New Microman Series - Micro Ridor

1981 New Microman Series

Microman Micro Robot - Micro Ridor (Red Type and Blue Type) with M004 Eiji (c.1981)

Micro Robot

1974

Microman Zone
First year included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines and the 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 line with the Rescue Team Microman. This year also saw updated of the old favorite like the New Tower Base.

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 relaunch 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 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.

Package

Microman Micro Ridor toy came packaged in blue color box with painted artwork and clear die-cut windows. This style of package was common with most of the larger New Microman toys. By 1981, Takara had returned to using painted picture for box art and clear cellophane die-cut window to display the box content and toy colors.

For New Microman series, Takara began to heavily release toys with alternate color scheme. The secondary color or alternate color for Micro Ridor was the a blue color version. The box remained the same.

Instruction & Sticker Sheet

Micro Ridor came with full instruction on the back of the box. The toy also came with a sticker sheet. (not shown)

Microman Rider Included

Micro Ridor came packaged with Microman M004 Eiji. (Micro Ridor was his personal vehicle.) Microman Eiji included with Micro Ridor was blue and black version which was the same as the individual sale (capsule) version of M004. It was not until 1982, when Takara began to pack in exclusive special colors with Microman vehicles and play-sets. Micro Ridor Eiji however came with two exclusive helmets (one for the rider and one for the passenger). There was some evidence that some of the toys were sold with blue and white 004 Eiji. In the early days of New Microman several of the figures were made from left over stocks so this could be entirely possible. Early versions of M005 were sold in both black and white pelvic parts and M002 and M003 were sold using figures from old Microman line.

Descendent of Micro Ridor?

The early New Microman toy especially those from 1981-82 were truly the pre-Transformers toys. These early Micro Robots toys were the forerunner of Microman Micro Change which were later sold as Transformers. In 2002, Takara and Hasbro released motorcycle Transformers toys for Armada series called Sideway. Sideway to me look a lot like the Micro Ridor. Hasbro later repaint the toy and sold it as Rapid Run for the Energon line.

Takara released Microman Micro Ridor toys in December of 1981 as part of the new line of Microman toys called "New Microman" Micro Ridor was retailed for 2500 Yen and marked the return of die-cast vehicle for Microman series. Takara decided to enter into die-cast robot market with the new revamp Microman series and its companion line Diaclone. Micro Ridor was one of the first fully self transform vehicle for Microman. Micro Ridor, despite being release early in the New Microman line, already showcased Takara aptitude for making transformable toys. (Marketing them however was another story).

Most of the New Microman toys released in early part of 1981 were planned for the original Microman series. When Takara decided to reset the line, many of the toys such as Micro Gunder and many of the Microman figures were carried over into the new series. Micro Ridor, however, appeared to have been designed for the new series. The toy had large amount of die-cast contents (design to go up against other die-cast robots market which at that time dominated by Popy and Takatoku). Micro Ridor was a Microman robot that can transformed into motorcycle for Microman. The bike had real working rubber tires, with die-cast frame. Micro Ridor while being a self transformable toy, still had many of the old series interchangeability using the now standard 5mm ports. Like most toys in the New Microman, Micro Ridor came in two choice of colors - red and blue. Both toy came with pack-in New Microman figure 004 Eiji. The figure was recolor of the old Microman Command 1 figure with added sticker badge. Both the blue and red Micro Ridor came with blue color figure with black pelvic. The glow in the dark section was molded in yellow regular plastic. (See sidebar). Takara also included accessories for Microman figure including two motorcycle helmets and a pair of gold leg wings. The blue Micro Ridor came with matching blue helmets while the red version came with red color.

MicroRidor Red Type and Blue Type

Micro Ridor aside from being a pretty cool looking transformable bike also came packed with many play features. The toy came with several spring-loaded missiles launchers. The rear motorcycle wing pack (also serve as wing pack for robot mode) had two missile launchers that launched chrome missiles (four missiles were included). The wing had 5mm ports that can be mounted with two more removable launchers on each side. The wing pack also had secondary interchangeable function as a side-car for the bike. In this mode the two missile launchers can be removed and mount on the front of the bike. Beside these four launchers, the bike also had two secret "rear" launchers hidden inside the rear part of the bike (form robot feet). These secret launchers shoot a smaller (also chromed) missiles. (Only three were included). Micro Ridor definitely was one of the cooler looking New Microman toys that also packed with many play features, these factors undoubtedly made it one of the more sought after toys. (Special thanks to Vincent G. for the trade deal)