Everyone recognises the Transformers brand from either the infamous toys or the cartoons. It’s a brand that keeps going from strength to strength and in 2007 Michael Bay translated this brand into a large-scale epic science-fiction film series. A series that is currently undergoing a re-invention. The films, the cartoons, and the brand are all stemmed from a battle between sentient robotic organisms called Transformers which are a race divided, there are Autobot's and there are Decepticons.
Optimus Prime is the typical archetype of a leader and he’s also the leader of the Autobots. His voice is commanding and authoritative, with thanks to voice actor Peter Cullen, and on the flip side of the coin, you have the menacing growly voiced Megatron, voiced by Hugo Weaving, and has all the attributes of a villain and leads the Decepticons.
You could say that the Transformers film series is your typical cliché good versus evil story. Despite the heavy action and dazzling visual effects, there’s something a bit more rooted in the story between the Autobots and Decepticons.
The Transformers is an allegory for life and creation. Cybertron acts as a sci-fi version of the Garden of Eden, a place where transformers are made and grown. The first film in the series introduced the Cube, an object that gives the Transformers life. The plot of the first film is basically a race to find and gain dominance of the Cube, and in later films, there are other MacGuffin’s (objects of interest) which the Autobot's and Decepticons are after too. All of which involve methods of longevity and immortality of their race.
The Autobots represent the preservity of their race and their culture, but at the same time adapting to life outside their home planet. They represent balance and Optimus Prime is the Transformer in charge of maintaining that balance which repeatedly puts him in danger. Each Autobot represents particular uses in helping to maintain this balance, like a medical Transformer that transforms into an ambulance and a range rover Transformer which is tasked with defending other Autobot's. Whereas the Decepticons are all about power and control.
Megatron wants to become a martyr of freedom, he believes the power of the Transformers lie with their kind, and other Transformers like Optimus Prime don’t see the potential in the power they have. Going back again to the first film, Transformers, Megatron wants to keep expanding his race by getting his hands on the Cube. It’s not a sinister plot but it does represent a different side to the coin.
The initial good versus evil story isn’t as simple as that then, it’s about preserving the Transformers race. The Autobots see preserving their race as adapting to life on Earth and beginning anew, while the Decepticons are loyal to the culture of their home planet Cybertron and wish to regain dominance of that culture. Which side wins? Why not check out the film series and find out yourself.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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