In fiction , a character is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel , play , radio or television series , music , film , or video game ). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, in which case the distinction of a "fictional" versus "real" character may be made. Derived from the Ancient Greek word χαρακτήρ , the English word dates from the Restoration , although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones by Henry Fielding in 1749. From this, the sense of "a part played by an actor " developed. (Before this development, the term dramatis personae , naturalized in English from Latin and meaning "masks of the drama", encapsulated the notion of characters from the literal aspect of masks .) Character, particularly when enacted by an actor in the theater or cinema, involves "the illusion of being a human person". In literature, characters guide readers through their stories, helping them to understand plots and ponder themes. Since the end of the 18th century, the phrase " in character " has been used to describe an effective impersonation by an actor. Since the 19th century, the art of creating characters, as practiced by actors or writers , has been called characterization .
98-447: An action figure is a poseable character model figure made most commonly of plastic , and often based upon characters from a film , comic book , military , video game or television program ; fictional or historical . These figures are usually marketed toward boys and adult collectors. The term was coined by Hasbro in 1964 to market G.I. Joe to boys (while competitors called similar offerings boy's dolls ). According to
196-620: A 2005 study in Sweden , action figures which display traditional masculine traits primarily target boys. While most commonly marketed as a child's toy , the action figure has gained widespread acceptance as collector item for adults. In such a case, the item may be produced and designed on the assumption it will be bought solely for display as a collectible and not played with like a child's toy. Articulated dolls go back to at least 200 BCE, with articulated clay and wooden dolls of ancient Greece and Rome . Many types of articulated figures date to
294-447: A battery-powered fan. Below is a basic overview list documenting classic Microman 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) action figure releases from 1974 to 1980. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all classic Microman releases/variants but rather a high-level overview of Takara's 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) Microman line offerings. While a line of new Microman 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) figures were released for
392-481: A brand new series of action figures called Microman 2003 which was aimed towards collectors and older fans. In the late 2000s, Takara expanded the overall Microman brand and Microman 2003 line to include various licensed brands, including Batman (both comic based and from Batman Begins ), Superman (both comic based and from Superman Returns ), Evangelion , Street Fighter , Godzilla , Alien vs Predator and Kinnikuman . A Spider-Man toy
490-438: A character using the basic character archetypes which are common to many cultural traditions: the father figure , mother figure, hero , and so on. Some writers make use of archetypes as presented by Carl Jung as the basis for character traits. Generally, when an archetype from some system (such as Jung's) is used, elements of the story also follow the system's expectations in terms of storyline . An author can also create
588-403: A chrome head and cyborg feet. During the oil supply crisis of the 1970s, like many other manufacturers of action figures, Takara was struggling with the costs associated with making the large 11 + 1 ⁄ 2 -inch figures, So, a smaller version of the cyborg toy was developed, standing at 3 + 3 ⁄ 4 inches (95 mm) high, and was first sold in 1974 as Microman . The Microman line
686-461: A color-changing feature has been demonstrated on some figures throughout the years. This concept involves dipping the character's head into cold water and revealing a temperature-sensitive paint. Examples include Kenner's Sky Escape Joker and Camouflage Swamp Thing, as well as Hasbro's Desert-Camo Sgt. Savage . The majority of figures in Kenner 's Super Powers Collection toted a punching action upon
784-522: A cut's strict vertical rotation. Basic knee articulation often relies on what is considered a pin joint. The amount and style of figure articulation used by toy designers have varied over the years. Two of the most popular figure lines of the 1980s, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Masters of the Universe , contrasted one another greatly in articulation; the former included several points in their small, 3 + 3 ⁄ 4 -inch (95 mm) scale while
882-455: A distinction between the individuals represented in tragedy and in comedy arose: tragedy, along with epic poetry , is "a representation of serious people" (1449b9—10), while comedy is "a representation of people who are rather inferior" (1449a32—33). In the Tractatus coislinianus (which may or may not be by Aristotle), Ancient Greek comedy is defined as involving three types of characters:
980-429: A fictional character using generic stock characters , which are generally flat. They tend to be used for supporting or minor characters. However, some authors have used stock characters as the starting point for building richly detailed characters, such as William Shakespeare 's use of the boastful soldier character as the basis for John Falstaff . Some authors create charactonyms for their characters. A charactonym
