In My Own Words...

[Leathurkatt]

Tributes to the Big Bot himself:
Our Hero From Afar
The Touch
Til All Are One
Hero
I Need a Hero

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Perhaps eventually I will find a way to get the picture above to Peter Cullen, and maybe even the letter below with it. Something spur-of-the-moment inspired me to write this letter despite having no way to send it to him, and I thought I would share it with those who are Transformers fans like me. Maybe you'll agree with what I've written, maybe you won't. Everyone has their own views on things. I think this letter was probably written as much to all the other actors from the show as it was to Peter. There's a lot there that I would say to all of them really.

Dear Mr. Peter Cullen and Frank Welker,

I feel that it was a grave disservice to both the fans and actors alike that you and the others never got to read the letters written to your characters from the kids who loved them. I wish there was a way that you and the other actors could go back and read them, but failing that, I thought I would offer a little insight from my observations, as both a Transformers fan, and having friends who were fans of the show.

There are a lot of people who see this two-dimensional animated cartoon about Giant Transforming Alien Robots and think that it’s nothing more than meaningless childishness, believing the fans simply need to grow up, throw away the toys, and get real lives. But it is those closed hearted people who fail to understand the depth of what Transformers really means to the fans.

Transformers came during a time when so many kids had their lives turned upside down: kids dealing with constant harassment from bullies at school, kids being abused and ignored at home or at school by adults they’re supposed to trust, kids going through their parents divorce and splitting the family apart, Latch-Key kids who came home to an empty house and waited alone for their parents to get home from work, military kids being forced to move from place to place continuously, kids suffering at the hands of misguided psychologists who believed that medication and hospitalization were the answer to all problems… So many of them had nothing but turmoil and grave instability in their young shattered lives, often with no say or control over what was happening to them. But one thing remained constant and always there: their cartoons.

Then on September 17th, 1984 came a cartoon that featured characters with such depth of personality and spirit, they became more than just mere animated drawings on TV, they became real people in the hearts and minds of the kids who loved them. The personality quirks of many Transformers were so much like those of the kids watching the show, they became beloved favourites. These kids would often go outside with their friends to reenact the epic battles they just watched their heroes fight on television.

And then there was Optimus Prime. To the Autobots, he was more than a leader; he was their friend, a brother to many of them, even a kind of father figure to some like Bumblebee. They would do anything for him because of their shared respect and even love for their soft spoken leader. He understood that even the best of us make mistakes and he would freely admit when he had erred. Never asking others to do things he would not do himself and rarely raising his voice (except at Megatron); he showed that to truly lead is to do so by deed, not by words or force.

But to the kids who watched the cartoon, Optimus Prime became their confidant and their best friend. For some he was the big brother who protected them from the bully at school, whom they saw Optimus chase off every time he fought and defeated Megatron and the other Decepticons. And to some, he became the surrogate father figure, guiding them, teaching them, looking out for them the way he did with Spike, Carley, and Chip on the show.

Later on, Optimus Prime became something more. For a number of girls who watched Transformers, as they got older he became their ideal of the perfect mate: honest, faithful, strong, gentle, compassionate, tender, loving, never raising his hand or his voice in anger, and who would literally do anything for the one he loves. Such was the way Optimus was towards Elita 1, and many girls wished to be in her place. A number of boys saw him as the perfect role model to emulate, seeking to be just like Optimus Prime in the hopes that they too would be lucky enough to find true friends and companions, maybe even to attract a true love of their own.

When the movie came out and Optimus Prime died, these kids lost their hero, best friend, big brother, surrogate father, teacher, and role model. Such a loss cut them to their core, a wound that was just too much to bear. Optimus was gone and suddenly their dreams, their whole universe fell to ashes around them, and in their anguish the world seemed to just stop, to come to an end in their tear filled eyes. Yet imagine the joy those kids felt when Optimus Prime returned to them, alive and ready to fight once more as he calls out to his friends, “Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!”

