When Frontier is all said and done

[Keith]

At this point in the timeline, the Supervision Army, even if they did pop up, would be no greater than a rogue Zentradi fleet. We now know exactly who they were, and who they worked for. It's doubtful as a threat, they'd be any more dangerous than the Varuta. Besides which, without the Protodevelin around, there's really no reason for the Supervision Army to continue any form of hostility, since their main purpose would have been Spiritia collection. I'd wager to say one of two things happened to them.

1: The Zentradi whiped them out, and didn't realize it.

2: They awoke from their brainwashing themselves, and settled down on a world somewhere.

If there had still been a Supervision Army in existence, the Protodevelin would have called them in as backup. Unless they did, and they did, munched on them for Spiritia, and scalped their fleet into the rebuilt Varuta fleet.

Or hey, another alternative, redub some key scenes from Macross II, change that Earth into a long distance out of contact colony fleet. Change the Macross into one of the many mass produced SDF types that we now know exist. And change the Marduk into a self aware evolution of the Supervision Army. Profit!

[phunky204]

Maybe tell the story of how and why the Supervision Army gunship ended up going into the fold before reaching Earth with the drama centered around a protoculutre antagonist. Or is the mystery to the protoculture the real magic behind Macross? The main reason for me watching every single animated production of Macross was to find out more about them. I was extremely intrigued when they found the protoculture ruins on Lux in Macross 7.

[taksraven]

Either way, it sounds rather anticlimactic and it takes all the mystery out of them...

Either way I don't think that it would be the end of the world and we all know what the real mystery of Macross is anyway.

Taksraven

[jenius]

I also love the mystery of the Protoculture. I don't think my idea that they tell the distant history of the Protoculture that got this ball rolling would ruin the mystery. As long as the show ends with the hint that some Protoculture survived and may still be out there then all the better. It's a double-whammy of excellence because you could include the ProtoDevlin (hopefully toning down their ridiculousness) and show the creation of the Supervision Army, Inspection whatevers, blah blah blahs. Heck, you could even then set up a future Macross installment by showing a UN workshop that is trying to create the ultimate weapon based on Vajra technology and we can see the parallels to Protoculture and their creation of the ProtoDevlin.

[Gubaba]

I know I should probably keep my mouth shut and just leave well enough alone, but I gotta admit I hate these "What's next for Macross?" threads. The same ideas get rehashed again and again, but they're never ideas that will form the foundation of any Macross series. Supervision Army...Hikaru and Misa's kid(s)...the Protoculture...these are mysteries that are usually only pondered by the Macross specialist, not the common viewer. NEW implausible ideas would at least be tolerable, but they're all the SAME ideas everyone's been bandying about for years, and sometimes a decade or two.

Meh. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood. Ignore me.

[azrael]

I know I should probably keep my mouth shut and just leave well enough alone, but I gotta admit I hate these "What's next for Macross?" threads. The same ideas get rehashed again and again, but they're never ideas that will form the foundation of any Macross series. Supervision Army...Hikaru and Misa's kid(s)...the Protoculture...these are mysteries that are usually only pondered by the Macross specialist, not the common viewer. NEW implausible ideas would at least be tolerable, but they're all the SAME ideas everyone's been bandying about for years, and sometimes a decade or two.

Meh. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood. Ignore me.

Don't you know? People love rehashing ideas. Given the number of "What's the next Macross"-threads, that should be painfully obvious now.

[VF5SS]

Meh. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood. Ignore me.

i'm sorry man, but twenty five years of space plane adventures doesn't hold a candle to fanfics

[Mr March]

Well,it's possible that movie 2 will the the last of the Macross Frontier storyline. Where do you think Kawamori go next? I would personally like to see Isamu's or Hikaru/Misa's kids in action. I seriously doubt that it would be the latter, since Shoji Kawamori has said at least once that he has no real reason to revisit them, but who knows - maybe he would cave in to fan demand. Anyone else have any thoughts?

I think Macross will stay on the course it has so far, for better or worse. Big West releases a Macross space opera TV series once a decade and in between there's some OVAs and movies. Unless a truly novel concept is hit upon, or there is some pressing need to do so, I don't think we can expect another TV series for some time. This latest wave of Macross popularity will ride itself out like the previous ones and eventually the franchise will come back for a fourth major installment when the demographic is ready.

About the direction of future Macross sequels, I will say this: I definitely do not want to see any more prequels, I don't want to see what happened to any previous cast of characters and I don't want to be shown anything more of the Protoculture (but more historical trivia about them is always fun). What should be done to inject some more life into the franchise is independently create an interesting story of similar theme and simply adapt it into the Macross setting. In fact, nearly all quality sequels to almost any property are based upon either a strong narrative through line adapted for the existing material or a dynamic contemporary relevance for the same formula. I'd like to see a different style of story once again told in the Macross universe. Of course, the problem with creative stories that hold their own is the inevitable question one must ask; "If the story stands strong on it's own, why not just make that story and forget about Macross?"

[frothymug]

i'm sorry man, but twenty five years of space plane adventures doesn't hold a candle to fanfics

I was about to say something about fanfics and you beat me to it while I was at school today!

I guess you can say that if you have an appetite for answers to those burning questions about existing characters, then look up some fanfics and see what other people have come up with as possible outcomes. Yes, most of them are terrible, but you come upon good ones from time to time.

Fanfics do a good job of filling in those little niche storylines that you wanted to see stretched out some more in whatever series it is that you're watching. Since the general premise is that some people don't want to see more stories about the same characters, they can remain happy with what the Macross franchise has offered so far. The others, whom want to hear more stories about their favorite characters in that series, can read all about it in fanfics. Hell, they can produce their own fanfics, if they are so inclined. That's what I did (am doing).

I liked the way one of my friends put it, "Fanfics are like starter kits for writers. The characters and story are already there for you to use; you just have to come up with your own ideas."

[jenius]

So, before Frontier came out who guessed the next Macross would:

"Feature a man who looks like a woman, have a high school setting, and the bad guy will be space bugs!"

[Ghost Train]

Fanfic u say??

And here is youtube version for the illiterate:

[Marzan]

More than going into what the story if the next Macross project should be, I'd like to say that what I want is a bit of a different tone and feel to the next Macross. I'd like to see a shorter, rawer, more personal story, that hopefully can avoid the more "moe" elements so prevalent in many anime and focus on a couple of good, well written characters.

I know that Macross Plus is not the most popular of the Macross instalments, but I personally feel that in many levels it's one of the best of the lot, and I'd like to see something with that level of sophistication.

[frothymug]

I agree about Macross Plus being the best example of what would make a better overall "feel". It seems like all of the anime shows that I see here and there are always putting in obvious forms of fanservice. Kind of gets me irked whenever I see them crop up in a show that I was just starting to enjoy.

[Zor Primus]

One of the things that made MF so great was the nods to the original series. From the love triangle, to the music, to the political intrigue. Can that magic happen again? Probably not for another 25+ years.

25 episodes was not long at all...but I do see the point with perhaps shrinking a tale a bit to make the characters fewer yet more personal.

There are plenty of colony fleets to choose from and it is a big galaxy, so the introduction of a new threat would have to be very unique to be good.

I would like to see how things are on Earth...perhaps even shake things up and have it attacked along simliar lines that happened in Macross II. I'm one of "those guys" that enjoyed much of the show. No...I don't want to see another tv reporter

But yeah...we can go over these possiblilties until we are blue in the face, we can probably agree that as long as a Basara type character doesn't make a return a future Macross series will be gold.

[nexxstrait]

I'd also like a "more adult" feeling for the next Macross installment. I'd also like the saga to become innovative again and break new grounds (it stopped being unconventional after M7 Dynamite).

[Marzan]

I'd also like a "more adult" feeling for the next Macross installment. I'd also like the saga to become innovative again and break new grounds (it stopped being unconventional after M7 Dynamite).

I'm all for a more "adult" feel for the next instalment but maybe they would miss the ideal anime demographic if they go that way. I've read that Macross Plus was not very popular in Japan when it was released and by the lack of posts on it, I feel it very well may also be the case in this forum.

[josue]

I would guess that after being involved in Frontier production for more than 4 years (Kawamori said that the Frontier idea was already in his head while doing Zero) he'll might want to take a break... maybe a long? one...

[Nicaragua]

I much preferred the shorter more serious stories of Macross Zero and Macross Plus. The darker stories contrast really well with the shows singing and themes of communication, and sets the scene for some good emotional ties to the characters. That’s not to say I dislike the bizarre cheese of Macross 7 but it took me longer to get into it and my Mrs thought it was ridiculous.

Id like to see future Macross storylines look into other creations like the Bird Human. Maybe there are other such relics left behind on other worlds or maybe a conflict with another “failed experiment” like humanity.

[eriku]

I'd love to see a short series or an OVA about a steampunk Macross. Get Miyazaki on board to design some ships and have Kawamori work out their transformations and robot modes. Yeah, it's gimmicky (and never going to happen), but it would make for some cool toys.

[Ghost Train]

Ideas for next Macross:

- Serious Business Gritty Approach: lots of politics, megacorps screwing each other, larger than life people trying to one-up each other.