1078-601: A household and thus be more attractive to space conscious consumers in the Japanese market. The first 1974 series of toys was called Microman Zone and included four figures and several vehicles such as the MIC-1 Space Buggy , MIC-2 Bulk Lifter , MIC-3 Sky Roader and the M115 Conning Tower Base . Additional vehicles were sold as "Micro-Kit Machine Series" sets which required assembly prior to use. Following
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#17330854255141176-524: A move that would create global popularity for this type of toy, Hasbro also licensed the product to companies in other markets. These different licensees had a combination of uniforms and accessories that were usually identical to the ones manufactured for the US market by Hasbro, along with some sets that were unique to the local market. The Japanese had at least two examples where a Hasbro licensee also issued sublicenses for related products. For example, Palitoy (in
1274-458: A new Star Wars figure line had surfaced and Spawn figures flooded the toy store shelves, proving action figures were not just for kids anymore. Corinthian Figures of association football players were popular in England during this time. Beginning in 1997, ToyFare magazine would become a popular read for mature collectors in providing news and embracing nostalgia with a comedic twist. And with
1372-561: A new background story on the Rescue Command that explained the whole "rescue" theme of the whole line. Takara moved away from releasing 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) figures and instead concentrated on larger-sized toys, robots and sets that all contained some sort of "gimmick" to them. Gimmicks included the Microman Punch (P.0X) figure whose arm could be wound up to "punch" and Microman Blizzard (B-X) series of figures that contained
1470-500: A new class of figure dubbed the Titans which employed a magnetic ball/joint system that allowed for a new level of interchangeability between toys. Japanese pop-culture character tie-in toys were also released (such as Microman Jeeg , Robotman Gakeen and Robotman Mechadon ) which helped expand Takara's line beyond its own in-house characters and opened the door to greater licensing opportunities for their designs. A Microman manga
1568-574: A new line of die-cast figures dubbed Super Steel Microman and a new line of "enemy" figures dubbed the Acroyears . Additionally, all figures were now identified by a new alphanumeric figure-type designation system—such as M10X , M11X , M12X , M20X , M21X , M22X , etc.—across the whole line as well being given formal, character names such as George (M101) , Jack (M102) , Jesse (M103) and John (M104) . In addition to new vehicles and figures such as Spy Magician (M13X & M14X) , Takara introduced
1666-435: A new manga based on Takara's new 1998 Magne Powers & LED Powers Microman toylines drawn by manga artist Hisashi Matsumoto. This manga was subsequently compiled into stand-alone volumes and released by Kodansha Ltd. The plot focused on a school boy who receives a package that contains five small action figures that begin to move on their own and start to talk to him. They introduce themselves as Microman , hailing from
1764-629: A new story line which included a Microman anime series. In addition to the anime, Takara also commissioned manga serial for Comic BomBom magazine. By 2000, Takara, which was dealing with financial issues, reduced their new LED Powers series to a few dozen of toys and canceled the Microman anime series as well as the manga in Comic BomBom magazine. Soon afterwards, Takara would put all of their new Microman properties on indefinite hiatus. In 2003, Takara decided to test Microman market again with
1862-425: A number of ways. Window Box packaging Window box packages consist of a sturdy, but somewhat thin cardboard box that allows for easy stacking. The box has colorful artwork to draw one's attention. The front of the box will have an area of the cardboard that is cut out and a thin piece of soft plastic then fills the cutout area. This ensures easy visibility of the action figure inside of the box. This type of packaging
1960-477: A particular series includes a body part to a larger-scaled figure. This encourages the consumer to purchase every figure of the given series, in order to complete the larger figure. The concept has spread into Mattel's DC Universe Classics . Figures intended to appeal to the collector market commonly include a display base and/or pack-in comic book. In such cases accessories may be designed more for display than play. Manufacturers have packaged their action figures in
2058-506: A punch and emit a loud bang from the ring cap in his backpack. Other features emphasized aesthetic rather than action, such as the flocked bodies of Grizzlor and Moss Man as well as the unique scents of the latter and Stinkor . The success of the many Transformers lines has relied heavily on their signature feature of shifting from vehicle to robot. The popularity of this carried into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ' Mutatin' series among others. In 1987, Mattel introduced figures for
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#17330854255142156-469: A representative of a particular class or group of people is known as a type. Types include both stock characters and those that are more fully individualized . The characters in Henrik Ibsen 's Hedda Gabler (1891) and August Strindberg 's Miss Julie (1888), for example, are representative of specific positions in the social relations of class and gender , such that the conflicts between
2254-596: A small Japanese hobby toy company named Romando acquired a provisional license from Takara to reissue vintage Microman figures. This series was known as the Microman 21 series since the release of these reissues coincided with the 21st anniversary of the original Microman series. Action figures reissued as a part of the Microman 21 series were figures in the Microman Command (M15x) , Microman Command (M16x) , Microman Rescue (M25x) , Micro Knight MC-X , Spy Magician (M13X) lines of figures. In 1999, Takara produced
