The Ultimate Hero: G1 Transformers Optimus Prime (1984)

Available on iTunes

[OldManTheseDays]

“Till all are one!” Really well done, Michael! Optimus has often been compared to John Wayne, but he’s so much more than that. I always liked how he was portrayed as a wise leader. The perfect antithesis to Megatron.

[jenningsmills]

I Grew up without a father.
For me Optimus filled that role.
Coincidence I later became a Truck Driver?
Probably not.

[nils]

"The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how they love them while they're alive"


Optimus Prime

[carrieodonnell]

“Freedom is the right of all sentient beings”
Optimus Prime 1984

[missyreed]

I don't think Michael Bay understands Optimus Prime like we do

[qbtc]

This was a PhD thesis level tribute to Optimus Prime. Well done!

[HeresWhyItsCool]

The whole time I was watching this video I kept thinking, "Yeah... this guy gets it." Just everything, from Optimus Prime's personality to why he's so important to me, and to many of us from that era.
What a well articulated and heartfelt video.
Thanks, man. I'm gonna keep this one bookmarked to show people when they ask me about why Optimus is so important to a guy like me in his 40's.

Quick side note, I got in trouble back in 1997 for a paper I wrote in my Sophomore English class. We were supposed to write on who is our Hero. I wrote about Optimus Prime. The teacher gave me half-credit simply because I wrote about a cartoon character. I politely went to her desk, argued about her instructions which never said it couldn't be a fictional character and she had no justification to give me half credit considering my subject was indeed a hero. She yelled at me in front of the class, said I never listened, to which I rebuttled that I did indeed listen and she never said it couldn't be about fictional character, whether he's a cartoon, toy, or whatever. The class began to agree with me and argue with her as well. It turns out other kids had also gotten half credit for the same reason, even though we had followed her initial instructions.
She never did relent, or apologize, or change our grades.
But in my yearbook one of my classmates wrote to me that I was his hero because I stood up to our teacher for a just cause.
I was simply trying to be like Optimus.
Anyway, great video. I agree with you on all counts. Thanks for this.

[ShadowACE]

Optimus was my dad. not literally or figuratively so much but he embodied all the traits my dad tried to instill in me. Honor, loyalty, responsibility, duty, kindness, but with the strength to stand up for what you believe to be right. to never falter and never give up. It didn't hurt that my dad drove a cab-over semi too. So yeah when a 4 year old Logan who idolized his dad first set eyes on the Transformers, it was only natural that Optimus Prime would stand apart as the one I would attach myself to.

[RentAGoalie]

Optimus Prime was/is my hero. Growing up, I was an introverted fat kid with little to no friends. My dad was an alcoholic and wasn't there for us emotionally. Everything good and honorable I learned and project out to the world today, I learned from Optimus Prime. Watching you review brought back a flood of memories and emotions. It even brought a little tear to my eye; I emphasize completely. "'Until all are one."

[thomasmeehan]

The way you speak about Optimus Prime is nothing less than inspiring. Your love of him is incredibly clear and honest; and to be honest, your summary of him at the beginning of the video brought tears to my eyes with how much he has meant to you. He has meant a lot to me too. Thank you for the review and please keep up the great work. Your videos have reignited the passion that I have for collecting over the past few months since I have found your channel. It had kinda grown stagnant over the last couple of years. I am reorganizing a rack that my father built for me to hold shot glasses (when I use to drink a lot) into an 80's toy shelf (since I don't drink like that anymore) as I am watching your videos. Thank you again. Have a great weekend.

[SkyFireDrone]

I remember the day I went shopping with my Grandma and she bought me Optimus. He was $20.. quite expensive for us at that time so I can relate to how things were for your family.. maybe a little. My Optimus was the version with the blue Roller. I always thought it was odd that there were seats for people but never saw any.. now I know why. Optimus was always a hero of mine too but you can imagine my surprise when I started taking kickboxing lessons and when it was time to spar with the instructor, he played “The Touch” from Transformers:The Movie. Optimus was his favorite too 🤓😎
I saw a video of Peter telling that story of how his late brother had inspired Optimus’s voice. I started tearing up when he did. It explained everything.

[mjspitz]

Optimus Prime had an integrity that, to this day, is still unmatched by any other leader. Thank you for your beautiful words.

[johnredmond]

That was probably the most heartfelt and sincere review/tribute video I've seen.Well done Mr Mercy.

[kellenbrown]

"Be strong enough to be gentle" -Larry Cullen, brother of Peter Cullen, Optimus Prime

[ArionRDAW]

He is all of those things you said. Not Michael Bay's "GIVE ME YOUR FACE!" version.

[clarkadoodledo]

Father to all us 80s kids. My dad died when I was very young. Optimus was more real then most things in my life. Thank you for the words I could never get out.

[RobindeValkNL]

beautiful, moving and sophisticated narration. Every child needs a rolemodel like Optimus Prime? I feel blessed I grew up in the 80s

[TarlZaralka]

That's what was so great about cartoons from the 80's and early 90's, they had a message about being the better person and that has followed those of us who took those lessons to heart.

[RppRussell]

As a kid in the 80's who lived through some very difficult childhood, Optimus prime was always first and foremost, the greatest inspirational, hero who always managed to lift me up (figuratively speaking) & always managed to light my darkest hours. (He's the REAL reason why I'm still alive today after all those years because believe it or not, things got so bad at one point in 1984 that I actually thought about committing suicide...until I hear some few positive/inspirational message from Prime in the cartoon. So it's not really an exaggeration to say that he actually saved my life!)

[shawnp]

The scene from 2007 Transformers: The Movie and epic score when Autobots arrive, then finally watching Optimus transform live and say in Peter Culllen's voice "I am Optimus Prime" still gives me goosebumps! One of the few next Gen films to tap into my 80's love and hero archetype.