"Studio Series" Bumblebee (Transformers One) Toy Review

04/11/25

General Information
Release Date: April 2025
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.) - All preceding links are Sponsor/Affiliate links for Ben's World of Transformers
Accessories: Arm Blasters x 2; Sword Blades x 2; Rifle

Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com

• TRANSFORMERS ONE BUMBLEBEE (B-127): This Transformers Studio Series Bumblebee (B-127) action figure is highly articulated for posability and features movie-inspired deco and details
• TRANSFORMERS TOYS STUDIO SERIES DELUXE CLASS: This 4.5-inch (11.5 cm) collectible action figure is inspired by iconic movie scenes and designed with specs and details to reflect the Transformers movie universe
• 2 ICONIC MODES: This Studio Series Transformers toy features conversion between robot and Cybertronian car modes in 18 steps
• AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with 2 Energon knives, 2 forearm blasters, and 1 blaster accessory. The forearm blasters and knives can attach to each other to create "knife hands" on Bumblebee
• ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses
• COLLECT STUDIO SERIES FIGURES: This action figure toy makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan. Look for more Transformers Studio Series toys to build a collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)

Bring the epic action of the Transformers movies from the big screen into your collection with the Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class Bumblebee (B-127) action figure, inspired by the Transformers One movie! Transformers Studio Series toys are collectible action figures that feature movie-inspired details and accessories. Convert the Studio Series Transformers action figure from robot to Cybertronian car mode in 18 steps. Look for more Transformers Studio Series collectible figures to build a build a movie-inspired collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)! TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. Copyright 2025 Paramount Pictures Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Background:
Last year's Transformers theatrical film was the first animated movie from the franchise in decades. "Transformers One" focused on the birth and death of the friendship between Orion Pax and D-16 who would become Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. While not the biggest box office success, the film struck a chord with many fans with its beautiful animation and fantastic character work. One of the main cast in the film was B-127 (the future Bumblebee) voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. This of course meant a new figure based on the character's appearance in the film in the Studio Series line. Previously fans had a chance to get figures based on this design as a Prime Changer and an "Energon Glow" figure. Unlike those figures, this one uses the actual CG models from the film as its starting point like many previous Studio Series figures before it.

Packaging:
In 2025 Hasbro decided to unify the look of the packaging for the Transformers Generations lines. Studio Series boxes largely carry over the same design with rectangular boxes, though this year they feature plastic windows again! Like previous years the primary color of the boxes are black with the Studio Series logo represented by blue line with black lettering. However, the vertical Transformers logo has been reset to its original horizontal position, now placed under the figure. The movie the character comes from is on the lower left hand side and its name is next to it. The character art (in both modes) is where the vertical "Transformers" logo used to be. On the other side are a series of symbols including an Autobot symbol for affiliation, a callout for the 18 step transformation and "8+" for the recommended age. The figure is now almost in full view from head to toe since it is protected by a plastic window.

The back of the box features a section on top showing B-127 from the film with the "Transformers One" logo, his name and a blurb in multiple languages that says "Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Megatron and Elita-1 go on a mission to save Cybertron". Below that the figure is shown in both modes calling out an 18 step transformation. Below that is legal information in multiple languages along with the new "Authentic" Transformers icon. For Studio Series these changes are relatively minor and the packaging still looks great and I'm happy the plastic windows are back. It never looked right to me to have over half the figure obscured in packaging. This allows the figure to be mostly shown off.

Accessories:
Bumblebee includes five accessories:

• Rifle: When the combat really kicks in during Transformers One several Cybertronians are seen carrying a generic rifle. The weapon is thin and features a distinct shape that is narrow at the end f the barrel before widening towards the middle and finally narrowing again towards the back. The weapon features a 5mm peg on the left side and at the bottom towards the back. There is what appears to be a 5mm port on the right side, but it is not and does not hold weapons with 5mm pegs. This piece is made of grey plastic with no paint applications.
• Arm Blasters: While I do not recall Bee using arm blasters in the film, his hands transforming into a blaster is not a new idea. This has been seen in many incarnations of the character including on this figure from the Bumblebee Movie toy line. Both of these pieces are essentially sleeves that attach to the fists via 5mm pegs, covering up the fists and wrapping around parts of the forearms to look like the arms have "transformed". These pieces are made of gold plastic with silver paint on the weapon barrels and the base of the slot where you attach the Energon blades (see below).
• Energon Blades: In Transformers One Bee eventually discovers he can deploy (as he calls them) "Knife Hands" which are blades that extend out of his forearms that can slice through enemies (and doors) without a problem. This figure includes two of these blades. Each is designed to attach to the arm blasters. These are made of grey plastic with the blades painted light blue.

