What Does a Statue of Optimus Prime Have to Do with Heritage in Bangkok? – by Alisa Santikarn
Earlier this year, something curious began drawing crowds to a quiet roundabout in Talad Noi—a historic neighbourhood tucked near Bangkok’s Chinatown. In the center of it all? A statue of Optimus Prime, the iconic leader of the Autobots from the Transformers franchise.
Originally appearing in the 1980s animated series and later in blockbuster Hollywood films, Optimus Prime is known for transforming into a semi-truck and fighting to protect humanity. But in this corner of Bangkok, he’s taken on an entirely new role—as an unlikely object of worship.
GloCo PostDoc Alisa Santikarn in front of the infamous Optimus Prime statue in Talad Noi.
In February, locals started visiting the statue not just for photos, but for prayers and offerings. The unexpected wave of worship began when a nearby bar owner, hoping to revive his struggling business, made an offering of engine oil to the towering Transformer. When his fortunes improved, he returned to perform gae-bon (แก้บน)—a traditional Thai ceremony to repay a fulfilled wish—by hiring Thai dancers to perform in front of the statue. Inspired by his success, another local business followed suit, celebrating their newfound customer growth by running 50 laps around Optimus Prime as their own form of gae-bon.
The story quickly went viral. Soon, Optimus Prime had become something of a local deity, known for granting wishes. But the attention hasn’t come without complications. Authorities have since posted signs asking worshippers to refrain from gathering around the statue, citing safety concerns and the risk of traffic accidents.
Yet the surreal sight of a Transformer-turned-spiritual-symbol stands in fascinating contrast to the deeply historic roots of Talad Noi. Just down the street is U Phai Rat Bamrung Temple (originally known as “Chia Khánh Vân”), one of the first Vietnamese temples established in Siam during the late 18th century.
And Optimus Prime isn’t the only Transformer with a history in the neighbourhood. Before him, a statue of Bumblebee stood in the same spot. That statue now resides just a 10-minute walk away, in front of the Holy Rosary Church. This church, built in 1769 by Portuguese Catholics after the fall of Ayutthaya, remains a striking Gothic Revival landmark—its current structure completed in 1897.
In Talad Noi, the sacred, the surreal, and the historic blend in ways that are uniquely Bangkok. Where else could you find centuries-old temples, colonial churches, and Autobots, all within walking distance?