Post by Jazzman Crothers on Jan 4, 2013 11:51:00 GMT -5
On a random Internet search that often catches me and causes me to either fill my brain with wonderful, useless knowledge that our world offers us or just makes me waste my time online, I came across a link about noticeable deaths in 2012.
It was mainly about celebrities and I took a look only because some of them I had remembered from long ago and I actually was surprised that some of them were still alive. It also made me think about how society values these people a little more then the terrible deaths suffered with all the shootings we have heard about in the news for the past couple of years.
But this thread isn't about the value of human life over another or how society pays more attention to celebrities and treats them like royalty. I brought that all up because during my reflection on the topic something else jump in to my head. The death of Optimus Prime. More specifically, the passing of Peter Cullen.
No he didn't pass on recently. But what hit me was the realization that when Mister Cullen does pass away, it is going to hit TF fans so incredibly hard. When OP died in the 1986 movie, man I almost cried in the theater. And when OP came back from the dead and sacrificed himself in the show to save Hot Rod, Kup, Magus and Arcee, I couldn't help but let a couple of tears loose.
I mean think about it. If Peter Cullen was to die, it would be like Optimus Prime actually dieing too. Sure, when it does happen and when more TF shows, games and movies come out they'll replace him and maybe have a voice actor come close to sounding like him. But the man has never really stopped being Optimus Prime. He has never walked away form the role, quit or retired from it. It not like we've had a new actor replace Optimus Prime like in the James Bond films or the Star Trek movies. He's been called on to be Optimus Prime many times and fans consider him to be the voice of their generation.
In a way, Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime. As we have seen Optimus Prime's appearance change over the years, we have heard Cullen's voice accompany some of those changes. Our own voices are a large part of our identity and makes us who we are. And as we change as we grow, our bodies changes, our thinking changes and yes our voice change, but all those characteristics define who we are to ourselves and to others. Sometimes those changes don't happen or happen very little to the point we don't notice at first if at all. And Peter Cullen's voice has been a constant though out the time that we have had Optimus Prime.
Even fan made videos have someone putting on their best Peter Cullen voice for Optimus Prime. To me this means the impact that Peter Cullen has had on fans is a strong one and he has made a lasting impression. So when the inevitable does happen and Peter Cullen does pass away, its going to hit many people hard.
Like I said he's never walked away from the role. I mean when Sean Connery, the first actor to play James Bond passes away, its not like James Bond passing away. James Bond has been played by 6 actors, each had the good points and we know we'll see more actors play James Bond. Sometimes they quit the role and sometimes they retire from it and sometimes there are James Bond fans that want to see them go. Same with Doctor Who. There have been 11 actors to play the role and we know the Doctor is suppose to change. If Cullen was to quit being OP, who could fill his shoes? Especially now with the TF movies, the games and the show of recent.
Sure Gary Chalk and David Kaye have voice OP but it's not the same. Chalk's voice stands out and he'll always be Optimus Primal. When he does OP it sounds like a different kind of character, almost like a young Optimus Prime. Kaye's Prime isn't anything special IMO and he'll be associated with Beast Wars' Megatron. It really sounds like he's placed more work and effort in to the super villain that BW's Megatron is suppose to be. I not trying to say who's has the better OP voice, but nothing has come along to really challenge or sound like Cullen's voice. I mean if you took all the voice actors who have played Megatron, Starscream and Jazz over the years, and compare who sounds alike and who you thought did a better job, I think you would have interesting results and opinions.
So there it is. Make of it as you will. Sure, morbid topic but I'm getting old and I have seen some of my heroes pass on before old age. I'm just saying when Cullen decides its all over or if he goes before he retires from the role, it's going to be hard for some. In fact if he did retire from being OP and pass shortly after it would still be hard. But I think you guys get what I'm saying.
It was mainly about celebrities and I took a look only because some of them I had remembered from long ago and I actually was surprised that some of them were still alive. It also made me think about how society values these people a little more then the terrible deaths suffered with all the shootings we have heard about in the news for the past couple of years.
But this thread isn't about the value of human life over another or how society pays more attention to celebrities and treats them like royalty. I brought that all up because during my reflection on the topic something else jump in to my head. The death of Optimus Prime. More specifically, the passing of Peter Cullen.
No he didn't pass on recently. But what hit me was the realization that when Mister Cullen does pass away, it is going to hit TF fans so incredibly hard. When OP died in the 1986 movie, man I almost cried in the theater. And when OP came back from the dead and sacrificed himself in the show to save Hot Rod, Kup, Magus and Arcee, I couldn't help but let a couple of tears loose.
I mean think about it. If Peter Cullen was to die, it would be like Optimus Prime actually dieing too. Sure, when it does happen and when more TF shows, games and movies come out they'll replace him and maybe have a voice actor come close to sounding like him. But the man has never really stopped being Optimus Prime. He has never walked away form the role, quit or retired from it. It not like we've had a new actor replace Optimus Prime like in the James Bond films or the Star Trek movies. He's been called on to be Optimus Prime many times and fans consider him to be the voice of their generation.
In a way, Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime. As we have seen Optimus Prime's appearance change over the years, we have heard Cullen's voice accompany some of those changes. Our own voices are a large part of our identity and makes us who we are. And as we change as we grow, our bodies changes, our thinking changes and yes our voice change, but all those characteristics define who we are to ourselves and to others. Sometimes those changes don't happen or happen very little to the point we don't notice at first if at all. And Peter Cullen's voice has been a constant though out the time that we have had Optimus Prime.
Even fan made videos have someone putting on their best Peter Cullen voice for Optimus Prime. To me this means the impact that Peter Cullen has had on fans is a strong one and he has made a lasting impression. So when the inevitable does happen and Peter Cullen does pass away, its going to hit many people hard.
Like I said he's never walked away from the role. I mean when Sean Connery, the first actor to play James Bond passes away, its not like James Bond passing away. James Bond has been played by 6 actors, each had the good points and we know we'll see more actors play James Bond. Sometimes they quit the role and sometimes they retire from it and sometimes there are James Bond fans that want to see them go. Same with Doctor Who. There have been 11 actors to play the role and we know the Doctor is suppose to change. If Cullen was to quit being OP, who could fill his shoes? Especially now with the TF movies, the games and the show of recent.
Sure Gary Chalk and David Kaye have voice OP but it's not the same. Chalk's voice stands out and he'll always be Optimus Primal. When he does OP it sounds like a different kind of character, almost like a young Optimus Prime. Kaye's Prime isn't anything special IMO and he'll be associated with Beast Wars' Megatron. It really sounds like he's placed more work and effort in to the super villain that BW's Megatron is suppose to be. I not trying to say who's has the better OP voice, but nothing has come along to really challenge or sound like Cullen's voice. I mean if you took all the voice actors who have played Megatron, Starscream and Jazz over the years, and compare who sounds alike and who you thought did a better job, I think you would have interesting results and opinions.
So there it is. Make of it as you will. Sure, morbid topic but I'm getting old and I have seen some of my heroes pass on before old age. I'm just saying when Cullen decides its all over or if he goes before he retires from the role, it's going to be hard for some. In fact if he did retire from being OP and pass shortly after it would still be hard. But I think you guys get what I'm saying.