Bumblebee (AKA Bee, ZB-7, B-127) is the one of the deuteragonists (alongside Mikaela Banes, Carly Spencer, Tessa Yeager and Viviane Wembly) in the Transformers live-action film series and the titular protagonist of the 2018 Reboot/Spin-off film, Bumblebee. He is one of Optimus Prime's most trusted lieutenants. Although he is not the strongest or most powerful of the Autobots, Bumblebee more than makes up for this with a bottomless well of luck, determination and bravery. He would gladly give his life to protect others and stop the Decepticons.
He was voiced by Dylan O'Brien.
Origins[]
Bumblebee appears as one of the main Autobot characters in the live-action Transformers film series and the protagonist of his own film Bumblebee. He retains some elements from his Generation 1 design, such as the horn-like pieces in his head, which are articulated in the films. Bumblebee was given a different alternate mode from his original G1 incarnation; instead of a Volkswagen Beetle, he transforms into a rally yellow[1] Chevrolet Camaro (the model year of which is upgraded in the first film). Director Michael Bay states in the special features of disc two of the first film's DVD release, that the change of Bumblebee's alternate mode was due to the fact that a Volkswagen Beetle reminded him of Herbie. Due to a battle injury, he is rendered effectively mute, and communicates through use of selected playback of radio and television signals. Though his original voice is restored at the end of the first Transformers film, he communicates solely through his radio in Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction. The biography for the Decepticon Hardtop figure states that he and Bumblebee are old rivals, and it was not Megatron who damaged Bumblebee's vocal processor, but a shot from Hardtop's gun. This is in almost direct opposition of the film's prequel.
Bumblebee is voiced by Mark Ryan in the films, but he mostly speaks with the radio, having had his voice processor damaged (through his actual voice squeaks and whines laboriously throughout the film series). He also speaks the quotes from various television shows and movies, in a way similar to Wreck-Gar from the 1986 film and the season three of the G1 cartoon series. Screenwriter Roberto Orci explained that he regained his voice through the regenerative laser that Ratchet fires at his neck as they meet, and it eventually works by the end of the film, in which he agreed that this was not made clear.[2] Another possibility could be that his voice is healed by AllSpark, but was not mentioned in the film. The producers said that they made him as mute, to show that his bond with Sam went beyond words.
Bay stated in an early interview that Bumblebee stands about 17.5 feet tall (5.33 m),[3] but the official guide to the Transformers video game says he is 16 feet tall (4.88 m).
The vehicles used for Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet were put on display by General Motors at the 2007 Detroit River Walk Festival a little over a week before the U.S. release of the film.[4]
In Hot Rod magazine's Nov. 2006 issue, Bumblebee was a feature article. Originally a worn-out 1969 Camaro, producers settled on a 1977 model.[5] It is painted yellow with black stripes, primer and rust patches, riveted hood scoop, Cragar SS wheels up front, Eric Vaughn Real Wheels in the back, marine-grade vinyl seats, and even an eight-track player. The Camaro Concept model was built using a 2005 Holden Monaro by Saleen, with the body built from the same GM R&D molds that were used in the original 2006 Camaro Concept (the Monaro and Camaro share the same Zeta platform). Bumblebee is armed with a plasma cannon that is capable of selective fire. The 1977 Camaro movie vehicle was sold on eBay with a winning bid of U.S. $40,100.01.
As a tribute to the original form of Bumblebee, a yellow Volkswagen Beetle appears next to him at the car dealership. Bumblebee damages the Beetle in order to ensure that Sam purchases him. He also has a bee-shaped air freshener attached to his rear-view mirror with the words "Bee-otch". The air freshener was the subject of a lawsuit for $850,000 due to its alleged resemblance to another design.[6]
Since his conversion from 1977 Camaro to 2006 Camaro Concept, Bumblebee's alternate mode continues to evolve throughout the film series.