- Must have crazy scientist with English accent who hallucinates his dead spouse who might not really be so dead.

- Less mecha, cuz giant robots are just not popular anymore. You'll see them fly in the background once in a while, that's all.

- Depiction of racism against Zentrans and other non Terrans - you know this sh!t happens, the whole let's live together in peace and indulge in mass consumerism angle just doesn't fly. Scenes of VF-1's spraying Zentradi protesters with giant hoses and the rise of the Alien Civil Rights movement.

- Male singer.

- Shaky Cam.

Edited October 9, 2010 by Ghost Train

[TehPW]

I'm all for a more "adult" feel for the next instalment but maybe they would miss the ideal anime demographic if they go that way. I've read that Macross Plus was not very popular in Japan when it was released and by the lack of posts on it, I feel it very well may also be the case in this forum.

for the record, i LOVED M+, TU very much.../

+1 for Ghost Train's sediments...

Edited October 9, 2010 by pensives_wetness

[David Hingtgen]

Macross Plus isn't discussed much because it's universally praised. People post about what they hate--see Macross 7.

People like to argue---if everyone agrees, not much is said. Plus is great, and everyone agrees with that.

[Vifam7]

I'd like the next Macross series to go back to its roots (ie. the original TV series). Not necessarily bring back Minmay and co. but rather the general simplicity the original series had. A series that's not filled with terminology or new alien life-forms or powers that's all somehow interconnected in the universe with Protoculture and whatnot. Perhaps a more down-to-earth human story. Like Macross Plus.

One thing I don't want the next Macross to be is another BSG where it's all serious all the time.

[Keith]

I'd like the next Macross series to go back to its roots (ie. the original TV series). Not necessarily bring back Minmay and co. but rather the general simplicity the original series had. A series that's not filled with terminology or new alien life-forms or powers that's all somehow interconnected in the universe with Protoculture and whatnot. Perhaps a more down-to-earth human story. Like Macross Plus.

One thing I don't want the next Macross to be is another BSG where it's all serious all the time.

As I said, Macross The First: The Animation.

MAKE IT HAPPEN!

[Renato]

I know I should probably keep my mouth shut and just leave well enough alone, but I gotta admit I hate these "What's next for Macross?" threads. The same ideas get rehashed again and again, but they're never ideas that will form the foundation of any Macross series. Supervision Army...Hikaru and Misa's kid(s)...the Protoculture...these are mysteries that are usually only pondered by the Macross specialist, not the common viewer. NEW implausible ideas would at least be tolerable, but they're all the SAME ideas everyone's been bandying about for years, and sometimes a decade or two.

Meh. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood. Ignore me.

Yeah.

"Misa, Hikaru and the Megaroad" being the focus of the next show is probably the oldest thread topic from the very beginning of this board.

Let's all just take a look at how wildly different all Macross sequels have been for the past decade and a half and then see if any of the suggestions on here would have even a passing chance at plausibility.

Who would have guessed after SDFM that years later we would get a story about super-robot-styled valks outfitted with speakers piloted with guitars by a Space John Lennon? Or that a decade after that we would get a show about a retired Kabuki female-role actor piloting a robot, battling space bugs with a magical earring? Where was THAT suggestion?? Anyone who had that idea would have been laughed right off the boards.

No offense to the advocates of the long-proposed "Destroid pilot during Space War I" side-story and whatnot, but I feel you're mostly all being extremely conservative. Stop holding back! I think we should all think way outside the box, because at this point the pattern seems to be that the wildest idea has the most likelihood of being realized.

I firmly believe the likelihood of the next series focusing on the escapades of a zentradi-sumo-wrestler-turned-opera-tenor who falls in love with a sentient transforming robot-plane (and who wouldn't resist his melodic charms -- "Nessun Dorma" is public domain now, isn't it?) is as much if not more than, say, anything to do with the Macross 39 fleet finding protoculture ruins using their new VF-5754s, piloted by Magellan Jenius, great-nephew of Max and Millia. Oh, and that includes an animated version of Macross the First.

EDIT -- For some reason, I didn't notice Jenius's post nearer the top of this page, which seems to have summed up what I was trying to say in a much more concise manner. Sorry!

Edited October 9, 2010 by Renato

[Marzan]

I firmly believe the likelihood of the next series focusing on the escapades of a zentradi-sumo-wrestler-turned-opera-tenor who falls in love with a sentient transforming robot-plane (and who wouldn't resist his melodic charms -- "Nessun Dorma" is public domain now, isn't it?) is as much if not more than, say, anything to do with the Macross 39 fleet finding protoculture ruins using their new VF-5754s, piloted by Magellan Jenius, great-nephew of Max and Millia. Oh, and that includes an animated version of Macross the First.

I hope Kawamori-san get's a wind of your post and makes it happen. Zentradi sumo wrestler turned opera tenor is just too much fun for it not too happen:D

[DrunkenPilot72]

I agree about Macross Plus being the best example of what would make a better overall "feel". It seems like all of the anime shows that I see here and there are always putting in obvious forms of fanservice. Kind of gets me irked whenever I see them crop up in a show that I was just starting to enjoy.

So out of curiosity, was the last section of Plus a buzz kill for you? Plus felt like a great side story, completely detached from the original series then BAM...grand finale over the SDF-1.

Macross Plus isn't discussed much because it's universally praised. People post about what they hate--see Macross 7.

People like to argue---if everyone agrees, not much is said. Plus is great, and everyone agrees with that.

If that is truly the case, why is there discussion about the original series and DYRL? There is barely any venom out there for those two sagas yet they are still brought up more than Plus.

[Gubaba]

If that is truly the case, why is there discussion about the original series and DYRL? There is barely any venom out there for those two sagas yet they are still brought up more than Plus.

Good question... More to talk about, maybe?

The original series + DYRL is much longer overall than Plus, and as such, its "world" is more fully fleshed out.

[David Hingtgen]

Two very different versions of the same story? 7 is just 7, Plus is really just the full and the edited version. Only DYRL really offers a version to "compare and contrast" with the original. It is VERY different in some segments.

[Product9]

I would like to see a story that attempts to resonate with issues that we face today. Namely, terrorism and religious differences.

How to do this in Macross? Well, I think rather than trying to explain the mystery of the Protoculture (which is mysterious because even the writers don't know), they should use that ambiguity to create two distinct, in-universe schools of thought. Most of the people we have seen in the Macross universe have wanted to exploit the Protoculture's legacy to advance technology for the sake of preserving mankind. But now, as of the late 2050s, it seems as if mankind really isn't in as much peril as when the Zentraedi first showed up. Least of all, Earth.

So, that said, I think a story that is based on Earth, about differences in opinion of how the Protoculture legacy should be used, would make for an awesome backdrop to the story. You could have some kind of Protoculture based religious beliefs, and as a result, radical believers that attempt terrorist attacks on the NUNS. Or something.

It would pave the way for more tactical, as opposed to strategic, warfare in Macross. As well as more controversial issues than who Alto's gonna choose

[jenius]

Macross should take a dump on Robotech's chest now by doing essentially a parody of The Robotech Masters. Wow... I started thinking about how Macross would do that and as I typed it up I realized I was re-writing Macross II. Never mind... I think Macross has already been where I was going.

[Rbstr]

I want new characters and a new story. But at the same time I ache to know what actually happened to the megaroad because it's this huge "Wait..I though they were going to get a happy ending, now we don't know anything"

I'd also want something that fleshes out the general state of humanity's expansion into space. How many worlds do we really have? How does the NUNS really work?

I think a cool way to do this would be some kind of planet hopping intrigue story. On the way you learn what really happened to the megaroad...perhaps pick up a Hikaru/Misa decedent as one of the primary cast but not the MC him/herself.

Cool twists on the theme could involve the MC being a captain/bridge guy of a smaller macross class, triangle includes valk pilot girl.

Edited October 13, 2010 by Rbstr

[Product9]

But at the same time I ache to know what actually happened to the megaroad

I'm a little worried they ran into the Vajra. Weren't they headed toward the galaxy's center, too? Somehow, I just don't think VF-4s would be up to that kind of challenge...

[Keith]

I want new characters and a new story. But at the same time I ache to know what actually happened to the megaroad because it's this huge "Wait..I though they were going to get a happy ending, now we don't know anything"

I'd also want something that fleshes out the general state of humanity's expansion into space. How many worlds do we really have? How does the NUNS really work?

I think a cool way to do this would be some kind of planet hopping intrigue story. On the way you learn what really happened to the megaroad...perhaps pick up a Hikaru/Misa decedent as one of the primary cast but not the MC him/herself.

Cool twists on the theme could involve the MC being a captain/bridge guy of a smaller macross class, triangle includes valk pilot girl.

NUNS works like the recular UNS, but newer...

[Moly_Sigang]

The next Macross series should be the search for Admiral Hikaru Ichijyo and the missing SDF-3 Megaroad-01.

Kidding aside, i think there's a lot of good story to tell in the franchise, specially during the gaps between each sequels like between 2012 to 2040 or 2047 to 2058. Maybe have it take place on a colony planet.