The Energon Pub

I've been a Transformers fan since I was two years old and there's a question that has been bugging me these last few years... Why is G1 prime so popular? Sure he came first and everything but that's all hes got going for him. He didn't really do anything the other primes haven't so far. They all save the world on a weekly basis and have all defeated Megatron/Galvatron but hes the only one who died doing so. So I say again why is the big red guy so popular? And don't give me 'Cuz he's G1!!' crap give me an answer

transformerdude wrote:I've been a Transformers fan since I was two years old and there's a question that has been bugging me these last few years... Why is G1 prime so popular? Sure he came first and everything but that's all hes got going for him. He didn't really do anything the other primes haven't so far. They all save the world on a weekly basis and have all defeated Megatron/Galvatron but hes the only one who died doing so. So I say again why is the big red guy so popular? And don't give me 'Cuz he's G1!!' crap give me an answer

He's actully not the only one who died stoping Megatron/Galvatron.

But I do think you just stumbled in the answer with out knowing it.

I believe that G1 Optimus death helped to make him very popular.It brought a bit of realizem to the character.

Even thou we saw a few deaths just before Primes, I dont think most fans thought those deaths were going to be remain dead at that particular moment.

I believe most thought it was a bit of a plot devise, but Primes death was so moving and heart felt that it left a big hole in the hearts of many fans.

It created a feeling of absences and longing for what we knew as being better times.

And I think that has added to why he's so popular.

transformerdude wrote:I've been a Transformers fan since I was two years old and there's a question that has been bugging me these last few years... Why is G1 prime so popular? Sure he came first and everything but that's all hes got going for him. He didn't really do anything the other primes haven't so far. They all save the world on a weekly basis and have all defeated Megatron/Galvatron but hes the only one who died doing so. So I say again why is the big red guy so popular? And don't give me 'Cuz he's G1!!' crap give me an answer

Actually I think there are a couple reasons. One of them is that at the time, there just weren't many characters in kid's cartoons that were so well-defined. Up to that point, there were cartoon characters that might have been funny or cool in their own way, but G1 Prime was different because he was this larger than life hero type we hadn't really seen yet, so therefore the huge sentimental value.

The second thing about G1 Prime and it really ties to the first is that Peter Cullen just took him to another level playing him, he really was able to breathe life into that character. I'm not saying people who played Prime after that such as Gary Chalke or David Kaye haven't done a good job but there was just something "larger than life" about Cullen's G1 Prime.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:I believe that G1 Optimus death helped to make him very popular.It brought a bit of realizem to the character.

Even thou we saw a few deaths just before Primes, I dont think most fans thought those deaths were going to be remain dead at that particular moment.

It's really ironic you say that because as I was watching the 1986 movie, that's exactly how I felt. I had seen the Autobots blown to bits 19 times in an episode and walking around and joking by the end of it so when I saw thst shuttle scene I wasn't convinced they were truly "dead."

At the end of the movie when Rodimus Prime was doing his thing and the Autobots had won, I was all happy for a moment and then I remember asking my dad with a mopey look on my face "But where are Ironhide and the others?"

i thort the obvious answer would be he stands for whats right and for those who can't protect themselves

Good always wins in cartoons

Delicon wrote:Actually I think there are a couple reasons. One of them is that at the time, there just weren't many characters in kid's cartoons that were so well-defined. Up to that point, there were cartoon characters that might have been funny or cool in their own way, but G1 Prime was different because he was this larger than life hero type we hadn't really seen yet, so therefore the huge sentimental value.

Yeah Prime's death was something nobody really saw coming...And it was a very controversial move for the time...Characters liek that just didn't die in children's programming...And here comes so many kids' most beloved hero willing to sacrifice his own life to stop evil...and he DOES...It was kinda mind-blowing...Nowadays it's not that ground-breaking, but back then it was a totally new thing...

Other than that, however, the reason G1 Prime is the most popular is, most simply, because he was the first...He is the ORIGINAL...All other Optimus Primes since have been based on the G1 character...Naturally he's going to be the most liked because he's been around the longest and he was the introduction to the character...

Leadership was one of the primary focus points of the G1 show in particular. Optimus Prime is shown as the perfect leader, often contrasted against Grimlock (even in the G1 Marvel run) and others as a way to show Prime's leadership skills. Prime's death and Rodimus taking over only further solidified that point. He is so popular because of his value as a role model.

Optimus Primes in other continuities have also been used to illustrate leadership. For instance, "Go Team!" Cybertron Prime and his non-stop lectures while taking forever to transform. Or Animated Prime and his coming of age story we get to see with contrasts to Sentinal Prime and others. They all worked in their own way to teach the lesson, but G1 Prime was the one that really got it right.

Double happy applause (with optional Sailor Moon dance) to ponycorn. Spot on.

I'm a Decepticon gal at heart (hey, they're losers that keep trying, kinda like me), but even I had some affection for G1 Prime. Beast Wars Primal had no control over his team, especially Cheetor, and don't even get me started on the lack of leadership in Beast Machines Primal. The second any leader starts having metaphysical experiences I just lose all hope for them.

Movie Prime (Bay's) doesn't have the leadership thing down right either. I get that he's modelling a newer form of leadership than G1 Prime--that whole leadership by consensus thing--like letting everyone question his decisions, but he's way too preachy and smug for me to wrap my little twisted heart around. He really REALLY loses me in that whole speech about how humans are young and dumb and should be forgiven their propensity to violence--this from a guy who suckerpunches Bonecrusher?

HK, autonome.

