New Microman Series

1981 New Microman

New Microman

Microman Series

1974

Microman Zone
The first year of included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines, and Conning Tower.

1975

Project Victory
The 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 the Microman series, this year saw some of the best toys for the line.

1978

Police Keeper

Takara tried new designs and directions for the series with the release of Hoodman and Arden.

1979

Rescue Team
Takara's "rescue" attempt for the line with the Rescue Team Microman.  This year also saw an update of the old favorites like the New Tower Base.

1980

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

New Microman Series

1981

New Microman
Takara reset the line and relaunched the series under the "New Microman" banner.

1982

Micro Robot
Micro Robot series became the main focus of the new line.  Takara also tried to cash in on the "pla-mo" popularity with Real Type and Micro Borg.

1983

Micro Change
The "transformation" for the 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.

In 1981, Takara decided to "reset" the Microman line to attract younger generations and rejuvenate the series. In the first year of the New Microman, Takara released 10 Microman figures, each was recolored and renamed version of various Microman from the original line complete with a new story. Takara basically "erased" Microman history and replaced it with a more streamlined one. Takara realized that the market for Microman figures was not as strong, to cut costs and simplify production, Takara then redesigned each New Microman with a simple "M-00X". All the same types of Microman would have the same designation number even if they were released with different color schemes. Many of the New Microman were later released as vehicles set in "exclusive" colors and had a different color than those marketed individually but they shared the same name and designation. While the Microman were all re-releases of the old toys, Takara introduced a brand new design for the Acroyear. The New Acroyears featured some of the old series trademarks such as a die-cast body, bug-like appearance, and transformable feature. Takara however did introduce a new type of Microman figure called Micro Robot.  The new Micro Robots were nothing like the old series Micro Robot, these new robots were miniaturized versions of 80's mecha-style robots with abilities to transform themselves into vehicles or weapon platform for the New Microman.  The new Micro Robot series was signaling the shift from cyborg to living robot concept.  Micro Robot would became a foundation for the later Micro Change Series which would eventually became Transformers. Takara released two series of Micro Robot in 1981 - Micro Robot 1-2-3, and Micro Robot V.

The first year of New Microman had limited numbers of play sets and vehicles. The two large robots were both transformable style robots which was another trend for the New Microman series. Gone were the interchangeable toys of the old series. The new series play-set had robots that transformed into vehicles for Microman figures.  Another emerging trend for the new line was the concept of the powered armored suit.  The first year featured the basic snap-on type suits called the Mighty Suit which appeared to be an evolved version of the Microman Power-Up set from the old series.

Besides, the Microman series, Takara also released a new sci-fi series called Diaclone. The new line was an off-shoot from the Microman series and was essentially a scale-down of the Microman concept. The figures were now just about an inch tall (it was reported that the line was nicknamed inch-man at one time) but still featured the familiar chrome head.  The small figures look much like miniature Punch Microman and come with multiple color variants.  The figures also feature magnetic feet. The main attraction was not these small figures, however, but the big giant robots they piloted. This was probably Takara's plan of two-prong foray into the die-cast robot toys market dominated by companies such as Popy at the time.  By splitting their sci-fi series into two scales, Takara could cover both the action-figures market and the giant robots market.  The Diaclone series ran parallel with the New Microman line and would suffer the same fate as the New Microman when Transformers debuted in 1984. (Special thanks to Micro Bry for this bit of history of Takara toys development which greatly explained not only the reason for the die-cast robots but also the concept and synergy behind Diaclone and New Microman)

New Microman Story

In a far universe existed a planet called Micro-Earth, a highly civilized world that was locked in a war with the Acroyears race who were determined to conquer Micro-Earth and the universe.   Micro-Police Corp send a signal to the Special Unit Microman to return to Micro-Earth from their patrol to stop the Acroyears who had just stolen the Dimension Generator.  While they approached Micro-Earth in their ship, they were surprised by a sudden mysterious explosion that completely obliterated Micro-Earth.  The ten Microman then gave chase to the Acroyears who were making an escape to another dimension using the Dimension Generator.   They soon found themselves on Earth and decided to make Earth their new home.  The Ten Microman allied themselves with kids on Earth to stop the Acroyear's plan of universe domination