes me question Chris' choice of including her here in the year's Obscure Characters Month.
Agreed. From a representation of not often discussed mental disability to one trait of autism as a super power. There’s more to mental disability than largely known conditions like autism and Down syndrome.
I liked the original episode, it showed that even the “good” maximals had flaws in not wanting to accomodate her. It makes her willingness to side with Rampage (one of only two that fights for her rights) so believable and tragic. Maybe I’m too set in my ways, but I don’t see how it didn’t age well. Otherwise as always great vid
I think the core of why the episode works is that it knows there is no real universally right answer for anyone in the situation. TM is entirely innocent and deserves to live, but is also dangerous. It IS cruel and selfish that the Maximals want to statuslock her, but what other option does she have? It IS kind and empathetic that Silverbolt wants to help her be free, but what about who she'll hurt, including herself? Rampage IS a monster who'll corrupt her or lead her into danger, but is he wrong to crave some shred of connection in his lonely, painful life? Ultimately, they're all doomed to hurt someone, all doomed to be both selfish and thoughtful. The episode knows that TM deserves to live, but that no one in the Beast Wars can give her the happy, comfortable life she deserves.
@@michaelsimpson1224 personally I think the stasis lock choice would be the best one if my understanding is that it is basically putting her in a controlled coma is correct thus able to keep Transmutate safe from the war and when it's over they can take her back to cybertron to either A try to fix her in some way/stabilize her since she was shown to mechanically have issues not just mentally and/or B put her in an environment to be able to live and develop probably with Silverbolt as her companion to help her in her life... makes me wonder what if that did happen and somehow she was saved to Beast Machines where due to her transmetal (I think) body she would survive the transformation virus but what would her non transmetal form look like. Yeah, someone make a fanfic of that or something since a Beast Machines with Transmutate could bring a plethora of interesting ideas and concepts like how the techno-organic reformatting could affect her like maybe it could fix the flaws she was born with maybe only partially or how would it affect her immense powers and what about her alternate mode. It's a wellspring of ideas
Speaking as someone autistic, dyspraxic and with ADHD, few things make my eyes roll more than writers who insist that being autistic is like having superpowers or makes a person super-special. The only thing more annoying is neurotypical people telling me why I should find a character/story I like offensive and/or insulting when it's not.
I did not know Transmutate existed until now, and I thank you good sir to introduce me to my new favorite character. Also as a person on the spectrum, I like how the club rewrote her story and I can relate to her in some way :)
Not gonna lie. the new take on her on the TF version of the spectrum did make me kinda smile a bit. as for the original I felt a lot what happened to it was mainly due to the damage from the malfunction. Then again I see it also as an allegory to not fear those that look and sound different, and to work with what life has given you. Despite the deformaties Transmutate still possessed something of a moral compass, and ability to feel.
For starters Hasbro needs to make a new Beast Wars cartoon and dunno if the current comic will continue if IDW is going to loose the rights to make Transformers comics.
doubtful, the subject could be a challenge to tackle for writers and it could wear out the uniqueness Transmutate has and possibly cheapen prior stories
Oh wow, the first Obscure Character to get one of these videos that I actually know! Transmutate is a very interesting character, as she was/is basically Transformers equivalent to a mentally challenged character(apologies if this comes off as rude in anyway, not my intent, just trying to think of the best way to say it). While I do like her original design due to being VERY unique despite freaking me the heck out at first, her design using Prime Arcee’s look just seems to fit for some reason. The red eyes of the design are super striking with that look and I love it. While she was never one of my Top 3 Transformers, she’s still is one of my favorites.
It’s cool. No need to tread egg shells, none of us really care that much about specifically what you call this thing especially with how vaguely it’s defined
I don't remember Beast Wars being an underrated show, some G1 purists didn't like it but it was the series that made Transformers popular again, many of today's Transformers fans became fans thanks to Beast Wars.
I don't hate beast wars, but they have a really odd feel to them compared to the entirety of the transformers brand as a whole, like a black sheep. I still think it's odd to have TFs turn in to anything but vehicles, but thats just my opinion.
Beast Wars isn't underrated, it's one of the more know shows in the fandom and it's in the top 3 of best Transformers shows of all time of almost every fan, like Transformers Prime, Beast Wars and Animated are the most loved shows in the fandom and it's even held at the same regards of G1 with how it contribute to the lore of the franchise, yeah it gets hate of some G1 purists but that happens with every new Transformers media.
I liked that it also gave a chance for Rampage to be something other than the Beast Wars "monster". I always wondered why he connected with Transmutate. Was it just because of the power it possessed, a connection to someone in the past, or did he see himself in it? For a brief moment we saw the monster have a heart. I wished this episode was referenced later in some way. Rampage and Siverbolt have sort of back and forth about it.
Well if I’m correct, Rampage is also an anomaly. Looking at the TFWiki, he was an experiment to recreate Starscream’s mutation of possessing an immortal spark. He, from the very moment he was born, was twisted and unnatural. Perhaps that’s why he said Transmutate held the same darkness he had; that same unnatural property that makes people revile ones very existence and feel there’s nothing else for it but to remove it from existence.
This is actually interesting because Female High Functioning Autism is much harder to spot then Male High Functioning Autism. I myself am on the spectrum and have quite a few friends who are the same. One of them sharing a kinship with Transmutate. I do to an extent as well. But I often think of how people don't understand us. My Autism was kept a secret from me for years so people wouldn't label me. However I found out by accident in a very heated conversation with my mother. From there I have grown into my placement in this world. But I mostly kept it secret from others as the term "That's Autistic" was running rampant in my school. That "insult" made my blood boil hotter and hotter and hotter. Eventually when I was doing a class on Psychology I revealed to my teacher in private that I was on the spectrum. He wasn't surprised. Later on he asked me to talk about it and we gave a flashy (not really) reveal to my class. I stood up and explained in a very flawed way how we are different. My class was kinda shaken by the reveal, I still laugh at it. I find a kinship in others on the spectrum and have a tendency to refer to the spectrum as an entity. I refer to it as us or we, because I feel linked to everyone on the spectrum in a very special way. I hope I'm not the only one.
I'm a HFA person as well. I've not really had a lot of exposure to others like me since I don't define myself by my autism. I'm not an "autistic person" I'm a person who happens to be autistic. I just think differently, more literally, than other people. It's caused a fair amount of friction among my relatives. My father has yelled at me in the past over his frustrations with my interpretations of his instructions regarding chores because I would frequently ask lots of questions and explain what I had thought and why i was asking. I can't say that I have felt kinship with others with autism but it's mostly because I don't see my neurology as a defining characteristic.
@@glenngriffon8032 I guess I understand that. But everyone on the spectrum is different. I feel kinship because I don't feel so alone. It isn't about the label it's about accepting yourself and others. You don't have to like my viewpoint.
@@glenngriffon8032 But, how our brains work is literally a defining trait in our personality. We are Autistic, labeling that as a bad thing is what makes problems. We are different. That is what make us special. You don't have to agree, but I feel like they are my kin. We are all different, yet we are similar. To me it is a badge, not a label. The way I think is used to my advantage.
Transmutate was one of my favorite episodes of the Beast Wars cartoon. The tragic nature of her character being so misshapen and challenged in comparison to those around her always struck a chord with me. The Maximals and Predacons didn't need to fight over her, rather, they just needed to listen and accept her for what she was.
Same. But internet keyboard Warriors have to get offended over something and speak on our behalf to make themselves feel important and morally superior.
@@amidarkdesigns1229 so refreshing to see someone who agrees! These days it hard to state an opinion without someone freaking out. Rock on brother or sister!
@@Jormyyy asperger's here too. Like I said in another comment, it's just people trying to speak on our behalf yo show how good and morally superior they are.
Speaking as an autistic i remember decagons ago, my ma told me she signed a petition to ban abortions and terminations. I would know lives matter, and TM is one of the best characters I've seen.
I remember when I was little and saw its designed I was very scared of it but now way older I love its design and the message on that episode and I wish I could get the Beast Wars uprising Transmutate and Rampage they look like good figures and it would be just so nice to have them together ^^
I remember being a little kid and seeing Transmutate only to be absolutely horrified because honestly she looks like something from the uncanny Valley. But now that I see what their meant to be, I really like them.
Transmutate's only episode was very fascinating for its subject matter, as well as showing another side to Rampage. It's good that this character is getting more appearances in recent media. I also remember when they made those 10th anniversary Beast Wars toys and had Transmutate's components packaged in each of them, but I didn't collect most of them. I believe I only obtained her laser cannon-like arm.
As someone with Asperger’s/HFA myself, it’s always good to see more neurodiverse representation in a brand that is taking on more significance in my life, and I wish that we could see more of that in Transformers.
I loved how they depicted transmutates autism. Sometimes shows depict autism completely stereotypical as if they are nothing more than a forever child or a nervous reck. They depicted it here as high functioning, which is what I have, and people with HFA are capable of living normal lives.
