[Transformers] The Transformers are among us at Gardens By The Bay

Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal are travelling around the world — and they’ve landed in Singapore!

(Update: This was in 2023)

Statues of these two faction leaders touched down in Singapore on 16 March, as the first stop in the Asia leg of the Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Statues World Tour. Located at the Silver Garden at Gardens By The Bay, these life-sized statues give you an idea of what it would be like to live in a world of Transformers — with Optimus Prime standing at a whopping six metres tall and Optimus Primal at four metres tall.

Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal will remain at the Silver Garden at Gardens By The Bay until 10 April, before moving on to another location in Asia to fight off the Decepticons and Terrorcons. The shortest way to the Silver Garden is to enter Gardens By The Bay through Marina Bay Sands — it’s just a five minute walk from there.

Who is Optimus Primal?

While Optimus Prime may be a household name, what with him being the leader of the Autobots and all, some may be wondering — whose Optimus Primal? He first appeared in 1996’s Beast Wars: Transformers, which takes place after the standard G1 continuity. In that series, he is the leader of the Maximals (the good Beast Transformers, and descendants of the Autobots), and transforms into a gorilla. Subsequent depictions of Optimus Primal have him transforming into a primate or simian of some sort, whether it be a more robotic or organic form.

His most recent appearance in Transformers media was on Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy Part 3: Kingdom, which showed him and the Maximals allying with Optimus Prime and Autobots in their fight against evil. Just like in Beast Wars: Transformers, Optimus Primal transforms into a gorilla.

Fun fact: in Beast Wars: Transformers, Optimus Primal temporarily safeguarded the Spark (akin to a Transformer’s soul) of Optimus Prime by merging it with his own — causing him to be upgraded into Optimal Optimus.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

As testament to his rising fame, Optimus Primal will appear in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which opens in cinemas June 8. While he may not be the first Transformers with a beast mode to appear in the live-action series (we’ve had Grimlock, Ravage, and Laserbeak appear already, amongst others), he is the first Maximal to appear. Other Maximals who are likely to appear in the movie include the avian Airazor, the horned Rhinox, and the leonal Cheetor.  Bumblebee will also appear in the film.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the seventh instalment in the live-action Transformers films. It sees Optimus Prime and the Autobots encountering a mysterious new faction of Transformers — the bestial Maximals, led by Optimus Primal. However, they are opposed by the Terrorcons and their leader, Scourge. To complicate matters, a fourth faction, the Predacons, are also involved. Directed by Steven Caple Jr, the movie stars Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Lauren Vélez, and Tobe Nwigwe. It also features the voice talents of Ron Perlman (Optimus Primal), Peter Dinklage (Scourge), Pete Davidson (Mirage), Liza Koshy (Arcee), Cristo Fernández (Wheeljack), John DiMaggio (Stratosphere and Transit), Michelle Yeoh (Airazor), David Sobolov (Rhinox and Battletrap), and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Nightbird).

And best of all — Peter Cullen returns to reprise his role as Optimus Prime.

Who’s who in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts?

With such a sprawling cast of characters (and four factions to boot), you may very well want to re-enact your own version of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and see how well it comes to the movie’s actual plot! To do that, you’ll need figures of the characters — and here’s who’s available.

Bumblebee

Everyone’s favourite yellow scout returns in his Chevrolet Camaro mode. The last time we saw Bumblebee was in his namesake movie, and he’s bound to play a major role in this film as well. I wonder what music tracks he will use to “speak” this time around in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts?

Arcee

Arcee transforms into a motorcycle — and the last time we saw her, it was in Bumblebee, sporting her familar pink colour scheme. Long time fans will remember that she also appeared in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and in that movie she was a blue motorcycle who could combine with another two motorcycle Transformers.

Cheetor

In most of his appearances in other shows, Cheetor has pretty much the same role that Bumblebee does — he’s a wide-eyed, enthusiastic youngster who is gung-ho and ready to help. Since he transforms into a cheetah, it’s likely that Cheetor will be one of the fastest Maximals in the movie. But that raises the question — who will be faster, Cheetor or Bumblebee?

Airazor

It’s likely that Airazor will be an important character in the film, because she’s voiced by none other than Michelle Yeoh. Few Autobots and Maximals have the power to fly, which is something that Airazor can do. So she’ll definitely be one of the most useful allies that the good guys have on their side.

 

Scourge

Opposing the Autobots and Maximals is Scourge, who transforms into a pretty mean-looking truck. He’s the leader of the Terrorcons, and his face certainly reflects that demeanour. Size-wise, he’s the biggest figure among this wave — fitting, since he’s the villain that our heroes will have to fight.

Battletrap

Little is known about Battletrap, save that he transforms into a Terrorcon tow truck. Like Scourge and the other Predacons, he has an angular, spiky design aesthetic, which emphasises his villainous look.

Freezer

Rounding out the Terrorcons in this first wave is Freezer,  who can seemingly transform into accessories for the other Terrorcons to wield. Even less is known about him than Battletrap, so it remains to be seen what role he will play in the film.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Statues World Tour will be on display till 10 April at the Silver Garden at Gardens By The Bay.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be out in cinemas June 8.

You may also want to read:

• [TV Show Review] ‘Transformers: War for Cybertron: Kingdom’ sees beasts and vehicles duking it out in an epic finale
• [Movie Review] ‘Bumblebee’ finally gives us what we want in a ‘Transformers’ film

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This article was written for and first published on Yahoo.

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