2352-421: A swiveling waist are also common. Various terms have come into practice such as a "cut" joint, frequently used to allow a basic head rotation at the neck or arm rotation at the shoulder. The "T" joint at a figure's hips commonly allows up to 180° of front-to-back leg rotation; although, this may vary. Ball joints often allow more liberal movement than a cut, such as the figure's head being able to tilt in addition to
2450-548: A whole new line of Microman toys and reissued older Microman figures. The new Microman series was divided into two distinct lines: the Magne Powers and LED Powers series and the Replica Microman series based on the success of Romando's previous reissues under their brand name. The Replica Microman series was mainly aimed at adult collectors and older fans of the original toyline. This series launched in 1998 with
2548-458: Is a "walk-on", a term used by Seymour Chatman for characters that are not fully delineated and individualized; rather they are part of the background or the setting of the narrative. Dynamic characters are those that change over the course of the story, while static characters remain the same throughout. An example of a popular dynamic character in literature is Ebenezer Scrooge , the protagonist of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. At
2646-587: Is a name that implies the psychological makeup of the person, makes an allegorical allusion, or makes reference to their appearance. For example, Shakespeare has an emotional young male character named Mercutio , John Steinbeck has a kind, sweet character named Candy in Of Mice and Men , and Mervyn Peake has a Machiavellian, manipulative, and murderous villain in Gormenghast named Steerpike . The charactonym can also indicate appearance. For example, François Rabelais gave
2744-418: Is common as of the 2000s decade is PVC packaging. With this type of packaging, the cardboard card is replaced by a clear PVC plastic backing. The front of the package is a different piece of PVC plastic that is molded to include a bubble that will house the action figure and all of its accessories. Any colorful artwork designed to help draw attention to the package will be printed on a thin piece of paper that
2842-458: Is completed, the entire figure is baked to harden the clay. The sculpted prototype is then sent for approval to the manufacturer. Once all design details have been finalized, the prototype is used to make the molds that will form the plastic pieces for the mass-produced figure. The entire sculpting process may take about two weeks, depending on the skill and speed of the sculptor. This process may be repeated several times if revisions must be made to
2940-559: Is not attested in OED until mC18: 'Whatever characters any... have for the jestsake personated... are now thrown off' (1749, Fielding, Tom Jones ). Microman Microman ( ミクロマン , Mikuroman ) was a science fiction toyline created, manufactured and marketed by Takara Co., Ltd. from 1974 to 1984 as well as from 1998 to 2007. The Microman line was a series of 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) action figures with accompanying vehicles, robots, playsets and accessories. Unlike other toylines at
3038-433: Is placed between these two pieces of PVC , or will be affixed in sticker form to the front piece of PVC . This type of packaging is popular today and can be seen being used by McFarlane Toys for their Movie Maniacs line of action figures beginning with Series V. Other companies that utilize this type of packaging are NECA/Reel Toys ( National Entertainment Collectibles Association ) with their Cult Classics and Pirates of
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3136-430: Is placed on the card and a bubble of clear plastic is then laid over the top of the action figure and attached to the card. The figure is then clearly visible to consumers. Often the bubble will have several small, fitted compartments to hold the figure and its accessories in place. Kenner and Hasbro 's packaging of Star Wars action figures since 1977 are an example. PVC packaging A more recent type of packaging that
3234-491: Is possible, therefore, to have stories that do not contain "characters" in Aristotle's sense of the word, since character necessarily involves making the ethical dispositions of those performing the action clear. If, in speeches, the speaker "decides or avoids nothing at all", then those speeches "do not have character" (1450b9—11). Aristotle argues for the primacy of plot ( mythos ) over character ( ethos ). He writes: But
3332-708: The Acroyears . In 1984, Hasbro acquired the license for the transforming object toys from Takara's Micro Change toyline as well as similar transforming Takara toys in the Diaclone toyline and the two were combined by Hasbro to create the Transformers toyline. Below is a table showing which Transformers were based on which Micro Change toys and their variants: In 1977, TV Magazine —a children's oriented magazine published by Kodansha Ltd. —began publishing an official, Takara approved serialized Microman manga drawn by manga artist Yoshihiro Moritou. This serialized manga
3430-486: The Acroyears . While the focus of the line had shifted away from the original Microman action figures, Takara released one last figure, dubbed Salam (M011) . 1984 saw the end of the Micro Change / Microman line with no new figures released that year. After seeing the success Hasbro had combining Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change lines into the Transformers toyline in the U.S. market, Takara decided to end both