Transformers (2007)[]
In Transformers, Bumblebee appears as a dilapidated 1977 Chevrolet Camaro who is appointed as guardian for Sam Witwicky because he owns the glasses of his great-grandfather and explorer, Archibald Witwicky, containing the coordinates showing the location of the AllSpark. After Sam and his father buy it, he comes to their house, only to drive away from them to summon other Autobots. After Sam sees a police car transform into Decepticon Barricade, Bumblebee rescues him and his love crush, Mikaela Banes. After fighting with Barricade and Frenzy, he soon transforms into a 2006 Camaro concept. He soon meets the Autobots and their leader Optimus Prime, revealing their history and Bumblebee having the damaged voice. They retrieve the glasses, but are soon captured by a secret government organization Sector 7. After going to Hoover Dam, the secret Sector 7 base, Bumblebee is released and participates in the battle against Decepticons and their leader, Megatron. Following the battle, he stays with Sam and Mikaela as a guardian and friend and also having apparently repaired his voice (although he still uses the radio in the sequels, suggesting that his voice was not repaired fully).
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)[]
In Revenge of the Fallen, he sports a different set of alloy wheels (in the first two films they are actually hubcaps made from composite to look like a set of wheel-disc brakes[7]) and a custom front bumper. It also comes with a unique Chevrolet logo design with red outlines in it, and redesigned foglights.
In the film, he is still a guardian to Sam Witwicky, but the latter says to him that Sam doesn't want protection and that he wants his own life and future. After the Decepticons lead by The Fallen put Sam in danger, Bumblebee is forced to rescue him. The revived Megatron and his comrades kill Optimus Prime; he, his comrade Autobots and human allies are trying to find a way to stop The Fallen. They soon discover the existence of Jetfire (a former Decepticon), who reveals the Matrix of Leadership, hidden in Egypt, as a key to revive Optimus Prime. After finding it, they rendezvous with other Autobots and the American NEST army to revive Optimus Prime. During the battle he kills Ravage. Optimus Prime is revived, then fights and kills The Fallen.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)[]
For Dark of the Moon (now a Camaro SS), his color changes from yellow to amber with thicker black stripes that run across his hood, roof and trunk. In addition, he has dark-colored rims and side mirrors, as well as a rear spoiler. Also in the film, he has a stealth battle mode in which he can use his weapons in car mode without fully transforming and still being able to seat a driver and passengers.[8]
In the film, Bumblebee no longer lives with Sam, and goes on the missions with the Autobots and human allies to find other Decepticons around the world. Bumblebee once again reunites with Sam after the latter comes with Carly and two Autobots, Wheelie and Brains, to the army base. When Sentinel Prime betrays the Autobots, he goes to battle against the Decepticons. This battle is stopped when Sentinel Prime (in alliance with Megatron) declares an ultimatum to the American government to banish the Autobots from Earth in exchange for peace. Apparently banished and killed by the Decepticons, the Autobots emerge alive and participate in the battle in Chicago, destroying the space bridge to bring Cybertron to Earth and killing Sentinel and Megatron.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)[]
In Age of Extinction, he transforms into a modified 1967 Chevrolet Camaro to avoid being hunted down by the mercenaries of Cemetery Wind. This design sports just a yellow front bumper and a rear spoiler and this vehicle is looking similar to the Dodge Hellcat.
As the Autobots storm the headquarters of KSI he scans a 2014 Camaro concept with an all-new look, with some major changes, now including a new front look with some advanced lamps including a dove black front bumper, black-long sideskirts, and new black rims. This time, there is only one stripe on the hood and a back license plate that says "900 STRA".
Five years after the battle in Chicago, Bumblebee and his surviving comrades are hiding in secrecy following the hunt by Cemetery Wind (a CIA rogue unit) and former Decepticon and bounty hunter Lockdown. He mostly doesn't speak in the film, relies on radio communication, but is hinted that his voice box is healing. Following the battle in Hong Kong, he assumes the leadership after Optimus Prime leaves in space to search the mysterious Creators.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)[]
In The Last Knight, he leads the Autobots and displays the ability to separate and reassemble himself during the combat, as shown in fight against TRF soldiers to protect Cade Yeager. When Bumblebee comes in London, England, he is revealed by Sir Edmund Burton that he helped the United States Army Air Force to fight against the Nazis in World War II and transformed into a Mercedes-Benz 770, although Bumblebee doesn't remember this event and his service, and it was retconned in his own movie. When Optimus Prime is brainwashed by Quintessa, Optimus fights on the ship with Bumblebee, the latter regaining his voice, enabling Optimus to remember him and his allies. Bumblebee participates in the final battle on Stonehenge to prevent Quintessa's plans to bring Cybertron on Earth, in addition to kill Unicron on that planet as well. He and Optimus kill Quintessa, although she is revealed to be alive at the end of the film.
