Transformers Animated Toy Review: Activators Bumblebee

Transformers Animated Activators are new transforming toys based off the characters from Transformers Animated. With each figure priced at $7.99, Activators are a cheap alternative to the default Transformers Animated toys that price at $9.99, $19.99, or even $39.99 depending on the size of the figure. With the lower price comes a smaller toy with a simpler transformation, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Transformers Animated Activators Bumblebee toy is impressive. Sure, it's a small robot that converts into a small car. But in the Transformers Animated cartoon, Bumblebee is a small robot that converts into a small car so size is not an issue unlike some other toys from Transformers Animated. While the Deluxe Class Bumblebee toy costs $9.99 at most retail stores, you can save a couple of dollars with the Activators Bumblebee and still have a good toy of the figure.
For those unfamiliar with Transformers, Bumblebee was among the original characters from the 1984 cartoon. With his small size, brave attitude, and a special bond with a human child, he was popular among the children viewers. Bumblebee disappeared from the later incarnations of Transformers cartoons but made a triumphant return when the Transformers movie by Michael Bay was released in the summer of 2007. In that movie, Bumblebee was a noted character because of his small size, silent but dedicated attitude, and a special bond with actor Shia LaBeouf. Following the success of the movie, the Transformers Animated cartoon brought Bumblebee into the little screen, complete with his small size, cocky attitude, and a special bond with a human child.

Bumblebee: Robot Mode
Bumblebee comes packaged in his robot mode. He is nearly four inches tall and primarily colored yellow. He has some black appendages and silver accents for detail. His yellow head features sky blue eyes, and a gray mouth with a tiny smirk visible. His body is composed of the halves of the car roof in his vehicle mode. It's a good little figure. There is plenty of articulation in the legs and arms that make for some excellent posing possibilities. The head can rotate but not in a wide angle. His small size actually puts him in scale with my another one of my Transformers Animated Autobot toys: Voyager Class Bulkhead. The only complaint I have is that the hands are not much. They are simply bumps shaped as hands hidden behind the door panel arms. Another thing to note is that the legs must be split to ensure balance when standing.

Conversion to Vehicle Mode
Converting Bumblebee into his Vehicle Mode is simple. First attach his feet together to form the front of the car. While pinching the front wheels together, lower his legs to make the hood of the car. Now from his back, push the rear half of the hood forward until it snaps together. Lock the windshield into the car hood. Now straighten the arms and fold them into the front to form the car doors.

Bumblebee: Vehicle Mode
Throughout Bumblebee's history as a Transformer, his Vehicle Mode has always been a yellow car and in Transformers Animated that is no exception. This time Bumblebee's yellow car matches the unmarked police car that Captain Fanzone drives in the cartoon, which resembles a Chevrolet Mini concept car. The Activators toy of Bumblebee measures a little over 3 1/4 inches in length and is the painted the same yellow as the robot. Details include a black racing stripe running off center along the length of the car, gray tinted windows, black tires with well-detailed gray spokes, off-white front headlights, and two small dashes of red for the rear lights. A silver Autobot insignia is stamped on the roof of the car. Also on the roof of the car is a little red police light, which an important part of the toy. The Vehicle Mode of Bumblebee is just as fun as the robot. It rolls well on smooth surfaces and looks like a cool car. Aside from the Autobot insignia, one could consider this primarily a toy car. Almost none of the robot parts are easily visible. This is unlike the Deluxe Class Bumblebee, where people can see the robot head staring back at them when they look at the undercarriage of his Vehicle Mode. But the main flaw of the Activators Bumblebee car form is the pair of giant black hinges on the back of the car. They really stand out like sore thumbs.

Conversion to Robot Mode
Like all the Transformers Activators toys, converting from vehicle to robot is literally as simple as pushing a button. In Bumblebee's case, the button is the red police light. Pushing it causes a series of springs to fold the car roof in half, which tucks the rear half in the back and the front half to form the chest. And in doing so, the head is revealed. The arms open wide in a pose equivalent to a child spreading his arms and pretending to be an airplane. To complete transformation, pinch the two front wheels and raise the rest of the body to form the legs. Split the legs apart and pose in any desired position.

When it comes to toys, sometimes simplicity provides the most fun. I'm sure every parent has a story of when his/her child enjoyed minutes of fun with a certain toy before enjoying hours of fun with the cardboard box that the toy came packaged in. Until Hasbro decides to sell cardboard boxes as part of their Transformers Animated toy line (which reminds me, when will the Animated Optimus Prime toy have a trailer accessory for his truck?), we have Transformers Animated Activators on retail shelves. It's a fun toy that won't frustrate children and parents when their children ask for help in converting from vehicle to robot. So pick up one of these little guys the next time your child requests a Transformers toy.

Recommended for ages 4 and up.