3528-548: The Diaclone and Micro Change toylines and instead focus their efforts on releasing their own Japanese versions of the Transformers . Below is a basic overview list documenting New Microman 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) action figure releases from 1981 to 1984. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all New Microman action figure releases/variants but rather a high-level overview of Takara's 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) New Microman line offerings. From 1996 to 1997,
3626-885: The Masters of the Universe revival and Justice League Unlimited , however, still evoke adult collector followings as well. Comic book firms are also able to get figures of their characters produced, regardless of whether or not they appeared in movies or animated cartoons. Examples of companies that produce comic figures and merchandise almost exclusively include Toy Biz and DC Direct . Adult-oriented figure lines are often exclusive to specific chain stores rather than mass retail. Popular lines often have figures available exclusively through mail-in offers and comic conventions , which raises their value significantly. Ploys such as packaging "errors" and "short-packed" figures have also been used by toy companies to increase collector interest. Modelling clay and various sculpting tools are used to create
3724-485: The Micro Robot W Box Set came with a New Microman M004 Eiji (Blue) figure, these figures were only available in the box set and not as individual figures. In 1983, Takara introduced a new Microman toyline called Micro Change . The Micro Change toys were seemingly ordinary items, such as cassette tapes, a microscope, watches and even guns, that could change into other forms to help Microman in their fight against
3822-457: The Microman line to offset the sheer cost of producing a full line of plastic-based 8-inch-tall (20 cm) & 12-inch-tall (30 cm) figures and related playsets as well as acknowledging that basic living space is limited—and considered a premium—to most Japanese households. Smaller Microman figures would not only cost less to produce during the energy crisis of the 1970s , the line's smaller scale would also take up less physical space in
3920-541: The Microman Founder (M10X) series which reissued the Microman (M10X) figures. That release was soon followed by the reissue of many other classic Microman figures such as Acroyear (A30X) , Spy Magician (M14X) , Lady Command (M18X) and others. In addition to reissuing versions that adhered to the original, vintage Microman color combinations, Takara also released several newly created, limited edition color variants with new character names and designations to add to
4018-419: The Replica Microman . By 2003 the Replica Microman series continued to put out releases but only on a very limited basis and mainly through Takara's e-Hobby Shop. On December 26, 1998, Takara officially launched the Magne Powers series which was followed in 2000 by the companion LED Powers series. The Magne Powers series and LED Powers series were designed for children with brand new toy designs and
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4116-463: The buffoon ( bômolochus ), the ironist ( eirōn ), and the imposter or boaster ( alazṓn ). All three are central to Aristophanes ' Old Comedy . By the time the Roman comic playwright Plautus wrote his plays two centuries later, the use of characters to define dramatic genres was well established. His Amphitryon begins with a prologue in which Mercury claims that since
4214-450: The cyborg action figure concept to the concept of the living robot. This led to the Micro Change line of toys: objects that could "transform" into robots. In 1984, Hasbro licensed Micro Change and another Takara line, the Diaclone transforming cars, and combined them in the US as the Transformers , spawning a still-continuing family of animated cartoons. As the '80s were ending, more and more collectors started to surface, buying up
4312-601: The early modern period , including the artists' mannequin and the Japanese ichimatsu doll. The modern ball-jointed doll was first created in Western Europe in the late 19th century. From the late 19th century through the early 20th century French and German manufacturers made bisque dolls with strung bodies articulated with ball-joints made of composition : a mix of pulp, sawdust, glue and similar materials. These dolls could measure between 15 and 100 cm (6 and 39.5 in) and are now collectible antiques. Besides
4410-446: The social order . In fiction writing , authors create dynamic characters using various methods. Sometimes characters are conjured up from imagination; in other instances, they are created by amplifying the character trait of a real person into a new fictional creation. An author or creator basing a character on a real person can use a person they know, a historical figure, a current figure whom they have not met, or themselves, with
4508-469: The 1890s and polyethylene figures becoming common by the 1950s. The toy soldier market, ubiquitous thanks to its history and mass-production methods, would therefore become a natural home for the military-themed action figure. One of the earliest toys to bear resemblance to modern action figures is Albert Schoenhut 's "Humpy Dumpty Circus", released in 1904, which featured articulated wooden figures interacting with various devices. The term "action figure"
4606-516: The 1970s. The toyline also included vehicles, robots, playsets and accessories. Many of the Microman toys used interchangeable 5-millimetre (0.20 in) connectors and ports that allowed parts to be transferred and connected between different toys. The Microman toyline was licensed and released in the United States by Mego Corporation as the Micronauts from 1976 to 1980. Some of
4704-416: The 1980 New Microman line, their history was completely different from the figures that preceded them in the previous Microman line. The new line consisted of 10 Microman figures that came in molded capsules. There was now a greater focus on the Micro Robot series of toys as well as larger robot-oriented playsets. While a line of new Microman 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) figures were released for
