'Transformers: The Movie' at 40: the cartoon spin-off that traumatized a generation of kids

Per Space.com, 'Transformers: The Movie' reaches its 40th anniversary with a theatrical re-release — a look back at the 1986 animated film that shocked young audiences by killing off their favorite characters in the opening act. Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and Starscream fell in rapid succession, part of Hasbro's calculated strategy to phase out the original toy line and introduce new products. But the approach backfired emotionally: children left theaters in tears, and reports emerged of at least one viewer who locked himself in his bedroom for two weeks. The film featured impressive voice talent including Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron and Orson Welles in his final role as Unicron. Despite initially struggling at the box office, it has since developed a cult following and returns to theaters on September seventeenth.

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