In 1999, Takara, for the first time since 1984, Takara produced new Microman toys. The new Microman series - the Magne Powers series (and later the LED Series) was designed for kids with brand new toy designs and a new story line, including for the first time in Microman history, a Microman anime series. Besides the anime, Takara also commissioned a manga serial with Bom Bom comic magazine. The story premise for this new Microman series goes like this:
One spring day, a small package is delivered to Kohei Kuji, a school boy. When he opens the box, he finds five small action-figures inside. To his surprise, they begin to move around and start to talk to him. They introduce themselves as "Microman", coming from Micro-earth which is located at the far end of the universe. They start to explain about their mission, telling him that earth is now in danger. There is an evil power, called Acroyear, conspiring to conquer the universe. The five Magne Power Microman are sent to Kohei to save earth by a mysterious man named Professor K.
Twenty five years prior, the original four Microman were freed from their capsules by a boy name Akira Katagai, son of a prominent scientist, Dr. Katagai. Microman told Akira that they came from a distant planet called Micro-earth. They soon discovered that they were not the only one that arrived on earth, the evil Microman called the Acroyears have also arrived on earth and their powers have benefited greatly from earth's pollution. The four Microman built the Conning Tower and fired the Spectrum MX ray to seek out other Microman to aid them in their battle against the Acroyears. Microman went into hiding after the defeat of the Acroyears during the Great Blizzard Operation campaign, until now...
Robotmen Dean and Endeavor flanking Robotman Baron and a host of LED Microman figuresTakara released Robotman Dean, Endeavor and the new Giant Acroyear as the last three toys of the Magne Power line. All three were the largest of all the robots in the 1999 line-up.
Both Robotmen Dean and Endeavor look to have been borne out of the original series' Robotman concept. They stand about 10" tall and best of all they actually have a cockpit for the Microman figure much like the vintage Robotman. Robotman Dean's head also resemble the look of the vintage Robotman 2. Robotman Dean was designed to be compatible with magnemo-11 and both Robotmen Dean and Endeavor were also designed as combiner type robots.
Robotman Endeavor and Robotman Dean, can be broken apart to form several vehicles and weapons platforms for Microman figures.
The Micro Playstation!
It transforms into a flying base!
The Micro(Game)BoyMicro Boys were the first Microman vehicles for the LED Powers Series. They were Microman Armored Suits disguised as Game Boys. (Nintendo portable game unit)
At first glance, the Micro Boy appears to be another Transformers-type robot but upon closer examination, they look more like an Armored Suit or Powered Suit for Microman. In vehicle mode, the Micro Boy looks very nice and has that futuristic sled-like look to it. In Mission Control mode it looks a little weak but still conveys a sense that Microman is sitting at a control module.
Each Micro Boy came with an exclusive Laser Microman.
Microbikes: molds were taken from TF designs!LED Powers L-14 & L-15 MicroBikes are resculpted toys from Gen2 Transformers LaserCycles (c.1994). L-14 MachSpeeder was Transformers RoadRocket and L-15 was Transformers all Road Pig. Takara retooled the handle bars to fit the LaserMicroman hands but sadly removed the light-up mechanism of the old toys. If you wonder if these toys are really old Transformers molds just look underneath RoadBison and you will see: "1994 Copyright by Hasbro Inc., All Rights Reserved by Takara and Made in Thailand".
Since these toys were Transformers toys they naturally transform into some type of robot. MachSpeeder and RoadBison when transformed stand about 12cm tall. The transformation is pretty basic but yields a decent looking mecha.
LED Microman Microtrailer and TF Action Master Optimus Prime TrailerTakara released the Micro Truck in July 2000 and is yet another repaint of a Transformers toy. Micro Truck was Transformers Action Master Series Optimus Prime truck.
Takara gave the new truck a transluscent green color with a pearl white cab section.
