General Information
Release Date: July 2024
Price Point: $19.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Arm Blade, Blaster, Chest Panel
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon UK:
- FILM-INSPIRED 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: inspired by the Transformers: One film, this Bumblebee/B-127 Transformers action figure converts from robot to Cybertronian car mode for amazing 2-in-1 play
- 2 ICONIC MODES: this Transformers figure can change from a robot toy into a Cybertronian car toy in 15 steps
- 12.5-CM ROBOT ACTION FIGURE: in robot mode, Bumblebee/B-127 action figure is 12.5 cm (5 inches) tall. Stage battles from the film with other Transformers toys like this one! (Each sold separately, subject to availability)
- CYBERTRONIAN CAR MODE: imagine epic battle scenes with this Transformers figure in Cybertronian car mode! Great for children who love toy cars, toy lorries and other vehicle toys
- AMAZING ACCESSORIES: includes a battle sword accessory that attaches to the figure’s arm in robot mode and an energy sphere
Experience the epic origins of legendary Transformers robots with this Transformers: One Prime Changer Bumblebee/B-127 action figure! This 12.5-cm Bumblebee/B-127 figure converts from robot to Cybertronian car mode in 15 steps. It also comes with a battle sword accessory that attaches to the figure’s arm in robot mode and an energy sphere. The figure is inspired by the iconic character from the Transformers film, Transformers One. Film-inspired Interactive toys like this Bumblebee/B-127 toy make cool presents for boys and girls ages 6 and up. Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, once friends bonded like brothers, who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro. © 2024 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.
Background:
Transformers One is an animated theatrical film due to be released on September 20, 2024. The film features a core group of characters having an adventure before the beginning of the Great War during Cybertron's Golden Age. In the trailer we learn that our heroes could not transform until Alpha Trion gifted them transformation cogs. One of the Cybertronians to get the Cogs is B-127 aka Bumblebee! For the purposes of this review I will be using the name "Bumblebee" to refer to the figure since this is the more widely known name for the character. You can get an idea of how the character looks in the film by watching the trailer below:
The "Prime Changer" figures are a sub-line of Transformers One toys that are akin to Generations Deluxe Class toys but simplified. This type of figure has been done before. The Cyberverse line had the "Warrior Class" figures such as Optimus Prime and Hammerbyte who definitely would appeal to Generations collectors more than the typical gimmick-centric figures elsewhere in the line. That said, this figure is a bit smaller than the average Deluxe, measuring about 5 inches (about 12.7 centimeters) tall. The first wave of this line appears to have a revision which features B-127. I say "revision" because initially only Alpha Trion and Sentinel Prime appeared on shelves, then a couple weeks later B-127/Bumblebee popped up alongside them (but listings online are sparse at the time I am writing this).
Packaging:
Bumblebee's packaging is very reminiscent of the Warrior Class packaging from Cyberverse. The figures are in cardboard boxes (made of the robust cardboard seen on recent Legacy figures) featuring a blue and purple Cybertronian city as the backdrop. The front has an open window allowing you to see the figure inside. On the front is the vertical Transformers logo on the right and the Transformers One logo on the bottom. Above that is Bumblebee in his alt mode.
The left side of the box shows Bumblebee's upper body and another pic of his vehicle mode. The other side features the core four heroes from the film: Orion Pax, B-127, D-16 and Elita-1. The back of the box features the figure in both modes calling out a 15 step transformation. Thanks in part to the beautiful movie-based graphics, the box is gorgeous and I almost felt bad recycling it!
Accessories:
Bumblebee includes three accessories:
- Chest Panel: At a key moment in the film (which is shown in the trailer), Alpha Trion gives our four heroes Transformation Cogs. These fit into slots in each of their chests and afterward armor forms over these parts. This figure includes a chest plate which calls back to this scene. The way Bumblebee is packaged, the chest panel is not attached so you can see the Transformation Cog inside the chest. The panel then tabs over this section "completing" his erm...transformation after getting the cog! This piece is metallic yellow plastic (I hesitate to call it gold as it photographs as very yellow) and features light blue and black paint with a red Autobot symbol in the middle. This is a fun way to reference an event in the film and I really dig it.
- Battle Sword: One of the funnier moments in the trailer for Transformers One shows Bumblebee discovering he has small energy swords that extend from his forearms. His Battle Sword accessory represents this weapon. This is a plastic piece made of metallic yellow plastic with metallic blue paint on the sword blade. This piece attaches to his right forearm only via two tabs on the forearm. The left forearm lacks these tabs so it is not interchangeable. That said, you can attach the blaster weapon (see below) which does have two tabs, allowing you to attach the sword.
