1998 - Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special

Capitalizing on the popularity of Beast Wars Second, Takara released Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special, a "movie special" on December 19, 1998.

This was not a "movie" in the traditional sense of the term; instead of a feature-length production, the special consisted of three parts:

• A recap of the current Beast Wars Second television show story,

• An original half-hour animated story, "Beast Wars II: Lioconvoy's In Danger!" ("Lioconvoy Kiki Ippatsu!"),

  and

• A Japanese-dubbed version of the Beast Wars episode, "Bad Spark."

The Destron's aren't above using a cheap shot

"Lioconvoy's In Danger!" begins when a mysterious space ship crash-lands on Gaea. It contains a powerful artifact called the Teleport Gate, which is retrieved by Galvatron after he deceives the youngest Cybertron, LioJunior. Galvatron uses the Gate to summon Majin-Zarak, an immense battle station, and uses it to attack the Cybertrons. While the other Cybertrons are being attacked, Magnaboss activates the Gate and summons Convoy (Optimus Primal) to rescue them. But while Convoy, Magnaboss, and Tasmania Kid temporarily subdue Majin-Zarak, it soon transforms into a powerful bio-mechanical monster. To stop it, Convoy and LioConvoy unleash their full powers, turning into Burning Convoy and Flash LioConvoy, then destroy Majin-Zarak together. Diver then reveals that repeated use of the Gate will disrupt the space-time continuum; after using it to send Convoy home, the Cybertrons destroy it.

"Bad Spark" was presented almost identical to its original form in the West. The single most notable difference is that the episode began with Rhinox explaining to everyone (with a series of clips from other episodes) how Convoy survived the explosion at the end of "Other Voices," along with the arrival of the new Fuzor and TransMetal characters. Comically, after Rhinox's exposition, Convoy deadpans that all this was news to him...

Flash LioConvoy and Burning Convoy

All in all, Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special was fairly well-received by Japanese fans. "Lioconvoy's In Danger!" was especially welcomed for offering writing and animation that was significantly higher-quality than that used on the regular Beast Wars Second series.

Takara subsequently released a Japanese DVD entitled Beast Wars II: Movie Edition - Lioconvoy's In Danger! This consisted of "Lioconvoy's In Danger!" edited with scenes from Beast Wars Second to produce a 48-minute-long program.