Snarl (Transformers)

Snarl is the name of several different fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.

Transformers: Generation 1

Snarl

Snarl Dreamwave Art
Autobot
Information
Sub-group	Action Masters, Dinobots, Targetmasters, Lightning Strike Coalition
Function	Desert Warrior
Rank	4
Partner	Sludge and Tyrannitron
Motto	"Only in war is there happiness."
Alternate Modes	Mechanical Stegosaurus Cybertronian Tank Stegosaurus
Series	Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2 Transformers: Dinobots
Voiced by	Hal Rayle (English)

Snarl is one of the members of the Autobot sub-group called the Dinobots led by Grimlock. He turns into a robotic Stegosaurus.^[1]

The toy that became Snarl was originally part of the Diaclone toy from Takara.

According to his bio, Snarl is an Autobot of few words and fewer opinions, Snarl grudgingly follows the orders of Dinobot leader Grimlock and leaves the thinking to others. He's generally unhappy and a loner, and his uncommunicative nature only adds to his feelings of isolation. Only the thrill of battle can elevate his spirits. In fact, few of his comrades experience the joyous heights that Snarl attains while locked in mortal combat. But for him war is an all too brief respite from the twin devils that haunt his miserable existence: Snarl was made on earth.

His unique design makes Snarl particularly useful in sunny, arid environments. The large golden plates protruding from his spinal assembly are solar collectors. Although he can operate without sunlight, solar energy can increase his strength tenfold and his endurance to a virtually limitless degree. A swipe of his tail can shatter a 20-foot concrete cube. His heavily armored hide makes him resistant to most missile fire.

Snarl's dependency on sunlight makes him extremely vulnerable to attack at night. Although he can use the same fuel the other Autobots use, he operates at only a fraction of his strength when he does. He is also very slow and his uncooperative behavior patterns sometimes hinder his effectivess in dangerous situations.

Snarl is unique among the Dinobots in that his head is not located near the head of his dinosaur mode. He is also the only Dinobot without wings created from body panels. Instead his tail splits to form "wings" that are more like horns. In the animated series Snarl uses a sword instead of ranged weapons, although the toy comes with an Energo Sword, Electron Cannon rifle and a rocket pod.

Snarl is also one of the most powerful Dinobots and also sometimes the strongest.

Marvel Comics

Snarl was among the Autobots who came to Earth with on board the Ark under the leadership of Optimus Prime. When the Ark crash landed on Earth it reformatted Snarl in the form of one of the Earth's native creatures, a stegosaurus.

Eventually, Snarl was deactivated, along with the rest of the Dinobots, while facing Starscream who had been empowered by the Underbase. He lay in a life support pod in the Ark for quite some time before Grimlock used the untested energy source known as Nucleon to revive him and his Dinobot comrades.

Snarl was among the united Autobot and Decepticon forces who opposed Unicron's assault on the planet Cybertron in 1991 (Transformers #75).

He subsequently stayed with the Autobots and appeared in Marvel's Generation 2 comic.

Animated series

In the original Transformers cartoon series, Snarl was a Stegosaurus Dinobot created by Wheeljack and Ratchet on Earth in 1984. He was created along with Swoop to be the two new Dinobots to go along with the already-created Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge. While Snarl and Swoop were being created, Megatron convinced Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge that Optimus and the Autobots were their enemies and the three original Dinobots kidnapped Optimus Prime. After Wheeljack and Ratchet, with the help of Chip Chase, created Swoop and Snarl, the two new Dinobots were used to rescue Prime from Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge. During that battle, Optimus saved the original Dinobots' lives before the meteorite near them exploded and they then realized that the Autobots were really their friends. Snarl was the only member of the Dinobots to wield an energo sword in robot mode rather than a hand-held gun. It has not been explained why he or the other dinobots were able to be fitted with personalities which can only be found on Cybertron from Vector Sigma. Apparently there is a difference between the brain and personalities in Transformers. Their brains are simple, yet still it is the personalities that make them sentient. It is evident that addition of personalities or "sparks" and its origin was after the fact, and was hoped that this inconsistency would be overlooked.

In 1985, an island with real dinosaurs was found by Powerglide and Bumblebee. Optimus decided that Dinobot Island would be a good place for the Dinobots to train and practice their fighting skills, because the Ark was too small for the giant Dinobots. Megatron and the Decepticons found out about the island and wanted to harvest it for all the energy it produced. The Dinobots were thrown in a pit of tar, but later escaped and, with the help of a group of real dinosaurs, attacked Megatron.

