Micronauts

Micronauts

A scan of the 1977 cover of an official Mego Micronauts catalog.
Type	Action figures
Inventor	Takara/Mego
Company	Mego
Country	United States
Availability	1976–1980
Materials	Plastic/Die-cast
Slogan	“The Interchangeable World of the Micronauts”

Micronauts was a North American science fiction toy line manufactured and marketed by Mego from 1976 to 1980. The core of the Micronaut toy line—designs, articulation and modeling—was based on and licensed from the Microman toy line created by Japanese-based toy company Takara in 1974.^[1][2]

Mego officially discontinued the Micronauts line in 1980 prior to the company’s bankruptcy and dissolution in 1982. But years after Mego’s demise other toy companies—such as Palisades Toys and SOTA (State of the Art) Toys—have attempted to revive the toy line over the years.^[3][4]

Description

The core of the Micronaut line consisted of 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) action figures (such as Time Traveller) which were known for their high number of articulation points relative to other toys of similar size/scale in the 1970s. The toy line also included vehicles, robots, playsets and accessories. Many of the Micronauts toys used interchangeable 5-millimetre (0.20 in) connectors and ports that allowed parts to be transferred and connected between different toys.^[5][6][7]

History

Takara

A photo of a Mego (U.S.) Acroyear (Red) action figure which was based on the Takara (Japan) Acroyear 2 (A311 Mad Pink).

Takara first released Microman toys in Japan in 1974 as a smaller version their popular 8-inch-tall (20 cm) & 12-inch-tall (30 cm) 1972 Henshin Cyborg (Transforming Cyborg) line. Henshin Cyborg figures were based on 8-inch-tall (20 cm) & 12-inch-tall (30 cm) Combat Joe figures—which themselves were based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe figures—with their bodies molded in clear plastic, exposing their inner workings and supposed cybernetic parts.^[1][2]

By downscaling their size, Takara sought to create the Microman line to offset the sheer cost of producing a full line of plastic-based 8-inch-tall (20 cm) and 12-inch-tall (30 cm) figures and related playsets as well as acknowledging that basic living space is limited—and considered a premium—to most Japanese households. Smaller Microman figures would not only cost less to produce during the energy crisis of the 1970s, the line’s smaller scale would also take up less physical space in a household and thus be more attractive to space conscious consumers in the Japanese market.^[8][9]

In Japan, the Microman figures themselves were marketed as actually being 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) cyborg entities that hailed from the fictional planet known as "Micro Earth" and who disguised themselves as toys in their exile on our Earth.^[10][11]

Mego

A photo of a Micronauts Biotron toy.

In 1976, Mego licensed Microman action figures—and other similar toys—from Takara and marketed the toy line in North America and other countries as Micronauts. During their initial series 1 and series 2 release, Takara produced small quantities of products in Japan before production was officially moved to Mego’s facilities in Hong Kong.^[1][12][13]

While much of the initial Micronaut toy line offerings were simply repackaged versions of Takara Microman equivalents, some items in the Micronaut toy line were original Mego creations that used, modified and reconfigured parts from existing Takara toys—not just Microman items—in creative new ways. For example, the larger, 6.5-inch (17 cm) magnetic action figures—and companion horses—named Baron Karza and Force Commander were simply re-colorings of the magnemo Kotetsu Jeeg action figures with newly designed heads. In addition, as the Micronaut line grew in popularity, by 1980 Mego expanded their R&D role by creating whole new figures from scratch such as the “Aliens” line which included Antron, Repto, Membros, Lobros, Kronos and Centaurus.^{[14][15][16][17]}

