Oh but I think you're right on the smiling face, I should say!

 

Glad this thread is back! Interesting that sites had to take down the official stock photos, eh? Hopefully it's because TT had to update them to reflect the more lemon yellow and blue windows of the copy seen at the show.

My only real annoyance with this figure is the heels. Would've been great if they could've folded cleanly up over the wheels inside the feet, but if I've lived with MP-21's empty forearms with taillights hanging off the back I can deal with this, too. I don't like the vans' hip panels or Ultra Magnus' butt flap yet they still manage to be among my favorite figures! It's good not throwing the baby out with the bathwater and still being able to love a thing despite faults. And there's a LOT for me to love!

- The colors! (that is, if he's the yellow, grey, and blue seen at the show   )

- Proportions! I especially love his larger head, legs, and hips compared to MP-21. Even the oragami'ed backpack seems smaller than MP-21's when properly folded up (as seen in that turnaround shot, not mistransformed like at the show). I was hoping the chest would be the actual car roof, but the slimmer faux torso has grown on me fast!

- Clean arms! Big improvement over MP-21

- Articulation! Deep knee and elbow flex, forward shoulders, ball jointed head, wrist swivels, hinged thumbs, and opening hands (even if the joint is above the wrist instead of the knuckles, but at this size it's understandable   ). Can't tell if he has an ab flex or, even higher on my wish list, upward toe flex (MP-21's was very limited there) - here's to hoping! Either way, this guy is going to be an absolute joy to pose! He already looks so cute, expressive, and fun to handle that he may even surprised me and end up a deskbot favorite!

- Alt mode! That chibi Beetle IS G1 Bumblebee! It's both cartoon and toy accurate! I'm curious to see Spike stuffed inside (if indeed he can squeeze in there), but even the opening doors add a lot of play/display value for me, and the interaction between Bumblebee and Spike was so much a part of the cartoon character! Love that the back of the car is modeled after the cartoon design! Hopefully the final product's taillights will be red, like they are on the lemon yellow, blue windowed show copy. And hey, it's even still licensed!

- Anime styling! Obviously a minus for some (very vocal and sometimes very angry) fans, but this is the kind of thing I've always wanted in my TFs since I was 5 years old. The edited down surface detailing with the seams, panels, and joints resulting from engineering and articulation providing real transformers detailing is something I'm crazy about from Ironhide on up. The humanoid proportions, the seductively curved thighs, flared shins, beveled edges, tapered biceps all make for more lively and dynamic figures. They look less like man made mech and more like cybernetic organisms from outer space.

- Character likeness! This guy does not have my ideal cartoon Bumblebee face or head shape (we've posted enough screen caps of what we were hoping for) and it was a bit of a let down, but despite his balloon head and derpy face he still looks like G1 cartoon Bumblebee! Still an improvement over MP-21's soft face edges and stoner eyes. Put another way, looking at 21 and 45 together, Gilvezan's voice is much louder in my head coming from MP-45.

I do wish MP-45 came with more accessories, but I'll be hanging on to 21's Exo-Suit for sure. Even then I love that we now have articulated, magnet footed Spikes with and without his helmet, Bumblebee's pistol from the pilot, and a laser blast! Also, finally his "oh shit" face!

Can't wait to put my two preorders in on Amazon Japan! Till all are one!!!

 

Although, I don't expect a lot of people were demanding a V2 Bumblebee, the biggest positive I see is the release of more MP minibots. Because of the success of the BumbleBee movie, it has brought a lot more attention to the character which hopefully will lead to more sales for TT and even a North American release by Hasbro. As well, TT might be able to reuse some of the parts in V2 BumbleBee for a Cliffjumper, Hubcap, or even Goldbug release.

 

Incredible find! That has to be the face they referenced! Nailed it!

Haha it's funny that I've almost forgot about his transform! Cannot wait to experience it! Should be much less involved than Sunstreaker's (whose transform I find enjoyable) - maybe more along the lines of Ultra Magnus' and the vans', two of my favorite molds to transform!

I also expect I'm going to love the feel of this guy. I wouldn't say that 21 felt cheap to me, but I love that there are no ball joints on 45. Hoping for some of the soft ratchets found on guys like Ironhide, Megatron, and Sunstreaker! Also hoping 21's loose backpack is a thing of the past and this guy is nice and stable  

 

Things I like about the new Bee......

1. The new chest shape/size.
2. The tampo autobot icon instead of the gimmick.
3. The chibi alt. mode
4. The hands
5. The legs
6. The less detailed arms
7. The new hip joints/waist
8. Maybe just MAYBE the head.... I know how pictures can make heads/faces look horrible.
9. Possibly the color too but that’s not clear yet, I always wanted a more white yellow than an orange yellow.
10. The possibility that means more mini-bots!

 

If they had used the real roof then maybe it could've been possible, but I think the robot chest is just too small here to allow that kind of flap. Would've been damn cool, though!