I think it's great to see a bunch of accessories included with this figure, but sadly it is missing one very important one: The Battle Mask. When Bee discovers his "Knife Hands" he also discovers he can deploy a "Battle Mask", essentially a helmet that protects his head from attacks. The moment he discovers the mask is played as a significant one in the film and Bee is more than excited about discovering it which is why I find its absence from this set so odd. My guess? Often these figures are developed well over a year before the accompanying film is released so changes happen in production sometimes without Hasbro knowing. So I'm thinking the Battle Mask had not yet been developed when this figure was designed. I'm also guessing that the blaster arms were in his initial design that Hasbro was given as reference. This is speculation on my part, but over the years there have been many examples of toy designs different from what is seen on screen due to the time frame of the toy and film developments not lining up.

Robot Mode:
Bumblebee's robot mode design is based on his appearance in the film after he receives his transformation cog. After receiving the cog, he gains new armor, new abilities and an alt-mode. The designers did a good job of mirroring the CG model with this figure. Here's a rundown of some of the best features carried over from the film to his toy:

• Head: The head features a "helmet" section based on Bumblebee's previous on-screen appearances. This includes a round shape, a crest in the middle and small "antennae" flanking the crest which are callbacks to details see on the live action movie Bumblebee's design. His face features a youthful looking face with a pronounced chin piece.
• Chest: The chest is formed (in part) from the front of the vehicle mode. It curves outward with a U shaped "collar" section in the middle. The headlights from the vehicle mode also goes across both sides of the chest.
• Arms: The arms feature wheels from the vehicle mode forming armor for the shoulders. The firearms features sculpted sections of armor similar to what was seen on screen.
• Legs: The legs feature narrow armor at the knees and large feet with the halves of the rear axle forming the ankles.

Bumblebee is made up of gold and grey plastic. The grey borderlines on being like a gunmetal grey but it does not quite have as much of a metallic appearance to it as it does on some other figures. Paint colors include light blue and grey, filling in details such as the knee armor the top of the feet and a bit of the chest. There is not a lot of color variety on this figure, but to be fair, that is true to the CG model which was just mostly gold in color with some bits of color here and there. All that said, I do wish a different shade of the gold color had been used. I do not think they could have 100% emulated the color seen on screen, but I wish it looked a bit more metallic like the gold plastic used on Buzzworthy Bumblebee Goldbug.

There are eighteen points of articulation on this figure. This includes three on each arm and five on each leg. The forearms have four 5mm ports, one in each fist and one on the bottom of the each arm. This allows you to attach all his accessories at once. I do wish the arm blasters had the ability to separate the blaster barrels so you could create the look of the character from the film where his blades are deployed but his fists are exposed.

Transformation to Vehicle Mode:

1. Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
2. Straighten out the arms and legs.
3. Lift each panel on the top of the forearms up.
4. Swing the hands into the forearms, then push the panel back into place.
5. Swing each heel piece under the feet.
6. Swing the feet up against the lower legs. When you point the feet down, it will reveal a tab that will attach to a corresponding slot on the lower legs.
7. Swing the back piece back and swing out the grey piece.
8. Swing the robot chest up.
9. On the robot chest piece is a small piece in the front, swing that in.
10. Connect the legs together.
11. Swing the legs up.
12. Swing the upper body back at a hinge that's right under the chest.
13. Connect the panels from the chest, back and feet together to form the top of the car.
14. Rotate each forearm so the bottom panels face out to the sides.
15. Push the arms into the sides. There is a tab on the forearm that fits into a corresponding slot in the middle section.
16. The arm blaster weapons can tab into the slots on the back of the vehicle. The rifle can be connected to either side.

Vehicle Mode:
Bumblebee's vehicle mode is a Cybertronian car. The curved design and large wheels wink and nod at his classic G1 Volkswagen Beetle vehicle mode. The way the robot feet stick out in the back makes it look like the vehicle has two large bee wings on top. It's a relatively subtle visual nod but I appreciate it. This mode does a great job of replicating what was seen on the big screen. The front has an aggressive looking set of headlights. When paired with the vehicle mode grille the front looks like an aggressive robot face. The sides feature exhaust pipes sticking out at angles and the wheels have beveled sections on the sides, giving them a robust appearance. Overall the designers did a great job with this vehicle mode!

Most of this vehicle is gold plastic with the grey paint used on the grille and on a "racing stripe" that runs from the front to the back of the vehicle down the middle. There are some smaller details that are unpainted such as the vertical rectangles flanking the grille and small thrusters in the back but overall the vehicle looks good!

Final Thoughts:
Studio Series Bumblebee/B-127 is a good representation of the character. The core figure itself is excellent, but I am sad that there is no "Battle Mask" accessory (or even better, a way for the head to "transform") nor can you have his "Knife Hands" deployed with his fists exposed. Still, the figure is good overall and represents the character well. Recommended with some reservations.

Pros:

• Excellent sculpt in both modes.
• Good deco.
• Good accessories.
• Fun and intuitive transformation.

Cons:

• No Battle Mask.
• No "Knife Hands" attachment where the fists are exposed.