One in all the best “Transformers” cartoons is 2010’s “Transformers: Prime,” animated with CGI of cinematic craftsmanship and informed with convincing gravitas. A part of that gravitas comes from the exemplary voice forged.
“Prime” banked early good will amongst “Transformers” followers by bringing on Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, the unique Optimus Prime and Megatron. It was the primary time they’d voiced the 2 nemeses collectively in a cartoon for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. The remainder of the voice forged stuffed out properly, too.
“Prime” largely starred veteran voice actors, e.g. Steve Blum as treacherous Decepticon Starscream, Kevin Michael Richardson because the burly Autobot Bulkhead, and Daran Norris because the useless Decepticon Knock Out. (“I am not simply an vehicle, I am an vehicle fanatic!”) “Transformers: Prime” additionally dipped into movie star voice actors as nicely.
Dwayne Johnson, the Rock himself, performed the swiftly-dead Autobot Cliffjumper within the sequence’ premiere, killed to point out the stakes of the Transformers’ battle proper off. The present additionally forged not one however two “Firefly” alums: Adam Baldwin and Gina Torres because the Decepticons Breakdown and Airachnid, respectively. Even the legendary George Takei, most well-known for enjoying Mr. Sulu on “Star Trek,” made a couple of cameos as Optimus Prime’s mentor, Alpha Trion. However Takei wasn’t the one actor on the present with “Star Trek” expertise.
Jeffrey Combs was a part of the “Transformers: Prime” forged from the start to finish as Autobot physician Ratchet. Then, in season 2, the late Tony Todd joined because the Decepticon Dreadwing. Each actors are legends amongst Trekkies and horror-philes alike: Combs starred within the “Re-Animator” sequence because the twisted scientist Herbert West, whereas Todd was the star of “Candyman” and a recurring face as William Bludworth within the “Ultimate Vacation spot” movies.
Transformers: Prime featured Jeffrey Combs because the Autobot physician Ratchet
In “Re-Animator,” Herbert West is a Dr. Frankenstein-like character. He is invented a inexperienced serum which, nicely, re-animates the lifeless. As for “Star Trek,” Combs has performed a number of alien characters due to the magic of make-up. On “Star Trek: Deep Area 9,” he had recurring elements because the toady Weyoun, spokesperson of the imperious Dominion, and the Ferengi Liquidator Brunt. In “Star Trek: Enterprise,” he portrayed the Andorian captain Shran. There isn’t any consensus on which of those three Combs characters is the most effective, as a result of they’re all glorious.
Combs’ best device as an actor is his voice, which has a comfortable timbre that solely will get creepier the extra he brings it down. For that cause, he is usually forged to voice villains. (See his work as Scarecrow in “The New Batman Adventures.”)
Ratchet is a unique breed of character. He is a grumpy and short-fused physician, however a superb man deep down. He is Optimus Prime’s oldest pal and confidante, so he cannot be all unhealthy. Protecting the “Star Trek” comparability going, Ratchet is mainly “Bones” McCoy to Optimus’ Captain Kirk. Relatively than scary and soft-spoken, Combs performed Ratchet as a careworn, bitterly sarcastic curmudgeon. There was a operating gag the place one of many different Autobots would break one in every of Ratchet’s instruments and he’d shout again, “I wanted that!”
Now, Ratchet isn’t a devious scientist like Herbert West; at worst, he is excitable and controlling along with his experiments. Nevertheless, one in every of his highlight episodes, season 1’s “Stronger, Sooner,” pays tribute to “Re-Animator.” Within the episode, Ratchet develops an artificial model of the Transformers’ go-to gasoline, Energon. The “Synth-En” is a steroid (boosting one’s energy and aggressiveness) slightly than a zombie maker, but it surely is coloured a glowing inexperienced identical to West’s syringes.
Tony Todd voiced Decepticon warrior Dreadwing on Transformers: Prime
Like Combs, Tony Todd performed a number of “Star Trek” roles. In “The Subsequent Era” and “Deep Area 9,” he portrayed the Klingon Kurn, youthful brother of Worf (Michael Dorn). Todd additionally guest-starred within the much-beloved “Deep Area 9” episode “The Customer” as an older model of Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), son of sequence lead Captain Ben Sisko (Avery Brooks).
Todd’s “Star Trek” roles weren’t very scary, however he put his deep and alluring voice to good work in “Candyman” because the ghostly serial killer. One in all his final roles was voicing Venom within the 2023 online game “Spider-Man 2.” Earlier than “Prime,” he additionally had some “Transformers” expertise, having voiced the titular villain within the (very unhealthy) live-action film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” Taking part in Dreadwing gave Todd some “Transformers” redemption.
Within the sixth episode of “Transformers: Prime,” titled “Masters & College students,” Optimus Prime and Bumblebee slay the Decepticon warrior Skyquake. A season later, Dreadwing — Skyquake’s twin, who has the identical construct however a unique colour scheme — involves Earth looking for revenge.
How do robots have siblings? Transformers’ souls are known as “sparks,” which seem as glowing blue vitality orbs. Dreadwing and Skyquake got here from a single spark that break up into two.
Dreadwing is a talented warrior who fights with a sword, however he is a Decepticon and so usually levels shock assaults with hidden bombs. Not like most of his comrades, although, he additionally has a powerful code of private conduct and honor (not far off from Klingon honor, even). Dreadwing could also be loyal to Megatron, however he is extra loyal to that code and his brother’s reminiscence. Often when enjoying a villain, Todd was creepy or eerie. Dreadwing was a bit completely different; his voice was loud, commanding, and, like all Tony Todd voiceover, highly effective.
