Warning! This post contains spoilers for Transformers One
There are a few very important reasons why Megatron’s eyes turn red near the end of Transformers one. As seen in the new animated movie, Transformers Detailing the origins of Orion Pax and his transformation into Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. However, the movie is also about D-16’s corruption in Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. While both experience key visual upgrades as they gradually evolve, Megatron’s new eye color is certainly one of the more striking changes.
Long before the Cybertronian Great War made its way to Earth, Orion Pax and D-16 were once brothers before the truth about their planet and its resources, they embrace their destinies on either side of the conflict. how so Transformers one is a dynamic re-telling of their origins and how they became Optimus Prime and Megatron. However, the animated movie also respects these Transformers Lore that came before, a primary reason why D-16’s eyes change when he becomes Megatron Transformers one.
Megatron’s eyes turn red as he tries to kill Optimus Prime
Shoot Prime before you fall down the core of Cybertron
When they learn that Cybertron’s leader Sentinel Prime has been lying to the entire planet, D-16 and Orion Pax have very different perspectives on what should be done in Transformers one. While Pax believes that exposing the truth would convince Cybertron to unite, D-16 does not believe that this is enough. D-16 wants Sentinel to pay for his deception with his life, arguing that his betrayal will be met with vengeance.
At the end of the movie, D-16 gets his chance to execute Sentinel Prime, still darkly upgraded with the transformation cog from the fallen Megatronus Prime. However, Orion gets in the line of fire at the last moment. Surprised and angered by his friend’s actions, D-16 drops the injured Pax down a chasm that runs straight to the heart of Cybertron. D-16’s eyes turn from yellow to red as he takes the name MegatronPromising his fellow Cybertronians a new world order when he rips Sentinel Prime in two.
Megatron’s eyes turning red show that he is angry
A symbolic change to show his total corruption
D-16’s eyes turning red is a deeply symbolic change, one that visually confirms his corruption into Megatron in Transformers one is now complete. He made his decision to embrace his newfound darkness by killing Orion and killing Sentinel Prime, choosing to become a new ruler for Cybertron with the belief that the only leader he could ever trust was himself after Sentinel’s betrayal. how so Megatron’s new red eyes accentuate this change as something that will have permanent ramifications for Cybertron in the years to come.
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Of course, the eye color change itself is a very classic movie trope that is certainly not exclusive to the ending of Transformers one. Especially when a character is corrupted by evil or the “dark side”, an eye color change is quite common. However, the specific change from yellow to red has a basis in existence Transformers Study.
Megatron’s red eyes relate to his Decepticon design
Almost all Decepticons have red eyes in the original Transformers lore
As seen in the original Transformers Continuity First established by the 1984 animated series and toy line, the vast majority of Decepticons have red eyes, while the Autobots all have blue eyes. In case, Orion/Optimus, B-127 and Elita-1 all have blue eyes, while D-16 is the only one with yellow eyesFurther, it shows how he was suspended and already destined for a dark future, like his fellow Bats. Although this was originally an easy visual design to help young viewers distinguish between the good guys and the bad guys, not all continuities held so strictly to this idea.
That said, it is notable that the classic red and blue eye color distinction is maintained Transformers oneGiven its status as a prequel to the rest of the expected Transformers Timeline where the Autobots and Decepticons will more than likely go to war. In any case, the red eye color change for Megatron is an easily overlooked part of his corruption in the new animated movie. However, it speaks volumes about just how far D-16 fell by the end of Transformers one While his first brother rose to become one of Cybertron’s greatest heroes.
Transformers one Now playing in theaters.