This post was originally published on here
No one can replace Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. His voice has become intrinsically linked to the gentle, kind warrior leader of the Autobots. This month, fans can see what is arguably his finest performance in more than 40 years as the character when The Transformers: The Movie hits cinemas again. The special re-release includes Peter Cullen’s final performance as Optimus Prime in the form of a short film to be shown alongside the 40th anniversary showing of The Transformers: The Movie.
Optimus Prime: Awakening is a 12-minute-long short film that Hasbro made to celebrate the landmark re-release of The Transformers: The Movie. It is Peter Cullen’s final performance as Optimus Prime, but it also includes his longtime co-star, Frank Welker, as Megatron and Soundwave. All parts were recorded before Peter Cullen’s death, which makes this release particularly poignant for Welker.
“Optimus Prime and Megatron were made for each other,” Welker said in a press release. “After all, one needs the perfect hero against the epitome of evil to create great drama. Peter’s portrayal of Prime was born of his own personal beliefs; honesty, loyalty, and always insisting on doing the right thing. This made it easy to be friends. Returning as Megatron and Soundwave for one final story opposite Peter’s Optimus in “Optimus Prime: Awakening” was a real gift. I will miss my friend, but that voice and his heart and values will always be part of Optimus Prime.”
Transformers: The Movie remains one of the most celebrated animated films for many fans of a certain age; it features the shocking death of Optimus Prime, but not before he gives some of the most iconic lines from the series. Getting to see it on the big screen, along with the new short film, Optimus Prime: Awakening, feels like the perfect tribute to Peter Cullen’s work.