@@cameronleroux4098 As long as you're not taking information from Autism Speaks, because they appear to treat it like a "disease" when it's merely a difference of the mind. If people treated autistic characters like Spock from Star Trek or Waspinator from Beast Wars as barely different from the neurotypical character(s) around them they'd see there aren't really a lot of differences between NT and ND individuals, excuse the mention of Waspinator but I always viewed the character as more neurodivergent than most of the other characters
@@andrewmalinowski6673 The difference of the mind approach only works if you pretend that low-functioning autism doesn't exist. Treating it like a disease is the wrong way to think about it, but reducing autism to just being personality quirks and not quite getting social cues isn't the right way either.
At the time the episode came out, Transmutate struck a chord with me. A particularly deep chord. I had a great-uncle, my grandmother's brother. He had been born deaf, blind, and mute. Due to his physical problems, he literally lived his entire life abused by his parents, his younger sister (not my grandmother who lived too far away from him) who was his chosen caretaker, and the people his caretaker had placed in charge of his life and safety. These same people even visited the cruelty on him of ripping out his teeth because he started biting in order to try and defend himself. That was when my grandmother stepped in. The straw that broke the camel's back, as it were. She sued for custody and had him moved out to a therapeutic group home where he was treated very well during the last half of his life. He passed away ten years ago, but even now, if I ever find myself in the area, I stop in at that group home to help clean up their little on-premises graveyard plot's headstones, bring flowers for the graves, and a case of vanilla ice cream for the current residents. As for why Transmutate as a character resonated with me, well... I saw so much of what my uncle went through mirrored in her own story.
@@chopsticks2618 off course you did they could tell you they breath fire out their ass you would believe that too not everything online is the truth you know!
As someone who was born with autism, knowing a transformer, and one I already loved at that, is like gives me a joy that’s difficult to explain in words. I’ve always had a different look at the world and at what I want to do in my life, but seeing characters like transmutate make me feel normal and with hope. Thank you for giving me that knowledge. P.S. Transmutate and Rampage’s relationship reminds me a bit of Razor and Aya from the GL series.
As somebody who has Autism seeing a character like Transmutate in the BWU comics who has something comparable to autism be such a badass character really makes me happy and has made me appreciate the overall character a lot more 😊
The BW episode was one of my favorites and absolutely the most memorable of the series for me. Ive collected all the Transmutate figures to this point for this reason including the 3rd party TransArt figure which is the best
To this day, if something bad happens, or someone causes me pain, I say to myself "I am hurt". Character had an enduring legacy and effect on people, and showed that friendship is what people need most, not always "what's best in our opinion" for them
One thing I’d love to see for the future if Transmutate is for all of her future alt-modes to build on the fossilizer idea and have all her alt-modes be like that with skeletons for beast modes and frameworks for vehicle modes.
i actually remember her well, i loved her character and design (walking looked weird though) but for her to come back as a fossilizer (a new type of transformer) is super cool and awesome
Beast Wars Transmutate was one of my favorite characters as a kid, despite only being in one episode.. Such a sad end... I'm glad she got expanded on later.
Good lord, I barely scratched the surface myself and didn’t know about her backstory, I was just kinda creeped out by the skull for the character when I saw it in stores. I feel I may have to hunt for her now and reserve a special spot for her amongst my collection of War For Cybertron figures. Discovering an actually autistic written bot for myself is amazing, and I wish I didn’t just overlook her.
I like Transmutate, she has a very interesting design & its good to know that this character has a continuation within the franchise. I hope to see more of her in the future, weather she be a bike, a fossil, a jet, or even a hybrid of beast & vehicle.
As an autistic person myself, I kind of like the direction they took Transmutate in the comics. Even if I understand why 90’s kids would think otherwise. They changed what made her different while still keeping most of her other traits from the cartoon like being powerful and unstable and her friendship with Ravage. They really just changed her physical spectrum to a mental spectrum! I know that Transmutate shouldn’t really look “cute” but to be honest, the original Transmutate design kind of had a cute charm to it too.
Can I respectfully ask, what's it like being autistic? What kind of autism, and how has it affected your life? Feel free to tell me Go to Hell, if you don't want to answer nosy questions I'll understand.
It’s hard to fully describe it as each case is different even if slightly but I think a good idea of it is everyone was given instructions for social interaction while you were not and as such don’t understand a need for a filter. I’m high function autism aspergers specifically but I remember how I tend just speak my mind to people even when I probably shouldn’t like saying some food my family or friends made was okay or bad and not seeing what was wrong with it as they asked what I thought so I took it as I should tell them what I think not be polite. We also tend to take things to literally. Its really hard to fully describe it as for me and others with it we don’t understand what it’s like without autism so I can’t fully say with 100 percent certainty if this helps.
I think both are valid and pretty great depictions of different aspects of being on the spectrum! The original is a hard look at when someone CANT have self-agency and there's no universally good answer for their situation, and the modern is a fun but grounded take at a character who is high-functioning enough to have agency and whose ASD-ness makes impacts their choices and view of the world in a realistically complicated way! I'm right on the edge of Millennial and Gen--Z, and I'm basically on the same spot on the spectrum is modern TM, but I've always had a really deep connection to the OG episode
Transmutate is one of my favorite Transformers Obscure Characters of all time,also one of my favorite Transformers toys was The Transformers exclusive Collector's club Transmutate figure from Beast Wars.Also Transmutate is still one of my favorite TransFormers Beast Wars characters of all time despite her Tragic Origin,also thanks for sharing Chris 👌 up the 👍 work stay healthy stay safe and until next time Beast Wars.
Thanks for covering this transformer. As high function, I definitely find the comic version kind of relatable. I know it’s a sensitive subject but good job with it!
I can't even describe how happy I am to have some representation in the Transformers mythos. I didn't even think an Autistic transformer was possible but I'll be damned.
Considering the size of the Predacons and Maximals in that series when compared to modern humans I feel even more compelled to want to give Transmutate a hug because she could return it even though she's basically the size of Andre the Giant ( seriously most of the standard sized Transformers are about Andre the Giant sized in Beast Wars) I am also on the Spectrum so wanting to give her a hug is more a sign of solidarity than anything although that's just the desire that manifests from my own Asperger's syndrome ( autism spectrum disorder as it's called now) a form of high-functioning autism that was only recently discovered within the last 30 years.
Yeah, but the hominids in Beast Wars are clearly not HomoSapiens, closer to Cro Magnon or HomoHabilis. So really, they're not that much bigger, well except Optimal Optimus and Dragon!Megatron. Heck, Tyrano!Megs (transmetal or not) isn't big enough to be a proper Tyranosaurus! The bugs and arachnids however, well at least Inferno would apreciate my response.
@@HenshinFanatic uh I'm talking about in context of modern humans which she would be considering all Predacons and Maximals come from the future around a hundred years past the endpoint of the series (also I said I want to give them a hug and feel bad that I couldn't. You missed my main point)
@@tempestflare4339 Except there are no modern humans in Beast Wars so you can't be making a proper comparison. The closest point of reference is the first Golden Disk since it's actually a real life object, specifically it's the golden record that was launched into space decades ago. and it looks roughly in scale and since none of the maximals or predacons make it seem noticeably small compared to them, they're all roughly human sized (with the previous exceptions noted).
@@HenshinFanatic dude it is canon with the original Transformers we know the size comparison between them especially Optimus Prime and Optimus primal that's where I base my size comparison on. Remember that scene where they repaired Optimus Prime after Megatron destroyed him? That's how I mean my size comparison since we can use a standard measurement for Optimus Prime in that very series since he is canonically G1 Prime
@@tempestflare4339 I mean, yeah, but there aren't any good images of OG Optimus in Beast Wars where he isn't slumped over in stasis lock. So the closest useful object of reference is again the first golden disk. Optimal Optimus clearly gets a massive size boost after carrying OG Optimus' spark.
1:56 I understand this is supposed to mirror what happens in the real world. However, in this world, putting her in stasis would ensure she’d survive until they could get her to Cybertron for repairs. I’m sure they have the means of doing so. She can’t be the only damaged Protoform ever.
Wow... That reimagined version of Transmutate is so personally relatable to me! Huh, perhaps if I ever share my adventures on TH-cam, I'll have a chat with this obscure character! Not gonna lie, I'd have a ball with time travel trying to even find her. XD EDIT: I mean the character overall is relatable, but the design mimicking TFP Arcee is the (visually) more relatable as it looks more... Shall I say, immediately trust gaining? Don't get me wrong, I love the skeletal design as well. But if I, per say, were to animate her, I'd use the more refined, or as I said "reimagined" design since I'm familiar with TFP Arcee's design already. Seriously though... I haven't gotten picked on for it much, but that's why I say it's so relatable because I have. I just take Optimus' advice, and never give up. Glad she didn't/doesn't either!