The Transformers Action Master line looked to be an attempt by Takara / Hasbro to turn Transformers into an action figure line like Microman or GI Joe (the Transformers figures were about 3 1/2" tall) so it comes as no surprise that the Optimus Prime Truck would fit into Microman line.
L-26 Microman RocketbaseTakara released L-26 Micro Rocket Base in late 2000 as part of the new Shining Tector series. Micro Rocket Base vehicle/playset is actually a repaint of the old Transformers toy Autobot Rocket Base named Countdown.
My boxed TF CountdownIn contrast, Transformers Countdown was released way back in 1989.
The Vintage Micro Hoodman Micronasa shuttle "docked" with the Rocketbase CountdownThe original toy/vehicle was blue and the rocket colored in white. For the Microman version the vehicle is now black with a silver rocket. The booster section of the rocket was also molded in smoke clear plastic which gives it a nice touch.
LED Microman Rocketbase alongside TF Micromaster Rocketbase CountdownBy 2000, the Magne/LED Powers line greatly declined in popularity. Takara decided in 2002 to put Microman on indefinite hiatus status again.
In late 2003, TAKARA announced a brand new Microman series called Microman 2003. The new series was unlike anything they had done before with the use of an all new super-articulated body geared more toward adult collectors. The 2003 series turn out was designed to basically test market the new style "Microman" and the series proved to be quite successful. In 2004, which also marked the 30th Anniversary of Microman, Takara for the second time relaunched the Microman series for the 21st Century.
Microman 2003-2004 story is set in what seems to be an unrelated history from the vintage classic series and the Magne Power series. Though there are rumors that somehow Takara might plans to tie in the stories of these two series in the future.
Here is the story:
Many years ago, two young scientists began their research to cure the global problems of food shortage and overpopulation. Their research centered on the "reduction of cell structures". By reducing the cell structures, their hope was to slowdown the consumption of food and energy by humans. Dr. Burns had a PhD in cellular studies while Dr. Silver had a PhD in genetics.
They helped each other in conducting research, and using the RATT experiment, they discovered the "N-GENE" and "MICRO-CELL". At last, with these two discoveries, they were able to create a "Micro-Humanoid" using Human genes combined with "N-GENE" and "MICRO-CELL". In their secret lab, they were able to create Microman, a micro-clone of a human being. However, when Dr. Burns ran tests on the Micro-humanoid, he found that it possessed an amazing IQ and super-human abilities. Dr. Burns was forced to ponder at last the long term implications of his creation. Would Micro-humanoids be a savior of mankind or evil incarnate? Dr. Burns eventually stopped Micro-humanoid research due to moral and ethical dilemmas.
Dr. Silver, however, had a different point of view on this matter. He decided that the Micro-humanoid research was not for the benefit of mankind but instead saw in it the potential for creating Super Weapon Soldiers. One day, Dr. Silver went missing from his laboratory along with the "MICRO-CELL" sample. No one could fathom the true intentions of Dr. Silver. Was he out for destruction? Terrorism? No one knew his ultimate ideology. Dr. Burns became very frightened of Dr. Silver's action since he knew full well the implications and potential of their research.
Dr. Burns chose four Micro-Humanoids and gave them four sets of Micro-weaponry and armor. He named them Microman "Micro Force" Team and instructed them to search and bring back the missing Dr. Silver.
Dr. Burns finally found the location of Dr. Silver's secret hideout near the mountainous region of Mexico, using M.I.C.R. Master Computer. The Micro Force headed out to capture Dr. Silver. Upon arriving at the destination, they found a small lab. "We found it" said Commander Microman. They had their weapons at ready but they intended only to threaten Dr. Silver and not to do battle. Dr. Burns has hoped that Dr. Silver could be taken into custody thus instructing the Micro Force to capture him alive. Micro Force then entered the small lab. They found many traps designed specifically for Micro-Humanoids. Dr. Silver obviously expected Micro-Humanoids to come to this hide-out. Micro Force cleared out all the traps and entered. As Commander Microman said "Here we go...", there was suddenly a large explosion. The lab and everything in it turned to cinders and ashes.
