Peter Cullen and Frank Welker sat down for an interview regarding the evolution of Optimus Prime and Megatron. Both of them were specifically talking about the jump from G1 to the Movie Era.
Since Cullen and Welker have been around since G1, I was curious to know their thoughts on the ever-evolving designs of their characters:
Welker: I think for me, Megatron, for obvious reasons, is my favorite, followed closely by Soundwave. But it is interesting to see the changes from the animated version, the G1 version, which was pretty basic, to now with all of the technology and incredible things that they’re doing with design and color and sound … it’s a really interesting—excuse the pun—but true transformation. I’ve enjoyed watching it. I’ve actually had to change my voice to match the size and the differences in the characters.
Cullen: Frankly speaking, you’ve mastered that really well, from 1984 to the present, especially the feature film of late. You kept the character, it’s the exact same character, it just got [more] evil. Eviler, if that’s a word. Meanier. [laughs]
All of that training has obviously paid off. You can hear both Cullen and Welker’s wealth of voice talent on display in the new Transformers: The Last Knight home video:
Welker: If you get any of the Transformers on the Blu-ray version, which I just did; I finished my house and made a little theater in there with all my sound equipment. When you use the Blu-ray, Peter will actually take the dust off your wall and the paint begins to crack. That’s the kind of voice this guy has. The color and the sound, oh my gosh.
Check out the full interview at Collider.
[Wing_Saber-X]
Uhh…tbh and imo…They are quite famous..unless Im missing something.
francesco92
Peter and Frank are what makes Transformers. They are my favorite voice actors. Shame they don't get as much fame as they deserve.
TwitchingFool0
I LOVE THEM!
[Wing_Saber-X]
Aww. I love it how much love and respect these two legends have for one another. Legit Bromance over the 3 decades. So sweet.
Matt Starr
Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are simply national treasures, as far as I am concerned. They are some of my childhood heroes. We should all be so fortunate to get to hear their vocal interplay for many, many more years to come!
cj37a
Welker and Cullen: Two class acts.
Shizuka
I thought that it was so awesome when Optimus said "Did you forget who I am? I am Optimus Prime".
myrrh
…let me add one more voice reiterating how well they shone in prime, even if they weren't quite inhabiting their classic voices and characters in so doing…
bman29
Yeah, its always a pleasure to see and hear these two talk shop with one another after all these years. But their talents were wasted in the TLK. I just hope they get the proper film they deserve to shine in someday, and quick, none of us are getting any younger.
Magneon Sentinel
I think the best TF Welker and Cullen performances were the ones from prime. Megs there was basically just scaled up G1 and prime was both intimidating and gentle. They were both serious, but not without humor. Actually, that's how I'd describe the prime cartoon as a whole.
Chopperface
These guys just get better and better at their characters. Frank's evolution in particular is terrific. Love these guys.
BR3AKDOWN
I was really impressed with Welker\'s take on Megatron in TLK, so much so that I really wish they\'d brought him onboard in the first film onwards.
NOCV
That's direction for you. Welker did a heavier, deeper OG Megatron all throughout Transformers Prime, not to mention in video games as well.
TF5 was someone telling him how to do it and then unnecessarily heavy-handed post-production processing that leaves him sounding like a mix between a bear and a garbage disposal at points in the film.
Chris McFeely
Cullen's modern performance is at least as far removed from his classic one as Welker's is, but that's just time and age making him deeper. I don't think he could sound younger and softer like the G1 cartoon even if he wanted to anymore. Welker's, on the other hand, is a conscious deviation/reworking of the original voice. A ton of the "sound" of G1 Megatron was in the specific, rasping, electronic processing it went through – he can still do it, and does it in the early movie video games and even Devastation, but without that processing, it never sounds "right."
eltonlin98
Welker: When you use the Blu-ray, Peter will actually take the dust off your wall and the paint begins to crack. That’s the kind of voice this guy has. The color and the sound, oh my gosh.
RELATIONSHIP GOALS
Matrix Light
Isn't this this the same interview from Hascon?
Thundershot
That's my only issue with Optimus since 2007 is that. He didn't have that low solemn tone in the old days. He was more John Wayne. I can't picture any of the new Cullen Primes playing basketball and asking if he was "drooling" correctly.
shin03
They both did a fantastic job on Prime. I wish the would let Cullen emote more like in G1. Making Optimus so serious all the time is boring. But as of late he's been a 2 dimensional character in current iterations. Kind of hard to work with I'm sure. Hang in there Pete!
Jumacas
It was a very weird sensation hearing Welker's awesome, familiar Megatron voice coming out of what could pass for a completely different (and much much poorer) character. My cognitive system crashed. Blue screen of death.
SPLIT LIP
Welker's Megatron voice in TLK was perfect. Shame it was wasted, but hopefully one day a better film will come around and utilize these two better. I miss real Optimus/Megatron exchanges.