I’m Autistic, but I didn’t see anything wrong with the original character story, mainly because it shouldn’t matter if someone was born disabled or became disabled due to accidental circumstances that, in her case, were beyond their control. For example a lot of people were upset that MCU Hawkeye wasn’t deaf from the get go, forgetting that 1: the movies are their own continuity and are allowed to have their own story lines, and 2: Hawkeye wasn’t born deaf, they just forgot about the years he was able to hear perfectly fine until he got a pair of arrows shoved into his ears.
Look I have autism too, and I had this figure b/c I felt it represented me. There's no reason why you should start a big argument. As a transformers fan, Cris is stating the facts.
One of the things that people who dislike the episode often cite is that Transmutate doesn't have any agency, but in the end it was it's decision to try and stop the fighting and make the ultimate sacrifice for it's friends. I never read it as just "able" characters deciding the fate of a disabled character, but as a character who others refused to acknowledge as a person with agency actually taking action and claiming it's agency.
@@jpc7795 then why not keep the original explanation? This character suffered a traumatic accident that permanently damaged their body and mind. Is it wrong to show the effects of a life changing accident?
@@robertnewman4854 my issue is mostly how they changed the explanation behind her disability, they chose to erase “disabled from accident” in favor of “disabled from birth” forgetting that there are probably just as many of the prior as there are the latter, it’s not wrong to have either, but don’t ignore that it does happen.
2:31, due to the fact that both Maximal and Predacon could've co-existed but Transmutate knew this was never gonna happen. 2:40, after Dinobot's death...this happens. This hurts. Why do so many characters get killed off in a row in Season 2?
Susan Blu was the only G1 VA to appear in Beast Wars. Very sad that Frank Welker didn’t return to reprise his role as G1 Megatron in the golden disk message and Casey Kasem didn’t return to reprise his role as the voice of Teletran 1
Can you do Rack’n’Ruin? They’re amongst the most uniquely designed characters in the transformers franchise, being the first two headed transformer (even if they lean more to being conjoined twins) and they’re one of the most memorable and recognizable members of the wreckers to. They also JUST appeared on television in Transformers: Cyberverse where they would have a surprisingly memorable role and even a spotlight episode. It’s also in the Cyberverse toyline where they would get their FIRST toy that ACTUALLY transformed. While Rack’n’Ruin’s other roles where extremely minor they where often known to be WRECKERS. They’re amongst the most famous obscure characters in transformers.
The Transmutate episode was unique in that it dealt explicitly with the sensitive topic of euthanasia. This gave it the honor of being the most morally provocative episode of any Transformers series.
But the Maximals didn't want to euthanize transmute, they wanted to basically but it in a coma, because they were in the middle of an armed conflict AND it possessed dangerous powers it didn't know how to control.
@@artur6912 Personally, I don't see much of a moral difference between putting a bot in stasis lock and putting a dog to sleep. You're still putting something down because you think it's better off that way.
@@cadman2300 there was no implication that putting transmutate in stasis would kill it, because it's basically a medically-induced coma and not putting it down.
Fun tidbit about the episode: When new, someone at Mainframe Entertainment decided to play an April Fool’s joke on someone else and “spiced up” the script. By including a scene where Rattrap and Cheetor do something REALLY inappropriate with Transmutate. Thing is, the altered script somehow (I assume accidentally) made its way to the Internet, BEFORE THE EPISODE ACTUALLY AIRED.
@@Xeno-The-Wanderer @Dirck the Dork-Knight It’s difficult to explain and I honestly don’t want to look it up again. There’s a link on the TFWiki page for the episode.
I remember watching this episode and thought Transmutate was so eery. It was the way she would speak with that raspy voice like ET, and the way she even moved just freaked me out as a kid. But then she died and I regretted fearing her in the first place.
1:14 - 1:19 Mr. McFeely, you might wanna be careful with the bombs you drop, because that was a doozy. To learn that Susan Blu voice of G1 Arcee was a director for Beast Wars, and voiced Transmute. To learn that G1 Arcee and Transmute share the same VA, and to learn that this same VA was instrumental in crafting Beast Wars, which was a defining Transformers series for 90s kids like myself. That is mind blowing.
@@ratfarmer1 Oooooooooh okay, and the bombs keep coming... Holy crap! That was her as Arcee in Transformers Animated? Not only that, but she was a voice director for Transformers Animated? Okay, McFeely blew my mind, but you rendered me speechless. Holy crap.
I remember the original transmutate gave me nightmares. Autistic TransMutate on the other hand... As an autistic person, I am glad they made her one of my people!
Ive always loved Transmutate as a character, the disabled yet powerful being that has her fate decided by a more-abled society who think the less-abled are weak and constantly need cures & support, but i didnt even know that BotCon reimagined her to have the same neurotype as me! That was a shock that left me adoring her more! Will definitely repaint a figure for her to appear in my TF stop-motion film!
She refused to say, “Friend. Evil,” to Rampage. She said instead, “Friend. Dark.” She saw good in even the most violent Predacon in the whole cast. God, looking back, it hurts because it reminds me of myself…
haven't read it myself, but i already love the "Transmutate and Ravage" comic story. I for one would watch / read the heck out of a slightly longer series focusing on those two together.
Transmutate was my favorite beast wars character, along with cheetor personally I like transmutate’s motorcycle form and story - to be blunt it resonates with myself more not to say the original is worse in any way, I like that version as well But personally I prefer stories where everyone as agency in their fate
Some of the comments on today's video are making me regret some of my word-choices; as a neurotypical person I can't speak for anyone on the spectrum, but I'd like to take a minute to better explain it, based on discussion and conversation I've seen surrounding in the episode in the many years since it aired. Rather than "aged poorly," I should really have said the original "Transmutate" episode was "a product of its time." The way I described it makes it sound like the issue is the presence of the euthanasia allegory in the story, but that's not how I meant it to come across; I should have more clearly communicated that the problem is that it is a disability allegory in which the disabled character is a prop for other characters to have arguments about and feelings over. The only agency the plot allows Transmutate is the choice that kills her, in order for the abled characters to feel sad about her. Several commenters have noted that the arguments the characters have are realistic ones that real-life people sadly have, treating disabled people as if they were not full people, and that's perfectly true and almost certainly what the episode was intended to reflect - but that's where the issue lies. It is a story about disability by and about abled people, to make abled people feel sad. This doesn't mean it's not a tragic, touching story that genuinely emotionally affected viewers, nor does it mean you are "bad" if you found it affecting, it's just a very common way media tells stories about disability - by framing disability from the perspectives and feelings of the abled characters, rather than the disabled characters themselves. Additionally, discussing this subject matter in the video wasn't a case of me airing my personal views on the original episode, but me attempting to sum up why the "Beast Wars Uprising" writers made the choices they made in reinventing Transmutate. The BWU story purposefully does what the original did not, making Transmutate disabled but giving her agency of her own, allowing her to make choices that drive the story, while still retaining the idea that others have treated her as "less-than" because of her condition, but not making it about those characters or their feellings the way the "Beast Wars" episode did. Though I might have failed to communicate this as clearly as I could have, I'm nonetheless very happy to see so many viewers on the spectrum discovering Transmutate and seeing themselves reflected in her!
Look, you want my opinion, as an autistic person, I'm getting tired of people continually turning to Autism for people like me to identify with or even use when they can't think of another kind of disability. The original Transmutate was more like someone who had to live with a type of lobotomy rather than be Autistic. Until I read the Beast Wars Uprising Transmutate, I find her offensive to Autistics.
Listen, I appreciate the honesty, but I'm gonna spoke as frankly as an Asperger like me tries to avoid.
I've studied psychology because of my own autistic spectrum, and I can say that while Low-function people have indeed agency, it's a kind of agency so alien and different to the mind of a general Neurotypical person who didn't deeply study the subject beforehand that it can't really be represented in most forms of storytelling with adeguate faithfulness.
The writers (that is, the ones of Beast Wars) are absolutely not at fault in my eyes, since they averted many harmful autistic tropes, like for example autistic characters with (embarrassingly presented) mental superpowers. Transmutate's power instead was completely unrelated to her mental state.
They indeed avoided Transmute's agency for most of the episode, but that arguably was done on purpose to make more powerful the fact that the resolution of the entire episode verged on her choice alone.
I've seen many representation of low functioning people on fictional media, and Beast Wars' was objectively one of the most respectful, in my modest option.
Ps: The comment has been edited to make it more readable, but I assure that the arguments were not changed.
@@MidoriNatsume as a high functioning Autistic (Asperger's Syndrome) I agree with you.
@@silverbullet1620 Speaking as someone who is also autistic, A: I've read it and it's not and B: This comment shows so much of what's wrong with this comments section: deciding something is or isn't a good portrayal without even engaging with the original material. It's even more frustrating seeing it from people who are openly stating they aren't disabled in any way.
