Tigatron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Transformers character | |
 |
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| Tigatron (Unit 2) | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Maximal |
| Sub-Group | Deluxe Beasts Transmetals Basic Vehicles |
| Function | Reconnaissance Security Officer Vok Avatar |
| Motto | "Let the trails lead where they may. I will follow." "Maintain your balance and the rest will follow." |
| Alternate Modes | White Bengal tiger Transmetal White Tiger Cybertronian Car |
| Series | Beast Wars Transformers: Timelines |
| Voiced by | Blu Mankuma (English) Kôichi Tôchika (Japanese) |
Tigatron is a Transformer character from Beast Wars. He is a Maximal and takes the beast form of a white Bengal tiger.
Contents |
[edit] Beast Wars
Tigatron was the first Maximal to join Optimus Primal's group after being created from a fallen stasis pod during the Beast Wars. His birth was a difficult one however. In the crash, much of his Transformer memories were erased. To fill in those mental blanks, Tigatron adapted to the instincts of his alternate form: a white tiger. Because of this, he felt much more comfortable in the wide open spaces of the Earth. He felt that Earth is his birth world and that in many ways, he is more of a tiger than Maximal. He did not reside in the Maximal base Axalon, but rather in the wilderness of Earth, checking in to the Maximals via laser relay stations.
"Attention Maximals. This is a code 1 emergency message from Tigatron: Airazor has been damaged. She and I are trapped on a mysterious flying island. This island is a self-contained ecosystem guarded by powerful weapons of alien design. Blackarachnia and Scorponok have already managed to invade. If the Predacons gain control of the island and its weapons the Predacons will be able to destroy the Maximal base and win the Beast Wars." - Tigatron, from "The Trigger, Part 1"
Of all the Maximals, Tigatron was the one most 'in harmony' with his beast form and shares a love for the beauty of nature with Airazor. During his long travels through primeval earth, he managed to merge his animal instincts with his Maximal brain, uniting his beast and robotic forms. He is slow to anger, lives in harmony with the world around him, is a pacifist, and is wise and well-spoken. Tigatron's unwavering adherence to his moral convictions (including a belief that fighting should always be the final resort) often put him at odds with the Maximals. His early relationship with Optimus Primal was uneasy, but Tigatron ultimately became one of his most loyal followers. As a result he was viewed as aloof, despite possessing some of the most powerful weaponry of all the Transformers. Tigatron was less willing to participate in pre-emptive military actions, but always willing to run to the Maximal's rescue whenever they were on the brink of disaster or ultimate Predacon victory. He and Airazor were abducted by the mysterious alien race known as the Vok, who fused them into Tigerhawk (TigerFalcon). (In the noncanon BotCon fictions, he was later revived by the Vok to assist Primal Prime.)
Tigatron formed a special relationship with a fellow white tiger (a native of Earth) named Snowstalker. Unfortunately, she was killed during a battle with the Predacons. This almost made Tigatron quit, but he eventually used the experience to strengthen his resolve to protect the wilderness from the Predacons. This connection to the earth and respect of nature is quite different from any of the other Transformers, who are very much integrated into technology and only see their beast modes as a necessity. This trait saved his hide when he fell onto the "flying island", a whole ecosystem in a cloud protected by alien technology which would target and attempt to destroy anything violent or which threatened its delicate balance.
http://www.timelessdestinations.com/GuestPhotos/BluMankuma10--8-05.jpg Blu Mankuma as Tigatron
[edit] Team relations
Tigatron and Airazor both share a love of the Earth, as each considers it their "birth world". They both prefer to remain outside the Maximal base and roam the planet free in beast mode. Airazor would often save his life. Airazor soon developed deep feelings for him in which Tigatron felt the same way as they were seen holding hands and were about to kiss. Fellow Maximal, Cheetor, admires Tigatron's wisdom and bravery - the fact that Tigatron is another feline helps - and Tigatron is aware of this, often calling Cheetor "Little Cat". Tigatron does not really understand fellow Maximal Rattrap who is constantly throwing out verbal jibes and calls Tigatron "Stripes", but the two get along fine.
Although Tigatron is peace loving and his primary roles are remote reconnaissance and environmental research, he can be a very effective warrior when he needs to. His code of honor is equal to the ranks of those like Dinobot and Silverbolt. However, he is usually as pacifist as Optimus; however, when nature is threatened he is pushed to fight.
Tigatron and Airazor disappeared mysteriously when the mysterious alien construct "Metalhunter" appeared on Earth. It was later learned that the alien race known as the Vok merged both Airazor and Tigatron into the powerful Tigerhawk. This combination was short-lived, as Tigerhawk was killed while attempting to stop the Nemesis.
In the Beast Wars: Primeval Dawn comic series, Tigerhawk is separated into Tigatron and Airazor, each receiving a new Transmetal body. Tigatron also appeared in the later Wreckers comic series, but Airazor's fate is unknown.
[edit] 3H Comics
Although Tigatron and Airazor seemingly died in the end of the Beast Wars series, they returned in the Transformers: Universe line in two ways.
The first way Tigatron and Airazor returned was as transmetals returned to Earth by the Vok after the Maximals left and teamed up with Primal Prime and Ramulus in taking on Tarantulas and his new Predacons in the Primeval Dawn comic book series. This Tigatron eventually came to Cybertron where he helped reform the Wreckers.
The transmetal Tigatron toy was a Botcon white exclusive repaint of Beast Wars Ravage, while the transmetal Airazor was from the second year of the regular toy line, but was never utilized in the show.
The second way Tigatron and Airazor would return in the Universe line was as one of the binary sparks of the Decepticon Razorclaw. Razorclaw was an alternate universe version of Tigerhawk who killed Megatron and became a minion of Unicron.
[edit] Manga
Much like the TV series, except that Tigatron disappeared without a trace when Optimus Primal was killed. He was found by Tarantulas, who brainwashed him into a slave. Airazor sacrificed herself to break Tigatron out of it, with her spark entering his body and merging onto his spark. This caused Tigatron's body to evolve into Tigerhawk. In this Manga, he has a katana and puts a cloak, which may be inspired from his tone in Japanese animated series (He talks like a samurai).
[edit] Botcon
The 2006 Botcon featured a pre-Beast Wars Tigatron who was a repaint of Transformers: Cybertron Clocker. His pre-Beast Wars name is Unit 2, and he is a member of the Maximal Command Security Forces. In this he was unable to prevent Megatron's forces from stealing the Golden Disc. Commandeering a ship to pursue the Darkside, the ship was crippled by Predacon firepower. A desperate Optimus Primal had the Sparks of the crew transferred to their cargo of protoforms to save their lives, but damaging their memories in the process, explaining how Tigatron later came to be a "blank" protoform in the Axalon's cargo hold.
[edit] Trivia
- Tigatron is left-handed
