Who's your favorite Macross Character?

[Valkyrie Driver]

I am apparently a sadistic jerk, because I like to ask people these questions.

But I'm going to do it anyway, because it's fun. I'm not going to start this one off, because I think it'd be more fun for y'all to kick it off rather than hear me prattle on in the first post.

With that, Discuss!

[nekki]

Nekki Basara, End.

[no3Ljm]

Hikaru Ichijo. Love the hair. And for making 2 gorgeous girls falls for you.

[Valkyrie Driver]

Hikaru Ichijo. Love the hair. And for making 2 gorgeous girls falls for you.

Yeah, Hikaru was a player...

Nekki Basara, End.

I knew someone would say it, I just didn't expect it to be the second comment. I'm nearing the end of my re-watch of M7, and Basara didn't annoy me as much this time as he did last time. I mean, he's still selfish, conceited, arrogant, and a dick, but he's rock star and an artist, so I guess it comes with the territory.

I actually really like Alto. He's probably my favorite. Self assured, intelligent, confident, compassionate, and dependable, if a bit of an ass sometimes. I really identify with him. I found him to be a fairly different anime hero, because he's not as strong as some, but he's not weak either, he's brash and impulsive, but he's capable of reasoning out his actions and does so on enough occasions. Then there's the hair, and the player status... I mean Minmay and Misa are great, but Sheryl and Ranka are better (because reasons)...

[VF-0RC]

I'm going to second Nekki Basara. I expected to hate him, and Gamlin, when I watched M7 because everywhere on the internet people just seem to hate him. He seems more self-confident than conceited and arrogant.

[Valkyrie Driver]

I'm going to second Nekki Basara. I expected to hate him, and Gamlin, when I watched M7 because everywhere on the internet people just seem to hate him. He seems more self-confident than conceited and arrogant.

I'm really getting at the way he addresses people. Yes he's self confident, but he's also really dismissive of people he disagrees with, and usually in a way that has no bearing on whether they have a point (like calling Mylene a kid whenever she questions him or asks him to explain, I mean yeah she's 14 but she's hardly acting like a child when she's trying to understand something he does). You can't just tell someone they won't understand, I mean you're right they won't unless you explain it, or at least try.

I never hated Gamlin, because I understand him.

[Seto Kaiba]

Tough call... Macross as a whole has had some REALLY good casts.

For me, it's probably a toss-up between Roy Focker and Sheryl Nome. Roy's that cool big brother figure everybody wanted to have growing up, and he was such a badass as a pilot that they named medals after him and being "Skull Leader" is a mark of badass status in and of itself. Sheryl... well... IMO, she's the most well-rounded of Macross's leading ladies. She's everything audiences loved about Misa, but in a more outgoing package.

[Valkyrie Driver]

Tough call... Macross as a whole has had some REALLY good casts.

For me, it's probably a toss-up between Roy Focker and Sheryl Nome. Roy's that cool big brother figure everybody wanted to have growing up, and he was such a badass as a pilot that they named medals after him and being "Skull Leader" is a mark of badass status in and of itself. Sheryl... well... IMO, she's the most well-rounded of Macross's leading ladies. She's everything audiences loved about Misa, but in a more outgoing package.

Roy Focker reminds me of my dad. In a lot of ways, so I didn't really want to pick him as my favorite because in my mind that's like me saying "My favorite character is the one who's almost identical to my dad..."

But you're absolutely right, Macross has some really good casts. Especially M7 and Frontier, I mean Basara acted like a turd a lot, but the rest of the cast was really great because who doesn't love Max and Milia?

[Seto Kaiba]

Roy Focker reminds me of my dad. In a lot of ways, so I didn't really want to pick him as my favorite because in my mind that's like me saying "My favorite character is the one who's almost identical to my dad..."

My dad's more of a Dr. Gadget M. Chiba... so...

