Icon Two: Bumblebee (Transformers)
The Info
Beloved characters that spawn merchandise often make money. Films often make money. So what happens when you combine these two cash-generating ideas and add Michael Bay? Well, you’d get something like the relatively recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies (from 2014 and 2016 respectively) or you’d get one of his Transformers movies which certainly have merits. That is, if you want spectacular set pieces and lots of giant robots fighting with each other (and humanity) who also can turn into vehicles.
Perhaps one of the most widely known characters in this franchise is Bumblebee, a heroic character who is devoted and dedicated to fighting for the Autobots, a team of good-natured robots led by the transforming lorry Optimus Prime. He may not be the biggest or strongest of his team, but he fights with every fibre of his being against the evil Decepticons which are the foes of the Autobots. Although Bumblebee was often a yellow and black Volkswagen Beetle in the past and his design has evolved, for this feature we shall cover him in his more modern Chevrolet Camaro form as seen in 2007’s live-action Transformers film.
In that very movie, there’s a battle being fought of gigantic proportions involving the two factions of transforming robots (the Autobots and Decepticons) and humanity is thrown into the mix as well. Bumblebee first appears as a car option for teenager Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LaBeouf), which really is no ordinary vehicle. Prior to transforming into a shiny and sleek 2006 year Chevrolet Camaro (Concept) car, Bumblebee is a weathered 1976 version of that model.
As for how tall he is when in robot mode, it’s hard to pin down a definitive number. In an early interview, Michael Bay stated that Bumblebee was about 17.5 feet tall (or 5.33 metres) but this is contradicted by the game guide for the tie in Transformers game which states he is 16 feet tall (or 4.88 metres) in stature. It’s safe to say even the tallest of humans would have a lot of looking upwards to do if he existed as a robot in the real world, that we can pretty much guarantee.
Although not without a bit of charm, the 76′ Camaro used in Bay’s Transformers flick is probably not quite as advanced in real-world trim as it’s 2006 counterpart when it comes to power and tech. Still, they are both interesting, head-turning motors and the Transformers connection certainly wouldn’t have hurt awareness and sales of these film star American cars either. Which one would you have?
Written by James Gillespie
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