Anime Featuring Fleet Battles

[kalvasflam]

One of the things I've always loved about Macross was the depiction of space combat between capital ships.  So much of it was actually far beyond visual range, with distances sometimes measured in light seconds (300,000 km).  When you get to a point in science fiction where the high-energy weapons of capital space ships are firing at light or near-light speeds, it makes no sense to actually see your enemy when you fire upon him - special circumstances not withstanding.

Macross created dramatically and visually interesting space battles outside visual ranges with the scenes remaining coherent.  So many directors don't even try to do this, simply opting to show both friend and foe within line-of-sight because they can't imagine how to create compelling and coherent combat drama any other way.

352875[/snapback]

Very very true. A lot of these space battles I don't really like since they just consist of two battleships approaching to point blank distance and firing away. Its stupid, its like watching Revolutionary War tactics where the armies would line up face to face and just shoot and reload and shoot again. There's no talk or execution of fleet configuration, manuevering, etc.

I like it when there is some element of tactics involved like in LOGH, Macross, Yamato 2520, original Yamato, which all incidentally had Ishiguro involved.

352942[/snapback]

A point that's very well made is that space combat is likely to be BVR anyway. I guess the idea of laser is just too attractive. Because I expect missiles to rule the day, although it would be a little more like long lance duels in WWII. You'd shot missiles at each other, and wait for the minutes between when missiles reached their target. And let's fact it, targeting at 300,000 km might be a real pain. But then again, anime would be kind of boring, if it consisted of guys shooting missiles and never seeing each other. Not very personal.

[armentage]

Master and Commander

[Loner]

Gundam 0083

Gundam Char's Counter Attack

352577[/snapback]

Don't forget the third Mobile Suit Gundam movie.

[1st Border Red Devil]

Oh yeah Helicopters in space, how could I forget that bit of total coolness.  It just goes to show that Southern Cross is just the greatest thing ever.

352628[/snapback]

Goddamnit, I am sick of hearing this. GET THIS STRAIGHT: THE AURORAN WAS NEVER DEPLOYED AS A HELICOPTER! It has THREE FORMS! The helicopter is its intermediate form and is NEVER shown in the TV series. It was ONLY deployed in Fighter and Cosmo-Sniper modes.

As for the Glorie Fleet, I seem to remember counting over 300 combat capital star vessels, not to mention another 100 or so support vessels.

4 Algada-class Carriers (Major Lombard's ship)

29 Tristar-class Flagships

104 Battlecruisers

208 Destroyers

That was a fleet facing a formidable foe:

40 Zor City-ships

200 Cruiser Escorts

So...no...we're not talking small numbers of ships.

Edited December 16, 2005 by 1st Border Red Devil

[EXO]

Helicopter!

[Twoducks]

You sure there wasn't at least a scene with them in chopper form?

[1st Border Red Devil]

You sure there wasn't at least a scene with them in chopper form?

353092[/snapback]

Find me one and I'll call you Master. Otherwise, I happen to know what Im talking about....

[chrono]

Macross created dramatically and visually interesting space battles outside visual ranges with the scenes remaining coherent.  So many directors don't even try to do this, simply opting to show both friend and foe within line-of-sight because they can't imagine how to create compelling and coherent combat drama any other way.

352875[/snapback]

The worst problem with SW: RoTS & DS9, and most current SF TV shows, IMO! In Macross they realized real naval combat concepts(slow and plotting) with fighter action to keep it emotional interesting. A truely AWSOME blend. I'm glad Earth Above and Beyond used that to their benefit.

Oh and would somebody please update the list on the intial post!

[nemesis120]

Gundam 0083

Gundam Char's Counter Attack

352577[/snapback]

Don't forget the third Mobile Suit Gundam movie.

353077[/snapback]

Seriously like anything with Gundam counts (Gundam F91 and Gundam X for sure). Although most of the Gundam fleet battles weren't that good.

[kalvasflam]

Imagine how they would do a movie on naval surface battles in modern times with SSM (surface to surface missiles). Not even a confined space like submarines to add to tension. How sad.

[Beltane70]

You sure there wasn't at least a scene with them in chopper form?

Find me one and I'll call you Master. Otherwise, I happen to know what Im talking about....

1st Border is right. I just recently watched Southern Cross and didn't see a single scene with the Auroran as a helicopter.

[Agent ONE]

Helicopter!

353088[/snapback]

Helicopter... In space.

Don't fret my border hopping indian friend, Southern Cross is the greatest thing ever, I love it with my entire body, including my donger.

[Splash]

How about the battle above Coriscant in "Clone Wars" volume 2, complete with a successful boarding! Fortunately "Clone Wars" kicks ass!

[maxjenius81]

How about Deep Blue Fleet. Gotta love crazy alternate history anime where Japan kicks the US ass then goes on to fight the Nazi's because everyone hates them.

[Gui]

The last episodes of Zone of the Enders: Dolores, i have some fleet to fleet battle IIRC but they focus more onto mecha fights actually

Edited December 24, 2005 by Gui

[UN Spacy]

I've said this before, but OVA #0 of Yamato 2520 (if you can find it, its so obscure) had 10 minutes of the most glorious fleet combat on a massive scale. Picture massive volleys of the "wave motion cannon" from entire fleets and you get the picture. The guy that did the action direction (I think it was Noburo Ishiguro?) also handled the same for Yamato 2520, so you know its good.

Sorry to bump but OMG someone FINALLY uploaded some Yamato 2520 scenes on youtube.

I've been looking for the clip for YEARS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55TnOVOWUBA

Amazing stuff.

[Seven]

Awesome, it's only taken 10+ years!

That scene excerpt is from the rare Volume 0 of the short lived series. The rest of that episode just goes into back story of the universe of 2520 and what happened since the original series. The scene excerpt describes one of the early battles between the Earth forces and the new bad guys. By the start of the series, the bad guys (I forgot their names) have totally dominated the known universe and subjugated Earth.

Edit: After googling it, the antagonists are the Salene. And they haven't dominated the known universe, but basically fought the Earth forces to a stalemate.

Edited March 7, 2007 by Seven