I was five. But I heard about it LONG before I saw it on-screen.

Didn't buy it then, and not buying it now.

 

Sitting in the movie theater as a kid, in complete shock.

 

Honestly... looking back, I think I was more disappointed to see all of the original G1 Autobots so casually killed off in the shuttle massacre. I mean, Prime got a big dramatic finish... a major story hook... but those other guys went out like chumps. It felt sort of wrong.

zmog

 

Definately agree. I still flinch and look away during that scene.

--Moony

 

I was in the Air Force. First year spent in Northern Maine...lovely place!

 

I was three when it happened but I don't believe I saw it in theatres. I do remember seeing it when the movie was rebroadcast as individual episodes of the cartoon on TV in syndication, so I was home then but I don't recall how old (5-7 perhaps?). I did have a feeling of 'what the fuck?' I kept waiting for him to pop up later and kick the crap out of that hideous purple thing that sounded like Spock (later on known to me and everyone else as Galvatron).

I think I was more startled by the G.I. Joe movie though because of Cobra Commander turning into a snake-thing and Duke getting stabbed by one of Serpentor's snakelances and blood actually flowing.

 

First grade, but it was all rumor and supposition until I saw the movie in the second grade. We actually watched it in class, and I was horrified. It was like I watched my puppy get steamrolled by a semi truck.  

 

4th or 5th grade, I can't remember exactly.

 

I was in a different theater watching a disney movie or something, while my brothers were watching the TF movie lol.

 

Although we didnt know it at the time, we were witness to the very moment that would forge my brothers personality forever.

My brother Tony was only 5 when we saw it on VHS for the first time in 1988, and like many other 5 year old american males there were 2 things that dominated his life. Cartoons and Wrestling.

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Friday night and mom had gotten us TF the movie, after dinner we sat in our room to watch the movie, the first half hour or so went fine. That is until prime died, my little brother froze, you could see the tears welling up in his eyes, his jaw wide open and the color disappear from his face. I dont remember if we watched the rest of the movie, but I do remember the wailing the fist pounding all night. Although not the first, and not the last this was one hell of a monumental hissy...

Then came Saturday night, and WWF Main Event. Hulk Hogan was wrestling Andre The Giant. Mom's hope was that watching The Hulkster win would bring my brother's faith in all that is right back into his 5 year old heart.

Things didnt exactly go this way. As the story went Andre was "brain washed" by the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase and he was supposed to get the title from Hogan at all costs. But hey this is national TV a rare thing in the pre-Raw 80's, so there was no way hogan was going to lose... Again things didnt go to plan.

1...2...3... Hogan LOST... he lost the WWF Chapionship to Andre The Giant! But wait, Mean Gene jumped into the ring! My brother thought this was going to over turn the referee's call, after all Andre had cheated, and this was HULK HOGAN! Nope, Andre turned and gave the belt to The Million Dollar Man, and the broadcast went off the air...

The Look on Tony's face was the same as it was Friday, but something had changed, something was broken, something that would never and could never be repaired. No tears this time, I dont think there were any left, just silent mouthing of the word "why?" over and over again until he fell asleep.

I firmly believe that as a result of that weekend my brother lost his faith in Robots, Wrestlers, Origanized Religion and America, and will continue to always be a dick

 

Depends which Optimus Prime you mean.

I was watching it on my computer when Animated OP died.

I wasn't even sperm when he died in 1986.

 

At the earliest showing of the movie in my local theater on opening day.

 

Watching Crocodile Dundee because my Mother wanted a movie the whole family could enjoy. I didn't find out he had died until 1989. (And yes, I shed a tear.)

 

9 years old at the movie theater with my best friend at the time and his father, eating a tub, yes I said TUB, of popcorn. (these little bags cost more for so much less, I miss the tub) Needless to say, I was shocked into silence, and although I loved the rest of the movie, it was a quite ride home...

 

In the theater. lol. I wasn't too upset either, because I was sure he'd return at some point in the movie to save everyone. Boy was I wrong.

As god is my witness, I thought robots couldn't die.

 

Watching the movie at the Burnsville mall in Burnsville, MN. My dad drew the short straw and had to take me there.

 

In my living room watching it on TV. I freaked out and couldn't stop crying. My sister laughed at me teased me about it all the time.

 

In 1986? Uh, Not Yet Conceived?

During my exsistence? A ity-bity child, pouting because my brother kept kicking me out of the living room whenever I poked my head inside.

 

Shit, I remember that too, I saw it for the first time when it aired on wutv in about 1988, although I already knew what happened.

 

At home not watching it happen because my parents never took me to the movies.