Michael Bay may have relied on CGI to bring Bumblebee to life in the movieTransformers,but one cosplayer was able to do it completely in the physical realm, with one of the most impressive costumes you’ll ever see. In an incredible video posted toInstagram, Dutch cosplayer Lonneke van Duijnhoven documented her journey in bringing the fan-favorite Autobot to life.It took a year of work to pull it off, but the costume looks absolutely screen-accurateto the character’s appearance in the solo filmBumblebee.
Van Duijnhoven, known as Lon Cosplay on social media, used EVA foam to create the bulky pieces of the costume, allowing for texture, freedom of movement, and ease when it comes to painting and design. In the video, she states the process of creating the costume took over 700 hours and a year of work.Even more impressive are the working hands and face, with light-up eyes,which require some impressive mechanical and electrical skills.
The costume is based on the live-action Bumblebee seen first inthe Michael Bay films, beginning in 2007. Bizarrely, Van Duijnhoven admits in another Instagram post that she has received negative comments from online trolls who said she “shouldn’t waste a year of her time on a cosplay project.” She responded by saying the comments actually motivated her to keep going. For fans who truly appreciate the work, however, the results are worth the effort. She said:
“Got lots of hate on my Bumblebee cosplay because I could spend my time better…No I could not. I prefer crafting above watching tiktoks, tv etc…even the hate motivates me to go further and crazier. I hope I can inspire people one day and help them with their crafting projects.”
Transformers
Last month, Van Duijnhoven entered the cosplay contest at AnimeCon in the Netherlands, wowing the crowds with her demonstration in a video included in anotherpost. Somehow, her cosplay did not win first place, but the reaction from the crowd spoke volumes.
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While Bumblebee has always had a strong following since his 1980s introduction in toys, comics, and cartoons, the live-action films only solidified his popularity. The first live-actionTransformersmade Bumblebeea central character, befriending Shia LaBeouf’s Sam and gaining a new generation of fans, and he would be a key character in the four sequels that followed.
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While later films in the series didn’t impress critics, Bumblebee spun off with a self-titled solo film in 2018, which earned a 90% rating from critics onRotten Tomatoes. Directed by Travis Knight,Bumblebeestarred Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, a girl in 1987 who finds Bumblebee in a junkyard and gets him fixed, just in time to fight a group of Decepticons intent on destroying him. The film grossed nearly $468 million worldwide, alongside its positive response from critics.
Although the film was well-received by both critics and fans, its box office was below what pastTransformersfilms had grossed, making the possibility of a direct sequel unlikely.Bumblebee would appear againin 2023’sTransformers: Rise of the Beasts, which opens the door for a new direction for the film series. The character will also appear in theanimated prequelTransformers One, due for release in September.
Bumblebeeis currently streaming on Paramount+.
