Transformers Studio Series Bumblebee (Camaro Concept) review

You and I already know about Bumblebee at this point. He's one of the finest scouts in the Autobot faction, he's generally friendly with humans, and you can always expect him to get in and get out from a battle with him standing and his opponent down. Honestly, describing Bumblebee is like describing something you already know about. It was certainly something that would annoy collectors and reviewers if they bought any of the more unnecessary repaints from the older Movie lines. All they'd ever talk about is the difference in deco between each release, and at this point, I'm glad we've moved on from making tons of repaints for the guy. I'll always love Bumblebee, especially his Movie incarnation, but I and so many other fans want repaints to be creative rather than be one yellow character with altered paint apps. Still, when a new mold is announced, I'm always up for it, and this new version of the yellow scout is no exception.

This is something I haven't done for the past two years worth of Studio Series image galleries: taking a look at their backdrops! From here on out, I'll be covering each backdrop that comes with its respective figure. This backdrop depicts the scene where Bumblebee scans the Camaro Concept that coincidentally had his same paint job after Mikaela asked Sam on why Bee would be an advanced robot yet take the form of an old car. I like the inclusion of the other Camaro in the background, but you really can't recreate the scene because of obvious printed-image-on-cardboard-backdrop reasons. Also, Bumblebee doesn't really fit too well in car mode (since the backdrops were made for the robot modes), but of course, Bumblebee didn't transform until the other robots met. Worthy of note with each Studio Series figure's backdrop also includes the new Generations and Authentic labels seen since 2014 while the base has the name of the movie they're from, so in the case of Bumblebee, it says "Transformers".

Here we have Bumblebee in his vehicle mode. Finally, we get a 2007 Camaro to go along with the other Autobots in the team. It may sound a bit weird to say since he'll eventually switch forms in Revenge of the Fallen-onwards while Jazz dies, but it's still great to get this guy two years after the release of the Classic Camaro Bumblebee. This figure and the Masterpiece make me happy to see the "default" look for Movie Bumblebee after the single stripe of the AOE Bee and the blacktop and hood of TLK Bee both replaced the iconic stripes. Thankfully, this figure also doesn't get any details wrong, as the hood isn't the ROTF one while the stripes aren't the DOTM ones. Rims are also accurate to the vehicle seen in the movie, and they're also painted silver unlike the Masterpiece's. Of course, you get both a nice amount of paint apps on the grill and headlights along with a bit of small but helpful molded details, including the little turn signals close to the headlights, the door handles, the built-in antenna for the radio, and the rear-view mirrors.

While there is a lot to love about this version of Bumblebee, I have to admit that some of the panel-lines do get a little ugly. I also don't like how the yellow gets a little inconsistent here and there, between the yellow plastic, the clear plastic painted yellow, and the plastic used for the hinges. I kind of wish the clear plastic was made in a darker tint like with the Masterpiece so the windows wouldn't look like they're exposing any robot kibble from the inside. At least the yellow does look more accurate than the Masterpiece version, which had a brighter shade that wasn't really fitting for the character.

Much like with the first Studio Series Bumblebee, you can store the gun in the back with some tabs if you so choose. Also love how there are taillights painted nicely. The bottom section doesn't have paint, though.

Here he is next to the other Autobots, consisting of three other Studio Series figures and HFTD Ironhide (who is not a Studio Series figure, though this Deluxe figure better scales with the other Transformers). It's so neat to have a full team of Autobots in a pretty good scale, and in my collection, no less. All it needs are some color modifications for Optimus's blue (should have gotten DOTM Prime for his gold face) while painting parts of Ironhide black.

Here he is next to the other Bumblebees in the same line (sort of with TLK Bee). While the scale between the old and new Camaros doesn't look too bad, you can tell just how small they each look next to the TLK version. Not a bad thing since I do see Bumblebee as getting a little bigger when he gets older. Also, I should probably get Clunkerbee at some point, right?

The transformation is a mix between the TLK/Classic Camaro version of Bumblebee and the Volkswagen Beetle version of the character while also having steps of its own. Obviously, the front tires do open up to go behind the shoulders, a faux chest behind the vehicle mode's chest, and the arms come from underneath the altmode, as do most Bumblebee toys in recent years. However, this guy has a few tricks up his sleeves. The arms are part of the inner pieces of the toy rather than the front of the altmode, the stomach guard is part of the waist rather than attached to the front of the car, and the doors are on double hinges rather than on one hinge. The faux chest does not consist of being behind the real grill with hinges that slant the lights in the deformed look that make the figure accurate; the lights swivel 180 degrees downwards to match up with the new faux chest, resulting in a thinner appearance than other Bees. The waist swivel's use in the transformation is carried over from the VW version of Bumblebee, but the legs trans similarly to the TLK/SS-01 Bee. The shins are not on hinges but are instead on ball-joints, which leads to them swiveling down in robot mode position. The result of the waist swivel and the swiveling thighs used for the transformation means the tires face out and the rear windshield halves face the inside. Also, the wings and front wheels hinge upward, while the hand hinges are replaced with arm guards that help bulk the robot mode's arms, and the high guards hinge in place rather than have a slight swivel and a hinge.