Later, the Cybertronian Autobots and Decepticons began to malfunction because they ran out of Cybertonium, a crystalline substance only found on Cybertron. The Dinobots were made on Earth, so they were the only Transformers not affected and were sent to Cybertron to get some. When they got to Cybertron, they disappeared. Spike and Carly went to Cybertron to find them and found Swoop, who led them to the other Dinobots that were captured and working for Shockwave. Eventually they were freed and brought the Cybertonium back so that the Autobot's bodies could be restored.

In 2005, Grimlock and all the Dinobots except Snarl took part in the Battle of Autobot City and against Unicron as seen in The Transformers: The Movie. Although Snarl was seen among the Autobots in non-combat scenes in the city, he seemingly disappeared during combat. This is mostly attributed to the lack of synchronization between the Korean animators and the writers, but the subject of what happened to Snarl during the events that unfolded in that battle and the ensuing battle against Unicron is usually regarded with a certain taboo among fans. It can also be interpreted that Snarl was left behind along with Blaster to help repair Autobot City as the Autobots suffered a lot of casualties and his strength would be needed to help defend the Autobots who remained. He is, however, seen in very early trailers of the movie, along with his fellow Dinobots.

In the events following the destruction of Unicron and the second Golden Age of Cybertron, Snarl is mostly unseen with the exception of a few minor appearances.

Snarl was among the primitive Transformers called by Primacron's assistant to battle Tornadron.

Books

Snarl was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior book called Dinobots Strike Back by Casey Todd.^[2]

Devil's Due Publishing

In 2004, Snarl was among the Autobots under the leadership Optimus Prime who attempted to take back the planet Cybertron from the Decepticon tyrant Shockwave. After an accident with the teleportational systems of the supercomputer Teletran-3, Snarl found himself sent back in time and on the planet Earth. He was reformatted in the form of an Earth dinosaur with several other Autobots. A group of humans were able to bring the new Dinobots back to Cybertron and they helped overcome Shockwave (G.I. Joe vs. The Transformers II #4).

IDW Publishing

In a flashback in Maximum Dinobots #1 Grimlock lead the Dynobots in taking a Decepticon energon silo in Sub-Sector Nine on Cybertron.

In the Transformers Spotlight issue on Shockwave, Grimlock and the 'Dynobots' (sporting Cybertronian designs much like their War Within designs) appear in a story that partially homages their Marvel Generation 1 origin. Seeking payback for a humiliating defeat by Shockwave, Grimlock pursued him to prehistoric Earth (which Shockwave was seeding with Energon). In order to protect themselves against Energon surges, the Dynobots required alternate modes covered by a layer of synthetic flesh; Grimlock refused to transform into Ice Age mammals and made the decision to go with dinosaurian forms instead as he thought them more impressive. The Dynobots got the initial jump on Shockwave, as their attack was too illogical for him to understand, but he quickly recovered and blasted the entire team into stasis lock with their synthetic skins destroyed. Grimlock got the final laugh, as the Dynobot ship fired a pre-programmed blast into the surrounding volcanoes to unleash a flow of lava that engulfs all six Transformers until they were uncovered by human paleontologists in 2006.

Fun Publications

Based on the Transformers Classics toy line, the Timelines 2007 story is set 15 years after the end of the Marvel Comics story (ignoring all events of the Marvel U.K. and Generation 2 comics).

In Transformers: Timelines volume 2 #2, "Games of Deception" Ultra Magnus lead a force including Elita One, Springer, Huffer, Snarl, Strongarm and Tyrannitron after the Decepticon Bug Bite and his forces to Earth.

Snarl appears in At Fight's End.

Kup told the Dinobots and Rodimus the story of how he became a member of the Autobot Elite Guard.^[3][4]

Other media

Snarl appears in the TFcon 2008 voice play prelude comic called "Ground Effects" where Grimlock orders the other Dinobots to dig up a Transformer on Dinobot Island.^[5]

Toys

• Generation 1 Dinobot Snarl (1985)

Based on a Diaclone toy.

• Generation 1 Action Master Snarl (1990)

Snarl was one of two original Dinobots to receive the Action Master treatment. His partner is called Tyrannitron.

• Generation 2 Snarl (red) (1993)

A red repaint of the original, Snarl returns minus his missile launcher. Despite his recolor as a toy Snarl appeared in his original colors in the Marvel Generation 2 comic.

Snarl appeared in his red Generation 2 form in the short lived U.K. Generation 2 comic series.^[6]

• Generation 2 Snarl (green) (1993)

Snarl was also available in a green variant.