Optimus is far more than just another cartoon character, more than an icon. He is literally the heart and soul of a whole generation of kids the world over. As his voice, you are the one who breathed life into that strong yet gentle Spark, and your name has become synonymous with his because of it. One day, when you leave this world, the anguish over the death of Optimus Prime back in August of 1986 will pale in comparison to the loss of his heart, soul, and voice.

Yet somehow, that soft resonant voice will live on, echoing in the hearts of an entire generation of kids who loved and treasured a tall sentient machine and the man who brought him to life for us all.

Til All Are One,
Elley

Then I wrote a second letter that deals specifically with why Optimus and Ironhide in particular became two of my favourites. I'm thinking about drawing a picture of those two together and possibly posting it. We'll see what happens.

Though I've never met him, from what I've seen of him on youtube and what others who know him have said, Peter Cullen really is a great guy. Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to meet and just chat with him and Frank Welker. Who knows.

Dear Mr. Peter Cullen,

In general, Transformers appealed to me on multiple levels: from my interest in robotics and animatronics, to my fondness for physical puzzles, to my continuous curiosity of how things work or about how things are made and put together. I even used to tear apart my toys just to try and figure out how they worked. I’m an avid reader and have always enjoyed researching things; I get a question in my head and I have to hunt down the answer, and anyone who’s known me for any length of time can attest to this.

‘Giant Transforming Alien Robots’ are literally 3D puzzles to me that I just have to try and figure out. Add to that the interplay between the characters and their in-depth personalities; I was hooked from day one. Plus, the show was doubly cool for me because the opening three episodes first aired in 1984 less than a week after my 10th birthday. “I got Giant Transforming Alien Robots on TV for my Birthday! How cool is that?!”

With regard to the colourful characters in the Transformers series, we all have our favourites. Me personally, I have a list. Among those on that relatively short list are Ironhide and Optimus Prime. I thought I would offer my own perspective on them as a long time fan.

I think it was Ironhide’s straight forward and honest attitude that made him a favourite of mine. He has a very “If you’re going to do it, do it and get it done now!” kind of personality, which is something I share regarding many things. One thing that has always driven me crazy is when people start a project, stop part way through, start another project, stop part way through, ‘lather-rinse-repeat’ and end up with anywhere from 10 to 30+ projects started that often never get finished. My mother does this continually and it makes me want to pull my hair out. I’m the kind of person who will start a project and end up refusing to stop until it’s finished, much to the occasional frustration of some of my friends.

In many ways Ironhide also reminds me of the gravely old uncle sitting back on the front porch, his feet up on the railing, watching the kids play war games in the front yard with squirt guns on a warm summer day. He would then get up, go out to where the kids are gathered and say with a smirk, “Let ole uncle Ironhide show ya how a pro does it!” as he pulls out a super soaker of doom and proceeds to hose down the kids with it as they try to get him with their own water guns. Then after teaching them a few sneak-and-ambush tricks would step back and proudly watch the chaos unfold. Of course Optimus would likely walk up to him and say “What are you teaching them?” to which I can just hear Ironhide reply with “Aw, c’mon Prime, we’re just havin’ a bit o’ fun!”

With his gung-ho, go-get-em attitude coupled with a very straight forward and honest bearing, he’s definitely a character that is easy to understand and relate to. That and there are many occasions where something he says or does just cracks me up. Ironhide is one character you can take seriously with a grin, that’s for sure. He knew how to get things done and often managed to have a bit of fun doing it.

And then there’s Optimus Prime. What can I say beyond “He’s Optimus Prime!”? He’s one of the more complex characters in the show and trying to pin down just a couple things about him is virtually impossible. There’s just so much there. He’s a leader, friend, brother, hero, and father figure to the Autobots and fans alike, but then he’s so much more than that. We can’t help but love someone who inspires so much in so many people, and Optimus is one of those treasured few who could cross the boundary between fiction and reality and feel more real to us than some of the actual people in our lives.

