Directed by: Nelson Shin
Starring: Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, Lionel Stander, John Moschitta Jr., Peter Cullen, and Frank Welker. (Also starring Scatman Crothers and Orson Welles in their last film roles.)

This film, based on the absolutely awesome animated series came out in the year 1986. Yes, there was even a movie before the live-action versions that came out in 2007 and 2009 respectively, and in my personal opinion, this one tops them both, hands down.

The film takes place in the year 2005, which is 20 years after the events of the original series second season, which also serves as a bridge into the third season, introducing new characters and what not.
Some of the characters have been replaced with a star-studded cast including: Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron, Judd Nelson as Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, Eric Idle as Wreck-Gar and Orson Welles (in his last film role) as the planet-eating (well, planet) Unicron.

Compared to the animated series, this film is a lot darker, and far more violent. The Decepticons are portrayed to be much worse as they are in the series,  killing all in their wake without a moment’s hesitation, and before it even gets to be 20 minutes into the film, most of the original Autobots from the series are killed off! (Along with a few Decepticons of course.)

Basically, the plot of the movie starts off with a giant fight between the Autobots and Decepticons on the planet Cybertron, which ends up in a gigantic bloodbath (or gigantic pile of scrap metal) and the remaining Autobots decide to get off the planet to get away from the fact their leader, Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is fatally wounded in battle, and gives Ultra Magnus (Robert Stack) the Matrix of Leadership to help them. Megatron, leader of the Decepticons was wounded in battle, and his number two, Starscream, decides to take over and throws him out with all the other wounded Decepticons into Space. He then comes into the path of Unicron (Orson Welles) and is transformed into Galvatron (Leonard Nimoy) and in killing Starscream, he is the new leader of the Decepticons.

The remainder of the film is mostly the Autobots trying to get away from the Decepticons and coming across a lot of trouble on their way, and it ends with a very climatic fight scene within the depths of Unicron.

I love this movie. It’s brilliantly animated for its time, and the effects are fantastic. With a very awesome heavy metal/synth soundtrack it’s unbeatable. With songs such as “The Touch” and “Dare” by Stan Bush, and “The Transformers Theme” by Lion, it’s hard not to love it.

I’d recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys the series and even the live-action movies, and it’s one of the best animated films I’ve seen in a long time.