• Dinobots Snarl (2003)

In 2003, a set of Walmart exclusive toys sold simply as Transformers: Dinobots featured repaints of Beast Wars molds as six Dinobots in sets of two. Snarl (a recolor of Beast Wars Neo Saberback and Beast Machines Striker) was packaged with Sludge (a recolor of Beast Wars Sling).

How the Transformers: Dinobots toy line fits in with the other Transformers lines is still a bit of a mystery. The previous Robots in Disguise and Armada lines contained many non-show recolor toys, but the toys don't mention either line on the boxes. The Dinobots toys came out just before the Transformers: Universe series, which was almost entirely recolors of old toys - so some fans consider it a precursor to that series.

• Smallest Dinorobots Desert Warrior (2006)

An unlicensed micro replica of Snarl by JustiToys, in the style of Takara's Smallest Transformers.

• Smallest Dinorobots Desert Warrior (red) (2006)

Exclusive to this line was a limited-production red version.

• World's Smallest Dinorobots Comic Version Boxed Set (2010)

A TFSource exclusive boxed set of JustiToys' unlicensed micro reproductions of all five G1 Dinobots, limited to 300 units. Each toy is repainted in the Marvel Comics colors.

Beast Wars

Snarl

Beast Wars Snarl toy
Maximal
Information
Sub-group	Basic Beasts
Function	Surprise Attack
Rank	2
Motto	"Now you see me, now you don't."
Alternate Modes	Tasmanian devil
Series	Beast Wars

In the Beast Wars toyline, Snarl was the name of a Maximal who transformed into a Tasmanian Devil. This character did not appear in the original Beast Wars cartoon. In the comics series he is depicted as being able to turn invisible.

Animated series

Snarl's stasis pod was among those who were launched into orbit around prehistoric Earth during the Beast Wars series pilot.

IDW Publishing

Snarl finally made his first official appearance in the 2006 IDW Beast Wars:The Gathering comic, where it was revealed he was a Maximal protoform from the Axalon. Originally his protoform was recovered by Magmatron's Predacons and infected with a Predacon shell program. Unbeknownst to Magmatron, his technical expert Razorbeast was a Maximal double-agent and had managed to modify the program so a significant number of those infected emerged as Maximals. After activation B'Boom, Bonecrusher, Optimus Minor, Ramulus, Snarl and Wolfang joined up with Razorbeast. Snarl seemingly served as the Maximals' technical support, saving Optimus Minor from Drill Bit. It was Snarl who observed Magmatron going after Megatron after hijacking one of the Ark's surveillance drones. He was later tasked by Razorbeast to build a Transwarp signal amplifier from parts scavenged from Ravage's cruiser and the Ark - but at this point the Predacons, led by a resurrected Ravage, attacked, with Snarl ordering the others to buy him time for the signal to succeed. The intervention of other Maximals led by Torca saved them, but Snarl was unsure whether their signal had reached Cybertron before the amplifier had burnt out. Snarl and the other Maximals then settled in for the long haul on Earth.

Snarl appeared again in the sequel series, where he returned with some of the Maximals and Predacons to Cybertron. During the battle on Cybertron the Snarl was able to shunt Shokaract into limbo with Magmatron, where the truth of Unicron's plans were revealed. Shokaract destroyed himself and Magmatron was freed, returning to Cybertron.

Snarl had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.^[7]

Toys

• Beast Wars Snarl (1997)

In Beast Wars Second the toy for the Maximal Tasmanian Kid was identical to Snarl.^[8][9]

Beast Machines

Snarl

Universe Snarl toy
Autobot/Maximal
Information
Sub-group	Deluxe Beasts
Function	Strategic Specialist (Beast Machines) Matrix Templar/Strategist (Transformers: Universe)
Rank	7.2
Motto	"They won't even see it coming!" "The greater my adversary, the sweeter the victory."
Alternate Modes	Technorganic Lion
Series	Beast Machines Transformers: Universe

In the Beast Machines toyline, Snarl was the name of a Maximal who transformed into a technorganic lion. He did not appear in the television series, but eventually did appear in the Transformers: Universe comic. It is unclear if he had any connections with the Beast Wars toy of the same name.^[10]

3H Enterprises

Snarl appeared in the unreleased Transformers: Universe - The Wreckers #4 as the commander of the Cybertronian troops repelling the Quintesson invasion. He worked directly with Skydive, Longhorn and Cheetor.