Ya I guess nevermind the fact that silver bolt and rampage fighting and how their actions do the damage to transmutate being a metaphor for parents who struggle to raise a child with a developmental disabilities. Naw it’s all about “feeling sad”
Silverbolt's line of "Are we to destroy anything that does not fit our view of perfection?!" still sticks in my mind, as does the whole episode's theme of disability.
Very much
Agreed, which is why the idea they had to "fix" her character by making an Arcee repaint seems off. Silverbolt's whole stance was that she was fine just the way she was, disabled or not. I think the message given that the rest of the Maximals were wrong in this instance was pretty obvious, even to kids.
@@Kanyon85 The idea they they have Transmutate a Arcee Repaint didn't really bother me when you think about the original and how it got that way. It's more of a what-if idea if her pod was not damaged and it took that concept of Disability to a more natural direction as that version may not look like one, how she interacted shows instead.
@@LucarioShirona still could've at least given her a more unique design and not just prime arcee
Yes, exterminate it
“Lord Imperious Delirious”
That name is both simultaneously the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and the greatest name to ever give a villain. I love it
Hexadeathimal: *exists*
I agree! Awesome name, but hearing it soulds like a 7-year old came ip with it to sound edgy by using large words
Other official names to consider. Shreddicus Maximus, Murder King, Lord Doomatron, Killmaster, Cykill, Road Pig and Slayride.
@@LordProteus Also: Cutthroat and Sinnertwin
@@LordProteus With names like these it's a miracle the Decepticons rarely ever have "are we the baddies" moments in their ranks.
Rampage’s cry of despair when Transmutate died was just gut-wrenching
And it hurts more knowing their relationship in the comics and seeing what they could’ve become
@@aerickmon3350. Ironically they had prime megatron and arcee bodies(who interacted,liked/know each other like this:-"0")!😂
It still gets me...even after all these years...
@@maguffle Campbell Lane was perfection as Rampage
@@petatersandgravye2n he certainly was
Her solo episode is actually one of my favorites despite the hate it gets.
It was nice to see a side of rampage that we never saw before. The caring compassion he had for Transmutate added a new layer of depth to the character.
1000% agreed. Something about Decepticons really showing that their hurt stabs me in the gut
On top of that, the idea that it had no agency is baffling. In the end TM chose to risk it's life and make the ultimate sacrifice for it's friends, literally refuting both the positions of Optimus and Megatron that it was incapable or unable to make decisions.
@@robertnewman4854 It's not as baffling if you remember that was TM's only choice
@@Xeno1798 Predacons
@@robertnewman4854 This is so important to point out; A lot of people think those of us with learning disabilities and/or Autism don't have agency, but we do-- Even those who are "low functioning". The fact that it was her decision alone is significant: It proves that she had agency.
I think the fossil transformation made a lot more sense than the motorcycle for the setting. I kind of get the idea that the motorcycle was more as a nod to the voice actress!
Potentially, but more likely it was just the best female transformer available to repaint at the time
@@aarononeil9832 paleotrex is male
@@aarononeil9832 wait NVM I'm dumb and misunderstood sorry
Most of the characters in Beast Wars Uprising didn't actually have beast modes.
the fossil was for the kingdom toy line and teh motercycle was from beast wars uprising comics were it mainly take place on cybertron
I like how Transmutate has a motorcycle alt mode, but wouldn't it make sense for her to have a jet mode? Since she was able to fly in her original appearance? Inspiration!
It'd have made more sense to have her be a retool of a Windblade figure, or even Prime Starscream.
I think they chose Arcee because her original voice actor did the voice for Arcee
Or a jet bike
@@gundampeacekeeper makes sense
@@stevencates2069 A triple changer
As a person who has Aspergers Syndrome I believe the episode has aged beautifully with both the Maximals and Predicons being in the wrong when it came to Transmutate, With Silverbolt and Rampage being the only ones to ever give them a fair chance. And the depiction of her in the comics is also great and one of the most accurate written interpretations of Autism I've ever seen. Difficulty interacting with others and picking up on Social Cues is something I have long since struggled with ever since I was a child, I for one hope they keep this character around for future generations to see and enjoy as she is a perfect example of how representation can be done right in fiction and storytelling.
I agree!
While in my opinion, the episode didn’t age well, the story it was trying to tell remains: People with autism are people too.
Mhmm, it's strangely sweet! Although as someone who was also diagnosed with what used to be called "aspergers" and is now just a point on the asd spectrum, it's worth real quick pointing out that the name was cahnged and is no longer used for a combination of it's inaccuracy, depicting it as a kind of autism rather than a way it just happens to present sometimes, and also it being named after a Nazi scientist, so it's best to not use it anymore
@@karapalmer7228 while I agree that the Asperger’s definition is definitely outdated (and named after a piece of shit), because it is a very specific form of Autism, it should still have it’s own name similar to adhd, ocd, and others.
That’s why I call myself an “aspi”. So I don’t say the actual thing, but still get the point across that I was diagnosed with it.
Similar to how other bad words (such as curse words) have harmless alternatives.
But that’s just me being I’m weird.
No one is obligated to agree with me.
@@ethanemerson4862 That's the main reason it needs to stop being used, it's actually not a specific form of autism, it's just a word for an arbitrary point on the austim spectrum and can actually present in many different ways, it's not as unique as it seems and infact a diagnosis with it can fuck you over like it did to me, where I was given less support because I had aspergers not autism, when it turned out aspergers meant nothing and actually there's so much more to it, it actually means nothing, there are no forms of autism, just a whole spectrum of which we're all a mix and mash of different parts of different intensities
Mood. To paraphrase one of her quotes, "I am only pointing out what is going wrong. Why am I being punished." That was such a mood I can empathize with. You report what is going wrong, only to get buried because you unknowingly reported to the one that did it on purpose. It accurately shown our analytical nature and our struggles to read social cues and identifying "friend" from "foe."
I actually think the Fossilizer Transmutate is the best and most inspired toy of her. It makes logical sense for her to take that form: corrupting transformation meaning she can't take on a full animal form, her transformation isn't like any others, and it helps her stand out as completely different from every other Maximal or Predacon.
I just wish she had her own unique form and not just a recolor.
@@joshuadenton346 That's part of the beauty of releasing her a a Fossilizer - she can be reconfigured into a unique robot mode.
@@joshuadenton346 extremely unlikely tbh unless you go 3rd party and even then what 3rd party even cares about BW?
@@GloomGaiGar quite a few being beast wars is one of the most beloved transformers ips
@@GloomGaiGar trans art has a transmutate figure.
Transmutate having TFP Arcee's design is something. The color scheme is beautiful.
All i can say is
"the lore deepens and the plot thickens"
Thankyou for providing us with this episode mate. Godspeed
THE LORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_like a good soup_
One of the best one-shot characters the franchise ever had. It's a shame the matter was never brought up again in further Beast Wars episodes 😟
@shockblast you could say that this was the point where any trace of sanity he had left died with TM
@@untunedguitar45 Rhinox.... Tank.... Corp....!!!
If anything Beast Wars was the last time Transformers felt like it wasn't trying to play it safe or appeal to a contemporary audience
Rampage became suicidal after that episode, that's something.
@@beastwarsFTW Wasn't he already suicidal before that?
I just rewatched the original episode last night, so to see this character get her own video is nothing short of a pleasant surprise, thank you
I remember watching this episode when it first came out.
It never gets any easier to watch; super tragic
bro beast wars horrified me when i was a kid
As someone on the spectrum myself, I found the fact that Transmutate being on it as well (and in the comic very high functioning at that) to be very interesting. Thank you for telling me about yet another way I can connect to this beloved franchise, this time, on a very personal level.
Transmutate seeing through the person trying to manipulate her and Rampage as you described it sat very close to home for me. Seeing shades of gray in situations for people on the spectrum is literally a learned and trained skill. We must learn and hone what neurotypical people take for granted in certain cases. And it can be different on a case by case basis. That is why Autism is a spectrum.
I was just about to write something similar. Neat. Always nice to meet someone else on one of the various spectrums I'm on. (I'm also somewhere on the asexual spectrum and the gender fluid spectrum, in case you're wondering. Not sure if they're related to how my Autism manifests in me or not, but they are as much a part of me as my Autism is.)
I love this so much. And got the kingdom figure asap. Because i also am on the spectrum
Same for me friends
I've got children with autism. So, I think that it's really cool that they made this character special like this.
This video is my first time learning that there was another version of transmutate, making her effectively an autistic transformer which, as someone on the high functioning spectrum myself, was intrigued by it. It's rare but always nice to see depictions of autistic characters in media not reduced to "person with barely functioning behaviors but possesses some superpower only autistic people have"
Okay, with transmutate being a point one percenter that *kinda* falls into that category, but at least she's on the higher functioning side of the spectrum.
