After years of producing 12” action figures, Takara decided to revolutionize the Japanese toy industry by introducing a micro-sized hero: Microman. The legacy of this toy line began years ago when Takara licensed G.I. Joe from the American manufacturer, Hasbro. These licensed toys became a perfect foundation for Takara to experiment with. Responding to the rising interest in robots, Takara retooled the basic Joe into a highly detailed cyborg warrior, Henshin Cyborg.
While Japanese consumers openly received Henshin Cyborg after its 1971 debut, Takara began looking into a way to downsize the cost and scale of these toys. Not only would this step help them save in production costs, but Japanese parents would appreciate toys that took up less space in their households. This led to Takara reducing the general scale of their Henshin Cyborg toys to a 3 ¾” scale and downscaling the playsets and vehicles as well. They then launched these new action figures in a new toy line: Microman.
Microman launched in Japan in 1974, quickly gaining popularity. To help these action figures stand apart, Takara presented the Microman figure as representatives of the Micro species that came from the planet Micro Earth. Thus, each toy represented the in-scale characters and they could use household objects as vehicles and playsets.
As the Microman toy line progressed, it introduced new sublines and began to heavily lean into the robot aesthetic. Eventually, the line presented both the Micro Robot and Micro Change line, which fully embraced the robotic trend. These toys would later become the basis of an even larger line that Hasbro introduced in 1984: The Transformers.
Presenting the ten most expensive toys from the Takara Microman toy line that have sold on online auction sites
Microman is beloved by both collectors of Micronauts and Transformers in the US. They also have a significant following of the original Japanese toy line. As many of these figures featured transparent plastics, finding mint examples of the original action figures is a difficult feat. This has made these vintage action figures extremely valuable to collectors.
We set out to identify the ten most expensive Microman action figures and other toys that have sold at online auction sites. Per usual, we are only going to feature the most expensive example of each toy from the line. We also will not be highlighting any listings for complete sets of Microman toys. Instead, we want to share the general value of the most beloved action figures from the line.
10. Takara Microman Micro Robot 7
As the Microman toy line entered the 80s, Takara realized that the toy line required a facelift so that it would appeal to a new generation of children. Even though the Microman toy line had remained popular over the years, the original fans had begun to outgrow the toys. Meanwhile, younger children were no longer familiar with the history of the Microman toy line. Thus, they needed a new concept to latch onto.
Takara responded by relaunching Microman in 1981 with a stronger focus on the robotic nature of the toy line. The line shifted even more to robot characters in 1982, when Takara launched the Micro Robot sub-line. While these robots still served as vehicles and suits for the Microman toy lines, they were becoming the main attraction. Moreover, Takara introduced combiner teams that turned into larger robots.
Near the end of the Micro Robots era, Takara released the Micro Robot 7 gift set that featured the 7-2-1 Formation combiner team. This set prominently featured the M004 Eji Microman action figure along with 7 other Robot figures: R-12 through R-18. The M004 Eji featured a black and white suit along with a distinct badge decal on its chest. Meanwhile, the robots had various colors, like the blue R-18 and the light green R-12.
The main feature of this set was the ability for these robots to transform and combine into various forms. While they began as 7 separate robots, they could also become 2 different battle vehicles. Notably, both of these vehicles were available in separate sets. R-12 through R-14 combined to become the 3pWalker. Meanwhile, R-15 through R-18 combined to become the 4-Walker. Moreover, they could combine into an even larger battle suit for the Microman action figure. The set featured a few other accessories like fist modules and unique weapons for each robot.
An unused Micro Robot 7 set sold on eBay for $999.95 on May 02, 2016.
9. Takara Microman New Conning Tower
With each year, Takara introduced new concepts and themes to the Microman toy line. In 1979, they decided to introduce the Microman Rescue Team on the heels of the previous Police Keepers. Each of these toys featured a modernized look with bright colors that would attract attention. The members of the Rescue Team specialized in protecting and rescuing people from disasters.
Within the 1979 Microman line was the New Conning Tower, which retooled and recolored an older playset from 1974. Takara changed up the color scheme of this rerelease so that it featured red, white, and blue. Moreover, they retooled areas like the pilot cockpit, making it wider so that it would accommodate the Rescue Team Microman action figures. Likewise, they retooled the observatory dome.
Despite these changes, many elements from the original release remained the same for the New Conning Tower. For instance, it featured the same accessories as the original release. The tower also required assembly with the included screws and nuts.
One of these play sets sold on eBay for $1,000.00 on April 16, 2014. It was unused and still in its original packaging.
