After multiple attempts at reboots, sequels and overall poor attempts at reviving the “Transformers” movie franchise, it seemed like Paramount was finally halting the series. That was until “Transformers: One” released in theaters, just over a year after the last installment.
“Transformers: One” is the first Transformers film to be animated since its 1986 iteration, and the very first in the franchise to feature full computer animation.
The film centers around the origin of Optimus Prime (named Orion Pax in the film) and Megatron (D-16 in the film), characterizing them as best friends turned sworn enemies. Starring Chris Hemsworth as Orion and Brian Tyree Henry as D-16, the film featured a number of other experienced voice actors like Scarlett Johannson, Steve Buscemi and Keegan-Michael Key.
The first trailer was released in April, invoking stark criticism of the animation, casting and overall necessity of the movie. People questioned Hemsworth’s thick Australian accent as a key factor in why he shouldn’t have been cast, citing the “Chris Pratt Mario incident.”
Orion Pax and D-16 are Energon miners on Iacon, the capital of Cybertron. Ruled by deeply-loved Sentinel Prime, the pair often gets into trouble because of Orion.
Sentinel Prime’s task at hand is finding the long lost “Matrix of Leadership,” a beacon carried by the leader of the Autobots, Transformers who have “cogs,” parts that let them transform into their famous car form.
The miner class does not have cogs, and therefore cannot transform. Supervised by Elita-1 (Johannson), they work tirelessly to mine for Energon to power Sentinel Prime’s quest for the Matrix and the betterment of their planet.
After sneaking into the high-profile “Iacon 5000,” a race for Transformers with cogs, Orion Pax and D-16 are almost victorious–showing off their true will and character.
Despite their near-win, they are sentenced to a deep level of Iacon City. There, they meet B-127 (played by Key), a prisoner who has a profound sense of humor.
The trio makes a plan to escape to the surface to find the Matrix of Leadership to regain Sentinel Prime’s trust and approval. However, they are forced into taking Elita-1 along on the journey after she threatens to report them to higher-ups.
When they reach the surface, they realize its true beauty. The group begins to question their upbringing, as their instilled belief of the danger of the surface starts to unravel.
After stumbling into a cave, the four Transformers find the remnants of the Prime Transformers, the thirteen original Transformers created by Primus.
They awaken Alpha Trion, who is old and barely functioning. He reveals to them the reason for why they vanished, which is the catalyst for the entire story.
On the surface, “Transformers: One” seems like a classic children’s film that is put out every year. However, similar to previous critical successes like “Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse,” there is social commentary throughout the film’s plot.
The movie speaks on class structure and oppression: Cogless Transformers are sentenced to hard labor for the “perfect” Transformers, which mirrors exploitation in the real world.
Orion Pax and D-16’s reactions to Alpha Trion’s world-shattering story are the same, but how they process it is different. D-16 feels an unbridled rage for his exploitation. Juxtaposed with Orion’s pure intentions to show the citizens of Iacon the truth, the two both have the same goal but different measures.
This formula of clashing viewpoints is quite close to how humans today live: sharing a common enemy, but using different methods to achieve the same goals. The underlying message within this film is somewhat unexpected from a franchise seemingly almost bled dry.
For viewers going into the movie with minimal knowledge of the lore, the movie was made to be easily understandable to non-fans while still including references for the die-hards.
In a culture of constant sequels and a thirst for franchise-building, “Transformers: One” breaks the mold and proves the genre of animation is only getting better.
