He actually jive talks!

More gimmick toys! Gimme, gimme, gimme!

This time it’s one from the days of Transformers Animated. Which was, I dunno a decade or so ago? So that means you’re expecting some dense plastic and generous paint apps.

Let’s take a look at Bumper Battler Jazz!

Vehicle mode

The Animated toyline was highly stylised to begin with, but Jazz over here has been taken the Animated style and added cuteness to the mix.

He rolls nicely and can talk in this mode. Also, yes. He has a lot of paint and his plastic is chunky.

Transformation

Bump his front bumper into something. Bam! Jazz is in robot mode.

Robot mode

Jazz in robot mode… is exactly what it looks like. Jazz is slab that sticks out of his car mode that completely lacks any posability. It is very, very silly.

But you can’t take away the fact that the robot mode slab is molded and painted very nicely. Jazz even has his nunchaku!

Gimmicks

Press his Autobot logo and he plays a bunch of sound clips. I think there are 20+. The great thing is the voice clips are done by the same guy who voices Jazz in the actual show. Authentic!

The automatic transformation mentioned above also triggers a bunch of sounds. Mostly crashing noises, transforming sounds and some grunting.

Jazz does not want to keep quiet!

Toy or collectible?

Do I even need to say it? Jazz is a toy through and through. And he is a great kids toy. He’s got an automatic transformation and so many sounds. Also, he’s built tough. You can tell by the pictures that this is a toy that’s seen some roughhousing. But he’s a decade old, and I think he’ll see at least another decade of life. He’d make a great gift for a younger child who enjoys Transformers, especially compared to the newer offerings aimed at this demographic.

It’s a shame though, Animated Bumper Battlers in general are getting harder to find. However, when they do pop up they’re usually cheap. I actually got Jazz here for free with some other Transformers I bought!

Closing

Bumper Battlers aren’t aimed at adult collectors. At all. So most won’t enjoy them. But give one to a child, and they’d go nuts.

Jazz here is exactly how a toy should be made for children younger than 6. Sturdy and entertaining.