You say it hasn't aged well but it's HIGHLY REALISTIC and even RELEVANT today when you hear and participate conversations involving Disability rights and services where the recipient is highly reliant on other. If anything it was ahead of its time in trying to bluntly and honestly talk about a difficult topic people shy away from. I grew up with and work with my severely autistic and blind little brother, so this one strikes deep for me.
I think he meant that if you tried to do an episode like that today cancel culture would destroy you. It's sad but it's true, the show would be called offensive and insensitive despite the fact that it would be attempting to shed light on a very serious and, as you said, relevant issue. And if by some miracle the show wasn't cancelled the episode in question would most likely either be removed from viewing platforms or heavily edited.
@@ariadnefrolich7243 Nah, he sounded more like he would be the part of the canceling and getting offended. I honestly don't understand what exactly aged horribly with that episode.
@@artur6912 yeah, as someone with autism who just discovered this channel it was a huge red flag when he said that. It reeks of the ableism bulshit that passes for sensitivity these days.
@@datboigroovin8200 as someone who is also autistic (Asperger's) I kind of, not fully, disagree. The episode in question did imo kind of age not the best and can be seen as insensitive. I get it may have been *trying* to spread awareness to how disabled people are treated but I don't think it did it that amazingly.
The comic book version mentioned in this video is done much better.
Edited for clarity.
@@Jormyyy I think you’re right that the comic is more sensitive (in that it is more empowering). I’m also Aspergers, so I get that the message is more encouraging for people in our place on the spectrum. However, (having worked with kids from all over the spectrum) I think the original episode is a much better demonstration of how people with ASD ARE treated in society.
Tldr: the comic is more empowering, but the show is more realistic, which makes it a better demonstration (in my mind) to show neurotypicals the injustice of our treatment.
Being autistic myself this one made me tear up a bit, very much a kindred spirit.
hey I have known only a guy that "said" he was autistic, he was not, he self diagnosed because it was kinda "cool"-_-
how is it? Imean from your point of view, I can imagine is not as fun as tumblr always said it is
@@ALDAL My brother and a few of my friends have it, can't say what it's like internally but from the outside they simply operate off of a slightly different software, so to speak. My brother has a hard time seperating the evenets going on around him from his own being, so when something like a death in the family happens he sometimes feels like it's his fault just because it happened near him.
ADHD so I feel you
@@MANJYOMETHUNDER111 Oh how I empathize with your brother, similar problem just compounded by a dose of depression.
I just realized and remembered that Transmutate's episode in Beast Wars came right after the episode where Dinobot died. Man, that's kinda cruel.
Yeah, if you're doing a binge-watch, it's DEVASTATING.
OH yeah it was when I First saw it
Yeah, an odd choice to put directly after Code Of Hero.
The death of Dinobot basically kicks off a string of episodes that really push the plot forward to it's conclusion or introduces major status quo changes.
Transmutates episodes is like one of two episodes that don't do that but still important none the less.
@mcstabba I assumed Dinobot's absence freed up just enough of the budget for another model, which of course ultimately went to Dinobot 2.
I don't know why, but I always felt Transmutate and Rampage made an amazing pair, I have the Rampage Colletors Club Toy and barely missed out on Transmutate. I actually like the storyline of them being .01%, because it explains just how insanely strong they are. Rampage may have been a borderline insane berserker, but Transmutate was his perfect opposite and calm and free-spirited.
Love them together
Really hope the two come back together in future series and manage to find themselves or even maybe with each other hopefully cause it was really heartwarming to see two characters who’ve been through so much be comfortable and open with each other
May they meet again. @@aerickmon3350
Wait, how has the original not aged well? The episode made it clear that both the maximals and predacons were wrong with their approach.
Except for Silverbolt and Rampage
@@rodimusriderv2368 Well of course. They both wanted to give it the chance to live.
I feel like transmutate was changed because some people might get angry at them but even then that’s pretty dumb it was episode about morals not dissing the mentality disabled
Agreed, the episode has aged very well when it comes to discussing the issues of more SEVERE cases of autism, retardation, etc. where somebody has little to no agency of themselves. While I do appreciate Beast Wars Uprising's take on milder cases of Autism, or rather Asperger's Syndrome, which is debatably so mild it's argued on whether or not it should be considered "on the Spectrum."
Personally, as an "Aspy" myself, I can appreciate the approach of the direction they took with Uprising Transmutate, but that doesn't make the original beast wars version of her and the story that they used to portray her condition as wrong. I love both stories of this tragic misunderstood bot, thus this makes her one of my favorites, and in my opinion, she's actually not THAT obscure of a character, if at all. She's pretty popular even among more casual fans once they know her.
I believe the reason it is seen as aged poorly is due to them killing the character rather than more deeply exploring the concept of disability...both the difficulties and what they can contribute. Yes they were wrong and MAN were they wrong as hell. Their first and only reaction was locking her up?!? With only one of the "heroes" thinking "hey, maybe treat them as a person"?
Yeah that did not age well.
True love this character, it was so touching, Brazilian voice actor of Rampage is one of the most legends! I do love to see the 2021 version!
Got any vids of Brazilian rampage
@@vantao9408 I believe this video has most if not, all brazilian voice actors for every character in the show. th-cam.com/video/gMwhrE0UVWA/w-d-xo.html
As someone who also struggles understanding social and emotional concepts, I’m very happy they did try and make a cybertronian like that. It makes me feel like they tried to bring an understanding to others what it’s like to not fit in with the rest of the crowd. It’s nice that fans still have good memories of transmutate
Christy Marx was a writer who did not shy away from serious issues in cartoon stories. I'm glad BW gave her the opportunity to write a story that was probably near to her heart.
Friend or family member that is neurodivergent?
What were some other stories that she wrote?
As someone with Autism myself, Transmutate is extremely interesting and adds a depth of relatablity I thought impossible for a Transformer character.
Same man I loved her episode and knowing she's like me makes me smile.
Me too
Same here
I thinks most versions of Soundwave are also on the spectrum.
This was actually one of the reasons I fell in love with beast wars. I think I'll try to rewatch this episode and whole show if I get some free time haha
transmutate is the best bw character to me and her design is terffiying me a lot as a kid,but i really like her skull face/mask is remind me to the lego ninjago skullkins especially samukai-frakjaw and the bionicle skull villans,and to me she's from the kind of genius characters that love his friends and is scared from everything and talk about more bw characters like transquito and also i really like her model as TFP arcee
This one, this one was freaky, the way she looked and moved was just creepy, but she was also hard to hate, her story was sad, and plus, her episode showed a side of rampage we hadn't seen up to that point, so that was nice
Dinobot: I had the BW saddest death ever
Transmutate: *Hold…my…spark*
How Dare You Force Me To Choose Between Some of My Two Favorite Beast Wars Characters.
Transmutate’s was tragic, Dinobot was heroic.
Really stung that 'Transmutate' (the episode) came right after 'Code of Hero'
i like the pauses in between his words
As someone autistic I want to read that comic. Transmutate sounds and looks like a cute and relatable character. Something I'd never expect to find in Transformers.
Yeah, it's a shame the comics are so damn' hard to find. they really need to do a Trade Paperback collection for them!
@@Beedo_Sookcool if you want you might be able to find them pirated online
Special forces vibes 😂
The story that ''hasn't aged well'' actually conveys very well issues around attitudes towards mentally/physically disabled and never portrayed the characters who were making decisions about Transmutate as being right. The modern stories that make Transmutate just another generic female Autobot through fear of offending anyone strip the character of anything unique and brush a mentally disabled character under the carpet. I guess Autism is a bit more palatable for mainstream audiences and easier to market.
I agree.
I was just thinking the exact same thing. You articulated it well!
My thoughts exactly. Original Transmutate is actually ALOT like my older brother, who always has to have someone by his side most of his life.
While I disagree with your opinion on Uprising Arcee's take of her condition, I do agree that the episode has aged very well when it comes to discussing the issues of more SEVERE cases of autism, retardation, pre-mature birth/birth defects etc. where somebody has little to no agency of themselves because of the way they are born. Something that I do believe is still an important point to talk about today.
While I do appreciate Beast Wars Uprising's take on milder cases of Autism, or rather Asperger's Syndrome, which is debatably so mild it's argued on whether or not it should be considered "on the Spectrum," I think Transmutate's debut and final episode was handled well and is like a fine whine, only gets better with time.
Personally, as an "Aspy" myself, and one who leans more towards the not on the spectrum camp, I can appreciate the approach of the direction they took with Uprising Transmutate, but that doesn't make the original beast wars version of her and the story that they used to portray her condition as wrong.
I love both stories of this tragic misunderstood bot, thus this makes her one of my favorites, and in my opinion, she's actually not THAT obscure of a character, if at all. She's pretty popular even among more casual fans once they know her, which kind of makes me question Chris' choice of including her here in the year's Obscure Characters Month.
