Peter Cullen recorded one last performance as Optimus Prime before his death on August 26, 2026, and that performance debuted in theaters on Transformers Day, September 17, 2026, as part of a global celebration that left fans deeply moved.
Hasbro Honors Cullen With Optimus Prime Awakening
Hasbro marked the third annual Transformers Day by releasing a 12-minute animated short called Optimus Prime: Awakening. The short played in theaters after the credits of a newly restored 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie, which returned to cinemas for its 40th anniversary.
The short was created as a love letter to the Transformers community and to Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime for more than four decades. It features Cullen’s final original voice performance as the Autobot leader, alongside Frank Welker returning as Megatron and Soundwave.
A Bittersweet Transformers Day Celebration
This year’s Transformers Day carried special weight because Peter Cullen died on August 26, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 85. His death came just weeks before the short’s release.
Hasbro and the global Transformers community used the day to remember Cullen, whose performance as Optimus Prime inspired generations of fans. The theatrical event was not originally planned as a farewell, but it became one after Cullen’s passing.
“Peter Cullen showed generations of fans that strength and gentleness can exist together,” said Kim Boyd, President of Licensing and Entertainment at Hasbro. “He shaped Optimus Prime around the example of his brother Larry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, who told him to ‘be strong enough to be gentle.’”
Fans Share Emotional Reactions Online
Fans who attended early screenings of Optimus Prime: Awakening shared their reactions on social media, many saying the short moved them to tears.
“Optimus Prime: Awakening has me in tears man. What a beautifully animated, incredible short and such a perfect send off for Peter Cullen. Wow,” one fan wrote on X.
“It’s beyond words how nuanced and heartfelt it was, and the horrible passing of Peter Cullen made it all the more perfectly poetic of a send off to the character,” another user posted.
Another fan added: “Definitely got a few tears outta me. The animation is gorgeous, the voice work is superb and it hits the emotional beats really well. It’s unfortunate that this is the last of Peter Cullen’s Prime, but this was a sweet farewell.”
Frank Welker Calls Final Performance a Real Gift
Frank Welker, who has voiced Megatron opposite Cullen’s Optimus Prime for over 40 years, returned for the short. He described the experience as a meaningful gift.
“Optimus Prime and Megatron were made for each other. After all, one needs the perfect hero against the epitome of evil to create great drama,” Welker said. “Peter’s portrayal of Prime was born of his own personal beliefs: honesty, loyalty, and always insisting on doing the right thing. This made it easy to be friends. Returning as Megatron and Soundwave for one final story opposite Peter’s Optimus in Optimus Prime: Awakening was a real gift. I will miss my friend, but that voice and his heart and values will always be part of Optimus Prime.”
Welker also updated his official website with a tribute to Cullen, honoring their more than four decades of friendship and creative partnership.
What Happens in Optimus Prime Awakening
The 12-minute short expands the story of The Transformers: The Movie, which famously killed off Optimus Prime in its first act. A clip released before the debut shows Optimus Prime moving through a deserted alien world while trying to evade the Decepticons.
The short also brings Optimus face-to-face with Bumblebee, who appears to have joined the Decepticons. The story includes nods to various incarnations of the character across different Transformers series and films.
Reviews for the short were largely positive. UPI called it a fitting sendoff, noting that Cullen’s voice “displays leadership, conviction and humility in both robot and truck form”. One Letterboxd reviewer gave it five stars, writing: “As a love letter to Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, and to the fans, this was perfect”.
The Transformers Movie Returns in 4K
The 40th anniversary re-release of The Transformers: The Movie began on September 17, 2026, in the U.S. and U.K., with additional screenings confirmed in France, Singapore, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Peru.
The restored version features 4K presentation and premium large format 4DX in select theaters. Tickets went on sale on August 7, 2026.
More Ways Hasbro Is Celebrating
Beyond the theatrical release, Hasbro organized several events and product launches for Transformers Day:
- A celebration at Battersea Power Station in London with an exclusive screening of The Transformers: The Movie, tribute speeches, and refreshments.
- A Hot Wheels Transformers Bumblebee car, marking the third collaboration between the two brands. The 1:64 scale vehicle is inspired by the G1 character and converts into a robot with 13 points of articulation.
- A new Transformers capsule collection at Target, featuring figures, comics, apparel, home decor, drinkware, music, and other collectibles.
The original score from Optimus Prime: Awakening is also available on all streaming platforms.
Related:
Peter Cullen’s Legacy Beyond Transformers
Peter Cullen was born in Montreal and became one of the most recognizable voices in animation. Beyond Optimus Prime, he voiced Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh franchise, Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, KARR in Knight Rider, and the title character in Predator.
He also served as the narrator for Toonami promos during the 2000s and voiced the narrator in Toonami’s first original series, IGPX, in 2005.
Cullen semi-retired from acting in the 2010s due to health concerns but continued to voice Optimus Prime in later years. His final TV credit was playing Thaedus on the animated superhero series Invincible, appearing in seven episodes.
His family released a statement asking fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty — and to always remember his brother’s advice: “be strong enough to be gentle.”
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