4802-419: The 1980 New Microman line, their history was completely different from the figures that preceded them in the previous Microman line. The new line consisted of 10 Microman figures that came in molded capsules. There was now a greater focus on the Micro Robot series of toys as well as larger robot-oriented playsets. Takara's focus of the 1982 line was on the new Micro Borg and Micro Robot toys. While
4900-462: The Caribbean line of figures, and Toy Biz with its Marvel Legends action figures, which included a comic book placed between the two PVC segments. Tube packaging Another recent type of PVC packaging is a tube-shaped piece of PVC plastic surrounding the action figure. The tube may be cylindrical or oval in shape. Artwork on the package is often in the form of a sticker affixed to the outside of
4998-496: The PVC tube. This type of packaging has been used by Hasbro for their Star Wars Galactic Heroes line of figures. Figures of the original Masters of the Universe line included many unique "action features": Battle Armor He-Man and Skeletor had rotating chest plates to represent varying degrees of damage; Leech featured suction cup limbs; Mantenna 's eyes would pop out using a lever on his back; and Thunder Punch He-Man would thrust
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#17330854255145096-606: The UK) issued a sublicense to Tsukuda , a company in Japan, to manufacture and sell Palitoy's Action Man accessories in the Japanese market. Takara also issued a sublicense to Medicom for the manufacture of action figures. Takara, still under license by Hasbro to make and sell G.I. Joe toys in Japan, also manufactured an action figure incorporating the licensed GI Joe torso for Henshin Cyborg-1, using transparent plastic revealing cyborg innards, and
5194-466: The articulated doll, another important precursor to the action figure is the toy soldier . Military figures have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and have appeared in many cultures and eras. Tin soldiers were produced in Germany as early as the 1730s, by molding the metal between two pieces of slate. As industry and demand advanced, so did production methods, with hollow casting first being utilized in
5292-418: The bulk of many action figure lines and often make use of the old figure and accessory molds. Glow-in-the-dark figures and accessories also became popular in the early '90s with lines like Toxic Crusaders and Swamp Thing . A 1999 study found that "the figures have grown much more muscular over time, with many contemporary figures far exceeding the muscularity of even the largest human bodybuilders " and that
5390-600: The bulkier latter remained minimal. Both, however, used methods involving rubber cords at the hips that are little used today. In the 2000s, Toy Biz 's popular Marvel Legends line became known for its high rate of articulation, even boasting points at the abdomen, toes, and fingers. While not all action figures include accessories, the additional items often prove essential to characters and their effectiveness as interactive toys. Typical 3 + 3 ⁄ 4 -inch (95 mm) scale G.I. Joe figures include several intricately sculpted guns or hand weapons that can be fastened inside
5488-402: The canon of the old series As the series progressed in the 2000s Takara continued to release more Replica Microman reissues as well as even more limited edition and exclusive color variants. While increasing variety of available product, this resulted in the Microman market becoming saturated with so many unsold, variants that by 2001 Takara decided to significantly scale back the release of
5586-654: The changing cultural expectations reflected by those changes may contribute to body image disorders in both sexes. The adult collector market for action figures expanded with companies such as McFarlane Toys , Palisades , and NECA . These companies have given numerous movie characters, musicians, and athletes their very first highly detailed figures. The Cinema of Fear action figures were sold together with plush dolls, "screen grab" dioramas, and limited edition toys based on New Line Cinema 's horror franchise. These kinds of action figure are mainly intended as statuesque display pieces rather than toys. Child-oriented lines such as
5684-414: The character has been selected, the actual design process begins with sketches of the proposed figure. The next step is the creation of a clay prototype, but other materials such as wax can also be used for the prototype. This model is made by bending aluminum wires to form the backbone of the figure, known as an armature. The wire form includes the outline of the arms and legs posed in the general stance that
5782-517: The characters reveal ideological conflicts. The study of a character requires an analysis of its relations with all of the other characters in the work. The individual status of a character is defined through the network of oppositions (proairetic, pragmatic , linguistic , proxemic ) that it forms with the other characters. The relation between characters and the action of the story shifts historically, often miming shifts in society and its ideas about human individuality, self-determination , and
5880-453: The characters, but they include the characters for the sake of their actions" (1450a15-23). Aristotle suggests that works were distinguished in the first instance according to the nature of the person who created them: "the grander people represented fine actions, i.e. those of fine persons" by producing "hymns and praise-poems", while "ordinary people represented those of inferior ones" by "composing invectives" (1448b20—1449a5). On this basis,
