- “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.”
- ―Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is one of the three main protagonists of Michael Bay's Transformers film series (alongside Sam Witwicky and Cade Yeager)
He is the leader of the Autobots, a force of good aliens who come to Earth to protect humanity from the evil Decepticons. Optimus' rivalry with their' leader Megatron makes them become bitter enemies in their epic battles between good and evil.
He is the last descendant of the Dynasty of Primes and the protector of Cybertron and the Earth.
Transformers Cinematic Universe[]
Prime is one of the two main protagonists of the first trilogy of the franchise (alongside Sam Witwicky) and one of the two protagonists (alongside Cade Yeager) of the last two films of the series, Age of Extinction and The Last Knight.
Transformers[]
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen[]
Transformers: Dark of the Moon[]
Transformers: Age of Extinction[]
Transformers: The Last Knight[]
Personality[]
Being a protector of both humankind and Autobots, Optimus is a firm believer in freedom and equality among himself and his human allies. Because of the younger race, he firmly they never once will harm a human being, immediately shooting down Ironhide's plan to hurting Judy and Ron Witwicky. However, Megatron sees this as a form of weakness and some of his comrades believe them to be a destructive race. Optimus does notice this but they were a young species and weren't so different than the Autobots when their race was young. He has seen the goodness in humanity, possibly referring to Mikaela and Sam. However, as time went on, Optimus realized some humans were just as vile as a Decepticon could be. He will only harm a human or Decepticon in self-defense or that of a friend. He killed James Savoy, an agent from Cemetery Wind when he was threatening Cade Yeager and protected the man's daughter Tessa Yeager.
Once Optimus cements a sense of friendship and comradeship with an individual, he will become undyingly loyal towards them. This can also be seen with his relationships towards his fellow Autobots with his refusal to leave anybody behind. He is in love with the Cybertronian Elita-One, his love interest. Both are very affectionate with one another and cannot live without the other. After years of losing his friends, including his human allies, the Witwickies, Ironhide and Ratchet, Optimus coldly turned away humanity, even those who still saw the Autobots as a force of good.
Prime is very loyal to those he considers friends, often acting as a mentor/father figure to a younger generation of Autobots and humans. He especially sees Bumblebee as a surrogate son, reminiscing with Cade about a time when Bumblebee acted like a rebellious teenager in Age of Extinction. In the fifth film, hearing Bumblebee's voice for the first time, Optimus is able to break out of Quintessa's mind control. In the 2007 film adaptation, Optimus snarled at Sector Seven agents for taking Sam Witwicky, the boy he and the Autobots were protecting and mercilessly attacked Decepticons that abducted Sam and his friends, Mikaela Banes and Leo Spitz.
Powers and abilities[]
- Cybertonian Physiology: To be added
- Near-Immortality: Optimus can live for thousands of years; however he can still be killed if his spark is damaged. However, it can be temporary, as the Matrix of Leadership immediately revived him when Sam used it to bring him back to life.
- Shapeshifting
- Superhuman Durability: Optimus is most durable of all the Autobots, practically immune to human weaponry, unless struck by intensive heart. Optimus survived a stab would on his lower abdomen, inflicted on him by Lockdown, partially due to the Matrix of leadership.
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Agility
- Superhuman Speed
- Hologram Creation:
Abilities[]
- Extensive Knowledge
- Multilingualism: On addition to his native is Cybertronian, Optimus can speak other alien languages and learned how to speak English by viewing The Humans' internet.
- Scientific Knowledge/Cybertronian technology: Optimus was once the peaceful scientist, Orion Pax, who knows everything abou science, making him one of the most intelligent beings in the universe. He used to study the AllSpark for scientific research.
- Hand-to-hand Combatant/martial arts
Possessions[]
- Ion Blaster
- Dual TNT Cannons
- Dual Energon
- Wrist-mounted swords as well as hooks
- Shield
- Shell Cannon
- Energon Axe
- Sword of Judgement
- Shield Cannon
Relationships[]
Friends[]
Bumblebee[]
Optimus and Bumblebee in the latter's titular film.
Close Friend/Surrogate son
- “Bumblebee...Your voice... I haven't heard it... Since Cybertron fell ...”
- ―Optimus breaks free from Quintessa's control.
