Microman
Series
1974
Microman
Zone
First year of included the Founder Microman, Micro
Kit Machines and 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.
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Microscope
Robo MC20 Micro Scope was part of the last series of Microman toys to be
released by Takara for the original Microman line before it was
canceled. MC20 was part of the second series Micro Change toys (also
known as Chameleon Goods) which featured Microman robots that disguised
as everyday ordinary objects. In the case of MC20 the robot
disguised as a black microscope that transformed not only into a robot
but also as a tank-like vehicle for Microman figure. In the object
mode, the toy was actually a working microscope (though not a very good
one). In this alternate mode the toy was actually quite realistic
looking complete with magnification dial, fold-out sample tray with
movable eye-piece. From the object mode the toy could easily
transformed into tank-like vehicle for Microman figure. The sample tray
became seat, and the eyepiece became cannon. In vehicle
tank mode, the barrel and seat can raised up and turn the tank into AA
cannon.
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Package |
Takara marketed
the Micro Change toys as "Chameleon Goods", a Microman
robot that disguised as everyday object, so each toy came
packaged in the alternated mode. Micro Change or Chameleon Goods
was part of their "Real & Robot" lines which
included the Diaclone Car Robot series. |
Acessories
Micro
Scope came with spring-load missile launcher gun and three red missiles.
Micro
Change Story
Microman
Micro Change were robot and vehicles constructed by the New Microman to
help fight against the Acroyears. Microman build Micro Change Robo using
ordinary objects so kids could take these robots along with them without
being noticed by adults, but when the Acroyears attacked the Micro
Change would transformed and help protect the kids from the Acroyears. Micro
Change robots were slightly difference from Diaclone Car Robots as they
were not "piloted" mecha but rather robots with their own
Artificial Intelligences. However, the Micro Change Robo were not quite
a full sentient beings as the later Transformers series would portrayed
them. Micro
Scope Robo were later redeco in red an blue and sold as Autobot
Perceptor for the Transformers series in 1985 by Hasbro.
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To
transform into robot mode, microscope legs became robot legs, the arms folded out and the head rotated out from
inside the chest section. The scope
sample tray became part of the robot chest which actually looked pretty
good with the clear window and chrome frame. Micro Scope was pretty much
self-contain without having to attach any extra parts, the fists were
pushed out from the arm section. The eyepiece became shoulder cannon in
robot mode. The only extra parts were the two accessories, a black plastic
hand rifle and a spring-loaded missile launcher that fit into the robot
hands via 5mm connector. The robot mode, like the microscope was mostly
black with silver-gray legs and forearms. The foil stickers came
pre-applied from the factory added nice accents to the toy in both the
robot and object mode. All in all, Micro Scope was one of the better
looking robot from the Micro Change line up. The mold for MC20 Micro Scope
was later reused and released as part of 1985 Transformers line-up by
Hasbro. MC20 would became the Autobot scientist named Perceptor. The toy
was changed from black and silver to red and blue but otherwise pretty
much identical to Microman version.
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