8. Takara Microman God Fighter
As the original Microman toy line was drawing to a close, Takara introduced the Blizzard and Punch series in 1980. These two groups banded together to fight against the malevolent forces of the Interstellar Emperor Death King. Accompanying these toys was the third release of a beloved toy from the line, Robotman.
Robotman was introduced to the line in 1975, becoming one of the most recognizable mechanical Microman toys. The popularity of the original figure encouraged Takara to produce a second version in 1978. Finally, they released the God Fighter version in 1980 as the final Robotman from the original Microman series.
Aside from a basic recolor, the God Fighter Robotman had a few other differences. This toy featured an extra staff weapon, new designs for the fists, and extra side armor. This figure also featured a new head sculpt, which closely resembled the Punch Robo from 1980.
While this action figure came with a range of accessories, it did not include a Microman figure. Instead, the Robotman God Fighter featured a cardboard cutout of M275 Richard. This cutout could then be set inside the robot’s cockpit to supplement a Microman figure.
One of these Robotman God Fighter toys from 1980 sold on eBay for $1,200.00 on July 03, 2023.
7. Takara Microman Micro Change MC-11 44 Magnum
As Takara moved more toward producing robot toys for the Microman toy line, they introduced the Micro Change subline in 1983. This line featured robots that transformed into small items, including cassette players, cassettes, and microscopes. There was also a large selection of gun robo toys that transformed into realistic handguns.
One of these gun robos was the MC-11 44 Magnum action figure. This toy transformed into a realistic-looking version of the Smith & Weston Model 29 handgun. Notably, this handgun had been prominently featured in the Dirty Harry film series. To make this gun even more realistic, Takara designed a revolving cylinder that could slide out. Then, players could insert up to 6 plastic bullets into the chambers of the gun’s cylinder.
As with the rest of the Micro Change toy line, The MC-11 transformed into a humanoid robot. This toy had limited options for articulation. For instance, the arms and legs could move up and down while the legs could only be angled at the hips. Notably, the head could move both left and right as this movement accommodated the transformation sequence.
While this toy never made it to America or Hasbro’s future toy line, it was imported to a few international markets. GiG brought the MC-11 to the Italian market in Europe as part of their 1984 toy line. While this version was a direct import of Takara’s toy, they did add a red cap on the tip of the barrel for safety reasons.
A mint-in-box copy of the MC-11 44 Magnum sold on eBay for $1,245.00 on May 2, 2021.
6. Takara Microman Super Mecha TCB-1 Titan Command Base
After Microman successfully proved that it was a stand-alone hit with a manga series and booming sales, Takara introduced the Command series in 1977. Unlike the standard Microman characters, the Command members arrived on Earth thousands of years ago. To capitalize on the recent UFO craze, Takara created a story that indicated that these Command Microman had a hand in the creation of history’s most mysterious landmarks.
One of the ships that helped the Titans from the Microman Command series move across the globe was the TCB-1 Titan Command Base. This base served as a mobile base for the team. Unfortunately, none of the action figures from the line properly fit inside of this base. Meanwhile, Takara designed several connectors that would allow Titan figures to be mounted on the vehicle.
The Titan Command Base featured a few different accessories and gimmicks. For instance, it had a spring-loaded launching pad that sat on the top of the base. It also featured twin spring-loaded missile launchers. Then, there was a cockpit that featured two missile launchers mounted to its sides. The rear of the base could open up and form a ramp, allowing players to store toy cars inside.
One of these play sets sold on eBay for $1,300.00 on May 03, 2020. Notably, this toy was opened and had stickers applied.
5. Takara Microman Microborg Cosmo Inazuma 01
After Takara launched the New Microman toy line in 1981, they heavily leaned into the cyborg design of the characters. This led to them introducing the Microborg characters in 1982. This group consisted of three Microborg action figures. Each of these toys featured interchangeable parts and accessories.
Takara also provided a short background for the three Microborg characters: Cosmo Inazuma, Cosmo Plasma, and Cosmo Spark. While these three had come from Micro Earth, Acroyear had trapped them in a new dimension. To survive in this dimension, the trio converted themselves into Microborgs. They eventually escaped from this dimension, where they were discovered by the New Microman. Thus, the Microborgs joined the team and assisted them fight against Acroyear.
Each of these three characters had a unique color scheme that helped players tell them apart. Cosmo Inazuma was the red Microborg. Then, there was the blue one, Cosmo Plasma. Finally, there was the green Cosmo Spark. They each featured a projectile-firing jet pack and weapon accessories.
One of the Microborg Cosmo Inazuma 01 action figures sold on eBay for $1,500.00 on April 05, 2019.
