Transformers “Buzzworthy Bumblebee” Figures Out At US Retail

Nevermore

Won't happen. A toy named "Bumblebee" that is literally an insect would make the name descriptive. That's a big no-no in trademarks.

Wait, isn’t what he’s describing just your avatar? Bet you’re saying this just so they call it Nevermore!

At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if Kingdom Waspinator gets retooled into a version of Bumblebee that actually turns into a Bumblebee for this line.

Purple Heart

What the fuck are you on about the SS line is full of amazing figures.

Seriously. And I hate movie designs generally.

The line is great.

Gen. Magnus

The issue with your line of thought about Jazz is, typically speaking, licensing contracts are for a limited, specified character, item as well as for a specific time frame.

Jazz seems like a real oddity to me – as the main reason the Studio series line can justify it's higher pricing (perhaps the only reason) is the licensing – as with the toys being so poorly made, poorly painted, and tiny and kinda low quality doesn't justify the price of them. Sometimes tghe brand quality on STUDIO SERIES toys to me seems so low it's like a mentally put them in the same box as Cyberverse toys. They feel cheap to me by virtue of design, scale and how they get lost in their packaging – and well simply compare and contrast with the 2000's version of the same characters – they often come off feeling way worse.

So to me Jazz feels like a Studio series toy in that he's small and bland, but he also doesn't as he's not a licensed vehicle… the only real excuse the line has for being so poorly done as a line. I can't shake that feeling that I am being mildly ripped off and slumming it a bit when I buy a Studio Series toy in some way – even the ones I do like often feel off in some way – such as under decorated, disapointing articulation, poor product quality issues, obvious gaps in the body or missing accessories.

If the 1986 Movie line is an improvement with it's "almost Generations" feel I'll have to wait and see – but as a rule |Hasbro toys fall into two camps for me and Buzzworthy Bumblebee as a line is on the bad side of the equasion in that regard too. & Their Cousins in the Studio Series line could be a bit better toys overall I feel. They are not as undercooked as Cyberverse is – but neither do I often feel I am getting value for money.

Though I don't harbour huge resentment for the lines really as I've learned to be patient with the line as got everything I got on sale – as I really wasn't going to be paying 50.00 for something like Overload or Shockwave – when they had so many problems. The Generations inspired 1986 line at least feels a bit more substantial in some ways – The Buzzworthy line feels like something you'd not ever want to pay a premium for as it's below low effort and more in the category of "no effort" – almost like they put more thought into the boxes than the toys.

Or to be cruel about it if I was compiling "best of the year lists" I wouldn't be looking to closely at the Studio Series Live Action Movie themed lines for things to include on the list. (and no that isn't becasue they are Movie toys – I buy lots of 3rd party Movie toys too).

Astrotrain52

Who are these "leakers?"

Well I'd certainly be delighted to be proven mistaken in my speculations, but yes a lighter yellow toy would be very nice. I hope they don't do something weird though like sell a Bugbite repaint as Bumblebee.

I swear if I had a penny for every anonymous source, I'd be richer than Jeff Bezos. NAME THE LEAKERS

Robogeek28

Bye bye Glyph…. 

And Goldbug! What the hell.

Max Tower

It was something that was mention (somewhere) when they were discussing the Mercenary faction and the Netflix show Bugbite was mentioned specifically (at that time). But I've heard it elsewhere in relation to the select series toys too (same explanation).

But you can see for yourself – there is nothing VW related comming out anymore After Netflix Bee. Which makes me wonder if Bee isn't going to Transform into a VW on the show if they are not paying for the rights (thought the TV rights would be different from the Toy rights) and they can just leave Bee out of the story or keep him in robot mode – (or leave him with a non-earth mode) in the future I guess. (but vehicle modes seem to be a thing that goes missing on that show anyway)

THAT SAID I don't know enough about Contracts to know if they only have the option to request such a license for a longer period of time or can do it on a per produce basis too.

But I think that was the reason Masterpiece Bumblebee version two was shoved out the door in a hurry too.
But thinking on that it seems likely if the license has already lapsed and they didn't release a western version of Version 2 Bee (not that I noticed anyway) the takara led one looks like that is all there is – but it seems they are just selling the Takara ones everywhere now anyway these days what with Walmart or Target not interested in their own specific take on those moulds like TRU might have been one time in the past.

Oh but just because Hasbro's licensed lapsed that might not mean Tomy's has – so if someone wants a Glyph or a different deco MP Bumblebee one can't rule that out as I have no idea of the licensing status with Tomy, they could have secured the license for their toy car brands for example. Or got it in a bundle with a Porsche license.

Speaking of which that is also why Studio Series Jazz isn't an actual Porsche – even though he'd otherwise have been covered by an extended Volkswagon AG license – if they'd bought the full one and not just one for VW models alone.

So yeah Jazz – why not make him when you had the chance Has-tak – you really dropped the ball there.

———

But sorry I don't have any ready links to hand – i'm sure some poking about around Bugbite's name would show evidence what I was refering too as a source though. Even if the evidence of the lack of VW toys now is evidence enough anyway.

I wouldn't be especially surprised that there may be a deeper explanation to do with TV show lazyness to do with Bugbite using the Cliffjumper CGI with a Bumblebee head stuck on it – but don't be surprised if you don't see any actually Transforming VW's for the time being after Netflix Bee's release.

The issue with your line of thought about Jazz is, typically speaking, licensing contracts are for a limited, specified character, item as well as for a specific time frame.

mx-01 archon

He's probably just talking about a re-release to go with the Shatter that's already in the lineup.

I know. I'm just commenting on the mold's versatility.

BattleGurijiba

Buzzworthy Dropkick

SS-46 is a great figure for car-based Transformers. I could actually see them make a Bumblebee from that mold.

Dinobot Nuva

The Bug Bite theories were that VW didn't want the alt mode licensed for a villain (or possibly more generically, ANY character that WASN'T Bumblebeee) given the company's checkered past. Plus either way, those were fan theories and not official word on the matter. None of the usual suspects of leakers around here even commented on it.

If the license was expired they wouldn't be able to release Netflix Bee in the last couple weeks. Just because there's not more VW product that we are aware of doesn't mean that they've severed all ties with VW, that's not how this stuff works.

I didn't say they severed all ties – but they may be taking a break from to many expensive licenses, heck they may have signed some on other brands -perhaps they have a set number they allow themselves. It's not that hard to realise though they bought a limited duration product license to coincide with the Bumblebee Movie -it seems to have now lapsed.

If you want some more data points. Then there is the way his Buzzworthy Bee 2 pack looks like Bumper not Bumblebee in terms of altmode, and that his latest videogame appearance is back to not being a VW again.

But if you want to suggest a possible "counter point" to my contention then i'd say keep alook out for the tiny titan changer brand and what that does with Bee (if he's still a beetle in future waves). I can't also say a thing about if this effects those who made model/toy cars for the Bumblebee As I have no clue if they are a legal mess or not in terms of licenses for the Movie and the toys and the branding and so on – Bumblebee Movie toys may just stop pushing bee himself from this point – unless it's a Camero.

I'm not stating any hard facts here – just chatting around the plug hole.

RodimusRex

One of our leakers was implying that Netflix Bumblebee has a redeco coming in Buzzworthy Bumblebee. My guess would be banana yellow with a chest faction logo.

I know catz (also?) posted something about Bee being released in a form that Hasbro had never done that would get fans excited as a part of the Buzzworthy line – my bets/hopes are on the OG G1 Saucer Bee too. Here's to hoping Hasbro reveals the full line officially soon and we get to see!