Transformers save the day again

As one of the most popular Hollywood franchises in China, the Transformers movies resonated with many Chinese audiences, especially the fourth movie, which starred actress Li Bingbing and was filmed in several Chinese cities such as Hong Kong and Chongqing. This time around, Chinese viewers will recognize another familiar name in the cast — Michelle Yeoh, a martial arts legend who made Oscars' history as the first Asian female star to win the best actress award.

The Malaysian actress of Chinese descent lends her voice to Airazor, a Maximal heroine who lives on the Earth. She has the appearance of an eagle and possesses a spirit of sacrifice.

According to Steven Caple Jr., the director, Yeoh's powerful line readings have helped the design team visually define the character, with her regal temperament reflected in the elegant spread of the robot eagle's wings.

"Michelle was at the top of my list in terms of actors I wanted to work with. Although I was a little nervous at first, she turned out to be really cool and humble. She enjoyed every step of the way and was very collaborative," recalls Caple during an interview with China Daily.

It's an intriguing coincidence that the young director was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988 — the same year when the first Mandarin-voiced Transformers animated series began airing on the Chinese mainland.

"I know that the Transformers franchise has had many fans in China throughout these years, and I try hard to live up to their expectations," says Caple.

The director, known for his work on movies such as Creed II, grew up with the development of the Transformers franchise and was captivated by the Maximals, who first appeared in the 1990s computer-animated TV series Beast Wars: Transformers when he was 8 years old. He eagerly watched each episode and met up with friends after school to discuss how different it was from other cartoons at the time.

So, it was like a dream coming true when Caple heard that he would follow Michael Bay, the director of five Transformers movies, and Travis Knight, who helms the spin-off Bumblebee, to continue to tell the legendary stories of Transformers.