Micronauts

The Micronauts toyline consisted of {{convert|3.75|in|cm|tall|adj=mid}} action figures which were known for their high number of articulation points relative to other toys of similar size and scale in the 1970s. The toyline also included vehicles, robots, playsets and accessories. Many of the Micronauts toys used interchangeable {{convert|5|mm|in|adj=on}} connectors and ports that allowed parts to be transferred and connected between different toys.{{cite web

| url=http://that-figures.blogspot.com/2011/02/vintage-view-micronauts-time-traveler.html| title=VINTAGE VIEW: Micronauts Time Traveler (1976)| website=That Figures| date=17 February 2011| access-date=4 June 2015}}{{Unreliable source?|sure=yes|reason=Source is a blog.|date=September 2017}}{{cite web| url=http://www.skooldays.com/categories/toys/ty1139.htm| title=Skooldays: Retro - Micronauts| website=Skooldays| date=2 July 2013| access-date=4 June 2015| first=Zane| last=Clements}}{{cite web| url=http://www.itsalltrue.net/?p=5397| title=Most Requested Figures: Micronauts| website=IAT: It's All True| date=13 May 2010| access-date=4 June 2015| author=NoisyDvL5}}

{{further|Microman}}

File:Mego Acroyear Red Number 1.jpg

Takara first released Microman toys in Japan in 1974 as a smaller version of their popular {{convert|8|in|cm|adj=mid|-tall}} and {{convert|12|in|cm|adj=mid|-tall}} 1972 Henshin Cyborg (Transforming Cyborg) line. Henshin Cyborg figures were based on 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.

By downscaling their size, Takara sought to create a toyline that would offset the sheer cost of producing a full line of plastic-based figures and related playsets as well as acknowledging that basic living space is limited for 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.{{cite web| url=http://www.microforever.net/henshinindex.htm| title=Micro Heritage - Takara Henshin Cyborg Series| website=Microman Forever| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015| first=Paul| last=Lorphanpaibul}}{{cite web| url=http://www.capecod.net/~tvigneau/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000925185343/http://www.capecod.net/~tvigneau/| title=History of Microman - Part 1: In the Beginning| website=Tom's Microman Zone| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015| archive-date=25 September 2000| first=Tom| last= Vigneau}}

In Japan, the Microman figures themselves were marketed as actually being {{convert|3.75|in|cm|adj=mid|-tall}} cyborg entities that hailed from a fictional planet known as "Micro Earth" and disguised themselves as action figures while on Earth.{{cite web| url=http://www.microforever.net/1974micromanzone.htm| title=Original Microman Series - 1974 Microman Zone| website=Microman Forever| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015| first=Paul| last=Lorphanpaibul}}{{cite web| url=http://www.alphah7.sakura.ne.jp/sub1_e.html| title=Micro Earth Story| website=Alpha H7 Laboratory| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015| author=Tetsuya}}

{{further|Mego Corporation}}

image:Biotron.jpg

In 1976, Mego licensed several Microman toys from Takara and marketed the toyline 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.{{cite web| url=http://www.micro-outpost.com/history/history.html| title=History of the Micronauts| website=Micro Outpost| date=1 December 2006| access-date=4 June 2015| first=Erik| last=Larsen}}{{cite web| url=http://figure-archive.net/toyline.aspx?toylineID=1083| title=Micronauts - Mego (1976-1982)| website=The Action Figure Archive| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015}}

While much of the initial Micronaut toyline offerings were simply repackaged versions of Takara Microman equivalents, some items in the Micronaut toyline were original Mego creations that used modified and reconfigured parts from existing Takara toys. For example, the larger, {{convert|6.5|in|cm|adj=mid}} magnetic action figures Baron Karza and Force Commander were re-colorings of the Magnemo Kotetsu Jeeg action figures with newly designed heads. In addition, as the Micronaut line grew in popularity, Mego expanded the line by creating whole new figures from scratch such as the "Aliens" line which included Antron, Repto, Membros, Lobros, Kronos and Centaurus.{{cite web| url=http://www.micro-outpost.com/pictures/aliens/aliens.html| title=Micronaut Aliens| website=Micro Outpost| date=1 December 2006| access-date=4 June 2015| first=Erik| last=Larsen}}{{cite web | url=http://that-figures.blogspot.com/2011/02/vintage-view-micronauts-baron-karza-and.html| title=VINTAGE VIEW: Micronauts Baron Karza and Andromeda| website=That Figures| date=21 February 2011| access-date=6 June 2015}}{{cite book|last1=Alt|first1=Matt|last2=Duban|first2=Robert|title=Super #1 Robot: Japanese Robot Toys, 1972-1982|date=2005|publisher=Chronicle Books|location=San Francisco|isbn=9780811846073|page=26|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swOayca6Z7IC&q=Magnemo%3A+Jeeg+1975&pg=PT31|access-date=6 June 2015}}{{cite web| url=http://micropola.org/archived/timanic04.html| title=Timanic NicMachine 2| website=Micropola| date=6 June 2015| access-date=6 June 2015| first=Ron| last=Pringle}}

