Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters

Monday, July 15th, 2013 1:31PM CDT

Category: Cartoon News
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The official Transformers Facebook page has just let everyone know about something big and yellow to happen in the very near future: Bumblebee will speak for the first time in the Prime Beast Hunters series! Check out the news below, mirrored for your convenience, and discuss who you think will voice him or who you'd like to see in our Energon Pub forum.

Hasbro just announced that, for the first time ever in Transformers Prime, Bumblebee will speak in the episode airing July 26th! Fans at San Diego Comic-Con will get a sneak peek at Bumblebee's voice during the Transformers Prime Beast Hunters panel this Thursday at 11 am PT!

Credit(s): Transformers Facebook

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Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503390)
Posted by craggy on July 15th, 2013 @ 1:43pm CDT

any word on the VA? I know he's really difficult to track down and super shy about having been Bumblebee's iconic G1 voice, but after the fan service of Soundwave's line last week it'd be pretty awesome if they got Dan Gilvezan.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503391)
Posted by craggy on July 15th, 2013 @ 1:44pm CDT

njb902 wrote:Bah he speaks all the time...... We just can't understand him.

sounding like a Bop-It is not speaking.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503393)
Posted by Venowtron on July 15th, 2013 @ 1:49pm CDT

seriously the last episode

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503395)
Posted by Convotron on July 15th, 2013 @ 1:55pm CDT

I'm quite curious as to how the voice will turn out. I'm looking forward to it.

On a less serious note, I can imagine the studio hiring David Kaye to voice BB and he will basically use his BW Megatron performance.

"Raf! I can speak! Yeeeesssssssss!"

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503399)
Posted by Noideaforaname on July 15th, 2013 @ 1:59pm CDT

Meh. BB hasn't really been much of a major character in this show, nor has his beeping really been a hindrance since everyone understands him perfectly fine anyways, and Predaking and Soundwave just had big reveals of their own (both of which I felt were lackluster), so this is a bit... not really all that interesting.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503400)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 15th, 2013 @ 2:02pm CDT

Frank Welker already does the prerecorded voice of Bumblebee before the beeps are added in, so I can see them using him.

Though, inner fanboy wish: Forget Dan Gilvezan! Gimme back JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! :michaelbay:

JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! :KREMZEEK:

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503401)
Posted by njb902 on July 15th, 2013 @ 2:03pm CDT

craggy wrote:
njb902 wrote:Bah he speaks all the time...... We just can't understand him.

sounding like a Bop-It is not speaking.

How so? He makes noises that people/bots can understand. Isn't that all speaking is?

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503404)
Posted by Jack Hallows on July 15th, 2013 @ 2:08pm CDT

Samuel L. Jackson.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503405)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 15th, 2013 @ 2:08pm CDT

njb902 wrote:
craggy wrote:
njb902 wrote:Bah he speaks all the time...... We just can't understand him.

sounding like a Bop-It is not speaking.

How so? He makes noises that people/bots can understand. Isn't that all speaking is?

Maybe it should be rephrased at "Bumblebee to finally speak in a language the audience can understand" :lol:

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503406)
Posted by VirusCarnage on July 15th, 2013 @ 2:14pm CDT

I hope to god Primus that they don't make him speak in a flashback or something, then having his R2 D2 voice in the present.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503417)
Posted by Dead Metal on July 15th, 2013 @ 3:12pm CDT

Jack Hallows wrote:Samuel L. Jackson.

"BLEEP BLOP MOTHERBOARD INTERFACER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!"

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503418)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on July 15th, 2013 @ 3:12pm CDT

so they finaly realized that no one likes r2-d2 bumblebee, watch he'll have 1 line & itll be something stupid & in a flashback. Wonder who the VA is would be cool if its Dan Gilvezan, id tune in for that.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503422)
Posted by PrymeStriker on July 15th, 2013 @ 3:36pm CDT

If they allow him to speak in the present, they better write it in better than the movies did. Maybe Ratchet or someone steals some high-tech equipment from the Nemesis?

