Movies and TV New Details For the TFTM Apology Tour Animated Short, 'Optimus Prime Awakening'!

While we had previously heard that there would be a new bonus scene to go along with the TFTM theater showings this September, we had no idea what we would be getting. Now we know! The short will be an animated 12 minute short called Optimus Prime Awakening, and will feature not only Frank Welker returning to voice Megatron and Soundwave, but Peter Culen in his final performance as Optimus Prime! TFTM hits theaters this September 17th-22nd, so check your local theaters for tickets and details! And check out the press release below for more details!

Today, Hasbro and Fathom Entertainment unveiled new details about The Transformers: The Movie, returning to theatres internationally in 4K from September 17–22.

New Animated Short: “Optimus Prime: Awakening” Details

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Transformers: The Movie, Hasbro has created “Optimus Prime: Awakening” as a special animated short as part of its broader anniversary brand celebration. The short will be presented following select anniversary screenings of the original 1986 film.


“Optimus Prime: Awakening” is a fully realized, 12-minute animated short designed as a love letter to the Transformers community and the late Peter Cullen, the legendary talent and voice of Optimus Prime. “Optimus Prime: Awakening” builds on the acclaimed storytelling and visuals of The Transformers: The Movie (1986), giving audiences the rare opportunity to experience the iconic cultural moment from the franchise’s past while exploring its future on the big screen.


Original Performances by the late Peter Cullen and Frank Welker

The animated short delivers emotional storytelling, electric action, and new performances by legends Frank Welker as Megatron/Soundwave and Peter Cullen in his final original voice performance as Optimus Prime.

Peter shared that returning for “Optimus Prime: Awakening” meant a great deal to him. He felt the project was a homecoming to a character he had shaped for more than four decades. Peter’s performance reveals a deeper vulnerability while retaining the unmistakable strength and authority that made his portrayal iconic.

Frank Welker shared: “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 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.”

New Markets

In addition to previously announced regions, today Fathom Entertainment confirmed screenings in France, Singapore, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Peru.

 

[Sciflyer]

Interesting, to be sure. However, this was the information my eyes focused on:

"The short will be presented following select anniversary screenings of the original 1986 film."

Not sure what constitutes a "select" region, or if there is any way to tell whether the offerings in my city will include it.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Interesting, to be sure. However, this was the information my eyes focused on:

"The short will be presented following select anniversary screenings of the original 1986 film."

Not sure what constitutes a "select" region, or if there is any way to tell whether the offerings in my city will include it.

Hopefully it just means "If your local theatre in Botswana is showing an original film reel of the movie from 1986 for the anniversary, don't expect to see the bonus footage."

 

[The Predaking]

I read it as select theaters were playing TFTM, so the short would be in those select theaters.

 

[The Predaking]

You know, I wonder why Vince DiCola wasn't used for this to make it match the sound of TFTM? I mean they had him come back to work on the new soundtrack, so why not work on this too?