MA-27 & 28

MICROMAN 2006 MICRO-ACTION

Micro Action Series is essentially a licensed character using Microman Full Action Body format with no real tie to regular Microman line. (Unlike Kiguru and Material Force series which are somewhat part of the main line). Micro Action series have been very popular with action-figures collectors who otherwise do not collect Microman series. The characters for Action Series have been very diverse from Devilman to Superman Returns and with nice good mix of live-action, comic and anime characters.

TAKARA JOIN TOKUSATSU ACTION!

However, one of the genre that would be perfect for Micro Action format, tokusatsu, is largely missing. (Tokusatsu is a term for Japanese live-action super hero TV show, usually gear toward kids but recently are becoming popular with adults). The only tokusatsu character so far for Action Series is Casshern from the movie "Casshern".  One of the reason is the fact that most of the popular tokusatsu series (Kamen Rider and Sentai series) are produced by Toei which co-own partly by Bandai so naturally all the toy properties go to Bandai. In 2006, Takara begin to enter this segment of the market long dominate by Bandai and sponsor a new tokusatsu show call Ryukendo. (Probably something they learned during their short stint as part of Konami). Ryukendo is produced by Studio Shochiku (same one that produce Casshern movie). Takara has the right to produce merchandise for Ryukendo series which mainly gear toward kids, this include the usual tokusatsu toys - 5" action-figures, vehicles and role-play (cosplay) accessories. It is not a big surprise to see Ryukendo characters show up under Microman Micro Action series banner.

MADAN KNIGHT RYUKENDO

Ryukendo is typical live action series, the designs overall is like a mixture of the recent Kamen Riders with some of the Sentai designs. (So it is hardly original). The premise of the story is the usual tokusatsu plot, secret evil organization (in this case the demons) are planning to take over the world and our hero with magic device (or sometime techno gadget) then transform into super-hero to fight these bad guys.

RYUKENDO FULL ACTION BODY!

Micro Action Ryukendo is basically Ryukendo using Microman Full Action body. The final product look much better than the prototype shown several months earlier. The figure has very nice details, though the paint job is still a little sloppy. The bracers are removable so they can be replace with the fist weapon so they tends to fall off easy. The head is a bit small for the body (which seems to be problem with many Micro Action figures). The joints however are nice and tight and thus far no report of broken parts. The figure has a lot of sharp edges (due to the design and the use of hard ABS plastic for the molded on armor pieces). Which bring us to the strange reason that Takara is trying to market this figure to older collectors. Ryukendo already has a full toy line dedicate to the series so Micro Ryukendo is then mainly aim at adult collector crowd. One can see figures like Goa Gai Gar or Batman being market as Micro Action due to their nostalgic element, but for a brand new and very kid-oriented TV show to be made into Micro Action just seem somewhat opportunistic on the part of Takara.  I would think 12" Henshin Cyborg version of Ryukendo would have made a better supplemental to the line. However, if you happen to be fan of tokusatsu genre or fan of the show itself, then this figure is a nice addition, since it is unlikely we will get Microman versions of Kamen Riders or Sentai characters, short of doing our own customs. Takara plan to release additional characters from Ryukendo in the coming month.

TSUKAIMA - CANNON FODDER MICRO ACTION

Aside from Ryukendo, Takara also release Micro Action version of Tsukaima (demon). Tsukaima are the cannon fodder peons from the series. The figure is Full Action Body with added shoulder rubber piece and head sculpt. The shoulder piece makes the figure a little taller than normal, so the Tsukaima stands strangely taller than our hero Ryukendo. The figure comes with demon dagger, hands set and figure stand. Takara clearly intends to market these guys be use as army-building figure, and as such, Tsukaima is sold in less expensive small box instead of the half-size blister card.

Somebody has to make the hero look good...