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503426)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 15th, 2013 @ 3:46pm CDT

PrymeStriker wrote:If they allow him to speak in the present, they better write it in better than the movies did. Maybe Ratchet or someone steals some high-tech equipment from the Nemesis?

"The miracle elixir that is Synthetic Energon." - I can so see them going that route at the last minute. :roll:

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503432)
Posted by Mindmaster on July 15th, 2013 @ 3:59pm CDT

Interesting. I agree with the general population: I wouldn't like it if he speaks in a flashback, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was.

Dan Gilvezan, yes please!

Oddly, I can see Prime Bumblebee sounding like his original Generation One predecessor.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503433)
Posted by njb902 on July 15th, 2013 @ 3:59pm CDT

Since Welker voices him already I think an interesting take would be to do a less raspy younger sounding megaton voice.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503444)
Posted by rekka on July 15th, 2013 @ 4:44pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:Frank Welker already does the prerecorded voice of Bumblebee before the beeps are added in, so I can see them using him.

Though, inner fanboy wish: Forget Dan Gilvezan! Gimme back JOHNNY YONG BOSCH!

JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH!

Unfortunately Johnny will unlikely be the voice because he is a non-union voice talent and unable to do a union voice gig such as Prime. Which sucks because he was a great BB in War for Cybertron.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503449)
Posted by ILL-Star on July 15th, 2013 @ 5:05pm CDT

I don't really look at episode 13 as the last episode given how the movie premiers in the fall and is 90 minutes long. That's about an additional four episodes. My point being if Bumblebee speaks in the present, he may speak in the movie.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503451)
Posted by YRQRM0 on July 15th, 2013 @ 5:06pm CDT

Am I the only one that doesn't mind BB not speaking? Personally I found him kind of annoying in Animated, and the movies have established him as mute to a whole new generation. Plus the show has at least mentioned it on multiple occasions, addressing that it was Megatron who ripped his voice box out. It's served some emotional moments, not to mention that it's supposed to be cannon with WFC/FOC.

Prime has had a good amount of fanboy nods already. I like that there's some originality in things like R2 Bee (or at least a mix from different universes). I almost wouldn't want Dan, I don't like everything to just be a service to the fans, unless it just really fits. In 20 years half the fan base will be in nostalgic joy when a new series comes out with a beeping BB lol.

If it's a flashback, I guess that's fine. If his voice gets fixed, cool I guess. With Prime ending though his voice isn't really gonna stick with him being mute the entire series, unless it's just an amazing episode or the movie features him greatly (please no).

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503457)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 15th, 2013 @ 5:17pm CDT

rekka wrote:Unfortunately Johnny will unlikely be the voice because he is a non-union voice talent and unable to do a union voice gig such as Prime. Which sucks because he was a great BB in War for Cybertron.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503471)
Posted by Noideaforaname on July 15th, 2013 @ 6:39pm CDT

Do we have any idea as to what Frank actually says while recording BB's, err, "voice"? Like is there actual dialogue, or does he read some nonsense text, or something else entirely?

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503474)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 15th, 2013 @ 6:46pm CDT

Noideaforaname wrote:Do we have any idea as to what Frank actually says while recording BB's, err, "voice"? Like is there actual dialogue, or does he read some nonsense text, or something else entirely?

Seems to be actual dialogue, according to the Autobits of episode 53 and the Rescue Bots crew panel at BotCon 2013 (though, they mentioned there that Nicole Dubuc voices Bee on that show, but they said that she does what Frank does and reads actual dialogue).

BTW, her Bumblebee voice sounds like Stitch.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503476)
Posted by Jack Hallows on July 15th, 2013 @ 6:48pm CDT

Dead Metal wrote:
Jack Hallows wrote:Samuel L. Jackson.