But you're absolutely right, Macross has some really good casts. Especially M7 and Frontier, I mean Basara acted like a turd a lot, but the rest of the cast was really great because who doesn't love Max and Milia?

The first time I watched Macross 7, it was like ten or eleven years ago. I had only the most rudimentary grasp of Japanese, and I was watching the fansub with those dreadful initial [Central Anime] subs on it. You know, the ones that mistranslated "Planet Dance" as "Parry Stands" for about the first fifteen episodes. Its emphasis on Basara, who I read as basically being Kaifun + Minmay - any redeeming traits either of them might've had put me off the show entirely.

Years later, armed with a much better grasp of Japanese, I revisited Macross 7 without the need for fansubs and found it to be a much more engaging show... though Basara's severely autistic behavior was still off-putting. Since there was no official resolution to that love triangle, I unapologetically 'ship Mylene-Gamlin, because damn if the poor guy didn't freaking EARN his happy ending. He's probably the character I feel the worst for... he spends all that time and effort trying to get Mylene to like him, and she's hung up on a pillock who has a hard time differentiating his bandmates from the furnature.

[Valkyrie Driver]

The first time I watched Macross 7, it was like ten or eleven years ago. I had only the most rudimentary grasp of Japanese, and I was watching the fansub with those dreadful initial [Central Anime] subs on it. You know, the ones that mistranslated "Planet Dance" as "Parry Stands" for about the first fifteen episodes. Its emphasis on Basara, who I read as basically being Kaifun + Minmay - any redeeming traits either of them might've had put me off the show entirely.

Years later, armed with a much better grasp of Japanese, I revisited Macross 7 without the need for fansubs and found it to be a much more engaging show... though Basara's severely autistic behavior was still off-putting. Since there was no official resolution to that love triangle, I unapologetically 'ship Mylene-Gamlin, because damn if the poor guy didn't freaking EARN his happy ending. He's probably the character I feel the worst for... he spends all that time and effort trying to get Mylene to like him, and she's hung up on a pillock who has a hard time differentiating his bandmates from the furnature.

I was lucky enough to find a pretty good sub, so I never had that. I still don't care for Basara, because of his attitude, but I can at least appreciate the rest of the show without getting hung up on hating Basara.

I too favor the idea of Mylene and Gamlin having a happy ending, and I do feel sorry for him a bit.

[Dynaman]

Misa - one of my favorite characters of all time. A very nicely done rendition of a people I actually know, forceful in professional relationships and demure in personal relationships.

[Vifam7]

I vote for Sylvie Gena. She's a Valk pilot and hawt.

[Gubaba]

My dad's more of a Dr. Gadget M. Chiba... so...

The first time I watched Macross 7, it was like ten or eleven years ago. I had only the most rudimentary grasp of Japanese, and I was watching the fansub with those dreadful initial [Central Anime] subs on it. You know, the ones that mistranslated "Planet Dance" as "Parry Stands" for about the first fifteen episodes.

That wasn't Central Anime, those were the Hong Kong bootleg subs. The CA ones have a couple of mistakes, but nothing on that magnitude.

[Valkyrie Driver]

I vote for Sylvie Gena. She's a Valk pilot and hawt.

Ahh yes, the fabled female valk pilot, like the majestic Chief Warrant Officer 5, or the Leprechaun, or the Unicorn, rumored to exist, but rarely seen.

Why haven't we seen more female valk pilots in macross? Isn't this supposed to be a more progressive society? Variable Fighter Squadrons still look like sausage fests to me...

[VF-0RC]

Ahh yes, the fabled female valk pilot, like the majestic Chief Warrant Officer 5, or the Leprechaun, or the Unicorn, rumored to exist, but rarely seen.

Why haven't we seen more female valk pilots in macross? Isn't this supposed to be a more progressive society? Variable Fighter Squadrons still look like sausage fests to me...

I knew a CW5, so they exist in more than legends.

