Strong Enough To Be Gentle

Quoted from SpaceBattles.com forum poster IRUn.  The  inspiration for this piece and something Micheal Bay and Erin Kruger have COMPLETELY MISSED about this subject.

(And no hostility towards Peter Cullen.  I love the guy and he deserves the money, I just wish he didn't have to mangle all the nobility out of the character that made him big among voice actors....)

"What I particularly like about Cullen's Optimus' voice is the inspiration for it. Apparently he emulated the mannerisms of his older brother Larry, who served in the US    Marine Corps during Vietnam. Specifically, Peter based Prime's voice and mannerisms on Larry's calm, controlled, and authoritative approach to serious situations.

Larry told Peter before the later's audition for Optimus, "Don't be a tough hero, you are strong enough to be gentle."

To me, that line right there IS Optimus Prime's character in a nutshell."

Fluttershy Blind Bag and Optimus Prime mini figure in truck mode.  Taken with my Canon SD 630 Camera.  Touched up in Fireworks.