5978-722: The company's bankruptcy and dissolution in 1982. After Mego's demise, other toy companies such as Palisades Toys and SOTA (State of the Art) Toys attempted to revive the toyline over the years. In 1981, Takara produced a new Microman line called New Microman . A few years later in 1983, Takara launched a new Microman series within the New Microman line dubbed Micro Change . The line featured toys that were seemingly ordinary items (such as cassette tapes, microscopes, watches and even guns) that could transform themselves and "change" into other forms to help Microman in their fight against
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#17330854255146076-579: The earliest surviving work of dramatic theory , Poetics ( c. 335 BCE ), the Classical Greek philosopher Aristotle states that character ( ethos ) is one of six qualitative parts of Athenian tragedy and one of the three objects that it represents (1450a12). He understands character not to denote a fictional person, but the quality of the person acting in the story and reacting to its situations (1450a5). He defines character as "that which reveals decision , of whatever sort" (1450b8). It
6174-443: The figure will assume. The sculptor then adds clay to the armature to give the basic weight and shape that is desired. The clay may be baked slightly during the prototyping process to harden it. Then, the sculptor uses various tools, such as a wire loop, to carve the clay and shape details on the figure. After creating the basic form, the sculptor may choose to remove the arms and work on them separately for later attachment. This gives
6272-450: The figure. Several months are typically allowed for this design phase. Action Figures come in fixed scales to allow compatibility within (and sometimes between) toy ranges. A common feature among action figures is body articulation, often referred to as points of articulation (POA) or joints. The most basic forms of articulation include one neck joint, two shoulder joints, and two hip joints. Beyond these, rotating wrists, bending knees, and
6370-459: The figures' hands. Missile launchers are also commonplace in military and comic book figure lines and usually involve a spring-loaded mechanism. However, possibly due to safety concerns, this method saw a decline in the mid-1990s. Some figures, particularly of the Joker , have incorporated water-squirting weapons. More recently, Marvel Legends has popularized the "build-a-figure" concept. Each figure of
6468-402: The finer details, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth that give the figure its lifelike expression. The designer may attach a rough lump of clay on the main figure as a temporary head while the real head is sculpted on a separate armature. This allows the sculptor to finish the figure's facial expressions independently of the body. At this point, the finished head can be attached to
6566-502: The gaining popularity of the Internet, websites such as Toy News International would soon offer information on upcoming collectible figures and merchandise . It was during this time that popular characters were increasingly getting specialized costume and variant figures. Batman quickly became most notorious for this (i.e. Arctic Batman, Piranha Blade Batman, Neon Armor Batman). Rather than individual characters, these variants would make up
6664-430: The large-sized Build Base playset were not well received. Lack of a positive response to the new line was strong enough that previously announced toys in the line, such as the remote control Hoodman spaceship Hoodman's RCB Noah , were cancelled. Takara attempted to revive the line with the new Rescue Command series of toys and action figures. At the core of the Rescue Command was the new Rescue Secret Base and
6762-459: The largest marketing tools for toy companies. Some of the most successful to come about were Masters of the Universe , G.I. Joe , Thundercats , The Real Ghostbusters and Super Powers Collection , to name just a few. Early in the decade, the burgeoning popularity of Japanese robot anime such as Gundam also encouraged Takara to reinvent the Microman line as the Micro Robots, moving from
6860-546: The latter being either an author-surrogate or an example of self-insertion . The use of a famous person easily identifiable with certain character traits as the base for a principal character is a feature of allegorical works, such as Animal Farm by George Orwell, which portrays Soviet revolutionaries as pigs. Other authors, especially for historical fiction , make use of real people and create fictional stories revolving around their lives, as with The Paris Wife which revolves around Ernest Hemingway . An author can create
6958-492: The main armature and joined to the body with additional clay. Once the head is attached, the neck and hair are sculpted to properly fit to the figure. Then, depending on the design of the figure, the costume may be sculpted directly onto the body. However, if a cloth costume or uniform will be added later, the prototype is sculpted without any costume details. During this process, parts of the clay may be covered with aluminum foil to keep it from prematurely drying out. Once everything
7056-546: The market for science fiction merchandise became increasingly filled with competing science fiction related products. New figures such as the Police Keeper (M23X) , Micro Knight MC-X and Cosmo Satan Arden (A35X) built on the success of prior Microman action figure releases. Takara's attempts to expand the Microman line concept with the Micro Hoodman (H70X) and construction/building playset Play Build line of toys with
7154-406: The most important of these is the structure of the incidents. For (i) tragedy is a representation not of human beings but of action and life. Happiness and unhappiness lie in action, and the end [of life] is a sort of action, not a quality; people are of a certain sort according to their characters, but happy or the opposite according to their actions. So [the actors] do not act in order to represent
