Transformers: The Movie Returns for 40th Anniversary
Later this month, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original release of Transformers: The Movie, a remastered version of that classic animated film will return to theaters for a limited time. Fans attending select screenings will also see a new animated short featuring Frank Welker as Megatron and Peter Cullen’s final performance as Optimus Prime.
On September 1, Hasbro announced that when the original 1986 Transformers movie returns to theaters on September 17, it will include something extra. After the film wraps, at select screenings, fans will be able to see Optimus Prime: Awakening, a new “fully realized” 12‑minute animated short that Paramount describes as “a love letter to the Transformers community and the late Peter Cullen.”
Peter Cullen passed away last week at the age of 85 at his home in Los Angeles. The actor was famous for his roles as Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh and the narrator of some of the The rudest anime videos ever made on Toonami. and, of course, for being the original and beloved voice of the leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime. Fans wondered if Cullen had completed a new Optimus Prime project before his passing, and it appears this recently announced short will be his last original performance as the character he voiced for 40 years.
Welker Reflects on the Tribute
Frank Welker, who voiced Megatron and Soundwave in many Transformers projects, worked with Cullen on numerous occasions and said, “Optimus Prime and Megatron were made for each other. After all, one needs the perfect hero against the epitome of evil to create great drama.”
“Peter’s portrayal of Prime was born from his own personal beliefs: honesty, loyalty, and insistence on always doing the right thing. This made it easy to be friends. Returning as Megatron and Soundwave for a final story alongside Peter’s Optimus in Optimus Prime: Awakening was a true gift. I will miss my friend, but that voice, his heart, and his values will always be a part of Optimus Prime.”