Fun Publications

Snarl, Skywarp, Tap-Out and Triceratron appeared in the story Wreckers: Finale Part II by the Transformers Collectors Club in 2007. During the invasion of Cybertron by the Quintessons all four vanished, taken captive by Unicron's transport beam.^[11]

3H Enterprises

In the Transformers: Universe comic Snarl is abducted from an alternate timeline by Unicron to participate in his plan to gather energy. Later, Optimus Primal helps break free the captives, including Snarl, from various timelines which are held there and gets them to Cybertron.

There, Optimus Primal pleads with Magnaboss and the Maximal High council (which includes Bantor, Air Hammer, Corahda, Torca and Battle Unicorn) to take the threat of Unicron seriously, but they doubt his claims. Optimus Primal is detained, but Snarl frees him.

Toys

• Beast Machines Snarl (2000)

The Beast Machines figure of this toy appears similar to the Leobreaker and Nemesis Breaker molds, as well as the transformation sequence, as the legs fold down, and the same kind of weapon, as the tail becomes the main weapon, maybe a sort of whip.

There were plans to repaint Snarl as Alpha Trion as a convention exclusive toy, but only hand-painted prototype toys were made.

This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley.^[12]

• Universe Snarl (2003)

Beast Machines Snarl was recolored as an Autobot for the Transformers: Universe line. This version of Snarl appeared in the Transformers: Universe comic series.

Transformers: Cybertron

Snarl

Cybertron Snarl toy
Autobot
Information
Sub-group	Deluxe Beasts
Function	Fierce Animal Commander
Rank	7
Motto	"I roar with justice! Report!"
Alternate Modes	Robotic Wolf
Series	Transformers: Cybertron
Voiced by	Scott McNeil (English) Yuto Kazama (Japanese)

Snarl is a native of the Jungle Planet in Transformers: Cybertron, Snarl is a student under Backstop. Snarl transforms into a white-blue wolf, and is an Autobot. Snarl is a good friend of Leobreaker. His Cyber Key activates two fangs similar to that of a saber-tooth tiger.^[13]

Animated series

Snarl first appeared in episode 11 of Transformers: Cybertron, called "Search" as one of Scourge's guards. Megatron and Starscream arrived on Animatros looking for a Cyber Planet Key. When the Decepticons attempted to enter the Sacred Shrine, Snarl and Undermine told them to leave, but the Decepticons were not to be turned back.

A wolf transformer, he joined the Autobots to keep a close eye on his old friend Scourge, the tyrannical ruler of the planet whom he once served until he was branded a traitor. After the Jungle Planet Keys was recovered, he joined the Autobots.

He was a little nervous when he set foot in the Autobot base. He thought it was a cave and wanted to see rocks rather than metal. He eventually confronted Scourge with fellow Autobot Leobreaker on Giant Planet, succeeding in shaking the tyrant's resolve enough to force him to rethink his position among the Decepticons.

Later, Snarl would return to the service of a kinder and wiser Scourge in the fight to save their home planet from being sucked into the Black Hole. Snarl often refers to Scourge as 'brother'.

In the final episode of Transformers: Cybertron, a wrestling match is held to decide the new leader of the Jungle Planet. Scourge defeats Snarl, then Leobreaker in fair combat and is declared the king of the Jungle Planet by Backstop. Scourge declares he will lead the Jungle Planet into a new era of peace thanks to the example of Optimus Prime and the Autobots.

Toys

• Cybertron Snarl (2005)

The release of Snarl in Cybertron Deluxe wave 3.5 was packaged with a DVD containing the third episode of Transformers: Cybertron, called "Hidden". Oddly, he did not appear in that episode.

Like most toys sold in the Galaxy Force toy line by Takara, then later in the Cybertron toy line by Hasbro, there are small paint differences between the two versions of the toy. The Hasbro version has a code number on the back of his Cyber Key, while the Takara version has no number on his Force Chip.

A special value three-pack sold in Toys-R-Us stores in 2006 included Cybertron Landmine, Snarl and Dirt Boss.

This toy was later redecoed as BotCon Weirdwolf.

This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley.^[12]

• Galaxy Force Black Fangwolf

In Japan a limited edition black redeco of Snarl was released.

Transformers: Classics

Snarl

Snarl toy
Decepticon
Information
Sub-group	Mini-Con, Mini-Con Predator Attack Team
Function	Ambush Specialist
Rank	5
Partner	Dreadwing and Overbite
Motto	"The universe is our hunting ground."
Alternate Modes	Robotic tiger
Series	Transformers: Classics

Although released alongside the Classics line, the Mini-Con Classics Snarl is not a homage to the original Snarl or any other previous Snarl. This member of the Predator Attack Team is an original character because the Classics Mini-Cons were leftovers from the Cybertron line who came out after it ended. Snarl is aligned with the Decepticons and turns from tiger into a robot. His partners are the Mini-Cons Overbite and Dreadwing, none of them the original characters of those names.

