Transformers One: Review
Transformers is such a well-known and beloved franchise that has influenced many lives. It was recently the franchise’s 40th anniversary, September 17, 2024, and 3 days later, Transformers One was released here in the U.S. on September 20th. The film takes place 3 billion years before our current era, and follows a group of 4 low-class transformers, Orion Pax(Optimus Prime), D-16(Megatron), Elita-1, and B-127(Bumblebee) discovering new opportunities— and ultimately ends with the start of the conflict we’ve known since the start of this franchise, the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The film's main focus revolves around the beginnings of Optimus Prime and Megatron— leaders of two opposing factions, Autobots and Decepticons, respectively. The origin of these two characters has been explored a few times, once through the Aligned Continuity which is told in a few novels. Another is through a series of IDW comics, a separate story/universe from the Aligned Continuity. Both stories share similar traits. Optimus Prime was originally named Orion Pax, a librarian, or data clerk, and Megatron was an overworked miner turned gladiator and was originally called D-16.
Both continuities follow the formula of D-16(Megatron), an overworked miner, practically a slave, moving up in life attracting a cult-like following while competing in the Gladiatorial pits and names himself after one of the original 13 Primes, Megatronus Prime. (The Primes are practically the gods of the Transformers race.) Orion Pax takes notice of Megatron preaching about how their government system is terrible. Orion helps Megatron spread his message, but circumstances lead to Orion being crowned as Optimus Prime, a terrible sense of betrayal, and radical decisions that ultimately starts a war that spans for eons across the galaxy. This has been the go-to, fan-favorite origin story of the Transformers for the past decade. Transformers was due for a movie of these origins, and Transformers One fulfills that role.
The film tells a vastly different story than that of the Aligned Continuity and IDW comics, but it shows it beautifully. Every scene is vibrant, the animation is top-tier, and nearly every action adds more to the terrible tower that is doomed to crash. I highly recommend you watch this film. It has something for everyone— countless references for the hardcore fans, and a great family movie for the general audience.
