The prologue for the new CG-animated movie Transformers One tells the story of how Cybertron began. It starts with a being named Primus. Primus is the first Transformer and changes into the planet now known as Cybertron. The prologue also introduces the first generation of Transformers created by Primus: the Original Thirteen Primes.
These Original Thirteen Primes are an important part of Transformers history, and they fit well into the new story set by this exciting CG-animated film. Now, let’s look at the origins and ideas behind the Original Thirteen Primes of Cybertron.
The Original Thirteen Primes Are Cybertron’s Founders
The Original Primes serve as the first members of the Cybertronian race. They are the founders and key figures in many parts of the Transformers story. For example, Micronus Prime is the first Mini-con or Micromaster Transformer, and Onyx Prime is the first beast Transformer.
In the film, they are shown as the first transforming robots created by Primus. Their purpose is to teach, lead, and protect future generations. Any Cybertronian who has the name Prime understands that it means more than just a title. The Primes are the most honorable, good, and brave beings from Cybertron.
In Transformers One, the Original Thirteen Primes are shown as a noble group of Cybertronians. They are led by Zeta Prime (James Remar), who carries the Matrix of Leadership, an important object. The story starts with a young Cybertronian named Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth).
He does not have a transformation cog (T-cog) and wants to find the lost Matrix of Leadership. Orion believes that the Matrix can help restore Cybertron’s dying resources and offer more opportunities to the planet’s non-transforming civilians, who face hard work in the mines.
However, it is later revealed that Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), thought to be the last of the Primes, betrayed the Original Thirteen Primes to the Quintessons during a war years ago.
The Matrix of Leadership disappeared when Sentinel and the Quintessons attacked and killed the Primes, except for Alpha Trion (Laurence Fishburne). Alpha Trion tells Orion Pax and his friends about Sentinel Prime’s betrayal. Now, they must become the heroes Cybertron needs to regain its freedom.
The Concept of the Original Thirteen Primes Developed Over Time
The idea of the Original Thirteen Primes took many years to become what is shown in Transformers One. The concept of a group of original Transformers, or Transformer Archetypes, first appeared in a story called “Covenant.” This story was published for the Transformers convention, BotCon, in 1999.
Still from Transformers One (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
During the Dreamwave Productions Era of Transformers comics, one of the Original Thirteen was called “The Fallen.” He betrayed his fellow Transformers and was corrupted by Unicron.
Essentially, he is the Transformers version of Lucifer. Later, The Fallen was given the name Megatronus, becoming part of the Decepticons faction. While The Fallen does not appear in Transformers One, the film does touch on Megatronus’ connection with Megatron and the Decepticons.
The Fallen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
A version of the Original Primes was shown in the 2009 live-action film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The movie shows The Fallen as Megatron’s “master” and mentor. He is one of the Original Primes who visited Earth long ago during prehistoric times.
He was exiled by his fellow Primes after he tried to activate the Star Harvester, which would have destroyed all life on Earth. The other Primes of Cybertron rejected his plan.
Although he is never called Megatronus in the film, The Fallen is usually the name given to the former Megatronus Prime, mainly because he attempts to betray the other Primes or Primus or his forced exile from his group. However, Transformers One chooses to take Megatronus in a different direction.
Transformers One Changes the Fate of Megatronus Prime
In Transformers One, Megatronus Prime remains loyal and does not betray his friends. The film shows that Sentinel Prime is not a true Prime and stole the title. Sentinel Prime was an aide to the Original Thirteen Primes but betrayed them during their war with the Quintessons.
The Original Thirteen Primes, including Megatronus Prime, were all killed, except for Alpha Trion, who was revived later by Orion Pax and his friends while they searched for the Matrix of Leadership.
Alpha Trion tells them about Sentinel Prime’s betrayal. Sentinel was the one who killed Megatronus Prime, whom D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) looked up to and admired.
Still from Transformers One (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Sentinel Prime betrayed Cybertron, the Original Thirteen Primes, and his own race. He gave the Quintessons control over Cybertron and all the Energon they wanted in exchange for power and control over Iacon (Cybertron’s underground capital).
Transformers One interestingly chooses not to make Megatronus Prime into The Fallen. Instead, it shows Sentinel Prime as the traitor of the Original Thirteen. Sentinel was never a true Prime and was not a real member of the Original Thirteen.
