InsideJapan News Network

Hollywood stars and giant robots were seen rubbing shoulders both on the big screen and on the red carpet in Tokyo as the new Transformers movie made its worldwide debut.

Director Michael Bay joined the movie's stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox at the Toho cinema to unveil the newest Transformers adventure, Revenge of the Fallen, to an eager public for the first time.

Also present at the premiere were co-stars Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel, sequel newcomers Ramon Rodriguez and Isabel Lucas, and a life-size model of the heroic Autobot Bumblebee.

Fox, who shot to fame with her role in the first film, said of the franchise's success: "'It's mind-blowing. I think it has opened a lot of doors for me career-wise, but there is a certain loss of anonymity, like leaving your house and having people take your picture all the time."

The premiere of the new film represents a homecoming of sorts for the Transformers franchise, which began life as a range of action figures manufactured by Japanese toymaker Takara.

Written by Jehan Ranasinghe


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