Macross Plus Recommended

Publisher
Manga Entertainment
Director
Shinichiro WatanabeShinichiro Watanabe, Shoji Kawamori
Production
Bandai, Big West, Shogakukan
Country of origin
Japan
Format
OVA
Running time
4 episodes
Year
1994

Macross Plus

By Jonathan Chapman
20th May 04

Macross Plus is a movie based on the long story in the Macross universe. If you see the word Macross, it should be synonymous with mechs and aircraft. What's surprising is that this movie is more about character conflicts than random fights in space. This movie really does several things that are noteworthy. This is, without a doubt, the Top Gun of anime. It probably belongs in everyone's collection (although being packaged in two separate DVD's makes it an expensive prospect).

Sharon Apple is a prototype, artificially intelligent, computer who is, by the time the movie begins, a pop-music superstar. Her ability to feel emotions comes from a physical data link between the computer and Myung. This part of the story is almost a parallel to the American film, Simon. Lets just say Sharon has a mind of her own.

Isamu Alva Dyson is, from the movie, "a headstrong young man who's childhood infatuation with flight has turned into a successful military career with the UN Space Force." Isamu still has feelings for Myung and a personal grudge with Guld. The three used to be best friends until an event happened which is revealed late in the story (nope. I'm not going to spoil it for you).

Myung Fang Lone Sharon Apple's producer, who has just returned to her home planet, Eden. She's been a producer, working on Sharon Apple, and has returned to Eden (her home planet) on one of Sharon's tours. She's bewildered to find Isamu and Guld, her two old friends still bickering. What's changed is that Guld is leading the YF-21 team while Isamu is flying the YF-19. Both are models of mechs the government has in development.

Guld Goa Bowman is, from the movie the designer and test pilot of the prototype YF-21. He is an alien to Eden (as his purple skin testifies), yet grew up on the planet. The YF-21 is controlled mentally from the pilot's brain waves, very similar to the American film, "Foxfire" with Clint Eastwood.

Other minor characters are Lucy MacMillan (romantically involved with Isamu) and Yang Neumann (a computer hacker/chief engineer who has his eyes out on tampering with Sharon's programming), both member of the YF-19 program.

The action sequences are amazing. There is so much computer animation/drawing quality shown throughout the series. The characters are very in-depth and are just as realistic as any film. It's almost as though you're watching live action characters. Again, battle sequences in parts 3 and 4 make you watch the film again and again. The story - which I'm not going to spoil - is also refreshing and enjoyable.

Unlike other series, the music in Macross Plus is one of the best features. I actually went and ordered the soundtrack after I watched the series. It's just that good. The English dubbing is impeccable.

Honestly, this is about as good as anime gets (as far as time vs. quality). The only drawback is that it might not be targeted to all audiences (the non-action part of the plot will probably have children feeling left out). Such pauses in between action would be a drawback if not for the realism and time spent perfecting the plot. Regardless of story, once the action hits you're going to be back in your seat wishing that this movie never ends.

9/10

-- Jonathan Chapman 20th May 04

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