The robot mode is certainly accurate to his appearance in MV1. The arms look a lot more proportionate of the character thanks to the forearms not looking thin while the shoulder pads have some nicely sculpted details complemented with paint (compared to the first Deluxe's shoulders). The chest is now proportioned correctly, without being too wide as seen with the previous Deluxes. There are also no signs of real paint discrepancies in this mode when it comes to the yellow parts aside from the feet's yellow paint on black plastic. The torso also includes some of the collar pieces that no other Bumblebee toy ever had aside from the Masterpiece version (albeit these are unpainted gray). The oddities with the toy's upper torso include the wheels sticking out a little too much and the real car grille sticking out even more than with either Bumblebee. I also wish the elbow ball joints won't stick out too much, though painting them would be a little too tight (while making them gray would have to make the yellow painted on). The legs, on the other hand, are much thinner than with Classic Camaro and TLK Bumblebee. Not a terrible thing for an agile scout, but it does leave him in a state of skipping leg day. The legs do look bulky from the sides, and seeing the wheels face out may not be accurate, but it was a thing most Bumblebees did until the new AOE figure-onwards (at least these wheels don't stick out badly). Also from the side, the stomach guard is noticeably far back compared to the chest, and a bit more than other versions of the character. The back has an even bigger backpack than it was with other Bumblebees, though at least the wings look properly angled. This Bee's headsculpt is decently executed, though it does mean being a molded head doesn't let you reveal a proper face. At least the eye guards are nicely sculpted, and the paint isn't blobby either. The Autobot insignia looks fairly crisp, though looking up close, the Autobot insignia does look more like the normal one rather than the proper "angry eyes" Movie version. Some extra paint is needed, but everything else works well.

Articulation is about the same as with the other Bumblebees, with a few differences here and there. Head is on a ball joint, letting him look around fairly well. Shoulders are on ball joints, and even with the bigger shoulder pads, they have the same range as normal Bumblebees. The ball-jointed elbow means the forearm can both bend and swivel with it. No wrist hinges are included, a first for this line. Waist can swivel, though it's noticeably tighter than normal, and the spine piece holding the parts of this toy feels thinner than the other Bumblebees, to the point where it feels like it'll slightly bend. I've never had any Bumblebee figure do something like that in the Studio Series line, and that flexing spine worries me. It's bad enough the SS-01 Bee had problems with the clear tabs used to (barely) hold the roof to the hood (with one of the pieces also snapping off and forcing me to glue it), but this kind of makes me question making Bumblebee at the size he is (as in height, not being a Deluxe). Ball joints are used for the hips, thigh swivels above the knees, which bend a little higher than they normally do. The ankles don't hinge up and down like on the previous Camaro Bees, but you can have them pivot sideways.

The gun can be held by his hand as opposed to switching the right forearms. This does mean that your figure will still remain complete even without the cannon, though the arm cannon now doesn't have that "transformed out of his forearm" look. For example, the hand is exposed!

The gun can also be stored on his back, though it looks more amateur compared to the other plasma cannons of the Camaro Bumblebees seen in TLK and Classic Camaro.

In terms of reuses, Bumblebee only has a version with the ROTF tooling. This guy looks pretty solid in car mode, but his robot mode looks a bit worst due to the gray plastic looking more like it's prototype-esque and inconsistent than with the original. Also, he's got a Sam Witwicky figurine made in a running pose. I got him because he's easy to get and it'd justify getting another form of Bumblebee.

Another version of the character popped up in 2022, now based on his appearance in DOTM with some new tooling for not just the rims and front section, but also the inner chest, the hood, and the rear section, especially with the spoiler. His gunmetal gray plastic looks great, but I wish his head had the Autobot insignia, at least. This is the first version of the mold to not feature the battle mask.

And rounding off the 15th anniversary 5-pack in terms of figure ID number, Bumblebee is kind of the weakest figure in the set due to the removed paint apps, light grey plastic on the rims and gun, and the quality control being rough as hell in terms of his loose hips. The darker windows look nice, but if he had a bit more polish, I'd like him more than the regular one.

Here we have Bumblebee next to the other Autobots that costarred with him in Transformers. Finally, after not having the original toys since 2007 and trying some attempt at making a scale with the ROTF and DOTM toys, I finally have the MV1 team in an accurate scale. Some may say it's not 100% perfect, as Ironhide should be a little shorter and Optimus a little taller, but for the most part, it works very well.

All this crew needs is a small amount of customizing skills to make them look even better.

Here we have Bumblebee next to some of the other Studio Series Bumblebees I own. Yes, TLK Bumblebee isn't really a Studio Series figure, but he was reused in the line, so I'm counting him. I also play on getting the Bumblejeep figure in the line, (even if I hate the solo flick, I love the Jeep design he takes form of). Bee's about the same height as the Classic Camaro version, both are taller than the Beetle version, and they're all shorter than either the WWII version and the TLK figure. I kind of wonder how the other versions of the character will work in this line, assuming we'll get ROTF Bee and DOTM Bee in the near future (don't forget High Octane and a 2014 Camaro retool of Stinger). While I do like the proportions of the new Bumblebee, I have to admit I wish he was as tall as the TLK version.

Finally, you can actually swap out the heads between Classic and Concept Bee. I actually want to get Clunkerbee so he can have his normal head (as he has never deployed his mask during the movie in this mode). You can definitely tell how different the engineering is between both figures, what with the way their chests work, what's used for their arms, and the configurations for the legs. 2020 Bumblebee's honestly a good take on the character, though I will say that it's not without its faults. The toy's altmode looks great despite the slight color discrepancies. The spine piece flexing slightly should not happen on a toy like this. I also wish the wheels wouldn't stick out like they do now. Finally, the gun looks less effective when held by his hand. The bright spots include the accurate proportions for the chest and arms, the accuracy of the alt mode, the new head (and the ability to swap it), the way the wings work, and the unaffected nature of the articulation. I recommend this guy to add to your MV1 display, even if there are some things that bother me.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