Microman

Robin (M251), an example of the 3.75" figures that made up the bulk of the line.

Microman (ミクロマン Mikuroman) is one of two Takara toy lines (the other being Diaclone) from which the original Transformers toys came. It consists of 3.75" action figures whose hallmarks are being highly articulated for their size and distinctive chromed head, along with vehicles and accessories.

Strangely enough, it is both a descendant of Hasbro's 12" G.I. Joe toy line via the Henshin Cyborg line, based on original G.I. Joe molds licensed to Takara and cast in transparent plastic, and the ancestor of Hasbro's 3.75" G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line, which used construction identical to the modified Microman construction developed by Mego for licensed character figures after bringing Microman to the West as the Micronauts line. It is also the immediate ancestor of Diaclone, the 1.25" chromed-head Diaclone drivers being a one-third scale version of Microman just as Microman was to Henshin Cyborg.

Overview

Original toyline (1974-1984)

Robotman with a 3.75" Microman pilot visible in his chest

First released in 1974, Microman was the first line of poseable 3.75" figures. Robotman, the first toy to transform from a robot to a vehicle, was added to the line in 1975. In 1978, the "Cosmo Countach", the first car-to-robot transforming toy (although the "robot" form was still a half-robot, half-car hybrid), was released as part of the "Micro Command" sub-line. Its vehicle form later served as the inspiration for the Diaclone predecessor of Sunstreaker, whom Hasbro considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.

Thus the impact of Microman on the global boys' toy market can scarcely be overestimated, despite the fact that Microman itself is little known outside of Japan. In 1983, a new "Micro Change" theme was introduced, under which all but a few of the robots and vehicles made to interact with the figures would have the ability to disguise themselves as ordinary household objects. The next year, these would end up in North American and European markets as part of Hasbro's Transformers line, and at the end of 1984 Takara canceled both Microman and Diaclone in favor of reimporting the Transformers with their new animated series (which these lines both lacked).

Micro Millenium (1998-2000)

15 years after being taken off the market, Microman returned, picking up a motley assortment of Transformers-related vehicles such as Action Master Optimus Prime's Armored Convoy, Micromaster Countdown's Rocket Base and the Laser Cycles along the way. Notably, a short animated film based on this version of the Microman line was packaged alongside a Super Doll Licca-chan short film and the Beast Wars episode "Cutting Edge" in an anthology for the 1999 Summer Toei Anime Fair. Although supported by a full anime, the toyline lasted only 2 years.

Microman Force (2003-2007)

Another new line of Microman figures appeared in 2003, reenvisioned as an adult-oriented collectible. TakaraTomy still continue to produce this toy line, and iIn addition to a variety of original characters, this line placed a much stronger focus on licensed characters each year under the "Micro Action" subline. These included such diverse properties as Neon Genesis Evangelion's Rei and Asuka, Batman and several female supporting characters as well as Ra's Al Ghul, Street Fighter's Chun-Li and Sakura, the Predator, and Godzilla (the figures actually go inside rubber monster suits!), among many many others. This version prided itself on "Full Action Bodies" (30+ points of articulation).

Microman and Transformers

Interaction between the Microman franchise and the world of the Transformers by no means ended in 1984, and Microman continues to exert an influence on the franchise to this day:

Direct crossovers

• Around 1999, Takara released a special version of the Replica (reissue) Microman Lady Command figure as part of a lucky draw for "The Official Guide to Takara SF Land" book in white and gold chrome named Arcee. The regular versions of the Lady Command figure all had names starting with "A" (Ann, Alice, Annie and Ai), so Arcee makes sense by that logic - but whether this is an incarnation of "our" G1 character is currently not known. Only 5 Lady Command Arcee figures were released.
• The 1975-era Microman M121 Mason (and Robotman, in a special move) appeared in the cross-company DreamMix TV World Fighters video game, representing Takara's properties alongside Optimus Prime, Megatron, and, uh, Licca-chan.

Shared toy engineering

• Backward compatibility within the various Microman toylines means Microman figures well into the 2000s could continue to utilize the Micro Change accessories ported into the Generation 1 toyline, such as the gun turret formed from Megatron's gun attachments.
• Though it has not been verified, several Transformers items released in Japan are said to have been originally developed for the Micro Millenium line, such as the Beast Wars II Tako Tank and Niagara Base, and the Arsenal Force weapons in Robotmasters.

Homages

• The Micronauts-exclusive character "Antron" appeared as a video game character in the Transformers Animated episode "Where Is Thy Sting?".
• Three Microman toys were repurposed in eHOBBY's 2010s Precursor World continuity:
  • Magna Convoy's first body is a Blue Micro Knight from the 1979 Police Keeper subline.
  • The One's statue in the inner sanctum of the Primus Vanguard's headquarters is Giant Robo G-1, an unreleased prototype.
  • The tank preserving Chief Engineer Straxus after his dismemberment is an Escargot vehicle from the 1975 Mecha-Cosmo series.

Fiction

Animated cartoon

Wyatt Toys advertised Diaclone and Microman toys for sale in the Detroit Powell Press. The AllSpark Almanac

External links

• Microman Forever (English fansite)
• Microman Maniacs (Japanese fansite)
• Micro-Earth (Japanese fansite)