MiniForce: Super Dino Power - LUCY!

MiniForce: Super Dinosaur Power - Lucy & Triceratops - Jumpgo 2020

With the myriad of MiniForce product that have saturated the Asian toy market since 2014, it was surprising that a 1:18 action figure line (with associated in-scale mecha) didn't hit the market for six years. I feel like similarly-themed Super Sentai toys in the American market seem to hit the shelves right away. But it wasn't until the fifth season, MiniForce Super Dinosaur Power Season 1, that this line finally got made. Interestingly, the core MiniForce Agents were released in a variety of sets with different transforming armor or beasts over the course of several years and from several different toy manufacturers, but the human figures seemingly stayed the same throughout. Therefore I wasn't picky about which 3.75" Lucy set I ordered, but I'm glad I got one with her Triceratops beast because I love a good human-and-steed combo. I only wish there were more costumed female characters in this show so I could get more toys. Although with current shipping and tariffs, maybe that's a blessing. Let's check out Lucy below!

MiniForce: Super Dino Power 2 - LINA!

MiniForce: Super Dinosaur Power 2 - Armorbot Series - Lina - Toytron 2021

MiniForce is a long-running Korean animated series from SAMG (nine seasons between 2014 and now) that is notable for merging genre styles in a kid-oriented format. The show features a team of cute anthropomorphic animals who can turn into human-like Agents or Rangers (in a Super Sentai aesthetic). Then these rangers can pilot various mecha or robots (in a Transformers or Robotech aesthetic), and again back to Sentai when in season 6 and 7, the mecha would transform into dinosaurs (akin to Zords). for the majority of the series, there was only one token female, a pink fox named Lucy. But in the 6th Season (Super Dinosaur Power 2 - 2020-2021), a new white bunny character named Lina was introduced (sometimes translated as Rina) who turned into an orange ranger and piloted the Stegosaurus Armorbot. (Note that one of the core characters, Max, is a yellow beaver who is often represented with an orange hue. When Lina joined, he consistently appeared more yellow and her more orange).

Miniforce X - LUCYBOT!

Miniforce X Commander - LucyBot Genesis Machine (KO Version) - Jumpgo 2018

This figure has been a thorn in my side for many years. I have ordered her multiple times but have been scammed repeatedly. Recently I tried again, after a several year hiatus, and was successful. Albeit, for a knockoff version, as the original is now scarce and expensive. The anthropomorphic fox character, Lucy, has had several bot forms over the many seasons of Miniforce, but I love this one because it looks the most like a G1 Transformer. Miniforce (and many other kid-focused South Korean shows I've seen) is amazing because it blends genres seamlessly. Lucy is a cute cartoony pink fox that would appeal to very young children. But when the action arises, she can change into a human Super-Sentai-esque warrior. And then that human form can pilot different robot mecha (like we see here), and then those bots even combine into a mega-bot. I can imagine kids growing with this series and just latching on to different aspects as their interests change. It's rather genius. Let's check out the knockoff Lucybot below!

MiniForce Rangers - LUCY THE FOX!

MiniForce - Miniforce Rangers - Mystical Magic Lucy - Sonokong Toys 2015

MiniForce is a Korean animated show starring four cute chibi-type animal heroes - Volt the Squirrel (Blue), Max the Beaver (Yellow), Lucy the Fox (Pink), and Sammy the Owl (Red). When they jump into action, there is a transformation sequence when they become human-like Rangers. When their Ranger skills aren't enough, their weapons can transform into Force Weapons. When that's not enough, they dispatch their Force Cars which race to the rescue. When the cars aren't enough, each car transforms into a Force Bot (in whose heads the Rangers are tiny pilots). When the robot fighting skills aren't enough, they can unleash these unique powered up weapons - Force Flash, Force Jet, Force Ring, etc - often requiring a combination of effort. Speaking of combinations, the Force Bots pair off to combine into Sammy-Lucy-Tron and Volt-Max-Tron. And predictably, these two can combine into the ultimate Force Giantron. It's a nesting doll of Eastern genres in an 11-minute preschool show and it's amazing.