Takara Masterpiece MP-45 Bumblebee 2.0 Fully Revealed with new Photos

For $100 this can't beat the first one. *Update* Second look at those feet and I almost threw up.

I dunno, but it feels like the older mold was a lot smoother and tidier than this one. And was bee's head always that big in the cartoon?

Graviton wrote:For $100 this can't beat the first one. *Update* Second look at those feet and I almost threw up.

Second look at that face and I almost threw up

Ouch, the feet aren't bad but that back kibble and that headsculpt... man, why can't we have nice things

Update: OK, I'm warming up to those things but I MUCH prefer MP-21

Man....I'm sorry but this figure doesn't look right to me, number one, and number two, mp-21 was released like a few years ago, wasn't it? 2013? That was only like 6 years ago ... I understand Takara needs to be profitable, but it's almost like the company is saying "%^$# you" to all of the people who bought their previous products. We're buying them to collect them, and when Takara releases another figure of the same character that we all purchased just a few years ago, it's like telling us all that we have to spend more money on the same character. Plus this figure looks strange as heck. The back kibble, the weird feet...all for 120 bucks? I don't know what to say about this, man...I really don't think the line needs a re-boot, but it seems like that's what we're getting...I just don't have the money to spend on a 120 dollar bumble bee figure that I already bought a few years back anyway. Same with the new prime. I just can't justify 350 - 450 dollars on a figure that I already have in my collection (MP-10). It's just too much. I'm pretty sure most of us have to go through some form of mental self-deception to justify spending the money on these figs, but when the price gets raised through the roof for characters that didn't need another iteration to begin with, my ability to trick myself into spending money I don't have on the figure goes out the window.

All this being said, I'm sure lots of you with money to burn will buy all of these figures up with glee, but I won't be among you. Sorry Takara, you've priced me out.

For $120+, I would expect his kibble to pack up a bit better, not to mention a slightly less goofy-looking head. That head just looks a bit out of proportion with the body.

Like Optimus Prime, I'll stick with my current Bumblebee, thanks.

i can this they finally got the face right

I'm not one to dump on new stuff just to be edgy and Too Cool, but this looks bad.

It looks like the designer just crumpled up aluminum foil and called it a Transformer.

This is all I see. Think I’m gonna skip this one

Oh wow, that is disappointing. I don't want to be too harsh before the stock-photos come out but did they make it in twelve days again?

What's the point of making the front of the body so slim if everything is thrown into the back? The back of the feet even.

Takara has gone too far with the "fake parts" this time. I look at Prowl and Wheeljack and the original MP Bumblebee and they look so elegant.

Did they rush this for the sake of the show?

Pic from Gamerlingual @TFW2005 --




From @darrthu --

I agree with the above. I’m not on board with this reboot stuff. I want the new Megatron, but I’ve held back because of the price. And I have the initial runs of the other characters, plus tons of 3rd party MPs. The price on the new Prime is beyond stupid. And now this. Ugly as crap and expensive.
Somebody needs to convince them we need new characters, not ‘improvements’ on old ones. I get rebooting Hot Rod, Optimus, Megatron, and the Seekers designs earlier, but it’s going the wrong direction. I will continue to put my faith and money in 3rd Party figures. My Masterpiece collection is massive, with little thanks to the Takara Masterpiece line. I have a good bit of the official Masterpiece figures, but they are vastly outnumbered by my 3rd Party figures. I am a hardcore Transformers collector, but not so much for Takara/Hasbro. They rely too much on gimmicks and price gouging. Not every 3rd Party figure is great (I’ve bought and returned a few that were awful), but overall I love them. I desperately want Hasbro/Takara to get their act together and give us what we want at a reasonable price.
I have Fans Toys Terminus Giganticus, aka Omega Supreme. The last of the best. Don’t think Hasbro/Takara can top that one. I ❤️him.
Maybe I’ll get this new BB so my Zeta Toys Armageddon aka Bruticus can step on him. Jk

Can't stop looking at him, because of disappointment.

