Microman
Encyclopedia
is a line of toy
s manufactured by Takara
(known as TOMY in English and K.K. Takara-Tomy [株式会社タカラトミー] in Japanese since 2006) from 1974 to the present. Microman toys were originally imported to the United States
by Mego Corporation
as Micronauts
until the company went bankrupt in 1982. Some of the toys later became a part of the first line of Transformers
.
The line of toys consists mainly of small 3.75" action-figures that are known for their high number of articulation points, averaging thirty, relative to other toys of similar size. The toys include vehicles and robots, and interchangeable parts
that can be transferred from one toy to another.
An anime
adaptation was released January 4, 1999 under the name Chiisana Kyojin Microman (小さな巨人ミクロマン, The Small Giant, Microman).
of the earlier Combat Joe line. The Combat Joe line was created from the mould of the 8" and 12" G.I. Joe
figures that Takara licensed from Hasbro
. The body of the Henshin Cyborg was molded in clear plastic to expose the gleaming inner cybernetic implants and the "atomic engine".
Since both the cost of producing and the large size of the vehicles and playsets for the 12" dolls were prohibitive, in 1974 Takara decided to produce a miniature version of the Henshin Cyborg line which was called Microman.
The first series, Microman Zone, included four figures and several vehicles in kit form that needed to be assembled. Microman Zone proved to be popular and by its second year, the Microman line was spun off from the "Henshin Cyborg" line.
Unlike other toylines at the time, Microman figures were marketed as being the "actual" size of the cyborg beings they were meant to be replicas of. The cyborg beings were said to hail from the fictional planet Micro Earth, and to disguise themselves as toys. All of the Microman toys used 5 mm connectors and ports, which allowed parts from one toy to be attached to another toy to form new toys.
The Founder series launched the Replica Microman Series and soon were follow with the reissued of many old favorites such as the Acroyear A30X, Spy Magician M14X and Lady Command during the first year. Beside the reissue versions, Takara also released several new color variations and even new members to add to the rank of the old. In 2000, Takara followed with more reissued and even more color variants. However, the Microman market became very saturated with many variants and by 2001 Takara had severely scale back the release of the Replica Series.
The Magne Power series was launched with much fanfare and anticipation on December 26, 1998. The series eventually achieved only a mild success with kids and even less with adult collectors who felt the new series was too different from the old especially with the 8 cm scale and limited articulations of the new figures. By 2000, Takara, also in financial dire, reduced the new series to just a few dozen of toys and canceled the very expensive Microman anime and also eventually the manga in Bom Bom. In 2001 Takara put the new Microman series for the second time on a hiatus.
The Replica Series was still being released in 2002 but was on a very limited basis and mainly through Takara e-Hobby Shop. In 2003 Takara decided to test Microman market with brand new but small series called Microman 2003. This time the line was aim more at the collectors and older fans.
In the late 2000s, Takara expanded the Microman brand to include various licensed brands, including Batman
(both comic-based and from Batman Begins
), Superman
(both comic-based and from Superman Returns
), Evangelion
, Street Fighter
, Godzilla
, Alien vs Predator and Kinnikuman
. A Spider-Man
toy was announced at one point although no pictures ever surfaced; its product number eventually went to one of the Predator figures.
In 1984, Hasbro acquired the license for the transforming vehicle toys from the "Micro Change" subline and the Diaclone
toyline. With help from Marvel Comics
to flesh out the back-story
, the two were combined to create the Transformers toyline.
Former MicroChange toys re-badged as Transformers include:
Additionally, the Transformers: Superlink line in Japan included a Microman figure of the character "Kicker"; the American Transformers: Energon
line did not import this figure, and a new sculpt based on that of a G.I. Joe was made instead.
The basic female figure from the Material Force line (known as Microlady), in addition to the differences in plastic color, was also issued in varying bust sizes (S,M,L and L+). Another addition to the line made in 2006 was the introduction of a new female mannequin dubbed the Micro Sister, which depicts a waifish female, with the innovation of toe articulation.
, the series ran from January 4, 1999 to December 17, 1999. Unlike the toyline, the story is much different and focused on five Microman heroes.
