CNN Article on Peter Cullen

CNN has posted a profile piece on the legendary voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen where they discuss Transformers and the "responsibility" he feels for Optimus Prime. The full article is here. Below are a few highlights but really just better to read the full article.

"I was taken aback by the response and the sheer love that was in the audience," he said [at his first convention of Botcon 1997]. "It became quite evident that (voicing this character) was a responsibility that I wanted to fulfill. I had no idea he was so popular."

Cullen said he is personally touched by how strong the response has been. "I remember an officer in the Marine Corps who had just returned from Iraq, and he gave me his golden anchor emblem from his officer's hat," he said. "He presented that to me and said this is how much you mean to me. There are no words to describe it, but I was humbled. That sticks with me forever."

Cullen -- who said that police officers have made similar gestures toward him -- came up with the voice because of his brother Larry, an officer in the Marine Corps. "I saw a difference in him when he came home. There was a maturity and calmness and understanding, and a very strong source of confidence, respect, caring and dignity," he said.

Transformers Video Games Stuff

A few Transformers video games stuff has popped up today. Activision has released a press release for yesterday's release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Game while the voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, did his part to promote the game to USA Today. In addition Jagex, makers of the Transformers Universe MMO, released their Botcon teaser video, screensaver and concept art. From the Cullen interview:

"Doing the movie or the animated series, there's a plot and character development and a sense of continuous feeling of one kind or another," Cullen explains. "But in the game, you're one-on-one with an individual, and the lines are quick one-liners oftentimes, and maybe some advice now and then. Basically, it's a one-on-one mental intimacy with the player. That is much different than being involved as a spectator watching a film or a show."

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Transformers: Prime, Peter Cullen Get Emmy Nods

This is a repost. Do to blogspot.com failure, Google had to restore from a backup that was 30 hours old eliminating the original and related comments

Transformers: Prime's first season has scored 4 Daytime Emmy Award nominations and two wins today from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The show accounts for six of the eight nominations The Hub received in its first year of broadcasting. I also believe that it is the first Emmy nomination for the legendary Peter Cullen whose long history of voice work should have garnered more than just Emmy mod. Below is the press release from the Hub. Congratulations to Peter Cullen and the cast and crew of Transformers: Prime. Hopefully they will add a few trophies when winners are announced at the live ceremony on June 19th.

Nominations
Outstanding Performer In An Animated Program - Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime
Outstanding Directing In An Animated Program
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction And Composition
Outstanding Writing In Animation

Winners
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation - Vince Toyama (WINNER)
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation - Christophe Vacher (WINNER)Read More »

Peter Cullen Interview Reveals DOTM Spoiler

I am not sure how I missed this but around the time that MTV spoke with Roberto Orci and Frank Welker about Transformers: Prime, they also spoke with Peter Cullen. The interview covered the usual questions about playing Prime, how does the voice, how has the character lasted so long, etc that we have read before many times over the years. However, MTV did manage to uncover a new spoiler (so warning and junk) about Transformers: Dark of the Moon. That segment of the interview is below, the whole thing can be found here.

Geek: Do you have any other projects you are working on at the moment, or are looking forward to?
PC: I’ve been involved with NASA, and it started a few years back, during their 40th anniversary. They came up with an Optimus Prime award to be given to a student who participated in the NASA program for young people, and I’m going back to Colorado Springs in April to be part of that award ceremony. I talked with NASA about doing things with the Hub network, about a NASA-based Optimus Prime collaboration for younger kids and teenagers. Whether it goes through or not I don’t know, but I think it’s a natural fit. And if it happens there will be another show on the Hub network with me voicing Optimus Prime. So that’s pretty exciting.

In the feature film coming out this Summer, they have Neil Armstrong, a former astronaut, and Buzz Aldrin -- Optimus has a scene with Buzz Aldrin, and this is where it all started to come together in my mind. I thought, wow I really got to get these guys and Optimus together after the movie. Maybe we can do a series of some kind.

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1st Look at TF3's CGI Optimus Prime?

A new commercial from NASA to promote a video contest aimed at elementary kids to promote interest in science might just show a brief look at the Transformers: Dark of the Moon version of Optimus Prime. The commercial is part of the partnership between Paramount and NASA when TF3 filmed there this summer and includes the as always excellent voice work of Peter Cullen. Prime's appearance begins at the 15 second mark. Hopefully tonight's Superbowl commercial will give us another look.

Transformers Linkfest

The first teaser trailer is out and while there isn't much in the movie news department, I do have to tidbits. Also hit the links for reviews, news of upcoming toys and more.

Optimus Prime Signed by Peter Cullen
If you are in the Maryland area, Beyond Comics is holding a raffle ($1 each) for Optimus Prime Hybrid Style THS-02 signed by the voice himself, Peter Cullen. All the proceeds will be going to Toys for Tots. The raffle is through December 18th and while it requires a visit by the store to participate it doesn't mean you can't do your part for Toys for Tots by clicking here.

Frank Welker Interview
The voice of Megatron talks Transformers: Prime and different between doing Megs now and for Generation One.

Peter Cullen Interview
Another interview, this time with the voice of Optimus Prime as he also talks about the cartoon and desire to maintain a consistency with the character through the years and various incarnations along with joy of working with Welker again. Of note is it turns out he has been working on Dark of the Moon for about a year. Thanks to rumah for the links.

I’ve been recording now for about a year with Michael Bay, and I’ve had some wonderful experiences. I went down to an airport hangar in Long Beach and worked with some of the on-camera actors and that was a wonderful experience to be a part of the movie on the technical side, because normally I’m just pinned into a small room in front of a microphone by myself.

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