Microman

Meeeee-ku-ro-maaaaaaan!

Microman (ミクロマン Mikuroman) is the name applied to a broad series of Takara toy lines sold in Japan from 1974 onwards. It is significant to Transformers due to it spawning the Micro Change subline and Diaclone spin-off, both of which heavily contributed toy molds that would go on to form much of the original Transformers toyline.

Outside of Transformers, Microman is also a major stepping stone in the journey from the original G.I. Joe–the first ever range of action figures–to the industry standard of 3.75-inch figures as we know it today.

Overview

Origins and Microman (1974-1980)

 

The line was mostly made up of 3.75-inch figures like M251 Robin (left). Their modular construction allowed them to interact with bases, vehicles, and mech suits such as Robotman (right), which has a yellow Microman pilot visible in its chest.

Microman's roots lie, perhaps surprisingly, with the original 12-inch G.I. Joe range of toys, which introduced the world to the term "action figure" when released in 1964. Takara imported the line in Japan in 1970 as "NEW GI Joe (ニューＧＩジョー)", but when the militaristic styles of "America's Moveable Fighting Man" received only a tepid market response, they instead repurposed the molds to create Henshin Cyborg. The titular character was a cybernetic superhero with a distinctive chromed head and translucent body parts that revealed his inner mechanical parts. Henshin Cyborg could "transform" by replacing his modular limbs with weaponry, or by donning separately sold costumes to embody other popular characters from the Transformers universe, like Devilman or Mazinger Z.

Then, the 1970s energy crisis happened. The increased cost of oil meant that the planned expansion of Henshin Cyborg into vehicles and playsets was untenable. These cost concerns–coupled with the acknowledgement that Japanese household space is typically too limited for a collection of such large toys–led to Takara creating the 3.75-inch scale Microman as, effectively, Henshin Cyborg shrunken down to about a third of its size. The line included bases, converting vehicles, figures, and piloted mech suits; notable highlights include 1975's Robotman, Takara's first toy that could transform (or rather, partsform) from a robot to a vehicle, and 1978's "Cosmo Countach", a primitive robot that could come apart and be reassembled into a Lamborghini supercar.^[1]

In what would end up being a remarkably prescient move, American toy manufacturer Mego would choose to license the use of molds from Microman alongside other Takara lines, introducing the western world to the Micronauts franchise in 1977. Micronauts gained a tie-in comic series from Marvel in 1979, which proved popular enough to outlast the toyline. Micronauts was one of the earliest toylines in the American market to utilize the 3.75-inch figure scale (the first being 1975's Adventure People by Fisher Price); bolstered by the Kenner toyline for some space movie or other, it became the standard for many lines of the era, and a format for action toys that survives to this day. In particular, Mego's alterations to existing Microman engineering would come back around to influence G.I. Joe, resulting in the creation of its "A Real American Hero" franchise. 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.

New Microman (1981-1984)

Takara has re-used some of Microman's parts, along with some other new parts, and has reconstructed another Microman, and renamed it New Microman.

1981 saw a shake-up for the Microman line. The transforming mecha aspect of the line was spun off into Diaclone which, like Microman before it, was a third-scale miniaturisation of its predecessor. The tiny "Dianaut" pilots inherited the bright colours and chromed heads of Henshin Cyborg that had since become a hallmark of Microman, and the Cosmo Countach served as inspiration for the "Car Robots" series toy "No. 1 Countach LSP500S"–predecessor to the Autobot Sunstreaker, and the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed, according to Hasbro.^[2]

Meanwhile, Microman was rebranded as New Microman, with a renewed focus on its action figure characters. The story lore that had been building up in the Microman toy catalogues was streamlined, with renewed emphasis placed on the Microman pilots being refugees from Micro Earth, fighting against the mutated Acroyears by joining forces with human children like you–an alliance facilitated by the Microman characters being at 1:1 scale with their action figures. This unique selling point was especially evident with 1983's "Micro Change" subseries, which introduced robot figures and vehicles that could transform into ordinary household objects like Penny Racers, audio cassettes, and, um, handguns.

