Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by your fellow editor or a guest writer, which is the case today with TF-fankev777. These are our opinions so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found
here.
Top 5 Botbots Series 1 ToysThis toyline grabbed me right from the start, not only for my own kooky tastes, but especially as a line they me and my youngest daughter could enjoy together. And boy has it been a hit with her as well. Our current collection stands at the complete Series 1-3 and SDCC exclusive set, with Series 4 and the elusive for the US series 1.5 in progress. This list will cover just the first series. Even just using Series 1, picking a top 5 out of 61 candidates was no easy task. So when making this list, I considered things like the transformation, articulation, kibble, alt modes, compatibility with other TF’s and yes, even cuteness. So let’s get onto the list.
5. Transformers Botbots NobeeohNobeeoh is my daughter’s pick, so I had to include her favorite as her love of this figure in particular is what lead me to go all in on this line. And I actually don’t disagree with her choice either. Every time we play, she makes me put on some “deodorant” and cackles like a madwoman, and really it makes for an amusing gag photo opportunity with any of your TF’s with hands big enough to use it like Primus/Unicron or the CW and PotP combiners. There are visible legs in alt mode, but everything else is covered up pretty well. For bot mode, Nobeeoh has good arm articulation, and only a little bit of alt mode kibble hanging off the back. He is pretty balanced and easy to stand up, which isn’t the case with all the Botbots. The eyes in bot mode have a slightly menacing look which I like as well. But I won’t lie, my daughter’s love of this figure is the biggest reason we included him on the list.
4. Transformers Botbots SudsbeardIt’s a soap pumper, its a pirate, its Sudsbeard!!! This one I feel is the best of all the first series. They really put together an excellent pirate bot mode complete with hook hand and wooden leg, and use a great red and black color scheme. I like how the transformation uses the curve of the pirate hat to become the side of the soap pumper. The arms have good articulation including being able to move the pumper handle/hook. He is pretty easy to stand up and pose. There are visible robot parts in the alt mode, but the bot mode is what really puts this figure on the list. I also think this original deco is the best of any of the future re-uses of this mold.
3. Transformers Botbots ClogstopperThe alt mode of a plunger? I’m in! If deodorant makes for a fun enough gag with your transformer figures, then pairing up Clogstopper and King Toots (toilet paper) certainly takes things up a notch. (Or would that be down?) Anyway, I put Clogstopper here because I find him grossly adorable and fun to play around with. Gross because it’s a plunger, but that bot mode is adorable and gives me sort of a Dark Helmet from Spaceballs vibe with the huge helmet for a tiny little guy. He is pretty easy to stand in robot mode and has good arm articulation. The split waist/legs lets you lean him slightly forward or backward if needed when posing his arms. The transformation is a bit unique in that his waist and legs split in half front to back to form the bottom of the plunger and help hide the rest of the bot in plunger mode. The rest of the robot conceals pretty well in plunger mode. I feel the biggest missed opportunity in this entire line is that they did not make the handle 5 mm so it would be compatible with most other transformers (it is a little too big). As it is, he can easily be handled by most and other transformers with opening hands.
2. Transformers Botbots Hawt DiggityI thought the inclusion of food items was one of the best ideas for this line as it makes for some great accessories for your regular transformers, and I think Hawt Diggity is the best of the group for the greaser gang. He can be held one handed by most bigger bots with opening hands like the planet bots or combiners, but is a little too small to scale with the titans. Smaller bots can even hold him 2-handed if you can balance things right. In hot dog mode he hides the robot completely. In bot mode, the kibble is minimal with a couple panels that hang off behind his head, and a couple that are attached to his arms. The arms have good articulation and he even has ankle tilts! Okay, well sort of, the way his feet transform basically gives you ankle tilts, and although the legs don’t move, you can use the ankle tilts to let him lead slightly left or right by over rotating one ankle and under rotating the other.
1. Transformers Botbots Unilla Ice Queen ConeHere we are, at the top of the list, and this was no easy task. I choose Unilla Ice Queen Cone, the best of the sweets. Her only real negative is that her alt mode doesn’t really work that well with your other transformers, as the Sunday is just a little too big for most bots to be able to hold one handed. However, she makes up for it by having the ability to take micromasters for a ride in flying unicorn mode. Yep, your heard that right, Flying Unicorn Mode!!! She will slay you with the power of her cuteness, or gore you with her horn, depends on how she’s feeling that day. The unicorn mode is outstanding with zero kibble since the sundae dish becomes her wings and the sundae with cone becomes her head. She has 4 articulated legs, and articulated wings offering you a bunch of options for posing, which includes being able to rear up on her hind legs if you balance the wings right. Plus, she is simply adorable, how can anyone tell that cute little face that she is not number 1?
Honourable Mentions: I’ll be doing these a little differently, more of a bullet point list pointing out a few other botbots that I wanted to give a shout out for a specific reason.
Lolly Licks gets a spot here for being the only food bot that can fit down Trypticon’s throat and into his stomach.
Burgertron gets a spot here for hitting all the right nostalgia buttons from the old McDonald’s toys from my youth.
Laceface gets a spot here because I like football and he allows your other transformers put a game together.
Chilla Gorilla gets a spot here for being able to fit on Cybertron Primus’ and a few combiners’ heads.
The Toilet Troop tribe in general gets a mention here as brilliantly silly and a great set of items in general.