Many days later M.I.C.R. team arrived including Dr. Burns. However, they could not find any data, Micro-Cell samples or remains of the Micro Force and Dr. Silver.
Thirty years after an explosion rocked the first Micro-Humanoid Institute in history….
Due to the rumors of his death in the accident, Dr. Silver has almost been forgotten. But he is very much alive. For thirty years now, detaching himself from the rest of the world and working in a small, isolated laboratory, he has devoted himself to combining micro cells and malignant viruses to create a powerful cell mutation. If he succeeds, he will change the enormous latent forces in micro cells into viruses capable of destroying all humankind, a “live virus weapon”…
Now, after many long years, from the countless samples cultivated in varied environments, four mutants with superb bodies have survived. Under the group name Acroyear X, Dr. Silver has code named the four Scorl, Cleve, Voltech and Biom.
Elderly as he is, Dr. Silver stares at the completed Acroyear X live virus weapon with a gaze as sharp as a beast’s.
“Your power is no ordinary thing: a body, barely ten centimeters tall, that can expand itself to human size by controlling its own unstable cell tissue. But your bodies are in an extremely unstable condition, due to the effects of repeated experiments. To remain alive, you need regular treatments…”
In Dr. Silver’s dark laboratory, Acroyear X lies quietly in four capsules equipped with life support devices. Without the vital maintenance provided by the devices, the Acoryear X cells would not survive. The only way for Acoyear X to survive is to obey the orders to destroy issued by Dr. Silver…
In order to test the abilities of their weapons, Dr. Silver has ordered them to destructive action at locations around the world.
Brazil’s G district. From the roof of a high-rise, built in a wave of modernization, AcroScorl stares at the building site for yet another high-rise tower. At the vast site, many heavy duty construction machines crowd together. A huge trailer carries tons of construction material onto the site, oil pressure shovels and bulldozers are pursuing their tasks…
Scorl hates the civilization that weak humans have created. Laid out before his eyes are monstrous groups of manmade buildings, and endless roads bearing countelss cars. They are nothing but obstructive trash.
To create Scorl, Dr. Silver combined micro cells with a virus extracted from the fossilized remains of an extinct dinosaur. This ancient virus gave Scorl his strong body. The ScorlBones, the monstrous arms on his back, are from a parasite in the fossil mutated and assimilated itself to Scorl’s body. The sharp claws are much harder than steel and have the power to crush anything to powder.
Scorl can control his ScorlBones at will. But Scorl’s emotions are governed by a grudge held by the ancient virus, which was persecuted by human civilization to extinction. Loathsome memories of the humans who caused ancient beings to be expelled from the earthly paradise…this has become the root of Scorl’s subliminal hatred of humans.
Expecting this, Dr. Silver gave Scorl the mission of interfering with the construction of the high-rise tower.
Having moved from the rooftop to land on the construction site, Scorl unfurls the Scorlbones on his back. Then, he hurls his sharp claws into a passing bulldozer. With a heavy Clang! It turns over and smashes into a heap of scrap metal.
With roar, a gust of find white particles instantly shoots up and covers the area. Seeing the accident, workers on trailers and heavy duty machinery turn, one by one, and rush toward Scorl. Scorlbones spread wide, Scorl faces down the herd of huge machines. One after the other, the attacking machienes are easily destroyed by the marauding Scorl’s “Scorlbone attack”.
Soon, the site is reduced to a monstrous heap of rubble.
Quietly, Scorl leaves the deserted place.
AcroVoltech appears at the industrial seaport in Marseilles, where resources are gathered from all over the world.
At the port, huge tankers carrying crude oil from around the world come and go regularly. Dr. Silver has targeted this port because of the concentration of oil, and has ordered Voltech there on a mission. Voltech is to create a tanker accident, the cause of which cannot be determined to cause a global oil shock.