Takara exhibited their Diaclone and Micro Change toys at the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show, where an anonymous Hasbro representative saw the potential in these transforming robots and, in short order, the toys were reborn in Western markets as The Transformers. Takara would soon shutter the Microman and Diaclone brands in favour of reimporting The Transformers alongside its tie-in animated series (which the previous lines both lacked).

Micro Millennium (1998-2000)

Before adopting LEDs, Magne Powers made use of bishie sparkle.

Fifteen years after being taken off the market, Microman returned amidst the hype of the upcoming futuristic-sounding space year 2000 (you had to be there) in the form of two distinct series. The Replica Microman series was aimed at older collectors and consisted of reissued and redecoed molds from Microman's heyday. The other series, aimed at children, began life as Magne Powers before rebranding in its second year as LED Powers. The Microman figures in the Powers range were all-new designs, though some sets also featured strange appearances from pre-existing Transformers molds. The toyline was supported by a manga serial in Comic Bom Bom and a 52-episode anime series, with a companion short film released in Japanese cinemas alongside the Beast Wars Metals episode "Convoy's Great Transformation!" and a Super Doll Licca-chan short film as part of the 1999 Summer Toei Anime Fair anthology.

Unfortunately, the Powers range underperformed and Takara, which was dealing with financial issues, reduced the size of the line before cancelling it altogether. The Replica Microman series survived until 2003, but only in the form of limited editions and exclusives to retailers such as e-HOBBY.

Microman 2003 (2003-2007)

The invention of "Full Action Bodies" allowed Microman to become the dopest shit ever.

Another new line of figures appeared in 2003, appropriately named Microman 2003 and re-envisioned as an adult-oriented collectible. The first series of this toyline, Micro Force, established a new style of body construction proudly advertised as "Full Action Bodies", which featured over thirty points of articulation and interchangeable sets of hands. The line evidently proved enough of a success, and it dropped the 2003 from its name, expanding into subsequent years with mech suits, the "Material Force" range of blank figures for customised builds, and licensed crossover toys for popular Transformers characters like Batman, Superman, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Chun-Li, the Predator, and Godzilla (the figures actually going inside rubber monster suits!) among many others.

Following the Takara/Tomy merger in 2006, the Microman line was put on a brief hiatus. It returned in 2007 with the Wecker Signa Project, a series of toys of the characters from the low-budget tokusatsu show Jikuu Keisatsu Wecker Signa. Each release came with a DVD or CD featuring episodes or other media from the show, and heavy focus was put on the unmasked forms of the female heroes, played on the series by idols. After Wecker Signa, Microman quietly came to a close, but the design team evidently used the experience with its idol stars to resurrect the "Full Action Bodies" in Transformers GT: Mission GT-R, as you'll see below.

Microman Arts (2014-2015)

Yes, you're still on the Microman page.

With TakaraTomy having learned the lesson from the GT Sisters that moe anime girls were the way forward, the Microman brand resurfaced as Microman Arts, released by the subsidiary company TakaraTomy A.R.T.S (or T-ARTS). Microman Arts consisted entirely of highly-detailed recreations of characters from pre-existing brands, including the anime series Love Live! School Idol Project, Sega's Go! Go! 575, and TakaraTomy's own PriPara, but the most prolific subline by far featured the anthropomorphised World War II warship girls of wildly popular browser game Kantai Collection.

After two years from T-ARTS, Microman came to a close, with not a single chromed head in sight. Despite its long lifespan and history of innovation, there are no apparent plans for a return on the horizon. That said, recent years have given us a full-throated Diaclone reboot and a revival of the Micronauts in comic form – so only time will tell if these little heroes will get their big moment.

Toys

As a Transformers Wiki, a full list of all Microman toys falls rather outside our scope. However, noted below are the toys in Microman that have directly borrowed from Transformers, alongside convincing cases of the reverse happening.

Transformers in Microman

Microman: LED Powers

"Redeco" feels like a strong word.