7252-633: The name Gargantua to a giant and the huge whale in Pinocchio (1940) is named Monstro . In his book Aspects of the Novel , E. M. Forster defined two basic types of characters, their qualities, functions, and importance for the development of the novel: flat characters and round characters. Flat characters are two-dimensional, in that they are relatively uncomplicated. By contrast, round characters are complex figures with many different characteristics, that undergo development, sometimes sufficiently to surprise
7350-406: The narrative structure, unlike core characters, for which any significant conflict must be traced during a considerable time, which is often seen as an unjustified waste of resources. There may also be a continuing or recurring guest character. Sometimes a guest or minor character may gain unanticipated popularity and turn into a regular or main one; this is known as a breakout character . In
7448-559: The new Micro Change line in proper context within the larger Microman universe. The manga portion of the Microman Secret File Volume 1 contained artwork by Yoshihiro Moritou; the manga artist who created the original Kodansha TV Magazine manga in the 1970s. Hasbro's new Transformers toyline and related storyline would supersede many of the concepts and ideas presented in Microman Secret File Volume 1 . From October 1998 to December 1999, Comic BomBom serialized
7546-561: The newer, smaller size figure with molded-on clothing the industry standard. Instead of a single character with outfits that changed for different applications, toy lines included teams of characters with special functions. Led by Star Wars-themed sales, collectible action figures quickly became a multimillion-dollar secondary business for movie studios. From 1972 to 1986 there was a famous line of Big Jim action figures produced by Mattel . The 1980s spawned all sorts of popular action figure lines, many based on cartoon series, which were one of
7644-460: The planet "Micro Earth" and were sent to Earth to help save the planet. A Microman anime adaption was created by Studio Pierrot , based on the toys and the manga created by Hisashi Matsumoto and serialized in Comic BomBom , and ran from January 4, 1999 to December 27, 1999 on TV Tokyo . The series was subsequently released on VHS and DVD by Pioneer LDC . A companion theatrical movie based on
7742-454: The play contains kings and gods, it cannot be a comedy and must be a tragicomedy . [...] is first used in English to denote 'a personality in a novel or a play' in 1749 ( The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary , s.v.). Its use as 'the sum of the qualities which constitute an individual' is a mC17 development. The modern literary and theatrical sense of 'an individual created in a fictitious work'
7840-409: The prototype. The actual figure is molded from a harder plastic resin such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Softer plastics and nylon may be used for costume components including body suits, capes, and face masks. Acrylic paints of various colors may be used to decorate the figure. More elaborate toys may contain miniature electronic components that provide light and sound effects. Once
7938-476: The reader. In psychological terms, round or complex characters may be considered to have five personality dimensions under the Big Five model of personality. The five factors are: Stock characters are usually one-dimensional and thin. Mary Sues are characters that usually appear in fan fiction which are virtually devoid of flaws, and are therefore considered flat characters. Another type of flat character
8036-412: The sculptor more control and allows him to produce finer details on the prototype. Working with blunt tools, the sculptor shapes the body with as much detail as is desired. During this process, photo and sketch references are used to ensure the figure is as realistic as possible. Some sculptors may even use human models to guide their design work. After the general body shape is complete, the sculptor adds
8134-400: The series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in more than one episode, sometimes being the main focus. A guest or minor character is one who acts only in a few episodes or scenes. Unlike regular characters, the guest ones do not need to be carefully incorporated into the storyline with all its ramifications: they create a piece of drama and then disappear without consequences to
8232-466: The squeezing together of their legs. In a more technically advanced method, the Ninja Turtles' Wacky Action series involved a wind-up gear that caused the motorized performance of certain actions like swimming legs or a rotating wrist. Two years prior also saw the release of Tyco 's Dino-Riders , which featured battery powered, motorized dinosaurs. Character (arts) A character who stands as
8330-450: The start of the story, he is a bitter miser, but by the end of the tale, he transforms into a kindhearted, generous man. In television, a regular, main or ongoing character is a character who appears in all or a majority of episodes, or in a significant chain of episodes of the series. Regular characters may be both core and secondary ones. A recurring character or supporting character often and frequently appears from time to time during
8428-512: The success of the first 1974 Microman Zone series, Takara completely revamped and expanded the Microman concept to be a stand-alone line on its own and not merely a smaller-scale version of their Henshin Cyborg line. The former original Microman figures were now given sturdier "cybernetic feet" and all figures now contained standard 5-millimetre (0.20 in) ports which allowed for interchangeability between sets and figures. Takara also introduced