Was it the way he was written that drew people to him? Was it the man behind the voice that made him so memorable? I like to think it’s a little of both. A soft deep voice that spoke of a gentle strength and calmness of spirit, and that spirit resonates with every kid who ever loved him. Can a cartoon character have a soul? Well, if any of them do, it’s Optimus Prime.

I think the thing that stands out the most about him is his voice and general manner: soft spoken, calm, gentle, but so very powerful and strong. While he was often stoic and serious, he also knew how to not take himself and life too seriously; from the banter between Optimus and the other Autobots, to Spike teaching him how to play basketball and baseball, to the various taunts he would throw Megatron’s way (“Junk Yard Crap!”), to finding a bit of humor in the most unlikely situations - like when Megatron tried to smash Optimus with a huge boulder only to miss him and take out Rumble instead, Optimus laughed and said “Your aim’s improving, Megatron!”

He also would often take quiet moments to step back and look at the world around him just to appreciate the beauty of a sunrise, watch the Aurora Borealis shimmer over head, listen to birds singing or the laughter of children at play, anything to take himself away from the horrors of a seemingly endless war. He never allowed himself to forget how to find joy in even the apparently insignificant little moments in life. It’s a lesson I hold tightly to in my own life: Never let go of the innocence within you, for the day you lose the joy in your heart is the day you truly begin to die.

My mother often tells me that I need to grow up because I still do silly little things like play with toys, watch my favourite cartoons, or get incredibly excited over random little things. I refuse to ‘grow up’ and become a bitter, pessimistic, friendless person who sees only a world full of hate. I have far better things to do than to live in fear and be consumed by spite, pain, and regret. Is it mere childishness or an enduring innocence that I so stubbornly hold on to? I like to think it’s the latter. If I learned anything from Transformers, it’s that life is too short to live in hate and fear. Hold onto your dreams, don’t ever let go of even the smallest joys in life, and never forget how to laugh and play.

Til All Are One,
Elley

Well, I decided that I ought to write something to the others who voiced some of my favourite characters. I didn't want to leave anyone out after all, and whether they ever get to read these or not, putting to words my reasons and feelings I think allows those who do read these to look back on their own feelings and maybe help them put into words what they could not explain before. If nothing else, these letters might be of interest to someone at least.

Frank Welker is an insanely talented, creative, and busy man! You should see his list on IMDB.com: 623 titles he's done as an actor and counting, OMG! And that does not include the 49 other non-acting projects he's worked on. It just boggles the mind, it really does. Where does he find the energy to do all of that? Seriously!

Dear Mr. Frank Welker,

What is it about Transformers that has appealed to so many people all over the world? A lot of people could of course speculate the possibilities and come to their own conclusions, but does anyone really know the answer? Honestly, such an answer is impossible to determine when there is so much there to take into account, from so many levels. Everyone who loves Transformers has their own reasons why and each has their own list of favourite characters and why they love them. For me, Transformers was much more than a weekday afternoon cartoon I grew up watching, and I honestly wish you and the other actors could have read the letters that kids had written to the characters they loved so much. You and the other actors brought to life characters that had a depth of persona that mirrored real life and to many were as real if not more so than actual people in many kids’ lives.

We all have our favourites, and like many, I have a list. Of those on that list are three in particular: Soundwave, Ravage, and Mirage.
Mirage for me was a character that had a different sort of strength in him. He was a pacifist who could kick some serious aft plating when he had to, and was quite adept at getting things done, though he had his own issues with confidence at times. For me as a 10 year old kid, Mirage had the coolest ability EVER: he could turn completely invisible, an ability I greatly wished I had many times growing up. It certainly would have come in handy.