I've been wondering about the lack of female valk pilots. It seems like for whatever reason, in order to be a female and a pilot the character has to be at least partially Meltran, which seems kind of sexist in a "No mere human woman can be a pilot." kind of way.

[Seto Kaiba]

Why haven't we seen more female valk pilots in macross? Isn't this supposed to be a more progressive society? Variable Fighter Squadrons still look like sausage fests to me...

Dunno... though I'm sure there's probably some cultural context lurking there, but they seem to show up a lot more in Macross's side stories... and in a few cases as main characters.

I suppose it might be a little hard to write romance from the male perspective when one or more of the women involved is perfectly capable of kicking the male lead's ass, though that didn't stop Macross II's creators from giving us an entire platoon of elite female pilots. Mikimoto seems to be on board with the idea of women in the cockpit tho... he gave us Sylvie and Faerie platoon in II, Komilia in 2036, Misty Klaus and Letlade Elendil in Eternal Love Song, Mahara Fabrio in Macross 7 Trash, and that SV-51 pilot in Macross the First.

Mikimoto's work aside, there was Nora Polyansky in Macross Zero, Mylene in Macross 7, Canaria and briefly Klan Klan in Macross Frontier, that Captain Ariela in one of the Macross Frontier manga, Chelsea Scarlett, Angers 672, and Maris Stella in Macross the Ride, Mariafokina Barnrose and Suzie Newlet in Macross VF-X2, and Macross 30 had three... Aisha Blanchett, Mina Forte, and Mei Riron.

(It's about 50-50 between those who are part-Meltran and those who are full human in the ones I listed, and I'm sure I missed a few.)

EDIT: The Variable Fighter Master File books and Episode Archive also make reference to a number of female test pilots.

Edited August 27, 2015 by Seto Kaiba

[sh9000]

Max Jenius.

[Valkyrie Driver]

I knew a CW5, so they exist in more than legends.

I knew a couple, as I worked with pilots, my Aviation mechanic friends were skeptical, and my infantry friends flat refused to believe.

Dunno... though I'm sure there's probably some cultural context lurking there, but they seem to show up a lot more in Macross's side stories... and in a few cases as main characters.

I suppose it might be a little hard to write romance from the male perspective when one or more of the women involved is perfectly capable of kicking the male lead's ass, though that didn't stop Macross II's creators from giving us an entire platoon of elite female pilots. Mikimoto seems to be on board with the idea of women in the cockpit tho... he gave us Sylvie and Faerie platoon in II, Komilia in 2036, Misty Klaus and Letlade Elendil in Eternal Love Song, Mahara Fabrio in Macross 7 Trash, and that SV-51 pilot in Macross the First.

Mikimoto's work aside, there was Nora Polyansky in Macross Zero, Mylene in Macross 7, Canaria and briefly Klan Klan in Macross Frontier, that Captain Ariela in one of the Macross Frontier manga, Chelsea Scarlett, Angers 672, and Maris Stella in Macross the Ride, Mariafokina Barnrose and Suzie Newlet in Macross VF-X2, and Macross 30 had three... Aisha Blanchett, Mina Forte, and Mei Riron.

(It's about 50-50 between those who are part-Meltran and those who are full human in the ones I listed, and I'm sure I missed a few.)

EDIT: The Variable Fighter Master File books and Episode Archive also make reference to a number of female test pilots.

That's quite a list, that I never knew existed. And that's just the notables. I'm not able to read my master file book yet, but I'm sure I'll find these things out when I can.

[Bolt]

For the boys: Isamu Daison all day

Hikaru gets an honerable mention ( what's up playa..)

For the girls : Sylvie Gena..yes she is the jam..

Meltran Miria gets an honerable mention

Being a bad a$$ pilot and mothering a fleet of bad a$$ pilot girls

[JB0]

Kakizaki. Someone's gotta root for the underdog.