"BLEEP BLOP MOTHERBOARD INTERFACER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!"

hahaha epic.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503496)
Posted by Shockwave7 on July 15th, 2013 @ 7:53pm CDT

What's this 'for the first time ever' gunk? They're speaking as if they're planning for MORE episodes with Bbee speaking, when it looks like they timed it for the very LAST episode of the series, possibly the last scene before the closing credits.

The whole show is on the brink of it's ultimate end. Does it really matter what he says now? Bit late in the game to start thinking 'Gee, let's give him back his voice'....

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503503)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 15th, 2013 @ 8:22pm CDT

Shockwave7 wrote:What's this 'for the first time ever' gunk? They're speaking as if they're planning for MORE episodes with Bbee speaking, when it looks like they timed it for the very LAST episode of the series, possibly the last scene before the closing credits.

The whole show is on the brink of it's ultimate end. Does it really matter what he says now? Bit late in the game to start thinking 'Gee, let's give him back his voice'....

There's still the "Predacons Rising" epilogue TV movie that's coming after, so he could be speaking more in that.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503564)
Posted by Metrosuplex on July 16th, 2013 @ 12:42am CDT

I still don't understand WHY he can't speak in Prime. "His voice box got ripped out!!!" So? They're made out of synthetic materials, with SCHEMATICS. It would have been fine if they said, "well, we need Cybertronium (metal) to build that crucial component..." but even then, you can substitute a pig heart for a human heart, and the patient does fine for a while. :roll:

As his "voice box" is a non-vital organ, there's no reason Ratchet couldn't synthetically reproduce the "organ" using whatever materials he had available.

Ratchet's supposed to be a doctor. He's supposed to understand how the Autobots function, right??? :BANG_HEAD:

Anyway, like some of you have mentioned, I'll be incredibly disappointed if BB talks in a flashback only. But then again, the "believable" reason for him NOT speaking was pretty stupid to begin with, so I can only imagine how stupid his sudden voice regeneration story could be (if he speaks in the present).

I'll throw my hat in and say, "spontaneous regeneration". :roll:

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503566)
Posted by VirusCarnage on July 16th, 2013 @ 1:31am CDT

I wonder if Bumblebee could really could talk properly this whole time but chose not too. :lol:

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503577)
Posted by Henry921 on July 16th, 2013 @ 4:32am CDT

rekka wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:Frank Welker already does the prerecorded voice of Bumblebee before the beeps are added in, so I can see them using him.

Though, inner fanboy wish: Forget Dan Gilvezan! Gimme back JOHNNY YONG BOSCH!

JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH! JOHNNY YONG BOSCH!

Unfortunately Johnny will unlikely be the voice because he is a non-union voice talent and unable to do a union voice gig such as Prime. Which sucks because he was a great BB in War for Cybertron.

That's a shame. It's very rare I agree with Sabrblade, but Johnny Young Bosch would've been my first choice.

Maybe it'll be Gregg Berger saying "Me Bumblebee!"

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503587)
Posted by Windsweeper on July 16th, 2013 @ 5:03am CDT

Hope it's not as disappointing as soundwave was last week who sounded like the crap animated version. Is it so hard to replicate the G1 voice?

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503588)
Posted by Mykltron on July 16th, 2013 @ 5:32am CDT

Why do we have to wait until the last ever episode? Can't they fix him NOW? I bet he only speaks one line right at the end:
"Sir, I wish to stay with the boy."

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503608)
Posted by Mindmaster on July 16th, 2013 @ 7:21am CDT

Windsweeper wrote:Hope it's not as disappointing as soundwave was last week who sounded like the crap animated version. Is it so hard to replicate the G1 voice?

What? Frank Welker used the exact same voice for Soundwave he used for Generation One, and by an extent, Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon. Prime and Animated sound nothing alike: Prime, again, is just Welker's Dr. Claw voice but with very little voice modulation.