Soundwave was to me the ultimate Audiophile, and more so than Jazz or Blaster, Soundwave didn’t listen to just anything, he was a connoisseur of music, rhythm, harmony, resonance, sound. One quote of his struck me as the ultimate expression of who he is as a character, separate from his role among the Decepticons. The episode it’s from is from season 3, titled ‘Carnage in C Minor’, and the line was around 3:30 into the show. After Galvatron’s attempt to use an asteroid for his own purposes was thwarted by the Autobots, sending it hurtling towards a small planet, it was destroyed by something from that planet, a powerful sound. When Galvatron asked Soundwave “What was that?”, he responded with “That was Heaven! The purest, most vibrant, most perfect harmony I’ve ever heard!” and his normally emotionless electronic monotone was full of emotion, almost rapture. Being quite an Audiophile myself, that part of him resonated strongly with me. Plus, being 10 years old at the time, to my mind he had the coolest most unique voice of any of the characters, and that sound drew me in like a magnet. Add to that the fact that he had a regular menagerie with him and given my love for animals, he was the coolest on the show.

Speaking of animals, Ravage was just awesome. He was a cat and I love cats, he was black which is one of my favourite colors, and he was Soundwave’s best bud. Heck, I wanted my own pet robo Ravage kitty! He was not just cool, he was downright adorable too. And he was smart despite how others treated him like a dumb animal. The only one who understood him was Soundwave himself, but then who else would understand his symbiotic companions?

In a world where people are terrified of change, abhor anything that is different, and continually try to put everything in neat little labeled boxes, Transformers not only shattered that closed minded view, but let kids reach beyond the narrow thinking of generations before them. Transformers came in every size, shape, and color imaginable and yet they didn’t care, they not only embraced each other as comrades but welcomed a completely alien species as friends. Transformers had become the vessel through which certain truths and life lessens were taught, and for the kids who loved those giant sentient transforming alien robots, they showed that acceptance of diversity and change was a good thing and hatred would only be their downfall. Transformers became what many parents could not, and the proof of those lessons was all around them in the negative attitudes of those real life people around them.

With the exception of Star Wars, Transformers has the largest fan base and has made more real friends than any other science fiction story of the modern age. Their influence is felt world wide and over multiple generations, and so much of that influence has been positive it’s hard to see how people can still treat it like childishness that should be done away with. Yet there are still those closed minded and hard hearted people who simply can not see what the fans have well understood since September 17th, 1984, the day Transformers came into the lives of countless children across the country. I will remember that date for the rest of my life as being one of a handful of events that sparked changes for the better in myself. Add to that the fact that the first episode of the series aired less than a week after my tenth birthday, you can see how Transformers has earned a very special place in my heart for so many reasons; and with those beloved characters, the people behind the voices who gave life to them. People like you, Peter Cullen, Scatman Crothers, Michael Bell, Chris Latta, and so many others who breathed life into a universe of giant sentient robots, names and voices that will continue to resonate in the hearts of millions long after you’ve gone into the next realm. May we all find our way to the place where all are one.

Til All Are One,
Elley

For those who were treasured for so many things they had done, yet so often never knew how loved they and their characters were, Chris Latta, Scatman Crothers, Don Messick, and Lionel Stander will forever be in our hearts. I hope that somehow they all know just how cherished they are by a whole generation of kids who loved Transformers.

Dear Mr. Chris Latta,

Transformers will always hold a special place in my heart. Many kids who grew up in the 1980’s had their lives turned upside down: kids dealing with constant harassment from bullies at school, kids being abused and ignored at home or at school by adults they’re supposed to trust, kids going through their parents divorce and splitting the family apart, Latch-Key kids who came home to an empty house and waited alone for their parents to get home from work because they couldn’t afford day care, military kids being forced to move from place to place continuously, kids suffering at the hands of misguided psychologists who believed that medication and hospitalization were the answer to all problems… So many of them had nothing but turmoil and grave instability in their young shattered lives, often with no say or control over what was happening to them. But one thing remained constant and always there: their cartoons.