The front looks too slim and compact due to the juxtaposition with the back.

This is from the designers that created the "Ladder Magic" in Inferno?

I figured a Chibi Beetle would mean less "kibble."

The head looks too round, also.

I hoped he'd look more like he did in episodes such as: The Quest for Survival, The Immobilizer and Autobot Spike.

The bright side is that MP-21 is still great. But the new mini-bots will probably follow MP-45.

BTW, Beetle mode --

Cyberpath wrote:Oh wow, that is disappointing. I don't want to be too harsh before the stock-photos come out but did they make it in twelve days again?

What's the point of making the front of the body so slim if everything is thrown into the back? The back of the feet even.

Takara has gone too far with the "fake parts" this time. I look at Prowl and Wheeljack and the original MP Bumblebee and they look so elegant.

Did they rush this for the sake of the show?

Nope, this is just what happens when you don't use the vehicle mode for parts of the body, you suddenly have lots of extra kibble left over and that inevitably has to go somewhere - but at least we can all take comfort in that it looks good from exactly 1 angle, which I guess is the new standard of what MP means

Cyberpath wrote:Oh wow, that is disappointing. I don't want to be too harsh before the stock-photos come out but did they make it in twelve days again?

What's the point of making the front of the body so slim if everything is thrown into the back? The back of the feet even.

Takara has gone too far with the "fake parts" this time. I look at Prowl and Wheeljack and the original MP Bumblebee and they look so elegant.

Did they rush this for the sake of the show?

Hellscream9999 wrote:Nope, this is just what happens when you don't use the vehicle mode for parts of the body, you suddenly have lots of extra kibble left over and that inevitably has to go somewhere - but at least we can all take comfort in that it looks good from exactly 1 angle, which I guess is the new standard of what MP means

Yes, but the new MP Prime bascially replaces everything during transformation except for the smoke-stacks yet he looks good. And Sunstreaker's not bad either.

This Bumblebee just feels rushed.

IMO they should have got it right with the "fake parts" or alternatively, used the same engineering as MP-21 -- but from a chibi Beetle. (With extra articulation and such.)

Not crumple everything unto the back for the sake of a smaller unnecessary front. (Especially since my favourite art-style from the show is the more angular / "thicker" one. But that's my preference.)

I wonder if the designers feel okay with the result.

Cyberpath wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:Oh wow, that is disappointing. I don't want to be too harsh before the stock-photos come out but did they make it in twelve days again?

What's the point of making the front of the body so slim if everything is thrown into the back? The back of the feet even.

Takara has gone too far with the "fake parts" this time. I look at Prowl and Wheeljack and the original MP Bumblebee and they look so elegant.

Did they rush this for the sake of the show?

Hellscream9999 wrote:Nope, this is just what happens when you don't use the vehicle mode for parts of the body, you suddenly have lots of extra kibble left over and that inevitably has to go somewhere - but at least we can all take comfort in that it looks good from exactly 1 angle, which I guess is the new standard of what MP means

Yes, but the new MP Prime bascially replaces everything during transformation except for the smoke-stacks yet he looks good. And Sunstreaker's not bad either.

This Bumblebee just feels rushed.

IMO they should have got it right with the "fake parts" or alternatively, used the same engineering as MP-21 -- but from a chibi Beetle. (With extra articulation and such.)

Not crumple everything unto the back for the sake of a smaller unnecessary front. (Especially since my favourite art-style from the show is the more angular / "thicker" one. But that's my preference.)

I wonder if the designers feel okay with the result.

To be fair, he's quite a lot bigger and can shove a lot of stuff into his legs and chest, since he's a cube that de-shells to reveal a cube, whereas bb is a chibi vw that turns into that tiny bot and uses nothing from the vehicle mode

Hellscream9999 wrote:but at least we can all take comfort in that it looks good from exactly 1 angle, which I guess is the new standard of what MP means

Cartoons only look good in two dimensions. From his one good angle he looks anorexic and from every other angle he appears to be missing panels to hide all the junk in his trunk. His weird big head isn't helping his cause either.

