Macross

Publisher
AnimeEgo
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
36 episodes
Year
1982

Super Dimension Fortress Macross volume 1 (eps.1-4)

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
25th Mar 05

Super Dimension Fortress Macross was first aired on Japanese TV in 1982, and along with Gundam, Lupin III and others is one of the largest popular anime franchises in history.

On July the seventh 1999 a huge spacecraft fell through the Earth’s atmosphere and crash landed on South Ataria Island. The arrival of this spacecraft confirmed the belief that mankind was not alone in the universe, and that space was a potential battleground. A new worldwide government was quickly set up, but it was difficult to establish as fighting broke out between this government and pockets of resistance (The setting for the prequel Macross Zero). Work began on extracting the technology on the spacecraft and rebuilding it using human technology. The unification wars came to an end and the reconstruction of the battleship complete after ten long years the Macross was ready to launch into space.

This is where the first episode begins in the city that was built around the Macross, as the citizens prepare to watch the launch. Whilst the festivities continue on Earth, the Zentradi a race of aliens are searching our solar system for signs of a defeated ship of their enemy. As two of the Zentradi ships close in on Earth the Macross’ main gun fires automatically destroying the Zentradi scout ships. The Zentradi begin to focus an attack on the city and the Macross and it’s previously untested capabilities are put through a rather unwanted and pressured test run.

Ichijo Hikaru a young stunt plane flyer with the circus, arrives in Macross city shortly before this happens to meet his old friend, crack pilot and one of the leaders of the Macross’ Valkyrie squadrons Roy Focker. Focker is about to take Hikaru up in one of these new Valkyrie fighters when the alarm sounds, Focker leaves Hikaru, telling him to stay put. Hikaru unaware of what is going on falls asleep inside the cockpit. Awaken by a message from the Macross to take off Hikaru not sure what’s going on does so only to find himself in a heated battle between the Macross’ Valkyries and the Zentradi fighter pods. Hikaru’s Valkyrie jet is shot sending him falling to the ground thinking he is done for he follows instructions and pulls a lever on his control panel and as the Valkyrie jet falls it begins to transform. The Valkyrie transforms into a robot (known as Battorid mode) and Hikaru causes a little bit of damage whilst trying to get used to these new controls, but with the help of Roy Focker Hikaru changes to GERWALK mode about half way between the jet and Battorid modes. However the Zentradi have know entered Macross city and Hikaru tries desperately to save the young female civilian Lynn Minmay. They make it on board the Macross which unable to escape into space moves back down to the island and performs a space fold, which was intended to take it to just outside the Moon’s orbit, however lands them nearer Pluto, and the fold mechanism disappears, and they also accidentally transported the entire South Ataria Island and a fair bit of the sea surrounding it. Quickly the people in shelters are moved on board the Macross and the battleships that were in the sea are attached to the Macross to make a Valkyrie launch pad. It’s going to be a long way home (wait a minute Star Trek Voyager has totally ripped off Macross!!!!) and the Zentradi who don’t seem interested in the Earth but only in the Macross are hot on their trail.

The first volume of Macross contains four episodes, and they do look extremely old, however this should not pose a problem as the image does not distract from the storytelling. Macross is not meant to be taken too seriously and often makes fun at it’s self, as when Hikaru gets out of his transformed Valkyrie he asks some one what it looks like and then says “just what I thought it turned into a dammed robot”. The action is pretty low in this first volume and you don’t get to see much fighting though the stuff that’s there is nicely done. The Macross franchise is famous for it’s soundtracks however the music in this first volume is nothing to shout home about (however it may have been great for it’s time unfortunately I can only compare it to today’s standards).

Super Dimension Fortress Macross is a genuine classic and should be in every ones collection in it’s original form (I’m looking at you Robotech) if only someone would pick it up for a region 2 release (I’m looking at you UK anime distributors).

R1 DVD Notes

Features: Japanese with English subtitles.

Release information: Publisher: AnimeEgo Released: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 Chief Director: Noboru Ishiguro

Notes: There are no extras to speak of on the DVD. However it is possible to buy this series in three boxsets containing three volumes each. The first volume contains a production guide on the first twelve episodes. Not sure wither this is included if bought indvidualy.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 25th Mar 05