Agreed. From a representation of not often discussed mental disability to one trait of autism as a super power. There’s more to mental disability than largely known conditions like autism and Down syndrome.
I liked the original episode, it showed that even the “good” maximals had flaws in not wanting to accomodate her. It makes her willingness to side with Rampage (one of only two that fights for her rights) so believable and tragic. Maybe I’m too set in my ways, but I don’t see how it didn’t age well. Otherwise as always great vid
I think the core of why the episode works is that it knows there is no real universally right answer for anyone in the situation.
TM is entirely innocent and deserves to live, but is also dangerous.
It IS cruel and selfish that the Maximals want to statuslock her, but what other option does she have?
It IS kind and empathetic that Silverbolt wants to help her be free, but what about who she'll hurt, including herself?
Rampage IS a monster who'll corrupt her or lead her into danger, but is he wrong to crave some shred of connection in his lonely, painful life?
Ultimately, they're all doomed to hurt someone, all doomed to be both selfish and thoughtful. The episode knows that TM deserves to live, but that no one in the Beast Wars can give her the happy, comfortable life she deserves.
@@michaelsimpson1224 personally I think the stasis lock choice would be the best one if my understanding is that it is basically putting her in a controlled coma is correct thus able to keep Transmutate safe from the war and when it's over they can take her back to cybertron to either A try to fix her in some way/stabilize her since she was shown to mechanically have issues not just mentally and/or B put her in an environment to be able to live and develop probably with Silverbolt as her companion to help her in her life... makes me wonder what if that did happen and somehow she was saved to Beast Machines where due to her transmetal (I think) body she would survive the transformation virus but what would her non transmetal form look like. Yeah, someone make a fanfic of that or something since a Beast Machines with Transmutate could bring a plethora of interesting ideas and concepts like how the techno-organic reformatting could affect her like maybe it could fix the flaws she was born with maybe only partially or how would it affect her immense powers and what about her alternate mode. It's a wellspring of ideas
The whole point of the episode is to teach not to judge, that people with disabilities are capable. We need more lessons like this.
Thank you for highlighting my comment
Speaking as someone autistic, dyspraxic and with ADHD, few things make my eyes roll more than writers who insist that being autistic is like having superpowers or makes a person super-special. The only thing more annoying is neurotypical people telling me why I should find a character/story I like offensive and/or insulting when it's not.
I did not know Transmutate existed until now, and I thank you good sir to introduce me to my new favorite character. Also as a person on the spectrum, I like how the club rewrote her story and I can relate to her in some way :)
Not gonna lie. the new take on her on the TF version of the spectrum did make me kinda smile a bit. as for the original I felt a lot what happened to it was mainly due to the damage from the malfunction. Then again I see it also as an allegory to not fear those that look and sound different, and to work with what life has given you. Despite the deformaties Transmutate still possessed something of a moral compass, and ability to feel.
I hope Transmute becomes a staple for the Transformers series! I like to learn more👍👍
For starters Hasbro needs to make a new Beast Wars cartoon and dunno if the current comic will continue if IDW is going to loose the rights to make Transformers comics.
doubtful, the subject could be a challenge to tackle for writers and it could wear out the uniqueness Transmutate has and possibly cheapen prior stories
Thanks 🙏
Thanks.
Oh wow, the first Obscure Character to get one of these videos that I actually know! Transmutate is a very interesting character, as she was/is basically Transformers equivalent to a mentally challenged character(apologies if this comes off as rude in anyway, not my intent, just trying to think of the best way to say it). While I do like her original design due to being VERY unique despite freaking me the heck out at first, her design using Prime Arcee’s look just seems to fit for some reason. The red eyes of the design are super striking with that look and I love it. While she was never one of my Top 3 Transformers, she’s still is one of my favorites.
It’s cool. No need to tread egg shells, none of us really care that much about specifically what you call this thing especially with how vaguely it’s defined
You are the man love learning so much history about TF keep up the great work
Bro a whole video Wikipedia but for everything transformers
Transmutate and code of hero def are two of beast wars best emotionally written episodes, such an underrated show in the fandom for some reason
I don't remember Beast Wars being an underrated show, some G1 purists didn't like it but it was the series that made Transformers popular again, many of today's Transformers fans became fans thanks to Beast Wars.
@@Hektols tRuKk NoT mOnKeE
I don't hate beast wars, but they have a really odd feel to them compared to the entirety of the transformers brand as a whole, like a black sheep. I still think it's odd to have TFs turn in to anything but vehicles, but thats just my opinion.
Beast Wars isn't underrated, it's one of the more know shows in the fandom and it's in the top 3 of best Transformers shows of all time of almost every fan, like Transformers Prime, Beast Wars and Animated are the most loved shows in the fandom and it's even held at the same regards of G1 with how it contribute to the lore of the franchise, yeah it gets hate of some G1 purists but that happens with every new Transformers media.
I liked that it also gave a chance for Rampage to be something other than the Beast Wars "monster". I always wondered why he connected with Transmutate. Was it just because of the power it possessed, a connection to someone in the past, or did he see himself in it? For a brief moment we saw the monster have a heart.
I wished this episode was referenced later in some way. Rampage and Siverbolt have sort of back and forth about it.
Well if I’m correct, Rampage is also an anomaly. Looking at the TFWiki, he was an experiment to recreate Starscream’s mutation of possessing an immortal spark. He, from the very moment he was born, was twisted and unnatural. Perhaps that’s why he said Transmutate held the same darkness he had; that same unnatural property that makes people revile ones very existence and feel there’s nothing else for it but to remove it from existence.
This is actually interesting because Female High Functioning Autism is much harder to spot then Male High Functioning Autism. I myself am on the spectrum and have quite a few friends who are the same. One of them sharing a kinship with Transmutate. I do to an extent as well. But I often think of how people don't understand us. My Autism was kept a secret from me for years so people wouldn't label me. However I found out by accident in a very heated conversation with my mother. From there I have grown into my placement in this world. But I mostly kept it secret from others as the term "That's Autistic" was running rampant in my school. That "insult" made my blood boil hotter and hotter and hotter. Eventually when I was doing a class on Psychology I revealed to my teacher in private that I was on the spectrum. He wasn't surprised. Later on he asked me to talk about it and we gave a flashy (not really) reveal to my class. I stood up and explained in a very flawed way how we are different. My class was kinda shaken by the reveal, I still laugh at it. I find a kinship in others on the spectrum and have a tendency to refer to the spectrum as an entity. I refer to it as us or we, because I feel linked to everyone on the spectrum in a very special way. I hope I'm not the only one.
I'm a HFA person as well. I've not really had a lot of exposure to others like me since I don't define myself by my autism. I'm not an "autistic person" I'm a person who happens to be autistic. I just think differently, more literally, than other people.
It's caused a fair amount of friction among my relatives. My father has yelled at me in the past over his frustrations with my interpretations of his instructions regarding chores because I would frequently ask lots of questions and explain what I had thought and why i was asking.
I can't say that I have felt kinship with others with autism but it's mostly because I don't see my neurology as a defining characteristic.
@@glenngriffon8032 I guess I understand that. But everyone on the spectrum is different. I feel kinship because I don't feel so alone. It isn't about the label it's about accepting yourself and others. You don't have to like my viewpoint.
@@glenngriffon8032 But, how our brains work is literally a defining trait in our personality. We are Autistic, labeling that as a bad thing is what makes problems. We are different. That is what make us special. You don't have to agree, but I feel like they are my kin. We are all different, yet we are similar. To me it is a badge, not a label. The way I think is used to my advantage.
The second version is probably my favourite, I relate to it most. The ending feels more satisfying, though the original was good too
Finally, my character arc is complete. Thank you for this video.
Transmutate was one of my favorite episodes of the Beast Wars cartoon. The tragic nature of her character being so misshapen and challenged in comparison to those around her always struck a chord with me. The Maximals and Predacons didn't need to fight over her, rather, they just needed to listen and accept her for what she was.
I mean it’s a great episode but like come on best? I love me some episode 35 “code of hero” now that’s what I call a best of!
@@MovieSimpClips it's their favourite no the best
Idk why everyone is offended by transmutate. I am autistic myself and I think she’s great
The people who're offended think they have to be offended for us. Or are the antivaxxers who think vaccines cause autism. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Same. But internet keyboard Warriors have to get offended over something and speak on our behalf to make themselves feel important and morally superior.
@@amidarkdesigns1229 so refreshing to see someone who agrees! These days it hard to state an opinion without someone freaking out. Rock on brother or sister!
I'm autistic as well (Asperger's), and while Transmutate doesn't offend me, I can be conciously aware of the issues in the way she is portrayed.
@@Jormyyy asperger's here too. Like I said in another comment, it's just people trying to speak on our behalf yo show how good and morally superior they are.
Y'know, Transmutate's design sort of pre-figured the Gundam designs in Iron Blooded Orphans, with the pistons.
