General Information:
Release Date: November 2022
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Arm cannon
Official images and product description in italics below are from Amazon:
- STUDIO SERIES CORE CLASS: Core Class figures are 3.5-inch collectible action figures that allow fans to collect mini versions of iconic characters from the movie universe
- 3.5-INCH SCALE LASERBEAK: Figure features vivid, movie-inspired deco, is highly articulated for posability
- 2 ICONIC MODES: Figure features classic conversion between robot and licensed Camaro modes in 15 steps. Perfect for fans looking for a more advanced converting figure. For kids and adults ages 8 and up
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Comes with a blaster accessory that attaches in both modes
- BIG SCREEN-INSPIRED: This 3.5-inch Laserbeak figure is inspired by the character’s appearance in Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Studio Series has always allowed fans to reach past the big screen and build the ultimate Transformers collection inspired by iconic movie scenes from the Transformers movie universe. Now, the Studio Series line is expanding to include the epic moments and characters from the classic 1986 The Transformers: The Movie, bringing fans a whole new series of screen-inspired figures to collect! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) This Studio Series Core Class Transformers: Dark of the Moon-inspired Laserbeak figure stands at 3.5 inches and converts from robot to licensed Camaro mode in 15 steps. Comes with a blaster accessory that attaches in both modes. This 3.5-inch Laserbeak figure makes a great gift for kids and adults! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. CHEVROLET, the BOWTIE logo, CORVETTE and the CORVETTE logo, and CAMARO, are registered trademarks of General Motors, LLC.
Background:
In the third live action Transformers film Dark of the Moon, the Decepticon Laserbeak was sent on a mission to eliminate several targets. While on this mission, he infiltrated the house of one of his targets by taking on a form that looked like a shrunken down version of Bumblebee in pink and black colors. Of course, this was a way for the studio to recycle a CG model for use in the scene, but it created an opportunity for Takara Tomy and Hasbro to create a figure of Laserbeak in disguise! Back in 2017, Takara Tomy released a Deluxe Class version of Laserbeak in this "Bumblebee" disguise. Now in 2023 Hasbro has followed suit, creating a new figure that could have been used as Bumblebee first. Instead, Hasbro has made it Laserbeak instead! You can check out the scene in question below:
Packaging:
In 2022, Hasbro began to take larger strides towards packaging that would be (mostly) recyclable. That means eliminating as much plastic as possible. One of the earliest examples of this was last year's Origin Bumblebee release. The Studio Series Core Class figures continue this design philosophy. Instead of being on a bubble card like Soundwave, this figure is inside a cardboard box with an open window showing the upper half of the figure and a bit of the legs. The figure is tied down inside the box and you would have to work pretty hard to tear it out of there (and the weapon is also pretty buried in there). The box itself retains a lot of the Studio Series design including the black background, the title of the movie he appeared in (in this form, at least) and the blue Studio Series logo. The box has a flap at the top with Laserbeak's package art and a hook to hang the box on pegs.
The back of the packaging uses the red background seen on other Studio Series figures along with the name "Laserbeak". The box back also calls out the 15 step transformation and features the figure in both modes. Under that is a wall of text in various languages. Overall the packaging is a good compromise between the old "bubble/card" design and something more eco-friendly.
Accessory:
The weapon included with this figure is never actually used by Laserbeak in Dark of the Moon. This hints that this figure was likely designed to be Bumblebee first, but along the way Hasbro and Takara Tomy decided to use it as Laserbeak first. The weapon looks like the hand cannon that Bumblebee could transform his arm into in the movies featuring one large barrel with two smaller tubes attached to it. This piece is made up of pink plastic and is painted silver (except for the handle). The weapon features a 3mm handle and can be held in either of Laserbeak's hands.
Robot Mode:
Keeping in mind this sculpt is actually based on Bumblebee's movie design, many elements of that model are present on this figure including:
- Head: The head sculpt features the signature Bumblebee live action movie look including a round helmet section with a crest in the middle, round eyes and a mouth that looks like it has diver's mouth piece on it. He also has two small "antennae" on the top of his head, a callback to the horns on G1 Bumblebee's head.