Metrosuplex wrote:I still don't understand WHY he can't speak in Prime. "His voice box got ripped out!" So? They're made out of synthetic materials, with SCHEMATICS. It would have been fine if they said, "well, we need Cybertronium (metal) to build that crucial component..." but even then, you can substitute a pig heart for a human heart, and the patient does fine for a while. As his "voice box" is a non-vital organ, there's no reason Ratchet couldn't synthetically reproduce the "organ" using whatever materials he had available.

Well, for one, they're not quite made of synthetic materials. Saying the Transformers are made from synthetic materials is like saying we are. As for the voice box replacement problem, there are only eight Autobots, including Bumblebee. If the one of the Autobots donated his for Bumblebee, Bumblebee can speak, but now the donor can't. And they can't scavenge the battlefield for one either: the ones from the Vehicons (if they even have an actual one) will have been damaged from the firefight. Throwing a voice box together from scraps, like I said before, is like trying to throw together one for us.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503621)
Posted by Rodimus the Prime on July 16th, 2013 @ 8:27am CDT

The whole notion of Bumblebee not being able to speak has been one the most hair-brained and idiotic things I've ever seen in any series or franchise. Works for an episode, but not for years, spanning movies, a tv series and multiple games. Amazed that it's gone on this long, but it's good to see it's coming to an end.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503663)
Posted by Dead Metal on July 16th, 2013 @ 10:19am CDT

Metrosuplex wrote:I still don't understand WHY he can't speak in Prime. "His voice box got ripped out!!!" So? They're made out of synthetic materials, with SCHEMATICS. It would have been fine if they said, "well, we need Cybertronium (metal) to build that crucial component..." but even then, you can substitute a pig heart for a human heart, and the patient does fine for a while. As his "voice box" is a non-vital organ, there's no reason Ratchet couldn't synthetically reproduce the "organ" using whatever materials he had available.

Ratchet's supposed to be a doctor. He's supposed to understand how the Autobots function, right???

Anyway, like some of you have mentioned, I'll be incredibly disappointed if BB talks in a flashback only. But then again, the "believable" reason for him NOT speaking was pretty stupid to begin with, so I can only imagine how stupid his sudden voice regeneration story could be (if he speaks in the present).

I'll throw my hat in and say, "spontaneous regeneration".

The episode in which BB loses his TCog explains why they can't just replace or fix it.

Windsweeper wrote:Hope it's not as disappointing as soundwave was last week who sounded like the crap animated version. Is it so hard to replicate the G1 voice?

Looks like someone needs an ear inspection.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503682)
Posted by TurboMMaster on July 16th, 2013 @ 12:00pm CDT

I think Bumblebee should speak at some point of Transformers Prime, at least we should heard how hes voices supposed to sound like.

However, we all know they do it for purpose, firstly, these makes BBB more kid appealing character, and secondly, is really nice Bayformers reference.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1503717)
Posted by Deathscythetransform on July 16th, 2013 @ 2:36pm CDT

I'm ready to bet the when he speaks, it will be throught the radio, using voice clips, like in the movies, which was great for the first film where at the end, he speaks normally (and had a nice sound too!)

but then ROTF happened and he returned to radio clips again :BANG_HEAD:

can someone explain to me, because for christ's sake, I can't figure out, while the Allspark restored Frenzy's entire body, without even touching him!!!!, Bumblebee's voice box wasn't functionnal in ROTF and DOTM, while it was repaired in the first movie???

damn you, Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Ehren Kruger!!!!! :michaelbay:

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504205)
Posted by Mykltron on July 18th, 2013 @ 6:11am CDT

TFP Bee is far worse than Movie Bee for me. At least Movie Bee can construct fragmented sentences.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504265)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 18th, 2013 @ 8:58am CDT

Mykltron wrote:TFP Bee is far worse than Movie Bee for me. At least Movie Bee can construct fragmented sentences.