Also @Dean ML, definitely an upward toe tilt in this shot:



Not sure if it can go any deeper than this, but it looks pretty good  

Also kinda cool that the feet appear to have their own swivel:



Nice to have that extra option in addition to thigh swivel (and something they probably added to allow people to hide the back of the feet. Kinda like MP-10's beneath the knee swivel).

 

Eagle eyes as always! Yeah, that looks like that might be the limit of his upward toe movement, but that's more than 21's and still plenty to work with to pull off tons of expressive poses.

And verrry interesting on the foot swivel! It's actually something I wanted since I started collected MPs in '13! It was something I really liked on RotF leader Optimus as it really helped with posing, so I'm glad it's made its way here!

Loving these new laser effects 45 and Bluestreak+ have, the way they fit over the barrel. Much less durable than more snappable effects like Inferno's water spray. In fact, these look like they might be a softer plastic like Ironhide's flame effects or what's in the Siege line than the harder translucent plastic used on Megatron's light saber.

Gotta say, I love the neck on this guy! Looks like the same off-white used on his face in most shots and yellow would've been fine, too, but a big improvement over 21's black neck piece. Speaking of 21, you, me, and several others have been talking about a 21+ ever since Red Alert+ debuted, but I couldn't be more thrilled that we got this guy instead!

 

Alt mode looks great. Very reminiscent of the G1 toy.

 

Agreed! While I'd have been cool with an MP-21+, the arms, thighs and shins of this release are just so much of an improvement. I think overall the face is too - like you said, it's more Dan Gilvezan's Bumblebee than MP-21.

I also prefer the smaller chest, and don't mind the fact that it's 'fake'. I guess I never really saw it as having to be the roof of a VW Beetle, since in my favourite scene in the pilot Bumblebee looks this way but turns into a Cybertronian vehicle. As far as I'm concerned, having it be a 'fake' part makes my plans for a custom MP-45 which does turn into that Cybertron vehicle all the more feasible! Plenty of room in the backpack and on the heels for whatever parts I'll make out of styrene  

It's one thing I liked about posing MP-10 and posing MP-27/30, the lower leg swivel is very cool. I guess it's even more interesting that it's at the foot - this'll be my first time! I'm a foot swivel virgin  

Was just thinking how much more durable these effects will be, makes sense for such small guns. I kinda hope this effect fits over MP-21's blasters (and that 18+'s effects will work with some other guns too, since I pre-ordered two of him!). I'm sure we'll see it in all MPs going forward, which is pretty awesome. @Yaujta should be pleased by that at least  

 

I have found my home, sorry I did not mean to cause a stir in the other thread. Love the little guy. When can we expect pre-orders to open for new MP, specifically AJ? And thank you all for posting these amazing shots.

 

I think it’s been discussed before BUT I’m still hoping that the feet are mistransformed and can fold up better/tighter less heel.
I also love all the new accessories.

 

Interesting. On the previous pics it looked like the tail lights were painted red like in the toon, I don’t think this guy’s colors have been completely finalized yet.

 

Shin thank you for making this thread.

 

Now I'm not an MP collector and I'm generally against the slavish Sunbow MP aesthetic, but I think I made some positive words for this guy in the Wonderfest thread and I thought they'd fit in here. I'm not here to start any arguments so I put the negative criticisms behind spoiler tags. Hope that's fine.

Now I say I'm generally against the slavish Sunbow MP aesthetic, but that's really just a blanket statement so y'all understand I can appreciate parts of a whole that I'm not a fan of in the end. I LOVE the Japanese mecha aesthetic recent MPs have been playing, and I can get behind the pastel palettes of some of them too. What I don't like is things like intentionally miscoloring metallic surfaces white or distorting the shape of faux kibble just because it's cartoon accurate. (though I don't actually mind in Bumble's case and Hound will be mine, no matter the cost.) But I sure as shit ain't gonna tell anyone off if they like it. And from what I hear, not many others are fine with letting the Sunbow style fans have different opinions, which definitely would suck.

Back to Bumble, I love everything about the robot mode excluding the face and kibble. He definitely looks like a wonder to pose, the effect part is awesome, and while I don't like the misshapen Beetle mode, it's the best misshapen Beetle mode out of all the others I've seen... ...this was a very weird statement to say...

Honestly even though I don't have an MP collection, I'd be down for this guy if the windows weren't colored and well... thread rule #2... just as a fun little Bumble toy to pose and play around with. My opinion would be VERY different if I wanted to put him with Masterpiece figures, though...

 

Looks great from the side to my eye!


Gonna go put my POs in at AJ right now!!!

 

So, said this in the other thread but it kinda got lost. Am I the only one who thinks this guy might have rubber tires?

 

Can someone with better skills than I make a side by side with 21?

 

Maybe I'm just becoming conditioned, but yep, this looks absolutely fine to me, consistent with his peers! The heels don't even look bad here.

 

Thanks for the AJ heads up!

 

Hot dog! The side profile is really quite flattering and I think the main problem is he’s just not very photogenic.