Bumblebee (G1)/toys



Bumblebee gots lots of toys!

Generation 1

 * Bumblebee (Mini Vehicle, 1984~1986/2001/2003/2004/2008)
 * Japanese ID number: 11, C-56


 * Bumblebee's original toy, released in 1984 and in Japan in 1985, transforms into a "penny-racer"-proportioned Volkswagen Beetle. He was available through the first three years of the Transformers series, the entire duration of the Mini Vehicle assortment.  In 1984, Bumblebee was produced in both yellow and red (as was Cliffjumper), though how this came to happen remains a mystery.


 * Bumblebee was released in a wide variety of colors in markets south of the border. In Mexico, both a blue version and a recently-discovered white version with a red face were released, while both metallic gold and gunmetal-silver versions have appeared from South American companies Antex and Estrella.


 * Bumblebee was reissued as a keychain by Fun4All under license from Hasbro in the US in 2001. Along with having its rear bumper retooled to accommodate the chain, the keychain form lacked the "Dunlop" text on the tires, and was also released in Japan in 2003 as a 7-Eleven exclusive. The Japanese keychain series also had a black "chase" version.




 * In 2004, Bumblebee was again reissued in Japan in a six-toy multi-pack alongside Huffer, Cosmos, Gears, Powerglide and Warpath, but this time with a cartoon-accurate head.


 * The original mold is also used by Volks. The keychain version is used by Glyph, while the new-head multi-pack version was used to make Bug Bite.


 * The Transformers Encore series released a package of Mini Vehicles similar to the 2004 package; this time Bumblebee was bundled with Swerve, Tailgate, Pipes and Outback. Again, Bumblebee has the show-accurate head.  This was released in July, 2008.


 * Goldbug (Throttlebot, 1987)
 * Japanese ID number: C-97




 * The Throttlebot Goldbug was released in 1987, and like the other Throttlebots, he has a pull-back motor and a simple transformation. The vehicle mode was not designed to look like a penny racer, as the original toy was, so its variation on the Volkswagen Beetle was much more realistically-proportioned.  Though the other Throttlebots seem to have always been intended to be new characters, Goldbug's head was based directly on that of Bumblebee's original toy.  Bumblebee was the second Transformer to be given a second toy (as both Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime had been released the year previous).


 * Bumblebee (Pretender, 1989)
 * Accessories: Pretender shell, helmet, large "sonic blaster" rifle, small "laser pistol"


 * As part of the sixth year of Generation 1, Bumblebee was released as a "Classic Pretender", expanding the range of Pretenders toys. This version of Bumblebee is still a Volkswagen Beetle, but now has what look like off-road tires. He came with a gun for his robot mode that could be mounted on his roof and another gun for his human shell. Oddly, the robot's head is modeled after Cliffjumper's toy head.


 * Bumblebee (Legends, 1989)
 * Accessories: "Laser pistol"


 * The inner robot to Pretender Classics Bumblebee was sold without the shell as a K-Mart exclusive Legends figure, but with the inner-robot gun to his teammate Jazz, who had Bumblebee's small gun in exchange. The Legends figure was also sold in a set with Legends Grimlock, Jazz and Starscream in Japan the same year.


 * Bumblebee (Action Master, 1990)
 * Accessories: Heli-pack, rifle


 * A non-transforming action figure that mixed cartoon model with toy-detail, Bumblebee's Action Master release came with a Heli-pack that transforms into a large "high-powered air rifle" with spring-loaded deploying barrel. This release makes Bumblebee the only character to have a toy of some kind available during the entire original Transformers production run (from 1984-1990).

Generation 2



 * Bumblebee (Mini Vehicle, 1993)


 * Bumblebee's first Generation 2 toy was a redeco of his original toy, but with gold chrome on the previously yellow parts.


 * Bumblebee (Go-Bot, 1995)
 * Accessories: Rifle


 * Bumblebee's second release in the Generation 2 line was as a recolor of the Go-Bot High Beam, transforming into a concept race car with exposed rear engine. He features through-axle construction for incredibly fast zipping on flat, smooth surfaces, and is compatible with many tracks and playsets from Hot Wheels and Matchbox.


 * This mold was also used to make Robots in Disguise Crosswise and Nightracer.

Smallest Transforming Transformers

 * Bumble (2003)


 * Bumblebee was released in 2003 in the Japanese Smallest Transformers line as a scaled-down version of his original toy, in both yellow and a "chase" red color scheme.

Titaniums



 * Bumblebee (Robot Master, 2006)
 * Accessories: Gun, display stand


 * Titanium Series Bumblebee is a small, 3-inch mostly-die-cast-metal statue of the little guy in a hybrid of his toy and cartoon models. He has joints at the waist, neck and shoulders, plus a removable pistol. He even comes with a little Autobot-sigil display base.


 * Optimus Prime & Bumblebee (2-pack, 2007)
 * Accessories: Gun, display stand


 * A Toys 'R' Us exclusive two-pack, this set features "Supermetal Finish" (read: shiny) versions of the "Robot Master" Titaniums Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.


 *  War Within Bumblebee (Cybertron Hero, unreleased)
 * Accessories: Unknown, likely display stand


 * Prior to the line's cancellation, a 6-inch resin copy depicting a transformable Bumblebee was seen at BotCon 2006. His alternate mode was the saucer-like car seen the Dreamwave's The War Within (which was itself based on the first cartoon appearance of Bumblebee). An alternate head of Cliffjumper was seen as well, indicating a retool.  Unfortunately these never made it into production.

