Hasbro and Fathom Entertainment are releasing a new animated short film, Optimus Prime: Awakening, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Transformers: The Movie. The short will play before select screenings of the film's 4K rerelease, which returns to theaters from September 17-22. This project holds significance as it includes the final original voice performance from the late Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime.
Optimus Prime: Awakening is described as a 12-minute animated short that serves as a tribute to the Transformers community and Peter Cullen. The short promises "emotional storytelling [and] electric action" and features new voice performances from Frank Welker, reprising his roles as Megatron and Soundwave. Cullen passed away in late August at the age of 80. Welker stated that working with Cullen again for this final story was a "gift" and that Cullen's values of honesty and loyalty will always be part of Optimus Prime.
Hasbro noted that Cullen considered his return to the character he voiced for over four decades a "homecoming" and that the project "meant a great deal to him." The animation for Optimus Prime: Awakening is being handled by The Third Floor, known for its work on Predator: Killer of Killers. The rerelease of The Transformers: The Movie has been branded an "Apology Tour," referencing the original film's plot point where Optimus Prime was killed off. Tickets for the theatrical screenings are currently available on Fathom's website.