Bumblebee (2018)[]
Bumblebee is the main protagonist of the spin-off film of the same name. Designated as B-127, he first appears in Cybertron with comrades, including Optimus Prime. B-127 is forced to retreat and travel to Earth by Prime's order after Decepticon battalion overwhelms them. Upon crash-landing on Earth in the forest, he is intercepted and hunted by Sector Seven forces, led by Jack Burns. Decepticon Seeker Blitzwing, arrives and captures B-127, demanding the location of his comrades. B-127 refuses and Blitzwing rips his voice synthesizer. Before he is executed, the B-127 jams Blitzwing's own missile and directs in his chest, killing him. With his memory cells severely damaged, B-127 scans a yellow Volkswagen Beetle before entering stasis.
Teenage girl Charlie Watson finds B-127 in junkyard, and attempting to repair the vehicle unknowingly activates homing signal. Initially scared when discovering the car as an alien robot, they soon develop a friendship. She calls him Bumblebee, finding the sound of his voice similar to the eponymous insect. Two Decepticons, Shatter and Dropkick, already nearby on a moon of Saturn track it to Earth.
Working with Sector Seven, Shatter and Dropkick discover and capture Bumblebee. Tortured for information about his comrades, they discover a message from Optimus Prime about retreating from Cybertron and going to Earth with other Autobots. They in turn send the message to Decepticons to enable the invasion on Earth. After leaving him for dead, Charlie uses Sector Seven's high voltage guns to revive him, restoring his memories. Trying to escape the Sector Seven forces as well, Bumblebee finally confronts and kills the two Decepticons and destroys the communication tower to prevent the message sent for other Decepticons and their invasion. Having saved Jack Burns from the Deceptions he stops chasing Bumblebee. After the battle, Bumblebee and Charlie say goodbye. Before driving off, he scans and transforms into a 1977 Camaro, and drive-off alongside the disguised Optimus Prime, to find more Autobots.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)[]
Bumblebee returns as one of the supporting protagonists in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which is set in 1994 and is a sequel to Bumblebee. In the film, Bumblebee is killed by Scourge in his battle to steal the Transwarp Key, an artifact capable of allowing his master, Unicron, to travel to Earth. When the Autobots arrive at a village in Peru, Bumblebee is laid to rest beside a chunk of inert energon, which does not have enough energy to revive him. Fortunately, an energon wave emitted by Unicron during the final battle activates the energon chunk, reviving Bumblebee. During the final battle, Bumblebee drops out of fellow Autobot Stratosphere and joins the fight, assisting in the defeat of Scourge and the destruction of the key. With the destruction of the key, the Autobots, joined by the Maximals, accept Earth as their new home.
Reception[]
Entertainment Weekly named Bumblebee as their seventh-favorite computer-generated character.[9]
References[]
- ↑ "Chevy Camaro Special Editions | Performance Cars". Chevrolet.com.
- ↑ Roberto Orci. "Orci and Kurtzman Questions: Post movie", Official site, July 6, 2007.
- ↑ "Transformers Set Visit Preview!". Latino Review.
- ↑ "Transformers Movie Update: We Have An Exclusive Robogasm With Ironhide, Bumblebee, Jazz And Ratchet", Jalopnik, June 22, 2007.
- ↑ Huffman, John Pearley (June 10, 2007). "Driving the Transformers Beater Bumblebee 1977 Camaro". Edmunds.
- ↑ "Giant robots stole my idea", December 26, 2007.
- ↑ "Driving the Transformers Movie Camaro Concept". Edmunds.com.
- ↑ "MichaelBay.com Updates: more Transformers 3 Interviews, Images and Bayhem". TFW2005.com.
- ↑ "Our 10 Favorite CG Characters", July 17, 2007.
External links[]
- Official website
- Transformers wiki
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_Prime#Transformers_film_series_2
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