Thanks guys and girl I hadn't really thought the psychological aspect of Primes death and it puts his legacy in a bit of a different light for me.

i like g1 prime because he didnt have to combine with 10 other things to get the job done. he just made a plan. he was a confident leader who knew what needed to be done.

I like G1 Prime because he just has that incredable feel of 'goodness' around him. He's a guy you could feel safe being around, he didn't give off a sense of malice or of wickedness. He was that wise old leader who was kind and strove to stop evil.

The 86 movie sums up everything I admire about him. He charges in and single-handedly takes out just about all of the Decepticons. Then he fights Megatron and take a hell of a beating and keeps going. Even to the point he can barely move and Megatron has a gun to his head(good job Hot Rod) he still managed to get the upper hand.

Optimus is King Arthur without the flaw of cuckoldry.

He is the once-and-future Autobot leader.

He even has his Excalibur, the Matrix, although there are some differences.

Lorekeeper wrote:Optimus is King Arthur without the flaw of cuckoldry.

He is the once-and-future Autobot leader.

He even has his Excalibur, the Matrix, although there are some differences.

Primus quondam et primus futurus?

What prevents Optimus from being a cuckold, is, of course, no tight connection to any females. Male protagonists are always vulnerable through the female--John McClane, for example, Riddick, even John Connor(yeah, and try to convince a group of freshman about the Christ symbolism in *that* movie....).

HK, didja see what they did to Grendel's mommy?!

G1 Prime embodies all aspects of a hero. He is an unquestionable leader, fair, just, loyal, honest, smart, strong, and selfless. If you are trying to teach your kids how to be good people, those are the things you teach them. He is the epitome of a "good guy".

G1 Prime was (and more than the others to share his moniker) a role model for many. While I'm not trying to go into a whole WWPD rant, but in an age where cartoons were there to sell toys and the most morality lessons came in the form of:

Brainy wrote:Papa Smurf always says.....

Prime was setting a good example, selling toys while teaching viewers about doing the right things no matter the cost.

As we, the viewers who were kids sitting on living room floors watching with sometimes less than stellar reception (oh the steps we've taken in TV technology) have grown up, many of our toy and cartoon favorites have been forgotten or discarded to time but the shear power of the character made to make us beg our parents to part with money became more than the creaters intended. They gave us something, someone to look up to that was more positive than anything they could have if that had been their intent.

He is simply the best, and despite any and all the good qualitys of those who came after wether using the same name, with an "L" at the end or with a modifer of "Rod" in it, they pale in comparison.

hellkitty wrote:
Primus quondam et primus futurus?

HK, didja see what they did to Grendel's mommy?!

I've been teaching Beowulf through the concept of "becoming like one's enemy in order to defeat it." That was the idea presented by my college prof that actually unlocked the story for me. Watching the special features on the Beowulf DVD helped give me some insight to why the authors made the changes they did... but I do think that they failed to grasp this essential feature of the story (or, giving them more and less credit, they didn't think the audience could comprehend this kind of theme.) So, instead, there was a demonic loathly lady and a "your enemy is that which you create" storyline.

It would be interesting to use ancient and medieval archetypes to analyze the Transformers (although it might be giving the G1 writes too much credit... some of those episodes were duuuuuuumb )

Optimus Prime= King Arthur - Cuckold (Maybe Odysseus,too?)
Hot Rod/ Rodimus= Percival? Telemachus?
Megatron= ??? Although there are lots of great villains, monsters, and false knights, he seems less connected to the heo than the ones that come to mind. Maybe that's why the movie made him and Optimus brothers. (Didn't it say that somewhere?)

Lorekeeper wrote:Megatron= ??? Although there are lots of great villains, monsters, and false knights, he seems less connected to the heo than the ones that come to mind. Maybe that's why the movie made him and Optimus brothers. (Didn't it say that somewhere?)

OP did mention that they were brothers at the end when Megatron died.

While G1 OP was the epitome of a good guy, Megatron was the exact opposite. He was everything that defines a bad guy.

Editor wrote:G1 Prime was (and more than the others to share his moniker) a role model for many.

It's SO, very true.

I have had several people tell me, to my face, that Prime was their role model growing up. These weren't people who just bullshit about stuff, they were serious.

One guy, who will remain nameless, explained that his dad was a drinker and overall poopy dude. That cartoon and Prime in particular made him want to be better than his father.

Kind of over the top? Maybe, but all the same, that's not a terrible rationalization for a 5-year old (at the time when he was 5).


I'd add that Prime was a heroic go to character who fixed problems and was self reliant. The one problem I have with modern Primes is that they always need to combine (for great teamwork!) to handle even minor issues.

G1 Prime got things done, plain and simple.

Lorekeeper wrote:
I've been teaching Beowulf through the concept of "becoming like one's enemy in order to defeat it."

Last time I taught it was before Jolie-wulf, but I taught it using comic book adaptations. I figured they couldn't be worse than that godawful Heaney 'translation'.

[quote}
Hot Rod/ Rodimus= Percival? Telemachus?
Megatron= ??? Although there are lots of great villains, monsters, and false knights, he seems less connected to the heo than the ones that come to mind. Maybe that's why the movie made him and Optimus brothers. (Didn't it say that somewhere?)[/quote]


I think Bumblebee is more Percivally. Hot Rod is more sun guy, and impetuous in a stupid (as opposed to innocent) way, so he's more like Gawain, post-Lancelot.

If we're trying to align by medieval archetypes, we'd probably do better picking Song of Roland: Optimus is Charlemagne, Hot Rod is Roland, etc.... Megatron would be Baligant; Starscream would make a suitably snivelly Marsilla.

HK, I am SUCH a flaming nerd it hurts me to look at myself.