LED Powers

Takara began new year and new millennium with a very small line up for new Microman series called the LED Powers. The Microman anime was not doing well and had been canceled which probably resulted in this much reduce line-up. Takara moved to support Microman line with anime show prove to be too costly and by late Summer 1999 the sale of Microman toys had plummeted. By the end of fall 1999 Takara had greatly reduced the production of Super Microman series to avoid excess stock of toys. Takara saw a rebounded in sale of Microman line after released of Super Microman and Magne Arden, they decided to continue Microman line but only in limited fashion. Takara announced that the toy will still be support by the manga in Bom Bom comic.

Microman LED Powers appeared to be much more similar to their cousin the Henshin Cyborg. The figure now have LED light in their chest (much like recent Neo Henshin Cyborg) which can be activate by power backpack. The package was a lot smaller (2/3 the size of Magne Power blister card), but the blister card fold out to reveal bio information about the figure. The most interesting of note about the new line, is the new catalog. The new catalog is now much larger in size and have more story background inside very much like the original Microman catalog from 1970's. Perhaps Takara want to move from the costly anime tie-in to the old style catalog story driven toy line.

LED Powers Story (Bom Bom)

Fifteen years after the Big Battle of 2015,a strange phenomenon has occurred in S. American. Dr. Kohei (the boy Kohei has become a professor) send Arthur and Walt to another dimension via the pyramid in S. America in order to acquire information on new source of energy call LEDcium. Izam was then send to S. America to acquire LEDcium elements to power the new LEDcium technology but was intercept by Vampiser. Arthur and Walt went to help and thus begin a new battle for LED power. Microman incorporate LEDcium power in their new armor and transform into Microman LED Powers. In the meantime, the President Acroyer who has also acquired LED Powers was attack by mysterious entity call Beetle Trooper and was split in half by it's power sword. Because of the LEDcium power, each half of President Acroyer was transform into LED Powers Acroyer call Acroyer-Hyde (red) and Acroyer-Jekyll (blue). Each LED Acroyers come with Acro-Spears and Acro-Blades (Hyde-Blade and Jekyll-Blade), and bug-like energy backpack.

2000 LED Power Premium and Exclusive Editions

The first premium released in 2000 was the Microman Blue MangeArthur from PlayStation game. The figure is a prize for drawing using entry form from the game and stamp from BomBom comic. The second premium came with little pre-announcement - a special gold version of LaserArthur. The figure was offered at special one day only Microman Event on Sunday, January 30th. The third premium is a green version of MicroBoy which will be a prize for BomBom drawing. There's also rumor of a red version MicroBoy to be giving out as a prize in the upcoming Microman decathalon. Takara also plan another MicroBoy exclusive call DarkSaber for ToysRUs store.

Takara again promoted each new sub-series release with a promotional prize. As promotional prize for MicroBoy, Takara plan to give-away 100 special green color MicroBoys - Green Arrow. For Secret Breaster Campaign Promotion, Takara offered black version of Micro Trailer (Dark Trailer) and red version of Micro Trailer (Flame Trailer).

At the event Takara also put on the display the premiums from last year including BomBom prize AcroStation and Ghost Robotman Ace. On displayed also was an all black version of President LaserAcroyer.

U-BORG: Power-Up Attachments for Microman by Factory M (Media Factory) (c.1999)

Takara licensed Microman property for various merchandised, but the most interesting one to most Microman collectors was the U-Borg Series produced by a company call Media Factory. The U-Borg were school stationary supplies (pen, ruler etc) that double as power-up attachments for Microman. Can you imagine being a kid and able to take a Microman to school along with all his power-up units disguise as your school supplies in case Acroyers launch a surprise attack on your school. U-Borg is probably one of the best accessory licensed by Takara. The name U-Borg came from the old Microman toys the Uniquer which were magnetic toys that functioned as school supplies.

According to the package and BomBom comic book, the U-Borgs are supposed to be power-up weapons and equipment develop for Microman by a secret U-Borg Laboratory code name Factory M (stand for Media Factory if you didn't get it). What make U-Borg really cool is that, they have many 5mm connectors and ports as a mean to attach the power-up unit to Microman. By using 5mm ports and connectors U-Borg can be used with the old Microman toys, not only the vintage Microman action-figures but also the vehicles and bases and they are fully customizable. There were 21 U-Borg power-up units originally plan by Media Factory plus a few variations. Each U-Borg came package in a very nicely design small cardboard box, and also includes a collectible data card about each U-Borg. Media Factory canceled the remaining unreleased U-Borg (M-006, M-007, M-009, M-011 and M-013 to M-021) in 2000.

At the end of 1999, Media Factory produced a special limited edition U-Borg Starter Kit call Parallel Junction M-2000. This box set contains 18 of the various U-Borg units plus special gold version of M-004 UnitShell Laser along with 2 U-Borg schematic drawing and U-Borg Lab Secret File containing U-Borgs Combination units by U-Borg Lab.