ML1-02 Ninjalady Shina

Microman 2004 ML1-02 Ninjalady Shina was the second member of Micro Lady series. (Micro Lady series were female counterpart to the last year Microman 2003 Micro Force series). Ninjalady Shina used the new female version of Full Action Body which derived from the Micro Force body combined with Cool Girls body (1/6 scale action doll produced by Takara in conjunction with bbi). Ninjalady Shina was female counterpart to last year Micro Force Ninja Microman and in her "naked mode" Shina followed the same basic color scheme as Ninja Microman. (And obviously also the same "ninja" theme). The body was molded in smoke clear plastic with purple trim. Shina had the medium size bust (Female Full Action Body came with three different bust sizes just like Cool Girls body). Shina had butterfly design on her chest to give her more feminine look. She had ninja head gear with movable "ponytail" part. Unlike the Acro Ladies, Micro Lady came with flat feet instead of the spike heel. Each figure came with six more pairs of hands. The hands now fit directly into the arm socket and do not have the extra "cuff" like the male version.
Micro Lady Shina armor was based on ninja and ancient armor designs. The armor was much more elaborated than her Microman counterpart. Shina came with chrome chest armor that hold her fork-like weapon, shin guard armor, leg snap on armor that hold two daggers and arm bracelets with over size four points stars attach to them like shield. The two small daggers can be attach to the fork and form a lance. The two stars can also be removed and held in her grip hand.
I had to admit that Shina was the one that I like the least, well at least initially. However, to my surprise, the figure over all design was actually very well done. Her armors and weapons stay on securely unlike some of the Master Force figures or last year Micro Force line. The bracelets was the only troublesome part when posing her but even then it was just some minor adjustment to get the part to fit back on snugly. Of the two new Micro Ladies, I have to say, again to my surprise, Shina actually edged out Commanderlady in term of overall design, though they were both, definitely outdone by their bad girl counterparts - the two Acro Ladies. May be when Takara designers were no longer constrained by having these Micro Lady designs followed the lackluster theme of last year Micro Force we could see more innovative looking Micro Lady.


ML1-02 Ninjalady Shina

ML1-02 Ninjalady Shina without gear
Packaging
Microman 2004 came in beautifully done removable blister card style packaging. The backing card had very nice picture of the toy with all the accessories on display in the blister window. As a nice touch, the blister had the "O" design (in MICROMAN logo) molded on. While the cylinder tube 2003 series was nice and compact, the new blister was definitely more attractive looking.


Accessories
Microman 2004 came with new style figure stand. The stand features Microman "Da Vinci" style logo emboss on clear plastic with two styles of pegs - one for the newer Microman figures and one for the vintage figures with 5mm port.