Seeing the busy port, Voltech gets an emotional high. When he’s like this, he cannot subdue his madness until he destroys something.
The micro cells of the dual-character Voltech have mutated into power-generation cells combining with a virus that can generate power like an electric eel. During the experiment that caused the combination, Voltech’s body lost its ion balance. He can therefore no longer control his emotions. They are now bipolar, split into a positively-charged state, which is aggressive,and a negatively-charged state, which is depressive. When he is in the positive state, a power-generation organ in his body changes emotional energy, like anger and hatred, into a powerful electrical force.
Understanding this biological arrangement, Dr. Silver has developed the VoltechArc and VoltGun, weapons designed exclusively for Voltech. These weapons use Voltech’s cell-generated energy to create a powerful electric cannon or electrical barrier. Also, he has installed an emotional control device at the tip of the VoltGun, to prevent Voltech’s emotions from running out of control in either a positive or negative direction. When Voltech takes this emotion device off and replaces it with its own head, he creates a character he calls AnotherVoltech.
Starved for destruction, Voltech examines the port, and his eyes fall on an oil tanker at anchor. Voltech reinforces the faint current in his body, fills the VoltGun in his right hand with the electric energy, then pulls the trigger. A powerful electrical flow gushes from the gun. Instantly, the tanker is swallowed up in a flood of blazing sparks. The impact of the electrical flow bends its frame and the tanker’s walls fly to pieces.
Water floods the tanker’s bottom. With a dull sound, it sinks into the sea. Soon, crude oil from the tanker spreads over the surface of the water. Then, a spark from Voltech ignites the oil. The area turns into a sea of fire, and the huge industrial port is swallowed by the blaze.
Restraining his shaking body, Voltech replaces the tip of the Voltgun with his own head. Despite the scene in front of him, his madness gradually subsides and his character changes to that of AnotherVoltech. He begins radiating a cool aura, which makes his previous madness seem like an illusion. Dragging his body, its energy now depleted, Voltech disappears.
Along with these incidents, a new viral disease appeared all around the world. There are no special symptoms. Once infected, the subjects just die. The disease became the modern day equivalent of the Black Plaque in Medieval times.
The WHO (World Health Organization) had requested M.I.C.R. to inspect the new virus. M.I.C.R. sent a researcher to the infected area, a city in Asia. He saw much destruction in the area but no signs of the virus. There, he encountered severe damage such as broken down roads, fallen buildings and cultural decay. The researcher assumed the destruction was a secondary effect of the virus as a result of mass hysteria and panic, but then they appeared in front of him - 4 inches in height (10cm) , four Unknown Living Things with unknown names and unknown powers. The Red one spoke in low human voice "Acroyear-X".
Several hours passed, and the researcher became sick with the new disease. After 72 hours, he died. His last transmission ..." I saw unbelievable living things. Acroyear-X! Oh Dear God! Do we have any chance of survival?"
WHO named this killer virus "Acro-Virus". They came to the conclusion that the carrier of the virus must be the four Unidentified Living Things (U.L.T.)
A new battle has begun!
Microman Magneforce (Wave1)
Microman Magneforce (Wave 2)MAGNE MICROMAN STORY
2007 A.D. The International Organization M.I.C.R. creates the next generation of Microman!
Although, the Micro Final War ended over two years ago, the terror of M.L.T. (Micro Living Thing = Acroyear X) is still fresh on everyone’s minds, so the UN (United Nations) feels there is the possibility of M.L.T again resurfacing with a recent unknown accident (Unexplainable Incident).
The UN orders M.I.C.R. to develop a New Concept Microman (NCM). Previously Microman had been constructed as "Living Beings with Machine Enhancements". The NCM project however took Microman in an opposite direction. The new Microman is now made as a "Machine enhanced with Micro Living Cells". They name these new Microman the "Magne Force". These Micromen are created from micro cells cultivated in artificial materials with mechanical bodies.
