Mercurial Morpheus

Being on a friends computer allows me to finally post the Sheryl and Ranka picture he took at AOD 2009 in February. Nyan Nyan, Nyan Nyan, Nihao Nyan... And an Alto who is not amused

You really don't get how it's rather amusingly perverted? You're the one that caught it. Must be nice to be so pure. Keith, it's probably a user made decal. I can't imagine a company not catching that since it does seem drawn with the very idea of face sitting in mind. I'm mildly surprised it's not from here. Yeah, it looks more like Simca than Sheyl. Apparently even Grace loved Sheryl once

I'll admit it does look like it faces aft... That would make it more perverted than the nose art I posted... Thanks to the toy thread, yep, it is... Dirty, dirty boy...

Thank goodness. Otherwise that pic technically violates the threads rules.

It's been awhile, does the VF-25's head actually face aft in fighter mood? If so than that image takes on a whole new meaning. Yeah, I'm sure all the others are crying because they don't have Sheryl gaudily plastered all over them.

My friend was cleaning out his closet and gave me a copy of This Is Animation - DYRL he would've otherwise chucked. He seems to be good for that (having long ago given me a spare copy of Perfect Memory and a complete set of Zeta Gundam filmbooks with coverart I've never seen before.)

Though I'd hate to think what a miss it probably looks like in Battroid mode. Placement could be more logical, but it's meant for fighter display anyway. Though now that I think about it, it looks like she's sitting on the Battroid nape. Wow.....

All very true, from a certain point of view. Though I think when it comes to comparing it to the original, SDFM did a much, much better job of balancing character influence. Both shows can essentially be broken down as two struggles happening against each other. The balance between the inner and outer affecting one another was strong in Macross, rather weak in Frontier. Arguably it's most interesting when the characters afffect the story as much as it affects them. You're dead on with "Or even to the main plot of SDFM, which was heavily about character interaction and development but just as centrally was a plot-focused sci-fi story about first contact and the ultimate future of humanity in a way that Frontier wasn't and didn't really try to be, at least not in such a central way." Though I feel that Frontier was just as much about it's conspiracy and encounters as it was about three fast friends. So I'm merely saying that F was driven more by it's plot than it's characters, as the outer affected the inner by a very high margin. That is, that while the focus is on Alto and crew, what they're doing is pretty much at the will of Grace's plot for the Vajra. After all, even Alto was blinded by the lies up until the last episode. Macross Plus, I think, is actually the most character driven of them all. The entire story of Plus would never have happened if not for the relationship between Guld, Isamu and Myung as it was Myung's pent up feelings that drove Sharon. Nice to know you think so. Maybe I'm just pertuirbed by the number of bloggers that seem to think she just stagnated. I actually think Ranka was developed just as much, maybe more so than Sheryl. The difference though was that Ranka's was much more subtle and introverted (though not as much as Alto's), whereas Sheryl's is so in your face that it's obvious. Heck, you could name entire episode arcs after whatever was happening with Sheryl. Not to mention the reading into (or refusal to do so) by fans. It also didn't help that they outright pissed on Ranka's development in 24, having her become a mere puppet. It's no wonder people ignored any strides she'd made (not to mention the vilifying of her leaving Frontier, which I'll never understand).

Hardly. She just appeals more to the art's "baser" interests. Though speaking of emblazoning, which one of you owns this one.

Note that I'm not saying either character should be cut, nor would I want it (though Sheryl was supposedly meant to leave early on, and it can seem fairly obvious). I was merely rebutting the point made that Ranka was expendable. If she is, then so is Sheryl, if not more so. As for character or plot driven, you are describing a plot driven story, which Frontier mostly is. Most of the development is characters reacting to circumstances, and not so much influencing them. It is indeed about how they are affected by the war. A more character driven story would be one where the story progresses mostly due to character actions. Code Geass is a recent example of a more character driven storyline. Note that I'm talking about the overall storyline of Frontier. The character storyline are naturally more character driven, though even they tend ton bow to the greater events surrounding them. It's a story within a story, and the argument is which one affects the other. The character story is set against the war story, and here the war story is very much in charge of dictating where the overall plot goes. Outside of Rank and Alto shooting things, the main characters had very little impact on the main storyline of Frontier vs Vajra. Even the original series, it was balenced more where the character drama often directly influnced the war. Just look at Max and Milia. Note that being plot driven is not a bad thing. Neither is. I just found that Frontier seemed to always focus more on developing things by nudging the plot than it did those involved, having it shape them rather than the reverse. I think you're confusing an argument on story development with one on focus. You're actually agreeing with what I'm trying to say. Your second sentence outright says "this is a story driven plot." as you say, the characters are affected by the events around them. There's nothing wrong with that. Sheryl and Ranka's development arcs are very similar, they're just in reverse. I sort of noticed a mild comparison to Kiminozo. Haruka and Mitsuki sort of switched places in that. Haruka started shy and meek, and ended stong and self sufficient. Mitsuki appeared confident and independent, but turned out to be very insecure and codependent. The same is sort of true in Frontier. Ranka rose as Sheryl Fell, creating a more confident/stronger willed (in some ways) Ranka, and a more fragile/weaker willed (in some ways) Sheryl at least on the outside. Their development and destinations are different, but their growth is largely the same. Though I'm apparently one of the few that actually though Ranka developed. ;;;

I think they may be. The contrast is a lot better, without the crushed blacks. I wouldn't be surprised if the translations are off, seeing as they appear to be an Italian group. Also, it'd be cool if you put the preview translation in the credits sequence. It's always weird having that part raw. Thanks again for the release.

Oh anything can turn to garbage if you think about it too much. I know that the hard way. Forums especially can do it when one has to restate opinion in new ways and back them up. Before you know it, a quirky observation becomes a serious flaw just because you have to dissect it because someone misinterpreted it. Though it all comes down to differing opinions.

Thanks for the update. A few months back, Kanjisubs started their own subs, and they appear to have much better raws. Any thoughts of maybe joining forces? Though they've sadly only done two episodes.

I always liked Sheryl/Ranka duets While Valentine's Day has long since passed, it appears to be Barentan now. As much as I like Ranka, Sheryl does lend herself better to pinup noseart. Though who Shery Lnome is is anyone's guess. A little ecchi, but about as revealing as the original, anatomy-wise.

Ouch. Perhaps so, with the right prodding, though she'd hardly be the same. In fact, the same could be said about Sheryl, and it would be easier since she actually had next to no actual impact on the war itself. Heck, they're very similar characters in terms of development arcs, so they could be interchanged (probably because they squeezed Sheryl into some of Ranka's screentime from what I've heard). If Ranka was largely unnecessary, Sheryl was outright fanservice if we're talking solely about service to the plot. Frontier has quite possibly the least character driven story I've ever seen. I think Wilder drove more plot simply by stealing the Quarter than any of the leads did in whole episodes. It's mostly one big ride thanks to conspiracy. " I can't believe this thread is still growing. dry.gif Most people love Macross Frontier, DEAL smile.gif" Reading this thread doesn't really imply a problem there. I don't have an issue with Frontier's popularity as long as everything Macross does become Frontier only. So far the only issue I've had there is that it felt like they warped the Launch Ceremony to tie into Frontier, particularly Sheryl and Ranka's unnecessary poster appearance. It's all marketing though. Though the truth is that usually only the latest, not just the greatest, get their due. It's pure marketability and recognition.

