Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

A29
PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 16 May 2019
Optimus Prime, Megatron remember 35 years of Transformers

By DAVID FISCHER was interred at Arlington
Associated Press National Cemetery.
MIAMI (AP) — The Autobots When performing as Opti-
have been waging their mus, Cullen’s warm tenor
battle to destroy the evil voice drops to an authori-
forces of the Decepticons tative baritone. The voice
for 35 years, but there’s no has stayed consistent over
sign the men who voice the years, from various ani-
the Transformers franchise’s mated series to live-action
two most iconic charac- films. Welker said Mega-
ters would ever take up ion tron’s voice, on the other
blasters or fusion cannons hand, has changed with
against each other. nearly every iteration.
Peter Cullen and Frank Welker’s natural speak-
Welker have been heard in ing voice is essentially the
children’s homes across the voice he’s used to play
United States since the fall Shaggy and Scooby’s pal
of 1984 as the heroic Op- Fred for 50 years. But when
timus Prime and villainous he was cast as Megatron
Megatron respectively. in the original cartoon se-
They continue to lend their ries, he said he gave the
voices to both live-action evil Decepticon leader a
and animated versions of contemptuous, mechani-
the characters, and they’ll In this Tuesday, June 20, 2017 file photo, Peter Cullen, left, and Frank Welker pose for a photo at the cal rasp. When he returned
be infinitely more like to U.S. premiere of “Transformers: The Last Knight” at the Civic Opera House in Chicago. to the character for a new
exchange jokes and old Associated Press animated series in 2010, fol-
stories than deadly blows You!” He spent more than “I was thinking this is just for something in anima- lowing the success of the
from a laser sword during a decade after that voic- another job, but it’s pretty tion that’s a little off of the live-action films, he said
appearances Thursday ing a host of friendly and darn clever,” Welker said. norm,” Cullen said. producers wanted him to
and Friday at MegaCon comedic characters. While the original cartoon When Cullen read about sound more human, to
Orlando . “When I saw Megatron, it ran just a few years, it left the heroic Autobot lead- reflect what actor Hugo
Transformers originated gave me an opportunity to an indelible mark on pop er that turned into a red Weaving had done with
when the U.S. toy compa- play a very nasty, evil char- culture. The toy lines contin- cabover semitrailer, he the role in the live-action
ny Hasbro bought the rights acter, and it was so much ued, and a slew of spin-off thought about his older films. And after Weaving
to several existing Japa- fun,” Welker said during a cartoon series and comics brother, who had served left the franchise, Welker
nese toy lines that featured combined interview with were produced over the as a U.S. Marine in the Viet- said he adjusted the voice
transforming robots and Cullen. next two decades. This cul- nam War. “He was my hero, further when he took over
rebranded them for Ameri- Welker said he was espe- minated in the launch of a and he certainly was the as Megatron in the latest
can children. A cartoon, cially impressed the first multi-billion-dollar, live-ac- mainstay behind the char- live-action movies.
“The Transformers,” was time he saw the toy of his tion film franchise in 2007. acter,” Cullen said. “I just In recent years, Cullen and
developed to help market character. It transformed Before his audition, Cullen, did an impression of Larry, Welker have been attend-
the toys. Welker, 73, got into a silver and grey Wal- 77, only knew that he would and he’s still alive in my ing conventions around the
his first major voice-acting ther P38 pistol. Welker said it be reading for the part of a mind today because every country to meet with fans
role in 1969 as Fred, the would take him more than truck, though giving voice time I do Prime, there’s my from multiple generations.
handsome, ascot-wearing an hour to transform the to a vehicle didn’t seem brother Larry.” “It can bring tears to your
leader of Mystery Inc. in toy, while young fans could that crazy. Cullen’s brother, Capt. H.L. eyes,” Cullen said. “I’m not
“Scooby Doo, Where Are do it in minutes. “You’re always auditioning Cullen, died in 2011 and exaggerating.”q

A gravesite meeting starts David Baldacci’s thriller

By JEFF AYERS he was found guilty and the-book approach has even at the expense of his
Associated Press given life in prison without been successful for him colleagues at the FBI and
“Redemption” by David the possibility of parole. So so far, and the evidence his former associates in the
Baldacci (Grand Central) how can he be a free man was rock solid. Convicting police department who
In David Baldacci’s lat- now? Hawkins was easy. But why used to work alongside
est, Amos Decker and his Hawkins reveals that he is would a dying man seek him.
FBI partner Alex Jamison terminally ill, and only has him out if he wasn’t inno- Baldacci turns up the sus-
arrive in a small town in a little bit of time to live. He cent? pense and surprises at a
Ohio where Decker was was released for compas- His boss at the FBI wants rapid pace in “Redemp-
a detective for several sionate reasons, and the Decker to move on, but he tion” without sacrificing
years. He visits his family’s first thing he did was track can’t. If he was wrong, he character or story.
gravesite every year on his down Decker to inform him has to make it right. When With the personal stakes
daughter’s birthday. This that the former cop and he follows up with Hawkins and the steep learning
year someone else is at now FBI consultant made at his hotel room, he’s sur- curve that Decker must
the graveyard as well. a mistake all those years prised to find the former overcome to find justice,
Meryl Hawkins looks vastly ago. He never committed convict already dead, but the narrative carries a
different to Decker, so he This cover image released the murders, and the real due to a gunshot wound heavier emotional impact.
doesn’t recognize him at by Grand Central Publishing culprit is still at large. to the head rather than Essentially, this is another
by
“Redemption,”
shows
first. Hawkins was Decker’s David Baldacci. Decker can replay ev- cancer. Now he won’t great novel from a master
first homicide case, and Associated Press ery memory, and his by- rest until he finds the truth, storyteller.q