Magne Force, being a New Concept Microman, has full Mechanical Body constructs around five Hyper Magnets called "Magne Balls", using a new management system - "Magne Ball Joint System" or MBJS. With their magne-ball joints, they can freely add or remove body parts and equip themselves with the right armor and weapons for the specific combat method. With this system, the New Concept Microman Magne Force will have even greater possibilities since they will be able to easily Transform, and undergo Mode Changes with ease.
One day a new Acro Virus incident occurred in Peru. The Magne Force was sent out on their first mission to gather information on this incident and to remove the Acro Virus. However, the unimaginable took place instead. The 1st Squad of Magne Force which consisted of three Prototype units - Phobos, Atlas and Metis somehow became infected by the new Unknown Acro Virus and they attacked their partner Achilles. The other two remaining Magne Force members, Theseus and Icarus who were on stand by, witnessed three beams of light shooting up into the sky. Those were the renegade Magne Force members.
"EMERGENCY! We have a new mission. CAPTURE or DESTROY the THREE INFECTED MICROMAN!"
Achilles is the leader of the Microman Magneforce, whose hatred of evil has hardened him. A well-balanced all-rounder, he exhibits good sword and foot technique.
Theseus is the aide of Microman Magneforce, with a cheerful disposition. His iron arms can easily handle all types of heavy firearms.
Icarus serves as operations officer for the Magneforce, with very high intelligence and excellent technique.
Phobos is the leader of the Acroyear Magneforce, he loves destruction. He is happiest when he is smashing his opponents in close combat.
Atlas is the meanest member of the operations team, whose first priority is to prevent injury to himself, and who looks for his opponent’s weaknesses.
Metis seeks only his own strength and likes taking independent action. He truly shows his power only when he fights with someone stronger than he is.
The new line features not only Microman original designs but also many licensed characters including characters from DC Comics' Batman, and characters from video games and various anime. By 2005, the new series included Microman figures with full cloth and rubber suits and even small assortments of vehicles.
Micro Action Series: Batman!Related to Microman, 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 doll for boys - the GI Joe. Henshin Cyborg was a Combat Joe body molded in clear plastic to expose the gleaming inner cybernetic implants and the "atomic engine". The original henshin cyborg line lasted from 1972 to 1975.
Takara relaunched the Henshin Cyborg line in 1998 as Neo Cyborg series. The first Neo Cyborg toy actually was sold as part of Goa Gai Gar series called Lion King Guy DX Transforming Cyborg.
The same figure but with chrome cyborg inner head and clear vinyl human head was sold as the first Neo Henshin Cyborg figure - the Yellow Neo Cyborg. Takara followed the Yellow Cyborg with traditional colors - Silver and Gold Cyborg and vinyl doll series. Takara also released several accessories including two costume sets - Dr. Katagai and several versions of Cy-Protector suits.
The story goes like this:
THE CYBORG 1 RESCUE PLAN
Twenty years have passed. It is the year 2025, and Earth again finds itself under attack by invading forces. Suddenly, a single signal is received by Dr. Katagai. "That's the sound of Cyborg 1's signal!" Using his brain-circuitry, Android A is quickly able to discern that the ultra short-wave signal is emanating from the Red Galaxy Planet. Android A and Microman Tom go to Red Galaxy Planet and rescue Cyborg One. Cyborg One is rebuilt into Neo Cyborg. Go forth Neo Cyborg!
Here are pics of my yellow
neo henshin cyborg:
Its hard to find great futurustic ships for at the 12 inch scale!
Henshin Cyborg is flying the MX-25 Attack Jet from the Max Steel line. I just made sure that the decals had no reference to Max Steel. Also placed a Takara Victory project sticker towards the front of the main fuselage!
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keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 