Transformers: The Movie is in part responsible for this very website. As a kid in 1986, I despised the killing off of Optimus Prime and using Rodimus Prime as his subpar replacement. Turns out I was far from alone, as they brought Optimus back in the later cartoons.
So when Marvel killed off Quasar in Annihilation and replaced him with a subpar replacement, I launched Cosmic Book News to help bring him back and support Marvel Cosmic. And yes, to this day, I still can’t stand Rodimus. It also explains why I absolutely despise original characters getting replaced.
Anyway, Hasbro has announced they are commemorating the 40th anniversary of Transformers: The Movie, and they are apologizing to fans for it “because Optimus Prime deserved better.”
The details include that Hasbro is launching a year-long 40th anniversary celebration for The Transformers: The Movie, the 1986 animated classic that stunned a generation of kids by killing off Optimus Prime in theaters. Yes, they’re calling it the “1986 Apology Tour.”
The 1986 Animated Classic That Shocked Fans
Released in 1986, the film took the Autobots and Decepticons to the big screen and didn’t hold back.
In a brutal showdown with Megatron, Optimus Prime fell in battle, a moment that blindsided young audiences and became one of the most talked-about scenes in animation history. What was meant to refresh the toy line instead turned into a cultural gut punch.
Over the decades, the movie has only grown in stature thanks to home video releases, theatrical revivals, and fans passing it down to new generations, often with a warning about what’s coming.
Legendary Voice Cast Still Resonates
The film featured an all-star voice cast including Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Frank Welker as Megatron, Orson Welles as Unicron, Judd Nelson as Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime, Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron, Eric Idle as Wrek-Gar, and Robert Stack as Ultra Magnus. It remains one of the most ambitious animated features of its era.
Alyse D’Antuono, Vice President, Global Brand & Franchise Strategy, Action Brands at Hasbro, said The Transformers: The Movie marked a defining moment for the franchise. She acknowledged the lasting emotional impact of Optimus Prime’s passing and said the anniversary is about honoring the legacy and thanking fans for four decades of loyalty and passion, while teasing additional entertainment, toy, and surprise announcements still to come.
“THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE marked a defining moment for the franchise,” said D’Antuono. “From the emotional impact of Optimus Prime’s passing to the dynamic storytelling that followed, we recognize just how powerful, and unforgettable, that moment remains. This anniversary is about honoring the legacy, thanking fans for four decades of loyalty and passion as Hasbro and our partners mark this milestone across entertainment, toys, and …More Than Meets The Eye surprises, with additional anniversary news to follow.”
Hasbro Launches the 1986 Apology Tour
Hasbro is leaning into the shared trauma with a playful “1986 Apology Tour.”
Forty years later, it still hits like a truck. The loss of Optimus Prime remains one of the most talked-about moments in franchise history, and the company plans to bring fans together to grieve, heal, and reminisce at special fan events and screenings throughout the year.
More details will be announced soon.
Approx. Retail Price: $124.99
40th Anniversary Toys and Collectibles Revealed
To help make it up to fans, Hasbro has revealed a new wave of products celebrating the film’s milestone anniversary.
For the first time ever, fans will be able to own a premium electronic Matrix of Leadership movie replica alongside new Studio Series additions featuring Shockwave, Skywarp, Wheeljack, Kranix, Sunstreaker, Astrotrain, and Snarl. Previously revealed products inspired by Optimus Prime, Megatron, Hot Rod, Hound, and Scourge are also part of the lineup, with more reveals planned throughout the year.
Hasbro Pulse will host a livestream on February 15 to showcase the anniversary offerings, and pre-orders will go live February 16 and 17.
Approx. Retail Price: $42.99
Publishing and Licensing Expand the Celebration
The celebration also expands into publishing and licensing, as Hasbro partners with Culture Fly, Jada Toys, Monogram, ShuShu Papa, Skybound Entertainment, Super7, Threezero, and Trends International for a lineup of collectibles and storytelling tied to the 40th anniversary.
Forty years later, The Transformers: The Movie still resonates. What began as a bold creative decision became one of the most unforgettable moments in animated film history, and Hasbro is finally ready to say sorry.