Fun Publications

In the biography by the Transformers Collectors Club Snarl is portrayed as a savage and cruel Mini-Con who loved to attack his anyone who is weak and vulnerable. He has moved on to hunting bigger prey, watching for weak points in larger Autobots so he can take them down himself. He has a sonic blaster in his mouth in beast mode.^[14]

Snarl appeared in the text-based story The New World. He was among the Mini-Cons who followed Broadside in defecting to the Decepticons.

Toys

• Classics Snarl

Packaged with his partners. This toy was later redecoed into the Takara exclusive Mini-Con Apexis and Shattered Class Rampage.

Transformers Animated

Slag/Snarl

Autobot
Information
Sub-group	Deluxe Beasts, Dinobots, Substitute Autobots
Function	Smasher
Motto	"SNARL SMASH!"
Alternate Modes	Mechinal Triceratops
Series	Transformers Animated
English voice actor	Louie Anderson
Japanese voice actor	Takashi Nagasako

A robot named Snarl makes a return in Transformers Animated along with Grimlock and Swoop; however, he is styled like the Generation 1 Dinobot Slag instead of the Generation 1 Dinobot of the same name, originally meant to be called Slag. Snarl wasn't referred by name until later in the series in the "Human Error" 2-parter, the name change coincidently referencing Slag as being an offensive name as Scrapper explained he wanted to call him Slag at first, but Snarl did not like it because he "took it as an insult."^[15]

Animated series

In "Blast From the Past" the Autobots visit a dinosaur-themed amusement park where animatronic dinosaurs are on display, but Bulkhead accidentally breaks them. Professor Sumdac and Megatron rebuild the animatronic dinosaurs as technological wonders named the Dinobots. Unbeknown to Sumdac, however, Megatron includes an weapons in the animatronics, which begin to rampage at their unveiling ceremony under Megatron's remote control. Bumblebee combines his stings with Ratchet's magnetics abilities to create an electromagnetic pulse that shuts down the rampaging Dinobots (Sari using her Key to boost Bumblebee's power), destroying their artificial skin and revealing their metal forms. Sari's influence has greater consequences, however, as Megatron soon discovers that they possess minds - and perhaps sparks - of their own. The Decepticon leader convinces the Dinobots to attack all vehicles, including the Autobots, by telling them they are "fossil feeders" due to the way Earth vehicles are powered. The Dinobots go on another rampage, but are lured away by the Autobots who, after an extensive battle, trap them in tar. Professor Sumdac plans to melt them down, but Prowl and Bulkhead secretly move them to a secluded island on Lake Erie where they can live in peace.

Over the course of the series, Snarl follows Grimlock's orders in every appearance he had, serving as the Dinobots' muscle. However, when Scrapper came on the island and gives him his name, Snarl sticks by Scrapper as a pet much the other Dinobots' dismay. He joins with Sari, Scrapper, and Wreak-Gar in forming Sari's "Substitute Autobots", however, in the aftermath of the fight against Soundwave, Snarl runs off on Scrapper.

Other media

Snarl appears among the characters in Re-Unification, the 2010 TFCon voice actor play prelude comic.^[16]

Toys

• Animated Deluxe Snarl (2008)

The toy for Animated Snarl was shown at Botcon 2007, initially presented as Slag, after whom the toy is clearly an homage.

• Animated TA-18 Deluxe Snarl (Takara Tomy) (2010)

The 2010 Japan release version by Takara Tomy sports metallic gold highlights and a red Autobot emblem.

Transformers: Prime

Video Games

Snarl appears with the rest of the Dinobots in the 2012 video game Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Snarl was present when the Lightning Strike Coalition Force when to the Sea of Rust to find out that Shockwave had abducted a tower used by ancient Cybertronians. However during the investigation, a swarm of Insecticons attacked them, and ultimately killed Sludge. Snarl and the others become Shockwave's experiments, resulting into their transformation into the Dinobots. Snarl was taken to a bit to be tortured by Sharpshot, the insecticon leader, until Grimlock frees him. Snarl along with Slug, and Swoop witnessed the collapsing of Shockwave's tower, with Grimlock trapped in the tower. Snarl was voiced by Sam Reigel.

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Toys

• Age of Extinction Deluxe Class Snarl (2014, not yet released)

References

• Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc. p. 31. ISBN 1-4053-0461-8.