Hellscream9999 wrote:Nope, this is just what happens when you don't use the vehicle mode for parts of the body, you suddenly have lots of extra kibble left over and that inevitably has to go somewhere - but at least we can all take comfort in that it looks good from exactly 1 angle, which I guess is the new standard of what MP means

More like this is what happens when mass shifting isn't real and they can't figure out how to shrink the car mode down into a smaller robot.

Emerje

So many panels on the back of Bee 2.0, i am fine with version 1.0.

Emerje wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:Nope, this is just what happens when you don't use the vehicle mode for parts of the body, you suddenly have lots of extra kibble left over and that inevitably has to go somewhere - but at least we can all take comfort in that it looks good from exactly 1 angle, which I guess is the new standard of what MP means

More like this is what happens when mass shifting isn't real and they can't figure out how to shrink the car mode down into a smaller robot.

Emerje

Well they could have done some stuff with turning him inside out, but, I agree with you, he does have the faint whiff of being rushed about him, especially with an apparently fully fleshed out mp hound already finished...

I think this version is objectively worse than the previous effort, especially considering the doubling price and that Mp21 came with the exosuit accessory.

The feet and backpack are honestly awful.

I think using the actual top of the vehicle as the robot's torso would have been "good enough." Like with MP-21...




And with a Chibi alt-mode (shorter car) + Takara's evolved engineering, a new MP Bee could have had a competently clean back. Because you wouldn't have the extra real-world shell piece to deal with, plus, there's still room inside the torso to tuck things..

Another angle...

This looks like it would not only be a pain in the neck to transform, but also to pose. I'm imagining panels moving all over the place that have to be re-positioned every time something near them is moved, and one or two loose joints that have to be balanced in the right way to keep them from flopping all over. Don't know that I'd want to pay a hundred bucks for that kind of hassle.

Glarryg

ilikerobits wrote:...the company is saying "%^$# you" to all of the people who bought their previous products.

Not understanding this. Did your previous Bumblebee toy just vanish in a poof of smoke? Did Takara come to your house and steal it? If you still own the first version, then how does the existence of the second one somehow invalidate it?

...when Takara releases another figure of the same character that we all purchased just a few years ago, it's like telling us all that we have to spend more money on the same character.

What happened to just buying the products you enjoy and have a desire to own? Who is forcing you to spend money on things you don't want? Nobody's going to kick you out of the clubhouse if you choose not to buy a toy.


Zob

Cyberpath wrote:Another angle...

Source: @tagoal

They even tried to put in that fake tire cover on his back


Aside from the altmode, I'm disappointed with this. For a third of the price, I can get the original MP, and the gorgeous G2 version for even cheaper, and I know I will get a better figure.

Would it have been so hard to just remold MP-21 with the chibi bug shell?
Because seriously, that MP-45 is truly revolting. When the bot mode look good only straight from the front with the most static and straight pose possible, this clearly show that something truly went wrong.

Seriously, this Bee is such a random scrap mess, a Bayformer head on it would fit perfectly.

Cyberpath wrote:I think using the actual top of the vehicle as the robot's torso would have been "good enough." Like with MP-21...

And with a Chibi alt-mode (shorter car) + Takara's evolved engineering, a new MP Bee could have had a competently clean back. Because you wouldn't have the extra real-world shell piece to deal with, plus, there's still room inside the torso to tuck things..

Well, the ones who had readed my posts (and if the ones that hasn't yet doesn't know) already saw that I have the MP-21 Bee (as a Christmas present back in 2015), and I actually liked the Robot Mode, as the Alt Mode, I always liked who the MP's have detailed alt modes, the only think that I do not agree is the fact that MP-21 doesn't have the capability of open the hands, and this new MP Bee have that, it looks pretty good but I'm not convinced about the Alt Mode.



