Review: Takara Microman Acroyear A-301 Red Star
The original Microman line produced by Takara from 1974 to 1984 was an influential and well-connected toy line with ties, direct and indirect, to other notable lines like Henshin Cyborg, Micronauts, G.I. Joe and Transformers. It’s perhaps underappreciated these days but even a casual look through its rich catalogue ought to reveal its true import.
There was incredible diversity in the line during that decade-long run with Takara producing die-cast action figures, magnetic action figures, mecha, transforming robots, impressive bases and even a spectacular remote-controlled starship that split apart to become smaller vehicles and role-playing toys. There certainly were clunkers but on the whole, the designers deserved credit for continually trying new things.
Microman’s standard action figure designs were remarkable as well. At a time when Kenner was dominating the US action figure market with designs that made do with a mere five swivel joints, Takara was producing action figures of a similar size for the Japanese market with 14 points of articulation including ball-jointed wrists and an O-ring waist joint.
Yet it’s the connectivity and interchangeability based on Takara’s classic 5mm pegs and ports standard that stands out, and no one Microman figure in the original line represents that better than the classic Acroyear.
Story
The Microman, aliens who by sheer coincidence happen to resemble action figures in size and looks, escaped from dying MicroEarth and crash-landed on Earth in various locations. Some of them had the misfortune of landing in polluted environs which turned them evil and presumably also resulted in a generation of Japanese kids with rather skewed and forceful anti-pollution views. These evil Microman would be known as Acroyear. What’s in a name? The katakana for Acroyear reads A-ku-ro-i-yaa and “aku” is Japanese for “evil”.
The first batch of Microman villains made their debut in 1975, a year after the line was introduced. Takara began reproducing the original Microman figures in 1999 to commemorate the line’s 25th anniversary and the Acroyear figure reviewed here is from that batch.
Packaging
There are few mass-manufactured action figures with packaging this compact and Takara somehow managed to cram the figure along with its accessories in there. Thankfully, however, there’s no need for cutters or oxyacetylene torches to remove the figure from the package and the figure is easily repacked as well.
The illustration on the front of the package bears little resemblance to the actual figure. The art actually looks vaguely Jeeg-inspired. The actual Acroyear toy superficially resembles Jeeg as well. If Jeeg has a missile launcher in his abdomen, the Acroyear toy has faux missile launchers in the chest and abdomen. Whether it was synchronicity or intentional, only Takara’s designers (who, in all probability, worked on both the Acroyear and the Magnemo Jeeg figures simultaneously) know for sure.
On the back of the package, Japanese text provides background about the Acroyear and the toy’s features. We learn chemical pollution at the bottom of the ocean caused the Microman to mutate into Acroyear, the Bazooka A missile launcher (shown replacing the Acroyear’s left arm) launches its missile, the arms and lower legs can be replaced with Acrorollers and wheel to form the Acrocar, and the Acrowing attaches to the figure’s back.
Amusingly, this figure, originally released as a child’s plaything in 1975, is now recommended for toy fans 15 years of age and older. One could infer two things from that: today’s kids are terribly fragile creatures and three decades ago, kids were complete badasses, living dangerously with devil-may-care attitudes. In fact, it’s astounding children of yesteryear weren’t awarded medals for bravery for playing with toys like this.
Look
This is a seven-year-old figure based on a design that’s more than 30 years old. If details are lacking and the looks unremarkable, you have to make allowances for the fact this is a figure from a bygone era, made for an audience with simpler tastes.
The 9.5cm-tall figure is an atypical Microman figure in some respects and typical in others. The Microman were generally humanoid, if cybernetic, and Takara’s designers chose to go a different route for the Microman enemy. Acroyear’s slender mechanical limbs and outrageous ball fists make him stand apart from his Microman brethren but it’s the helm-like head devoid of anything relatable that makes this design particularly cold and alien. The silver chromed head is, of course, a Microman signature feature inspired by Henshin Cyborg, the line that preceded Microman.
One of the quirks of the Microman line was Takara generally produced multiple colour variants (typically three or four) for each assortment so the first batch of Microman villains saw the debuts of A-301 Red Star, A-302 Silver Star and A-303 Blue Star. Red Star’s red, black and exceptionally shiny chrome silver colour scheme is simple but it works.
Construction-wise, the figure is mostly plastic but surprisingly, Takara used die-cast metal for the torso. It doesn’t really add much to the figure and it may actually be a mistake as one Japanese toy fan noted the die-cast tended to shave off the plastic on pegs whenever parts are attached and detached.