4. Takara Microman Micro Change MC-10 Cassette Man AFA 75
In 1984, Hasbro licensed many of the toys that Takara created from the Microman Micro Change toy line. This included many of the most beloved characters from both sides of the Transformers conflict. Despite the popularity of the later toy line, the original action figures from the Microman toy line remain sought-after collectibles. They attract both Microman collectors and Transformers collectors.
One of the toys that made it over to America was MC-10 Cassette Man, which received a new name and backstory as Soundwave in America. While Hasbro gave MC-10 a new identity, the toy remained mostly the same as the Japanese release. The most notable differences were the decals for MC-10 and the accessories.
MC-10 featured a prominent decal that bordered the window of the cassette player which read “Cassette Man”. It also featured blue decals on the side of each foot, which sat at the sides of the buttons in player mode. Moreover, this toy came with a toy headset with a microphone as well as an accessory mimicking a mini-earphone. Moreover, the toy came with a red version of the MC-01 Micross action figure.
One of these toys appeared on eBay with an AFA grade of 75. The grading was broken down with the box receiving a 75, the window receiving an 80, and the figure receiving an 85. It was sold on the site for $1,999.00 on September 23, 2019.
3. Takara Microman Micro Change MC-21 Sound Warrior Radio Cassette Robo AFA 85
More than Soundwave originated from the Cassette-themed robots in the Microman Micro Change toy line. A second robot with a boom box design emerged as the Micro Change line was coming to an end in 1984. The MC-21 Sound Warrior Radio Cassette Robo was larger than the original MC-10 action figure. It also had a different head sculpt than the previous toy. Most notably, this toy came in two different color schemes. One of the toys was colored Red, which became the Autobot Blaster. Meanwhile, the other was colored blue.
Similar to MC-10, MC-21 had an opening cassette tray that could hold the smaller cassette robots. This action figure also came with a large rifle weapon. Moreover, an earphone accessory came with this action figure.
Even though the blue version of MC-21 never made it to America, it has become highly collectible. This explains how one of these toys sold on eBay for $2,025.00 on July 25, 2020. Beyond its collectability, this MC-21 toy received a grade from the AFA. The AFA had awarded the action figure an 85. To reach this score, the toy had a box that scored an 85, a window that scored an 85, and a figure that scored a 90.
2. Takara Microman Micro Change MC-13 Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E.
Another Micro Change action figure that Hasbro licensed and brought over to America was the MC-13 Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E. After the American company licensed the toy, they gave it a new identity of Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons. While this toy was available as a stand-alone gun, released as MC-12 Gun Robo, Hasbro decided to bring over the MC-13 variant to help bolster the cruel warlord’s arsenal.
To stand apart from the MC-12 action figure, the MC-13 featured several accessories that both increased the size of the gun and transformed into additional armaments for the robot. For instance, this toy came with a scope that could either become a cannon on the robot’s arm or a scope for a free-standing cannon. It also came with a muzzle and stock, which both became parts of the standing cannon station.
The gun form of this toy was an accurate recreation of the P-38 Walther featured in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. This inspiration was the reason why Takara included U.N.C.L.E. in the name of the set.
One of these toys was sold on eBay for $2,499.99 on May 29, 2016. Due to its popularity, it was able to achieve a high sales price even though the listing was for an open-box action figure.
1. Takara Microman Micro Change MC-07 M-1910 Gun Robo Browning AFA 90
Along with the Walther P-38 and 44 Magnum robots, Takara included one more gun design in the Microman Micro Change toy line. This gun was based on a semi-automatic pistol that John Browning had designed in 1910. The production year became a key point in the gun’s model number: M-1910. Not only is this a common handgun, but it has been used famously by James Bond in the classic film, Dr. No. Production of this firearm was discontinued in 1983, the same year that Takara produced this action figure.
The MC-07 was the first gun robo action figure that Takara created for the Microman Micro Change toy line. Even though the MC-13 became the most recognized of these gun robos, this toy still attracts the attention of collectors. Moreover, it shares many similarities with the later transforming gun robots. Some of the most noticeable differences between the robot forms of MC-07 and MC-13 were the weapon accessories and the helmets.
Initially, MC-07 was not licensed by Hasbro nor brought over to the Transformers toy line. However, it found its way to foreign markets through Takara in Finland, GiG in Italy, and Joustra in other parts of Europe. Moreover, Takara made this mold part of the Transformers toy line in a Japanese-only release in 1988.
One of these vintage action figures sold on eBay for $3,500.00 on January 13, 2017. This listing was for a copy that had been rated by the AFA. The AFA had awarded this toy a grade of 90 with the Box receiving a 90, the Window receiving a 90, and the figure receiving a 90.
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Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!