8526-617: The television series Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future . The line boasted an interactive game where children could shoot at the TV screen. However, while an ambitious concept, it was not a long-term success. Glow-in-the-dark paint and plastic have been utilized in various figure collections, particularly those of the early '90s including Ninja Turtles, Swamp Thing , and Toxic Crusaders . Similarly,
8624-436: The time, Microman figures were marketed as being the "actual" size of cyborg beings called "Micros" that hailed from a fictional planet known as "Micro Earth" and disguised themselves as action figures while on planet Earth . The core of the Microman line consisted of 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) action figures which were known for their high number of articulation points relative to other toys of similar size/scale in
8722-405: The toys to keep in their original packaging for display purposes and for future collectability. This led to flooding of the action figure toy market. One of the most popular action figure lines of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures were produced in such high quantities that the value for most figures would never be higher than a few dollars. In the mid-1990s,
8820-664: The transformation and combination of the characters. In 1971, Mego began licensing and making American Marvel and DC comic book superhero figures, which had highly successful sales and are considered highly collectible by many adults today. They eventually brought the Microman toy line to the United States as the Micronauts , but Mego eventually lost control of the market after losing the license to produce Star Wars toys to Kenner in 1976. The widespread success of Kenner 's Star Wars 3 + 3 ⁄ 4 -inch (95 mm) toy line made
8918-860: The transforming Microman toys and vehicles from the Micro Change series created within the 1980s New Microman toyline were licensed by Hasbro , along with other similar transforming toys from Takara's Diaclone toyline, in the 1980s to be a part of Hasbro's Transformers toyline in the United States. Takara first released Microman toys in Japan in 1974 as a smaller version of their popular 8-inch-tall (20 cm) & 12-inch-tall (30 cm) 1972 Henshin Cyborg (Transforming Cyborg) line. Henshin Cyborg figures were based on 8-inch-tall (20 cm) & 12-inch-tall (30 cm) Combat Joe figures — which themselves were based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe figures — with their bodies molded in clear plastic, exposing their inner workings and supposed cybernetic parts. By downscaling their size, Takara sought to create
9016-475: Was also novel in its use of interchangeable parts. This laid the foundation for both the smaller action figure size and the transforming robot toy. Takara began producing characters in the Microman line with increasingly robotic features, including Robotman, a 12-inch (300 mm) robot with room for a Microman pilot, and Mini-Robotman, a 3 + 3 ⁄ 4 -inch (95 mm) version of Robotman. These toys also featured interchangeable parts, with emphasis placed on
9114-446: Was announced at one point and a photograph of a prototype does exist. However, the figure was never produced, and its product number was assigned to a Predator figure. In the late 1970s, the U.S. toy company Mego acquired the license for some of Takara's Microman 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) toys and released them in the United States as the Micronauts . Mego manufactured and marketed Micronaut toys from 1976 to 1980 prior to
9212-548: Was coined by Hasbro in 1964, to market their G.I. Joe figure to boys who refused to play with "dolls" , a term primarily associated as a girl's toy. (A similar toy named Johnny Hero was introduced by Rosko Industries for Sears in 1965, but was known as a "Boy's Doll" since the term action figure had not gained widespread usage at that point.) G.I. Joe was initially a military-themed 11.5-inch figure proposed by marketing and toy idea-man Stan Weston. It featured changeable clothes with various uniforms to suit different purposes. In
9310-426: Was compiled into six volumes released from 1978 to 1979. Additionally, a set of 30 Menko cards featuring Moritou's manga versions of Microman characters and vehicles was released during that period as well. By 1984, Takara was continuing the trend of focusing their New Microman line away from the core 3.75-inch-tall (9.5 cm) Microman action figures to robots and other items. Specifically, their new focus
9408-431: Was on their line of transformable items in the Micro Change line. Technically Microman Secret File Volume 1 was not a traditional, stand-alone manga one could purchase on their own; it was a combination catalog and manga that was packaged with a few of the new toys in the 1984 Micro Change toyline such as MC-19: Binocular Robo Scope Man . Its purpose was to establish the new direction of the Microman toyline and place
9506-501: Was published in TV Magazine , a children's oriented magazine published by Kodansha Ltd. , in 1977. Takara also introduced the Microman Command line in which each figure came in its own unique capsule case (shaped like Easter Island figures, the Statue of Liberty , etc.) and included the first female figure, Lady Command (M18X) , in the line. With the release of Star Wars in 1977,
9604-520: Was used by companies such as Mego Corporation in the early 1970s until they switched to the Carded Bubble style of packaging in the mid to late 1970s. Window Box packaging is still used today, often for figures that measure 10" or taller in height. Carded Bubble packaging This type of packaging consists of a sturdy piece of thin cardboard backing known as a "Card." The card is decorated with colorful artwork to draw consumer attention. The action figure
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