How to Watch Peter Cullen’s Last Performance in Optimus Prime: Awakening

Peter Cullen's final vocal performance of Optimus Prime was in the animated short Optimus Prime: Awakening, which premiered in 2026. To watch this short, one must attend a theater showing of Transformers: The Movie, as it is the only way to view the 12-minute animated short at the moment. Transformers: The Movie, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is back in theaters, and following each showing, the animated short is being played.

However, it may be too late to catch it, as September 21 marks the final day of Transformers: The Movie's theatrical run. Nonetheless, there is hope that the animated short will appear as a bonus feature with the Transformers: The Movie - 40th Anniversary Limited-Edition Steelbook. Gruv, a retailer, listed a "Animated Coda (TBD) (2026)" on Disc Two of the Blu-ray, which suggests the inclusion of Optimus Prime: Awakening.

As of now, Shout Factory has not confirmed this information, so it is essential to wait for an update from them. Optimus Prime: Awakening is a fully realized 12-minute animated short, created by Hasbro and Fathom Entertainment to celebrate Transformers: The Movie's 40th anniversary. It honors the legacy of Peter Cullen, the late voice of Optimus Prime, and pays tribute to the franchise's past while offering a glimpse into its future on the big screen.

The short is currently available for pre-order as part of the Transformers: The Movie - 40th Anniversary Limited-Edition Steelbook, set to release on November 17.