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The Best ‘Transformers’ Movie Officially Hits a 40th Anniversary Setback

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The Transformers franchise has been around for over four decades now, and since then, the Autobots, Decepticons, and other alien machines have waged war across countless stages. Originally beginning as a toy line by Hasbro and Takara Tomy, it’s since become one of the most profitable multimedia juggernauts out there, with 11 movies and an avalanche of animated series spread across different eras that don’t just revolve around Optimus Prime and Megatron. Hollywood also brought them onto the big screen like never before with the visual spectacles that were Michael Bay‘s ill-received but high-grossing live-action CGI films and their follow-ups, Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Yet, after 40 years, The Transformers: The Movie has come to be recognized as a cinematic high point of the franchise, with an epic story and surprising darkness and tragedy for a family film.

In celebration of the 1986 animated adventure’s milestone anniversary this year, Hasbro has been going all out with a year-long “Apology Tour” in recognition of all the childhoods traumatized by the death of Optimus Prime and other fan favorites in the film. The festivities have ranged from concerts to new toys, merchandise, and more, but the main event is the return of The Transformers: The Movie to theaters in glorious 4K. Viewers will get to relive the scarring moments, the sweeping battle against the planet-devouring Unicron, and the memorable soundtrack on the big screen from September 17 through 21 courtesy of Fathom Entertainment. However, one piece of the celebration will arrive a bit later than expected.

Insight Editions and Titan Books have delayed the massive anniversary art book, The Transformers: The Movie: The Ultimate Visual History, from its original October 27 release date and will now be publishing it on November 24, a few days shy of Thanksgiving. The later date isn’t for nothing, though. It has grown in size, from 256 pages of illustrations and insight into the animated classic to 282. While there’s no indication of what those new contents will be, the recent death of the longtime voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, may have spurred the need for an expanded volume. Much of the book by author Chris Prince will be told through interviews with members of the creative team, taking readers on a journey through all parts of the creation, from the eye-popping visuals to the character and environment designs, the casting of legendary actors from Orson Welles to Leonard Nimoy, and the rocking soundtrack defined by Stan Bush and Kick Axe. Beyond the many designs illustrating this collector’s item, there will also be a section dedicated to the lasting impact of the movie on the wider Transformers franchise.

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‘The Transformers: The Movie’ Will Be Paired With Peter Cullen’s Final Performance

After seeing The Transformers: The Movie in theaters again, The Ultimate Visual History looks to be a perfect celebration of its legacy on every level. Hasbro’s “Apology Tour” includes one other surprise, however. After the credits roll on the anniversary screenings, viewers will be treated to an entirely new Transformers short, Optimus Prime: Awakening, that will serve as one final adventure for the Autobots leader and a bookend to Cullen’s time as the voice of an animated hero. This is confirmed to be Cullen’s last original performance as Prime after over 40 years of using his booming, yet warm voice to exemplify the bot’s courage, wisdom, compassion, and strength.

The Transformers: The Movie: The Ultimate Visual History is available to pre-order now at Insight Editions and major retailers ahead of its release on November 24. Check out a few pages from the book in the gallery above.


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Release Date

August 8, 1986

Runtime

84 minutes

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Director

Nelson Shin

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Writers

Ron Friedman

Producers
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Joe Bacal, Lee Gunther, Margaret Loesch, Tom Griffin


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  • Norman Alden

    Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime (voice)

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  • Jack Angel

    Optimus Prime / Ironhide (voice)

  • Michael Bell

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    Soundwave / Megatron / Rumble / Frenzy / Wheelie (voice)

  • Gregg Berger

    Galvatron (voice)

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