Hasbro has announced the return of The Transformers: The Movie to theaters, in a 4K remastered version that will screen from September 17 to 21. The initiative, in collaboration with Fathom Entertainment, is part of the Apology Tour, a campaign that acknowledges the collective trauma of watching Optimus Prime die on screen during the childhood of an entire generation.
Digital restoration and surround sound for the animated classic 🎬
The 4K remastering has involved a process of scanning the original celluloid at 4K resolution, with color correction and grain reduction without losing the texture of 80s animation. The audio has been remixed in Dolby Atmos format, allowing Megatron's shots and Stan Bush's soundtrack to be distributed clearly throughout the theater. The screening will take place in selected theaters in the United States.
Hasbro apologizes for that death with movie tickets 🍿
The Apology Tour campaign is, in essence, a corporate mea culpa disguised as a cinematic event. Hasbro knows that thirty-nine years later, many adults still haven't gotten over seeing Optimus Prime become a museum piece. The solution is simple: buy some popcorn and screen the scene again, but this time with more pixels. The trauma, at least, will be seen in high definition.