The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who is after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

Director:

Nelson Shin

Writer:

Ron Friedman

Stars:

Orson Welles, Robert Stack, Leonard Nimoy

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Norman Alden	...	Kranix / Arblus (voice)
Jack Angel	...	Astrotrain / Ramjet (voice)
Michael Bell	...	Prowl / Scrapper / Swoop / Junkion (voice)
Gregg Berger	...	Grimlock (voice)
Susan Blu	...	Arcee (voice)
Arthur Burghardt	...	Devastator (voice)
Corey Burton	...	Spike Witwicky / Brawn / Shockwave (voice)
Roger C. Carmel	...	Cyclonus / Quintesson Leader (voice)
Victor Caroli	...	Narrator (voice)
Regis Cordic	...	Quintesson Judge (voice)
Scatman Crothers	...	Jazz (voice)
Peter Cullen	...	Optimus Prime / Ironhide (voice)
Bud Davis	...	Dirge (voice)
Paul Eiding	...	Perceptor (voice)
Walker Edmiston	...	Inferno (voice) (scenes deleted)

Storyline

It is the year 2005. And the battle between the heroic Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the evil Decepticons led by Megatron and StarScream. Two warring factions of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The Autobots must save their home planet from an evil entity known as Unicron, who's ready to consume anything that stands in its way. At the same time, they must defend themselves from an all-out attack from the Decepticons. Along the way, lives are lost, battles are fought, and a new Autobot leader is born as another dies.

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Plot Keywords:

Planet | Robot | Battle | Transforming Robot | Year 2005 | 

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Taglines:

Beyond good. Beyond evil. Beyond your wildest imagination.

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

8 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transformers: The Movie

Box Office

Gross:

$5,849,647 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sunbow Productions, Marvel Productions, Hasbro

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the original 18 Autobots featured in the first episode "More than Meets the Eye", 15 are seen in the movie. Mirage, Trailbreaker, and Sideswipe do not appear although they were all scripted to appear in three separate scenes on Earth.

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Goofs

In the scene where Hot Rod successfully opens the Matrix, he is able to fit his fingers into square holes in the handles. These finger holes do appear in a couple of other scenes (when Galvatron claims the Matrix from Magnus, and when Galvatron tries to claw it open to use against Unicron), but they seem to be an afterthought. The finger holes are missing throughout most of the movie, including the scene in which Optimus Prime first takes the Matrix out of his chest.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Kranix: Arblus, look! It's Unicron!

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Connections

Referenced in Toy Story 2 (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Death of Optimus Prime"
Performed by Vince DiCola
Produced by Vince DiCola and Ed Fruge

User Reviews

Not just for fans

Well, I agree that the appeal of this movie is mostly to fans, but I was never a big fan of the series, and I loved it. It's definitely not mainstream, but for anyone who can appreciate robots voiced by some big names (even Orson Welles!) thrashing each other with a very cool, hugely 80s soundtrack, this is where it's at. The main plot, although not exactly inspired, is at least compelling. Any of the scenes with Unicron (Welles) or Galvatron (Leonard Nimoy) easily make the movie worth watching, and there are a few scenes that actually have heart. If you don't like 80s cartoon action, stay away. But if you'll always be a Megaman-playing, Ninja-Turtle-watching kid at heart, check it out.