How MACROSS' Legacy was Created and Why it Matters (Now more than ever) | SDF Macross Exploration

[@youngimperialistmkii]

I'm so glad that the IP rights issues with Macross have finally been resolved. I became a Macross fan not long after I got into Gundam back in the late 90's.

[@absa]

Yeah, they took quite a while but finally (and hopefully) we'll be able to get the series and the merch in an easier way. I'm totally looking forward for the rereleases of the chogokin valkyries.

[@GinraiPrime666]

Its been resolved, now we just gotta wait for the Macross series to be released properly in the West.

[@davidbowles7281]

I can't believe it went on this long. Surely a ton of money was lost on both sides for nothing.

[@lettuceman9439]

As a battletech fan who is currently finished the Macross series (Due to the entire lawsuit) Its quite the contrast in how each series is the contrarian of the other. Also macross fans dont look up draconus Combine.

[@raimee81]

The history behind how Macross came to be is why I think it has stayed with us for so long. I would imagine it's the same for other old long lasting franchises. There is truth, honesty and real personal experience for where these ideas have come from. I'm enjoying your series of videos on Macross.

[@chiudesign]

Is it just me or does a lot if the footage used look a lot more updated? Where did that come from?

[@chriscummings4206]

I found the ROBOTECH Genesis comic books in 1992, it’s something that I like and I’m always fascinated with the Tirol storyline!

[@GiubileiFernando]

I hope this means we will get more Macross shows.

[@absa]

Japan recently released a new Macross Delta movie so I think that it's going to be a while for a new show. What we can hopefully expect is the release of old series in an international streaming service.

[@jamcalx]

Ah yes, my gateway show into the world of anime. Still remember watching it when i was 5 back in 1993.

[@absa]

Now that you mention it, Robotech/Macross was not my first anime... but it indeed was my introduction to Giant Robots haha.

[@taco36963]

Where did you get the cleaner versions of the show? I love the look and would like to see it. I am 50 years old. I remember when Robotech first aired in America. used to get up at 5 am to do my chores just to watch the show in the morning. Since that was the only time it was on was like 6 am.

[@tonyhawk9438]

I can definitely relate to this!!!

[@SunstreakerTitan]

In 1985 at christmas i got as a present the autobot jetfire not knowing its legacy at all. This figure is one of the best figures you could ever own and fantastic to learn its legacy

[@absa]

Hahah the eighties were a very weird era for licences and toys.

[@mrdone4065]

I still have mine. It's been well loved. You should grab a god of flame from kitz concept. I am looking froward to that as much as my Jetfire.

[@AsherReigns]

I don’t know very many reviewer‘s that talk about the mechanical design of the model kits. I hear a lot of them talk about like if they’re missing colors or whatever but never actually talk about the design and how it’s translated from and piece of art to a model kit. I think that would be really cool however as there are a ton of designs of all the Gundams and I love seeing which ones they take inspiration from to make the model kit.

[@absa]

That's my intention, to showcase the design elements that started in pen and paper and how they translated to plastic... particularly in model kits since those are the ones that you build piece by piece and you can see the inner workings.

[@AsherReigns]

@@absa Exactly, it’s very interesting to see where these model kits deviate from the anime or the manga or the technical drawing that each designer based their work fro

[@ArmchairTroop]

I highly recommend looking into Armored Trooper VOTOMS, another Sunrise studio Mecha classic.

[@hitachicordoba]

Round Vernian Vifam is another 80's mecha hidden gem

[@DepecheMoser]

Thank you for the review, really well made. Let me add one consideration, I think that the 3 series that made up Robotech share one interesting common aspect: The Starship Troopers factor. A civilian that join the space army (in case of Macross), and the mecha suits against alien enemies in case of all three.

[@bruced648]

the early anime 'Dougram, fang of the sun' is another story produced ahead of its time. a very compelling story of war and friendship.

[@rimmerblues1586]

Thanks for the video @abhsalonikas great insight. I still have yet to watch this full series due to it being not so readily available, probably due to those copyright difficulties, but i did see the movie some time ago, however it felt slow and cumbersome and overly long, i couldn't really get into it at the time - i'm sure the series will be fine. Having seen the other "Super Dimension" series' similar themes do seem to play-out in all three stories - romance triangles & cultural differences/mistakes, and invasion of a powerful enemy and humans-alien identity, although 'Southern Cross' was cancelled too early and 'Orguss' ended ambiguously. At the time Robotech wasn't on UK TV so i never saw it, thankfully, and never intend too, just seeing the mix-up of the title sequence is enough oddity! Transformers and other sci-fi animated shows were enough to get me interested. 1980s & 90s J-Pop FTW!! Long before K-Pop was really a thing. There're so many artists with varied styles of music, etc., however although it was great the execs of the Japanese music business were/are stuffy ol' sods and never exported it worldwide, so much talent could've reached such heady heights! So although i rate J-Pop more-over than K-Pop at least the latter was smart enough to market itself outside it's national borders more effectively to the general publics not just the otaku. Yes, in recent years J-Pop has done well overseas too but they were slow off the mark. Anyone listening to Canto-Pop?

[@dongomez3711]

You mention that doing model and toy reviews would be interesting. I personaly would love to see someone explore the wear and tear of a tranformable toys. I have a Yamato/Arcadia VF-1 toy in wich I transform everyday. Everyday each of the joints loosen up. Eventaully in the future it won't be able to stand up in Battroid mode or hold its shape in fighter mode. I think exploring how far in the future will this be. How many transformation can it withstand before it loses its integrity. The toys that are available today are made so well. How well? My VF-1 is almost 5 years old now and still functions very well. We will see.

[@sylphielyuiagravante]

A year passed and I stumbled upon this video. Very informative for most viewers, particularly the ones who haven't the idea about what Macross was about. On the side note, I would like to add that the reason for the SDF-1 transformation was due to the fold generators (the device that allowed them to do a space fold/jump.) simply vanished when they folded out. Dr Lang, the scientist who headed the reconstruction of SDF-1, pointed out that with the fold generator lost, they also lost a huge portion of power conduit to connect the main gun to the main power source. The transformation was proposed to bridge the gap and allow the main gun to be used.

[@AdrianQuirarte]

Tomino - “You should watch more Gundam”! E- “But Gundam is anime !” Tomino - “Anime Janai!”

[@absa]

Mr. Yoshiyuki "Kill'em All" Tomino in da Haus.

[@mrdriver2988]

My favourite mecha series Macross after 40 long years can hit western TV's legally now. They have already started with last year's showing of Macross plus. Hopefully we will see Macross Frontier the false songstress and Wings of Goodbye soon and even the Macross Delta Zettai Live soon all in the western big screens.

[@azander1958]

Now that you mentioned the transformers and macross I remember that Jetfire or skyfire is literally a VF-1 Valkyrie

[@jonnieteodoro4651]

Amazing video! I love how you delved into how Kawamori-sensei designed the original VF-1. Looking forward to the review of DYRL, it is what started my Macross fandom! :)

[@nedelwre]

my worry is some executives in japan believe they need to adjust the story ( make it like every silly hollywood product) to capture widest market share...or they dont need input from the original creator (Mari ijima, Mikimoto,Kawamori) at least some ideas or suggestion.. macross frontier are more memorable than Delta because the story still has root in Earth Culture..while delta feel like a random isekai world with random fantasy mecha..

[@maxtrix1]

Thanks for your video, for me macross is/was death because of the Copyright hell, get something of macross in the west is so difficult that at the end I changed to follow gundam.

[@sylversayen]

It might be a stupid question but where did you get the footage in beginning of the video (the super dimensional fortress macross footage but that looks kinda new)?

[@absa]

It's from a pachiko game.

[@sylversayen]

@@absa you have to be lying all that brand new animation for a pachinko?! What a waste 😂

[@tokyosmash]

Hell of a video man!

[@brianng8350]

Thanks for the video. Really like your vibe and your clear love of Macross/Robotech.

[@shrap3d]

There was the virtual idol Eve from Megazone 23 before Hatsune Miku. Also I remember reading the Macross was originally supposed to be named Macbeth.

[@pilotamurorei]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJanmatsoKtqrrc kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH6aXoqbhJmee5o Nope, it was originally going to called Battle City Megaroad, then they tried to name it MacBeth, but due to copyright issues, they couldnt, and the president of Big West, oonishi, is the one who named it Macross.

[@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777]

My only opportunity to have a toy like the valkyrie design was to ask for the original Jetfire toy. That's all I wanted for Christmas.my dad was able to find the last one at the store, but it was for Christmas. We let me look at the boss but I was not allowed to open it until Christmas and on Christmas day it was wrapped in wrapping paper and I enjoyed unwrapping it and opening the box. Loved that toy and loves Macross.

[@ericklingenberg5309]

I heard that Harmony Gold cleared the rights to release Macross related series in the States finally, but that was a couple of years ago...still, no product. A Blu-ray release of the Robotech series got out, but that's not Macross Harmony Gold! I'm calling BS on HG

[@Hyzenthall]

Where did the remake clips of the original macross series come from? I can't believe I didn't know they reanimated it before.

[@absa]

Sadly they're from a pachinko game...

[@Hyzenthall]

@@absa aww. Such disappointment. It looked like it would've been an amazing remake to watch.

[@Gunsight-One]

I enjoyed your take on one of my all time favorite anime franchises. Of course it all started with Robotech for me. My father introduced me by giving me the Comico comic adaptation. Soon after we were watching the show on local television. My father, being aware that a movie had been produced, went on a hunt for a copy of Macross: Do You Remember Love. Not an easy feat to accomplish in the 80s. This led us to a local bootleg anime club where we both were introduced to many more anime other than just Macross. This series is responsible for a lifelong love of the entire medium of Japanese animation.

[@hitachicordoba]

Very stoked to see the Big West Macross panel at Anime Expo in 2 weeks! Hopefully we get some big announcements.

[@absa]

Yeah, hopefully they'll deliver a lot more since the Galactic Launch from last year was kinda underwhelming.

[@williamcase426]

Awesome video. I love the Valkyrie as much as you do and the F-14.

[@absa]

Thanks! And yeah, definitely the Valkyries are one of the most interesting mecha designs ever.

[@ThyHarvesting]

21:34 if I'm not mistaken, the first anime "virtual idol" has got to be neither Sharon Apple nor Miku, but Eve from Megazone 23 😏

[@trailblazerlazerrazerd9027]

I love this analysis. Especially when it comes to how the humans and the aliens that they come to fight are ultimately the same people but are divided by essentially millions of years of evolution both culturally and genetically. But even then not by much. And as someone who started recently becoming a big fan of Warhammer. Especially Warhammer Fantasy, as well as Warhammer 40K, It gets me thinking of certain factions and possible characters that might see the world differently and affect it in a major way. Whether it's major or minor. Because in that world everything is war. Even people trying to live their lives without war is still technically war. And by that I mostly mean the peasantry/common folk, but most of them are probably going to end up drafted into the general army one way or another depending on some sort of situation. In Macross the zintradi eventually try to break away from what they were ingrained in but it's not easy for them. And those that are constantly trying to maintain it are probably still struggling internally and we don't see that. But we do see the ones that are trying to become basically more human but they can't. So then they end up falling back into the old mentality of destruction and mayhem. And it almost follows a sort of animalistic quality because they just follow the guy who's the biggest and strongest, or at least the person screaming the loudest and saying the things that they reverberate in themselves the most. While others are talking about peace they still hear the blood cry of war in their ears and in their hearts. And men may songs aren't enough, kissing isn't enough, going shopping and hanging out with friends to see a Kung Fu movie still might not be enough. Which also reflects how we are right now in society in reality. We can have all of the creature comforts and discussions and analyzations of human behavior that we want. But at the end of the day some people are just going to do things just because they feel like doing them, even if it's something bad. Or to use an example from something else, like Negan from The Walking Dead. When the zombie apocalypse came on, he was a miserable man. But then when all hell started to break loose he foresook everything to essentially be a madman just roaming around and hurting people. Not so much for survival, or supplies, or to maintain something of rule of order and society. In fact he was happy being something of an agent of chaos and tearing down other people's concepts of order and togetherness in society, which is weird even though he was himself a gang boss, which in itself is still another form of society. On the same note of talking about the zentradi, his followers were just kind of behind him like a pack of animals following an alpha. Another example would be any of the goons and criminals in a comic book series like Batman or Superman, who follow figures like the Joker and lex luthor. They know for sure that their chances of being defeated by the hero will probably earn them years or so in the hospital and they don't want to generally be hurt like that. But others are willing to look past the pain just to have a shot at taking down something bigger than themselves. But even ignoring those two, the main denominator is that their ultimately disposable by the people that they follow, and these followers will ignore that while still being somehow oblivious to their friends and comrades being knocked down by the dozens, or even being sacrificed to death by the people that they follow. Which summarizes Kamjen perfectly. Or at least until he's about to die, and the female zentrotti who access his lieutenant was actually falling in love with him, but also like certain old Gundam characters, they don't realize that they also started falling for the other person right before they themselves died. Which is always a weird concept in anime that they act like they don't like the person up until a certain point, even for good guys that's weird like Merlin and Escanor from Steven Deadly Sins. The guy wasn't just simping for her Because she was attractive and she might have saved him in her own way. He genuinely loved her with all of his being. But then we find out by the end of that series and she was actually in love with Meliodas an envied Elizabeth. Until he was about to die, literally burning up because the power of the Sun that came from the lost angel, that he was carrying was erasing him, and his last words somehow finally won over Merlin's heart so she kissed him on the lips and intentionally burned her bottom chin. I'm starting to get off track talking about other things, but I also got to say that I'm glad she didn't do him like the guy Alex from the 2013 Tomb Raider remake game, where Lara just kissed him on the cheek right before he sacrificed himself. And once again going further off track, while I hate it overall Bella swan didn't even do Jacob like that in Twilight when he went off to help the other werewolves and the Cullen family vampires fight the army of newborn vampires coming at them. To try and segue my way back in, my point is I would've hated to have seen something like that happen in Macross where somebody is in that love triangle situation and all they get is a kiss on the cheek from somebody that they pretty much decided to fall in love with, or stick with as a partner. Although for it to have ended the way that it did still leaves me a little underwhelming for the first series. Even though it was obvious that Hikaru and Misa were the more ideal couple realistically. It was almost like hearing about professor McGonagall's longtime boyfriend in Harry Potter when Minmay finally did decide that she liked/loved Hikaru. Because essentially years pass by before she chooses him over her abusive cousin that she's dating. Which is even weird or because they shared of extra romantic moment when they were trapped together inside of the ship for like 2 weeks to maybe a month. Continuing on from that point, I highly look at Minmay as a toxic girlfriend. She's not a bad person, but she does lead people on a little bit despite her feelings. Which I guess would have to possibly be the plot of the series. Because it was very obvious that she actually did like the boy, and yes she still kept making dumb decisions that watching it from an outsider's perspective you can't understand why she wouldn't choose what she was obviously feeling. And then of course it was her trying to find her muse again. She was always trying to be a singer, so she technically never really had him use it was just her dreams come true. But then after the two wars I guess she really had to reconnect with what it meant to be a performer. I don't know anything about those struggles, but I can understand needing to start again. That said Hikaru and Minmay might as well have been a couple Since Misa becomes a captain of a fleet and flies off of Earth in a brand new Macross, probably the SDF4. And Max, Hikaru's friend and co-pilot becomes the Captain (which is honestly more of an Admiral for both of them, considering that they have hundreds or thousands of other ships under their command) of the 7th fleet.

[@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777]

12:44 is that Delta?

[@pilotamurorei]

Yes, the tv series, which sucks until the last maybe 8 eps when they get into the actual protoculture lore. As much as I hate the first delta movie, just watch that, be bored to death, then get ready for delta zettai live, because thats actually pretty damn good.

[@genghispecan]

Always loved Macross - never personally cared for the sequels. I think I still have a bevy of meticulously assembled and painted models from the 80's preserved in storage alongside many a pieces from Gundam and Yamato.

[@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777]

I got to see the valkyrie firsthand in person and Canton Ohio. It was phenomenal.

[@bee-beargaming]

Interesting video

[@absa]

Thank you very much!

[@DouglasDeezy]

What series are the update visuals of the Macross Saga from? Did they remake all of Macross with modern animation?

[@absa]

Nah, sadly all of the animated visuals are from pachinko videos... but we can still dream for an updated Macross saga.

[@luckykennedy7364]

DYRL? Coming out soon hopefully to blu ray

[@MegaroadProducciones]

A simple clarification of a sentence that is taken out of context: Big West and Harmony Gold USA, do not plan to work together on future projects. It is not that one day Big West will create animation for Robotech or something similar, but the intention is that in future projects that each company will work on their own, they will not get in each other's way. Harmony Gold is still unable to use the 41 disputed designs to create new animation, either in a series or a movie, animated or live action (which ruins the failed Robotech live action projects).

[@NaldzHobbySide]

And also there's so many Differences Between Robotech & Macross like Story & Characters, one example is the Death of Roy Focker, in Robotech Roy Storyline is very Short until his death while in Macross Roy Storyline is a Solid until his death 👌👌

[@lucasmartina6303]

Your cat showing up on your figure shelf gave me a heart attack

[@absa]

Hahah yeah, Dita is a crazy girl but unlike my other cat T'Challa, she's never destroyed anything. (T'Challa broke my Hi-Res Wing Gundam.)

[@lucasmartina6303]

@@absa Rip wing Gundam.

[@LadyTacet]

@@absa I mean, you were the one who left the box right above a flight of stairs 👀

[@shira_yone]

Great video, but I really think you gave them too much credit on the romance part. It's funny when Max and Millia's romance got from 0 to 11 in a split second, and they got a baby immediately after (my boy Max is thirsty god damn). Some of the side character romance can be too rushed or not have enough bread and crumbs for us to care, however they gave some gems like Mikhail and KlanKlang's romance in Macross Frontier as well.

[@PinchePingo]

think Mecha Gaikotsu lightly touches upon art design n mechanic design but not main focus, as i guy really into model kits (he says paintin his kotobukiya baselard) i'd b interested in seein ur take on kits

[@absa]

I'm a declared snap bulider haha, si don't expect any customization... but I think that exploring the mechanical design angle is something very interesting that not many builders talk about.

[@chaious1040]

Yeah, Macross is probably the only other anime franchise that rivals Gundam for me and the Plamo kits are as addictive as Gunpla, I was so confused by the two different English dubs for the same anime, (before I went down the rabbit hole of Robotec vs Macross), but the Macross universe is much more developed than Robotec it's hard to even compare them (but don't get me wrong I still enjoyed Robotec and wish they would continue the Shadow Chronicles story, it was starting to look really good) but when it comes to the transforming Bandai Valkyrie kits, they are so hard to find, these days and expensive when you do, they do require more work/ painting to look good, than Gunpla, but well worth it, I was able to get the Bandai Hikaru's VF-1A/S and Ozuma's VF-25S (even though I had even seen Frontier yet), with the plan to get Roy's VF-1S and Alto's VF-25F next (but didn't for some reason) back in the day, and I have to say the engineering of these kits are amazing, they look incredible and fully transform (all 3 versions) but are really not for beginners, I'm now trying again to get the Bandai kits I missed, plus now, the little bit easier to find, Macross Delta's VF-31's and SV-262's... anyways, I really like your Macross video series and I hope you continue through each of the successive anime series

[@pilotamurorei]

The reason why is because Harmony gold took 3 series that had really nothing to do with each other (outside of the fact Southern Cross was part of the Super Dimensional series, but it fell flat and died at ep 24) and tried to tie a story together that didnt make sense. Add into the fact that Mospeada was Tatsunoko's revenge for being told to fuck off by Big West for DYRL, it was intentionally designed to be a clone to steal some of macross' popularity.

[@Shakkarz]

well I can say as a little kid watching this was the s*** thank you Japanese animation and I'll tell you at the age of 11 12 13 hanging around Harvard square for all those years (animated crash) or ( Tokyo kid) I'm pleased that those shops

[@pilotamurorei]

Macross popularized transforming mecha, Bandai stole it for zeta gundam. this is irrefutable FACT. Also, Kawamori has ALWAYS said the basis of the story of macross was Galaxy Express 999 and Space Battleship Yamato.

[@NarrowSpark96]

I might be wrong, but I'm almost certain the the Valkyries were only invented to fight the Zentradi in Robotech, not Macross. Also, to the people who watched Robotech, do you actually like Minmei? It's not like she's a bad character, but her Robotech voice actor is a complete mismatch. She sounds like an annoying brat half her age (which I am not saying because she also voices Nunnally in the Code Geass dub) and it's even worse when she sings.

[@eldritchmorgasm4018]

There's a lot of stuff I haven't seen, like everybody else, I guess, only know part of the original show (my very first Anime as a child), then "Do you remember Love?, Macross 2, Macross Plus & Macross Zero", but I have to say, I'm kinda affraid the other shows might be a bit silly/childish for me now, heard a lot of bad things about "Macross: Delta" 😅

[@pilotamurorei]

Macross delta TV series and the first movie are garbage. Zettai Live is REALLY good, its probably the best thing macross has seen since 7.

[@Keti_Mporta]

@@pilotamurorei haha, "macross 7" and "good" don't fit into the same sentence

[@pilotamurorei]

@@Keti_Mporta Macross 7 has max and miria. That is all i need. However, if you want to get into the lore aspects, I can CERTAINLY do so, and how important the events of 7, yes EVEN THE SPACE WHALES, are to the rest of the entire canon going forward.

[@charaznable2859]

Yes this is truly a great show. Just don't count on macross 7 unless you like rock songs and people like mylene

[@absa]

Started Macross7 for Max and Miria... stayed for Gamlin and Fire Bomber (and obviously Max and Miria) haha

[@charaznable2859]

@@absa hahaha max and millia are actually the two main characters. Firepower are just side

[@mrdriver2988]

I started for Max and stayed for Max plus the songs

[@charaznable2859]

@@mrdriver2988 ah yes super dimensional fortress max. Max 0. Max 7. Max frontier. Max 2 lovers forever and .Max plus

[@mrdriver2988]

@@charaznable2859 the ace pilot bloodline

[@aliastheabnormal]

Good thing Exedor defected. His singing is the biggest warcrime of them all...

[@datkat2001]

are you high exedol is the best singer in the franchise

[@lopony7944]

WHAT IS THAT DOLL DRESSED IN WHITE CALLED? LOOKS LIKE A WONDER WOMAN NINJA.