Everyone has their favourites from the series and for me, I have a list. One of those characters on that list: The Mad Tinkerbot of Doom, Wheeljack. He was forever trying to invent or create things to help his friends, though some of them would backfire on the poor guy. But even in the face of his worst mistakes he was forever the helpful optimist, “Wait! I can fix that!” even with Ratchet having to put Wheeljack’s lab (and often Wheeljack himself) back together again as a result of the poor mech’s experiments having rather explosive results. Wheeljack appealed to me because I am forever researching things, tearing things apart, wanting to know how things work or how things are made. As a toddler, no toy was ever safe in my hands, and it didn’t matter how ‘indestructible’ the toys were supposed to be. At two years of age I could quietly, in my bedroom, tear apart steel Tonka trucks with my bare hands. To this day my mother has no clue how the heck I managed that trick. Thus the Mad Tinkerbot of Doom appealed to me; the eternal optimist who not only loved to invent new things but also figuring out how things worked. What was truly frightening was taking Wheeljack’s creative optimistic inventiveness and couple that with Ratchet’s ability to make it work no matter what and Decepticons, Look Out! A dangerous combination when those two worked together on something, that was for sure.

Speaking of Decepticons, the character you’re probably best known for is the one character I absolutely hated for many reasons: Starscream. As much as I loved Wheeljack, I just could not stand Starscream. Why? He was irritating, grating-on-the-nerves, nails-on-chalkboard, ice-pick-up-the-spine, annoying! And I can’t help but say that with a smile. I think you did a great job with him honestly. You took a character that probably in anyone else’s hands would have ended up mediocre and forgettable at best and turned him into one that people love to hate. Two things I noticed between Starscream and Megatron that ALWAYS made me giggle though:

The second thing I noticed was that the dynamic between Megatron and Starscream was directly analogous to Dracula and Renfield. I half expected Starscream to go hobbling by, hunched over, dragging one foot behind him muttering “Heheh, yes Master…” after Megatron yells at him for the umpteenth time. That visual just cracks me up! Even with as much as I can’t stand Starscream, that character makes me appreciate the others all the more, plus, in a bizarre sort of way, I end up appreciating Starscream as you portrayed him; the lying, conniving, scheming, whiny, usurper, coward we’ve all grown to love/hate yet appreciate for what he added to the dynamic of the show. That and his bumbling antics made me giggle rather often.

Transformers was one of a few cartoons I dearly loved growing up and so many of the characters felt so real to me and a lot of other kids, often more so than the people in their lives. They seemed to come alive on the screen, their personality quirks mirroring those of real people. And for many kids, some of those characters mirrored their own personalities and interests, or were ones they could look up to and admire, even strive to be like one day. For me, Wheeljack was one such character, mirroring a part of myself and showing that no matter how bad it gets, no matter how many mistakes you make, never give up and know you can always work to make it better. Optimism and perseverance, creativity and inventiveness, wanting to do anything he could to help his friends and just the shear tenacity and refusal to give up on anything he tried to do made him one character who became very near and dear to my heart as a kid, and still remains one of my favourites even as an adult.

I wish you and the others could have read the letters that so many kids wrote to their favourite characters, to see how treasured they were and how much they loved the show, how much it impacted their lives. Most often for the better. You helped give life to these characters and made them real, and fans like me thank you for what you have given us, given to a whole generation of kids who loved those giant sentient transforming alien robots. For me, the show was just that little bit extra special, the first episode airing September 17th, 1984, less than a week after my tenth birthday. Heck of a birthday present, that’s for sure. I hope that wherever you are, letters like this make you smile. For us, you are and always will be the heart and soul of those characters you brought to life with your voice and enthusiasm behind the microphone.

Til All Are One,
Elley

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To the one taken from this world far too soon, we miss you, Jazz Man.

Dear Mr. Scatman Crothers,

How can a fan such as myself explain just how and why Transformers is one of my favourite cartoons from when I was growing up? Honestly, for me it’s both simple and complicated. The simple answer is that it was a cool show unlike any others on television at the time with characters who were interesting and had a depth of personality that made them feel alive. The whole story is more complicated than that. Transformers was new and different and because of that and the dynamic between the characters, created in no small part by those who gave them voice and life, was what made the show just that much more special to the kids who watched it. Of course, everyone has their favourite characters and I certainly have a few. Among those in that short list is Jazz.

