At what age can you watch the 1986 Transformers movie?

[Omegatron]

So, I'm really looking for some feedback here. My son is 6 years old (He will be 7 in January). He loves Transformers, has seen most of the G1 cartoon as well as Animated. He is also a bit of a precocious child and will act out stuff he finds exciting, like laser battles or fights between Optimus and Megatron. He is a good boy but has occasionally been in trouble at school for this, when the other child isn't quite as much into re-enacting scenes as he is.

He also has some toys (Armada Unicron primarily among them), which he loves but does not really understand because he has never seen the 1986 movie. Yesterday he asked me who Rodimus Prime is? I can't really show him Season 3 of G1 because it does not make a lot of sense without the movie. He needs to see this movie to further his "education". I'm just not sure he's ready, there is fighting and death in the movie, a character gets drawn and quartered and Optimus Prime dies. When do you folks think its O.K. to show a kid the 1986 movie?

[khazano]

I was about 7 when I watched it. I remember being sad at Optimus dying, but thats cause that was the ONLY optimus prime in existence at that point in time. Your son has been exposed to numerous ones since then, and I would assume watching the 80s Prime bite it wouldnt have nearly as much an impact. I think certain themes will probably go over his head. (The burden of leadership etc.) but for the most part he'll probably love it. The animation still holds up in terms of strictly 2d.

[steamwhistle]

also keep in mind the "Aw s#!7, we're gonna crash" line... if language might be a concern, and if the version you have is the same as the theatrical release.

[soundwave1976]

My son is 3 1/2 and has seen it on multiple occasions, lol. He loves TFs no matter what (which makes me feel awesome, lol). When it comes to the "Aw sh1t..." part I either mute it or say something to him to distract him and cover up the language, lol. I have no reports of him re-enacting any TF scenes ever at school... although he does with me, lol.

[wervenom]

Originally Posted by khazano

I was about 7 when I watched it. I remember being sad at Optimus dying, but thats cause that was the ONLY optimus prime in existence at that point in time. Your son has been exposed to numerous ones since then, and I would assume watching the 80s Prime bite it wouldnt have nearly as much an impact. I think certain themes will probably go over his head. (The burden of leadership etc.) but for the most part he'll probably love it. The animation still holds up in terms of strictly 2d.

I agree. My son was around 4 the first time he saw it. I don't think he fully understood the death of Optimus Prime so much but he really enjoyed the movie. He is six now and understands it better but has seen Prime die and come back, lose his memory etc. The 86 movie is lighter then a lot of the later iterations that have been presented theme wise since then. He instantly gravitated towards Hot Rod and it is (and always has been) his favourite character since. Even with the fighting and death in the movie I don't think it would be much heavier than other versions or even other cartoon violence, it really depends on how your son might take it. Like yours, my son loves acting out the scenes but he knows that he can't touch anyone else at school even when acting it out. The drawn and quartered "scene" doesn't exist (although we know it was meant that way). I would say he should be able to watch it to further his TF or G1 education but ultimately you would know better than anyone how he could interpret what he sees.

[Protoman]

I saw it at the Decarie Square Movie Cinema back in 1986, I was 3, and I turned out alright........... right?

[FreedomGundam]

Originally Posted by Protoman

I saw it at the Decarie Square Movie Cinema back in 1986, I was 3, and I turned out alright........... right?

You and I clearly have very different definitions of the word "alright".

I'm pretty sure I watched it in '86 or '87, which would've made me 4 or 5 at the time. I know for sure I was younger than 6.

[Buhawi]

Bambi - Mother's death

Far more scarier.

"We made it. We made it mother."

"Mother?"

[JLvatron]

I would say 10.
But then again, I wouldn't necessarily show kids the G1 cartoon eps before 7.
Obviously it's different for each kid.

Originally Posted by Omegatron

a character gets drawn and quartered

This didn't happen in the actual movie.
Comic & storyboard only.

[down_shift]

All of them. All of the ages.