ⓒCourtesy of Hasbro
For many kids in the 1980s, the deaths of several fan-favorite Transformers in the franchise’s first animated feature landed just as traumatically as the shooting of “Old Yeller” had for their parents. Eventually, the most notable fallen Transformers “returned” in the two-part finale to season three. However, there is no denying his temporary sacrifice greatly impacted fans’ reaction to the film. At first, they hated it, but most grew to love it. Consequently, watching Nelson Shin’s The Transformers: The Movie on a big screen with fans is a nostalgic blast from the past. As a bonus, Fathom Entertainment also presents Joshua Wassung’s Optimus Prime: Awakening, the brand-spanking-new animated short film epilogue, which takes on further poignant significance as Peter Cullen’s final voice-over performance as the titular Transformer. Given anticipated demand, Fathom’s anniversary package screens at select locations for the next three weeks.
Sadly, Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in every TV/streaming series and the Michael Bay-produced films, passed away in late August, so Fathom’s package appropriately starts with a brief but classy tribute. For most fans, Cullen wasn’t just the voice of Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and a handful of minor characters. He was the voice of the franchise.
Given their escalating war, it should maybe not be so shocking that several established Transformers, both good Autobots and bad Decepticons, die in the film. Soon after the opening credits roll, the tide turns in the Decepticons’ favor. Optimus Prime’s nemesis, Megatron, hijacks an Autobot transport ship, using it to launch a Trojan Horse-style sneak attack. However, Optimus Prime arrives just in time to rally the Autobots. At this point, Shin cues Dirk Diggler’s favorite song, Stan Bush’s “The Touch,” which prompted an explosion of applause at my screening.
ⓒCourtesy of Hasbro
The battle will be costly for both Transformer rivals. Left for dead by his duplicitous lieutenant, Starscream, Megatron is plucked from space by Unicron, a giant planet-devouring Galactus-like Transformer. Unicron enslaves Megatron, transforming him into Galvatron, a new body with a new persona, but the same evil heart. Unicron orders the newly reborn Galvatron to steal the Autobots’ Matix of Leadership, which Optimus Prime handed down to Ultra Magnus, but Galvatron/Megatron hopes to use it for his own sake, to escape Unicron’s control.
You have to admit Hasbro, Toei Animation, and Marvel (who all co-produced) took some big swings. The animation is somewhat more cinematic than that of the original TV series, but it retains a consistency of style that feels pleasingly retro. Screenwriters Ron Frriedman and Flint Dille tell a big story that entails massive repercussions for the Transformers universe. In some ways, the 1986 movie represented a changing of the guard for its characters. It was also deliberately PG-rated, thanks to a strategically placed S-word.
Somehow, Shin and the producers also managed to assemble a once-in-a-lifetime voice-over cast. The talent included Orson Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Monty Python’s Eric Idle, Robert Stack, Lionel Stander, Judd Nelson from The Breakfast Club, and John Moschitta, Jr., the one-time record-holder for world’s fastest talker, who notably appeared in commercials for FedEx. In addition, Cullen reprises his iconic role as Optimus Prime and Fred Welker (probably most recognized as the voice of Fred Jones since the Scooby-Do franchise launched in 1969) returns as Megatron.
ⓒCourtesy of Hasbro
Frankly, Welles sounds rather soulless as Unicron, but that sort of fits the behemoth’s nature. Stack well suits the commanding Ultra Magnus, while Nimoy sounds aptly sinister as Galvatron. As usual, Cullen was perfect as Optimus Prime. Arguably, Stander is more successful supplying comic relief as Kup, the senior Autobot soldier who constantly tells old war stories, than Idle as Wreck-Gar, a “Junkion” Transformer constructed from cast off tech trash, who learned language from vintage TV commercials. However, underscoring the Junkions’ big action scene with Weird Al Jankovic’s “Dare to be Stupid” is peak 80’s all the way.
At a full 12-minutes, the original short film Optimus Prime: Awakening might be more substantial than a lot of fans might expect. It is also probably more ambiguous than they would prefer. Instead of a quick bit of retconning, the short hints at deeper issues that Optimus Prime will presumably face after his future “return.” Regardless, it holds great significance for franchise loyalists as the final voice-over work for the beloved Cullen. Rendered in a style more closely akin to recent productions (including Transformers One) it still includes flashback footage from the 1986 film, bridging the old and the new.
ⓒCourtesy of Hasbro
Even if you were not a fan in the 1980s, watching Fathom’s anniversary celebration will give you warm sentimental feelings. It is also nice to see Shin’s original feature enjoy its steadily burgeoning cult-classic status. Critics were not ready for the film in 1986, but it took a lot of risks and has a lot of heart. Highly recommended, Fathom’s celebration of The Transformers: The Movie screens through October 8.
Grades: The Transformers: The Movie: A-
Optimus Prime: Awakening: B-
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