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Not currently on display at the V&A

Bumblebee

Toy
1985-1987 (made)

Yellow; black and silver plastic with a coloured decal; in the shape of a small car. Marks underneath.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBumblebee (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
moulded injection plastic and metal
Brief description
Transformer; robot car; Japan, 1985-87
Physical description
Yellow; black and silver plastic with a coloured decal; in the shape of a small car. Marks underneath.
Marks and inscriptions
Hasbro 1983 1985 Takara Co © 1983 1985
Credit line
Given by Jermaine Dacas
Object history
References: Toy Trader; November 1985; April 1986; August 1986

Bought by the donor between 1985 and 1987. Mr Dacas was born 17/10/73 and saved his pocket money to buy the toys.
Historical context
Transformers are alien robots hailing from the planet Cybertron, all of them are capable of assuming an alternate form, usually a vehicle, through a series of folding movements. They are typically divided into two factions: Autobots and Decepticons. The Autobots are heroic, peace-loving and curious about humanity, they are led by Optimus Prime, who typically transforms into an articulated truck. The Decepticons are evil, authoritarian and contemptuous of other life-forms, they are led by the maniacal Megatron, who originally transformed into a realistic-looking handgun.

Initially, the franchise was essentially an American rebrand of two toylines already produced by Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Tomy: ‘Diaclone’ and ‘Microman’. Hasbro had purchased the distribution rights to these lines in the early-1980s. Transformers was launched in the United States and Europe in 1984-85. The enormously popular toys inspired many spin-offs, including several animated television series’, a feature-length animated film (1986), multiple comic books series (including by Marvel, who had co-operated with Hasbro to produce GI Joe comics) and, inevitably, subsequent lines of toys. A series of big budget, live-action films have been produced by Warner Brothers since 2007.
Production
Made by: HASBRO; TAKARA CO
Japan
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.99-1994

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
Record URL
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