A few years ago, I produced a small book based on my favourite action figure line, Micronauts. First introduced way back in 1978 by Mego and later in the UK by Airfix, they were a hyper-poseable range of 3" figures that left the 'new' Kenner Star Wars figures standing. Besides being fabulously well designed and articulated, they all came with an amazing array of interchangeable vehicles, which made the options for play, almost limitless.
What I didn't realise at the time, was that they were a part of the much larger range of japanese Microman line, by Takara. Takara also made Henshin Cyborg, a Action Man scaled figure, similar to Micronauts with attachable weapon arms and accessories. Part of the Henshin line had also reached the UK via Denys Fisher toys, a few years earlier, as Cyborg.
The basic Micronaut figure was called a Time Traveller (with many other names in Japan) and was shortly joined by the enemy Acroyear, a more robotic figure and later by a series of cool aliens, which never found release in U.K, so I had to wait many years until the invention of the internet and the arrival of Ebay, before I actually acquired any!
With the advent of the internet, I began to realise the full extent of the Microman line and its relation to other toys such as Diaclone and Transformers.
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| Pharoid and his Time Chamber |
For a full briefing on the toys and a comprehensive history of the lines, check out Micro Forever!
https://www.micromanforever.com/main.htm
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| Acroyear |
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| Pallisades Repto and Pharoid reissues |
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| Antron Attack! |
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| Galactic Defender (original and re-issue) take on Repto |
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| Classic Micronauts Aliens |
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| Second Wave Centaurus |
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| Space Glider |
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| Acroyear warps in |
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Very much like the photography and the set ups for photography with these toys....very well done....not the easiest to photograph as they are very small scale.....I do remember them but did not realise how they such an extensive toy line around them....great info.....enjoyed learning about the range .Richard Dixon TPD STUDIOS UK .
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard, thats very kind of you. Most of the F/X are done in camera with various fresnel lenses and lights. Photoshop added a couple of lens flares too! Bill
DeleteHi Bill....Like I said love your photography on these....a very good job you did with the photography ....doing most of this in camera....that's impressive mate !! Regards Richard Dixon .TPD STUDIOS UK .
DeleteThanks Richard - ill have to pop over to you and see how you work!
DeleteFab looking work Bill. Yes, like Richard, Micronauts is a range I just didn't know at the time. i think I saw a few comics before I realised there were action figures. Are the photo's out of your book?
ReplyDeleteyes, the photos are from my Blurb publication, Micro Macro - now on sale at a reduced price!
Deletehttps://www.blurb.co.uk/b/6966172-micro-macro
Cor, is it really 9 years since you published it?
Deleteyep - where does the time go? Not bad for a kitchen worktop too!
DeleteNot bad at all. Would you do it differently now?
Deleteif its not broke, why fix it?
DeletePhenomenal photography which brings these ace action figures to life. Very skillful work, Bill.
ReplyDeletethanks Tony, thats very kind
DeleteLove this photography and the subject matter. I have your book, and it’s an all-time favorite. You really bring these iconic toys to life! SFZ
ReplyDelete