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s manufactured by Takara
Takara
Takara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
(known as TOMY in English and K.K. Takara-Tomy [株式会社タカラトミー] in Japanese since 2006) from 1974 to the present. Microman toys were originally imported to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Mego Corporation
Mego Corporation
The Mego Corporation was a toy company that dominated the action figure toy market during most of the 1970s. The Mego Corporation was founded in the early 1950s by David Abrams and was mostly known prior to 1971 as a producer of dime store toys.-Golden age:...
as Micronauts
Micronauts
The Micronauts comic books feature a group of characters based on the Micronauts toyline. The title was published by Marvel Comics, Image Comics, and Devil's Due Publishing. Their first comic appearance was in Micronauts #1 with characterizations created by Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden...
until the company went bankrupt in 1982. Some of the toys later became a part of the first line of Transformers
Transformers (toy line)
The is a line of toys produced by the American toy company Hasbro. The Transformers toyline was created from toy molds mostly produced by Japanese company Takara in the toylines Diaclone and Microman. Other toy molds from other companies such as Bandai were used as well...
.
The line of toys consists mainly of small 3.75" action-figures that are known for their high number of articulation points, averaging thirty, relative to other toys of similar size. The toys include vehicles and robots, and interchangeable parts
Interchangeable parts
Interchangeable parts are parts that are, for practical purposes, identical. They are made to specifications that ensure that they are so nearly identical that they will fit into any device of the same type. One such part can freely replace another, without any custom fitting...
that can be transferred from one toy to another.
An anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation was released January 4, 1999 under the name Chiisana Kyojin Microman (小さな巨人ミクロマン, The Small Giant, Microman).
Old Era
In 1972, Takara released a series of 8" and 12" action figures called Henshin Cyborg ("Transforming Cyborg"). The Henshin Cyborg line was a spin-offSpin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
of the earlier Combat Joe line. The Combat Joe line was created from the mould of the 8" and 12" G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
figures that Takara licensed from Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. The body of the Henshin Cyborg was molded in clear plastic to expose the gleaming inner cybernetic implants and the "atomic engine".
Since both the cost of producing and the large size of the vehicles and playsets for the 12" dolls were prohibitive, in 1974 Takara decided to produce a miniature version of the Henshin Cyborg line which was called Microman.
The first series, Microman Zone, included four figures and several vehicles in kit form that needed to be assembled. Microman Zone proved to be popular and by its second year, the Microman line was spun off from the "Henshin Cyborg" line.
Unlike other toylines at the time, Microman figures were marketed as being the "actual" size of the cyborg beings they were meant to be replicas of. The cyborg beings were said to hail from the fictional planet Micro Earth, and to disguise themselves as toys. All of the Microman toys used 5 mm connectors and ports, which allowed parts from one toy to be attached to another toy to form new toys.
New Era (1998-Present)
In 1999, Takara, for the first time since 1984, produced new Microman toys. (Microman 21 series was produced under license by Romando). The new Microman series was divided into two distinct lines - the Magne Powers series and the Replica Microman series. The Replica Microman series was mainly aim at adult collectors and older fans and consisted of reissues of vintage Microman figures along with limited and exclusive new color variations. The Magne Powers Series (and later LED Series) was designed for the kids with brand new toy designs and new story line, including for the first time in Microman history, a Microman anime series. Beside the anime, Takara also commissioned manga serial for Bom Bom comic magazine.The Founder series launched the Replica Microman Series and soon were follow with the reissued of many old favorites such as the Acroyear A30X, Spy Magician M14X and Lady Command during the first year. Beside the reissue versions, Takara also released several new color variations and even new members to add to the rank of the old. In 2000, Takara followed with more reissued and even more color variants. However, the Microman market became very saturated with many variants and by 2001 Takara had severely scale back the release of the Replica Series.
The Magne Power series was launched with much fanfare and anticipation on December 26, 1998. The series eventually achieved only a mild success with kids and even less with adult collectors who felt the new series was too different from the old especially with the 8 cm scale and limited articulations of the new figures. By 2000, Takara, also in financial dire, reduced the new series to just a few dozen of toys and canceled the very expensive Microman anime and also eventually the manga in Bom Bom. In 2001 Takara put the new Microman series for the second time on a hiatus.
The Replica Series was still being released in 2002 but was on a very limited basis and mainly through Takara e-Hobby Shop. In 2003 Takara decided to test Microman market with brand new but small series called Microman 2003. This time the line was aim more at the collectors and older fans.
In the late 2000s, Takara expanded the Microman brand to include various licensed brands, including Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
(both comic-based and from Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is a 2005 American superhero action film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson,...
), Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
(both comic-based and from Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
), Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise
The franchise is an umbrella of Japanese media properties generally owned by the anime studio Gainax. It has grossed over 150 billion yen since 1995. The central works of the franchise feature an apocalyptic mecha action story which revolves around the efforts by the paramilitary organization...