Bumblebee was one of the most loyal followers of Optimus Prime before the days of the Cybertronian War. Having mentored and raised Bumblebee from his younger years, Optimus became a fatherly figure for him and regard him as a son. As the autobots were forced to abandon Cybertron, Optimus put his faith in his scout and charged him with finding the location of the Allspark (2007 Transformers) and with the protection of Sam Witwicky and Cade Yeager.
Unfortunately, when Optimus was mind-control by Quintessa, as Nemesis Prime, any love Optimus had for Bumblebee was lost. Instead, Prime was ruthless to the Autobot he came to view as a son and stopped at nothing to destroy him. However, when he heard Bumblebee's voice for the first time in centuries, Quintessa's control over Optimus broke. Having heard his friend's voice in a long time, Prime came to regret his actions as Nemesis against both Bumblebee and his friends.
Ironhide[]
Optimus and Ironhide in Transformers live-action film series.
Best Friend
- “This is worse. Prime! Make something of yourself!... He's pissed.”
- ―Ironhide about Optimus
Ironhide is one of Optimus Prime's closest friends, having known him before the fall of Cybertron, where they have fought side by side after every battle. Despite this, Prime sometimes acts as a parental figure/older brother. He can grow stern with Ironhide if the mech acts out of line. In the 2007 film, where Optimus told his soldier to take it easy when he pointed his cannons at Sam and Mikaela. He also scolded Ironhide for clicking the idea of blasting Sam's parents, reminding Ironhide they do not harm humans.
Ironhide is not afraid to speak out whenever Optimus is either being too stubborn or hot-tempered. In Dark of the Moon, Ironhide hit him on the top of his head when he was in his truck form instead of conversing with Charlotte Mearing. However, during the first battle in Dark of the Moon, Ironhide was killed by Sentinel Prime, Optimus' former mentor who had turned against the Autobots. Unfortunately, he could not make it in time to save his friend from his death. Deeply affected, Optimus and the other Autobots devised a plan to defeat the Decepticons and save the Earth.
Ratchet[]
Optimus & Ratchet in
Best Friend
- “That's suicide. The Cube is raw power. It could destroy you both.”
- ―Ratchet showing concern for Optimus' decision to destroy the Cube and himself.
Ratchet is Optimus Prime's chief medical officer, who has known Prime before his transformation from Orion Pax into Optimus Prime. They have a mutual respect for each other and value each other's friendships, often referring to Ratchet as an old friend. However, Prime does have his limits about Ratchet's behavior, especially his initial judgement and somewhat distrust towards humans.
In the Transformers film series, Optimus and Ratchet met before the fall of Cybertron, along with knowing Ironhide, Megatron and Bumblebee. Optimus learned of Ratchet's death at the hands of Lockdown in the fourth film Age of Extinction. Optimus was angered and made the lockdown one of his arch-enemies. It only worsened when Optimus and other Autobot witnessed the humans at KSI melting down Ratchet's corpse for partsz sending Optimus on an emotional rampage.
Jazz[]
Lieutenant/Close Friend
- “Oh, Jazz. We lost a great comrade[...]”
- ―Optimus on losing Jazz.
Jazz was one of Optimus Prime's closest friends and has made him a first lieutenant in the ranks of the Autobot army. They first met in Iacon City, when Optimus Prime was Orion Pax. Because of Optimus' dislike of rap music (something Jazz values), it puts them at odd because Jazz likes this type of singing.Jazz was killed by Megatron, Optimus expressed sorrow at losing a comrad. According to the novelization, Optimus authorized the humans to give him a navy burial at sea.
Sam Witwicky[]
Optimus thanking Sam Witwicky for saving his life
- “Sam, I owe you my life. We are in your debt.”
- ―Optimus to Sam
Close Friend
Optimus Prime was the second Autobot Sam ever met, but still sent Bumblebee to watch over him. Despite just meeting Sam, Optimus tried to save him and his girlfriend, Mikaela from Sector Seven agents, but he couldn't stop them or help Bumblebee a second time out of fear of harming those humans. During the Battle of Mission City, Optimus protected Sam from falling off of a building. When he would save him from Megatron with the AllSpark, Prime thanked the teen for saving him and has regarded Sam as a friend ever since. Additionally, Sam is one of the few humans who shares a level of respect towards Optimus and vice versa. In between the two films, Lennox and Prime learned Decepticon activity was escalating and intelligence that some of them might have been after Sam. Optimus suggested bringing Sam and his family to one of their bases for his protection but Lennox dusted it off and said that it would put too much pressure on Sam, who was only a teacher.
