Peter Cullen Celebrates Optimus Prime’s New Lease On Life

Technology has opened up many doors for franchises to expand. We’re not just talking cartoons and talking toys!
Peter Cullen, the original voice of Optimus Prime in the 1980s cartoon Transformers, is astounded to see just how far his character has come over the past 30 years.

Transforming Transformers

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1. Transforming Transformers

Canadian-born Peter Cullen (b. 1941), the original voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers, has been in the business of voice acting for over forty years. His early days as a student at the National Theater School of Canada prepared him for seeking fame and fortune as an actor in Burbank, landing a superb role serving as announcer for the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.

In 1979, Cullen was cast in his first animated series “Mighty Man and Yukk” which led to other cartoons. If you can believe it, Cullen first breathed life into Optimus Prime nearly 30 years ago!

When we look back at where the Transformers franchise started, it’s amazing to think of how far it has come and to how many platforms it has expanded to.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Cullen is astounded by all the possibilities for Optimus Prime that have been springing up as a result of the technological advances sweeping the entertainment industry. The WSJ quotes Cullen as saying of the leaps in format, “I would equate that to a stage actor going into silent movies, and then a silent screen actor going into radio. There are so many avenues to go down, and the most important one is the games – the brilliance, the imagination, the artistry, the animation that goes into this. It’s a thrill to be a part of it.”