robots

Yoshiya’s Planet Robot, while undeniably drawing inspiration from Robby the Robot,  distinguishes itself as a well-crafted and iconic creation in its own right. Operated by batteries through a remote control, the robot exhibits forward walking motion accompanied by blinking lights in its face.

In addition to the battery-operated version, there were also clockwork wind-up iterations of the Planet Robot. These wind-up variants were among the original Robby the Robot-type wind-ups produced by Yoshiya during the 1960s. Notably, there exist two versions of the robot featuring different hand materials: one in plastic and another in metal. There were also variations in the color of the face piece, with red being the most prevalent, while green and blue variants are considered more rare.

The Nomura Moon Car, also known as the Moon Space Ship, was battery-operated and glides with a sense of mystery, thanks to its ‘bump and go’ action. As it maneuvers, a transparent globe within the dome rotates, illuminated by a light that highlights the intricate tinplate satellite interior.

Originally labeled as Moon Car on its packaging but adorned with the title Moon Space Ship on the vehicle itself, this toy was part of a series of three similar toys, including the Nomura Robby Space Patrol and another Moon car variant featuring an astronaut and globe within the dome.

Not to be confused with Noguchi’s robot with the same name, The Mechanical Mighty Robot, crafted by Senkei and also labeled as “M” (Mitsuhashi), is renowned for its ornate lithographed design, and earned the nickname Racoon Robot, owing to its masked visage. Measuring at 8 inches tall, inclusive of its antenna, it features a vivid explosion motif adorning its chest, and sports vibrant hues of blue, red, and yellow. Upon winding and turning its on/off switch, sparks ignite within its plastic chest plate as it moves.

Yoneya’s wind-up Mego Man stands 7 inches tall and features smooth cruising action, swinging arms, and a distinctive ringing bell nestled within its chest. Its stature belies its intricate design, and inspired toy company Ideal to develop its own iteration known as Mr. Machine during the 1960s to 1970s. Mego Man features spinning wheels, moving arms, and an opening and-closing mouth, all driven by a built-in key mechanism. It was available in red and gray head color variations.

Following the success of the Mego Man, a larger and exceedingly rare successor emerged: the Electro Man. Towering at 10 inches and powered by batteries, this elusive variant expanded upon its predecessor’s legacy with enhanced capabilities, although very few are known to exist.

Daiya’s Looping Space Tank measured 8 inches in length, with a metallic blue exterior, adorned with tin guns and a  radar tower stationed at the rear. Its defining feature is a green plastic dome that houses display of flashing lights. As the tank rolls forward, its spinning dome illuminates accompanied by space-themed sounds.

A remarkable aspect of this toy is its flip-over action, facilitated by levers. Periodically, the tank flips over before righting itself and resuming its forward roll. However, the dynamic nature of this feature may have contributed to the rarity of pristine examples today.

Yonezawa’s Directional Robot was designed for the North American market, and stood at 10.5 inches tall, with a skirted design. Originally named simply “ROBOT,” this iconic toy gained a new moniker due to its bump & go behavior: after bumping into obstacles, it would turn its head to gaze in the direction of its newfound path. Equipped illuminated eyes, this robot evokes a similar aesthetic to ASC’s Tremendous Mike robot, a contemporary of its era.

The first version, introduced in 1957 in a green hue, boasted a slightly different body structure. A second version emerged in 1959, featuring enhancements in both technique and lithography.

Daiya’s 1964 Astronaut stands at an impressive 35 centimeters tall, and was available in several variations, including one with an astronaut head and another with a boy’s head. It was powered by two D-cell batteries tucked into its backpack, and walked forward with a ratata sound effect, while its lighted gun fired at will.

Originally marketed in the West by Cragstan, the Daiya Astronaut quickly gained popularity as a fighting astronaut robot with its lighted gun feature. Though typically found in blue, later models also came in red and green, albeit in fewer numbers, making them prized among collectors.

Nomura’s Space Man embodies a charming blend of simplicity and innovation. Controlled via a corded remote powered by two D-Cell batteries, it strides forward as its helmet and flashlight are illuminated along with the rhythmic movement of its arms. Distributed in  western markets by Cragstan, Space Man shares its design lineage with Nomura’s own Earth Man tin robot. Standing at a modest height of 9 inches, this remote-controlled robot is a rare find in excellent condition, and prized by collectors.

The 9.5 inch Moon Patrol X-5 was first produced in 1962 by Yonezawa, and came in three color variations: dark blue, white, and light blue. Among collectors, the white variant is the rarest, followed by the light blue and then the more commonly found dark blue version. Distributed in the western markets by Cragstan, it is powered by bump-n-go action, and includes a rotating antenna and flashing lights. Complete with a miniature astronaut at the helm, equipped with a “death ray,” the vehicle emits space-themed sounds while the gun swivels from side to side.

The Alps Television Spaceman debuted in 1959, and was powered by two D-cell batteries. Its movements included walking forward with swinging arms, accompanied by rotating eyes and a kaleidoscopic light show within its “mouth” and revolving chest-mounted TV screen. The distinctive tin antenna serves not only as a visual hallmark but also as a functional switch.

Safety considerations prompted the replacement of the pointed tin antenna with a round plastic radar dish in later iterations. Despite these modifications, the essence of the original endured, influencing a generation of robot toys to come. Its legacy lives on not just in its physical form, but in the blueprint it laid down for other television-style robots that followed.