was a science fiction toyline created, manufactured and marketed by Takara from 1974 to 1984 as well as from 1998 to 2007. The Microman line was a series of action figures with accompanying vehicles, robots, playsets and accessories. Unlike other toylines at the time, Microman figures were marketed as being the "actual" size of cyborg beings called "Micros" that hailed from a fictional planet known as "Micro Earth" and disguised themselves as action figures while on planet Earth.
Description
The core of the Microman line consisted of action figures which were known for their high number of articulation points relative to other toys of similar size/scale in the 1970s. The toyline also included vehicles, robots, playsets and accessories. Many of the Microman toys used interchangeable connectors and ports that allowed parts to be transferred and connected between different toys.
The Microman toyline was licensed and released in the United States by Mego Corporation as the Micronauts from 1976 to 1980.
Some of the transforming Microman toys and vehicles from the Micro Change series created within the 1980s New Microman toyline were licensed by Hasbro, along with other similar transforming toys from Takara's Diaclone toyline, in the 1980s to be a part of Hasbro's Transformers toyline in the United States.
History Classic Microman (1974–1980) Takara first released Microman toys in Japan in 1974 as a smaller version of their popular & 1972 Henshin Cyborg (Transforming Cyborg) line. Henshin Cyborg figures were based on & Combat Joe figures — which themselves were based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe figures — with their bodies molded in clear plastic, exposing their inner workings and supposed cybernetic parts.
By downscaling their size, Takara sought to create the Microman line to offset the sheer cost of producing a full line of plastic-based & figures and related playsets as well as acknowledging that basic living space is limited—and considered a premium—to most Japanese households. Smaller Microman figures would not only cost less to produce during the energy crisis of the 1970s, but also the line's smaller scale would take up less physical space in a household and thus be more attractive to space conscious consumers in the Japanese market.
Microman Zone (1974) The first 1974 series of toys was called Microman Zone and included four figures and several vehicles such as the MIC-1 Space Buggy, MIC-2 Bulk Lifter, MIC-3 Sky Roader and the M115 Conning Tower Base. Additional vehicles were sold as "Micro-Kit Machine Series" sets which required assembly prior to use.
Project Victory (1975) Following the success of the first 1974 Microman Zone series, Takara completely revamped and expanded the Microman concept to be a stand-alone line on its own and not merely a smaller-scale version of their Henshin Cyborg line. The former original Microman figures were now given sturdier "cybernetic feet" and all figures now contained standard ports which allowed for interchangeability between sets and figures. Takara also introduced a new line of die-cast figures dubbed Super Steel Microman and a new line of "enemy" figures dubbed the Acroyears. Additionally, all figures were now identified by a new alphanumeric figure-type designation system—such as M10X, M11X, M12X, M20X, M21X, M22X, etc.—across the whole line as well being given formal, character names such as George (M101), Jack (M102), Jesse (M103) and John (M104).
Spy Magician (1976) In addition to new vehicles and figures such as Spy Magician (M13X & M14X), Takara introduced a new class of figure dubbed the Titans which employed a magnetic ball/joint system that allowed for a new level of interchangeability between toys. Japanese pop-culture character tie-in toys were also released (such as Microman Jeeg, Robotman Gakeen and Robotman Mechadon) which helped expand Takara's line beyond its own in-house characters and opened the door to greater licensing opportunities for their designs.
Microman Command (1977) A Microman manga was published in TV Magazine, a children's oriented magazine published by Kodansha, in 1977. Takara also introduced the Microman Command line in which each figure came in its own unique capsule case (shaped like Easter Island figures, the Statue of Liberty, etc.) and included the first female figure, Lady Command (M18X), in the line.
Police Keeper (1978) With the release of Star Wars in 1977, the market for science fiction merchandise became increasingly filled with competing science fiction related products. New figures such as the Police Keeper (M23X), Micro Knight MC-X and Cosmo Satan Arden (A35X) built on the success of prior Microman action figure releases. Takara's attempts to expand the Microman line concept with the Micro Hoodman (H70X) and construction/building playset Play Build line of toys with the large-sized Build Base playset were not well received. Lack of a positive response to the new line was strong enough that previously announced toys in the line, such as the remote control Hoodman spaceship Hoodman's RCB Noah, were cancelled.
Rescue Command (1979) Takara attempted to revive the line with the new Rescue Command series of toys and action figures. At the core of the Rescue Command was the new Rescue Secret Base and a new background story that explained the whole "rescue" theme of the whole line.
Punch & Blizzard Man (1980) In 1980, Takara moved away from releasing figures and instead concentrated on larger-sized toys, robots and sets that all contained some sort of "gimmick" to them. Gimmicks included the Microman Punch (P.0X) figure whose arm could be wound up to "punch" and Microman Blizzard (B-X) series of figures that contained a battery-powered fan.
Microman action figures (1974–1980) Below is a basic overview list documenting classic Microman action figure releases from 1974 to 1980. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all classic Microman releases/variants but rather a high-level overview of Takara's Microman line offerings.