Speaking as an autistic i remember decagons ago, my ma told me she signed a petition to ban abortions and terminations. I would know lives matter, and TM is one of the best characters I've seen.
I remember when I was little and saw its designed I was very scared of it but now way older I love its design and the message on that episode and I wish I could get the Beast Wars uprising Transmutate and Rampage they look like good figures and it would be just so nice to have them together ^^
I remember being a little kid and seeing Transmutate only to be absolutely horrified because honestly she looks like something from the uncanny Valley. But now that I see what their meant to be, I really like them.
Transmutate's only episode was very fascinating for its subject matter, as well as showing another side to Rampage. It's good that this character is getting more appearances in recent media.
I also remember when they made those 10th anniversary Beast Wars toys and had Transmutate's components packaged in each of them, but I didn't collect most of them. I believe I only obtained her laser cannon-like arm.
That figure needs a re-release!
I'm on the autism spectrum, so I got super excited when you started describing the comic version as being similar to someone on the spectrum :D
Hello special force
As someone with Asperger’s/HFA myself, it’s always good to see more neurodiverse representation in a brand that is taking on more significance in my life, and I wish that we could see more of that in Transformers.
Oh you too?
I loved how they depicted transmutates autism. Sometimes shows depict autism completely stereotypical as if they are nothing more than a forever child or a nervous reck. They depicted it here as high functioning, which is what I have, and people with HFA are capable of living normal lives.
That’s why it’s called a spectrum.
@@cameronleroux4098 As long as you're not taking information from Autism Speaks, because they appear to treat it like a "disease" when it's merely a difference of the mind. If people treated autistic characters like Spock from Star Trek or Waspinator from Beast Wars as barely different from the neurotypical character(s) around them they'd see there aren't really a lot of differences between NT and ND individuals, excuse the mention of Waspinator but I always viewed the character as more neurodivergent than most of the other characters
@@andrewmalinowski6673 The difference of the mind approach only works if you pretend that low-functioning autism doesn't exist. Treating it like a disease is the wrong way to think about it, but reducing autism to just being personality quirks and not quite getting social cues isn't the right way either.
I remember watching that episode and feeling great despair over it.
At the time the episode came out, Transmutate struck a chord with me. A particularly deep chord. I had a great-uncle, my grandmother's brother. He had been born deaf, blind, and mute. Due to his physical problems, he literally lived his entire life abused by his parents, his younger sister (not my grandmother who lived too far away from him) who was his chosen caretaker, and the people his caretaker had placed in charge of his life and safety. These same people even visited the cruelty on him of ripping out his teeth because he started biting in order to try and defend himself. That was when my grandmother stepped in. The straw that broke the camel's back, as it were. She sued for custody and had him moved out to a therapeutic group home where he was treated very well during the last half of his life. He passed away ten years ago, but even now, if I ever find myself in the area, I stop in at that group home to help clean up their little on-premises graveyard plot's headstones, bring flowers for the graves, and a case of vanilla ice cream for the current residents. As for why Transmutate as a character resonated with me, well... I saw so much of what my uncle went through mirrored in her own story.
bud nobody needs to know your life story or your families jesus just say i can compare notes to the story line!
@@ScotsmanGamer Speak for yourself, I found it very fascinating.
It was nice to see someone with sever disabilites represented. It's rare a show will have the balls to do so.
Dang, I wish *I* could also "heart" this comment.
@@chopsticks2618 off course you did they could tell you they breath fire out their ass you would believe that too not everything online is the truth you know!
As someone who is Autistic, this episode warms my heart.
I think it's kind of cool that Transmutate was the only Cybertronian Beast Wars Rampage actually cared about.
As someone who was born with autism, knowing a transformer, and one I already loved at that, is like gives me a joy that’s difficult to explain in words. I’ve always had a different look at the world and at what I want to do in my life, but seeing characters like transmutate make me feel normal and with hope. Thank you for giving me that knowledge.
P.S. Transmutate and Rampage’s relationship reminds me a bit of Razor and Aya from the GL series.
As somebody who has Autism seeing a character like Transmutate in the BWU comics who has something comparable to autism be such a badass character really makes me happy and has made me appreciate the overall character a lot more 😊
I was unaware of this magnificent creature. Tnx, Chris! 😉✨♥️🇵🇭
The BW episode was one of my favorites and absolutely the most memorable of the series for me. Ive collected all the Transmutate figures to this point for this reason including the 3rd party TransArt figure which is the best
To this day, if something bad happens, or someone causes me pain, I say to myself "I am hurt". Character had an enduring legacy and effect on people, and showed that friendship is what people need most, not always "what's best in our opinion" for them
Awesome video as always.
One thing I’d love to see for the future if Transmutate is for all of her future alt-modes to build on the fossilizer idea and have all her alt-modes be like that with skeletons for beast modes and frameworks for vehicle modes.
i actually remember her well, i loved her character and design (walking looked weird though) but for her to come back as a fossilizer (a new type of transformer) is super cool and awesome
Beast Wars Transmutate was one of my favorite characters as a kid, despite only being in one episode..
Such a sad end... I'm glad she got expanded on later.
Good lord, I barely scratched the surface myself and didn’t know about her backstory, I was just kinda creeped out by the skull for the character when I saw it in stores.
I feel I may have to hunt for her now and reserve a special spot for her amongst my collection of War For Cybertron figures. Discovering an actually autistic written bot for myself is amazing, and I wish I didn’t just overlook her.
This video did not disappoint. Good job.
I’m loving the kingdom release. The fan modes for her fantastic and suit the character I my opinion
I like Transmutate, she has a very interesting design & its good to know that this character has a continuation within the franchise. I hope to see more of her in the future, weather she be a bike, a fossil, a jet, or even a hybrid of beast & vehicle.
As an autistic person myself, I kind of like the direction they took Transmutate in the comics. Even if I understand why 90’s kids would think otherwise. They changed what made her different while still keeping most of her other traits from the cartoon like being powerful and unstable and her friendship with Ravage. They really just changed her physical spectrum to a mental spectrum! I know that Transmutate shouldn’t really look “cute” but to be honest, the original Transmutate design kind of had a cute charm to it too.
Can I respectfully ask, what's it like being autistic? What kind of autism, and how has it affected your life? Feel free to tell me Go to Hell, if you don't want to answer nosy questions I'll understand.
It’s hard to fully describe it as each case is different even if slightly but I think a good idea of it is everyone was given instructions for social interaction while you were not and as such don’t understand a need for a filter. I’m high function autism aspergers specifically but I remember how I tend just speak my mind to people even when I probably shouldn’t like saying some food my family or friends made was okay or bad and not seeing what was wrong with it as they asked what I thought so I took it as I should tell them what I think not be polite. We also tend to take things to literally. Its really hard to fully describe it as for me and others with it we don’t understand what it’s like without autism so I can’t fully say with 100 percent certainty if this helps.
I think both are valid and pretty great depictions of different aspects of being on the spectrum! The original is a hard look at when someone CANT have self-agency and there's no universally good answer for their situation, and the modern is a fun but grounded take at a character who is high-functioning enough to have agency and whose ASD-ness makes impacts their choices and view of the world in a realistically complicated way! I'm right on the edge of Millennial and Gen--Z, and I'm basically on the same spot on the spectrum is modern TM, but I've always had a really deep connection to the OG episode
Transmutate is one of my favorite Transformers Obscure Characters of all time,also one of my favorite Transformers toys was The Transformers exclusive Collector's club Transmutate figure from Beast Wars.Also Transmutate is still one of my favorite TransFormers Beast Wars characters of all time despite her Tragic Origin,also thanks for sharing Chris 👌 up the 👍 work stay healthy stay safe and until next time Beast Wars.
Never heard of Transmutate until today, and already she is my favorite. A lovely bot, if I do say so myself.
Thanks for covering this transformer. As high function, I definitely find the comic version kind of relatable. I know it’s a sensitive subject but good job with it!
I only know about Transmutate from this episode and I already consider her the most precious cinnamon roll in the franchise.
I can't even describe how happy I am to have some representation in the Transformers mythos. I didn't even think an Autistic transformer was possible but I'll be damned.
Rampage having empathy? Who knew?
The Transmutate episode is one of my favorite episodes of Beast Wars for the gut punch it gave at the time as a kid of 7 or 8 at the time
Considering the size of the Predacons and Maximals in that series when compared to modern humans I feel even more compelled to want to give Transmutate a hug because she could return it even though she's basically the size of Andre the Giant ( seriously most of the standard sized Transformers are about Andre the Giant sized in Beast Wars) I am also on the Spectrum so wanting to give her a hug is more a sign of solidarity than anything although that's just the desire that manifests from my own Asperger's syndrome ( autism spectrum disorder as it's called now) a form of high-functioning autism that was only recently discovered within the last 30 years.