If the story of Transformers One continues in the future, it might revisit the idea of Megatronus Prime becoming The Fallen. Perhaps Megatronus could come back with help from the newly transformed Megatron, and they could work together to rule Cybertron.
The Future of the Transformers One Series
Due to Orion Pax’s actions to save Cybertron and take down Sentinel Prime, while still wanting to show mercy to the villain, the spirits of the Original Thirteen Primes give Orion Pax the honored Matrix of Leadership and the new title of Optimus Prime.
This makes Optimus the newest and last of the Primes. The Matrix restores Cybertron’s lost Energon resources and gives new T-cogs to the Transformers who lost them because of Sentinel Prime. Optimus Prime names his new followers Autobots to protect Cybertron from its enemies, the Quintessons.
Sadly, D-16 has completely rejected his friendship with Optimus. He takes the image of Megatronus Prime as his symbol and starts a new group called the Decepticons, taking the name Megatron, inspired by his late hero. Angry and hurt by Sentinel Prime’s betrayal, Megatron wants to rule Cybertron himself.
Still from Transformers One (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Transformers One sets up a story for the Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons in the Transformers legend. There are many exciting paths the story can take from this ending. Hopefully, the new story created by Transformers One continues with future films.
In Transformers One, the origins of Cybertron and the Original Thirteen Primes set the stage for an exciting new chapter in the Transformers saga.
As Orion Pax transforms into Optimus Prime, he must show the challenges posed by betrayal and the rise of the Decepticons. The film cleverly intertwines past and future, promising thrilling developments in upcoming sequels, ensuring that the legacy of the Primes continues to shape the fate of Cybertron.
America’s favorite musical guessing game is back, and The Masked Singer is ready for Season 12! Fox has slowly started to reveal the identities of the 15 characters that will compete this season. In previous seasons, the costumes worn by the celebrities often did not give away too much about who was hiding behind the mask.
However, everything changes this time! For the first time, clues are everywhere, even in the costumes themselves! The team behind the show has mentioned that these clues may come and go as the costumes may change throughout the season. So, keep your detective skills sharp, and let’s take a closer look at every costume and character!
The Contestants of Season 12
Although there are 15 characters this season, not all of the costumes have been revealed yet. However, we know who will be competing in Group A. The characters in this group include Buffalo, Leaf Sheep, Showbird, Woodpecker, and Ship.
Other characters that have been revealed so far are Chess Piece, Dust Bunny, Goo, and Strawberry Shortcake. With this mix of characters, fans are sure to have plenty to talk about!
The Masked Singer has been a huge hit for Fox since it started in 2019. This celebrity singing competition showcases some of the world’s biggest and brightest stars hidden inside whimsical costumes. The panel of judges and the viewers at home try to guess the voice they hear and who is behind the mask.
This season, the show is hosted by Nick Cannon, and the judging panel includes Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Robin Thicke, and Rita Ora. Ora is stepping in for Nicole Scherzinger, who is currently starring in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway.
Past Winners and Hall of Fame
The winners of The Masked Singer have included several notable celebrities. Some of the past champions are T-Pain as Monster, Wayne Brady as Fox, Kandi Burruss as Night Angel, LeAnn Rimes as Sun, Nick Lachey as Piglet, Jewel as Queen of Hearts.
Teyana Taylor as Firefly, Amber Riley as Harp, Bishop Briggs as Medusa, Ne-Yo as Cow, and Vanessa Hudgens as Goldfish. Fans are eager to see which character will join the ranks of The Masked Singer Hall of Fame this season!
When Can I Watch ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12?
The new season of The Masked Singer premieres on Wednesday, September 25th at 8:00 PM only on Fox. All episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the following day, making it easy for fans to catch up on their favorite performances.
Is There a Trailer for ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12?
Yes! There is a teaser trailer for the upcoming season. In this trailer, host Nick Cannon reveals that the stage is set with clues everywhere. He mentions that anything could be a clue! This adds an exciting element to the guessing game, as fans will need to pay attention to every detail during the performances.
What Are the Themes of ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12?
The Masked Singer has gradually started to introduce themed nights, and fans love this addition! This season’s themes promise to be entertaining and diverse. Some of the new themes include Miley Cyrus Night, Barbie Night, Footloose Night, Sports Night, ’60s Night, and Who Are You Fest, which will feature music from memorable festival lineups.
