Transformers Studio Series ’86 Bumblebee review

Bumblebee was starting to feel like the A-list Autobot that I wasn’t going to get after missing the earlier release. Years came and went with other Autobots getting re-released or an updated version with no sign of Bumblebee.

Finally (dramatic Rock pause) I got another crack at ‘Bee courtesy of The Studio Series ’86 line. I couldn’t get any pre-order in 2024 faster than this one. While the original release date was October (!), my affiliate Entertainment Earth kindly processed my order in July. Hasbro does not care about figure budgeting clearly.

Let’s take a look at one of my most anticipated figures of the year to see if he will be one of my favorites for 2024.

Packaging: Bumblebee gets the signature The Transformers The Movie packaging with the deep black and bold light blue and vibrant red lettering. It’s definitely an eye-catching presentation.

That’s even before factoring in the large portraits of Bumblebee on the front and sides. He’s number 29 in this Studio Series ’86 line — one that I’m pretty sure I actually have most of them.  Save the dying Autobots versions.

Bumblebee’s size helps in terms of just about seeing the full figure despite the tint die-cast window. I’d still like some protection for the figure, but I get it. Let’s save the environment and all. The right side of the package features a larger portrait while the right features a closer shot of him charging into action.

Over on the back, we get the usual text explaining the setting for this figure and a shot of both modes.

Likeness: Bumblebee is designed per his appearance in the G1 series/The Movie. Barring the usual concessions to actually make the figure transform, this is a pretty solid rendition of the animated version of the smallest Minibot.

The biggest changes are the top portion of the boxy chest piece. In the cartoon, it’s all one solid piece while the figure needs to have some of the transformable parts visible as they’re part of his windshield.

Additionally, the connection from his shoulders to his forearms shouldn’t have the visible connecting elbow piece. This is more of a function of enhancing the articulation, so it becomes a question of aesthetics or making a well-articulated cartoon Bumblebee.

For whatever reason his face seems somewhat pudgy to me. While most of the Transformers have neutral expressions, like Starscream I wouldn’t have minded an expression for Bumblebee preferably a smile. I do appreciate that Bumblebee’s head looks appropriately different from Cliffjumper with his frame and horns a bit rounder.

Alt Mode: Famously, Bumblebee transformed into a VW Beetle. I’m less of a car guy than I am a gun guy, but I’m pretty sure this is Hasbro doing a close enough to resemble the Beetle without having to pay for the likeness version.

The car mode is more angular than the slightly rounder cartoon version. It seems like it would be a pretty tight fit for Spike even as a teenager. All the same the details look good from the headlights, the bumper and the thicker fenders that offer some similarities to a Beetle.

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Transformation: Surprisingly, Bumblebee has a somewhat intricate transformation setup of 23 steps. That’s a fairly sizable amount considering his size. He’s no trouble to perform at all with a very intuitive flow that makes plenty of sense.

Scale: Among the original Autobots and second wave reinforcements, Bumblebee was the smallest and shortest. That’s what made his heroic demeanor so much more impressive.

He wasn’t so much bigger than Soundwave’s cassettes. In the Studio Series line he’s once again looking up at everyone besides Spike and Daniel.

Paint: For the most part the paintwork is solid. Yellow is a notorious color to get enough paint apps on something to avoid bleeding and paint matching. The latter proves a problem this time.

It’s the sides of his chest piece that cause the issue. The chest piece is cast in black and trying to match the yellow to it is impossible. Thankfully it’s on the sides so it’s not so obvious looking at him straight on, but it’s still disappointing.

Curiously, Hasbro’s TF team opted to paint his windshield black. The TF team has revisited some figures that had black windshields to make them more cartoon accurate so it’s puzzling why they decided to go old school here.

Cynically the notion is they released it this way for a more accurate release down the road.

His Autobot signal is nice and sharp with another logo appearing on his hood like the cartoon.

Articulation: Despite his stature, Bumblebee has plenty of useful movement and range in his joints for optimal Decepticon smashing action.

Bumblebee has:

• neck
• bicep
• ball-jointed shoulders [with butterfly hinge]
• elbows
• wrists
• wrist hinge
• torso
• waist
• hips
• thighs
• knees (double-jointed)

Accessories: Bumblebee just gets one accessory — his blaster.

It’s cast in a light grey and has good detailing. I’d love if the TF team could incorporate face plates to the figures for different expression options. Or a random throwback to the original visor release in Bumblebee’s case.

I suppose you could also include the backdrop from inside Unicron as another accessory?

Worth it?  I picked him up for $24.99. That’s not quite the same deal as even some of the larger Minibots and the lack of accessories doesn’t help in this category either.

Rating: 9.7 out of 10

I don’t love the mismatched yellow and am already leery of a double dip with repainted windows. For now, this is a very welcome Bumblebee in my collection.

Where to get it?  As you’d expect, Bumblebee is very hard to track down already. Entertainment Earth has an option where you can get him with Optimus Prime still.