Machine Robo Mugenbine facts for kids

The current logo of the Machine Robo Mugenbine toyline.

Machine Robo Mugenbine is a Japanese toy line of transforming robots. It was first released on December 27, 2003, by Bandai. The toys were designed by PLEX and are a follow-up to the older Machine Robo toy line.

What is Mugenbine?

The name "Mugenbine" comes from two words: "mugen," which is Japanese for 'infinite,' and the English word 'combine.' This name perfectly describes the toys, as they are all about combining parts in endless ways!

Mugenbine toys use many special pegs and holes that let you connect and remove parts easily. You can move these parts around to create different shapes and forms. While each toy has at least two official ways to transform, the main idea is for you to use your imagination to build your own unique animal and machine creations.

Main Robot Figures

Most of the Mugenbine series features robot figures called Mugenroids. These are basic, block-shaped robots that can bend and fold into different shapes, often a cube. This cube shape then becomes the main part, or "core," for their other forms. Even though most Mugenroids look similar, they each have a different head design.

Each Mugenroid toy set usually comes with six to ten extra parts called 'bine parts.' These parts attach to the Mugenroid and to each other using the pegs and holes. At first, the toys could only change into an animal and a vehicle. Later, they also gained larger robot forms. Some newer sets even removed the vehicle mode completely.

As the toy line grew, new types of core figures were made:

• Turboroids were created later. They couldn't bend as much as Mugenroids, but they already had wheels, which made it easier to create vehicle modes. They also had unique heads that could spin.
• Some sets didn't have a core robot at all. Instead, they came with a Mugen Engine that made parts spin.
• Even later, new core robots called Buildroids appeared. These were made from many parts themselves and had small pilot figures called Roiders that could sit inside them.

Toy Collections

Mugen Alphabet Robot Combine Series

This is the main series of Mugenbine toys. The first toys in this series were released in alphabetical order. Many Mugenroids even had a matching letter on the side of their head. Because of this, people often call this the "Letter" or "Alphabet" series.

The toy line is known for having different themes for its figures. For example, toys like Teiouryu and Uzumakidori were called Ridebines. Their vehicle modes were designed for the Mugenroid to ride on, rather than the Mugenroid forming the vehicle itself. Other figures, like Quest Knight, Save Gunman, and Razor Ninja, were known as the Three Musketeers. They were designed to look like historical warriors: a knight, a cowboy, and a ninja. There were also many dinosaur-themed figures that formed their own group.

This series also included bigger, deluxe toys. These included Victory Leon, which was an improved version of Air Leon, and Zord Elephant.

Some popular figures were re-released with new colors and sometimes new weapon parts. Figures that could officially combine were also re-packaged together.

The Mugen Gattai series continued, but the figures became simpler. They no longer had machine modes. Instead of English letters, these figures were named after Japanese katakana characters. They often had official ways to combine with the larger Mugen Engine figures released at the same time.

Another set was released with three new Mugenroids made of clear plastic: Spark Roid, Quick Roid, and Rush Roid. They came with only a few parts that could be used as weapons or to combine them into a larger robot called Roid General 3.

Mugen Combine Base Robot Series

These were larger, deluxe sets that were part of the Mugen Gattai series. They came with Turboroids and could transform into an animal, a machine, a robot, and even a base! Their parts could also combine to form bigger machines that smaller Turboroid vehicles could ride in. These sets were designed to help fans build giant robots more easily. Each base figure came with an extra head for this purpose.

Mugen Combine Engine Robot Series

Some Mugenbine figures didn't have a core robot at all. Instead, their different forms were built around a Mugen Engine, also called a Tornado Engine. These engines used gears and wheels to make parts spin when activated. This allowed for cool spinning weapons when combined with other Mugenbine toys. All these figures had robot modes, but some did not have machine modes. Like the later Mugen Gattai series, these sets also had a katakana theme.

Mugen Build Combine Robot Series

This series brought back the idea of a core robot. The newest normal Mugenbine figures were called Build Gattai. Instead of a single-piece Mugenroid or Turboroid, they used a new figure called a Buildroid. These Buildroids were made up of many parts themselves and had a small cockpit for a mini-figure called a Roider to sit inside. Buildroids were quite a bit larger than Mugenroids, so these sets usually had many more parts. They also returned to having animal, machine, and robot modes.

Candy Robot Toy Series

Even though no new Gattai series toys have been released recently, Mugenbine continues as a series of candy toys. These are sold like baseball cards in America, often found at convenience stores with a piece of candy. They are usually simpler, with less paint, and rely on stickers for details. Their parts often come still attached to plastic frames, like model kits. The line was brought back in 2017 under the name Mugen Saga, with some parts having more detail.

Series One This series re-used popular original Mugenbine figures, but they were much simpler. For example, Air Leon's lion head no longer folded away in jet mode. A new combined robot mode was also created for the three figures.

Series Two - Mugen Four Holy Beasts Starting with this series, the candy toys had completely new designs. They were released in groups of five. One figure was a simpler Mugenroid, and the other four were beast-based. These beast figures could turn into weapon modes for larger Mugenbine figures. This first set was based on the four sacred beasts from Japanese stories. All five figures could combine to form Mugen Emperor.

Because this set was so popular, it was released again, this time with dark re-colored versions. These figures had new names, replacing "Mugen" with "Death." They combined to form Death Emperor, which was only the second official villain in the Mugenbine story after Xenonbine.

Series Three - Mugen Four Dragons The second new series followed the same idea as the first. This time, the Mugenroid came with four different dragons, each with a unique theme and weapon mode. When combined, they formed Mugen Ryuuou (Dragon King), which was larger and could move more than the previous combined robot.