, Street Fighter
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
, Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
, Alien vs Predator and Kinnikuman
Kinnikuman
is a manga created by the duo of Yudetamago , which is composed of Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada. The manga was published in Shueisha's Weekly Jump, and received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga in 1985...
. A Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
toy was announced at one point although no pictures ever surfaced; its product number eventually went to one of the Predator figures.
Micronauts
When the Microman toys were imported to the US, different US companies acquired the licence and took the toyline in different directions. The Mego Corporation in the US acquired the licence for the 3.75" action figures and vehicles and released them in the US as the Micronauts.Transformers
In the early 1980s Takara produced a second Microman line called New Microman. Many of the playsets and accessories were based on, or disguised themselves, as "life-sized" realistic objects. A subline called MicroChange was launched which featured toys that transformed into vehicles or robots which could be used with the Microman figures.In 1984, Hasbro acquired the license for the transforming vehicle toys from the "Micro Change" subline and the Diaclone
Diaclone
Diaclone was a toyline by Takara Toys launched in 1980. It consisted of transforming vehicles and robots piloted by miniature, magnet-shoed figures spun off from the prior Microman toy line that were in turn called an Inch-Man....
toyline. With help from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
to flesh out the back-story
Back-story
A back-story, background story, or backstory is the literary device of a narrative chronologically earlier than, and related to, a narrative of primary interest. Generally, it is the history of characters or other elements that underlie the situation existing at the main narrative's start...
, the two were combined to create the Transformers toyline.
Former MicroChange toys re-badged as Transformers include:
- "Megatron" - originally a black-and-brown Walther P-38 who turned into a robot wielding a laser gun and a sword. Although the Japanese version (sold in 1985) was this version, the American version was the U.N.C.L.E. variant, named after the hit TV showThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
), featuring a chrome body with "extensions" (a sight, scope, and barrel extension/silencer). However, the sword, also included with the Japanese "U.N.C.L.E." version, was excluded from the American Megatron, possibly for fear that children may stab themselves in the eye with the sword. Furthermore, the original Japanese toy's ability to fire plastic pellet-like bullets was removed from the American toy. The U.N.C.L.E. extensions converted into a cannon capable of being operated by one of the Micromen. - "CassetteMan" - a microcassetteMicrocassetteA Microcassette is an audio storage medium introduced by Olympus in 1969. It uses the same width of magnetic tape as the Compact Cassette but in a much smaller container. By using thinner tape and half or a quarter the tape speed, microcassettes can offer comparable recording time to the compact...
recorder that turned into a robot. This toy was converted into the DecepticonDecepticonThe Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
SoundwaveSoundwaveSound waves are audible acoustic waves that carry sound.Soundwave may also refer to:*Soundwave , an annual music festival held in Australia...
and was capable of carrying a number of other robots who turned into actual-sized micro-cassettes. The Transformers version was imagined in comics and TV as changing into a traditionally-scaled cassette recorder. - "Car" - Seven MicroChange robots were made to disguise themselves as "toy cars". Three of them were made to resemble Takara's own Choro QChoro-Qis a series of Japanese 3–4 cm long toy cars, with coil-spring pullback motors, first made by Takara in 1978, and sold extensively in Western markets as Penny Racers....
(Penny RacersPenny RacersPenny Racers is a racing game for the Nintendo 64 it was released in 1998. The game is part of the Japanese racing game series Choro Q and is known by the name Choro Q 64 in Japan. . The game had a Nintendo 64 sequel released only in Japan, Choro Q 64 2: Hachamecha Grand Prix Race...
) cars. All seven were released as Transformers, more specifically AutobotAutobotAutobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
Mini-cars, but only six of them were sold as named characters:- "Bumblebee" - VW Bug.
- "Cliffjumper" - Porsche 924Porsche 924The Porsche 924 is an automobile produced by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988. A two-door, 2+2 coupé, the 924 replaced the 914 as the company's entry-level model, and was the model that finally retired the 912. In production terms, the 924 was the first Porsche model powered by a...
Turbo. - "Windcharger" - Pontiac Trans Am.
- "Brawn" - Land RoverLand RoverLand Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
. - "Huffer" - cab-over-engine semi.
- "Gears" - 4x4 pickup truck.
- The seventh, modeled after a Choro Q version of the Mazda FamiliaMazda FamiliaMazda's automotive plans for the early sixties consisted of growing alongside the Japanese economy. To achieve this goal, they began by building an extremely cheap Kei car, the R360 in 1960, planning on introducing gradually larger and pricier cars as the Japanese customers became able to afford them...
