Optimus Prime: Awakening, 2026
Directed by Joshua Wassung.
Featuring the voice talents of Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Simon Henderson, Jarret Lemaster, Mathieu Bourassa, Scott Law and Gary Powell.
SYNOPSIS:
Moments after death, Optimus Prime is awoken in a strange realm and desperately fights his way back to his Autobots.
For over 40 years Optimus Prime has been a constant among the names of people’s favourite heroes and that is largely due to the impact of Peter Cullen’s performance as the Autobot leader across the franchise’s many films, TV series, video games and more. With Cullen’s recent passing, just as Transformers: The Movie celebrates its 40th anniversary (read my thoughts on the film from its 35th anniversary here) and Hasbro’s ‘Apology Tour’, the new Optimus Prime: Awakening short film now serves as a bittersweet conclusion to Cullen’s time as Optimus.
The biggest takeaway Awakening leaves fans is the fact it is Cullen’s final time voicing Optimus Prime. The short’s coincidental themes on death and release so soon after Cullen’s passing makes it especially more poignant. Like always, Cullen gives his all as Optimus and delivers a great emotional performance as Optimus tries clinging to life so he can return to the fight and protect his friends and universe. It might just be one of his best performances as Optimus Prime throughout his entire career as the script gives him more hefty dialogue and emotions than usual to play with.
The ruminations on one’s purpose in life, death and moving on served as a nice tribute of sorts to both Optimus and Cullen even if it unintentionally became a more meaningful homage after the fact. There are plenty of interesting ideas presented as the short examines Optimus Prime’s drive and need to protect all life no matter the cost. It is a unique take fans haven’t seen much of before in other Transformers media, though the ending is somewhat anti-climactic with an open-ended conclusion that invites interpretation more hindered by a potential sequel hook than anything else – and whether or not there were further plans prior to Cullen’s passing to expand on the short is unknown but the ending could have been presented with more clarity. Even still, it still succeeds as a compelling introspective adventure for Optimus.
The animation from studio The Third Floor is simply fantastic. The colours pop off the screen with incredibly vivid imagery, particularly when Optimus is in what looks to be a purgatory state, and the action is very well detailed and choreographed. There are a lot of nice nostalgic touches to Generation One as well as other pieces of Transformers throughout the short. It is clear Awakening was made with lots of love for the franchise and the additions of Frank Welker, returning as both Megatron and Soundwave, alongside Simon Henderson, Jarret Lemaster, Mathieu Bourassa, Scott Law and Gary Powell elevate the vocal talent, especially given how special hearing Cullen and Welker is whenever they appear in a project together with this now marking their final collaboration.
Optimus Prime: Awakening is a fun and emotional spotlight on the heroic Autobot leader and his beloved voice actor. The unintended tribute to Cullen’s legacy is a bittersweet but much needed send-off for a generational talent who imbued Optimus with the belief that real strength is being strong enough to be gentle. While the ending could have been more clear with the final note on its theme, it is still a short film Transformers fans will both enjoy and feel the weight of its meaning.
Ricky Church
