Martin Li

    martin.mouse@163.com

    DECEPTIONS, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee … over 1,000 Transformers models and toys, ranging from handheld ones to giants 7 meters tall, wow children and adults at the ongoing Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo in Macao.

    The exhibition covers an area of 2,650 square meters and is divided into 10 interactive zones, allowing visitors to experience the exciting world of Transformers up close with sound and visual effects typical of the Transformers movies and TV series.

    “It’s so cool and reminds me of my childhood watching ‘Transformers’ on TV after school each day,” said a young woman, Huang, from Shenzhen, on Tuesday afternoon.

    Huang kept taking pictures of a 7-meter-tall likeness of Optimus Prime, which stands out from the rest of the exhibits. A 7-meter-tall Bumblebee stands across from Optimus Prime in an effort to steal the limelight. The two giant statues are said to be the largest ones of their kind in the world.

    While many visitors like Huang recalled memories of the “sound of transforming” from childhood, a man from Shenzhen, Zhang, said he was most impressed by the advanced technologies used to present elements of the Transformers at the exhibition.

    A virtual image of a 2.5-meter-tall Optimus Prime in the exhibition with the help of 3-D holographic projection technology helps bring the Transformers to life for visitors.

    Two big fans of Transformers, Mark Chan from Hong Kong and repaint master “Death Knell” from Shanghai, have their collections displayed to show how dedicated a real fan can be. More than 200 of Chan’s items and a dozen of Knell’s repainted exhibits created since 2007 are on display.

    “Although I can’t call myself a fan, I’m still impressed by these collections,” said Zhang.

    Besides the eye-catching exhibits, a theater is showing a series of Transformers movies continuously, which draws many children.

    The exhibition was organized by The Venetian Macao and FM Event with the support of the tourist office in Macao. It will last until Oct. 5 at the hotel’s Cotai Expo Hall F.