True. I watch a lot of my shows week by week, though there have been series I watched en masse. SDFM was actually one of them. Though I watched it more in bursts than one go. It does sort of affect one's perception of a series. I find that compared to the focused one episode or more a day run back in my early fandom, watching a series as it airs allows for A LOT more introspection into individual episodes and their highlighted plot points. This can be a blessing or a curse. I often found discussing the shows affected my POV at times. I was watching this and Code Geass R2 at the same time. Discussing R2 elsewhere often improved my perception of it. Discussing MF, while I did so relatively rarely, seemed more balanced between good or bad depending on the discussion. I know the debates over Sheryl and Ranka did horrors to my perception of either character. Gaps in viewing can have other affects. It also allows for one to get involved in other shows and rob one of the undivided attention it would otherwise get. I know the Deculture episode went a little ways in defining attitudes due to it's three month gap. I used to put off viewing last episodes out of a sort of desire to never let it end. This usually backfired as by the time I'd watch it, I wasn't as emotionally vested in the plot as I would have been. Nadesico taught me that. On the flip side, watching in one go can cheapen any cliffhanger tension. A great example would be BSG, which would often leave viewers months to contemplate character fates and where the story was going. Finding out that XX was going to be fine minutes after seeing him shot in the last episode I would imagine is far less antagonizing than the months long wait I endured. Sure, it falls out of mind, but in the end, you're comparing a months (or even years) long relationship with a character over a days long one. The benefit though is that you get to digest the plot in larger bites, and little things that might annoy you on its own might not when put in the context of a later episode. Instead of waiting weeks to understand way A ticks a certain way, you have the answer in minutes. This can be good or bad depending on the value of it. Spending weeks thinking Grace was a throwaway character sort of made her reveal more satisfying for instance. Not that it wouldn't be otherwise. Though the truth is that you can only watch it the first time once, and can only guess how you'd react the other way. Frontier might have worked better for me in a closer nit go. While R2 benefitted from fretting over the obviously apparent death of a beloved character, delving deeper into Frontier shed as much light on it's strengths as it also did it's follys. Picking the triangle apart one episode at a time improved it, though dealing with those whose minds were made up from the get go didn't. So it all depends on what you do wiuth the time I suppose. Watching in one go tends to be a bit more personal than otherwise. Your mileage may very on just where the conjecture takes you. It might improve it (I know the discussions salvaged a lot of the dreck of R2) or it may confuse you more. I liked Frontier, but it definitely seemed to lack a certain quality to me. I've never been so entusiastic and apathetic at the same time. It's a fun world to visit, but I'm not sure I'd want to live there. I'm still not even certain who may favorite characters are. ;; I've always been in the camp that the post 27 episodes were really what sealed Macross as a loved show of mine. So many series do end right there because that's the logical solution. Macross had the gall to show us how everything doesn't really wrap up that neatly. It made things seem a lot more real. Though I've always understood the mechanics of theatrical storytelling. The end merely neeeds to resolved the problem, ie the story being told. It's up to the director to decide that. In Frontier, it seems to be that the problem is the Vajra and Frontiers journey. Those are told. As much as I love the extra story in Macross, I will admit that it could end at 27 and be satisfying. I just think the remainders add more depth. Yet I always find it amusing just how many people seem to have to have everything spelled out for them, and particularly the need for a happy conclusion no matter how unfitting (thankfully not the case here though tragedies rarely get their due from modern audiences ). Could they have continued with Frontier? Sure. Is it necessary? Nope. In the right hand it could be nice, but what we have works on enough levels. For all the problems I had with the show, the ending was never one of them. Macross could've ended there, but by not doing so it had a lot more interesting things to tell. Not just wrapping up existing storylines. What could be covered in an extended Frontier that would truly add to it? That's debatable. Let's work with your list. The Love Triangle - Maybe I'm alone here, but I thought it ended precisely as it should of - vague and platonic. Why? Because that's how it was to me throughout. Alto's position never seemed to romantically teeter one way or another. To have him declare love for either at the end would've felt premature. Besides, there are plenty of ways to interpret things. I've read plenty of cockamaimy stories about how he actually choose anyway based solely on screentime with side girls and body language. If people can get their ending through reading that deeply into possibly meaningful, possibly meaningless gestures, doers it really need to be sealed with a kiss? I can understand the wants of it, but in my opinion, it was never built up to it. Hopefully Kawamori leaves it in the movie, though I'm betting he won't due to public demand. If he does change it, hopefully he'll build it up better, and not have it feel like the vastly changed storyline it actually is. So the LT is concluded - "You are BOTH my wings". grace and Galaxy - Grace wanted control of the network the vajra and their queen granted. Simple enough. She's dead as well, so there's not much left to work with. I'll admit that Galaxy's situation is much vaguer than need be. What was the point of GA? Was Grace representing them, or working beyond them, or just plain IS them. Was this Galaxy's plan, since the attack seems a lie, or did GA take over. Does knowing any of this change anything? Probably not. A manga side story would befit this one. The Vajra - I don't really see how this one is unresolved. With Ranka AND Sheryl capable of communicating with them, what's the problem? Fold Quartz - We know what it does, where it comes from, and how it fits in. Anything more can be told elsewhere. Leon - The truth about him is known, do we need to see his subsequent trail and conviction? His story's over. Alto and family - this might have room for development, but his father's last line suggests he might understand his son better than implied. I'd say it's resolved to the point of it's importances to the plot. Basically, most of the dropped plotlines seem more fodder for new series or spinoffs, rather than essentials to the ending. There's enough material here to keep Macross Ace occupied for years. Just as long as the leave the love triangle alone. At least until the time when the shippings died down enough to have a non-fan biased conclusion without bloody murder if someone else were to "win". Though I'll never get why it anyway has to be about "who frakking?" It works so much better as a non-romantic relationship anyway.

