Bri

It's more complicated then that, both DYRL and the TV show are canon. Later sequels primarily use the TV show storyline and DYRL graphics but even this get's mixed at times. There is a thread on MW where the Macross continuity gets dicussed in regard to an interview by Kawamori. He states that there is one 'real' Macross story/continuity but all the Macross shows have limits (whether commerical, technical or others) that creat a distorted image.

The Varija are an interesting step in Macross in terms of encountering alien races. Ranka told us that they are an intergalactic species living in different Galaxies and occasionally (every few millions years) join up to mate. Afaik this is the first mention we have seen in Macross of extra Galatic travel. As a side note, Grace controlled one Varija Hive/individual so her claims to control the universe were a tad overboard, as we don't know how many other Varija hyves there are. Possibly only one per galaxy. I'd think that the Varija home planet in our Galaxy is just a bee hive, instead of the planet where the species evolved. This kind of leads to the next question, were the PC limited to our Milkyway Galaxy? If not it could explain we see so little of those thousands of Zentradi fleets, they could just be deployed to other Galaxies. Maybe the Fulbtzs-Berrentzs Class Mothership have intergalactic fold capabilities? As mentioned earlier in the thread the PC are the ledgendary ancestors. I'd guess they are meant to be kept mysterious. Writing wise they can be constantly upgraded to be on par with whatever enemy a new macross series introduces as long as we don't know to much about them.

So there will be a completed Toy version for sale next year that will cost even more then $2300?

Indeed, I think this technique would make an anime vehicle look more "cartoony" as you'd never see real metalics in animation (except CGI). Interesting read, thanks for posting the link. NMF is somewhat different from NMM as it uses metalics opposed to purely opaque paints, but the color theory is the same and those models look amazing.

Just a question really, but do you think anime actually can return to mainstream? What I have read suggested that anime was forced out of the mainstream by the tighter regulations for television in the mid nineties. Leaving only the childrens and all family shows like Sazae-san, Chibi Maruko, Pokemo, One Piece etc. Macross and Gundam as we knew them would not have met censorship requirements. While I share your concern for the one sided focus on the otaku market (20 out of 40 shows this season are moe fests), I get the impression that the producers/makers only try to deal with the changed market conditions, whether they like the current direction or not.

Robotech may have been a hit, but that was pretty much a given if you compare the quality of the source material against the other shows of its time on TV in the west. It is impossible to check in hindsight but I believe that the merger in to one show was unnessary and ultimately damaging for all three source shows. Again Macek just put out the message that syndication required 85 episodes but nowhere explained why he had to edit them into one story. Three shows under one banner could have worked just as well and maybe even better. It also depends on how you experienced Robotech I guess, it was never broadcasted here so it's pretty much unknown even in anime circles. My love for mecha shows comes from the late 80s, shows like Saber Rider and Voltron on TV and OVA material like Patlabor and DTP (not to mention (Gundam) bootlegs from the local chinese stores). I only saw RT through videotapes that a friend had taped from British television. The real interest over here in mecha was sparked by Gundam Wing and Eva, that was the time when people started digging for material from the 80s. As for SDCSC, it is not a great show, but I found it very enjoyable and apreciated more in time for it's different aproach which had elements that were ahead of it's time. Mospeada is more popular that is true and if I would hazard a guess mainly due to it's vastly superior mecha designs( for the human side at least). Somehow the comparison between Southern Cross and The Next generation keeps getting brought up by the RT fans that prefer the next generation. Good for them, but SDCSC has no connection to Mospeada and should be judged on its own merrits and weaknesses.

In short: non metalic metals, NMM for short, is a style of painting that aims to create a more realistic metalic look with opaque paints then can be done with metalic paints. The technique is quite popular in miniatures atm, but I rarely, if ever, see it used on larger model kits. Wonder if it still looks good on a larger surface. The technique is also a commonly used amongst airbrushers. Anyone here with experience in that area that wouldn't mind shedding some light on the use on larger areas? I plan to experiment with it on some VF-1's to see if I can get it to work. For some background info: Reflective materials: metal Example model

Received the second DVD yesterday. First scene of Endless eight, the baseball match on television: "This is a painfull scene to watch" "Such an unfortunate turn of events" "The crowd has fallen silent" "Not even a single boo for the pitcher" "The home team takes a crushing defeat with 8-0". Self mockery at it's finest

I'm not sure of HG did what it could. I can't help but think that it was despite their creative copy/pasting that anime got popular. We always get the excuse that it was neccesary for syndication to change the source material into one big storyline. However nearly every cartoon in those days was episodice in nature so why was Robotech the exception? HG could easily have just brought over the Super Dimension block of Macross Southern Cross and Orguss and pitched them under the Super Dimension brand name. Maybe Maceks ego wrote checks his talent couldn't cash.

Omg, new visuals for the knife scene, that would be SOOO deserved, love the artwork

That's the standard Pavlov reaction to justify the inclusion of other anime in RT and not relevant from the perspective of fans of the original works. Yes, SDC SC is an obscure mecha show from the 80s and now it remains an obscure show, with a bad reputation amongst western mecha fans due to being chopped up and included in another show... Lack of popularity is no excuse for destroying the integrity of the original work. Err, first of all no politics on MW and second what does the exchange rate have anything to do with Macek's editing hurting peoples perception of SDCSC?

Personally I love SDC Southern Cross, but Macek butchered it beyond recognition so I can't really blame the fans who think it's bad based on what they saw in RT or heard from people who saw RT. Yet again the root of all evil can be traced back to HG

I fully agree that a reboot would be the healthiest option for the RT franchise in the long term, but unless WB or another financial backer provides HG with means to start new projects I doubt HG will dare to take that risk. Question also arises if RT has enough meat to stand on it's own and attract newer, younger fans without the existing animes to prop it up. An aging market is still preferable to no market at all. Rebooting the franchise would also mean that Tats stands to lose income from their licensing. I don't know if HG can or wants to take a chance on that relationship. Maybe it would be better (at least for RT's long term prospects) if that tie gets severed, though this would have little impact on Macross.

I'd guess that Macross has been drawing fans mostly from the Purist faction assuming they can get used to the less serious parts of Macross. Still it suggests hope for a split between Macross and Robotech if the remaining diehard RT fans are mostly novel readers and RPGers. Agreed, the creative focus earlier this decade was on the Mospeada side of things, unless the RLAM pans out it would seem the most likely future direction for the franchise.

$2000+ is a price I'd associate more with the top end statues for franchises like Star Wars rather then Macross. Still I'm sure it will sell to serious collectors (with equally serious disposable income) but at this price it's way out of my range.

Yea, that's always the feeling Robotech generated with me. Each RT generation presented like a Star trek bridge crew and they are going end up as part of a family pantheon of demi-gods under the benign and unfallible leadership of God-emperor Admiral Hunter. In fairness this is a recurring theme in western sci-fi. Macross is much more a universe where no single character ever really gets to oversee the whole picture and the focus is more on human society evolving then the rise and glory of a single clan.

From the Macross Compendium: "Fallacy: "In Flash Back 2012, Minmay stayed behind on Earth while the Ichijyos embarked on the Megaroad-01." Explanation: Minmay decides to embark on the Megaroad-01, as confirmed by later chronologies and timelines. In fact, in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Vol. V: Rhapsody in Love - Macross Love that was released four years before Flash Back 2012, writer Shoji Kawamori (who also wrote the last episode of the first Macross series), has Minmay tell Hikaru and Misa that she also will be on the colonization ship captained by Misa. Source of fallacy: Assumption based on the symbolic image of a younger Minmay ("Sending-Off Minmay") seen on Earth as the Megaroad launches while Minmay ("Minmay at the Observation Window") watches from window on the Megaroad-01. Kawamori said he deliberately put in two Minmays in the Megaroad-01 launch scenes, but he has since confirmed that Minmay did indeed embark on the ship.?"

I agree, HG would just be replaced by another licensee. It would free up the trademarks though, wonder how the trademark agencies would respond should both BW and Tats apply for it. Not very likely, if there ever will be a reboot it's going to come from the WB movie, but it remains to be seen if that ever gets made. HG does not have the money to create a decent sequel let alone a reboot themselves. My guess would be if there ever would be new animation it would come from a Mospeada sequel/retelling.

The story of the WW II Yamato is tragic. Dunno if you can call the anime nationalistic, seems more a tale of redemption. Besides there was even a Star Trek ship called Yamato and that didn't even raise an eyebrow.

The bussiness practises make HG the focus point of the fan hate, but I can't help but wonder what role Tasunoko is playing in this drama. Are they the main villain hiding in the background? I can't really estimate how much bad blood there is between Tats and BW, but Tats has to renew the renew HG's SDFM license every few years (and the other two), if they pull the plug it's bye bye Robotech. Even if HG folds the (SDFM) license will just return to Tats who can give it to anyone they see fit.

I remember that interview, it was definitely one with Kawamori. He states there are two Minmays in that scene, but doesn't expand on it. Can't recall where it came from.

Great read, interesting experience to see the story unfold through a new viewers eyes, thanks for posting that link.

Reading the last few pages of the old thread makes me wonder if there is a difference between backgrounds of current RT and Macross fans. I get the impression that many Macross fans are also anime fans. RT is to anime is what Milli Vanilli is to music, popular in it's day but somewhat of an embarrassment in hindsight. It was part of the history of bringing anime to the west but it's also an example of how not to treat source material with respect. In contrast, thinking of the RT fans I know personally, most are Sci-fi fans with interests in RPGs, model building and miniature gaming, but non of them is a strong anime fan. Franchises like Battletech, Warhammer 40k and Transformers are popular. These examples are amalgamations of existing designs and ideas while fan fiction is encouraged. Wonder if this causes the difference in opinion on source material. One side is used to incorporate other series designs/ideas freely and sees no harm in it while the other side wants it's material as authentic as possible.

The summary was written by TheLoneWolf, I merely looked up some info regarding the trademarks and ownership rights outside of Japan. As he is the original writer, it's only fair that edits should go via him. I will try to find some time this weekend to look through the current thread (the joy) to collect the newer info so we can update the text, links and news on the lawsuit and rights.

Very interesting, so a change in the parties that finance anime results in a different type of anime being made. It begs the question though why robot stuff isnt popular in the manga, novels or videogames. The readers, gamers of today grew up on different shows or toys? Or more fundamental, kids of the nineties have different interests or preferances then those a decade earlier?