Differences between Prime and Primal

una · Unread post by **una** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:14 pm

Some people get these two confused. I know they look similar but they are both different. Optimus Prime is more stoical and dry. Optimus Primal is more human.

Still, I read or hear people confusing them still.

What's so confusing?

Alak · Unread post by **Alak** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:18 pm

I wouldn't exactly use the description "more human". Think of Optimus Prime as the admiral for a Navy task force. He has to be serious, focused, etc. Now, think of Optimus Primal as the captain of a fishing boat. He's bound to have a closer connection to his crew and crack jokes every once and a while.

That's the best analogy I can think of right now...

SkyxDB · Unread post by **SkyxDB** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:48 pm

I don't know why some people get the 2 confused sometimes, the only reason I can think of is that they both have the same first name. But other that if pay close attention it's easy to tell that they're two different characters with thier own personalities. Though for me, I've always wondered if they were related somehow.

artemis-lady-warrior · Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:05 pm

he's always confused on the transformers Universe boxes sold at the dollar stores.

LOL They always mess up Optimus Prime with Primal.

Unread post by **Nurann** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:06 pm

Sky's right, it's because of the similar names. Generally the people who can tell the difference are the ones who actually know who the characters are. Otherwise, it's just a blur to them. I have that problem with my parents all the time. I finally had to break it down to my dad in terms of size; "Ignore the toy's scales. Prime is 30 ft tall, Primal is only about 6 or 7 ft tall. That's how you tell them apart."

Mind you, Alak, Prime has his bad-aft moments too. Yeah though, Primal is MUCH more laid back.

Artemis, the Universe Prime is a whole other story line, not an actual mix-up. I have those sets and I've even gone to the Wikis to research their story lines. It's a whole "AU jungle-planet-mutation-thing," not actually our Primal himself.

una · Unread post by **una** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:15 pm

Yeah, my parents had troubles too (well, actually my dad hates transformers. My mom is the one who likes it.) She would get the voice actors messed up and their names. But she doesn't anymore.

I like your analogy, Alak.

Yeah, Prime is more military but he did have his moments of expressing emotion.

Also, I have noticed Primal does alot of facepalms.

Alak · Unread post by **Alak** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:43 pm

lol considering the team Primal has, I don't blame him.

Rattrap: Butts heads with the big bot, initially disobeyed orders, doesn't want to die.

Cheetor: Young and reckless, it's because of him the Maximals have to go on the offensive just to save him.

Dinobot: Slag Preds, slag Preds, and slag Preds. Creates tension.

Silverbolt: Where's he sneaking off to everyday?

Blackarachnia: Face it, even if she's good she's still bad.

Depth Charge: Essentially the Season 3 Dinobot, and he lost Sentinel.

Tigerhawk: He initially tried to kill Megatron which would have essentially slagged the entire transformers timeline.

Rhinox: He was solid until he turned into Tankor.

SkyxDB · Unread post by **SkyxDB** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:51 pm

That would be why Optimus is all "I hate my job" in a Beast Wars parody I wrote, now that I think about it isn't that good.

But of course you do have wonder how Primal stays sane with the crew he had to work with. Oh wait his sanity went bye bye in BM, so nevermind.

artemis-lady-warrior · Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:56 pm

Nurann wrote:Sky's right, it's because of the similar names. Generally the people who can tell the difference are the ones who actually know who the characters are. Otherwise, it's just a blur to them. I have that problem with my parents all the time. I finally had to break it down to my dad in terms of size; "Ignore the toy's scales. Prime is 30 ft tall, Primal is only about 6 or 7 ft tall. That's how you tell them apart."

Mind you, Alak, Prime has his bad-aft moments too. Yeah though, Primal is MUCH more laid back.

Artemis, the Universe Prime is a whole other story line, not an actual mix-up. I have those sets and I've even gone to the Wikis to research their story lines. It's a whole "AU jungle-planet-mutation-thing," not actually our Primal himself.

If that's true why the heck is it on the back of the box with Optimus Prime and the ugly green tank Megatron?

*wants that set so badly* I need ten dollars!

una · Unread post by **una** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:05 pm

Good thing, Primal didn't have to deal with those "choosing which crew member has to die" situations.

Hey here's a good question. How would Prime and Primal deal with those situations? How would they act?

Alak · Unread post by **Alak** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:26 pm

una wrote:Good thing, Primal didn't have to deal with those "choosing which crew member has to die" situations.

lol Hasbro chose for him

una wrote:Hey here's a good question. How would Prime and Primal deal with those situations? How would they act?

I firmly believe that both of them would choose themselves to die rather than their team. Primal offered to pilot the rigged stasis pod at the end of Season 1. Prime...well...he died more than enough times to get used to the feeling. Death is recreational for him by now.

Unread post by **Phoenix** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:23 pm

Well.. Even Prime had some time for fun. I distinctly remember him playing around with a basketball sometimes.

Both are good characters in their own ways.

Optimal Optimus Primal · Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:39 pm

You guys are awesome.

I hate it when people get Prime and Primal mixed up. Especially since there's only been one Primal (or possibly two in some kind of series I didn't bother watching like RiD? and I'm excluding BM because that's the same Primal from BW), but tons of different Primes. If anything should get mixed up, it should be the Primes in all the different series.

And I like Prime and all, but I've enjoyed Primal's personality a lot more. Except in BM.

Venatrix · Unread post by **Venatrix** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:43 pm

G1 Prime was more experianced, Primal was still wet behind the ears concerning his "commander" gig

Alak · Unread post by **Alak** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:48 pm

Gah, I'm trying to find the "Best Optimus" comic from this one site that draws "baby" transformers. Can't remember the url >_<