Microman Micro-Change toylist (1983-1984)

 

In 1974 Takara introduced Microman in Japan. It consisted of all sorts of figures and playsets, which had no relationship with Transformers. In 1981 New Microman replaced the original Microman series. In 1983 the Micro Change series were introduced as part of the New Microman series. Micro Change figures were robots that could change into all sorts of utensils, like a radio, microscope, locks and also into toy cars and guns. Of the Micro Change toys MC01 to MC13 were introduced in 1983 and MC14 to MC22 were introduced in 1984.

 

Micro Cassette Robo

MC-01 Micross The Microman version of Frenzy. The MC-10 Cassette Man (MM Soundwave) came with a version of Micross colored like Rumble. A later version, which was distributed when the Transformers started to appear in Japan, was colored blue and red.

MC-02 Jaguar This is the forerunner of Ravage. The later color variant was deep blue. There is also a Taiwanese  bootleg that was brown and had the case with the Japanese translated to English.

MC-03 Condor The forerunner of Lazerbeak and Buzzsaw. The later color variant had a black metal body and dark blue plastic parts.

 

MC-04 Microrobot Cars
These where to become the Transformer Minibots. The Microman versions where intended to transform into toy cars, not real cars like in the Transformer series. They were modeled after the Penny Racers, which were cars with pull-back engines, which Takara produced earlier. When Hasbro bought the molds to produce these toys, they also received the leftover stock of Microrobot Cars. Among them they also got yellow Cliffjumpers and red Bumblebees, hence the "wrong" colored Bumblebees and Cliffjumpers. For some reason they didn't produce a Transformer version of the Familia 1500 XG, but they did get a bunch of yellow version of this Microrobot, which they distributed in either Bumblebee or Cliffjumper packages. Since it didn't have an official name it's now called Bumblejumper among the Transformer collectors.
Microman name	Microman color(s)	Transformer name	Transformer color(s)
01 Porsche Turbo 924  02 Familia 1500 XG 03 Volkswagen Beetle 04 4WD  05 Jeep 06 Transam 07 Truck	red, yellow, blue red, yellow, blue red, yellow, blue blue tan red orange	Cliffjumper "Bumblejumper" Bumblebee Gears Brawn Windcharger Huffer	red, yellow yellow yellow, red blue green red orange

 

Camera Robo

MC-05 Microx Microx transformed from a camera to three robots, called Micro Winder, Micro Finder and  Micro Shutter. The Transformer version was only sold as mail-order exclusive and was called Reflector. The individual robots were called Spectro, Spy Glass and Viewfinder. A fake version of the Microx was sold in the US in a english version of the original Microman box. It's often mistaken for Reflector or Microx, so be careful when you buy one.

 

Watch Robo

MC-06 Watch Robo This was a real working wristwatch, which came in either silver, gold(?), blue or black. What may be interesting to know is that the original Microman version costed about the same as the MC-11 Magnum. A transformer version wasn't really produced, but the leftover stock from the US Kronoform line, which also included several other watches, was repackaged and sold as Transformers.

 

Gun Robo

MC-07 1910 Browning The Browning is the smallest of the gunrobos. Like the other gunrobos it could actually fire plastic bullets and came with cardboard targets with pictures of Acroyears on them. There were two different versions, where the color of the plastic on his legs and several other parts was either red or blue. Besides these two versions, there was also a gold chromed version, which was part of a contest. The Transformer version called Browning was only sold in Japan.

MC-11 S&W Magnum 44 The Magnum 44 was the biggest gunrobo and had a revolving chamber which could hold six bullets. The Magnum came in two version, the one pictured above, and one which is identical, except for a golden hilt. A Transformer version of this toy was never produced.

MC-12 Walther P-38 The black Microman version of Megatron. This one didn't come with the extensions (like the Japanese version of Megatron), but came with a sword and bullets. Besides this version, there is also a silver (not chrome) version, similar to the Japanese Megatron.

MC-13 Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E. This was the silver version of the Walther P-38 with the silencer, scope etc. This is the version from which the US version of Megatron was derived. It also came with a sword and bullets, which were left away with Megatron. It didn't have the stripes on the silencer like Megatron.

 

Cassette Machines

These transforming audio cassettes (regular size, not micro) weren't sold as Transformers for an obvious reason: they are vehicles for Microman figures. In fact, they were each packaged with one, with a helmet, gun and backpack, the last Microman toys to ever come with a figure.

MC-09 Battlebike HG90

MC-10 Jetheli XL120

 

Cassette Man

MC-10 Cassette Man CassetteMan. This is the Microman version of Soundwave. It came with a fake pair of headphones, and included the red version of MC-01 Micross (Microman Rumble), and had written the name "CassetteMan" on his chest

 

Meteor Robo

In their beast mode they look similar to the microcassettes, but instead of changing into cassettes, they change into metallic balls. These weren't originally released as Transformers, but Takara recently re-released them as key-hangers in bright colored transparent plastic, as part of the Beast Wars II line.

MC-14 Metal Man Transforms into a robot. It came either in silver/black, or in silver/red.

MC-15 Metal Leo This one transforms into a very nice looking leo.

MC-16 Metal Hawk This one transforms into a hawk, which looks very similar to the Micro Cassette Condor (Laserbeak).

 

Key Robo

MC-17 Dial Man To transform the Dial Man from a lock into a robot, you have to dial the right number to unlock the transformation.

MC-15 Magneman I assume that this one transforms after unlocking it with a key (his gun perhaps?).

 

Scope Man

MC-19 Scope Man It comes with a neck-strap that can be attached, and the weapon it holds, has a faceted lens that acts somewhat kaleidoscope-like, supposedly to see Acroyears in hiding. They are functioning binoculars, but their quality isn't very good.

 

Micro Scope

MC-20 Micro Scope This black Microman version of Perceptor was just like the Transformer version a working microscope, which can magnify up to 12 times. It also has a third mode, which represents a tank, on which a Microman figure can be seated.

 

Radicasse Robo

MC-21 Radicasse Robo This is the blue/gray colored forerunner of Blaster, but with one major difference: this one was a REAL WORKING RADIO! Actually the radio is in the tiny fake MicroCassettes. It's powered by a watch battery and is an AM radio with a tiny pair of dials on its side (volume and frequency), and you can plug the earplug it comes with into it to turn on the power (the ear plug speaker doesn't drain the battery too hard). The robot itself is really just two powered amplifiers supplemented by a few AA batteries. Put the cassette in, and pressing the play button plugs the amplifiers in. The small black dial on the left of the cassette chamber acts as a gear to adjust comparing to the Transformer version frequency, and the dial seen on the right side of the radio controls the amplified speakers in the legs' volume. It also came in red/grey, with a blue cassette door.

 

Beam Robo

MC-22 Beam Robo This was the last of the Micro Change toys. It could transform from a robot into a working flashlight.Until this day I've only seen just this catalog image, so I'm assuming this one was never released.