Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising

***Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising*** is a 2013 American computer-animated action-adventure television film and the conclusion to the television series *Transformers: Prime*. It was produced by Hasbro Studios and premiered on Hub Network on October 4, 2013.

## Plot

Following Megatron's demise and Cybertron's restoration, Optimus Prime knights Bumblebee as a warrior in front of the celebrating Autobots. Following this, Prime and Wheeljack embark on a journey to find the AllSpark, the source of Cybertron life, leaving the other Autobots to hunt down the missing Decepticons Shockwave and Starscream. Meanwhile, at the bottom of Earth's ocean, Megatron is revived and possessed by Unicron, who intends to destroy Cybertron. Ultra Magnus and Smokescreen, hunting for Shockwave and Starscream, are attacked and severely injured by their Predacon creations Skylynx and Darksteel, forcing Ratchet to return to Cybertron to treat their wounds.

Using Bumblebee's tracking skills, Bumblebee, Smokescreen, Bulkhead, and Arcee track down Predaking, who has located a Predacon burial ground, in an attempt to find the new Predacons. Bumblebee attempts to persuade a truce, but when Predaking refuses to help them or forget their role in the slaughter of his brethren, they instead travel to Megatron's old fortress in Kaon, on the suggestion of the imprisoned Knock Out, to find a map showing the location of Shockwave's laboratories. They are confronted by Unicron and barely escape. In the Theta Scorpii asteroid belt, Optimus and Wheeljack find the AllSpark's container, and manage to flee with it while barely escaping an oncoming plasma storm that damages Wheeljack's ship. Bumblebee attempts to contact Optimus, but with the latter unable to respond due to the damage caused to the ship and Ultra Magnus wounded in action, he assumes position as temporary leader of the Autobots.

Acting on information from Bumblebee, Predaking begins searching for Skylynx and Darksteel, but instead finds and is easily defeated by Unicron, who then encounters Shockwave, Starscream, Darksteel and Skylynx harvesting bones from the Predacon graveyard. Unicron overpowers Skylynx and Darksteel and resurrects the ancient corpses into undead Terrorcons; Starscream flees while Darksteel is seemingly killed by the horde. As the undead horde heads for the Well of All Sparks, the Autobots prepare to fight back while Ratchet stays behind with Ultra Magnus. Starscream sneaks on board the *Nemesis* and frees Knock Out and the captive Vehicon troops, but Knock Out defects and incapacitates Starscream before he can commandeer the ship and free Cybertron. Predaking finds Skylynx and Darksteel at the graveyard, and a wounded Shockwave interrupts the brawl and suggests assisting the Autobots. The *Nemesis* confronts Unicron's undead army at the Well of All Sparks but is shot down and Starscream escapes.

Optimus and Wheeljack return but are shot down by Unicron. Optimus is defeated before he can engage to battle Unicron, who then retrieves the AllSpark container, which pulls out his antispark and seals it away, severing the tie with Megatron and disintegrating the Terrorcon army. Having a chance of heart, Megatron disbands the Decepticons and leaves Cybertron. Starscream tries to take command of the Decepticons, only to be confronted by a vengeful Predaking, Skylynx and Darksteel.

Optimus reveals that he emptied the AllSpark into the Matrix of Leadership within him to set the trap for Unicron, but he can no longer be separated from either and must sacrifice himself to restore life to Cybertron. Despite the protests of the other Autobots, Optimus states that the Matrix cannot be restored again and that they continue to protect Cybertron. As the others vow to keep the peace and Optimus plunges into the planet's core, millions of sparks from deceased and unborn Transformers emerge from the Well. The Autobots watch as Optimus' spark joins the multitude among the well, while he narrates that his sacrifice marks a new beginning - "simply put, another transformation."

## Cast

* Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime
* Sumalee Montano as Arcee
* Nolan North as Smokescreen and Skylynx
* Kevin Michael Richardson as Bulkhead
* Will Friedle as Bumblebee
* Daran Norris as Knock Out
* Frank Welker as Megatron and Terrorcons
* James Horan as Wheeljack
* Steve Blum as Starscream and Darksteel
* Peter Mensah as Predaking
* David Sobolov as Shockwave
* John Noble as Unicron
* Jeffrey Combs as Ratchet
* Michael Ironside as Ultra Magnus

## Reception

*Predacons Rising* earned positive reviews and was called a satisfying conclusion to the series, though some criticized the underuse of some characters.