Transformers Prime: My Wild Adventure (OC)

Euology for Peter Cullen

Hello everyone, I hope you're all doing well today. I apologize for the late message, and I also apologize for the long absence after the previous chapter.

However, this message is far more important than whatever my OC protagonist, Sean Rodriguez, will experience later. For those who are still unaware, Peter Cullen, the main voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers: Prime, as well as many other shows and movies, passed away from cardiac arrest last week.

I know the feeling. It's unbelievable. It stopped my heart when I read the words. It was outright impossible.

How could someone with more kindness, gentleness, and care for his career and the fans around him than other celebrities suddenly die, just like that?

I know for a fact that you're feeling more and doing more than my reaction to his death. I was in bed slowly waking up in the morning when I heard the news. I sat there in shock, rereading the words and struggling to process the news. I know for a fact you have, or are right now, crying or are about to.

I never cried. It's not because I don't like him- I do. It's just I never got to know him well enough to actually cry.

If there is something we must take from Peter's death, it's that nothing ever lasts forever. Nobody lives forever, for death takes all of us one way or another. Even if Peter Cullen never died from cardiac arrest, he was eventually going to die from something else.

But enough about death. Let's return to the main point. We've known his voice for Optimus Prime for a long time, starting out in G1 in 1984. I was never around to watch the show when it first aired, since I was born in 2002. By that point, our first ever time seeing him as Optimus was in the Michael Bay movies and the Transformers Prime show.

Before I knew Peter as Optimus, I first heard him as Eeyore, the gloomy donkey friend of Winnie the Pooh from Disney. I didn't even know who Peter Cullen even was back then. Only his voice. Optimus Prime came afterwards. It was only within the late 2010's I found out who he is.

Like I said, you've known him far more than I have, yet his career shaped the entire Transformers fandom and franchise. He became the voice of one of the best heroes in all of modern cinema history. You either started watching Transformers from the first ever show, or one of the Japanese shows, or either one of the more recent media adaptations. But there is one thing we cannot deny. He did exceptionally well in Transformers Prime.

I first heard and saw the show on The Hub network around 2011 or 2012. I didn't remember anything specific, but the way the animation and pacing went captured my imagination quickly. There was one memory that stood out. The swordfight between Megatron and Optimus in season 2, and its aftermath.

I had no idea what was going on, but still, the sight of two robots wielding glowing swords under the moonlight caught me like a fish on a hook. I instantly felt bad when Megatron managed to destroy the Star Saber, as I fully expected Optimus to win the fight.

I didn't know the context, but the show managed to show emotion pretty well. That was my first ever memory.

My second? It was a jumbled mess, but I incorrectly assumed Arcee was being tempted to join the Decepticons by Megatron but changed her mind much to his shock. In reality, that was her mocking Starscream while being held hostage in Season 2 Episode 17.

But times have changed. Four years ago, I fully finished the show, and I now know what happens.

And Optimus Prime did more than just fight with a glowing sword against Megatron. His speeches, silent courage, and optimism influenced his fellow Autobots.

Ratchet, who was against working with humans and was completely annoyed by their presence, turned into a loyal friend of Jack, Miko, Rafael, June, and Fowler, and willingly chose to stay behind on Earth after Cybertron and the Allspark were restored to life.

Bulkhead, who was seen as goofy despite being the main muscle behind the team, turned into a smarter, more coordinated member of the Wreckers.

Arcee, who acted as a lone wolf after the death of Cliffjumper, and felt isolated because of her trauma, became a close friend of the humans and was later more open.

Bumblebee, from the little scout to the bravest Autobot there is, second to Optimus and Arcee themselves.

Ultra Magnus, from the serious officer who knew only how to follow orders and strict military discipline, knew the difference on how to treat soldiers versus family.

And many, many more.

The humans changed too. Instead of being awkward, like Rafael at the start, or too wild like Miko, they all turned into integrated members of the Autobot army. Jack and Fowler with their leadership, Miko with her brawn's, and Rafael and June with their support and intelligence.

In a manner of speaking, they all went through a transformation.

And no, I don't mean that as a pun. I mean that as a metaphor. A compliment. An observation.

We all went through a similar phase after watching the show as well as its final movie. From whoever we were back then to awe-inspired fans of the show and the fandom as well. Even 16 years after the first episode was released, we see the overall impact on the franchise as well as the fans.

Tumblr. Instagram. Facebook. TikTok. Twitter (X). YouTube. Every single social media platform has a large collection of fans, artworks, and videos dedicated to this specific show. Sure, you can find some stuff associated with TF Animated, the Bayverse, G1, and other films and shows, but Prime to me stands out the most. Like, if you searched Transformers stuff in general, you'd most likely find posts connected to TFP.

It touched us all. It changed us. And the whole thing started thanks to the defining voice of Transformers himself: Peter Cullen.

As I close this eulogy, much to my sadness, there is a quote I believe he himself would recite to calm us down and look forward in life. I say below:

"Above all, do not lament my absence, for in my spark, I know this is not the end, but merely a new beginning. Simply put, another transformation."

Rest in peace, Mr. Cullen. You will be missed.

Till All Are One.