• Mach Speeder with Rider Arthur (Micro Bikes, May 18 2000)
  • ID number: L-14
  • Series 4: Laser Microman
  • Accessories: LED Rotor Sword

Part of the LED Powers "Micro Bikes" assortment, Mach Speeder (マッハスピーダ Mahha Supīda) is a redeco and retool of Generation 2 Laser Cycle Road Rocket, transforming into a Yamaha GTS1000 motorcycle. Mach Speeder is predominantly cast in red plastic with gold metallic flake, with black robot parts. The main gimmick of LED Powers was that each Microman featured an LED bulb in their chest; when their "Energy Pack" backpacks were attached, the bulbs would activate and pipe lighting through the rest of the figure. As such, the light-up electronics present in Road Rocket were removed for Mach Speeder, and retools were made to the toy's handlebars and buzzsaw weapon to allow Microman figures to grip them.

Mach Speeder was packaged with Rider Arthur, who could mount Mach Speeder's vehicle mode and illuminate its "LED Rotor Sword" with his own electronics. This mold was also used to make Hyper Speeder below, Robots in Disguise Sideways, and Robotmasters Road Rocket. The latter two Transformers retained the retools made for Microman compatibility (apart from the saw handle), but reinstated the mold's electronics.

• More information on Mach Speeder with Rider Arthur at micromanforever.com
  

Wait, is that Throttle?

• Road Bison with Rider Walt (Micro Bikes, May 18 2000)
  • ID number: L-15
  • Series 4: Laser Microman
  • Accessories: LED Muffler Cannon

The other release in the "Micro Bikes" assortment, Road Bison (ロードバイソン Rōdo Baison) is a redeco and retool of the other Generation 2 Laser Cycle, Road Pig, transforming into a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide touring motorcycle. Road Bison is predominantly silver with red and black highlights and, as with Mach Speeder, features gutted electronics and altered handlebars to allow compatibility with its partner, Rider Walt.

This mold was also used to make Tornado Bison below, Robots in Disguise Axer, and Robotmasters Double Face. Again, the latter two Transformers retained the retooling and reinstated the mold's electronic innards.

• More information on Road Bison with Rider Walt at micromanforever.com
  

"I was hired to take photos, not apply stickers."

• Micro Trailer with Pilot Edison (Micro Trailer, July 19 2000)
  • ID number: L-20
  • Series 5: Secret Breaster
  • Accessories: 2 blasters, gun barrel piece, 4 cannons, 2 smokestacks, rifle

The centrepiece of the "Secret Breaster" theme, the Micro Trailer is a redeco of the Action Master vehicle Armored Convoy. The trailer is cast predominantly in pearl white and translucent green, with black tyres and mostly gold accessories; a sticker sheet is provided for additional detail. The Micro Trailer retains all of the functionality of the original Armored Convoy; its cab transforms into a "Stealth Jet" mode that can seat one pilot and a gunner, and the trailer unfolds into "Battle HQ Base" mode, revealing battlement positions for more figures. Naturally, the set no longer includes Optimus Prime, instead coming with Pilot Edison; since Action Masters were about 3.75-inch scale anyway, the vehicle is a good fit for Microman, but even better is that the 2 mm holes in Microman figures' feet are the same size as those in the Action Masters' soles, allowing them to be pegged into place on the trailer's mounting points.

Two additional Micro Trailers were available in limited quantities; see below.

• More information on Micro Trailer with Pilot Edison at micromanforever.com
  

Mmm, citrus!

• Hyper Speeder with Master Microman Laser Arthur and Tornado Bison with Laser Shakunetsu (multi-pack, August 2000)
  • ID number:
  • Series 5: Secret Breaster^{[citation needed]}
  • Accessories: LED Rotor Sword, LED Muffler Cannon

Released during the "Secret Breaster" portion of LED Powers, this is a multi-pack gift set exclusive to Toys"R"Us. It contains: "Hyper Speeder" (ハイパースピーダ Haipā Supīda, misspelled as "Hiper Speeder" on the toy), a redeco of Mach Speeder in predominantly translucent lemon yellow with black and translucent orange robot parts and a green-tinted Rotor Sword; Master Microman Laser Arthur, a variant on Mach Speeder's partner Rider Arthur; Tornado Bison (トルネードバイソン Torunēdo Baison), a redeco of Road Bison in predominantly translucent orange with yellow and gold robot parts and a green-tinted Muffler Cannon; and Laser Shakunetsu, a new character created from a combination of winning entries to a Comic Bom Bom competition. The two Micro Bikes retain all the functionality of their previous releases.

