Transformers Missing Link Cliffjumper and Bumblebee

Following the stupendous Missing Link Optimus Prime releases, Takara takes an unexpected turn in the line by moving from the largest 1984 release to the smallest - Bumblebee and Cliffjumper. Originally designed to have penny-racer styled alt-modes (cute versions of cars that had motors powered by a penny in the rear) these cute little fellas have been mainstays in the franchise for 40 years, with Bumblebee now arguably on equal footing to Optimus in terms of popularity.

I love the styrofoam presentation, pure 80's nostalgia

Unlike Optimus Prime/Convoy, who for the time was already pretty well articulated for his vintage, with working knees, elbows and even (thanks to his transformation) a butterfly joint in the shoulders, the minibots were more rigid affairs - you could waggle their feet up and down and move the arms at the shoulders, but that was it. Regardless, they remain one of the most popular and iconic of the early Transformers, with multiple repaints across Generations 1 and 2 of the toy line, even showing up as entirely new characters for Bot Con with Glyph (blue) and Tapout (cyan).

Just some of the uses of the design over the years...

The most recent Bumblebee reissue came with a cartoon head, grey bumper and painted lights, but for Missing Link they've decided to stick with the classic unpainted look, which is probably a smart choice since we're trying to evoke the spirit of those first releases. But credit where it's due, Takara have added more than just articulation - for the first time ever we have accessories too!

Both figures come with pistols, impressively as very different moulds, so that further differentiates them. I don’t know if it’s intentional, but Cliffjumper’s gun looks a lot like the one used by the other Autobot Porsche, Jazz. A great little nod if it is! These weapons can be held in the hands (thanks to ball joints allowing a much-needed swivel for the forearms) and also in the foot thanks to a bit of moulding that allows the guns to store snugly via a peg. This is smart as it should prevent loss and provides a place to store them when in vehicle mode.

Genius

Both bots retain the classic heat-rub faction sticker, though these are on the sole of one foot to keep the toys looking clean. Again, this is a nice inclusion, especially when it's hidden away on display, but it was a lovely little '84 feature and they wouldn't feel complete without them.

Cliffjumper gets a little extra sauce thanks to his bazooka - used once in the cartoon but like Prime's energon axe, now considered iconic to the character. It's a shame that he missed his shot in the cartoon, it's like a shiny badge of failure for the hot-headed minibot, but it looks ace in Chrome, complimenting the wheels and head nicely. 

So let's talk about the articulation and the improvements made to the figure for this latest release. The most noticeable assets are ball joints in the elbows, that allow the figures to have their fists facing the right way for a change and enabling the use of weapons. This also allows for much more expression and, coupled with the butterfly joints in the shoulders, provides all the articulation you need. Similarly the legs have been completely overhauled - swivel at the top of the legs in conjunction with the hip joints leads to natural looking a stances. Rotation at the ankles keeps everything grounded and of course you now have knees too. It's an awesome combo and allows you to recreate the poses from the packaging and those UK Ladybird Books (which always used the toy models) perfectly.

Lastly, you have the much improved heads. On the original toys, the head was connected via two nubs that slotted into points molded into the shoulders, which were prone to breaking or, if the body degraded, just coming out on a whim. Now they're on mushroom pegs connected to a much beefier joint that allows the head to tuck away, making the figures far more rugged. This gives us a neck swivel, finishing the overall remodelling with a perfect flourish.

Old Meets New

There are niggles. Bumblebee has a loose left arm - you can extend the joint to make it stick a little more, but it’ll still flop if you don’t get it just right. Unlike Cliffjumper the head also seems to be stuck looking down at a slight angle. I can’t see any obvious reason for this and I gather the issue is widespread, so it seems to be something in Bumblebee’s production run that was corrected with Cliff’s. Lastly, ‘Bee’s head doesn’t fold all the way in for car mode, showing just a bit too much of the side of his head, again an issue which is far less noticeable with Cliffjumper. Odd. Transformation on both is also scarily stiff, but at least the ankles have done away with the awful plastic clip that stops the bonnet sliding too far down the shin, it was a common breakage point on the vintage figures and thankfully gone altogether now.

Where the Missing Link Optimus Prime felt majestic and substantial, these minibots are just fun. All the pick up and play immediacy of their forebears is present and correct, with easy transformations and fun alt modes, but with additional articulation they just make the ultimate little fiddler-bots that you can pose endlessly on your desk and really enjoy. They'll never match Prime for presence, but they'll beat him for sheer finger-candy every time. They are pricey for their small stature, but if you're an older fan who loved the originals, these are must-haves. 

Roll on Sunstreaker.