Macross Frontier

[NeoBear]

I rember when i was like in 1st grade i would wake up at 5am to watch the original Macross for its time it was so advanced. the Macross time line and or series over the years have been hit and miss i personly enjoyed the Original Macross, Macross plus, Macross Zero, and if they can keep up the pacing and production values the Current Macross Frontier.

also as a side note if you are someone who can deal with animation from the 80s/90s i very much recomend the Original series the story has aged well and i think it allows for a much better understanding of some of the referances in Frontier. had you seen the Original series you would not have batted an eye when KK poped out of her suit nore would you have been surprised to see her microed a few moments later. although i was a little baffled to see her in loli macro mode....and perhaps a little disturbed...but only a little =O

[Buffalobiian]

They explain it partially in the intro sequence before the OP. The events were all chronicled in the original Macross series. The "elves" are the Zentradi, the race of giants that humanity was nearly wiped out by when they attacked Earth. They were created by and enslaved to another race to act as warriors and not allowed culture of any kind. Humanity developed the first variable fighters to combat them and their weapons suits (now seen here as the mechs, before they were more like giant, armored spacesuits). They eventually heard songs from the original Miss Macross, Minmay. I don't know all the details because I haven't seen most of the original, but sooner or later the Zentradi rebelled and joined the humans against their masters.

Humans and Zentradi can interbreed because they are "genetically equivalent." Thus half-breeds like Mikael and quarters like Ranka. Zentradi are originally giants (as far as I know) and they can be micronized, where they change into more human-sized bodies, but maintaining their proportions. This is also how they interbreed with humans.

That's why it's funny that Klan Klein (Kuran Kuran, whatever) turns into a loli from a genetic abnormality. Her proportions don't stay right and she turns into a kid.

That should cover all the questions, either directly addressed or buried in one of those paragraphs.

I'd imagine that big ugly guy is one from the master race? I couldn't imagine Ranka's grandparents looking like that...

[KrayZ33]

Btw is Kyun's nick name (from Melachony of Haruhi) actually "Woosh" ?

[Chiodos]

Btw is Kyun's nick name (from Melachony of Haruhi) actually "Woosh" ?

Totally off topic:

No. Kyon was the nickname and in the anime they never told his real name. Although they, if I do remember correctly, did mention it in the novell.

But maybe I didn't get the question right so...

[depthcharge]

I am up to eps 21 of SDF Macross. While it has some quite familiar scenes, of the Zentradi ships blowing up. I kind of remembered watching something similar before. While I felt in the past that it seemed like crap, the SDF macross seems pretty good. Even with the less then impressive graphic. However, I think I seen the Robotech "dubbed" series which is crappy? anyone can confirm that?

Cant wait for more eps to finish downloading and for this weeks eps.

[Ryllharu]

I ordered most of the dvds for SDF Macross, but I don't know when those will come. I can't wait to catch up on Macross as a whole, I only saw parts of SDF long ago.

Anyway...yes, if you thought it sucked hard, it was probably Robotech. Robotech was the edited to hell, redubbed, mixed around, mish-mash of three totally unrelated anime series. While elements of Macross (first part of Robotech) and Southern Cross (second part) do seem to cross over well enough, the beginning of Southern Cross was completely bastardized to make the compilation work. Macross recieved probably the heaviest editing, largely due to plot and the occasionally graphic/mature nature of relationships between Macross characters, like we've seen so far in Frontier. "Butchered" is almost always used to describe it.

The third part doesn't even remotely make sense. Macross = variable fighters or at the very least, fighter planes. The plot of Southern Cross has a couple of elements that make sense, and the mechs vaguely resemble the Zentradi suits. The third part of Robotech has a mech that looks more like a Code Geass Knightmare.

So I can't confirm it, but if you thought it sucked, it was almost certainly one of the Robotech versions.

[NeoBear]

the thing to understand if you talking Robotech is like Ryllharu said there wear three series as far as i could tell.

Robotech = Macross
Robotech II = Souther cross
Robotech III = hell if i know?

i rember there wear three series i watched as a kid Macross was fine and all im sure it was edited but all in all for its time it was pretty advanced stuff for kids to be watching at 6am in the morning.

Southern cross as i rember delt with Max's daughter who as it turns out was not relly his daughter but was made to be his daughter for continuity here in america? also in this one there were no valks or if there are they were mostly replaced buy these transforming hover tank things that nobody cared about.

And the third series i remember almost nothing of as the Valks were almost all but absent. and i seem to remember this being the one with the transforming motorcycles and the singer chick that was really a guy or some shit .... it sucked

in any case if it was not Robotech/Macross that you watched but one of the other two i can understand why you would think it sucked.

