1981 New Microman

In 1981, Takara decided to "reset" the Microman line to attract younger generations and rejuvenate the series. In the first year of the New Microman, Takara released 10 Microman figures, each was recolored and renamed version of various Microman from the original line complete with a new story. Takara basically "erased" Microman history and replaced it with a more streamlined one. Takara realized that the market for Microman figures was not as strong, to cut costs and simplify production, Takara then redesigned each New Microman with a simple "M-00X". All the same types of Microman would have the same designation number even if they were released with different color schemes. Many of the New Microman were later released as vehicles set in "exclusive" colors and had a different color than those marketed individually but they shared the same name and designation. While the Microman were all re-releases of the old toys, Takara introduced a brand new design for the Acroyear. The New Acroyears featured some of the old series trademarks such as a die-cast body, bug-like appearance, and transformable feature. Takara however did introduce a new type of Microman figure called Micro Robot. The new Micro Robots were nothing like the old series Micro Robot, these new robots were miniaturized versions of 80's mecha-style robots with abilities to transform themselves into vehicles or weapon platform for the New Microman. The new Micro Robot series was signaling the shift from cyborg to living robot concept. Micro Robot would became a foundation for the later Micro Change Series which would eventually became Transformers. Takara released two series of Micro Robot in 1981 - Micro Robot 1-2-3, and Micro Robot V.

The first year of New Microman had limited numbers of play sets and vehicles. The two large robots were both transformable style robots which was another trend for the New Microman series. Gone were the interchangeable toys of the old series. The new series play-set had robots that transformed into vehicles for Microman figures. Another emerging trend for the new line was the concept of the powered armored suit. The first year featured the basic snap-on type suits called the Mighty Suit which appeared to be an evolved version of the Microman Power-Up set from the old series.

Besides, the Microman series, Takara also released a new sci-fi series called Diaclone. The new line was an off-shoot from the Microman series and was essentially a scale-down of the Microman concept. The figures were now just about an inch tall (it was reported that the line was nicknamed inch-man at one time) but still featured the familiar chrome head. The small figures look much like miniature Punch Microman and come with multiple color variants. The figures also feature magnetic feet. The main attraction was not these small figures, however, but the big giant robots they piloted. This was probably Takara's plan of two-prong foray into the die-cast robot toys market dominated by companies such as Popy at the time. By splitting their sci-fi series into two scales, Takara could cover both the action-figures market and the giant robots market. The Diaclone series ran parallel with the New Microman line and would suffer the same fate as the New Microman when Transformers debuted in 1984.

(Special thanks to Micro Bry for this bit of history of Takara toys development which greatly explained not only the reason for the die-cast robots but also the concept and synergy behind Diaclone and New Microman)