Editing Robotech (section)

=Macross=
No discussion of Robotech can be had without a discussion of '''Macross'''. This mecha franchise began with ''Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' and continued with several sequels, prequels, and spin-offs for another 35 years, often drawing on and combining the aspects of music, mecha, and civilization in different ways. However, unlike SDF Macross (and SDC Southern Cross), almost none of the later works have been exported to the West. The problem lies in the snarl of contracts, trademarks, and copyright conflicts surrounding the original production and the subsequent licensing of the first series to Harmony Gold, creators of Robotech. Suffice to say, fans of Macross are still bitter that Harmony Gold owns all the trademarks in the US and Europe but none of the rights, and always tries to get its cut, although a quick google search leads you to the fact Harmony Gold only owns the shit for the original Macross. But ever since Harmony Gold and Big West '''FINALLY''' settled their decades long dispute, the back and forth between the separated fandom has long since past...[https://youtu.be/RPwhB3xRGxk| OR HAS IT?]   

So for a quick rundown of how ''that'' series went: 

'''Super Dimension Fortress Macross:''' Robotech's "First Generation" is actually a fairly faithful translation as far as 80's anime goes. This makes sense, as Robotech would've only been a translation of Macross had US Syndication practices at the time not mandated 60+ episodes. There are of course the then-customary name changes, but the most important changes are: 

[*]The Zentraedi were fighting a force called the '''Supervision Army'''. In fact, the ''Macross'' was one of the SA's gunships
[*]The term "Protoculture" referred to the original civilization that created the Zentraedi. 
[*]Dolza's massive fleet was ''not'' the Zentraedi's main force. 

'''Macross: Do you Remember Love?:''' A movie retelling of the story. Despite significant changes in story, character, and mecha designs, it has proven to be as well-loved and influential as the original TV series, arguably moreso. This is partially due to the animation direction of one Ichiro Itani, who began his now famous style of intense close-range aerial dogfights and fighters firing assloads of missiles with twisting contrails(The infamous "Macross Missile Massacre") here. 

'''Macross II:''' The first attempt to follow up on Macross' success. A three-part OVA(Basically Direct to Video, but with anime OVAs are usually the ''good'' stuff as opposed to, say, Disney's junk sequels) made as a 10-year anniversary celebration of the series. Unfortunately, it was mostly average. Essentially, the Zentraedi's creators, here called the Marduk, attack Earth. Even more unfortunately (but fortunately for us), Macross' creators Studio Nue were not involved in its creation, and as soon as they got their hands on the series again, this was tossed away into its own alternate continuity... 

'''Macross Plus:''' ...And this is what they made instead. Also a three-part OVA that was later compiled into a movie. The U.N. Spacy is holding tests for their next-generation Valkyrie(Veritech) on the planet Eden, and the pilots for the two potential models just happen to be a pair of local boys who are old childhood friends... who had a falling out over the same girl... who also happens to be returning to Eden as the manager for an AI singer. Oh, and Ichiro Itano is back on animation, so you ''know'' this is gonna end in missiles. 

''Macross Plus'' is considered one of the masterpieces of the series, and also just happens to be the Directorial debut of '''Shinichiro Watanabe''' and the Compositional debut of '''Yoko Kanno.''' And if you're wondering why that's important, I have two words for you: ''Cowboy Bebop''.  

At this point, we'd like to note that unlike the rest of the series, Macross II and Macross Plus actually ''did'' get official releases outside of Japan(also a possibly unofficial release of DYRL). Harmony Gold was reeling after Haim Saban(the guy who brought us ''Power Rangers'') snatched up a lot of their talent, and somebody figured they'd get something out while the getting was good. ''Plus''' release was actually pretty good, even setting aside the fact that they got '''Bryan Cranston'''(yes, THAT Bryan Cranston) to voice the protagonist. Except for the 4th episode of the International release, where they had to re-dub it, and settled for David Hayter(again, yes THAT David Hayter). 

'''Macross 7:''' No, we didn't skip anything. You'll note that Macross Plus took place on another planet, right? Well, after the devastation of Earth, Humanity decided that keeping all your population on one planet was a ''bad'' idea(Also, Dozla's fleet in ''Macross'' was just one of many). So after a few rounds of cloning(and a little [[Half-Elf|interbreeding with Zentraedi]]), they sent out several colony fleets to find new worlds to settle. This is the story of the 7th Colony Fleet, and them running into the guys who originally built the ''Macross''. A full TV series, ''7'' isn't as well received due to elements many people saw as being kind of silly at the time(the protagonist is a musician with his own Valkryie that he controls with his guitar, for example). 

'''Macross Zero:''' A prequel OVA taking place in the tail end of the Unification War that erupted on Earth after the ''Macross'' crashed on Earth. An alien artifact is found on a south pacific island, and both the UN and the Anti-Unification forces want to uncover its secrets. 

'''Macross Frontier:''' The third full TV series. This involves the Frontier colony fleet, and their encounters with [[Tyranids|giant space bugs]] called the Vajra. Made for the 25th anniversary of the series(with plot and references to previous entries galore), it hits a better balance of Real Robot action and the more fantastical elements than ''7'' did, and is another contender for best entry in the series. 

'''Macross Delta:''' The fourth, and so far most recent, TV series. Set eight years after ''Frontier'', the story concerns a disease where abnormal fold waves are causing uncontrollable aggression in people, and the singing group with the power to counter those waves and cure it. There is also tensions with the alien world of Windmere, who has not-unjustified beef with the New UN Spacy. 

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