1974 Microman Zone

Microman toys first appeared in April of 1974 and the series was originally introduced as a miniaturized "micro-size" version of Takara 12" action-figure doll line called the Henshin Cyborg. The line was fairly small and consisted only of few different toys. The centerpiece of the series were the original four Microman. The "Founder" Microman as they later to be called, look very much like a scale (10cm) Henshin Cyborg. The figures featured clear body, chrome head, and barefoot. (The barefoot design was later replaced with cybernetic "shoe" feet, commonly seen on all Microman and Micronauts Time Travelers.) The chrome head and clear body features of Microman which would later became hallmark of Microman figures owed much to their Henshin Cyborg heritage.

The toys during the first year consisted mainly of vehicles for these "cyborg" Microman. The vehicle was one of the main reason that Takara decided to make the miniaturized cyborg so that vehicles and play sets could be made for them at reasonable prices and sizes. As a matter of fact, the very first series Microman toys to be released for sale were the four Micro-Kit Machines, these were four set of vehicles in kit form each with a clear Microman cyborg figure pack in. These early Micro-Kit Machines are some of the most coveted toys by Microman collectors.

Another prominent vehicle from the first year Microman toys was the M115 Conning Tower or better known in the US as Micronauts Mobile Exploration Lab (MEL). Takara later released the first series Microman figures individually. They were sold in a small white "capsule" case a feature that would became common theme with later Microman figures. (The capsule idea was another by product of Henshin Cyborg line, the case was design to be a hibernation chamber much like Cyborg Station for the Henshin Cyborg). Beside the four Kit-Machines, Takara also released three additional small vehicles under "Cosmo Car" series. These vehicles are real vehicle toys unlike the pseudo kit vehicles from the Micro-Kit Machine series. The Cosmo Car line featured spring-loaded missiles, and early form of interchangeable parts both of these features would later became the hallmark of Microman vehicles.