Don't wonder if Taraka do the same with Ironhide and Ratchet, I actually liked how they look, but if their elbows and knees were like Sunstreaker's it would be Awesome.

21 Bee isn't just 'good enough', it is an actual excellent figure. Much better than this monstrosity. Is anyone even considering buying it? I'm expecting this to follow in the footsteps of Tracks/Roadrage, and be found on clearance lists in a couple of years.

Some things are good, some things are bad... but at this rate I'll just wait a few years for Version 3.0

its just too much. over engineered mess. Takara please go back to making masterpieces that are both epic and fun, and good looking from all angles.

Ironhidensh wrote:21 Bee isn't just 'good enough', it is an actual excellent figure. Much better than this monstrosity. Is anyone even considering buying it? I'm expecting this to follow in the footsteps of Tracks/Roadrage, and be found on clearance lists in a couple of years.

That's why it was in quotes.


This Facebook page has some screen captures from the promotional video for MP-45.



I wonder if this right here is responsible for some of the mess. If so, the Masterpiece line is not the place for disruptive/aggressive gimmicks IMO.





And the face/head sculpt is one of the worst I've seen. It almost looks like a carnival balloon.


Takara, sometimes it's best to scrap something and start over.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Someone pointed out on Twitter that this Bee looks like Piers Morgan and now I have to ruin it for everyone here too. I'm sorry

Ironhidensh wrote:Is anyone even considering buying it?

I'd like to, just for the alt mode.

But I don't display in alt modes, I display in robot mode. So there really is no point in getting him.

What happened to ladder magic? Is this from a different designer who never studied origami?

Cyberpath wrote:Another angle...

Source: @tagoal

They even gave him fake kibble in the back. Whats the point anyways? At this point, if the transformation is just meant to replace parts instead of reusing what you have, then why even bother?

This toy is literally faking it from front to back

Cyberpath wrote:And the face/head sculpt is one of the worst I've seen. It almost looks like a carnival balloon.

Why did you have to plant that idea....


But can anyone really spot the difference?

Ironhidensh wrote:Is anyone even considering buying it? I'm expecting this to follow in the footsteps of Tracks/Roadrage, and be found on clearance lists in a couple of years.

That's when I jump

william-james88 wrote:This toy is literally faking it from front to back

So is the new game making fun of MPB2?

carytheone wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:And the face/head sculpt is one of the worst I've seen. It almost looks like a carnival balloon.

Why did you have to plant that idea....

I feel like this is a prime example of something that only looks good in 2d, but in 3d the lighting is gonna make him look really weird

Oh my gosh honestly this is not good. First time I’m actually worried I mean the new Optimus is expensive but it looks like the cartoon. At this price for this figure you would think they would at least focus on bot mode like all of the mp beast wars figures but no what in the actual frick are they thinking about this backpack.

As much as I like the look of MP-44, this...is just pretty bad.

But I do admit that Takara certainly achieved their goal of making Bumblebee look like some of the worst animated parts of the cartoon.

IF I ever decide to get an MP Bumblebee, it’ll be MP-21. He looks the way BB did in TF: The Movie, the pinnacle of The Cartoon.

Balloon head is Hi-Larious, Cary!

I too was inspired to Photoshop a joke.

It's an old joke.


But a good joke that deserved a second chance.

In the spirit of reboots, reduexs, and try-agains.

HardyBee ver. 2.0

Just wanted to toss my 2 cents in with those who thing MP-45 Bumblebee ver 2 is not that great. I love the first version despite a few flaws. Ultimately, I would have preferred to see a more cartoon accurate head, the interior sides of his feet painted yellow, and a mold improvement to give his inner forearms panels that could hide his hands in transformation. Other than that, I was pretty pleased with the first version.