The Micronaut toyline sold extremely well for Mego. According to Neal Kublan, Mego’s Executive VP of Marketing/Vice President of Mego Research & Development (1972-1980), the line generated more than $32 million in sales for the $110 million company during one period.{{cite web| url=http://www.megocentral.com/MICRONAUTS.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724190110/http://www.megocentral.com/MICRONAUTS.html| title=Mego Micronauts| website=MEGO CENTRAL| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015| archive-date=24 July 2011| first=Ray| last=Miller}}

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 toyline, other original molds were sold to PAC Toys for use in their Lords of Light toyline and even Takara produced several series 5 toys for Italian licensee/distributor Gig's i Micronauti line. Additionally, leftover Micronaut toyline stock from Mego's production run was eventually sold for sale/clearance in North America by Lion Rock Limited under the Micronauts name.

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.

{{further|Palisades Toys#Micronauts dilemma}}

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 toyline were still available.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} When Palisades discovered the manufacturing tooling and molds were not available, 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 toyline (such as Repto, Membros and Centaurus) were included in the line as well.{{cite web| url=http://www.fanmode.net/2009/06/03/fanmode-interview-bryan-wilkinson-part-3/| title=Fanmode interview: Bryan Wilkinson (part 3)| website=Fanmode| date=3 June 2009| access-date=4 June 2015| last=Gobinathan| first=M}}{{cite web| url=http://figure-archive.net/toyline.aspx?toylineID=2368| title=Micronauts - Palisades (2002-2003)| website=The Action Figure Archive| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015}}

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 manufacturing practices followed by the first Chinese factory. Many consumers who returned defective merchandise were inadvertently given defective replacements by Palisades.{{cite web| url=http://www.fanmode.net/2009/06/11/fanmode-interview-bryan-wilkinson-part-4/| title=Fanmode interview: Bryan Wilkinson (part 4)| website=Fanmode| date=11 June 2009| access-date=4 June 2015| last=Gobinathan| first=M}}

Facing these issues, Palisades developed the Series 2 figures which utilized other, more reputable factories in China, but ended up losing more money than expected. As a result, retailers were wary of carrying the new Micronauts toyline, which resulted in the abrupt cancellation of a third series which was already in development. The whole series of events contributed to Palisades’ bankruptcy in 2006.

Below is a basic overview list of Palisades Toys Micronaut toys with size/scale and 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.

{{further|SOTA Toys}}

In January 2005, SOTA (State of the Art) Toys unveiled plans for a collector's toyline called "Micronauts: Evolution" which would be a redesign of the Micronauts figures presented in a slightly larger {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on}} size. Concept art was released and prototypes displayed at the 2005 Toy Fair, with a projected release of late 2005. The figures appeared at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con.{{cite web| url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/sdcc.htm| title=San Diego Comic Con 2006| website=Inner Space Online| date=2006-08-06| access-date=2013-09-26| last=Waugh| first=Dave}}

The initial series was planned to include {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on}} renditions of Lobros, Baron Karza, and Space Glider.{{cite web| url=http://www.figures.com/databases/action.cgi?setup_file=fignews2.setup&category=actionfigures&topic=173&show_article=80| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301104659/http://www.figures.com/databases/action.cgi?setup_file=fignews2.setup&category=actionfigures&topic=173&show_article=80| title=News| website=Figures.com| date=2005-02-18| archive-date=2012-03-01| access-date=2013-09-26| last=Jeff| first=Saylor}}{{cite web| url=http://figure-archive.net/toyline.aspx?toylineID=3079| title=Micronauts - SOTA (State Of The Art) Toys (2005)| website=The Action Figure Archive| date=4 June 2015| access-date=4 June 2015}} Plans changed to an online-only box set of all three characters, available on SOTA's website as smaller figures.{{cite web| url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/jm4.htm| title=Jerry Mac interview '06 (pt.1)| website=Inner Space Online| date=2006| access-date=26 September 2013| last=Waugh| first=Dave}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} 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.{{cite web| url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/jm5.htm| title=Jerry Mac interview '06 (pt.2)| website=Inner Space Online| date=2006|access-date=2013-09-26| last=Waugh| first=Dave}}

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.

