Transformers One

The Tale Of How Cybertron Was Born

Premiere on September 20, 2024, Transformers One takes audiences to the beginning of the Cybertronians story, giving a new context to the emergence of many characters including Optimus Prime and Megatron. Famed for the popular film Toy Story 4, Director Joshua Cooley combines an immersive narrative with beautiful visuals courtesy of Metro-Comic under the talented designer Thomas. This is the first-ever fully animated film in the Transformers franchise and it does a splendid job in showing the beauty of the war torn yet glimmering world that is Cybertron.

The Back Story Of The Cybertron

To encapsulate the story, It is set in a peaceful utopia, which served as the origin of the Cybertron world, before the civil war. Set in the period before the war breaks out, the film shows us the places and events which lead to utopia collapsing. The central characters include Orion Pax, the younger version of Optimus Prime, and D-16, a pre Megatron who starts off as Orion’s ally but due to aspects like differing ideologies, ends up becoming an arch nemesis.

Orion Pax, as he’s shown, is a person who views the world in black and white, justice being the universum while chaos is the antithesis. On the other hand, D-16 is filled with endless longing for power as a consequence of societal disillusionment. As their brotherly bond proves too fragile, the rifts between them set off a chain of events that change Transfomers forever.

Key visual moment: A stunning image of a “flying bridge” over the cyber-landscape closely depicts the fragile state between war and peace. The animation depicts star-highways and metropolitan centres on Cybertron that are beautiful, yet terrifying at the same time.

The Seeds of War

The crucial moment comes when one of the events, called the Cyber War results in the Cybertron engulfing into darkness. The war scenes, composed by Blatt, display remarkable tango that depicts cities being torn apart through due the war. From the result of such battles, Megatron, aka D-16, along with Orion Pax, who rises from being timid back to his Great Prime position, emerge as the leaders.

From an ideological perspective, their first battle depicts their first ideas perfectly. Orion urges D-16 to seek justice and peace, however, D-16’s desire for power dominates his past self. In a symbolic moment, D-16 is devoured by “golden highways of ambition,” which simply displays his waging war against all forms of democracy.

Character Spotlight and Voice Performances

The film features an amazing cast which provides the film with its soul: 

  • Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax / Optimus Prime
  • Brian Tyree Henry as D-16 / Megatron
  • Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1
  • Keegan-Michael Key as B-127 (young Bumblebee)
  • Steve Buscemi as Alpha Trion
  • Laurence Fishburne as Sentinel Prime
  • Jon Hamm as Starscream

In Orion Pax, Chris Hemsworth turns slightly, appearing as a man, and a rather powerful one, torn by the conflict between loyalty to a cause and a person. Brian Tyree Henry is the most interesting as D-16 – he gives the character a mix of empathy, romance and projection. The characters’ presence together enhances the plot making the decline of the brotherhood tragic. 

A Visual and Musical Triumph

Transformers One exposes the world and characters of Cybertron like never before. The attention to detail in and around the environments of Cybertron, from the enormous metallic towers to the energetic fields, envelops the audience into a completely awe-inspiring universe. The 3D rendering is mesmerizing and over the top with the combat segments accompanied by the gun and war machine obliterating everything in sight.

Brian Tyler’s great score helps to balance the excessive shouting of orchestras with softer irritation. The major part of the story theme “Fire Emphasized” captures the essence of the character’s feelings and adds to the action as much as the beautiful tunes in every scene.

Visual suggestion: As the orchestral music grows louder the Ark is shown launching into space, to provide a brief but tense moment in the Transformers universe. An epic moment worthy of a panorama, to be honest.

Critics and Box Office Revenue

Although the movie has been well received from many viewers, Transformers One could not be successful in the box office. The average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at an impressive 89 percent and the viewers were delighted with the outstanding story, voice acting and animation. Hemsworth and Henry were praised the most by the audience for their passionate roles.

Unfortunately, the movie made around $129.4 million at the global box office and the production budget alone ranged from $75-$147 million which greatly hindered what the movie could have made. Many analysts have speculated that the movie was animated which might have turned quite a few of the active live action Transformers fans away.

The Memory That Should Stay

Although the movie did not do well at the box office, Transformers One goes deep into the lore that surrounds the conflict between Autobots and Decepticons and how it all begun. The movie focuses on events that leads to Cybertron splitting apart and turning its two strongest beings into war legends.

Whether you are a longtime fan or new to the Transformers saga, this film takes you to the depths of story of revolution, sacrifice and burden of leadership from the Cybertronic perspective. It does seem to be struggling financially, however, Transformers One is serves as a good graphic and story piece to the already existing sets for the saga in the ever growing tapestry of the robots realm.

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