Transformers: The Movie Gets First-Ever Japanese Release in 2026 for 40th Anniversary

The legendary 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie is finally coming to Japanese theaters for the first time. Starting November 27, 2026, the movie will be shown across 30 Lawson United Cinemas locations nationwide, marking a historic milestone for fans who have waited four decades to see it on the big screen.

Originally released in the United States in August 1986, the film was produced with an atypically large budget and production scale for its time. Its stunning cel-animation visuals and epic scope captivated audiences worldwide, yet Japan never saw a theatrical release—making it a legendary “phantom” work among Japanese fans. The film stands as a pivotal moment in both robot anime and toy culture history, evolving the transforming robot characters born from Japanese toys into a global entertainment phenomenon.

Among its most unforgettable moments are the fateful showdown between Convoy (Optimus Prime) and Megatron, and the shocking turns that befall major characters—experiences that have been passed down among fans for 40 years. The movie is also celebrated for its embodiment of 1980s music culture, featuring rock anthems like Stan Bush’s “The Touch” and other tracks that captured the MTV-era fusion of film and music. Even today, these songs continue to be loved by fans around the world.

A Long-Awaited Japanese Premiere

Now, on the 40th anniversary of its U.S. release, the film will finally be screened in Japan. This is a unique opportunity not only for those who grew up with Transformers in the 1980s but also for lovers of robot anime, hobby culture, and 1980s film and music. To commemorate the event, a brand-new key visual has been created for this screening and will be used on various merchandise.

The Japanese version is a dubbed edition, and the screening organization is the “Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Screening Executive Committee” consisting of Double, Inc. and ePrint Service Co., Ltd. The film is distributed by Lawson United Cinemas, with cooperation from TAKARA TOMY and Hasbro, Inc.

Screenings at 30 Theaters Nationwide

• Sapporo
• Forte Miyagi Osawara
• Ashikita Town Ashikaga
• Urawa
• Unicus Minami Furuya
• Unicus Chichibu
• Iruma
• Niiza
• Satte
• Wakaba
• Unicus Kamisato
• Makuhari
• Terrace Mall Matsudo
• Aqua City Odaiba
• Toyosu
• STYLE-S Minato Mirai
• Niigata
• Kanazawa
• Toyohashi 18
• Okazaki
• Inazawa
• Agui
• Kishiwada
• Kashihara
• Kokura
• Canal City 13
• Fukuoka Momochi
• Nakama 16
• Trias Hisayama
• PARCO CITY Urasoe

Ticket and Merchandise Information

Goods-included advance tickets will be available via Lawson Ticket, and MoviTicket digital tickets will also be sold. Further merchandise details will be announced on the official X (Twitter) account—be sure to follow for updates.

(C) TOMY