Even though the Explanation image above speaks for itself there are a few things to add in order to be complete and address the proper source reference;
- The Japanese name for the Beast that has been officially communicated by TAKARA. Source: Japanese ID card for that Beast, the Japanese Beastformers Book, the Japanese Poster, etc. All of this makes that this is the Original and official Japanese name for that Beast.
(TAKARA 1986-1988) - Here a crucial distinction is made between the name CAPITALS (Font style) and the name in Italic (Font style) and this is done for a reason;
CAPITAL
The English Japanese name for the Beast that has been officially communicated by TAKARA. Since 40 of the Beastformers in Japan received and English name by TAKARA/MEIJI.
Source: the Golden MEIJI cards that were available exclusively in Japan. This makes those English Japanese names the original and official name for that Beast. Within the 40 official JP to EN translated names ALL of the 28 Series 1 Beasts are found which means that for the first 28 Beasts in the #BeastformersChecklist you´ll only find their English Japanese name in CAPITALS later on with Series 2 and Series 3 Beasts more names will appear in Italic.
(TAKARA/MEIJI 1988)
OR
Italic
The name Italic font is the English translation (done by the Beastformers Archaeology (BA) Team) of the original Japanese name (1) for that Beast, since this is not an Official name given to that Beast by either TAKARA or HASBRO it´s to be considered as NON Original.
(BA Team 2021) - The English name for the Beast that has been officially communicated by HASBRO.
Source: the English (US) Battle Beasts Poster. This makes that this is the Original and Official English name for that Beast.
(HASBRO 1987-1988) - The French name for the Beast that has been officially communicated by HASBRO.
Source: the bilingual Canadian Battle Beasts – Combanimaux Poster which held the English as well as the French name for each Beast. This makes that this is the Original and Official French name for that Beast.
(HASBRO 1987-1988) - The Japanese name for the Weapon that has been officially communicated by TAKARA. Source: Japanese ID card for that Beast and the Japanese Beastformers Book. All of this makes that this is the Original and official Japanese name for that Weapon.
(TAKARA 1986-1988) - In Italic this is the English translation (done by the Beastformers Archaeology (BA) Team) of the original Japanese name (5) for that Weapon, since this is not an Official name given to that Weapon by either TAKARA or HASBRO it´s to be considered as NON Original.
(BA Team 2021)
Why are NON Original names added?
It is debatable whether or not the NON Original English translations by the BA Team should´ve been added to the #BeastformersChecklist because they are obviously not OFFICIAL and communicating this is not really in line with the spirit of the Beastformers Blog. BUT the reason why they have been added, not only from an aesthetic point of view providing the same information for each Beasts, is because of the fact that we should not forget that the English Laser Beasts names we have been using for decades are not OFFICIAL either and they´re also based upon the English translation of the original Japanese name by TAKARA. In 2020 the BA Team had a better look at these English Laser Beasts names resulting in an interesting post; Renaming the Laser Beasts. So the English translations from the original Japanese source from TAKARA has always been an important source for the BB Community to develop a better understanding about the line and it´s international history. This and the fact that for some of you it might have been new that also the Weapons had their own name makes that for the proper understanding of the line these English translations of the Original Japanese names have been added. IF the 40 confirmed English Japanese names from the MEIJI cards wouldn´t have existed the translation would´ve been left out similar to the fact that the French name is not translated back into English again.
Why is the Transformers (TF) Faction symbol added?
For the completeness of the #BeastformersChecklist which is covering the Beasts from all continents this is a detail that can´t be overlooked considering that fact that in Japan the Beastformers were originally released as a Transformers spin-off line. The Original Japanese Poster is also clearly showing a division between the Beasts. Adding this little TF Faction symbol is a little gesture to the combined history the Transformers and Beastformers had together. More information about this can be found on the AUTOBOTS VS DECEPTICONS page.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Sorry, the Beastformers team is still working here.
Beastformers Blog 