• More information on Hyper Speeder with Master Microman Laser Arthur and Tornado Bison with Laser Shakunetsu at micromanforever.com
  

• Dark Trailer with Laser Dark (September 2000)
  • ID number: L-20
  • Series 5: Secret Breaster

This special "Lucky Draw" version of the Micro Trailer was available as a campaign promotion via Takara. Limited to 100 competition prizes worldwide, the "Dark Trailer" is a monochromatic version of the Micro Trailer, replacing the translucent green with opaque black, the other plastics with various shades of grey, and altering the paint applications to more fitting colours; the gold plastic used for most of the weapons remains the same, as does the sticker sheet. Pilot Edison is replaced with an eeeevil repaint, Laser Dark.

The set might have come in a plain white box with a small explanatory sticker on the side.^[3]

Anybody got $3500?

• Flame Trailer with Laser Edison (September 2000)
  • ID number: L-20
  • Series 5: Secret Breaster

Another Lucky Draw version of the Micro Trailer, the "Flame Trailer" was limited to 50 competition prizes and, other than replacing the translucent green plastic with translucent red, was much the same as the regular Micro Trailer, down to including the same stickers, the same pilot (under the name "Laser Edison"), and even the same box (if this eBay auction is to be believed^[4]).

Not really compatible, but they're making a damn good go of it.

• Micro Rocket Base with Shining Edison (Micro Base, October 27 2000)
  • ID number: L-26
  • Series 6: Shining Tector

Part of the final series of this iteration of Microman, the Micro Rocket Base is a redeco of the Micromaster Rocket Base, omitting that set's pack-in partner Countdown as well as the mechanical grabber arm accessory. The Micro Rocket Base is decked out in a striking black, grey, and gold colour scheme, the rocket itself is painted silver with a smokey translucent booster section, and a new sheet of gold, Microman-themed stickers is provided for details.

The base transforms from a comparatively compact launching pad modelled on the Space Shuttle crawlers, with a gantry tower and a large rocket ship. Both rocket and base unfold into multiple ramps, platforms, and "buildings", along with a small "scout vehicle". Though originally designed for Micromasters, the various seats can accommodate Microman figures, though no concessions are made to make the set more compatible with the rest of the line. The set is bundled with a green Microman named Shining Edison.

• More information on Micro Rocket Base with Shining Edison at micromanforever.com
  

Seriously, this is the best photo we could get of this thing.

• Gold Rocket Base? (Micro Base, November 2000)
  • ID number: L-26
  • Series 6: Shining Tector

A Lucky Draw version of the base, possibly known as "Gold Rocket Base"^[5], was available as a campaign prize, limited to 50 pieces. Presented in an unchanged box from the original release, this version of the Rocket Base replaced the black plastic with white, and presumably featured other changes. Information is really scarce.

If you build it, they will play. This toys & merchandise-related article is a stub. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Microman in Transformers

Beast Wars (Japan)

The dimensional adventure game of pitfalls and perils!

• Volcano Showdown: Armor VS Snapper (Vs Playset, 1997)
  • ID number: VS-X1
  • Accessories: Scenery mat, red ball (x8), cannon, cannon platform, cage segments, back panel

Available only in the Japanese version of the Beast Wars toyline, the Volcano Base is part of the "Volcano Showdown" (火山の対決 Kazan no Taiketsu) versus set also containing Armor and Snapper.

The volcano itself has a battery operated feature; when loaded with the included red balls, the volcano has an "erupting" feature where it causes the red balls to pop out the top of it and roll down the molded cascading slides on its face. A constructible cage can attach to the side of the volcano in addition to a large cannon platform which can also launch the included red balls. Also included is a thin plastic mat with earthen scenery printed on it that is intended to be placed underneath the whole set.