{{further|Hasbro}}

File:Hasbro Micronauts SDCC 2016 Packaging.jpg

In June 2016, Hasbro announced the special release of a limited edition Micronauts Classic Collection toy set. The set included three Micronaut characters: Galactic Warrior, Pharoid and Orbital Defender and featured packaging artwork by artist Ken Kelly. The set debuted at San Diego Comic-Con.{{cite web| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/comic-con-hasbro-revive-micronauts-904911| title=Comic-Con: Hasbro to Revive 'Micronauts', 'Visionaries' for Special Releases (Exclusive)| work=The Hollywood Reporter| date=2016-06-21| access-date=2016-06-22| last=McMillan| first=Graeme}}

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

In January of 2025, Super7 announced their ReAction toyline would include the first

new Micronauts figures since Hasbro's 2016 limited edition Toyfair set. In January of 2025, Super7 began taking pre-orders for their new Baron Karza and Biotron figures which were released in early March, 2025.

In previous versions, Baron Karza and Biotron were large figures (Karza being a "magno" figure as well)

but the Super7 releases reduce their sizes to 3.75 inches for the first time.

{{main|Micronauts (comics)}}

Several comic book series based on the Micronaut toyline have been published by Marvel Comics (from 1979–1986),{{gcdb series|id=2514|title=Micronauts (1979–1984)}} Image Comics (2002–2003),{{gcdb series|id=17160|title=Micronauts (2002–2003)}} Devil’s Due Publishing (2004),{{gcdb series|id=27568|title= Micronauts: Karza (2004)}} and IDW (2016–2018).{{gcdb series|id=100418|title= Micronauts (2016–present)}}

In November 2009 during an "Investor Day" event held at Hasbro's headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Hasbro's VP of Global Designs, Brian Chapman, announced the company's re-introduction of the Micronaut toyline and hinted that director J. J. Abrams’ Bad Robot was in negotiations to produce a film based on the Micronauts property.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125737028160428961|title=The Cry Goes Out in Hollywood: 'Get Me Mr. Potato Head's Agent!'|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=6 November 2009|access-date=4 June 2015|first=Lauren A.E.|last=Schuker}}{{cite web|url=http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=278&itemid=15055|title=Hasbro Brings Micronauts Back|website=Toy News International|date=5 November 2009| access-date=4 June 2015|first=Jay|last=Cochran}} In March 2013, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick mentioned they were working on a screenplay and the film was on Paramount's list of possible productions. Wernick said that they wrote a couple of drafts with Bad Robot and their script was deviating from the comic, but described the adaptation as "cool and different".{{cite web|url=http://www.movies.com/movie-news/39g-i-joe-retaliation39-writers-offer-updates-on-39cowboy-ninja-viking39-39micronauts39-39epsilon39-exclusive/11704|title='G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Writers Offer Updates on 'Cowboy Ninja Viking', 'Micronauts' and 'Epsilon' (Exclusive)|website=Movies.com|date=27 March 2013|access-date=3 June 2015|first=Rick|last=Marshall}} The planned project made little progress, though in November 2015, Paramount said that it was still planning a Micronauts film adaptation.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/paramount-transformers-g-i-joe-micronauts-1201645954/|title=Paramount Moves Forward on Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Micronauts|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=November 20, 2015|work=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601114228/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/paramount-transformers-g-i-joe-micronauts-1201645954/|archive-date=June 1, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=22 January 2018|quote=Paramount and Hasbro are moving forward on selecting screenwriters for their Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises along with launching a Micronauts movie.}}

That December, Hasbro and Paramount were planning a cinematic universe combining Micronauts with G.I. Joe, Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light, M.A.S.K. and Rom.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-hasbro-gi-joe-universe-848920|title=Paramount, Hasbro Creating Movie Universe Around G.I. Joe, Four Other Brands (Exclusive)|work= The Hollywood Reporter|last= Kilday|first= Gregg|date= December 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326020935/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-hasbro-gi-joe-universe-848920|archive-date=March 26, 2016|url-status=live}} Several writers such as Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan, Nicole Perlman, Lindsey Beer, Cheo Coker, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, Joe Robert Cole, Jeff Pinkner, Nicole Riegel and Geneva Robertson-Dworet joined the writers room in April 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hasbro-cinematic-universe-takes-shape-886316|title=Hasbro Cinematic Universe Takes Shape With Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan, Akiva Goldsman (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610120217/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hasbro-cinematic-universe-takes-shape-886316|archive-date=June 10, 2016|url-status=live}} The release date was originally scheduled for October 2020, before it was pushed for June 2021.{{cite news|last=Couch|first=Aaron|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-sets-gi-joe-dungeons-dragons-release-dates-1069024|title=Paramount Sets 'G.I. Joe', 'Dungeons & Dragons' Release Dates|date=December 18, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/g-i-joe-micronauts-both-pushed-later-on-release-schedule-by-paramount-1202629130/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607220259/https://deadline.com/2019/06/g-i-joe-micronauts-both-pushed-later-on-release-schedule-by-paramount-1202629130/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2019|title='G.I. Joe' & 'Micronauts' Both Pushed Later On Release Schedule By Paramount|date=June 7, 2019|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|publisher=Deadline|access-date=June 7, 2019}}