Yes, but Movie Bee isn't voiced by Frank Welker. :-B

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504417)
Posted by Deathscythetransform on July 18th, 2013 @ 2:23pm CDT

Mykltron wrote:TFP Bee is far worse than Movie Bee for me. At least Movie Bee can construct fragmented sentences.

damn right

but this ''mute-talk-through-the-radio-or-beep-like-r2-d2'' is getting pretty old... :BANG_HEAD:

time for a change >:oP

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504604)
Posted by PrymeStriker on July 18th, 2013 @ 8:26pm CDT

Deathscythetransform wrote:but this ''mute-talk-through-the-radio-or-beep-like-r2-d2'' is getting pretty old...
time for a change

Making him not-mute again isn't better in any way possible. Then, he becomes annoying crap that won't shut up. Not like having him speak is any more of a "change" then having him mute; they're both old. The only alternative is canning him completely, which they WON'T do to one of their biggest characters.

You're stuck in a headlock with this one.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504606)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 18th, 2013 @ 8:36pm CDT

PrymeStriker wrote:
Deathscythetransform wrote:but this ''mute-talk-through-the-radio-or-beep-like-r2-d2'' is getting pretty old...
time for a change

Making him not-mute again isn't better in any way possible. Then, he becomes annoying crap that won't shut up. Not like having him speak is any more of a "change" then having him mute; they're both old. The only alternative is canning him completely, which they WON'T do to one of their biggest characters.

You're stuck in a headlock with this one.

In this case, Will Friedle is not annoying. He's awesome, charming, charismatic, and hilarious. :-B

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504670)
Posted by PrymeStriker on July 18th, 2013 @ 10:38pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:
PrymeStriker wrote:
Deathscythetransform wrote:but this ''mute-talk-through-the-radio-or-beep-like-r2-d2'' is getting pretty old...
time for a change

Making him not-mute again isn't better in any way possible. Then, he becomes annoying crap that won't shut up. Not like having him speak is any more of a "change" then having him mute; they're both old. The only alternative is canning him completely, which they WON'T do to one of their biggest characters.

You're stuck in a headlock with this one.
In this case, Will Friedle is not annoying. He's awesome, charming, charismatic, and hilarious.

I'm not talking about speaking once; I'm talking about a whole series, like G1 and Animated, in both Bumblebee would not shut up and made him annoying as crap.

And........OMG IT'S RON STOPPABLE!!!!!!!

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504677)
Posted by Mindmaster on July 18th, 2013 @ 10:47pm CDT

PrymeStriker wrote:...OMG IT'S RON STOPPABLE!!!!!!!

Kim Possible was a part of my childhood.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504705)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 18th, 2013 @ 11:53pm CDT

Mindmaster wrote:
PrymeStriker wrote:...OMG IT'S RON STOPPABLE!!!!!!!

Kim Possible was a part of my childhood.

Ron Stoppable, Terry McGinnis/Batman, Eric Matthews, Lion-O, Blue Beetle, Doyle Blackwell, Deadpool...

Like I said, he is awesome.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504707)
Posted by VirusCarnage on July 18th, 2013 @ 11:55pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:
PrymeStriker wrote:...OMG IT'S RON STOPPABLE!!!!!!!

Kim Possible was a part of my childhood.
Ron Stoppable, Terry McGinnis/Batman, Eric Matthews, Lion-O, Blue Beetle, Doyle Blackwell, Deadpool...

Like I said, he is awesome.

I have reason to believe that you are fanboying out over this.

Re: Bumblebee to Speak in Transformers: Prime Beast Hunters (1504709)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 18th, 2013 @ 11:57pm CDT

viruscarnage wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:
PrymeStriker wrote:...OMG IT'S RON STOPPABLE!!!!!!!

Kim Possible was a part of my childhood.
Ron Stoppable, Terry McGinnis/Batman, Eric Matthews, Lion-O, Blue Beetle, Doyle Blackwell, Deadpool...

Like I said, he is awesome.

I have reason to believe that you are fanboying out over this.

Well, I guess I have been watching some reruns of Boy Meets World, lately. :oops: