Super Dimension Fortress Macross
Super Dimension Fortress Macross | |
Created by | Studio Nue |
---|---|
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Tatsunoko Productions |
Licensed by |
|
Original network | MBS |
Original run | 3 October 1982 – 26 June 1983 |
Episodes | 36 |
Manga | |
Macross: The First | |
Written by | Haruhiko Mikimoto |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Magazine |
|
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | January 26, 2009 – 2019 (on hiatus) |
Volumes | 6 |
Super Dimension Fortress Macross (
Macross features mechanical designs by Kazutaka Miyatake and Shoji Kawamori (both of Studio Nue) and character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto of Artland.[2][3] Macross also created one of the first anime idols Lynn Minmay, turning her voice actress Mari Iijima[1][4] into an instant celebrity, and launching her musical career. Most of its animation (with edited content, story changes and revised dialogue) was adapted in the US for the first saga of Robotech.[5]
Plot
In 1999, a city-sized alien spacecraft crashes in South Ataria Island on Earth. Over the course of 10 years the military organization
The Zentradi suspect the humans might be their creators, the Protoculture. Under the command of
After much difficulty returning to Earth, the UN Spacy refuses to allow the Macross and the civilian passengers to return to land. Minmay's cousin, Lynn Kaifun, decides to join the Macross to see his parents and also look after Minmay. Because of Kaifun's relationship and constant contact with Minmay, the pair eventually enter a romantic relationship. After deliberation, the UN Spacy orders the Macross to leave Earth as a means to get the Zentradi away from them. During all these events, a female Zentradi ace fighter pilot,
The resulting battle culminates in the large scale devastation of Earth, but the people of the SDF-1 survive. After Boddole Zer is killed and his armada defeated, the surviving humans and their Zentradi allies begin rebuilding Earth.
Two years after the end of the first Space War the transition into the Human ways becomes difficult to some Zentradi who cannot stand the idea of a pacified life.
Episode list
Original Japanese Air Date |
Super Dimension Fortress Macross Episodes |
---|---|
3 October 1982 | 1. "Booby Trap" (ブービー・トラップ, Būbī Torappu) |
10 October 1982 | 2. "Countdown" (カウント・ダウン, Kaunto Daun) |
17 October 1982 | 3. "Space Fold" (スペース・フォールド, Supēsu Fōrudo) |
24 October 1982 | 4. "Lynn Minmay" (リン・ミンメイ, Rin Minmei) |
31 October 1982 | 5. "Transformation" (トランス・フォーメーション, Toransu Fōmēshon) |
14 November 1982 | 6. "Daedalus Attack" (ダイダロス・アタック, Daidarosu Atakku) |
21 November 1982 | 7. "Bye Bye Mars" (バイバイ・マルス, Baibai Marusu) |
28 November 1982 | 8. "Longest Birthday" (ロンゲスト・バースデー, Rongesuto Bāsudē) |
5 December 1982 | 9. "Miss Macross" (ミス・マクロス, Misu Makurosu) |
12 December 1982 | 10. "Blind Game" (ブラインド・ゲーム, Buraindo Gēmu) |
19 December 1982 | 11. "First Contact" (ファースト・コンタクト, Fāsuto Kontakuto) |
26 December 1982 | 12. "Big Escape" (ビッグ・エスケープ, Biggu Esukēpu) |
9 January 1983 | 13. "Blue Wind" (ブルー・ウインド, Burū Uindo) |
16 January 1983 | 14. "Global Report" (グローバル・レポート, Gurōbaru Repōto) |
23 January 1983 | 15. "Chinatown" (チャイナ・タウン, Chaina Taun) |
30 January 1983 | 16. "Kung Fu Dandy" (カンフー・ダンディ, Kanfū Dandi) |
13 February 1983 | 17. "Phantasm" (ファンタズム, Fantazumu) |
20 February 1983 | 18. "Pineapple Salad" (パイン・サラダ, Pain Sarada) |
27 February 1983 | 19. "Burst Point" (バースト・ポイント, Bāsuto Pointo) |
6 March 1983 | 20. "Paradise Lost" (パラダイス・ロスト, Paradaisu Rosuto) |
13 March 1983 | 21. "Micro Cosmos" (ミクロ・コスモス, Mikuro Kosumosu) |
20 March 1983 | 22. "Love Concert" (ラブ・コンサート, Rabu Konsāto) |
27 March 1983 | 23. "Drop Out" (ドロップ・アウト, Doroppu Auto) |
3 April 1983 | 24. "Good-bye Girl" (グッバイ・ガール, Gubbai Gāru) |
10 April 1983 | 25. "Virgin Road" (バージン・ロード, Bājin Rōdo) |
17 April 1983 | 26. "Messenger" (メッセンジャー, Messenjā) |
24 April 1983 | 27. "Love Flows By" (愛は流れる, Ai wa Nagareru) |
1 May 1983 | 28. "My Album" (マイ・アルバム, Mai Arubamu) |
8 May 1983 | 29. "Lonely Song" (ロンリー・ソング, Ronrī Songu) |
15 May 1983 | 30. "Viva Maria" (ビバ・マリア, Biba Maria) |
22 May 1983 | 31. "Satan Dolls" (サタン・ドール, Satan Dōru) |
29 May 1983 | 32. "Broken Heart" (ブロークン・ハート, Burōkun Hāto) |
5 June 1983 | 33. "Rainy Night" (レイニー・ナイト, Reinī Naito) |
12 June 1983 | 34. "Private Time" (プライベート・タイム, Puraibēto Taimu) |
19 June 1983 | 35. "Romanesque" (ロマネスク, Romanesuku) |
26 June 1983 | 36. "Farewell to Tenderness" (やさしさサヨナラ, Yasashisa Sayonara) |
- Note: When Macross was first put in production, the anime was going to end with a total of 24 episodes, but due to popularity, it was expanded to a total of 36 episodes. [citation needed]
Sequels and prequel
A number of sequels and one prequel to the series have been produced.
Production
The series title uses the name of the main spacecraft (which is usually shortened to Macross as it is Earth's first Super Dimension Fortress). The original name for the Macross project was Battle City Megaload (or Battle City Megaroad, as the Japanese transliteration to either ⟨l⟩ or ⟨r⟩ gives the title a double meaning in reference to the story line: Megaload, referring to the spacecraft containing an entire city of people; and Megaroad, referring to the long journey through space back to Earth).
"Super Dimension Fortress" prefix ("Chō Jikū Yōsai") is a wordplay on an intermediary working title for the series, which was originally "Super Dreadnought Fortress Macross" ("Chō Dokyū Yōsai Makurosu").[6]
Originally proposed in 1980 and greatly inspired by
However, by 1981 Wiz had gone out of business and the "Megaload/Megaroad" (Macross) project seemed to be in permanent hiatus. Studio Nue bought the rights of the show from "Wiz" and searched for a sponsor with no avail.
When Macross debuted on 3 October 1982 (with only three episodes made so far) its stunning success among Japanese television audiences convinced Big West to approve an extension to 36 episodes, allowing the staff to end with the "two years after" story arc.[10]
Animation work was contracted out to a number of sub-contracting studios, including Artland (Haruhiko Mikimoto's employer), the nascent AIC and Gainax studios, as well as the Tatsunoko-supplied AnimeFriend and Star Pro.[2][9] AnimeFriend and Star Pro are infamously notorious among fans of the show for having brought in very spotty, off-model and continuity error-laden animation work.
There were plans for a splashy ending to the series, one that would have shown major characters Misa Hayase and Hikaru Ichijo blasting off in the colonization ship
Super Dimension Fortress Macross was produced as the first of the three Super Dimension mecha anime television series in Japan. It was followed by Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983) and Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984). These shows were related in name only.[13][14]
Media
Anime
In 1984,
The merchandise has since been imported again by the same toy dealers in direct sales.
In 2000, Big West and Studio Nue took Tatsunoko Productions to the Tokyo District Court over who had the rights to the first Macross series, due to Harmony Gold's attempt to bar Japanese Macross merchandise in North America the previous year. During production, Big West entered into a partnership with Tatsunoko to assist in the production of the series in a deal where it acquired the license to distribute the show worldwide (i.e., outside Japan), as well as earning some royalties to the merchandise. Tatsunoko then sub-licensed Macross to Harmony Gold USA in 1984. In 2002, the Tokyo District Court ruled that Big West/Studio Nue is the sole owner of the original character and mecha designs for the first series,[16] while that same court ruled in 2003 that Tatsunoko owned the production rights to the first series.[17][18]
In 2001 the series was sub-licensed in North America by AnimEigo, who restored the series and released it unedited on DVD with Japanese audio and English subtitles.[19] At first a limited edition pre-order boxset across nine discs was released on 21 December 2001. Preorders were available on AnimEigo's web store. Three smaller boxsets, each comprising three discs, were released from 10 September 2002.[20][21][22] Finally, AnimEigo released nine individual volumes. In 2003 Madman Entertainment released a six-disc PAL format version of this edition entitled Macross Ultimate Collection.
In the summer of 2005,
On April 8, 2021, Harmony Gold and Big West reached an agreement to allow Big West to release Macross globally.[26]
Manga
Four
Video games
A game based on the TV series called The Super Dimension Fortress Macross was released for the Japanese Nintendo Family Computer console in 1985 by video game company Namco.