The Micronaut toy line sold extremely well for Mego, which one point—according to Mego’s Executive VP of Marketing/Vice President of Mego Research & Development (1972-1980), Neal Kublan—generated more than $32 million in sales for the $110 million company during one period.^[4][18] After Mego’s 1982 bankruptcy and dissolution, the original molds for many of the toys were sold to Hourtoys/M&D Toys for their Interchangables discount toy line, other original molds were sold to PAC Toys for use in their Lords of Light toy line and even Takara produced several series 5 toys for Italian licensee/distributor Gig’s i Micronauti line.^[1][3][4] Additionally, leftover Micronaut toy line stock from Mego’s production run was eventually sold for sale/clearance in North America by Lion Rock Limited under the Micronauts name.^[1]

Mego Micronaut releases

Below is a basic overview list of Mego Micronaut toys with size/scale, release dates and Mego series numbers as well as cross-referenced information connected to the Takara equivalent toys they were based on; Microman and otherwise. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all Mego releases/variants but rather a high-level overview of their Micronaut line offerings.

Palisades Toys

In 2002 Palisades Toys acquired the rights to manufacture a new line of Micronauts toys from Abrams Gentile Entertainment, LLC; the company which was formed in the aftermath of Mego’s collapse to retain and manage Mego’s licensing contracts, rights and deals. This licensing agreement was done by Palisades under the assumption that the original manufacturing tooling and molds from the 1970s Mego toy line were still available. When Palisades discovered the manufacturing tooling and molds were not available—presumably lost or destroyed over the years—it turned to the Micronaut/Microman collector’s community to donate vintage toys so Palisades could create new molds to replicate the figures. Most of the Palisades reissues were Mego Micronaut figures based on Takara designs, but several original alien designs from the original Mego toy line—such as Repto, Membros and Centaurus—were included the line as well.^[19][20]

Sadly, when initial manufacturing of the Palisades figures was completed—and the new, retro line shipped to consumers and stores—many figures were found to have defective or broken parts caused by questionable manufacturing practices followed by the first Chinese factory. And if that weren’t bad enough, many consumers who returned defective merchandise were often, inadvertently given defective replacements by Palisades who had still not grasped the full depth of the quality control issues at the first factory.^[21]

Facing these issues, Palisades tried to salvage its reputation by developing series 2 figures—as well as special line of series 1.5 figures—utilizing other, more reputable factories in China, but they ending up losing more money than expected dealing with this unexpected turn of events. As a result, retailers were wary of carrying the new Micronauts toy line, which resulted in the abrupt cancellation of a third series which was in already in development. The whole series of events was Palisades’ largest financial loss to date, and contributed to the company’s bankruptcy in 2006.^[21]

Palisades Toys Micronaut Releases

Below is a basic overview list of Palisades Toys Micronaut toys with size/scale, release dates. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all Palisades Toys releases/variants but rather a high-level overview of their Micronaut line offerings.

SOTA Toys

In January 2005, SOTA (State of the Art) Toys unveiled plans for a collector’s toy line called “Micronauts: Evolution” which would be a redesign of the Micronauts figures presented in a slightly larger 6-inch (15 cm) size. Concept art was released and prototypes displayed at the 2005 Toy Fair, with a projected release of late 2005. They appeared at the 2006 San Diego Comic Con.^[22]

The initial series was planned to include 6-inch (15 cm) renditions of Lobros, Baron Karza, and Space Glider.^[23][24] Plans changed to an online-only box set of all three characters, available on SOTA’s website as smaller figures.^[25]

In September 2006 SOTA president Jerry Macaluso said “the retail environment for collectibles is in the gutter right now,” and many stores wishing to order the “Micronauts: Evolution” line were going bankrupt. He noted that the Palisades-line “disaster…had a huge negative effect,” with retailers rejecting SOTA’s upcoming series. Macaluso hoped to release the line in 2007—before SOTA’s license expired—and considered funding it himself but the line was never produced.^[26]

Proposed SOTA Micronaut Releases

Below is a basic overview list of proposed SOTA Micronauts releases. Since no products were actually produced this is simply a high-level overview of their proposed Micronaut line offerings.

