Robots Rule At Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition

Dorcas Tirhas and her two kids visited the Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition at the Science Center Singapore, where robots rule and little kids… drool.

AsianScientist (Jan. 27, 2015) – Want to be the coolest parent ever and provide an educational experience for your children at the same time? Then the Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition at the Science Center Singapore is just the place to go!

I believe even adults would enjoy this exhibition, from anyone who has simply heard of these popular robots to die-hard fans of the franchise.

Unfortunately, two days before my sons Christopher (five-years-old), Michael (three-years-old) and I were planning to visit the exhibition, Michael fell and ended up with a cast on his foot. Naturally, I assumed we would have to cancel the outing altogether.

But Michael’s pediatrician at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital assured me that a stroller would suffice; there was no reason he should have to miss our outing, especially if it meant missing out on Transformers.

“Now you have a Transformer boot!” she told Michael as she finished bandaging the cast on his foot and as tears rolled down his face.

That same face was full of smiles as we pulled up to the Science Center and Christopher pointed out the huge images of the Transformers spread across the façade.

Bumblebee (left) and Optimus Prime (right) stand at a few meters tall.
Bumblebee (left) and Optimus Prime (right) stand at a few meters tall.


Blast from the past

Aptly named “Time Warp”, Zone 1 brings you back to where it all began. But even before you step back to 1984 (although, as I gently reminded my children, this was actually not that long ago!), there is a photograph opportunity and visitors can take home a souvenir, complete with a Transformers photo-frame folder and Optimus Prime or Bumblebee superimposed onto the photograph.

Photos dispensed with, the panels that next greet you next are filled with interesting information about how the Transformers evolved over time, with graphics showing you what they first looked like. While still recognizable, the older versions definitely fall into the “retro” category of cartoons and are quite different from their modern incarnations. Though Bumblebee and Optimus Prime are firm favorites with the boys, it was eye-opening being introduced to the many other Transformers we did not recognize.

Michael watching a video clip from the Transformers movies.
Michael watching a video clip from the Transformers movies.

The boys absolutely loved seeing all the characters, new or familiar, and were particularly amazed at the statues that were constructed completely out of old car parts. This served as a good teachable moment about recycling too!

As the exhibition incorporates the Transformers movies throughout the experience, it quite logically moves through various scenes from movies such as “Devastation Visits Chicago” and “Desert Skirmish”. But even if you have not seen all the movies, you would still able to appreciate the interactive elements that provided details about these robots.

Interactive family fun

Some of the activities the boys particularly enjoyed were pushing the buttons to hear the robots speak and using the activity cards to decipher hidden codes scattered throughout the exhibition.

Adults and older children can try their skills at the laser maze challenge located in a pyramid structure, modeled after the pyramids from the “Revenge of the Fallen” movie. If you have extra time to spare and your children are old enough, there are also screenings of the Transformers movies for your enjoyment.

Can't go wrong with a button that converts a sports car into a giant robot.
Can’t go wrong with a button that converts a sports car into a giant robot.

One activity that all the visitors seemed to want to try was the interactive screens, which provided endless amusement for the kids and onlookers. If you hold up an Autobot logo, the Transformer on the screen will turn into a vehicle. However, hold up a Decepticon logo and suddenly the Transformer will go all kung-fu crazy.

Another cool part of the exhibition is the light projections on the Optimus Prime screen. A stunning display of 3D mapping technology, it is not one to be missed!

For us, however, the 7-meter-tall statues of Optimus and Bumblebee were the highlight of the visit. As you round the corner it is breath-taking to see them looming over you in their built-to-scale dimensions. For Christopher, the best thing was being able to hold Optimus’ sword, which was at least twice his size!

Entertainment + science?

Do not mess with me, I have Optimus Prime's sword.
Do not mess with me, I have Optimus Prime’s sword.
Admittedly, before going to the exhibition, my first thought was that there was a very superficial connection between Transformers and science. Perhaps it was just another way to jump onto the Transformers franchise bandwagon and benefit from their popularity.

However, after visiting the exhibition and seeing all the varied technologies involved in the making of the Transformers and their world, I revised that opinion.

For one, who would’ve thought that there would be questions in the activity booklet such as “If Optimus Prime punches you with a force of 5,000 Newtons, how much acceleration will you experience? (Force = Mass x Acceleration)”? As an educator myself, it reminded me that characters made famous through movies and television are often a good entry point for young learners.

While most may be keen to go to this exhibit because it looks cool – that is actually OK. The cool factor is just one reason that makes the Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition a worthwhile trip. Once there, you’ll find it filled with many fun activities to engage and challenge the brain.


Asian Scientist Magazine is a media partner of Science Center Singapore. The Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition will run until March 1, 2015.

More photos from the exhibition can be found in Asian Scientist Magazine’s Facebook album

———-

Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photos: Cyril Ng/Asian Scientist.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Dorcas Tirhas is an educator and the mother of two very active boys.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist