If you were not aware, there is a Macross newsgroup out there- it is alt.fan.macross (or AFM for short) Visit it here : http://www.deja.com/group/alt.fan.macross Yes-I know we need a big comprehensive FAQ for the series-until one is complete here is one from some motivated Macross fans who visit AFM. Many thanks to them for allowing me to borrow this! alt.fan.macross Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) File version 0.3.2 -=Table of Contents=- I. INTRODUCTION * What is alt.fan.macross? * What is Macross? * What is this FAQ for? II. THE SERIES * What is Macross TV? * What is Macross: Flashback 2012? * What is Macross: Do You Remember Love? * What is Macross Plus? * What is Macross 7? * What is Macross Dynamite 7? * What is Macross II? * What is Macross: Mecha Graffiti? * What is Macross: A Future Chronicle? III. THE FAQ * Which came out first; Macross or Robotech? * Why do I hear people calling "Lisa", "Misa", etc.? * Why does Macross have more continuity holes than Swiss cheese? * Is Minmay really more annoying in Macross? * What were some major differences between DYRL and the TV series? * What is Protoculture? Isn't it a plant? * Is Macross 7 really a bunch of teenagers in Guitar-controlled Valkyries with faces? * What is the connection between Super Dimensional Calvary Southern Cross and Super Dimension Century Orguss with Macross? * How do the Robotech Novels fit into the Macross Timeline? * What were some differences in the original Super Dimensional Fortress Macross and Robotech: Macross Saga? * Why Do Many Macross Fans Dislike Robotech? IV. MISCELLANY * Where can I get subtitled Macross? * Will Macross 7 ever see a domestic release? V. CREDITS * Credits +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ I. INTRODUCTION * What is alt.fan.macross? ========================= alt.fan.macross is a forum in which all people can read and post information concerning the series Chojikuu Yousai Macross (The Super Dimension Fortress Macross) and its corresponding sequels and various Macross-related paraphernalia including video games, manga, books, garage kit models, posters, trading cards, etc. To a much lesser extent, Robotech, a series partly and loosely based on SDF Macross, is discussed. Posts concerning Robotech, though, should be restricted to the "Macross" portion of the animated series alone, and how this American incarnation of Macross affects the "official" Macross universe and its fandom. Posting about the "Jack McKinney Novels," the anime series The Super Dimension Calvary Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada, the last two generations of Robotech (The Robotech Masters and The New Generation), or any non-Macross related topics without distinctly correlating them to Macross may subject the poster to much-warranted flaming. For example, posts regarding the military career of Dana Sterling will not be tolerated. However, posts stating Dana Sterling's lack of sex appeal as compared to Komilia Maria Fallyna Jenius' are open for discussion. * What is Macross? ================== Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (AKA Macross, AKA Choujikuu Yousai Makurosu), is a Japanese Animation ("Anime") series which originally began in 1982 on Japanese TV. It was later supposed to have been released dubbed straight-to-video in the US, but those plans were later canned when it became apparent not much money would be made. Afterward, Carl Macek took it, and two other Anime series', Genesis Climber Mospeada ("Mospeada") and Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross, spliced them together, changing things all the way through, and released it on syndicated television in 1984, titled "Robotech". At any rate, Macross also spawned several sequels, which will be discussed in the continuity section later below. * What is this FAQ for? ======================= Basically, for people who are totally clueless and want to avoid becoming flame bait on the NGs after asking something totally stupid (well, stupid to the fanboys/Otaku, anyway). Seriously, this is being written in the hopes that the NGs can avoid the repetition of pointless questions by having the "newbies" directed to this FAQ (or perhaps Mr. Walker's alt.tv.robotech FAQ). +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ II. THE SERIES * What is Macross TV? ==================== If you don't know this, well... : P At any rate, check back later for a synopsis. * What is Macross: Flashback 2012? ================================= Macross: Flashback 2012 is a 30-minute "music video", so to speak, featuring various Minmay tracks set to scenes from the original Macross TV series and Do You Remember Love. The opening and end feature all-new animation of Minmay's Final Concert on Earth in 2012, and