[depthcharge]

good thing. I downloaded another series, that hunted for "whales" wow that was crap. I had only one eps completed and deleted the thing. This SDF macross on the other is worth it to buy. I would just hope that if they reproduce it in HD I would buy the collector edition in a second. Makes it so much more that the MF is really good in the eye candy.

[Ryllharu]

There's really no point in releasing SDF in HD. It aired in 1983. We're lucky to be getting remastered versions on dvd. Upscaled is really the best you can hope for, which is exactly what Frontier's "HD" really is.

(Also the reason Shinsen does not release Frontier in anything other than standard def)

[depthcharge]

I am satisfied with Frontiers SD release. I find it well done, details in the scenes, and the valk looks damn real. I can feel the candy in my mouth.

Anyhow, thanks for the recommendation to watch the original MF.

[Buffalobiian]

Macross F ED is out.

[Nipponsei] Macross Frontier ED Single - Diamond Crevasse [Sheryl Nome starring May'n].zip

[Yukimura]

I could care less about the ED itself but the single also includes Iteza Gogo Kyuuji Don't be late AKA the song from Sheryl's consert!

[Ryllharu]

I'd still be more interested in all the a capella versions of the songs that Ranka has been singing. Or at the least acoustic versions, I really preferred Ranka's version of the ED clip that was towards the end of eps 2. Sheryl's songs are nice and very pop-ish, but Ranka's feel more moving and have a clearer sound.

It's like comparing Sharon Apple's songs to Myung's song in Macross Plus.

[shinta|hikari]

I don't think the Ranka songs need to be a capella or even acoustic. As long as it doesn't go too noisy (the instruments) it should be fine.

[animus]

Episode 5 - Gattai

For those of you who can't wait for the triple-joint of doom.

[Ryllharu]

Heh, we got to see the completely opposite side of Sheryl. The genuine and cute side rather than her stuck up, angry, and forceful side. We've seen the wiser side once or twice, usually her giving Ranka advice.

But the cute side of Sheryl makes it really hard not to like her just as much as Ranka. I didn't even think that some of the other Macross class colony ships would be older and nowhere near as sophisticated as the Frontier. The ships have to take decades to build now that I think about it, and they'd be in service as long as they had to. To think that Sheryl comes from one of the more decrepit and utilitarian ones.

But like she said, that's part of her appeal. All natural (and how nice it is, cleavage shot as she hides Alto's talisman).

I particularly liked her in awe of the Zentradi farmers and the hippo-cows.

But the side of Sheryl that was most impressive was her genuine side. She's completely driven to sing, as much as Isamu from Plus was to fly, and Alto here. Overcome with the urge so completely that she rips down the nearest object and begins writing lyrics all over it.

Perhaps that same drive she has is quickly making her fall in love with Alto. Sheryl seemed to be less about teasing him as the episode went on, shifting into genuine affection.

Though with Galaxy being attacked, perhaps this won't be the last we see of Sheryl. She'll probably get stuck on Frontier (which I'm sure she'll be fine with).

But again...why are the Vajra attracted to Ranka? She sings, they wake up and attack. Sheryl has no affect on them, so it can't be a reference to their Vajra's controllers attempting to kill all singers due to the Minmay Factor*. I'm not seeing the connection, unless it has something to do with her lineage.

[*Minmay Factor: In SDF, broadcasts of Minmay's songs are what eventually turned the Zentradi's into allies. They had no concept of "culture" before.]

[Darknodin]

week after week, episodes meet my expectations. characters are likeable and believable. and really, its the first time i actually look forward to a character singing! I'm enjoying this show tremendously.

So the Vajra are being controlled, and Galaxy will probably be destroyed. can't wait for next week.

[MFauli]

Ryllharu, its a bit embarrassing to read your posting, when you make it feel as if youre talking about real persons :P

Anyway, nice episode, but i wonder when the real story starts. It feels to be still in setting up-mode.

Oh, and i hate HD-videos. My notebook is just not powerful enough to run them perfectly smoothly :-/

[NeoCybercoin]

Well Ranka is a quarter Zerk. So I think her songs also represent or feelings/emotions or just general drive to do something. Could explain why that Vajra is activated again when she sang.

And lots of droolings over Sheryll's cleavage shot. =3

[Ryllharu]

Ryllharu, its a bit embarrassing to read your posting, when you make it feel as if youre talking about real persons

A testament to the writing of Macross. Much better than the cardboard cutout characters of many of the Gundams.

Macross has always been less about the models and toys and far more about the characters, their interactions and relationships, and their personalities. Sure, the VF's are where all the action is, but action is never the central focus of Macross, just the icing on the cake.

Gundam = sell models
Macross = sell soundtracks, create real life idols out of voice actresses and sell concert tickets

Sure, it might be a bit embarrassing in the end, but Macross has always been a character driven series.