Microman
Series
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 re-launch the series
under 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.
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Package
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Microman Police-Keeper series Play Build toys were packaged in
white border box. The box-art used the actual toy photograph
over painting of Earth from outer space. This packaging design
was common with most of the 1978 Police Keeper series releases.
Play Build set box also have a small die-cut window to show the
included Microman figure.
Build Bazooka, like
most Microman toys from 1978 on up, was packaged in custom
fitted styrofoam bottom.
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Instruction
& Sticker Sheet |
Build Bazooka came with instruction sheet which unfolded into
full-colors catalog and picture story on the reverse side. The
toy came with full color sticker sheet.
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Microman M233 Alex
Each
Play Build toy included Microman Police Keeper figure. There would
eventually be a total of six members in the M23X Type but only the first
three were sold with the Play Build (this was probably because the
remaining three Play Build set were canceled). The figures were also
sold individually in white plastic case (similar to the Hoodman case).
Weapon Included
Microman Police Keeper
figure design is a big departure from the last year Microman Command
series. The figure is very streamline looking and lack the elaborate
"chest piece" of the Command series. One of the trademark feature of the
Police Keeper is the Pulsar Shot weapon, a gun and backpack accessory.
This was the first time a gun weapon is included with Microman figure.
Microman Play Build Series
Build Base
B-01 Build Lancer
B-02 Build Crane
B-03 Build Bazooka
Microman Police Keeper Checklist
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M231 |
Arnold |
w/ Build Lancer |
7/1978 |
M232 |
Arthur |
w/ Build Crane |
7/1978 |
M233 |
Alex |
w/ Build Bazooka |
7/1978 |
M231 |
Arnold |
red/white |
10/1978 |
M232 |
Arthur |
blue/white |
10/1978 |
M233 |
Alex |
clear green/yellow |
10/1978 |
M234 |
Anthony |
black/yellow |
10/1978 |
M235 |
Aaron |
clear orange/white |
10/1978 |
M236 |
Alan |
white/blue |
10/1978 |
M008 |
Kamui |
w/ Micro Gander3 |
4/1981 |
M008 |
Kamui |
*New Microman |
5/1981 |
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Takara released Microman Police Keeper Play Build Series in July of
1978. The Play Build was actually the debut series for the Police Keeper
line. Microman Play Build consisted of large Microman base called the
"Build Base" and three Play Build accessories - #1 Build Lancer, #2
Build Crane and #3 Build Bazooka. Takara also planned three additional
Play Build accessory sets but those were never released (see bottom).
Each Play Build accessory set retailed for 750 Yen and included one M23X
Type Microman Police Keeper figure. The Build Base was sold for a
whopping 4800 Yen, which was a substantial sum for toy back then.
Individual Microman Police Keeper was selling for 480 Yen each, so the
Build play-set is actually a good deal.
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Microman Police Keeper Play Build #3 Build
Bazooka is probably the most interesting of the three Play Build
accessory. Build Bazooka is a giant cannon that shoot Microman into
action. A Microman figure is loaded into the bazooka barrel and by
pulling the piston at the end a spring mechanism is loaded. When
Microman is ready for launch, pushing down on the red fin send the
piston forward and propel Microman into the air. (If you wonder why many
Microman figures did not survive childhood then just take one look at
this toy). Build Bazooka is mounted on top the same hexagon shape
construction panel found on Build Base and included a red connector tab
so Build Bazooka can be mounted onto Build Base. The set included with Microman Police Keeper M233
Alex. The clear green plastic used for the figure for some reason seem
to be more brittle and if you are going to test launch Microman from the
bazooka probably better pick another figure or better yet a reissue one
instead of using the clear green one that came with the set. The figure came a weapon accessory "Pulsar Shot", a gun with
hose that attached to the backpack unit. The Play Build set was actually
the debut series for Microman Police Keeper figures. (Only Hoodman and
Arden were on sale during the fist half of 1978). Microman Play Build
series (actually most of 1978 Police Keeper line) were not all that
popular and many dead stocks (unsold toys in un-open mint packaging) of these toys show up often in the
collectible market. Since the remaining three Police Keeper figures
(M234, M235 & M236) were never released as part of play-sets, they
are much more difficult to come by. Also Microman Police Keeper M23X
Type was one
of the few vintage Microman series that did not get reissue under Microman
Replica series in 1999-2003.
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The Un-build
Play-Sets
Three other Play Build
set were shown in dealer catalog but were never released by Takara.
They were most likely cancel due to the lack of orders and the
declining Microman popularity.
The three remaining
play Build are Build Hoist (a gyro wheel), Build Droid ( a
construction droid) and Build Laser (a laser battery). The pictures
below came from Takara dealer catalog and depicted what appeared to
be prototype of the three unreleased Play Build sets.
Build Hoist
Build Droid
Build Laser
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Police Keeper Story
In the year 19XX, Microman
discovered a mysterious comet orbiting near Jupiter. Microman
detected alpha-H7 radiation emitted from the comet which they had now
call "Micro-Comet" They send out a team to
investigate and met new companions who declared themselves to be Microman
Police Keeper. Police Keeper said they travel to Earth via
"Micro-comet" to help Earth at its critical junction due to
the arrival of Satan Arden.
Each Microman Police Keeper came with Pulsar Short weapon and Energy
backpack. Each Police Keeper also had ability to generate Police
Keeper Barrier - a special force field energy emitted from their belt. Police Keeper Microman would constructed
Police Keeper Micro Knight androids to fight against Cosmo Satan Arden
using material from Micro-Comet. Microman Police Keeper also build
a super defense system call Build Base. When Rescue Secret
Base was finished Police Keeper became part of CRIM section and task
with escorting the Rescue Microman. |
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