the launching of the MegaRoad-01, headed up by Captain Misa Hayase. Hikaru also makes an appearance in a newly-built VF-4, Skull Squadron insignias and all. * What is Macross: Do You Remember Love? ======================================== "Do You Remember Love?" is considered a movie within a movie in the official Macross timeline. "Do You Remember Love?" is a movie based on the Super Dimensional Fortress Macross. It is NOT the Robotech Movie. Carl Macek did not get his hands on this movie to splice it into the Robotech timeline. The Robotech Movie, which combines footage from MegaZone 23, Southern Cross, and a newly-animated "happy" ending in the MegaZone style is unreleased in the USA and has nothing to do with "Do You Remember Love?". Many of the changes are considered romanticizations of the first Space War. DYRL stars Hikaru Ichijo, Lynn Minmay, Misa Hayase with brief appearances of Maximillian Jenius, Roy Fokker, and Millia. The animation is smooth and seamless. It is not an attempt to tell the same story of Macross, but more an attempt to capture the essence of it and retell the story of the first Space War. There are a few versions that are available in stores and from fans of DYRL; Clash of the Bionoids, is a dubbed version that is heavily edited with an entire 18 minutes cut out. The dub was done by Hong Kong actors and is EXTREMELY terrible. There is also an unedited dubbed version of DYRL, titled, "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross". This one is easier to get (thank god), but it still features HORRIBLE voice-acting. It also available on LaserDisc via Import from Japan, in both CAV and CLV modes. There is also a "Perfect Edition", which includes the concert animation that was in Flashback 2012 inserted during the ending credits, and it was originally intended to be there. This version is also available via Import on either VHS or LD. * What is Macross Plus? ====================== Macross Plus is another tale from the Macross Universe. It is directed and written by Shoji Kawamori who was the creator of the original Macross series. It has its roots based in the stillborn 'Advanced Valkyrie' series from 1985. There are 4 OVAs in the series, along with a Movie Edition. The movie has some scenes edited out and some additional footage, plus new BGM and entirely new voice acting. The four part OVA was released in the US dubbed and subtitled by Manga Video. The Movie was only released in a subtitled version. Macross Plus has many of the Macross themes, but it has a different tone. It has excellent animation with exquisite detail, and fast-paced mecha action. Not to mention a great story. Macross Plus occurs on Planet Eden, one of the first colonies of one of the many Megaroad colonization ships. It centers around two test pilots and their mutual girl friend Myung, who is a producer for the virtual pop star Sharon Apple. Isamu is a hotheaded daredevil pilot who gets assigned to test the YF-19 prototype in Project Super Nova. Two companies compete in winning the UN Spacy's commission to build the new mecha to replace the outdated VF-11 Thunderbolt. At the New Edwards Test Flight Center , Isamu runs into his old friend and now rival Guld who is testing the YF-21 prototype. Their mutual enemy is obvious and it is only flared when Myung comes to town, due to an incident which occurred 7 years earlier. * What is Macross 7? =================== Well, to start, it isn't teenagers with guitar-controlled Valkyries. : P Check for a future update to the FAQ for a synopsis. * What is Macross Dynamite 7? ============================ The year is 2048, two years after the Protodeviln War (Macross 7). Basara leaves City 7 and Fire Bomber behind, and goes off wandering into space. He arrives on a alien planet named Zola, and encounters a new alien race. In their solar system, a large group of Galactic Whales migrates through the planet each season, and the planet strives to protect the migrating whales from Space Whale poachers. Basara meets Elma, a native girl who is a very big fan of hers, and her father, Graham, who is half-Zentran, and has been trying to kill the Great White Galactic Whale. * What is Macross II? ==================== Haruhiko Mikimoto, who was the character designer for the original Macross, was the only one who signed on this project. Macross II is considered an alternate dimension side-story which is not in the official Macross universe. It takes place eighty years after the original Space War. The new enemies are the Marduk, who use emulators and mind control over their Zentradi slaves. Emulators have an eerie song which guide the Zentradi warrior into battle. Hibiki is an arrogant reporter who just goes for the story. He is assigned to cover the war and discovers a Marduk Emulator named Ishtar and hides her. She discovers human culture and that singing can has other purposes than war. So she decides to bring the beauty of song to her people. Of course they have to face their overlord who is bent on destroying Humans and all those Marduk who get in his way. Macross II was originally released as a series of 4 VHS tapes. Later a 'movie' edition was created that basically removed the opening and ending footage from each of the VHS tapes. Macross II the movie is now available on DVD. * What is Macross: Mecha Graffiti? ================================= Macross: Mecha Graffiti is another 45-minute "music video", featuring various characters and mecha from the original Macross TV series, set to BGM from the TV series. It originally aired on Japanese TV, and was released to VHS. It is now out-of-print. * What is Macross: A Future Chronicle? ===================================== Macross: A Future Chronicle is a short 25-minute synopsis of the Macross universe, featuring clips and such from every single Macross series ever made. It was included with the first volume of Macross Plus in Japan as a supplement on the LD. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ III. THE FAQ * What came first, Macross or Robotech? ======================================= Macross. End of story. Macross came out in JAPAN in 1982, and Robotech came out in the US in 1984. Thus, Macross was first. I really don't know why people still think otherwise... * Why do I hear people calling "Misa", "Lisa", etc.? ===================================================== Very simple answer to this as well; the names in the Robotech incarnation deviate from their Japanese counterparts. Observe the chart below (please note that the Japanese names have been written in traditional fashion, e.g.. - surname first, for example, "Ichijyo Hikaru" is westernized as "Hikaru Ichijyo" -- get it? Note non-Japanese names, such as Roy Focker, do not apply to the surname-first rule when I wrote it : ) - Macross Robotech ------- -------- Ichijyo Hikaru Rick Hunter Hayase Misa Lisa Hayes Bruno J. Global Henry Gloval Roy Focker Roy Fokker Lynn Minmay Lynn Minmay (the only part where it matched) Vrlitwhai Kridanik Breetai Kamujin Khyron Molk Lapramiz Azonia Macross SDF-1 Kakizaki Hayao Ben Dixon Maximillian Jinas Max Sterling Milia Fallyna Jinas Mirya Pallyna (sp?) To most people, it isn't really a big deal (except the "SDF-1" thing); but it should be known -- note I left out most "nonessential" characters from that list. Also, I know many, MANY Macross otaku will whine and wail when they see those names, as they may disagree with the romanization; I'm just going with what is commonly used. : ) * Why does Macross' continuity have more holes than Swiss cheese? ================================================================= This is where most people get thrown off by Macross. MANY questions (that are just plain dumb to me), such as, "Why is the SDF-1 still standing in Macross II? I thought Khyron blew it up!" or "What the hell? DYRL contradicts every thing I saw in Macross/Robotech?!", are constantly asked in alt.fan.macross AND alt.tv.robotech alike. Think of this as Radio Shack; you've got questions, we've got answers (okay, think of this as a competent Radio Shack employee : ). The main problem arises with Macross II; the Macross is destroyed; no one from the original series is anywhere to be found, and everything seems so out-of-place. Said problem mainly arises from the fact that the original Macross team (except for Mikimoto Haruhiko) did NOT do Macross II; which also explains why it blows goats. Another huge problem is the fact that Do You Remember Love TOTALLY contradicts the TV series -- And there is a perfectly plausible reason for this as well. And, I give you, The Macross's correct continuity, as far as animation is concerned (100% endorsed by the man himself, Kawamori Shoji) - - Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1999) - Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flashback 2012 (2012) - Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (A Movie that takes place WITHIN the Macross Universe; 2036) - Macross Plus (2040) - Macross 7 (2045) - Macross Dynamite 7 (2048) - Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again (A story that takes place in an alternate universe) (2080? : ) Most of you are totally confused, probably, concerning Macross II and DYRL, so I will elaborate. Macross II was originally a sequel to the original Macross TV series, but no one from the original team, except for Mikimoto Haruhiko, the character designer, worked on it. Essentially, it can be said it tried to take the concept of Robotech's Macross Saga; evil aliens, The Marduk (think Robotech Masters in Robotech), controlling the Zentradi and sending them after the humans on earth. Sound familiar? I thought so. And well, fact of the matter was, it sucked hard, and it just didn't make much sense. Thus, Studio Nue decided to pin it as an "Alternate Timeline" story; meaning it does not take place in the "real" Macross universe, nor does it relate to it. Do You Remember Love, possibly one of the greatest Anime movies ever made -- but it totally contradicts the TV series, leaving many people saying, "Eh?" -- yet in fact, DYRL is a Motion Picture which takes place in the actual Macross universe; Max and Milia saw it with some of their kids at the premiere, and the Macross was used as a *prop*. Sounds weird, but hey, it works... so now, as you can see, Macross' continuity, is in fact, smooth-as-silk. : ) * Is Minmay really more annoying in Macross? ============================================ Of course -- not. Reba "the eardrum smasher" West (thanks Jeff, for that little nickname : ), the most irritating and untalented voice "actress" known to man, had this totally uninspired and totally polarized view of Minmay. Such crap as, "See you later! WE'RE being EVACUATED!", and, not to mention , her AWFUL music, and her totally ditzy voice and attitude leaves people, especially Macross fans, with a sick feeling in their stomachs. Fact of the matter is that Minmay's music in Macross is VASTLY superior, not to mention her voice acting skills, and her personality. Granted, yes, she IS ditzy in Macross, but it doesn't make you sick and leaving you thinking, "must... kill... Minmay", and reciting the lyrics to "Stage Fright" in tongues... * What were some major differences between DYRL and the TV series? ================================================================= In the Movie, there are quite a few things that are different from the TV series; this tends to confuse people, until they realize that the Movie is NOT meant to follow the TV series, but it is literally a Movie retelling the saga that is Space War one. Below, the main differences are listed. [WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!! Skip this section to avoid the spoilers.] +The Zentradi speak Zentran in the film, as opposed to just Japanese with an echo (as they did in the TV series), so when they speak, their speech is subtitled in Japanese. It's a very nice touch. +The Valkyries are not launched off the Aircraft carriers, as they were in the TV series, but are launched off the ARMD carriers by these nifty little "arms". +The Prometheus and Daedelus are not attached to the Macross (SDF-1). Prometheus is on Earth, and was destroyed along with the rest of the planet shortly after the Macross folds into space. +The entire earth is blasted to bits way before the Macross even folds off the planet; you do not see this in the Movie; however, it is seen in the opening animation for the DYRL video game on Saturn. +There is a lost city of the Protoculture that rises on Earth. Here, we discover humanity's Protoculture roots. This is the city where Misa finds the lyrics to the theme song, "Do You Remember Love?". +Hikaru is already a Skull Squadron pilot when he rescues Minmei, and the rescue takes place in the Macross during a transformation. They get trapped in the ship for 3 days, as opposed to the 12 days of the series. Another difference from the TV series is that they are trapped in a zero gravity environment. +Hikaru, Minmei, Misa, Roy, and Lynn Kaifun are captured by the Zentradi. Hikaru and Misa manage to escape when Meltrandi forces led by Millia attack the Zentradi. Roy and Kamujin 03350 kill each other, and Minmei and Kaifun are trapped together. +Bodolza, the commander of the Zentran fleet, is a mobile fortress who has lived 120,000 cycles since his creation. Lapramiz, the commander of the Meltran fleet, is also a similar mobile fortress. +Misa and Hikaru get trapped on the desolated Earth for over a month. +Max and Millia fight during an encounter with the Meltran fleet on Earth, but instead of concluding the battle in the Macross, they conclude it on a Meltran ship. Max wounds Millia in battle. He comes face to face with Millia not in a park in the streets of Macross, but in an airlock facing the still giant female Zentraedi warrior. Size doesn't matter; they are still entranced by one another. He gets stranded on the Meltran ship. +Later they do not fight the final battle against Bodolza in Valkyries, but Max is macronized to Zentradi size and fights in a blue trimmed Quaedluun-Rau +It is Hikaru that blows away Bodolza in the final battle, not the Macross, helping end the final battle to save culture. * What is Protoculture? Isn't it a plant? ========================================= Carl Macek used the reference of Protoculture in the original Macross and turned it into something completely different. Protoculture is an interstellar civilization that existed a long time ago, and were advanced in genetic engineering. They created the Zentradi to do their fighting for them. They also came to Earth and manipulated the genes of humanity so that they would be in their likeness. Humanity is a sub-race of protoculture. Culture is creative activity that does not involve fighting. The Zentradi were programmed to never become involved in culture. One aspect of culture, song, deprives the Zentradi of the will to fight. * Is Macross 7 really a bunch of teenagers in Guitar-controlled Valkyries with faces and breasts on them? ============================================================================== The answer is NO. 102% NO. That's like saying GoBots is just like Robotech. Many people love to have this jaded view of Macross 7, when in fact, it's not even true, and, in fact, most of the people who feel this way haven't even seem more than 4 episodes of the series. Yes, there ARE Valkyries with faces (and breasts) that are controlled by Guitars -- however, what these people fail to point out is that there are only 2 total -- yes, two, and they make such a big deal out of *two* Valkyries? So perhaps the premise of the series is weird; a member of a rock band flying his Guitar in battle, singing to the enemy (not much different from what Minmei did, btw), and the rest of his band later joining him; but if everyone judged something over 2 stupid little things, I guess we'd all hate everything. People also persist that the series revolves around this; which is NOT true at all; if anything, it centers around what the Protoculture did back when they were alive, the "spirit" energy that humans posses (AKA Spiritia), and the power of song (which is nothing different from any other Macross I've seen). * What is the connection between Super Dimensional Calvary Southern Cross and Super Dimension Century Orguss with Macross? =================================================================================== Super Dimension Century Orguss was in the same time slot as Macross. They both shared Ishiguro as chief animation director, Mikimoto as character designer, and Kawamori as mecha designer. Orguss was also 36 episodes. Super Dimension Calvary was also another show that aired in the same time slot. It, however, did not feature Mikimoto, Kawamori, or Ishiguro; but it was animated by the same studio, Tatsunoko. Neither one of these series had tied storylines, though they all shared a similar title. * How do the Robotech Novels fit into the Macross Timeline? =========================================================== They don't. Robotech Novels are about the Robotech Universe. The first six novels follow the Macross Saga rather closely; but note, the Macross Saga is different from Macross. Thereafter, the Robotech novels have little to do with Macross. The Sentinels novels have some Macross based characters, but the storyline was developed by Carl Macek. Again, it has nothing to do with Macross. * What were some differences in the original Super Dimensional Fortress Macross and Robotech: Macross Saga? =================================================================================== +Minmay's singing was better. Mari Ijima actually has a nice voice. Macross fans admit some of the songs were really stupid, but others were like "Do you Remember Love" were nice. +As with any dub, the dialogue changes. It changes not only in translation, but in order to fit mouth movements. Also, the way the characters are portrayed and the emotions that are conveyed are also changed. By far, the Japanese voice actors, or Seiyuu, are better actors than the American "voice actors". +There were no Robotech Masters. 'Nuff said. +The SDF-1 is referred to as the Macross, and it is not built by Zor. The Zentradi are not trying to get the ship back to their masters, as they do not have masters. The ship is actually a Supervision Army gunboat which they followed to this system, believing it had P.O.W.'s on it. [NOTE: The ship may have been an Inspection Army gunboat; I totally forgot which it was, and the reason for it being chased is what I heard last; they both could be wrong, so feel free to correct me. But it had nothing to do with Zor or flowers.] +The whole bridge crew does not die at the end of the series, and Misa is not the only survivor. In fact, one the bridge officers has two children with her Zentradi mate. They all lived. +The Zentradi and humans are not unrelated as led to believe in Robotech. The Zentradi were created by Protoculture using their own genes. The ancestors of humans' genes were manipulated to become the likeness of Protoculture thereby becoming a sub-race of Protoculture. In essence, all three races are related. * Why Do Many Macross Fans Dislike Robotech? ============================================ [NOTE: If you disagree with any of this, don't take it up with me, Kazama; I did not write this, this is all one person's opinion, and this is open to debate. Although I agree with most of this, I won't touch on some of the other points.] Many anime fans point to Robotech as a blatant altering of original storyline and bad dubbing. Anime fans like to see the work of art as the creators and artists envisioned. What really gets them is when it is butchered to fit the American perceptions about the world. And what really burns them up is when the anime is destroyed in the process. A bad dub can really ruin a movie, just look at any Kung Fu movie and when the words don't fit the mouth, you want to laugh. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of the world, Americans have little patience for original dialogue and subtitles. The impatience of reading while watching is the main cause for dubbing. Though many American blockbusters are watched subtitled in movie theaters throughout the world. Many Macross fans would have preferred a straight translation of Macross instead of the hybrid of Macross, Southern Cross, and Mospeada. Southern Cross did not even take place on Earth and as far as story line goes is inferior. Mospeada is completely unrelated, though it still has a cult following. But connecting the storylines through "protoculture" as an energy source and the impetus for three consecutive space wars is a stretch for those who understand the original Macross. Macross fans dislike making the Zentraedi a race subjugate to the Robotech Masters. Instead of being grand warrior, the Zentraedi end up being subordinates to the annoying Robotech Masters who are destroyed by the 15th ATAC. Macross fans really do not like Robotech's Minmei songs. Comparing Mari Ijima to Reba West, it is clear who is the superior talent. Even Robotech fans try hard to excuse "Stage fright" and "To be in Love" Macross fans do not like that there is this huge emphasis on Carl Macek as originator of the series. He didn't take a bunch of footage and create entirely new storylines. No, Carl Macek brought three unrelated series, altered the storylines so that they loosely connected and added a few new concepts and renamed the hybrid Robotech. At first Macek wanted to just do straight translation of Macross and send it straight to video. But that didn't happen because of the industry and the nature of American media. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ IV. MISCELLANY * Where can I get subtitled Macross TV? ======================================= Animegio is scheduled to release the entire series on DVD in Summer of 2001. The Robotech Perfect collection tapes feature 2 episodes of Robotech, paired with their 2 Japanese counterparts, subtitled. However, only the first 8 or so Volumes of The Macross collection have been completed, and it looks like Streamline won't finish it up anytime soon, as their license for it has expired. * Will Macross 7 ever see a domestic release? ============================================= Probably not. As some people have suggested, translating it and making part of Robotech for TV really wouldn't work in the slightest bit (you'd have to splice it with 2 other series' again : ), and dubbing the music would pose quite a big problem. As for a release to video, the projected sales of it are very slim, if any, and dubbing the music, once again would be a problem; also, the length of the series (56 episodes total; counting Movies, OVAs, unreleased episodes, etc.), would pose another problem. The tastes of American audiences, also, would contribute to it's downfall; the nature of some of the episodes, along with the storyline and the music, would not please many viewers. Word would get around that the series sucks, thus killing any sales. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ V. CREDITS Credit goes out to the following people - Jeff Jhee (j-jhee@nwu.edu); for various little tidbits here and there, and the intro Hiryu (hiryu_@hotmail.com); for various input and suggestions SLoGaN (slogan@sig.net); for some corrections and whatnot Sh1Aziza@aol.com; for many of the Series and comparison sections Various other people I forgot about coz you stole my lunch money a n d Kawamori Shoji, for making Macross. : ) =========================================================================================== alt.fan.macross FAQ, copyright (c) 1998 l o v e l e s s. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished/reprinted/circulated without the written consent of the author(s). Minor hacks to the FAQ by Shawn