Due to the scale of various sculpted details on the Volcano Base and its general incompatibility with the two figures it comes with, it has been hypothesised that this playset was originally slated for an abandoned Microman line.

Beast Wars II

• Diver & Niagara Base (March 1998)
  • ID number: X-2
  • Accessories: Two cannons, missiles (x5), leaves (x7), play mat

Released exclusively as part of Beast Wars II with Diver, the Niagara Base is a playset of a plastic mountain. It has multiple tree plumes, two projectile-launching cannons and a Venus fly-trap (with a pressure panel that causes it to snap shut when pressed) that can be attached in various ports on the mountain. Also included with the playset is a plastic play mat with water and Earth terrain printed on it to place underneath the playset. An identical play mat was included with the Volcano Base playset.

The mountain itself has no molded water details or paint operations, but instead has a divot on top which is intended to be filled with actual water which collects in a molded basin at the bottom of the mountain, to emulate an actual waterfall.

Though we lack official confirmation, the Niagara Base has long been reported to be a recommissioned toy from a Microman line. At the very least, it clearly wasn't designed with contemporary Transformers toys in mind, not even Basic-sized ones, as the base interior is designed around a considerably smaller scale of figure.

• More information on the Niagara Base (with Diver) at TFU.info

You know about the Octorok, right? All you have to do is deflect that rock it spits out.

• Ikard & Tako Tank (October 1998)
  • ID number: X-5
  • Accessories: motorcycle, 6 missiles, pump

Part of the ninth wave of Beast Wars II toys, the Tako Tank is a large mechanical octopus, packaged with its pilot, Ikard. Twin puppet-rods in the back give control of the front two tentacles, which are made of a soft rubbery plastic, and are also one of the most fun play-features in Transformers ever. A plunger in the back runs through the body, which activates a removable pump in the tank's "mouth". A small wheel behind each "eye" allows them to spin in concert, though for what purpose is unknown.

The tank-head splits open to reveal a removable motorcycle Basic-scaled toys can ride. This bike has two flip-around spring-loaded missile launchers, featuring small pegs that are compatible with the Claw Jaw/Scuba mold's tentacle-hands. The wheel assembly can serve as either a traditional land-based vehicle or swivel and tilt to perform as a hoverbike. The launchers fold up into the bike's rider compartment for storage inside the Tako Tank, so the Tank cannot be "piloted" in this form; however, once the bike is deployed, there is room to seat a Basic-scaled figure in the left-over socket to pilot the tank body, plus a nice window for them to look out of.

Like the Niagara Base, there is speculation that the Tako Tank was originally an unreleased Microman concept. This may explain the bike's dubious-at-best compatibility with its pilots and why – uncharacteristically for Transformers toys by that time – there was no mode that could store all the missiles at once.

• More information on the Tako Tank (with Ikard) at TFU.info
  

Super Link

_{KICKER KICKER YOUR ELBOWS KICKER}

• Kicker (March 25 2004)
• SL Grand Convoy and Kicker (2004)
• Kicker Energon Edition (2004)
  • ID number: SC-14 (Kicker), SS-03 (SL Grand Convoy set)
  • Accessories: Energon Sword, chestplate, backpack, belt, Destron Clone Sword (SL Grand Convoy set only)

Part of the fourth wave of Takara's Super Link toyline, the first Kicker toy is based on the Microman 2003 body construction. He is super-posable, and his parts are fully interchangeable with other Microman figures. He is armed with a small, non-transforming silver version of the Energon Saber (which is also compatible with 5 mm post-holes), plus his torso armor and belt are removable.

A second version of Kicker (pictured) was available as part of the limited-edition "Transformer X Microman Anniversary Set", celebrating the 30th anniversary of Microman and the 20th anniversary of Transformers in Japan, alongside an exclusive variant of Optimus Prime. This set also includes a pale-gold-chromed version of the Energon Saber accessory, as well as a chromed "Destron Clone Sword" exclusive to this set.