Series Four - Mugen Golden God and Mugen Silver God These sets were made by repainting all the figures from the Four Holy Beast and Four Dragons sets. They were usually sold together in boxes. Instead of just keeping the original combinations with new colors, the designers rearranged the figures and created completely new robot modes. They even sculpted new heads for these robots. This series also had a small story about their battle with Dark Flame Dragon.

Series Five - Mugen Five God Beasts This series removed the Mugenroid from the design and replaced it with a Buildroid that included a Roider figure. The theme of this set was Egyptian mythology, with designs based on many Egyptian gods. They combined to form Mugen Pharaoh.

Series Six - Mugen Holy Beasts of the Sword Released in June, this set focused on mythical and horned animals, mostly from European legends. It also kept the Buildroid design, as its core robot was more complex than a Mugenroid. They combined to form a robot called Mugen Arthur, which was a nod to the legend of King Arthur.

Series Seven - Mugen Holy Beasts of the Sea The next series of candy toys had a new theme: sea creatures. This new set was made of brand new molds based on sea animals. They combined to form Mugen Pirates. Mugen Leviathan from the previous set could also be added to create Mugen Kaioh. It was also possible to make a different version of Mugen Kaioh using only parts from this set, along with a combined pirate ship mode.

Series Eight & Nine - Mugen Fighting God Beasts These two series of candy toys were released in the same month. The sets had an Indian theme. Each set could combine to form a larger robot, and all twelve figures could combine to form Mugen Enou (Fire Emperor).

Series Ten and Eleven - Mugen Phantom Saint Beast The Tenth and Eleventh series of Mugenbine Candy Toys had a European Mystic theme. Series 10 was released in June 2009, and Series 11 in July 2009. They featured twelve beasts. The first six combined to form Mugen Guardian, while the others combined into Mugen Ryustorm. Both sets could also combine further to form Mugen Shinou.

Series Twelve - G Mugenbine Series: Mugen G Gentoshi The Twelfth Mugenbine Candy Toy series was a direct follow-up to the Phantom Saint Beast line. Released in August 2009, this series was sold in Gashapon Eggs (small toy capsules). It featured five figures that could combine into either Mugen G-Phantom or Mugen Blade, which could be used by Mugen Shinou. This series also marked the start of the new "G Mugenbine Series."

Series Thirteen and Fourteen - Mugen Fierce God Beast The Thirteenth Mugenbine Candy Toys series was released in September 2009. This series had an African Safari theme and was made up of seven units. These could combine into Mugen Safari. This set could also combine with the Garyuuki set, which was released later in October 2009. The second set was made of six units that could combine into Mugen Ryuuborn, which had both Dragon and Fighter modes. Both sets could combine even further to form Mugen Juuoh.

Series Fifteen - Mugen Super Demon Beasts The Fifteenth line of Mugenbine Candy Toys was released in January 2010. This series had an "Evil Magic" theme, which was different from the first 14 Mugenbine Candy Toy releases. It had six units that combined into Mugen Satan. This was considered the third official villain in the Mugenbine story, after Xenonbine and Death Emperor.

Gakuen Gattai Moebine Series

The Moebine series was a new line of Mugenbine Candy Toys released in 2009, inspired by the original Mugenbine. It featured cute anime-style "Bine Girls" who came with their "Bine Mates." The Bine Mates could combine with their girls to give them powerful weapons.

Ninjutsu Club Edition This was the first collection in the Moebine series. It included Takane Endou & Homura Hawk, Kyouko Kamitsuki & Fuuma Viper, Tamami Kamaguchi & Raiden Toad, Uruha Oogami & Kouga Wolf, and Sarii Sarutobi & Shinobi Ape. Each Bine Girl toy could move in thirty different ways. All five of their Bine Mates could combine to form the Mitsurugi Kaizer robot. The Bine Mates could also combine in another way to form Homura Kaizer. The Bine Mates were also designed to work with older Mugenbine toys.

Evolbine Series

The Evolbine series was loosely based on toy prizes found in coin machines. It included five figures that each "evolved" from an egg to a hatchling, and then to a beast form. The five eggs and their parts could also combine into a larger robot.

Series I - Mugen Burning

Series II - Mugen Tornado and Mugen Storm

Series III - Mugen Lightning

The Mugenbine Story

There isn't a long, detailed story for the Mugenbine toy line. Most of the story comes from commercials and the information on the toy packages.

According to the commercials, the story takes place in a city called Mugenpolis. The first Mugenbine, Air Leon, was created there. Soon after, Build Giraffe and Carry Eagle were developed to help with emergencies in the city. The only villain shown was Xenonbine, an evil Mugenbine that could combine in more ways than any other toy at the time.

The commercials also mentioned that Great Rex, Heat Tricera, and Zord Elephant were created by Mugenbine's North American branch. After Victory Leon was made to be a "gateway" to the city, the commercials started calling it Mugen City and introduced the Mugen Bases. A commercial for Arch Tiger hinted at a mysterious, dark enemy, as its appearance made the sky turn purple. There was also a side story about the Ridebine characters who were looking for legendary weapons. This idea was also in the manga comics that came with these figures, where they fought a machine monster powered by these weapons.

At some point, the story on the toy packages explained that the Mugenroids were taken over and turned against the city. Because of this, the Buildroids were created. These new robots had human pilots who could not be controlled by the enemy. The Buildroids and their pilots became the only protectors of Mugen City against this new threat. This story is believed to be ongoing, as the most recent toy releases also include a pilot figure.

See also

Machine Robo