How can I describe Jazz except to say “He’s Jazz!” He was one of those characters who you just had to get to know and see him in action to understand just how cool he was. He was a laid back, cool cat with a friendly and energetic personality. He had a witty sense of humor and loved to have fun, showing off his speed and athletic ability whether just goofing around with his friends and fellow Autobots, on the street, or in battle. His antics were both infectious and served a purpose; not only did he use them to get a smile from his friends, but it also made his enemies underestimate him. Outwardly he was easy going, yet inwardly he was cool headed and calculating, making him such a well loved and valuable member of the group. All around he was just such a great character, a lot of fans couldn’t help but love him.

As his voice, your name had become synonymous with his. You became his heart and soul, the Spark of life behind what would have otherwise been little more than an animated drawing on the TV screen. Because of you, Jazz became a character that I wished was real, one whom I could easily hang out with and have fun. A shared interest in music didn’t heart either. While he was only a character in a cartoon, he had become so much more in the hearts and minds of the kids who loved him and his playful antics. Even his bad puns were funny; it was all in the delivery. You made him come alive.

It breaks my heart that you never knew just how loved your character was and still is to this day, never seeing the letters written to Jazz by kids from all over the country and around the world. Losing you so soon was like watching Jazz die, never to hear that happy-go-lucky sassy Autobot and his one liner wise cracks, never to see him dance with such joy in life again. Yet we remember him, we remember you, and hold you both close to our hearts. Wherever you are, wherever you’ve gone, I sincerely hope that somehow you know how loved and missed you really are, you and the truly original cool cat, Jazz.

Til All Are One,
Elley

Where would the Autobots be without our favourite wrench tossing medic, Ratchet? Certainly not so well off as they are with him looking after them, that's for sure.

Dear Mr. Don Messick,

Transformers. Most look on it as a silly cartoon and money gimmick to sell toys. What they don’t realize is just how much of a positive impact Transformers has had on a whole generation of kids who grew up watching those giant sentient transforming alien robots on TV. There was a lot of turmoil in many children’s lives through the 1980’s and Transformers became their friends, teachers, confidants, and protectors in a lot of ways. Their personalities reflected those of kids all over, making them seem so real and become so loved and treasured by them. We all have our favourites, and among those on my own list of beloved characters was the fun loving yet no nonsense medic, Ratchet.

Ratchet had quite a complex duality to him; from the fun loving party bot that enjoyed spending time with his fellow Autobots and friends, to the down to business no-nonsense medic who took his job very seriously and would literally do anything he could to save the lives of his dear friends. No matter how badly damaged they were, he would fight hard to put them back together again, whether in the battle zone or back at base, no matter how much they protested that they were fine. He and Ironhide, another favourite of mine, were often at odds with that, frequently ending in Ratchet threatening to weld his mouth plate shut. The interaction between those two always made me laugh.

What was truly frightening was when Ratchet was working on a project with Wheeljack (another favourite of mine). Wheeljack’s creative optimistic inventiveness coupled with Ratchet’s ability to make it work no matter what would have everyone running for cover, especially the Decepticons! Those two were certainly a dangerous combination, that was for sure. And yet they both had so much fun working together too, which made the resulting creations all the more scary, but in a good way. At least for the Autobots anyway.

Ratchet was the best at what he did and took no flack from anyone. He did his job and though he repaired and saved so many of his friends, it was the ones he lost that haunted him, making him work all the harder to save his friends when they were damaged in battle no matter how severely injured they were. That instinctive drive to help others and heal those who were broken was mirrored in my own personality, something I’ve always leaned towards which is why Ratchet became one of my favourite characters. Ratchet was the persistent field medic who also knew to have a bit of fun once in a while too.

A part of me likes to believe that each of the actors who lent their voices and brought these characters to life gave a little bit of themselves to those characters, making them come alive and feel real to the kids who watched the show. Perhaps there was a bit of Ratchet in you as much as there was a bit of you in Ratchet. I wish you could have read the letters written to Ratchet by the kids who loved him. You should have had the chance to read those letters. You deserved to feel pride in such a well loved character, and to know how loved and missed you are.