It's been around since the mini-series, where it was used during Galactica's decommissioning. It's been scattered around in bits and pieces here and there since. Back when the mini aired, I was even wondering if they'd sneak it in somewhere. As for faithfulness to the old guard, I think it did better than a lot of others. Sure, a lot was changed. I remember being rather peeved at the Terminator like take on the Cylons, removing the whole lizard race and such. I sort of got over it after it became apparent that it was done so with a clear vision in mind and not just to write out Imperialist Leader. For all the things they changed though, they kept just as many things. A lot just keep a setup. Here the Galactica actually looked like the Galactica, Centurions were descented from the old models, you even got to see classic Raiders. The Vipers were the same. It might seem trivial, but the fact that they kept a lot of the old look of the series differently went a long way in my book. Then you have the heavy presence of Richard Hatch, the use of some of the better storylines like The Living Legend, and it's hard to fault them for taking it in new directions. I will admit that I was not too fond of the miniseries back when it aired. It was the TV series that really repaired the qualms I had with it though. They did indeed look badass, and meshed well with the redesigned models. Though it would've been nice had som,e been actors instead of CG. Though given the cost of making such a suit, I can't blame them. I personally though Galen's reaction was perfect. Even if you play down his relationship with Cally, she was still important to him. Not to mention the shock of learning that it wasn't suicide but murder. I always figured he'd flip when he found out, whether she was a consolation wife or not. I'm just glad Tori got what was coming to her. She should have told him earlier. I sort of wished he'd have gotten to be with Boomer in the end. It is sort of like Gall Force. Though that sort of endings been around for ages.

The revivals just keep coming. Makes me wonder if there's truth in that tidbit of a new Dirty Pair I got a while back. Awesome news.

They've been using it for a while. It's the Colonial Anthem in this continuity. I always thought McCreary put it to good use. What i really loved was the use of the classic Centurions. About time they paid off fully from Six's miniseries line about them still being around. Shame they were also CGI, but it was still awesome. One thing I've always loved about this show is the amount of subtle respect they show to the classic series for fans of it like myself.

Yeah, it was about time after what she did. Shame it fraked things up though. The ending was about what I expected, and I enjoyed just about all of it. Plenty of nice twists and turns. Some unanswered questions to ponder, and more than it's far share of emotional moments. The Kara thing was a touch odd, but oh well. That, and my damn cat switched the TV input right at Adama's realisation. I particularly loved how Balter came full circle at the end. Shame what happened to Boomer, but at least she did get some redemption after all the things they've dragged her through. Sad to see Galactica go (in both ways). As a fan of the original, Moore did a great job adapting it into something just as great. Hopefully Caprica can fill some of the void now.

To be fair, vinyl is experiencing a resurgence of late. Maybe it's just really popular on South Alteria island. On a side note, Miyamura almost didn't come back? That would've killed 2.0 for me. I wouldn't mind a sprucing up of some of the more atrocious Anime Fiend scenes, provided it was done in matching quality. I believe they did something similar that to LoGH. Though we already have our complete redo anyway, so I don't really see the need for it.

Nice desten. I converted it to mp3 for those that can use it and boosted the volume. shiroikaze, I remember my friend having so much trouble getting stuff on his Verizon RAZR back in the day. Though now, the only thing harder is getting stuff on my sister's lame iPhone. What are the limits of your phone? I'll see about cutting it. Ranka_sms.mp3

AAANNNNEEEEWWWWW!!!!!! T_T F*cking Ribbons. F*cking Revive. Can't wait for his sorry @ss to kick it. First the Col., now Anew. This show just loves to kill off my favorites. Though Gundam just does that. Though I agree that you knew it had to happen, and with Setsuna's line, it cemented it. Heck, the second they got together, one was pretty much dead. The Lyle/Anew storyline was a touch rushed, but it definitely had the impact. Heck, part of what made the relationship work was the fact that you knew it was doomed from the get go. I knew Anew wasn't trustworthy from the beginning, even if it wasn't her fault. Though Lyle is to blame as well. He knew damn well something was up, and he thought with his other head instead. Though outing her probably would've done no good, given Ribbons' hacking skills. Maybe they'll pull some odd twist and have her memories stored in Veda or something. Doubtful, I know. Seems in both series, Lockon Stratos just can't get a break. I think I'll tear up now when I hear that song... Farewell, sweet Anew... GG loves to mess with things. The song wasn't half bad actually. Though I'd really prefer it if they stopped interrupting my Gundam with ads for stuff I don't care about. Shame Menclave's so far behind.

That's awesome, Gubaba. Complete with shoddy font work and everything. Don't let the 4chan bit get to you. You know it was some lurker jerk. I picked this up at Kinokuniya today for about 8 bucks as my salute to the festivities, and since it is the first. The new manga isn't half bad so far, and I like how Mikimoto's style is somewhat more reminiscent of his old work. I can't say I'm liking Vanessa's new look though. Not sure I'll get the chance to collect each issue, but at least I've got the première.

Well, I just woke up about 30 minutes ago, and my ride (new member Raider 3), won't answer his phone. It takes at least 90 minutes to get to SF proper. So the two idea appears out. Deep apologies to anyone set to go at that time and missed this message. I'll keep trying to get ahold of him since I did tell someone (shadow member Dick Hunter) we'd be up there. EDIT: He finally answered. We should hopefully be leaving within the hour.