One of the biggest charms of the Transformers is seeing how alt-mode parts get used in robot mode. I do not like when they fake out the Transformers chests, cockpits, etc. While I was bummed about Sunstreaker not using his real vehicle mode parts, I'll let it slide with him because he looks too damn good in robot mode and they did some clever things with him. However, I still stand by my original opinion that they've gone too far in the direction of the cartoon that they are just slavishly giving us cartoon accurate robot modes instead of just good Transformers toys. I would have rather seen an update to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker that could have accommodated both robots and vehicles along the lines of Universe Sideswipe and Sunstreaker that weren't exactly cartoon accurate, but were damn close enough that the impressive transformations to achieve both characters would have been a far greater accomplishment than all of the transformation cheats they had to do. The Beast Wars characters are also an exception to the rule, but when it comes to the mechanical vehicle Transformers, they've got to stick to using the alt mode parts in robot mode as much as possible.

I've been singing this song about the Masterpiece toys becoming too cartoonish for quite a few years, basically since Ultra Magnus (which was a great figure, just too cartoonish ... he needed some of the SIEGE detailing), and now I see that Takara Tomy has fully embraced this direction and we'll probably never get back to amazing figures like Wheeljack and Prowl, 2 of the best of this entire line.

I agree, I'd much rather see a good Transformer toy than and accurate to "X" figure. Half the fun is the car parts visible/making up the robot with the other half being the transformation. I'd much rather odd proportions and a fun transformation. It does feel that Takara has gone too far to get one thing right while ignoring the rest and sales of MPB2 may be a hard lesson learned. All we can really hope for is that the lesson is actually learned.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:As much as I like the look of MP-44, this...is just pretty bad.

But I do admit that Takara certainly achieved their goal of making Bumblebee look like some of the worst animated parts of the cartoon.

IF I ever decide to get an MP Bumblebee, it’ll be MP-21. He looks the way BB did in TF: The Movie, the pinnacle of The Cartoon.

Mp-21 is a great little toy. I've got him on my desk right now. Good pirce, and he comes with Exo-suited Spike. He's a lot better than MP-45.

As for MP-45... I thought toys were supposed to advance in engineering, not retreat! That thing's a piece of crap and shames the term 'Masterpiece'!

People complaining about just the back pack is incorrect. Just like the 2nd ver of Hot Rod, the entire torso is just a cluster F or pannels and parts. Front side is pointless if the sides or even rear are that bad. Ver 1 Bee is amazing and is truly a masterpiece from every angle except for the dome back pack. This however is just one step away from being a shellformer. Even the new Prime has alot of panel hiding in play but atleast the robot looks amazing

Why focus so much on Bee's backpack when his sides are messy as hell and his feet, that are in plain sight, is just garbage on top of more garbage?

Seriously, all the R&D wasted on this piece of crap could be used on other characters... and by more competent people.


Incredible when the SS and Siege series give us so many amazing miracles of engineering while the MP line is devolving under our very eyes.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Seriously, all the R&D wasted on this piece of crap could be used on other characters...

This.

This is what has me most concerned. If Takara has more plans to "reboot" or whatever you want to call it, It seems counter productive. Counter intuitive. Why waste time and energy back paddling? The water is clear, calm and wide open. With so many other characters that could be done, paddle forward Takara!

carytheone wrote:

Cyberpath wrote:And the face/head sculpt is one of the worst I've seen. It almost looks like a carnival balloon.

Why did you have to plant that idea....

Beeloon.jpg

But can anyone really spot the difference?

Ironhidensh wrote:Is anyone even considering buying it? I'm expecting this to follow in the footsteps of Tracks/Roadrage, and be found on clearance lists in a couple of years.

That's when I jump

william-james88 wrote:This toy is literally faking it from front to back

So is the new game making fun of MPB2?

at least this new face sculpt doesnt look like hes trying to take a dump like the previous one

I prefer mp-21 myself. I like the cartoon look. But this bee v2.0 doesnt look inspired by the 86 movie like optimus v3



I feel like takara may not have used the front of the car for his feet, because the car mode is "chibi" but bigger. So the front of the car may be more in scale too the other carbots than mp-21.


I dont see a reason to have spike sitting inside of bee either
Leave that out and just focus on making a better robot mode