The Transformers: The Movie came out in 1986. As a huge fan at the time, I wanted to see it. So did my brothers. We bugged my parents, and for some reason that I can’t remember my father was the one to take us. I want to say it was at The Barn in Pennsylvania, which had 5 or 6 screens, absolutely huge at the time. He bought us our tickets, and his own ticket, to see Manhunter, and in we went.
My father’s film started before ours. He directed us to where we needed to go and then went to his movie. We got to our theater and it was packed. It seemed that a summer camp had dropped off like four buses full of kids to see The Transformers: The Movie, and maybe their chaperones had also gone to see Manhunter, because the kids were going absolutely wild.
Even at the tender ages of 11 (me), 14 and 7, my brothers and I were particular about our film viewing. Sitting down in the front row with our necks craned back simply would not do. But this was what we had tickets for. A dilemma.
Back out in the quiet of the hallway we decided my older brother should go ask my dad what to do. I don’t recall exactly what was said, but it was something along the lines of “Get out of here and go see your movie.”
Well, we had two options. One, go back and watch The Transformers: The Movie from the front row with a packed theater of screaming kids. Two, go see one of the other movies, not Manhunter though.
So there we were, watching the opening scenes of Aliens. I can’t say for certain that was the first rated R film I saw. I mean, we had HBO and Cinemax, and my parents weren’t always able to watch us. It was, however, the first one I saw in the theater. It had a profound effect on me. And probably my younger brother too, who didn’t see much of the movie, if I recall correctly, from his covered eyes or hiding behind the seats. He was 7. It was Aliens. Understandable.
The point is that I did not see The Transformers: The Movie that day. Or that summer. I can only assume we rented in on VHS later, or maybe it wasn’t until 1989 when they broke it up into 5 episodes for the fifth season. I don’t know. But I know I’ve seen it a bunch of times. I’ve even seen it a couple of times in the last year.
But yesterday, after a 40 year delay, I finally saw The Transformers: The Movie in the theater. It was a special run, for the 40th anniversary, but also because Peter Cullen died in August. Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and him all in a couple days. It was a really rough time for my formative years. I’m not entirely sure I’ve recovered. Seeing Optimus Prime on the big screen, the death of Optimus Prime on the big screen, it was emotional, cathartic. And then, after the film, after all the songs that I knew by heart, and sitting through the credits, I was about to get up when Optimus Prime: Awakening started.
I hadn’t heard about this short film and knew nothing about it. But it turns out Optimus Prime in the afterlife, featuring the final voice work of Peter Cullen, was maybe what I needed to see exactly at that moment.
It’s been a day and I keep thinking about it.
I supposed that means it’s good.
Til all are one.
Transform, and roll out…
Of all the places I posted it, here wasn’t one of them… So, now, without further ado, I introduce to you: 