A third and final Kicker was available as part of a Lucky Draw competition, limited to 100 pieces. He also comes with a red-chromed Energon Saber accessory. Contest entries were found in the Super Link soundtrack CD and the first three volumes of the Super Link DVD and the prize winners were announced in August 2004.

This toy is notorious for being incredibly breakable, with the knee and elbow joints in particular made up of thin pieces of hard plastic. The two-pack version uses clear-black plastic rather than opaque for these pieces, making it even more susceptible to breaking with even moderate pressure. The "Energon Edition" version is also cast in translucent plastic, in this case red with orange paint applications. With reports of even the standard version already having been broken when mint in box, let's hope you didn't pay aftermarket prices for the Lucky Draw figure.

• More information on Kicker at TFU.info
• More information on Anniversary Kicker at TFU.info
  

Robotmasters

The Arsenal Force weapons are the new-mold, sprued-together Decepticon solitarium accessories that can combine, and are not to be confused with the new-mold, sprued-together not-solitarium Autobot weapons that don't combine, or the new-mold, not-sprued-together Decepticon solitarium accessories that combine with each other but not explicitly the rest. It's all very simple.

Main article: Solitarium#Toys

• Wrecker Hook (ID number: RM-04, July 15, 2004)
• Air Hunter (ID number: RM-06, July 15, 2004)
• Wingstun (ID number: RM-08, July 15, 2004)
• Psycho-Orb (ID number: RM-09, July 15, 2004)

Most of the Decepticons in the first wave of the Robotmasters toyline came with a solitarium (read: translucent plastic) accessory that could combine to form the Arsenal Force weapon. These toys were Wrecker Hook, Air Hunter, Wingstun, and Psycho-Orb, and they came with the Boost Hammer, Sacred-Cut Sword 'Gazan', Jamming Trident, and Calamity Defenser respectively. This is notable since all four toys were redecoes, meaning the new tooling for the Arsenal Force pieces had to come from somewhere... and since the abruptly-cancelled final portion of LED Powers, "Shining Tector", was focussed around translucent plastic weapons that could combine to form bigger weapons and armour, and the solitarium parts feature identical handles to the LED Powers accessories, it was not hard to speculate that their origin lay in Microman.

Each of these four weapons were also redecoed multiple times; see the main solitarium page for more information.

• Ligier (ID number: RM-03, July 15, 2004)
• R-Blade (ID number: RM-05, July 15, 2004)
• Bound Rogue (ID number: RM-07, July 15, 2004)

Three more new-mold weapons were included with three Autobots from the first wave of the toyline. They are not explicitly referred to as being made of solitarium, but if you strip off that chrome coat they're covered in, you'll find the same translucent green plastic as the Arsenal Force weapons. Later redecoes, also listed on the main solitarium page, make clear that they must be part of the same sprue or mold set as the first four accessories. The three weapons are Ligier's JS Laser Gun, R-Blade's Flare Gun, and Bound Rogue's Type 93; all three share the same handles that suggest they were designed for Microman.

• Smokesniper (ID number: RM-13, September 9, 2004)
• Gigant Bomb (ID number: RM-14, September 9, 2004)

Another two solitarium weapon molds were released during Robotmasters: Smokesniper's Radial Pod and Gigant Bomb's Pulverizer. While not officially part of the Arsenal Force, they could be attached with some creativity. They also feature the same size handles as the other solitarium weapons, again suggesting a Microman heritage. These two weapons were not redecoed.

Collector's Edition

The last gasp of bishonen before Microman went moe.

• Magnificus & Ga'mede (2005)
  • ID number: 68
  • Accessories: 2-piece "Photon Armor" bandolier, holster, gauntlet, "Magno Gun" pistol, "Photon Wave Rifle", "High Frequency Machete", six pairs of hands, hand-rack, Microman stand

Available only with the e-HOBBY exclusive Magnificus, Collector's Edition Ga'mede is a redeco of the Microman 2004 series Microman "Walter". He is a super-posable 3 3/4-inch action figure, and has six pairs of interchangeable hands for different poses and weapons (two clenched fists, two splayed palms, two flat palms, and three different pairs of gripping hands), and includes a mini "rack" to store the ten hands not plugged into the figure's wrists. Unlike regular modern Microman figures, his head is painted rather than chrome silver. Since he's roughly the same size as the 1980s Microman figures, he can pilot Magnificus's tank mode just as the original figures could.

