TV-Series
Description
Rairyū is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 Transformers continuity who appears in the anime Transformers: Victory as a member of the Dinoforce, the six-member dinosaur-themed unit that serves the Decepticon commander Deathsaurus. His name translates as "Thunder Dinosaur," a Japanese rendering of Brontosaurus, which in turn means "thunder lizard." He belongs to the Pretender type of Transformer, meaning his main robot form is small and can be housed inside a larger outer shell; in his case, the shell is a semi-autonomous mechanical Brontosaurus. In his standalone robot mode, he is a redeco of an earlier Monster Pretender called Birdbrain and transforms into a quadrupedal monster.
In terms of personality, Rairyū is slow, steady, patient, and straightforward. He is described as unflinchingly honest and willing to meet any Autobot head-on in battle, relying on his sense of strength and determination. He is not especially intelligent, but he is not prone to the same rashness as most of his teammates, and his careful, deliberate methods help make up for his low cunning; among the Dinoforce he is generally regarded as one of the more dependable members. His main weakness is his temper. He tries to remain calm at all times, but once he is pushed beyond his limit he flies into an uncontrollable rampage in which his tremendous power can endanger his own allies as easily as his enemies. He is also humble and does not seek personal glory.
Motivation-wise, Rairyū is a loyal soldier who considers serving the Decepticon army an honor. Within the Dinoforce, he serves faithfully under Deathsaurus, and he is dedicated to the practical duties of fighting, raiding, and destruction assigned to his unit. In one version of the story, the Dinoforce members are revealed to be fathers who sided with Deathsaurus in order to provide for their children.
His role in the story is that of a recurring antagonist and frontline combatant. Along with the rest of the Dinoforce, he rides his shell into battle, taking part in assaults on Earth and clashes with the Autobot forces throughout the series. The Dinoforce can combine into the giant warrior Dinoking, and Rairyū forms the middle torso of that combined mode. In the anime's final stretch, the Dinoforce survives the war and leaves the Decepticons, settling into civilian life and taking honest work at construction sites and an amusement park.
In terms of key relationships, his closest bonds are with his fellow Dinoforce members. He often works as the team's effective strategist, thinking up many of their battle plans, although the team's leader, Goryu, frequently takes the credit. He is also closely paired with Kakuryu, and at one point he stands watch while Kakuryu performs his daily fitness routine. His relationship with Deathsaurus is one of subordinate loyalty, and he is trusted by his commander as a reliable if unspectacular soldier.
Notable abilities center on his combination with his Brontosaurus shell. When merged with it, his already considerable strength is greatly amplified. He can generate localized earthquakes by slamming the ground, creating massive cracks that knock enemies off balance and send them falling, a technique called the Rai-Bronto Hole. He is also the Dinoforce's aquatic specialist, moving with surprising speed underwater and able to spin his whole body into a high-speed corkscrew torpedo attack. His shell carries a multi-missile rack and shoulder cannons that fire stored water at intensely high pressure, powerful enough to erode and punch through enemy armor. In the anime, he is shown wielding a sword in melee combat that can also fire energy from its tip like a gun.
In terms of personality, Rairyū is slow, steady, patient, and straightforward. He is described as unflinchingly honest and willing to meet any Autobot head-on in battle, relying on his sense of strength and determination. He is not especially intelligent, but he is not prone to the same rashness as most of his teammates, and his careful, deliberate methods help make up for his low cunning; among the Dinoforce he is generally regarded as one of the more dependable members. His main weakness is his temper. He tries to remain calm at all times, but once he is pushed beyond his limit he flies into an uncontrollable rampage in which his tremendous power can endanger his own allies as easily as his enemies. He is also humble and does not seek personal glory.
Motivation-wise, Rairyū is a loyal soldier who considers serving the Decepticon army an honor. Within the Dinoforce, he serves faithfully under Deathsaurus, and he is dedicated to the practical duties of fighting, raiding, and destruction assigned to his unit. In one version of the story, the Dinoforce members are revealed to be fathers who sided with Deathsaurus in order to provide for their children.
His role in the story is that of a recurring antagonist and frontline combatant. Along with the rest of the Dinoforce, he rides his shell into battle, taking part in assaults on Earth and clashes with the Autobot forces throughout the series. The Dinoforce can combine into the giant warrior Dinoking, and Rairyū forms the middle torso of that combined mode. In the anime's final stretch, the Dinoforce survives the war and leaves the Decepticons, settling into civilian life and taking honest work at construction sites and an amusement park.
In terms of key relationships, his closest bonds are with his fellow Dinoforce members. He often works as the team's effective strategist, thinking up many of their battle plans, although the team's leader, Goryu, frequently takes the credit. He is also closely paired with Kakuryu, and at one point he stands watch while Kakuryu performs his daily fitness routine. His relationship with Deathsaurus is one of subordinate loyalty, and he is trusted by his commander as a reliable if unspectacular soldier.
Notable abilities center on his combination with his Brontosaurus shell. When merged with it, his already considerable strength is greatly amplified. He can generate localized earthquakes by slamming the ground, creating massive cracks that knock enemies off balance and send them falling, a technique called the Rai-Bronto Hole. He is also the Dinoforce's aquatic specialist, moving with surprising speed underwater and able to spin his whole body into a high-speed corkscrew torpedo attack. His shell carries a multi-missile rack and shoulder cannons that fire stored water at intensely high pressure, powerful enough to erode and punch through enemy armor. In the anime, he is shown wielding a sword in melee combat that can also fire energy from its tip like a gun.