Classics



 * Bumblebee (Deluxe, 2006)
 * Accessories: Wave Crusher trailer/backpack


 * The Deluxe Classics Bumblebee transforms into a yellow sports car (labeled as a "cruiser" on the package). The genericised car model comes from Volkswagen's unwillingness to license the Beetle for a Transformer. To avoid having to find him a whole new altmode, this version of 'Bee takes his design from a combination of a "hatchback" style car and a Bug. He comes with a single accessory, a jet ski called "Wave Crusher" on a trailer. This is a bit similar to his Action Master toy's transforming heli-pack.  In robot mode, Bumblebee is articulated with ball joints at the head, shoulders, elbows, hips, and has hinge knees.  Wave Crusher converts into a jet pack that mounts onto his back.


 * Later versions retooled the area the rubsign rests on to be larger.


 * This retooled version of this mold was also used to make Classics Bug Bite and Cliffjumper.


 * Bumblebee (Legends, 2007)


 * This Classics Bumblebee toy is a redeco of Legends of Cybertron Hot Shot, transforming into a modified Chrysler ME Four Twelve concept car. In either mode he has flip-out "wings". We have gone full circle.

Transformers (2007)

 * Slumblebee


 * Slumblebee is, as his name suggests, a plush Bumblebee toy based on his original Generation 1 form. Obviously he has no problems with articulation and passes the drop test with flying colors. You can transform him into his car mode (which is totally not a Beetle, as far as Volkswagen can prove) by turning him inside out. Truly he is a new zenith of cuteness.


 * Legacy of Bumblebee


 * A redeco of Classics Bumblebee in somewhat movie-based colors comes with his brothers from other mothers.

Henkei! Henkei!



 * Bumblebee (Deluxe, 2008)
 * Japanese ID number: C-03
 * Accessories: Wave Crusher trailer/backpack


 * Henkei! Henkei! Bumblebee is a redeco of Classics Bumblebee. His yellow plastic is almost entirely covered in yellow paint to deal with the common problem of yellow plastic being near-translucent against darker plastics and the inconsistency between bare plastic parts and painted clear parts. As with all Henkei toys, he lacks the Classics heat-sensitive rubsign, but has some vacuum-metallized parts: his hood-mounted scoop and his spoiler.

Universe (2008)

 * Bumblebee (Legends, 2009)

Alternators

 * One of the earliest proposals in the Alternators/Binaltech line was for Bumblebee as a Volkswagen New Beetle, with Cliffjumper as the redeco. Unfortunately, VW had similar concerns as Porsche, what with not wanting to be associated with "war toys", therefore the design never made it past the control drawing stage. Control drawings for both Bumblebee and Cliffjumper have been published in the Japanese Transformers: Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide book.

Attacktix

 * Bumblebee (Booster, 200?)
 * Attacktix ID number: TF06


 * Part of the second-series Transformers Attacktix Boosters, Bumblebee is a "Rare" 10-point "Specialist" that fires a standard missile. His Special Power, "Infiltrate" allows Bumblebee, after being defeated and turning up white, to be placed anywhere on the opponents starting line.  He also has an always-active power that lets him take a free turn if he defeats another "Specialist"-ranked piece with a higher point value than his own. Holy schneikies, he's a monster on the board.

Generation 1

 * Bumblebee Decoy (1987)
 * US ID Number: 26
 * Japanese Stat Number: 46


 * A tiny unpainted red rubber figurine of Bumblebee was packed randomly among the other 51 Decoys in the packages of 1987 Transformers toys. A larger, creamy orange version appeared in 11-packs of Decoys in Japan around the same time. It is notable for being the first Bumblebee figure to be based on his character model.


 * Bumble bottlecap (Kabaya, 2003)
 * ID Number: C-4


 * A tiny black-and-white figurine of Bumblebee standing atop an Autobot insignia bottlecap, Bumble was one of twelve black-and-white bottlecaps sold blindpacked in Japan (where bottlecap collecting is a popular hobby) by candy and snack company and frequent Transformers licensee Kabaya. One configuration of Pepsi Convoy's trailer is a display stand for the set.

Super Collection Figure

 * Bumble and Spike (2001)
 * Japanese ID Number: 5 (painted), 6 (clear)


 * A 3-inch PVC of Bumblebee with his best human friend Spike was released in Act 3 of Takara's Super Collection Figure series. Both painted and transparent versions were made in equal quantities and sold blind-packed. The PVCs were later sold in Hasbro's markets under the name Heroes of Cybertron, with this figure being called the Autobot Espionage Team due to the trademark on the name "Bumblebee" having been lost.

Robot Heroes

 * Bumblebee & Soundwave (2007)


 * Robot Heroes Bumblebee is another piece of absolute adorableness. A soft-plastic figurine that combines the cartoon and toy elements of the original Bumblebee with a "super-deformed" style, he is jointed at the neck and shoulders. He came in a two-pack with Soundwave.


 * This mold was also used to make Robot Heroes Cliffjumper, of course.

3D Battle-Card Game

 * Classic Bumblebee (2007)


 * A 22-point character in the 3D Battle-Card Game's "Energon Wars" expansion, "Classic" Bumblebee "transforms" into a yellow sports coupe, based on his Classics design. He uses the same parts layout as Side Swipe and Blackjack.