2023 Halloween Costume Contest
Enter 2023 Costume Contest
 

Transformable Optimus Prime Costume

Rate this costume:

187 votes
46 comments  ·  add a comment 
Transformable Optimus Prime Costume

Standing

More views: (click to enlarge)
Photo #1 - Standing Photo #2 - Transforming - 1 Photo #3 - Transforming - 2 Photo #4 - Autobots, roll out!
Costume type:  Costumes for Men
Categories:Halloween Costumes, Movie and TV Show Costumes

This homemade costume for men entered our 2011 Halloween Costume Contest, and won 3rd place in the Favorite Halloween Costume nomination!

A word from David, the 'Optimus Prime' costume creator:

This is me in my transforming Optimus Prime costume. It was my attempt to make one that both transforms and actually looks like him (most are one or the other). The design was developed through trial and error as the costume was constructed. Any attempt to explain how this thing is built would be very long and complicated.

This costume took, among other things, two wardrobe boxes and eight or so rolls of colored and gorilla duct tape.
 

A video of the transformation is found at:


 

Rating: 4.7 of 5. Votes: 187

187 votes

Comments

#1 comment by Axel November 14, 2011

That's Awesome David, you're a genius! You've definitely got my vote.

#2 comment by LJ November 14, 2011

Lovin this. The transformation is amazing. Wish I was cool enough to pull it off.

#3 comment by Josh Weathers November 14, 2011

best costume ever! Because its two costumes in one because you can actually transform with this costume!

#4 comment by Sam November 14, 2011

He needs to win. He's just so shiny! Also, he probably needs some money to make up for all the duct tape he used.

#5 comment by Emalee November 14, 2011

This costume is so awesome!!! The amount of time and thought put into it is amazing!!!

#6 comment by Dave November 14, 2011

This was great--In addition to winning this contest, there's got to be some kind of duct tape contest to win too!!

#7 comment by Rachel November 14, 2011

This is an awesome costume!I wish I could make something like this. Way to go! I hope you win!You need to win because I have never seen anything like this.

#8 comment by Marilynn Perkins November 14, 2011

This costume it the most amazing thing I have ever seen. It must have taken him weeks to put it together. I wish I could have seen it in person.

#9 comment by Alvin November 14, 2011

Assolutamente impressionante la tua costume di Optimus Prime, sei propio bravissimo, complimenti David.

#10 comment by Clayton November 14, 2011

This is probably the best transforming optimus prime I can find on youtube!!! Apparently, my comment is too short so I must say more things that are superfluous.

#11 comment by James November 14, 2011

This thing is awesome David. I am impressed with your craftsmanship--way to pull it off. It looks like you rocked Brigham Square with that thing.

#12 comment by Jody November 14, 2011

Well isn't that creative. What an engineering feat. Would like to have seen it in person. Taylor would love it.

#13 comment by CJ November 14, 2011

I cannot believe this is a real thing. The youtube videos with you scooting around is the icing on the cake! I love how awesome this is. I can't even describe it any better than just plain awesome; I'm at loss for words.

#14 comment by Hannah November 14, 2011

Wow this is the coolest transforming costume I've ever seen! Must've taken forever, way to go! Hope you win kid!

#15 comment by Becky November 15, 2011

Wow! I have never seen a costume that can transform into another. Very well thought-out. It looks awesome in the pictures. I bet it is even better in person! It gets my vote. Amazing David!!

#16 comment by Scott November 15, 2011

Not only do you look like a transformer when you are a truck, but also when you are untransformed. What ingenuity it must have taken to create an Optimus that looked like Optimus in all stages!

#17 comment by blake November 15, 2011

Cool transformable costume. And duct tape is cool. This comment is not long enough. I don't know what else to say.

#18 comment by Ozzie November 15, 2011

Totally terrific transformer Great job! Hope you win! It must have taken you a lot of time to figure this one out.

#19 comment by Han November 15, 2011

Awesome Optimus Prime costume! I like it a lot! I can't believe you made that yourself. Hope you win!

#20 comment by David November 15, 2011

Thanks to everyone for the comments! This costume was definitely worth the experience, but I think I might tone it down a bit next year.

