Transformers One arrives just as the Transformers franchise celebrates its 40th anniversary. This movie is a fantastic celebration of the Robots in Disguise. It features beautiful animation and tells a touching story about the beginnings of Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Director Josh Cooley and screenwriters Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari set the story millions of years ago on Cybertron. They reveal that Prime and Megatron used to be friends. Before they became enemies, they were known as Orion Pax, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, and D-16, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry.
Pax and D-16 work as miners in Iacon City. They live a hard life because a war between the Primes and the Quintessons drove many Transformers to the surface. While mining, they risk their lives for Energon and face ridicule for not being able to transform.
One day, they find a map that may lead them to the Matrix of Leadership. This ancient artifact can bring Energon back to Cybertron’s heart. Pax, D-16, and their fellow miner Elita-1, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, along with the talkative B-127, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, set out to find the Matrix. But how does this journey lead to the end of their friendship?
Orion Pax and D-16 Learn a Terrible Truth About a Cybertronian Hero
Pax, D-16, Elita, and B-127 reach the final spot on the map: a cave where the bodies of the Primes are. They discover that one Prime, Alpha Trion, voiced by Laurence Fishburne, is still alive. Trion shares the truth about what happened to the Primes.
Sentinel Prime, voiced by Jon Hamm, had told the Primes where to attack the Quintessons to end the war. But when they arrived, Sentinel and the Quintessons ambushed them and killed them. Sentinel has been trading the Energon the miners gathered to the Quintessons.
Even worse, he took the cogs that would allow them to transform. This news hits Pax hard, especially D-16, who saw Sentinel as a hero. This revelation sets them on different paths.
The Heroes of Transformers: One Finally Get the Ability to Transform
Pax decides to return to Iacon and show the proof of Sentinel’s lies to the other Transformers. Before he does, Trion gives Pax and his friends the cores of the fallen Primes. This gift allows them to transform for the first time. One funny moment occurs as the four characters learn to transform.
Pax’s hope and determination allow him to change into a truck. D-16’s growing anger leads him to transform into a huge tank, complete with the arm cannon he will later use as Megatron.
A detour takes them to meet the former Cybertronian High Guard, who broke away from Sentinel after discovering his lies. However, they become targets for Sentinel’s lieutenant, Airachnid, voiced by Vanessa Liguori, who captures D-16, B-127, and the High Guard.
Optimus Prime and Megatron Are Born in the Final Act of Transformers One
Pax and Elita lead the remaining High Guard and fellow miners to attack Sentinel’s citadel. They rescue their friends and capture Airachnid, who holds recordings of Sentinel’s misdeeds. Pax shows the footage, revealing Sentinel’s deceit.
However, D-16 seeks revenge and tries to kill Sentinel. Pax jumps in front to protect D-16 and gets hit, suffering serious injuries.
D-16 chooses to drop Pax into Cybertron’s depths and then tears Sentinel in half, taking his transformation core. This core belonged to Megatronus Prime, a legendary hero D-16 admired. D-16 renames himself “Megatron” and starts destroying Iacon City.
Even though Pax is hurt, he does not give up. The Cybertronian god Primus admires Pax’s courage and gives him the Matrix of Leadership, transforming him into Optimus Prime. Prime and Megatron then face off in a battle. Prime defeats Megatron but chooses to spare him, banishing him from Iacon.
Before leaving, Megatron growls, “This is not over, Prime,” hinting at their future conflicts. Prime uses the Matrix of Leadership to restore Cybertron’s Energon flow and gives transformation cogs to his fellow Transformers.
Transformers One Lays the Groundwork for a New Cybertronian War
Transformers One not only shows the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron but also sets up their factions: the Autobots and the Decepticons. Many Autobots work as miners, including Jazz, Arcee, and Hot Rod.
The Decepticons are led by Starscream, voiced by Steve Buscemi, with Soundwave and Shockwave as his lieutenants. They join Megatron in his attack on Iacon City and follow him after Prime exiles him. The end-credits scene shows them naming themselves “Decepticons.” Megatron declares that he will not tolerate the “deception” of the Primes anymore.
At the same time, Prime and his fellow miners take on the name “Autobots.” Prime promises to free Cybertron from the Quintessons. He names Elita as his commander and asks B-127, known to fans as Bumblebee, to join him. The movie ends with the establishment of the Autobots and Decepticons.
Transformers One sets the stage for the upcoming War for Cybertron, which will lead both factions to leave their planet and arrive on Earth. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has hinted that Transformers One will influence future films.
He told ComicBook.com, “Josh did such a great job in actualizing the characters in this movie, and it is going to have an impact on the live-action where we can’t meet that bar.” Whether the future holds more for the Transformers films, Transformers One remains a remarkable animated movie that deserves to be seen in theaters.
Transformers One is now playing in theaters in the U.S.