At least two years after the battle of Mission City, Optimus turned for Sam to help in representing the Autobots to the Humans. However, Sam refused to fight in a war that was not his. Later that week, Megatron abducted Sam, Mikaela and Leo to draw Prime out. Optimus was furious to see what Megatron tried to do to Sam and saved the boy yet again, and his friends. Despite Megatron temporarily succeeded at killing off his old foe, Sam resurrected Optimus several days later out of guilt, for Optimus died protecting him. Awakened at last, Optimus thanked Sam for saving his life yet again.
Mikaela Banes[]
Prime meets both Mikaela Banes and Sam Witwicky
Friend
Optimus Prime was the second Autobot both Mikaela and Sam ever met, but still sent Bumblebee to watch over the latter. Despite just meeting the teenagers, he saved the two from Sector Seven agents. However, Optimus couldn't stop Sector Seven from taking the children again, or help Bumblebee a second time out of fear of harming those humans. Though his relationship with Mikaela is not as close with Sam, Prime regarded her for her bravery by helping Bumblebee out on the battlefield in the battle of Mission City.
William Lennox[]
Cade Yeager[]
Optimus and Cade bonding over parenthood and raising their children.
- “Optimus Prime: Cade, I have failed you. I have doomed earth. Earth, the only place in the universe whose people let me call it home.
Cade Yeager: Only you can make it right, Prime. I can't do it without you.” - ―Cade and Optimus Prime
Close Friend
Cade Yeager didn't know he bought an autobot when he found an abandoned Peterbilt truck. While Cade was fixing the truck, he learned it wasn't an ordinary vehicle but an Autobot. Despite a somewhat tense relationship, both Optimus and Cade bonded over their status as parents and how challenging it was to deal with insubordinate teenagers. Their adventure changes them both: Cade admires Optimus and the other Autobots, preferring their company against humans. Optimus learned to love humanity again and chose to defend them. During the Battle in Hong Kong, Optimus killed Attinger just as he was about to execute Cade. This not only saved his life but further solified their friendship.
At least three years later, Optimus and Cade met again during dire consequences. During his time as Nemesis Prime, any friendship Optimus felt with Cade was gone, vowing to destroy him. It was Cade who noticed Optimus was not in his right state of mind. Nemesis tried to destroy both Cade and Bumblebee, until Bumblebee spoke for the first time, waking Prime up from his daydream. After he was freed from his brainwashing, Optimus realized what he had done to his friends in this state of mind. As the guardians knights prepared to execute Prime for submitting to Quintessa, Cade went to defend Optimus, activating the Knight talisman and drawing the sword. Guilt-ridden, Optimus apologized for falling Cade and how he treated him. However, instead of being angry, Cade helped Optimus yet again and to get back up again, showing faith in Prime once again.
Charlotte Mearing[]
Associate
Through operations on Earth, Optimus first met Charlotte Mearing on one occasion. When he met her a second time. Despite their strained relationship, Mearing remains civil with Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When Optimus met her a second time, Prime refused to speak with her, believing that that humans like her have been lying to them for years after discovering their covers during the mission to the Moon. However, Mearing sees the Autobots' presence on Earth for a necessity and revealed her anger to them when Sentinel killed Ironhide, betrayed the Autobots, and attacked the NEST base, meaning meaningless lives were at stake. However, Charlotte is not harsh with Optimus, Sam or their allies as much as Director Galloway was and helps the heroes of the film
Megatron[]
- “Humans don't deserve to live."
"They deserve to choose for themselves."
"Then you will die- with them! Join them in extinction!” - ―Megatron mocks Optimus's love for humans
Arch-enemy/Former Brother
There has been a long-standing rivalry between Megatron and Optimus Prime. Before the fall of Cybertron, when Optimus Prime was Orion Pax, the two immediately bonded and considered each other brothers once. They both ruled Cybertron together, under Sentinel Prime's teachings. However, Megatronus always felt somewhat jealous of Optimus, and they had different views. His jealousy of Orion became true when he learned that his adoptive brother was descended from the Dynasty of Primes and gained Sentinel's favoritism. After being corrupted by the Fallen, Megatronus shortened his name to Megatron and betrayed whatever trust and brotherhood he and Optimus had left. For the next millennium, the two former brothers fight from two sides of the Cybertronian war, Optimus as leader of the Autobots and Megatron as leader of the Decepticons.