1500XG/Mazda 323, was sold on "Bumblebee" and "Cliffjumper" cards and thus uses one of two names created by the Transformers' fan community, namely Bumblejumper or Bumper.- "Perceptor" - a microscope (originally black) that changes into a robot wielding a rifle and missile launcher, plus the microscope's own magnifying scope as a weapon. The "Perceptor" also had an alternate third transformation mode, that of a rover-like tank vehicle that a 3.75" Microman cyborg figure could drive. The Transformers version was recolored dark red and became the Autobot scientist, PerceptorPerceptorPerceptor is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Perceptor transforms into a microscope ....
. In Japan the toy was released in black again by the company e-HOBBYE-hobbye-Hobby is an online Japanese retailer that is perhaps best known for creating and selling exclusive repaints of Transformers by Takara. One of the reasons that these figures are so coveted is because they are often new or rare characters...
as a Decepticon named Magnificus. - "Blaster" - the second micro-cassette-holding radio for MicroChange. However, this one is made to resemble a much larger boom box. Also unlike CassetteMan/Soundwave, this cassette player came with a special component resembling a micro-cassette that allowed it to receive FM radio broadcasts. While the original version of this toy was molded in dark blue with a light blue cassette door/chest, a recolored version for Italian company GiGGigGig or GIG may refer to:* Gig , live performance by a musician or other performer** Temporary work, by extension* Gig , 1993* Gig , 1992...
was also produced in red with a dark blue door. The Transformers version, the Autobot BlasterBlaster (Transformers)Blaster is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers television and comic series based on the popular toy line produced by Takara Tomy and Hasbro. Due to trademark reasons, he is sometimes called Autobot Blaster...
, is based on the Italian red version with all electronics removed from the toy. Its ability to open its cassette door (without excessive force) was also removed (as the Autobots did not have cassette/robots at the time Blaster was released, a feature was later restored, however, when new tapes were made specifically for Blaster in 1986).
- "Perceptor" - a microscope (originally black) that changes into a robot wielding a rifle and missile launcher, plus the microscope's own magnifying scope as a weapon. The "Perceptor" also had an alternate third transformation mode, that of a rover-like tank vehicle that a 3.75" Microman cyborg figure could drive. The Transformers version was recolored dark red and became the Autobot scientist, Perceptor
Additionally, the Transformers: Superlink line in Japan included a Microman figure of the character "Kicker"; the American Transformers: Energon
Transformers: Energon
Transformers: Energon, known in Japan as , is the 2004–2005 Transformers toyline, animated series and comic book series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara and a direct sequel to Transformers: Armada...
line did not import this figure, and a new sculpt based on that of a G.I. Joe was made instead.
Microman
In 2004, Takara started exporting Microman toys to the US again under the original name. Of these, one sub-line is the Material Force assortment, consisting of "blank", featureless male and female mannequins, molded out of different colored plastic and packed with several interchangeable hands, which proved very popular as templates for custom made characters.The basic female figure from the Material Force line (known as Microlady), in addition to the differences in plastic color, was also issued in varying bust sizes (S,M,L and L+). Another addition to the line made in 2006 was the introduction of a new female mannequin dubbed the Micro Sister, which depicts a waifish female, with the innovation of toe articulation.
Anime
The anime adaption of the series is based on the toys and the Manga serialized by Comic Bom Bom with Takara's permission in 1999. Produced by Studio PierrotStudio Pierrot
is a Japanese animation/animation studio, founded in 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production. Its headquarters is located in Mitaka, Tokyo.The company has a simple logo of the face of a clown...
, the series ran from January 4, 1999 to December 17, 1999. Unlike the toyline, the story is much different and focused on five Microman heroes.
Plot
One spring day, a small package is delivered to Kohei Kuji, a school boy. When he opens the box he finds five small action-figures inside. To his surprise, they begin to move around and start to talk to him. They introduce themselves as "Microman", coming from the planet Micro Earth which is located at the far end of the universe. They start to explain about their mission, telling him that Earth is now in danger. There is an evil power, call Acroyer, who is conspiring to conquer the universe. The five Microman are send by the mysterious Professor K to Kohei to save Earth.External links
- http://www.microforever.com
- http://www.edit.ne.jp/~sashida/MICROMAN/micro.html
- http://www.microforever.com/MicroMillenium.htm
- Studio Pierrot's Chiisana Kyojin Microman Website