This article is about G1 version of Optimus Prime. For other versions, see Optimus Prime (disambiguation).
Optimus Prime (originally known as Orion Pax) is the main protagonist and one of the main characters of The Transformers cartoon series. He is the leader and commander of the Autobots, a group of extraterrestrials from an ancient alien race from the planet Cybertron. Optimus considers them his friends and brethren, protecting his homeworld, Earth and her inhabitants, the humans. In the last standing civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Optimus fights Megatron in a never-ending rivalry. Continuing their war to the planet Earth, the two humans, Sparkplug Witwicky and his son, Spike, aid Optimus and the Autobots in the Autobot -Decepticon conflict in hopes of ending the war.
In Generation One, Optimus is voiced by Peter Cullen.
History[]
Early years[]
Optimus Prime was born on the planet Cybertron as Orion Pax. He worked as a dock worker alongside his best friend Dion and his girlfriend, Ariel (who would one day become Elita-One).
Orion was badly wounded in battle; however, he was resurrected in a new body as Optimus Prime and Ariel reborn as Elita-One. He became the leader of the Autobots.
Cybertronian Civil War[]
Arrival to Earth[]
Demise and Resurrection[]
Trivia[]
- In the original Generation 1 continuity Nemesis Prime and Optimus Prime were two separate characters. Nemesis was actually Optimus' clone.
- Optimus' death was heavily criticized and back-lashed by fans, even children crying at seeing an iconic character killed off. This mostly happened due to Hasbro's idea that killing off the iconic characters was to make room for newer characters to have toys. Thanks to a massive campaign letter, Optimus was resurrected in the 1987 episode "The Return of Optimus Prime." [1]
- This version of Optimus Prime is one of the few adaptations to be pure good.
- Peter Cullen based his voice of Optimus in honor of his late brother, Larry.
References[]
- ↑ Phil Pirrello. Transformers: The Movie at 35: Why Optimus Prime’s Death Still Resonates. The Hollywood Reporter. “Thanks to audiences’ reactions to Prime’s demise in the 1986 feature, and a massive letter campaign, Hasbro stopped its efforts to phase out the character.”
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