Peter Cullen and Frank Welker Are More Than Meets the Eye

Few cartoons and actions figures are as iconic, popular and recognizable as Transformers. Whether you grew up with the ’80s TV series, the original 1988 film or even the current blockbuster franchise, you most likely know the difference between an Autobot and a Decepticon.

The original voices behind the eternal foes Optimus Prime and Megatron, Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, each have been doing voice work for over 50 years, and I was excited to talk with them in advance of their appearance at RI Comic Con.

Rob Duguay (Motif): When you were approached to do the voices for the Transformers cartoon in the ’80s, what was your reaction?

Peter Cullen: I remember being very curious about it. It was so new, so different from anything I had ever done or seen before. That is because there were no cute funny characters of all sorts of voice ranges, but simply an assortment of metal robots that fought for good or evil. It was more real life than cartoons. I was asked to read a few characters including Prime, and that opportunity proved to be a once in a lifetime. The words were perfect, some advice from my brother Larry — who is also a personal hero of mine — and the rest is history.

Frank Welker: I was not familiar with the franchise at all, but loved the characters and the art. They were different than anything I was working on at the time. It was fun to play so many characters and of course I had the opportunity to be the big bad boy and I loved doing him and still do.  

RD: Frank, you also do the voices of Scooby Doo and Doctor Claw from “Inspector Gadget” among a few others. Are you very methodical in preparation for these roles or do you handle each one differently?

FW: I find most situations a little different. It depends a lot on what materials are available that define and describe the character. My best source for finding a voice is looking at art work. When I first worked on Megatron, I had great drawings to look at and that was really helpful. A photo is worth a thousand words; in my case a photo is worth a thousand thoughts. I am very visual and the more I see the character the more it helps liberate the creative juices and I know instantly what I would like to do. Now that is for me, usually it is my first instinct that I am going to be most comfortable with. Where it gets tricky is you have a writer who created the character and has a vision. You have a producer and director and maybe toy or comic company and or studio who all have visions so the big trick is congealing all the visions into a cohesive team effort and ultimately, a performance. Megatron was a dream, I had this voice in my repertoire that was dying to get out. In my mind it was different and would not be what other actors auditioning might do. Believe it or not, it sailed through all levels of scrutiny. I never changed it at all until recent years with the new games, movies, rides and “Transformers Prime” series. 

RD: How about you Peter? You’re also known for doing the voice of the depressed donkey Eeyore in “Winnie-The-Pooh,” quite the contrast from the courageous leader that is Optimus Prime. How different was it preparing to do voices for two different characters?

PC: At the time, Eeyore had already been done by another actor. When Winnie the Pooh was resurrected in “The New Adventures,” I was to impersonate Ralph Wright who had passed away. I had a discussion with Optimus Prime and Eeyore once, somebody evidently recorded it, but I’ve never heard it and can’t remember. Having not that much preparation would be the best answer.

RD: I’m going to be searching everywhere for that Optimus Prime and Eeyore conversation. For the past few decades, visual entertainment has changed so much. You now have everything in high definition and animation has gone the 3D route, but voice acting has pretty much stayed the same. Do you feel affected by any of the rapid changes in visual entertainment or do you just do the same thing you’ve always done during your respective careers?

PC: Rapid changes, yes. Not only technically but socially. I approach characters as I always do. Define character, study physical composition, and compose a voice to suit.  

FW: For me it has certainly changed my approach to Megatron. On “Transformers Prime,” the CGI animation gave us a big beautiful canvas to work with. I really like the faces and new character art; there is a lot more detail and movement. With the CGI you can use a more subtle approach for dialog because visually you see. There’s more detail — lots of close-ups and a lot less projecting. Of course standing next to Peter and playing old enemies again is fabulous fun.

RD: In what roles can we hear both of your voices in the future?

FW: I am currently busy with a new season of “Scooby Doo.” It is crazy fun and a great new version of this legendary franchise.  Like “Transformers,” Scooby is generational and like the Energizer Bunny it just keeps going and going and going. Somebody told me that I have been doing that show for 45 years! It can’t be true. I am only 36!

PC: I am happy to say that Eeyore is back. I recorded a session recently with a production team that wanted me in their production of the Doc McStuffins episode “Into the One Hundred Acre Wood.”  It was a wonderful day working with them.