Optimus Prime And Transformers - Background And Story

Background

When Hasbro, Inc. introduced the Transformers? to the U.S. in 1984, it revolutionized a category it had itself invented some 20 years earlier ¡X action figures. Transformers ¡V originally dubbed "The Transformers" ¡X heralded an entirely new way to interact with action figures, giving kids the power to literally change the toys from one form into another (initially, from robots to vehicles). As the iconic theme song went, there was "more than meets the eye."

But that was only the beginning. With intriguing personalities, captivating story lines and great battle action, Hasbro firmly entrenched the Transformers brand into the pantheons of modern pop culture. Over the past two decades, the Transformers brand has emerged as one of the most successful properties in action figure history, spawning numerous television series, comic books, and even a feature length animated film.

Today, the Transformers brand has a devoted following of fans of all ages, with Optimus Prime and Megatron captivating a whole new generation of fans. The franchise is about to be taken to a new level with the July 3rd premiere of the first-ever live-action feature film Transformers from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, directed by Michael Bay and executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

Optimus Prime

He is the leader of the Autobots, a faction of heroic Transformers from the planet Cybertron who wage their battles against the evil forces of Megatron's group the Decepticons for control of their homeworld, and by extension, peace in the universe. Optimus Prime is depicted as a heroic, brave and compassionate character who puts all his talent to use to improve the world around him. Optimus has a strong sense of justice and righteousness, and has dedicated himself to the protection of all life, particularly the inhabitants of Earth; he will battle his foes with unyielding resolve.

The original Optimus Prime transforms into a cab over truck. The truck's cab transforms into the robot mode of Prime himself, with vast strength and armed with a laser rifle. Contained within his chest is the mystic talisman known as the Autobot Matrix of Leadership (or Creation Matrix, depending on the continuity), carried by all Autobot leaders and passed down through the ages.

Story

The Transformers are a species of sentient, living robotic beings (mostly) originating from the distant machine world of Cybertron. The Cybertron was however destroyed by the malevolent Decepticon leader Megatron in his quest to get hold of the All Spark. The Autobots want to find the All Spark so they can use it to rebuild Cybertron and end the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, while the Decepticons want to use it to obliterate the Autobots and take over the universe.

Megatron had managed to locate the All Spark on Earth, but crash-landed in the Arctic Circle and froze in the ice. After stumbling upon his frozen body in 1897, explorer Captain Archibald Witwicky accidentally activated Megatron's navigational system and his eye glasses were imprinted with the coordinates of the All Spark's location, an incident that left him blind and mentally unstable.

In the present day, Witwicky's descendant Sam Witwicky was given an old Camaro. He has a chance to give a ride to his schoolmate Mikaela Banes and participate of an ancient war of robots on planet Earth. His car is actually the Autobot Bumblebee, leaded by Optimus Prime, and they are in war against the evil Deceptions, leaded by Megatron. The Autobots eventually win the battle with the help of Sam. Optimus transmits a message to all surviving Autobots in space, telling them that they have a new home on Earth.

Starscream, however is the only Decepticon to survive the battle and escapes into space.

With the destruction of MEGATRON, the leader of Autobots, OPTIMUS PRIME thought that he was finally, after millions of years, at peace. Little did he know that the escape of STARSCREAM would draw dozens of new DECEPTICONS to Earth. The Decepticons fallen leader, Megatron has been resurrected and brings with him an ancient evil from the Transformers own history, the Fallen.

The battle between Autobots and Decepticon starts once again. In his final moments, Jetfire volunteers his parts and spark to Optimus. With enhanced capabilities, Optimus destroys the Sun Harvester and takes on Megatron and The Fallen, killing the latter.