The returning themes from previous seasons include Thanksgiving Night and Soundtrack of My Life. Each theme night offers unique performances and adds a new layer of excitement to the competition.
What Changes Are In Store for ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12?
This season introduces a fresh twist with the addition of Masked Ambassadors. Each contestant will have a Masked Ambassador, who is a former contestant with a connection to each singer. These ambassadors provide major new clues about their friends’ identities.
Still from The Masked Singer (Credit: Hulu)
So far, the Masked Ambassadors revealed include Dick Van Dyke, Jewel, Ne-Yo, and DeMarcus Ware. Fans will soon find out who each ambassador is connected to, making the guessing game even more thrilling.
Who Is That?
True to tradition, The Masked Singer has released a full performance video of one of the season’s singers. Fans have already taken to the internet to figure out who it is! The character Ship sings “Pompeii” by Bastille, and viewers are eager to uncover their identity. Hopefully, the clues will lead fans to correct guesses!
Meet The Characters
Buffalo
Buffalo enters the stage wearing a cowboy hat and ready to win! Many fans think Buffalo could be a country star or possibly a player from the Buffalo Bills. If the clues are solid, this prediction could be spot on. However, there may be more to Buffalo than meets the eye!
Chess Piece
Will the judges shout “checkmate” when they discover who Chess Piece is? This costume is one of the most stunning of the season and gives off an air of power and strength. While some fans might guess it’s Anya Taylor Joy because of her connection to The Queen’s Gambit, that guess might be a bit too obvious.
Dust Bunny
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, executive producer Rosie Seitchik shared that clues are everywhere, especially for Dust Bunny. She explained, “It’s a real 360-degree view for Dust Bunny. A dust bunny just rolls around and picks up objects, and [this costume] picks up clues to Dust Bunny’s true identity.” Fans need to put on their detective hats and start piecing together the clues stuck on Dust Bunny!
Goo
Goo is bursting with possibilities! The silly costume may not be what it seems. In the past, many celebrities who wore such wacky costumes turned out to be comedians. Could Goo be a famous comedian? Or perhaps the costume offers a significant clue. Is there anything more iconic than Nickelodeon slime? Could Goo be a former Nickelodeon star?
Leaf Sheep
At first glance, Leaf Sheep might seem like a whimsical creation. However, it is based on an adorable little sea slug! The design team deserves credit for this unique character.
In the trailer, the character appears to move around the stage, suggesting that the person inside the costume might be seated, like Kermit the Frog did on Season 5. Is it possible that Leaf Sheep represents an iconic character like The Great Gonzo?
Ship
With the release of Ship’s first performance, fans are buzzing online, trying to guess who they are. During the performance, Robin Thicke recognized the iconic voice. Ship’s costume might not provide a clear clue if the guesses are correct.
People are speculating everyone from Annie Lennox to Cher, indicating that Ship is a superstar who could go far in the competition. If history is any guide, last season’s pre-season performance video drop featured the eventual winner. Based on their performance, Ship might just sail to victory!
Showbird
Details about Showbird are still limited, but the colorful feathers and preview photos suggest that they could be a Las Vegas superstar. By their name alone, this character seems to know how to put on a show!
Strawberry Shortcake
Could this delightful dessert be a short and sweet celebrity? Or perhaps, dressed like a pastry chef, Strawberry Shortcake could represent a celebrity chef. Many guesses in past seasons have revolved around height, so fans expect Strawberry Shortcake to be a petite treat!
Still from The Masked Singer (Credit: Hulu)
Woodpecker
Woodpecker might be a tall and slim diva. Traditionally, bird costumes have done well on The Masked Singer. Will Woodpecker join the elite list of successful characters? Currently, this costume gives off strong supermodel vibes.
Conclusion
The Masked Singer Season 12 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons yet. With 15 unique characters, thrilling themes, and plenty of clues hidden in costumes, fans will have a blast guessing who is behind the masks.
As the premiere date approaches, viewers are eagerly waiting to see how this season unfolds. Tune in on Wednesday, September 25th at 8:00 PM on Fox to catch the action! All episodes will also be available to stream on Hulu the next day.