He comes with an unchromed-black set of the weapons and wearable accessories from the Microman 2003 series MF1-01 Commander Microman: a machinegun that can attach to his bandolier's back (albeit a bit loosely), a pistol with leg-holster, and a machete that clips into a wrist-gauntlet. He also comes with a Microman stand to help him stay upright, though only one of the footpegs on it is sized to this style of Microman figure.

Much like Kicker, this set celebrates the shared history of Takara's Transformers and Microman lines, pairing a Microman toy that homages various Japanese '70s/'80s sci-fi style shows with a reproduction of a Transformer in its original Micro Change coloration.

• More information on Ga'mede at TFU.info
  

GT

And I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

• GT-R Prime (ID number: GT-01, May 25, 2013)
• GT-R Saber (ID number: GT-02, May 25, 2013)
• GT-R Megatron (ID number: GT-03, July 17, 2013)
• GT-R Maximus (ID number: GT-04, September 28, 2013)

• Known designers: DOGMASK (TakaraTomy)

Transformers GT: Mission GT-R was a small franchise produced by TakaraTomy in co-operation with the Super GT racing championship series. This somewhat whimsical series depicted a micro-continuity in which faction leaders from Transformers series past are reimagined as grand tourer racing cars. Each Transformer was paired with a Microman-based race queen, featuring a high amount of articulation, interchangeable sets of hands for multiple poses, and outfits based on real life race sponsors. They were retooled and redecoed from the 2005 Microman "Micro Sister" body by the mold's original Microman designer DOGMASK.^[6]

GT-R Prime, Saber, Megatron, and Maximus are partnered with Misaki, Anna, Noa, and Hiiro respectively.

Honourable mentions

Microman

Straxus strikes fear into the sparks of his enemies at 0.048 kilometres per hour.

• Escargot (Mecha-Cosmo, 1975)
  • ID number: No.1
  • Series: Project Victory

Part of the "Project Victory" series' "Mecha-Cosmo" assortment, the Escargot is spherical vehicle with battery-powered, motorised wheels. The Escargot is named after its snail-like shape when its two wheel-on-stalk accessories are pegged onto the front. Its bubble cockpit seats two Micromen (not included), and its modular construction allows it to be reconfigured into a radar tower, or a battle chariot, or whatever your creative mind can come up with.

The comic story "Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel" made use of the Escargot's design as transportation for the Precursor World version of Straxus who – in homage to his Marvel UK appearances – had been rendered a disembodied head in a jar.

• More information on Escargot at micromanforever.com
  

Knights of the Magical Light!

• Micro Knight (1979)
  • ID number: MC-11
  • Series: Police Keeper
  • Accessories: Pulsar Gun, Energy Backpack, Police Keeper Shield

Released as part of the "Police Keeper" series, the Micro Knights were a range of Micromen in the style of medieval suits of armour, featuring a high level of sculpted detail and almost covered in chrome, save for the characteristic Microman white gloves. Two waves of Micro Knights were produced, with each individual toy differentiated only by colour and ID number.

The Micro Knights – the second wave especially – proved difficult to find during the toyline's lifespan; like many Microman toys, they saw a reissue in the Replica Microman series in 2000, which also added a handful of new variations to the Knights' ranks.

The manga "God Neptune comic 1" repurposed the blue Micro Knight, ID number MC-11, as the original body of the drone that would be reformatted into Magna Convoy.

• More information on the Micro Knights at micromanforever.com
  

Not to be confused with Giant Robo G-2, which features bright colours and rap music.