- Blaster: Interestingly the official product description above does not mention this accessory. This accessory appears to call back to the blaster that Bumblebee used in the live action movies. For those not familiar, in the film Bumblebee would transform his forearm into a blaster instead of holding one. This piece has a 5mm peg that fits into Bumblebee's left hand. The blaster piece covers the hand, so it creates the illusion that his forearm has "transformed" into the blaster. This piece is metallic yellow plastic with gunmetal grey paint applications for the barrel of the weapon.
Robot Mode:
Thanks to the trailers released so far, most fans can get a good look at Bumblebee both before and after he receives his Transformation Cog. This figure represents his appearance after he get the Cog complete with alt-mode parts on his robot mode. This figure is a really good representation of the animation model from the film. Key details include:
- Head: The head design calls back to both the live action films as well as G1. The helmet features a large crest in the middle with two "antennae" on either side of the crest, a callback to the Bumblebee helmet design from the live action movie Bumblebee. Unlike that Bumblebee however this one features a face and a mouth (instead of the "rebreather" detail in the live action films). This blend of old and new designs to pay homage to previous Bumblebees is a really nice touch.
- Arms: Each arm features one of the vehicle mode wheels on the shoulders. The parts of the shoulders that face front have circles on them that look almost like headlights. The forearms look like there is a layer of mechanical detailing underneath armor panels, which comes right out of the film.
- Torso: The chest features the front end of Bumblebee's vehicle mode, including a curved front section that has thin headlights sculpted into it.
- Legs: The legs feature blocky thighs and knee armor with legs that curve out to the sides and feature his rear vehicle mode windows The feet are trapezoid shaped with rectangles on top. These are all details right from the animation model, though the legs are a bit more narrow towards the ankles on the CG model than they are on this figure.
Bumblebee is mostly made out of metallic yellow and gunmetal grey plastic. Paint applications are done in gunmetal grey, silver, light blue, black and red. He actually looks very screen accurate thanks in part to Bumblebee's CG model not being overly complex in the color department. I find this look to be a nice middle ground between some of the aesthetics of the live action movies and the G1 cartoon.
There are sixteen points of articulation on this figure. That does not sound like a lot by today's standards, but two of the joints on the arms and the hip joints are ball joints, allowing for a good range of motion. He lacks wrist and ankle articulation, but given this is a Prime Changer and not a full blown Deluxe I can forgive that. As mentioned above, the weapons attach to his arms but if you want to store them away, attach the Blade weapon to the Blaster and then tab it into his back.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the weapons (if attached) and them it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the feet up against the front of the lower legs.
- Swing the back panel (which the head is attached to) back.
- Rotate the head around, then swing it down and push the back panel back in place.
- Swing the chest panel up to form the front of the vehicle, then swing the mid-body panel back.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Push the shoulders in, forming the front wheel wells of the vehicle mode.
- Rotate the forearms around, then swing them together. They connect together using a tab and slot at the wrists.
- Swing the lower legs up over the thighs, forming the sides and rear of the vehicle.
- Swing the back panel back, connecting it to the tabs sticking out from the knees.
- Connect the two weapons together, then attach them to the top of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Bumblebee's vehicle mode is briefly seen in the first trailer for Transformers One. His alt-mode is a Cybertronian car that is tear shaped with a round front end leading to a rear section that narrows towards the end. The designers at Hasbro have done a brilliant job of replicating the look of this vehicle. The front end is curved with thin headlights and a grille (which oddly look like a face). He has four wheels integrated into the sides of the vehicle with no gaps for a wheel well making the vehicle look like it was poured into a mold. The rear section extends back and thins out with rear lights on back. It's a very cool looking vehicle and slightly evokes the rounded shape of his future Volkswagon Beetle form (assuming this 'bee follows the path of his G1 predecessor).
This mode mostly shows off the metallic yellow plastic with black and gunmetal grey details. The Autobot symbol from his chest features prominently on the front of the vehicle while the rear lights are painted red. I was very surprised that the rear lights are painted red. The rear lights being painted red was a huge surprise. Normally with figures aimed at younger fans corners are cut to save money on the budget but the paint applications on this fiure show they really wanted to represent the character as best they could and I appreciate it.
All four wheels on this vehicle roll, which is nice as they are really nicely integrated with the car visually. As mentioned above, the weapons can be attached to the top of the vehicle (after you connect them together).
Final Thoughts:
Prime Changer B-127/Bumblebee is not exactly a Studio Series figure, but it's a really good stand in while we wait for one to be released. The figure approaches the level of a Deluxe Figure and is fun to play with. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt, especially for the Prime Changer price point.
- Good deco.
- Good articulation in robot mode.
- Cool weapons.
- Intuitive transformation.
Cons:
- I wish the figure had two blade weapons and a face mask, but likely if we see these features at all they will be in a Deluxe Class version of the character.
