The big question most fans are asking after seeing Optimus Prime Awakening is what comes next for all Cybertronians. Unless viewers are deeply familiar with the franchise’s lore, my thoughts are focused on Optimus’ final spiritual journey. The questions raised align with various spiritual beliefs, which pose a related question: will we become one with God after death? In this case, “Till all are one” takes on a different meaning, raising the issue of how we can break a vicious cycle of war and conflict.
This animated short nicely addresses how every continuity, from Armada and Cyberverse to G1 and Prime, is shaped by choices and decisions. Where the logic falters is with Earthspark. Megatron already realized that continued conflict was futile and that, unless everyone worked together to save Cybertron, they were doomed. He did not necessarily join the Autobots, but he did renounce what defined a Decepticon. At least, that was my reading.
One idea this short addresses is how Optimus’ spirit always returns. Whether he appears as Optimus Primal in Beast Wars or as Orion Pax before becoming a Prime, there’s a lot to unpack. Get it? But I digress. The mysterious eye, or universal force, that speaks to him may well be the “One God,” and it is not a Prime either. At least, by my reckoning, it is some greater cosmic force that has watched this war unfold across time and space, across multiple universes. That would explain the reference to Optimus being reborn, and perhaps much more.
Each continuity shown may represent this one soul attempting to fulfil a purpose. Instead of walking away, Optimus keeps returning to rinse and repeat an ordained defeat. He has entered neither Heaven nor Hell. He witnesses choices left unmade and alternate histories taking shape. I do take issue with Bumblebee being made evil and changing sides, but the scene also conveniently suggests that only the souls of those who died during The Transformers: The Movie get another chance to take a shot at Optimus Prime. Two Insecticons, along with Starscream and Soundwave, all attack him as he tries to flee.
Afterward, Bumblebee appears in this ghostly trial. Since he is still alive and kicking, that theory seems to be tossed out the window.
The eye has appeared in many cultures as a symbol of divine awareness, protection and higher knowledge. It does not belong exclusively to one religion, but within a monotheistic reading, it can represent the single consciousness behind creation. Different cultures may give that presence different names, just as Transformers gives Optimus new bodies, voices and histories. The manifestations change, but the source remains one. That does not mean Optimus himself is God. He may instead be a soul serving the same purpose throughout many universes. His many incarnations express one enduring ideal, while some other cosmic force watches the pattern over and over, like a Watcher from Marvel Comics. And yes, even that continuity is addressed.
Since so much of the franchise concerns control over a precious source of lifeblood for every Cybertronian, this conflict may be larger than a vendetta between Megatron and Optimus Prime. The Energon may well possess an awareness and may even want a say in what happens to it.
This interpretation recalls the purpose the Flower of Life had in Genesis Climber MOSPEADA, adapted as Robotech: The Next Generation. The Flower of Life is not simply an energy source. It participates in a cycle of growth, transformation, evolution and migration. The Inbit, called the Invid in the Robotech continuity, harvest it, feed upon it and use it to expand their connection to the universe. To some, it is more than a hallucinogenic drug; to others, it is closer to a magic mushroom.
Quite simply, this insect race needs it to transform into energy and create the two humans, Ariel and Sera. Ariel is found by Scott and joins him in fighting the Inbit. As for Sera, created by the Inbit Queen, she is more evil. She leads the bioorganic organisms to squash the rebel forces. It’s an inversion of the Transformers formula, but the similarities are there. We’re witnessing evolution in action: a progression from insectoid to biomechanical to fully human, each a higher life form than the last. And if the final moments of this short are any indication, it looks like Optimus Prime’s next form will be organic! We see this leader of the Autobots raise a human-looking hand.
And as I recall, Transformers: Earthspark showed organics forming out of Earth’s own elements rather than Cybertronian living metal. Although their molecular structure looks as organic as it does mechanical, the new bots are more tuned to the planet than the other lifeforms who must teach them the ways of living with humans.
But in its natural state, as a seed, it has no shape until Robby and Mo Malto exposed their DNA to the substance. And if both forms carry sparks, memories or consciousness through different states of existence, then they may be more than a simple source of fuel. Cybertronians depend on Energon to continue moving rather than transforming, and depending on the continuity, not all of them possess the innate ability to transform. A spark remains just a spark until Energon flows through it and gives the metal a soul.
That makes me wonder about something even more basic than robots and Invid. What about photons and neutrons, the actual building blocks physics gives us? Do they carry any spark potential of their own, or are they more like Energon in its raw seed form, full of possibility but shapeless until something greater flows through them? It’s the old panpsychism question wearing Cybertronian chrome. If consciousness is baked into matter at its most fundamental level, then Energon giving metal a soul isn’t so much science fiction as a more literal, more colourful version of an argument physicists and philosophers have been having for centuries.
That possibility gives “Till all are one” a more literal meaning. Individual sparks may be temporary expressions of one universal source. Optimus’ spirit is destined to return, even though his appearance and purpose change throughout the different retellings of the same old story, including Skybound’s Energon Universe. The comic setting is aptly named, since nearly every mechanical life form depends on this resource in some way, much like the Invid in MOSPEADA. Honestly, I’d have to start reading Void Rivals to see where these ideas are emerging. What I have discovered from the side stories suggests that even Cobra-La, from G.I. Joe, wants to make use of this mystical resource.
As for shaping this work around Peter Cullen‘s legacy, it is sad that he never saw the final cut or understood the short’s purpose. He recorded his lines before passing away during post-production. It was impossible to rerecord anything, so the producers had to work with what they had and piece together a short that points toward the franchise’s future. There are new players in this mix. While Megatron lives as Galvatron in G1, what he has become in the Prime universe is even worse. Both rebooted versions of this herald to Unicron are insane, and without an opponent, can either one exist? Although neither truly declared Optimus their enemy, both versions suffered different fates. In G1, the upgraded version finally died, while the other, after realizing the errors of his ways through oppression via Unicron, disbanded the order and left for self-imposed exile.
While neither is likely to appear in the next animated series of the IP, the show must go on. And Hasbro has only a few ways to continue without that iconic voice. There’s a real-life parallel here that’s kind of frightening, even though I doubt anyone intended it. The bad guys’ original voices are still with us: Frank Welker (God bless him) keeps voicing Megatron/Galvatron decades later, and Mark Hamill, despite announcing his retirement from the role, is still around after voicing the Joker for as long as he has.
The heroes haven’t been so lucky. Kevin Conroy, who defined Batman for a generation, and Cullen, who did the same for Optimus Prime, have both passed away, Cullen’s death still recent enough to sting. It’s humbling, sombre, and yeah, a bit of a tear-jerker when you sit with it. After the death of these two talents, how can Batman or Transformers be the same?
The company could bring back Garry Chalk, Cullen’s first successor as Optimus, use AI to recreate Cullen’s voice digitally, or find another impressionist who can come close to the unique drawl Cullen made famous. I am not fond of the middle choice. After hearing that Anthony Daniels is willing to consider licensing his likeness to keep C-3PO going, though, I can see why it remains an option. I hope nobody takes it.
As for the animation quality, there seems to be no standard. Each Transformers continuity is either CalArts-inspired or stamped with a new DreamWorks-style footprint. It is a shame that cel animation is no longer used. When Prime set the bar for character design, everything created afterward feels like a step backward, as though the goal is to cut costs and get products onto shelves faster. Even so, Optimus Prime Awakening opens the door to a larger universe, with threats far more serious than a petty war between two rival factions. Even the ghost of Megatron, despite being reformatted in the living world, doesn’t know why he is in Prime’s dream.
3 Stars out of 5
Optimus Prime Awakening Trailer
