Directed by Josh Cooley, known for his work on Toy Story 4, Transformers One marks a significant return for the franchise as its first theatrical animated feature since The Transformers: The Movie (1986). Featuring a stellar voice cast that includes Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Scarlett Johansson as Elita, and Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, the film delves into the origins of these iconic characters and their early relationship.

On Cybertron, in Iacon, a miner robot named Orion Pax sneaks into an archive and watches a recording about the planet’s creation before being interrupted by security bot Darkwing. His friend D-16 helps him escape, while Sentinel Prime broadcasts his quest to find the Matrix of Leadership, essential for restoring Cybertron’s Energon. After an unstable Energon explosion traps fellow miner Jazz, Elita-1 is blamed and fired for the incident. Sentinel invites everyone to the Iacon 5000 race, and Orion and D-16, eager to prove themselves, enter using jetpacks but lose. Although they face punishment, Sentinel seems impressed, while Darkwing assigns them to smelting jobs with no contact. There, they find a chip containing a message from Alpha Trion, asking for help against the Quintessons and providing a map to his location. Determined to recover the Matrix, the bots follow the map to the surface, inadvertently bringing Elita along. After a train derailment, they continue on foot and eventually evade a Quintesson ship, locating Alpha Trion in a cave. The aged Prime apprises them of new secrets. These findings lead them towards the path realising their true selves..

Transformers One explores how Orion Pax, a spirited young bot, transforms into the serious leader we know as Optimus Prime. Alongside him is his best friend, D-16, who would become the formidable Megatron. The narrative captures their friendship through lighthearted misadventures, showcasing a dynamic that shifts as the weight of their destinies looms.

As the story unfolds, their camaraderie faces challenges that gradually lead to their tragic rivalry. This transformation is underscored by deeper themes of friendship, ambition, and the cost of their choices, setting the stage for the epic conflict that will define their fates. With a rich blend of humour and emotional depth, the film promises to resonate with both longtime fans and new audiences alike, as it reimagines the origins of two of the most beloved characters in the Transformers universe.

The voice casting is nothing short of exceptional. Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax and Brian Tyree Henry as D-16 create a dynamic that feels like two college friends who struggle to fit in and treat everything as a game. It’s refreshing to see Optimus portrayed as a playful and optimistic character, even in bleak situations. Brian Tyree Henry effectively captures the bitterness of a believer disillusioned by a false idol. Comedian Keegan-Michael Key shines as the motormouth Bumblebee, while Scarlett Johansson delivers some killer lines as the supervisor robot Elita. John Hamm also makes a strong impression as the duplicitous Sentinel Prime.

The 3D animation is to the point. It’s perhaps the first time that we get to see the planet Cybertron in such vivid detail. The director has added nice touches, like a herd of deer having ears which turn red when they sense danger, the bots being reduced to common miners duped by a corrupt government and behaving almost human-like by exercising and even sleeping.

Summing up, the film has something for first-timers and dedicated fans alike. It offers the perfect introduction to the world of Transformers. And thankfully avoids the bombastic approach of the Michael Bay films, despite being produced by him. Watch it for its layered origin story and some kick ass voice acting by the ensemble cast.