Yeah, but the hominids in Beast Wars are clearly not HomoSapiens, closer to Cro Magnon or HomoHabilis. So really, they're not that much bigger, well except Optimal Optimus and Dragon!Megatron. Heck, Tyrano!Megs (transmetal or not) isn't big enough to be a proper Tyranosaurus! The bugs and arachnids however, well at least Inferno would apreciate my response.
@@HenshinFanatic uh I'm talking about in context of modern humans which she would be considering all Predacons and Maximals come from the future around a hundred years past the endpoint of the series (also I said I want to give them a hug and feel bad that I couldn't. You missed my main point)
@@tempestflare4339 Except there are no modern humans in Beast Wars so you can't be making a proper comparison. The closest point of reference is the first Golden Disk since it's actually a real life object, specifically it's the golden record that was launched into space decades ago. and it looks roughly in scale and since none of the maximals or predacons make it seem noticeably small compared to them, they're all roughly human sized (with the previous exceptions noted).
@@HenshinFanatic dude it is canon with the original Transformers we know the size comparison between them especially Optimus Prime and Optimus primal that's where I base my size comparison on. Remember that scene where they repaired Optimus Prime after Megatron destroyed him? That's how I mean my size comparison since we can use a standard measurement for Optimus Prime in that very series since he is canonically G1 Prime
@@tempestflare4339 I mean, yeah, but there aren't any good images of OG Optimus in Beast Wars where he isn't slumped over in stasis lock. So the closest useful object of reference is again the first golden disk. Optimal Optimus clearly gets a massive size boost after carrying OG Optimus' spark.
Great video man, I saw the figure but not seen the episode. You clarify the character for me really good
1:56 I understand this is supposed to mirror what happens in the real world. However, in this world, putting her in stasis would ensure she’d survive until they could get her to Cybertron for repairs. I’m sure they have the means of doing so. She can’t be the only damaged Protoform ever.
welcome back old friend, can't wait to see the next obscure character!
Wow... That reimagined version of Transmutate is so personally relatable to me! Huh, perhaps if I ever share my adventures on TH-cam, I'll have a chat with this obscure character! Not gonna lie, I'd have a ball with time travel trying to even find her. XD
EDIT: I mean the character overall is relatable, but the design mimicking TFP Arcee is the (visually) more relatable as it looks more... Shall I say, immediately trust gaining? Don't get me wrong, I love the skeletal design as well. But if I, per say, were to animate her, I'd use the more refined, or as I said "reimagined" design since I'm familiar with TFP Arcee's design already. Seriously though... I haven't gotten picked on for it much, but that's why I say it's so relatable because I have. I just take Optimus' advice, and never give up. Glad she didn't/doesn't either!
Her standing up for rampage was just heart melting for me
So glad she could do something like that for someone else herself🥲
It’s really cool that they re imagined her character into that comic
I’m Autistic, but I didn’t see anything wrong with the original character story, mainly because it shouldn’t matter if someone was born disabled or became disabled due to accidental circumstances that, in her case, were beyond their control. For example a lot of people were upset that MCU Hawkeye wasn’t deaf from the get go, forgetting that 1: the movies are their own continuity and are allowed to have their own story lines, and 2: Hawkeye wasn’t born deaf, they just forgot about the years he was able to hear perfectly fine until he got a pair of arrows shoved into his ears.
Look I have autism too, and I had this figure b/c I felt it represented me. There's no reason why you should start a big argument. As a transformers fan, Cris is stating the facts.
One of the things that people who dislike the episode often cite is that Transmutate doesn't have any agency, but in the end it was it's decision to try and stop the fighting and make the ultimate sacrifice for it's friends. I never read it as just "able" characters deciding the fate of a disabled character, but as a character who others refused to acknowledge as a person with agency actually taking action and claiming it's agency.
@@jpc7795 then why not keep the original explanation? This character suffered a traumatic accident that permanently damaged their body and mind. Is it wrong to show the effects of a life changing accident?
@@robertnewman4854 my issue is mostly how they changed the explanation behind her disability, they chose to erase “disabled from accident” in favor of “disabled from birth” forgetting that there are probably just as many of the prior as there are the latter, it’s not wrong to have either, but don’t ignore that it does happen.
2:31, due to the fact that both Maximal and Predacon could've co-existed but Transmutate knew this was never gonna happen.
2:40, after Dinobot's death...this happens. This hurts. Why do so many characters get killed off in a row in Season 2?
Susan Blu was the only G1 VA to appear in Beast Wars. Very sad that Frank Welker didn’t return to reprise his role as G1 Megatron in the golden disk message and Casey Kasem didn’t return to reprise his role as the voice of Teletran 1
Can you do Rack’n’Ruin? They’re amongst the most uniquely designed characters in the transformers franchise, being the first two headed transformer (even if they lean more to being conjoined twins) and they’re one of the most memorable and recognizable members of the wreckers to. They also JUST appeared on television in Transformers: Cyberverse where they would have a surprisingly memorable role and even a spotlight episode. It’s also in the Cyberverse toyline where they would get their FIRST toy that ACTUALLY transformed. While Rack’n’Ruin’s other roles where extremely minor they where often known to be WRECKERS. They’re amongst the most famous obscure characters in transformers.
I too would like to see rack and ruin they’ve always been interesting to me being well conjoined
I don't care for the PSA aspects of her story in the slightest, I just like how it was delivered. And I'd say it was delivered pretty nicely
The Transmutate episode was unique in that it dealt explicitly with the sensitive topic of euthanasia. This gave it the honor of being the most morally provocative episode of any Transformers series.
But the Maximals didn't want to euthanize transmute, they wanted to basically but it in a coma, because they were in the middle of an armed conflict AND it possessed dangerous powers it didn't know how to control.
@@artur6912 Personally, I don't see much of a moral difference between putting a bot in stasis lock and putting a dog to sleep. You're still putting something down because you think it's better off that way.
@@cadman2300 there was no implication that putting transmutate in stasis would kill it, because it's basically a medically-induced coma and not putting it down.
The golden lagoon is also similar:
Fun tidbit about the episode: When new, someone at Mainframe Entertainment decided to play an April Fool’s joke on someone else and “spiced up” the script. By including a scene where Rattrap and Cheetor do something REALLY inappropriate with Transmutate. Thing is, the altered script somehow (I assume accidentally) made its way to the Internet, BEFORE THE EPISODE ACTUALLY AIRED.
...oh dear, I'm curious what the heck else was in that joke script
What was in that script!!?
@@Xeno-The-Wanderer @Dirck the Dork-Knight It’s difficult to explain and I honestly don’t want to look it up again. There’s a link on the TFWiki page for the episode.
I remember watching this episode and thought Transmutate was so eery. It was the way she would speak with that raspy voice like ET, and the way she even moved just freaked me out as a kid. But then she died and I regretted fearing her in the first place.
1:14 - 1:19
Mr. McFeely, you might wanna be careful with the bombs you drop, because that was a doozy. To learn that Susan Blu voice of G1 Arcee was a director for Beast Wars, and voiced Transmute. To learn that G1 Arcee and Transmute share the same VA, and to learn that this same VA was instrumental in crafting Beast Wars, which was a defining Transformers series for 90s kids like myself.
That is mind blowing.
She was also the Voice Director for Transformers: Animated (as well as voicing Arcee in that show). absolute legend
@@ratfarmer1
Oooooooooh okay, and the bombs keep coming... Holy crap! That was her as Arcee in Transformers Animated? Not only that, but she was a voice director for Transformers Animated?
Okay, McFeely blew my mind, but you rendered me speechless. Holy crap.
@@DemonicRemption She did a lot of Voice Directing for a while, still does irrc
2:24 almost 24 years later and it still hurts.
I remember the original transmutate gave me nightmares.
Autistic TransMutate on the other hand... As an autistic person, I am glad they made her one of my people!
Ive always loved Transmutate as a character, the disabled yet powerful being that has her fate decided by a more-abled society who think the less-abled are weak and constantly need cures & support, but i didnt even know that BotCon reimagined her to have the same neurotype as me! That was a shock that left me adoring her more! Will definitely repaint a figure for her to appear in my TF stop-motion film!
Well if that isn’t that the sweetest/saddest transformer lore ever 😭❤️
Very much
She refused to say, “Friend. Evil,” to Rampage. She said instead, “Friend. Dark.” She saw good in even the most violent Predacon in the whole cast. God, looking back, it hurts because it reminds me of myself…
always liked transmutate and rampages relationship in the comic i hope they make a new rampage soon
haven't read it myself, but i already love the "Transmutate and Ravage" comic story. I for one would watch / read the heck out of a slightly longer series focusing on those two together.
Transmutate was my favorite beast wars character, along with cheetor
personally I like transmutate’s motorcycle form and story - to be blunt it resonates with myself more
not to say the original is worse in any way, I like that version as well
But personally I prefer stories where everyone as agency in their fate
I think tranmutate is one of my favorite charecters now.