When they came to Earth, Megatron's hatred for Optimus and the Autobots enhanced. Noticing his former brother's love for humanity, Megatron finds ways to use this strength against Prime. He will mock Optimus for his ideas that humans have the right to chose their own path. To prove his point, he abducted Sam and his friends to lure prime out.
In the original film, Optimus revealed his heartbreak when Megatron betrayed them when he was corrupted by the fallen. Though he fought his former comrade, Prime tried getting Sam to plunge the AllSpark, with the possibility of not killing his fallen brother. However, in Dark of the Moon, this was not the case. Megatron saved Prime from dying at the hands of Sentinel Prime, Megatron proposed an alliance with Optimus and restored Cybertron, as long as he ruled it. However, he no longer remembering the brotherhood they once shared, Optimus killed his former ally, because he knew better than to trust Megatron's deception. Years later, Megatron took pleasure in the thought of depleting the Earth of her resources. During their second confrontation since Megatron's second resurrection, Megatron reminded Optimus of their previous relationship, but this did not stop him from trying to kill his former brother. However, Megatron was killed by Optimus for a third and final time.
However, in an alternate continuity, the novelization for Dark of the Moon, Megatron realizes the error of his ways and decides to leave Earth with the Decepticons (while in the film, Optimus merely kills him), hoping to one day rebuild Cybertron with Optimus, this time as brothers. In the Aligned Continuity, Megatron manipulated an amnesiac Optimus Prime during his days as Orion Pax and convinced him the Autobots were evil. However, his hold over Prime comes to a close when Jackson Darby uses the Vector Sigma to reinstate Optimus' right state of mind. Eventually, Megatron grows tired of his fights with Optimus and disbands the Decepticons', rendering their cause meaningless and unfruitful. The IDW comics also show another side to their relationship, as Megatron gradually disillusioned with the Decepticons and defected to the Autobots' side, officially reconciling with his brother. Of course, this is an alternate timeline and does not usually stick.
Humans[]
Humanity is one of the most important ideas that Optimus Prime holds dear and considers them equals. He loves humans as if they were his own childrenOf course, he was temporarily disillusioned with the humans when they set a trap for him and hunted down and killed most of his friends and family. However, after Optimus' adventure with the Yeagers and Shane Dyson, he learned to love humanity again and chose to defend the Earth and her children. Optimus has a group of friends, supporters and allies within the television series, the live-action films and the comics.
Quotes[]
Transformers
without harming the humans.”
(Sam: No sacrifice, no victory.) If I cannot defeat Megatron, you must push the Cube into my chest. I will sacrifice myself to destroy it. Get behind me.”
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Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the original Generation 1 continuity Nemesis Prime and Optimus Prime were two separate characters. Nemesis was actually Optimus' clone.
- The way Optimus saved Sam Witwicky in 2007's Transformers was inspired by how Superman saved Lois Lane in the 1978 film.
- For the live-action series, the creators based Prime's movements and characteristics off of Liam Neeson, who the creators intended for him to voice the character until Peter Cullen was cast.
- Like the cartoon, Optimus was put under mind control by his creators but his mind was restored by a son figure.In the fifth film, he was broken out of Quintessa's control due to hearing Bumblebee's voice for the first time in six million years.In the original series, Hot Rod broke Optimus out of the Quintessons' mind control by returning the Matrix of Leadership to him.
- Optimus has fire/flame design painted on him, a trait he shares with Rodimus Prime (his successor in the original cartoon series).
- Peter Cullen voices Optimus, as he does in the original series and later other Transformers related media, such as Transformers: Prime.
- Like the 1986 film, in Revenge of the Fallen, Optimus is killed by a version of Megatron in defense of Sam Witwicky. However both versions of his death is only temporary. In the film, Optimus is resurrected by Sam Witwicky with the Matrix of Leadership. In the original series, Prime was brought back to life by the hostile species called the Quintessons, albeit under their control. However, he was broken out of it by Hot Rod after returning the Matrix back to Optimus. Ironically, the Matrix played some role in Optimus' return.