In 2019, Dean DeBlois was attached as the writer and director of the film,{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-train-your-dragon-filmmaker-tackling-micronauts-film-1241159|title='How to Train Your Dragon' Filmmaker Dean DeBlois Tackling 'Micronauts' for Paramount, Hasbro (Exclusive)|date=September 23, 2019|last=Kit|first=Borys|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 23, 2019}} but the film was pulled from the release schedule in November 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paramount-pictures-takes-michael-b-jordan-pic-without-remorse-micronauts-off-2021-release-calendar-4092677/|title=Paramount Pictures Takes Michael B. Jordan Pic 'Without Remorse,' 'Micronauts' Off 2021 Release Calendar|first=Trilby|last=Beresford|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 14, 2020}}

In 1998, AGE, Annex Entertainment, Gribouille and Kaleidoscope Media Group planned to produce a Micronauts animated series starting with a five-part miniseries to air on the Sci Fi Channel in Fall of 1998, followed by a syndicated 26 episode Micronauts animated series for 1999, with action figures and a Marvel tie-in comic announced. The project was later cancelled.{{cite web|url=http://www.ageinc.com/tv/upcoming/index.html|title=Age tv (upcoming)|publisher=Ageinc.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010127210100/http://ageinc.com/tv/upcoming/index.html|archive-date=January 27, 2001|url-status=dead|access-date=September 24, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.comics2film.com/c2fl-n.shtml|title=Comics 2 Film: L-N|publisher=Wayback Machine|date=March 30, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815213733/http://www.comics2film.com/c2fl-n.shtml|archive-date=August 15, 2000|website=Comics2Film|url-status=dead|access-date=September 24, 2013}}

Boulder Media Limited (a then-subsidiary of Hasbro Studios) planned to develop a new Micronauts animated series in 2018,{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-01-02/hasbro-micronauts-animated-series-to-debut-in-2019/.125983|title=Hasbro's Micronauts Animated Series to Debut in 2019 |website=Anime News Network|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=January 2, 2024}} but has long since been shelved due to the closure of Allspark Animation in 2020 and the live-action film being pulled from schedule.{{cite web|title=Boulder Media Announces Plans To Open Second Studio Space in Dublin|url=http://www.hotpress.com/Boulder-Media/Boulder-Media-Announces-Plans-To-Hire-New-Staff--Open-Second-Studio-Space-in-Dublin/20174183.html|website=Hot Press|access-date=27 August 2017|language=en|date=7 June 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.tfw2005.com/2020/09/11/hasbro-comments-on-their-future-entertainment-slate-2021-and-beyond-419237|title = Hasbro Comments on Their Future Entertainment Slate: 2021 and Beyond - Transformers News - TFW2005|date = 11 September 2020}}{{cite web

|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paramount-pictures-takes-michael-b-jordan-pic-without-remorse-micronauts-off-2021-release-calendar-4092677/

|title=Paramount Pictures Takes Michael B. Jordan Pic 'Without Remorse', 'Micronauts' Off 2021 Release Calendar

|date=November 13, 2020

|website=Hollywood Reporter

|access-date=November 12, 2022}} In 2022, Hasbro sold Boulder Media to Australian media company Princess Pictures.{{cite web

|url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/princess-productions-buys-boulder-media-from-hasbro-1235157298/

|title=Princess Pictures Buys Irish Animation Studio Boulder Media From Hasbro

|date=November 1, 2022

|website=Deadline

|access-date=November 12, 2022}} According to writer Eric Rogers, 52 episodes of the series were produced, and confirmed the series received a tax write-off.{{cite tweet|user=EricRogersHere|number=1653439552672133120|title=Great post from my former staff writer on Micronauts.}} {{better source|date=April 2024}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Hasbro}}

{{Portal bar|Toys|1980s}}

Category:1970s toys

Category:1980s toys

Category:Action figures

Category:Hasbro brands

Category:Hasbro products

Category:Takara Tomy franchises

Category:Mass media franchises introduced in 1976

Category:1980 disestablishments in the United States