#21 comment by Xantix November 15, 2011

Impressive costume, great interlocking pieces, takes the cake.
Beware the Decepticons, they are sure to go after your costume, thinking its the real Optimus Prime.

#22 comment by Elida November 15, 2011

This such an awesome costume. I hope you win! I have never seen a costume likethis. I bet it took a lot of work. Your hard work sure paid off.

#23 comment by Natasha November 15, 2011

Perkins! That is seriously one of the coolest things that I have ever seen!! You have to win! The video of you transforming makes it even better!

#24 comment by Chevalier November 16, 2011

I love it. Is your Optimus Prime costum all made out of cardboard boxes? It think it is awesome.
I hope you win!!

#25 comment by Musa November 16, 2011

this costume is amazing, Dave you are an amazing costume maker.I am sure you will win!!I will not be able to do stuff like that, you are a geniooo!!

#26 comment by Adelaide November 16, 2011

Cool costume! My brother totally saw you transforming, by the way. Hope you win! Why is this comment too dadgum short?

#27 comment by Molly C. November 16, 2011

I'm proud to call you a part of my dinner group :) this costume was seriously amazing, you make transformers fans everywhere proud.

#28 comment by Richard November 16, 2011

that's a rockin transformer dave. you must have put alot of time into making it, good luck and i hope you win.

#29 comment by Delaney November 16, 2011

Can I marry you? Because this seems like love at first sight. I wanna marry someone just like optimus prime.

#30 comment by Katie November 16, 2011

I love how this costume actually transforms!! It is so unbelievable! And I have to agree with Adelaide's comment:)

#31 comment by Rene!! November 17, 2011

This is by far the most legit costume I've ever seen! This costume definitely does the Transformers justice! Way to be!

#32 comment by Jena :) November 17, 2011

Yeahhhhhhh! Nice Optimus Prime work! :) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Lookin great. Uh-huh. Nice, nice work.

#33 comment by Martin November 18, 2011

That's awesome, David

Love how it actually transforms, wish I could have seen it.
Autobots, Roll out!

#34 comment by Arlene November 18, 2011

We too are entered in this contest, but were absolutely amazed at your transformation. Incredible job. Sure it took a long time. Would love to see the video of you crawling that a voter referred to. My 10 year old son and 12 year old daughter were awwwed by your costume. Good luck in the contest.

#35 comment by David November 18, 2011

The other video can be found here:

https://youtu.be/YP0nR9ti4Hs

Thanks for the attention! Best of luck to you.

#36 comment by Elena November 18, 2011

Nicely done :D My roommates have shown your costume to everyone they know. That must have taken forever!

#37 comment by Amber November 18, 2011

Yes! This costume is so Awesome! So creative and cool that it transforms. Two costumes in one. They should be selling it in stores=)

#38 comment by Stephanie November 19, 2011

Dear David. You are super duper awesome, and this is the coolest costume I have ever seen in my entire life. I can't believe you made it by yourself! way to go!

#39 comment by Sean November 19, 2011

Dave, that costume is awesome! Or should I say "costumes?" Both forms are really, really good! Nice job!

#40 comment by Andrew November 20, 2011

Nicely done Dave! Impressive that the costume is functional in that you can transform into a semi! How many hours did you put into designing and building this costume? The attention to detail is great.

#41 comment by James F. November 20, 2011

This is impressive. It's not very often that you see a Transformers costume that actually transforms, even though that's kind of the point of being a Transformer.

#42 comment by JAY WEBER November 20, 2011

The costume is ingenious. It is common to see painted faces and such, but such an enginered piece of lovelyness deserves somthing.

#43 comment by My-Ha Dutton November 4, 2013

My son wants one.How do I make it.please let me know

#44 comment by David November 5, 2013

My-Ha:

I wish there were an easy set of instructions, but there isn't. I just got a huge pile of big cardboard boxes (wardrobe boxes and moving boxes) and experimented. I drew it up on paper and figured out the rough concept and then started messing around until it seemed to work.

A word of warning, though: this costume was REALLY heavy. It was fairly taxing on my back and shoulders to wear it for more than about ten or fifteen minutes at a time.

#45 comment by Lydia August 18, 2014

I love it can u tell how to make it for my grandson

#46 comment by Madeline November 16, 2014

I would love directions!

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