Til All Are One,
Elley

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Sadly, some of these great voices will never get to read these letters and they died never knowing just how well loved their characters were. They never got to see the letters that poured in from children who wrote to their characters saying how much Transformers meant to them. This fact both angers and saddens me; I wish they could have been given even some of those letters, just so they could know how much they are missed. Below is a list showing who's still here and those who have gone. I'm thinking of creating an expansive list of all the voices from the G1 series and movie to show who voiced what characters and whether they're still here with us or if they've gone to where all are one. I think they should all be remembered for what they gave us, and the legacy they leave behind for generations of Transformers fans to come.

Peter Cullen (Ironhide, Optimus Prime, Nightstick, Wingspan, Slugslinger): born July 28th, 1941.
Frank Welker (Megatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Lazerbeak, Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Buzzsaw, Trailbreaker, Mirage, the Dinobot Sludge, Mixmaster, Blades, Groove, Galvatron - series only, Wheelie, Sharkticon, and Teletaan II): born March 12th, 1946.
Chris Latta (Starscream, Wheeljack, and Sparkplug Witwicky): born August 30th, 1949; died June 12th, 1994 from a Cerebral Hemorrhage.
Scatman Crothers (Jazz): born May 23rd, 1910; died November 22th, 1986 from Lung Cancer and Pneumonia.
Don Messick (Ratchet, Gears, and Scavenger): born September 7th, 1926; died October 24th, 1997 from a Stroke.
Lionel Stander (Kup - 1986 movie only): born January 11th, 1908; died November 30th, 1994 from Lung Cancer.
John Stephenson (Thundercracker, Huffer, Windcharger, Kup - series only, and Alpha Trion): born August 9th, 1923.

[blitzy]

Wow Katt... that's very powerful. I hope you find a way to send it to Peter, I'm sure it'll mean a lot to him. You really made me view Transformers in another way. I've always loved the shows(even though when I watched them I was 14 and it was on YouTube) and the movies are a favorite. Optimus has always been one of my favorites because of his attitude towards Earth. He sees the good in people, and it's obvious in the movies he didn't want to kill Megatron. Selfless, dedicated, caring, kind, understanding, the perfect person. Optimus is as close to perfect as you can get.

[blitzy]

No problem hun. And you should write the other letters. If you do, I think you know I'll be reading them, your writing's so inspirational and powerful.

[Leathurkatt]

Awww, thank you Blitzy. **hugs** You know, I thought about writing something about all of my favourites; Optimus, Ironhide, Soundwave, Ravage, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Jazz, Mirage, and Kup. I think I might have to do that now. **smiles and hugs** Thanks hon.

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Aww. **blushes more** Thank you. Sadly there are four who will never get to read them. **bows head slightly** We miss you guys, all of us. **to Chris Latta, Scatman Crothers, Don Messick, and Lionel Stander**

((previous posts accidentally posted with character accounts, so I deleted them and reposted both together here.))

[Leathurkatt]

New letter posted above for Frank Welker who originally voiced 8 (or more) of the G1 characters, including Soundwave, Mirage, most of Soundwave's cassette buddies, and of course the Evil Tyrant Bot himself, Megatron. I'll be adding more as they get written so if you're interested in reading them, check back often.

Next up is one to Chris Latta who voiced the Mad Tinkerbot of Doom, Wheeljack (and the ever annoying Starscream), then Jazz' original voice, Scatman Crothers, Don Messick who voiced Ratchet, and then the two voices of Kup: Lionel Stander (from the 1986 movie) and John Stephenson (from the series). We miss you guys.

[Leathurkatt]

Only one more to write and post up: for the two voices of Kup: Lionel Stander (from the 1986 movie) and John Stephenson (from the series). Feel free to read the others and offer feedback if you like. I'll post a reply here to let people know when I get the last one up.

[Optimus Prime's Lady]

You did a Amazing job on this hun... Love It.

[Leathurkatt]

Thank you. **smiles**