Years later
More recently, a new 3D
Reception and legacy
In the Anime Encyclopedia, authors Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy called the series "One of the three unassailable pillars of anime sci-fi, pioneering the tripartite winning formula of songs, battling robot-planes and tense relationships".[29]
Super Dimension Fortress Macross was the basis for two different animated franchises, Macross in Japan and Robotech in North America. In Japan, Super Dimension Fortress Macross spawned an animated film adaptation, Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984), and a number of sequels, including Macross Plus (1994), Macross 7 (1994), Macross Frontier (2007) and Macross Delta (2015). In North America, Super Dimension Fortress Macross was adapted into the first saga of the Robotech television series (1985–1986), called The Macross Saga, which spawned the Robotech franchise. Robotech was influential in the Western world, helping to introduce the anime medium to North America.[30] In 1996, Hyper magazine reviewed The Macross Saga, rating it 10 out of 10.[31]
Macross popularized the concept of transforming
In contrast to earlier
Another innovative character concept in Macross was the role of Misa Hayase, who was one of the main commanders of the Macross battleship. She was the boss and commanding officer of the fighter pilot protagonist Hikaru Ichijyo, and later his love interest. This was a scenario Kawamori came up with which he had not seen in any Hollywood movies before. A similar scenario, however, later appeared in the Hollywood movie Top Gun (1986). According to Kawamori, "Many people pointed out that later films like Top Gun copied that idea and setting, as well as including the combination of many songs and fighters too."[30]
For the video game
References
- ^ a b Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Series Staff. Macross Official Website. Series Section. 04-09-09
- ^ a b Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Staff. Pages 248–253. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. ¥2800. 1983, 10 October.
- ISBN 4-89601-629-7.
- ^ Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Cast. Page 254. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. ¥2800. 1983, 10 October.
- ^ a b c ADV Films Official Macross English Dub Page. Main Section. 04-09-09 Archived 11 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c "Translation & Cultural Notes". Super Dimension Fortress Macross Liner Notes. AnimEigo. 21 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
Comments attributed to Kawamori Shoji in the Macross liner notes are drawn from Nanda, Mamoru (1983) Best Hit Series: Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Macross Graffiti, Akita Shoten, Tokyo.
- ^ a b c d Super Dimension Fortress Macross: The Making of Macross. Pages 203–246. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. Y2800. 1983, 10 October.
- ^ "Translation & Cultural Notes". The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Liner Notes. AnimEigo. 21 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
According to the liner notes of the AnimEigo DVD release of the Macross TV series Gunsight One was also the fanzine title of the Gundam fan club that creator Shoji Kawamori, character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto, and writer Hiroshi Oonogi (members number 1, 2, and 3 of said club) founded while they were students at Keio University in Japan...
- ^ a b c Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Series Outline. Macross Official Website. Series Section. 04-09-09
- ^ a b c d Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Production Notes. Page 247. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. Y2800. 1983, 10 October.
- ^ "Translation & Cultural Notes". The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Liner Notes. AnimEigo. 21 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
Originally, the creators wanted to end the series with the launch of the SDF-2 and the newly-wed Ichijo Misa in her new captain's uniform. Mechanical designer Miyatake Kazutaka and character designer Mikimoto Haruhiko even drew new designs appropriate for the occasion. Unfortunately, the sequence was never animated. The creators finally got the chance to redesign and animate the SDF-2 Megaroad launch (along with the Minmay Sayonara Concert that was planned but canceled for the Do You Remember Love? movie ending) four years later. The conclusion of Hikaru, Misa, and Minmay's story appears in the 1987 music video The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012.
- ^ Best Hit Series: The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 Graffiti. Shougakukan, Japan. Y910. 1987.
- ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
- ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
- ^ "Harmony Gold bars Macross Imports". Anime News Network. 16 April 2002. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
- ^ "Macross Lawsuit". Anime News Network. 26 February 2002. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
- ^ "Tatsunoko Wins "Author's Right" to Macross". Anime News Network. 14 October 2003. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
- ^ "Tatsunoko Wins Macross Lawsuit". Anime News Network. 23 February 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
- ^ "SuperRestored Television Series Macross". AnimEigo. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- Amazon.ca. 9 September 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- Amazon.ca. 21 October 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- Amazon.ca. 25 November 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- ^ "Mari Iijima, the Japanese voice of Minmay, will play the same role in the English dub". Anime News Network. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2005.
- ^ ADV Films Official Macross English Dub Page. Archived 11 July 2009 at the Wayback MachineEnglish/Japanese Cast Information. 04-09-09 Archived 5 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "1st Macross Series Streaming with English Dub on Hulu". Anime News Network. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- ^ "After Decades Of Conflict, We're Finally Getting Official Macross Releases In The West". 8 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Designer Haruhiko Mikimoto to Draw New Macross Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
- ^ "New Macross Manga Launches in Japan's Macross Ace Mag". Anime News Network. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
- ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
- ^ a b c d Barder, Ollie (10 December 2015). "Shoji Kawamori, The Creator Hollywood Copies But Never Credits". Forbes. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Anime". Hyper. No. 33. July 1996. p. 18.
- ^ Knott, Kylie (27 February 2019). "He created Macross and designed Transformers toys: Japanese anime legend Shoji Kawamori". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ a b Eisenbeis, Richard (7 September 2012). "The Fictional (Yet Amazingly Popular) Singers of Japan". Kotaku. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ a b Rattray, Tim (25 June 2018). "From Macross to Miku: A History of Virtual Idols". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-61172-519-3.
- ^ Langdon, Reuben (14 January 2013). "DMC4 Nero". Youtube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
External links
- Official Macross website (in Japanese)
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross at IMDb
- Macross episode reviews
- Macross Compendium
- Macross Mecha Manual—A website profiling the fictional vehicles of the Macross series
- Macross Chronicle—News and Info of the Macross series (In Spanish)