- Chest: The chest is made up of the front of the vehicle mode, featuring the distinct grille and headlights of the Camaro Bumblebee transformed into and the Chevrolet "bow tie" symbol in the middle.
- Arms: The arms feature many details from the CG model including a "U" shaped bit of armor on the sides of the shoulders and circles on the sides of the forearms.
- Legs: The legs feature pointed knee armor and other smaller mechanical details on the ankles and feet that carry over right from the CG model.
Here's the odd thing about this figure. While many of the details and layout of the figure come right from Bumblebee's CG model (and thus the one used for Laserbeak's "disguise") his proportions are...for lack of a better term...stubby. His arms are not long like they are on screen, they're kind of thick and chunky. The same can be said for the legs. All the right details are there, but they look rather fat compared to what is seen on screen. I'm unclear on just why this is other than perhaps they were trying to squeeze a lot of details and parts into a Core Class figure that also had to get the approval of Chevrolet since this figure's vehicle mode is licensed.
This figure is made up of pink and silver plastic. The pink plastic is a much deeper pink than the one used on Movie the Best Laserbeak which lines up more with the pink used on the CG model in the film. Paint colors include black, silver, red and gold. The paint on the head is the most impressive, with the face painted silver, the eyes painted red and a tiny Autobot symbol painted onto the crest. You may wonder, why does he have an Autobot symbol if he's a Decepticon? Well, he was disguising himself as a "good guy" in that one scene and this is screen accurate. If you look at the robot head in the scene embedded above you'll see an Autobot symbol right on the crest!
There are eleven points of articulation on this figure. Many of them are ball joints including the shoulders and elbows, so the range is good. Each of his fists has a 3mm port, allowing him to hold the blaster weapon. You can also store it on the back.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessory and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing each foot up against the lower legs.
- Push the back vehicle mode panels against the lower legs.
- Push the lower legs together, then swing the rear leg panels up over the tabs on the cabin section of the vehicle.
- Swing the chest piece and head forward, then swing the chest panel up.
- Swing the robot head down.
- Swing each arm in, forming the front wheels, then swing the arms down, rotating the forearms so the bottom of the fists face outward.
- Swing the doors in, connecting the pegs on them to the bottom of each fist.
- The weapon attaches to the top of the vehicle.
I transformed this figure about ten times between taking photos and writing this review. Every single time (and I mean Every. Single. Time.) I transformed it the arms popped off when I tried to swing them in our out. I know nowadays using small bumps and notches to hold parts in is common, but it really does not work here. I would have much preferred a different kind of joint or pins to keep the arms in place.
Vehicle Mode:
Technically speaking, Laserbeak never actually transformed into a vehicle form while using his Bumblebee-based disguise. That said, of course this figure can transform and my guess is in time it will be given a new deco as Bumblebee. The vehicle mode is a licensed 2011 Concept Camaro. It has many of that vehicle's distinctive design elements including a front grille that comes to a V shaped angle in the front, a hood with a raised section in the middle and a small spoiler in the back. Small details include the shape of the grille and the "bow tie" Chevrolet symbol and the distinctive rear lights with another "bow tie" symbol on the back. Overall the sculpt looks great.
This mode is mostly metallic pink like the robot mode. Black paint is used to paint in details such as the distinctive stripes on the top and hood. A bit of gold is used on the Chevrolet symbol in the front.
Final Thoughts:
Laserbeak is a fun nod to a rather weird moment in Dark of the Moon. That said, the robot mode is rather stubby looking, almost like it was meant to be a Super Deformed figure or something. It's not my favorite "small scale Movie Bumblebee" figure but I do appreciate the nod to Laserbeak. The biggest problem are the arms popping off during transformation. I really wish they could have just put a pin there to make the arms more secure. For me that's a deal breaker. It's not a horrible figure, but I can't really recommend it either.
Pros:
- The metallic pink color is really vibrant and beautiful.
- Nice detailing on the sculpt in both modes.
- I am glad this Core Class figure includes a weapon.
Cons:
- The robot mode proportions are oddly stocky.
- The robot arms always fall off on my copy of this figure when I transform it. Parts falling off during transformation is a big disqualifier in my book.
