Classic Microman

Takara Microman Series 1974-1984

Microman

Microman Series

1974

Microman Zone
First year included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines and Conning Tower.

1975

Project Victory
Second year saw more Microman and several new sub series such as the Acroyears, Titans and Victory series.

1976

Spy Magician

The line finally came into its own during the third year with new figures and the classic Microman Transfer Fortress.

1977

Command
A watershed year for Microman series, this year saw some of the best toys for the line. 

1978

Police Keeper

Takara tried new design and direction for the series with the released of Hoodman and Arden. 

1979

Rescue Team
Takara "rescue" attempt for the series with the Rescue Team Microman.  This year saw updated of old favorites like the Tower Base and Robotman 2.

1980

Punch & Blizzard Man
The last year of the original series saw the shift in the line to more robot like look and larger figures.

New Microman Series

1981

New Microman
Takara reset the line and re-launch the series under the New Microman banner.  

1982

Micro Robot
Micro Robot series became the main focus of the new line.

1983

Micro Change
The "transformation" for Microman series began with the Micro Change series.

1984

Transformers
Takara continued with the successful Micro Change series but the changing of the guard was inevitable. 

Microman toys were first released in 1974 by a Japanese toy company TAKARA as a smaller 10cm version of their popular 8" & 12" fully articulated doll line - the Henshin Cyborg which was debuted in 1972. Takara's Henshin (transforming) Cyborg was actually a spin off from Takara Combat Joe line, which interestingly was a licensed product from another popular well known dolls for boys - the GI Joe.  Henshin Cyborg was Combat Joe body molded in clear plastic to expose the gleaming inner cybernetic implants and the "atomic engine".  (This was mainly the reason for the clear plastic body, chrome head and chest plate on the first series Microman figures.) The original marketing concept was to make Microman a miniature version of the Henshin Cyborg so this way variety of play-sets and vehicles could be produced for them at reasonable price, since the cost to design and produced vehicles and play-sets for the 12" dolls was very prohibitive not to mention would not be very practical for Japanese market where living spaces were always at a premium and parents were never too keen on large size toys that take up a lot of rooms.

Microman Story? 

Unlike most other Japanese toys lines, Microman series was not based on a particular TV show or anime. The story for the line at first was mainly  provided by the mini-size "catarog" that came with the toys. Microman "catarog" became the source of information for kids and many spend hours looking at all the Microman toys and read the story in these tiny micro catalogs. It was not until 1976 that Takara commissioned comic serial for the line that ran in "TV Magazine" (a Japanese comic magazine).  Microman comic (manga), drawn and written by the late Mr. Moritou, became very popular with kids and Microman toys became one of the most successful toy line for Takara.

The first series Microman, Microman Zone, included four Microman figures and several vehicles in kit form that must be assembled. Microman Zone proved to be popular and by its second year Microman line began to take on its own identity and separated itself from the influence of the Henshin Cyborg line.  The bare feet were soon replaced with cybernetic looking feet.  And several new Microman types were released that had very little resemblance to the original Henshin Cyborg. Microman popularity was, of course, due to their size.  Takara, long before Kenner Star Wars line, pioneered the concept of small plastic action-figures.  Also unlike other toys line at the time, Microman figures were the "actual" size of the real thing.  Microman figures were market as a real cyborg being from planet Micro Earth that disguised themselves as toys.  Kids not only played with Microman figures but they became part of Microman world.  Another reason for Microman popularity was the interchangeable concept. Because all Microman toys used 5mm standard for connectors and ports, parts from one toys could be attached to another toys to form brand new toys.

The original Microman line ran from 1974 up to 1980, which was a testament to the popularity of the series.  By 1980 however, TAKARA faced with a dilemma. Most of their original customers were now much older and no longer interested in childish toys, however the younger generation was unable to understand the line since they did not follow it from the beginning.  Also by this time the line was extremely "aged".  (To be fair, six years was a very long time for any toys line especially in the market whose average life was usually just one or two years.) In 1981, Takara decided to "reset" the line and re-introduced the toys to the new generation under the name "New Microman" to separate it from the old series. The New Microman shifted the emphasis from interchangeable to self-transformation (vehicles that can turned into robots or weapons) and "combiner" transformation (whereby several smaller robots or vehicles would form one large robots).