• Giant Robo G-1 (1979, cancelled)
  • Series: Rescue Team

• Known designers: Tsutomu Inoue (TakaraTomy)^[7]

Intended for release in the "Rescue Team" series, a resin prototype of the Giant Robo G-1 appeared for solicitation in the 1979 edition of the Takara General Catalog, the company's periodical for potential vendors and other toy industry professionals. G-1 was intended to be a line centrepiece, pulling out all the stops: in addition to the traditional cockpit for a Microman figure as expected of larger toys, it was intended to include a compartment for the pilot's accessories, a motorised walking gimmick, radio control functionality, and even a voice changer. After being passed over for Microman proper, the design bounced around the Takara offices until it saw release in 1980 (sans about half the gimmicks from the original pitch) as the Great Robot Base, the flagship release and mascot of the nascent mecha-focused spin-off line Diaclone.^[8]

Starting with "Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel comic", the appearance of the Giant Robo G-1 was used as the Statue of The One, an effigy of the Precursor World's legendary creator.

New Microman

I'd love to see the face of one of the moe anime girls peering out of this.

• Bulsonic (Blue Type) with M009 Kenji (Armored Suit DX, January 1983)
  • ID number: DX3
  • Series: Micro Robot

The third and final release in the "Micro Robot" Armored Suit range, and the only one to carry the "DX" suffix, Bulsonic is a large suit of power armour that transforms into a space jet. In robot mode, a Microman pilot can be housed in Bulsonic's chest, with their face being visible behind the clear plastic screen at the front of Bulsonic's helmet. Bulsonic was available in "Blue Type" (pictured), "Red Type" (which inverted the red/blue colour layout), and "Real Type", the latter of which was a military green version and included an additional plastic sprue with landing gear and other accoutrements for buyers to customise the toy into looking more realistic. Each Bulsonic came with a variant of the Microman M009 Kenji; Blue Type's was yellow, Red Type's was light blue, and Real Type's was dark green. Bulsonic also happens to hold the distinction of being the last Microman toy designed before the line refocused into Micro Change.

The "Metrowars" manga depicted a minor virtual redeco of the Blue Type Bulsonic as a body for Straxus – giving him a blue helmet and more of a suggestion of a face than the clear screen of the Microman toy – in reference to a long-standing Japanese fandom theory that Straxus' original Marvel design was based on Bulsonic in the first place.

• More information on Bulsonic at micromanforever.com
  

Replica Microman

Forget the teacher and the bike and the spider, this is the first toy of Arcee.

• Arcee (2000)
  • ID number: M18X
  • Accessories: Angelic Wings

Originally released in the 1977 Microman Command line, the "Lady Command" range was an assortment of female Microman pilots in vibrant colours, each of whom had a name beginning with "A" – Ann, Alice, Annie, and Ai.^[9] Being girl toys in a boy's line, the Lady Command were produced in smaller numbers than other figures; their rarity made them a perfect candidate to appear in the Replica Microman series of reissues in November 1999. As with the Micro Knights, this allowed for additional variants and new members to join the Lady Command ranks.

One such new member was produced as a Lucky Draw figure in conjunction with the publishing group Kodansha and their then-new guidebook, "The Official Guide to Takara SF Land", which paid tribute to the various sci-fi toylines by Takara over the years. In tribute to the shared history of Transformers and Microman, this new Lady Command figure was named Arcee – though whether or not she represents "our" Arcee or is simply named for her is unknown.

Arcee is a redeco of the standard Lady Command body in white, with gold chromed limbs and a silver head. She includes a pair of "Angelic Wings" which can peg into her back, though their official placement is in the sides of her thighs (just go with it). Arcee came in an all-white version of the standard Lady Command packaging: a capsule in the shape of the Statue of Liberty (again, just go with it). Only five Arcees were produced.

• More information on Arcee at micromanforever.com
  

Fiction

DreamMix TV World Fighters

It's roomier in there than you'd think.

As part of DreamMix TV's attempt to pull in more ratings, M121 Mason was invited to battle bunches of other beings, including Optimus Prime and Megatron, on the television show World Fighters. Mason could summon the help of Robotman, and some battles even took place on Micro Earth. DreamMix TV World Fighters

2005 IDW continuity

Microman Inn was an establishment in Warsaw, Indiana, across the road from the Acroyear motel. Devastation #2 Presumably, they have something of a rivalry.

Animated cartoon

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

References

External links

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