Hasbro

A photo of packaging for Hasbro’s limited edition Micronauts Classic Collection toy set to be released at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con.

In June 2016, Hasbro announced the special release of a limited edition Micronauts Classic Collection toy set. The set will include three Micronaut characters: Galactic Warrior, Pharoid and Orbital Defender and feature packaging artwork by artist Ken Kelly. The set will debut at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con.^[27]

Hasbro Micronaut releases

Below is a basic overview list of Hasbro Micronaut toys with size/scale and release dates.

In other media

Comic books

Several comic book series based on the Micronaut toy line have been published by Marvel Comics (from 1979–1986),^[28] Image Comics (2002–2003)^[29] as well as Devil’s Due Publishing (2004).^[30]

Film

During a November 2009 “Investor Day” event held today at Hasbro’s headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the Hasbro’s VP of Global Designs, Brian Chapman, announced the company’s re-introduction of the Micronaut toy line and hinted that director J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions was in negotiations to produce a film based on the Micronauts property.^[31][32]

In a March 2013 IGN interview, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick said they were working on a screenplay and the film was on Paramount's list of possible productions. Wernick was quoted as saying, “We've written a couple of drafts of Micronauts and it's in the Paramount system now. We developed it with Bad Robot, and it’s probably not what you might imagine a Micronauts movie to be. It departs from the comic wildly, so if you hope it's loyal to the comic you’ll be disappointed in that particular sense. However, it's very, very different and very, very cool.”^[33]

In popular culture

A screenshot of a spaceship in Time Bandits (background) that was based on the Mobile Exploration Lab (M.E.L.).

• In Terry Gilliam's 1981 film Time Bandits, parts of the Mobile Exploration Lab (M.E.L.) ship can be seen in the protagonist's bedroom and large scale recreations of Mobile Exploration Lab vehicles can be seen during the film’s final, climactic battle.^[34][35]

• The combined centaur form of Baron Karza’s torso and his horse Andromeda’s body served as inspiration for the Mortal Kombat producer John Tobias to create the centaur Motaro from Mortal Kombat 3, released in 1995.^[36]

• The opening track of British electronica band Autechre’s 1998 album LP5 is a track called “Acroyear2” which is named after the Micronauts 1977 action figure Acroyear II.^[37]

A screenshot of a scene from The Robot Fixer segment of Robot Stories showing Microman/Micronauts toys in the background.

• The Robot Fixer—one of four short films comprising the 2003 film Robot Stories—focuses on a woman completing her comatose son’s collection of Microman/Micronauts toys. Although Micronauts and Microman toys are used in the film, they are referred to as “Microbots” and given fictitious names; the Lady Command (18X) figure is called “Angel Command.”^[38][39]

• The Adult Swim series Robot Chicken’s 36th episode (the 16th episode of the 2nd season) contained an animated short entitled “Micronaut Mountain Climbing” (aka: “Noble Micronauts”) which featured stop motion animation of Micronaut action figures climbing a set of mountains which turn out to be female breasts.^[40]

• British television and radio personality Jonathan Ross is a notable Micronaut/Microman collector who is quoted as saying, “Most awesome toys ever were Micromen. Became Micronauts in US and Il Micronauti in Italy.”^[41][42]

References

External links

• Microman/Micronauts Fans Facebook Group The world’s largest English online community of Microman and Micronauts fans.
• Yahoo!: Groups: Micropolis_Embassy Micronaut and Microman collector group.
• “Crew of Spirited Boys” Microman Club A site setup to share out-of-print ephemeral media from over the course of Microman’s 40+ year history and from related series.
• MicroER Jeffrey Gaier’s site devoted to repair and customization of Micronaut toys.
• Micropola Ron Pringle’s Micronauts/Microman fan site.
• AcroRay’s Laboratory Ray Miller’s blog of deep, esoteric information about the Micronauts toy line.
• Visible Innards A Henshin Cyborg related forum.