[Gubaba]

If we're going for underdogs, then I pick El Niño Gumpy, who's such an underdog that virtually no one knows who he is.

[camk4evr]

Dunno... though I'm sure there's probably some cultural context lurking there, but they seem to show up a lot more in Macross's side stories... and in a few cases as main characters.

I suppose it might be a little hard to write romance from the male perspective when one or more of the women involved is perfectly capable of kicking the male lead's ass, though that didn't stop Macross II's creators from giving us an entire platoon of elite female pilots. Mikimoto seems to be on board with the idea of women in the cockpit tho... he gave us Sylvie and Faerie platoon in II, Komilia in 2036, Misty Klaus and Letlade Elendil in Eternal Love Song, Mahara Fabrio in Macross 7 Trash, and that SV-51 pilot in Macross the First.

Mikimoto's work aside, there was Nora Polyansky in Macross Zero, Mylene in Macross 7, Canaria and briefly Klan Klan in Macross Frontier, that Captain Ariela in one of the Macross Frontier manga, Chelsea Scarlett, Angers 672, and Maris Stella in Macross the Ride, Mariafokina Barnrose and Suzie Newlet in Macross VF-X2, and Macross 30 had three... Aisha Blanchett, Mina Forte, and Mei Riron.

(It's about 50-50 between those who are part-Meltran and those who are full human in the ones I listed, and I'm sure I missed a few.)

EDIT: The Variable Fighter Master File books and Episode Archive also make reference to a number of female test pilots.

you forgot Millia which is notable as she's the first female valkyrie pilot we see.

Edited August 27, 2015 by camk4evr

[spanner]

Ranka

&

Isamu

Edited August 30, 2015 by spanner76

[myk]

Shin Kudo...

[Vepariga]

Mine is pretty obvious, Misa Hayase. Always.

Runner up, Roy Fokker.

I would have liked to see Nora be given more attention too but ahhh,cant have what we want all the time, can we.

[Seto Kaiba]

That's quite a list, that I never knew existed. And that's just the notables. I'm not able to read my master file book yet, but I'm sure I'll find these things out when I can.

Not a complete list by any means... but the female pilots are definitely out there.

you forgot Millia which is notable as she's the first female valkyrie pilot we see.

I figured she kinda went without saying...

[vsim]

Wow, I didn't think anyone else would say Basara other than me, lol.

But I vote Basara as well!

[Scyla]

Major/President Milia all the way! I so want her VF-1J with the black stripes from M7.

[Strumvogel]

It's a toss up between the automated phone in the park, or the automated vending machine. They were criminally under utilized in the series in my opinion. (Hey, don't look at me like that! They had character!)

Non joke option: Global.

[Roy Focker]

Mine is pretty obvious, Misa Hayase. Always.

Runner up, Roy Fokker.

I would have liked to see Nora be given more attention too but ahhh,cant have what we want all the time, can we.

Misa? You should checkout my Misa cosplay thread in the Fan Works section.

I have too many favorite characters. Mostly from the first series.

[Gubaba]

Don't lie, Roy. It's Alto for you.

[M'Kyuun]

Misa Hayase. I think she was the most complex character in all of Macross. She suffered the loss of her lover, lived in the shadow and disapproval of her father, occupied a high leadership position rife with enormous pressure in unprecedented circumstances, was captured, poked, and prodded by giant sex-fearing aliens, and began a relationship with an indecisive guy with baggage of the cute singing variety. I like that she was a strong competent leader, but she was also human, and her frailties were also explored. Hikaru chose wisely in the end.

[Beltane70]

Milia will always be number one in my book. There's just something about girls with green hair!

[JB0]

It's a toss up between the automated phone in the park, or the automated vending machine. They were criminally under utilized in the series in my opinion. (Hey, don't look at me like that! They had character!)

How is that a tossup? The coke machine is hands down the better character.

[Roy Focker]

Don't lie, Roy. It's Alto for you.

You mean Alpo.