Microman is a long-running series of mini action figures by Japanese toy manufacturer Takara. First produced in 1974, the line seemed to have run it's course by the 1980s, but was revived in 1996 and production stopped and started until 2003, when Takara hit upon a winning formula in 'Microman 2003'  - small figures with multiple points of articulation aimed at the collector market, and featuring both original designs based on a cyborg theme, and licensed character models.