Rise of the Beasts’newest Transformer characters come from Beast Wars: Transformers, which aired for three seasons from 1996 to 1999. The show represented a rapid departure from previous Transformers media. Though a sequel to the franchise’s first generation, the show takes place hundreds of years after the events of Generation 1, with almost entirely new characters. Narratively, the series focuses on the battle between the Maximals and the Predacons, the descendants of the Autobots and the Decepticons, respectively. While the first generation’s characters famously transform into automobiles, the Maximals and Predacons transform into a diverse array of animals, from Optimus Primal’s ( Garry Chalk) gorilla to Megatron’s ( David Kaye) tyrannosaurus. Additionally, the series also changes the traditional animation style previously used to bring the Transformers to life as one of the first fully computer-animated programs. Most of the Maximals and Predacons believed that Cheetor had perished; he was posthumously honoured as the "First Resistor", the first proto-former who'd taken a stand against the tyrannical Builder regime. Derailment In reality, however, Cheetor had been captured and imprisoned within Fortress Maximus, where he remained for many years until Lio Convoy's forces eventually freed him and he was more than welcomed into their ranks as the "first resistor". Head Games Cheetor wanted nothing more than to march into the front lines, but Lio Convoy felt he served better as a propaganda hero, and over the next five years, he and Preditron were shuttled about the planet doing just that, hardly ever being told the reason for their going, just being sent where they were sent. Although he adopted a cybercat beast mode once the Maximals and Predacons adopted the Beast Upgrade, Cheetor figured he'd missed any chance to fight the good fight. Part of the first wave of Beast Wars Deluxe toys (sort of, see below), Cheetor transforms into an organic, big cat-like creature somewhat resembling a cheetah. As such, he is yellow and covered in spots. In robot mode, he is armed with a rifle made out of his hindquarters and tail, along with a second water-squirting "quasar canon" formed out of his stomach. As with most early Beast Wars toys, he features a " mutant head" that replaces his face, although because the entire head is mounted on a cabinet-style vertical swivel, it is difficult to keep the mutant head set in position. Many Beast Wars combatants had managed to construct personal bases, customized to their personal tastes, due to the extended duration of the war. Cheetor's own base was an Energon mining operation, located in a desert area. It featured sphinx-like statues bearing Cheetor's likeness and colour scheme. Cheetor joined his fellow Maximals in battling not only an entrenched Predacon threat, but the interdimensional monsters known as the Skriix. Along with this new planet and its struggles, two new factions enter the fray. One intended on staying out of the war, and one intended on intervening with their story.

Cheetor is the only Maximal Megatron never refers to by name throughout Beast Wars and Beast Machines.

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After reactivating in his new beast mode, Cheetor helped Nyx repair their damaged ship before the high-flying pilot took off to explore the planet with her new wings. Cheetor was upset by this, as it meant that he'd have to turn to the notoriously unhygenic Rattrap to reach into narrow components. Savage Landing Part 2 When night fell and Nyx still didn't return, Cheetor grew restless and considered striking out on his own to find her before Optimus shot down the idea. Savage Landing Part 3

During his time as a transmetal 2, Cheetor could reach speeds up to Mach 2 while running in beast mode. Cheetor would later receive another upgrade from Megatron's cloning experiments, becoming a Transmetal 2. With this, he gained even more power and speed, but at the cost of bestial urges that he had to learn to control. With his new missile launcher and leap-thruster, Cheetor stirred fear in the Predacons he fought against. Transmetals 2 Cheetor bioHe awoke, affected by a Transwarp agitator planted on the shuttle by a new team of Predacons hiding on Earth. This device caused Cheetor and the other Maximals aboard to act aggressively towards one-another, and they tried to force Rattrap into the ship's C.R. Chamber due to its influence. Rattrap resisted, managed to get away, and deactivated the ship's Transwarp drive. Though this restored the Maximals to their senses, it also returned them to prehistoric Earth. Shell Game #1 Transformers Legends anthology (1)