Strike a pose
As mentioned earlier, the Microman figures had outstanding articulation for their time and the Acroyear figures, though constructed differently from the typical Microman figure, were almost as posable. Red Star’s points of articulation are as follows:
- Head: swivel joint.
- Shoulders: swivel-hinge combo joints.
- Elbows: hinge joints (these bend both ways).
- Fists: swivel joints.
- Waist: swivel joint.
- Hips: swivel joints.
- Knees: hinge joints (these bend both ways).
- Feet: swivel joints.
The only disappointment is the restricted hip joints but the lack of ball joints or equivalents is understandable. The hips, being too narrow for 5mm ports, preclude the use of the same type of swivel-hinge combo joints used for the shoulders.
Unlike prototypical Microman figures, the Acroyear designs lacks an O-ring at the waist, but the figure doesn’t suffer too badly for it. As an action figure, it’s very playable.
But its main appeal is its interchangeability.
5mm
The most remarkable thing about the Acroyear design is how almost everything about the figure can be detached. Acroyear Red Star’s head, arms, upper legs, lower legs, feet, torso and hips can all be separated. This is partly necessary for the transformation to the Acrocar mode but it’s clear Takara intended the Acroyear figures to take advantage of the interchangeability across the line. There’s no reason otherwise for the waist and the feet to detach.
The transformation is another feature inspired by the Henshin Cyborg line. The Henshin Cyborg figures could be transformed into a motorcycle with an accessory set sold separately and Takara clearly wanted to continue that play pattern with Microman. The company would go on to improve upon these early transforming toy attempts with Microchange, Diaclone and then famously with Transformers.
Acroyear Red Star’s accessories include the Acrowing which attaches to the 5mm port on the figure’s back. It’s a little too stubby to impress as a flight pack.
The rest of the accessories are parts to transform Red Star into its mobile missile launcher mode, the Acrocar. First, remove the arms and the lower legs then attach the roller arms at the shoulders and the wheel at the knees. Finally, add the Bazooka A spring-powered missile launcher to the back. Two chrome silver missiles are included. The Acrocar design is weak even by the standards of Seventies toys but the missile launcher is impressive enough. It’s capable of launching its missile a few feet and by today’s safety standards, this makes it a terrifying weapon.
The true appeal of an interchangeable toy is coming up with your own alternate modes and a toy fan with a decent collection of Takara-manufactured toys (and compatible lines like Micronauts) ought to have quite a stockpile of 5mm parts and accessories. Granted, these fanmodes are likely to be equally embarrassing but it’s all about the I-Made-This factor.
QC
The Mego Micronauts version of the Acroyear design, released in 1977 and confusingly named Acroyear II, was described as a poorly-designed figure prone to falling apart. This is definitely not true of this Takara version as the joints are very tight. Perhaps a tad too tight. The main issue with this repro is the ports are slightly small. They’re still compatible with 5mm parts from other Microman figures and other lines but you may need to force parts in.
The figure seems sturdy enough and is capable of surviving an accidental drop or two. Acroyear Red Star’s slim limbs might not survive rough handling but most collectors and older toy fans are only likely to fiddle with it before relegating it to the shelf.
Overall
The Acroyear figures originally retailed for 400 yen in 1975 which made them a real bargain. A quarter of a century later, reproductions of these figures would retail for 1500 yen, making them a less attractive buy. These reproductions pop up from time to time on auction sites but demand doesn’t seem particularly high. Much like the Microman line it’s from, the Acroyear design is perhaps underappreciated these days. Collectors are unlikely to get past the figure’s looks and few toy fans will be inclined to exploit its main strength, the interchangeability and connectivity.
Still, it’s a classic figure from a remarkable line and a solid representation of Takara’s early experiments with transforming toys, and for those reasons alone, Acroyear Red Star is a worthy purchase.
Links
Microforever.
Paul Lorphanpaibul’s encyclopedic site is the place to go to for anyone looking for information about Microman.
Rescue Base Seattle Annex.
Bryan Wilkinson shares Microman fanmodes and Micro-compatible lines.
Wikipedia.
A brief overview of the franchise.
Wikipedia (Japanese).
The Acroyear origin was inspired by environmental concerns of the 70s.
2/1-scale Acroyear garage kit.
Scroll down for photos of a cool garage kit sold by K Craft Model at WonderFest 2007.