Thai-made ‘Transformers’ invade the United States

Thai-made 'Transformers' invade the United States
Bangkok artist Anchalee Saengtai's incredible Autobots, commissioned by Ripley's, are made from recycled car and truck parts
7 July, 2011

More than meets the eye: A close-up shot of Anchalee's small-but-mighty Bumblebee Autobot, which will go on display in Ripley's Times Square museum this week.
With the box office success of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” in the United States last weekend, it should come as no surprise fans are rushing to check out a series of Autobot statues created by Thai artist Anchalee Saengtai.

Museum chain Ripley’s Believe it or Not! recently acquired some of Anchalee’s remarkable Transformers, all made of recycled car and truck parts, for several of its attractions around the world.

The Autobot art pieces come in 6-meter-tall and 2.5-meter-tall versions.


Fittingly, Anchalee's Autobots are made entirely with old auto parts.
They’ve been appearing in a few U.S. museums over the last few weeks, but Anchalee’s work is expected to get a huge boost this Friday when her 2.5-meter version of Bumblebee will be unveiled in the Ripley's Believe It or Not in Times Square, New York.
Created entirely from recycled junk car parts, the Bumblebee figure weighs more than 450 kilos and features arms and legs that move.

According to Ripley’s, in the coming weeks additional Transformers statues will be added to Ripley’s Odditoriums in London, Myrtle Beach and Jeju Island, Korea.

“Discovered by our museum manager in Pattaya, Thailand, these car-part Transformers are the most amazing exhibits we have found in Asia in several years,” said Edward Meyer, Ripley’s vice president of Exhibits and Archives, in a statement. “That Anchalee and her team can build them to specification from recycled junk cars, using only the simplest of tools, is truly unbelievable.”

If you'd like to order your own Autobot, check out her family company's websitehttp://www.yumimodal.com/about-yumimodal.htm,. The 6-meter Autobots start from $11,000.

She's also got a shop on Sukhumvit soi 7 and one at the Jatujak weekend market that sell her movie-inspired creations, including some truly terrifying "Predator" and "Alien" statues.

Here are a few more shots of Anchalee's Autobots.

Thai artist Anchalee stands under her statue of Autobot Optimus Prime in Bangkok.



The mighty Bumblebee's slogan: "Don't worry about the size of the blaster-worry about the sting!"



This version of Optimus Prime is on display at Ripley's San Francisco "Odditorium."