Macross Zero

Publisher
fansub
Director
Shoji Kawamori
Production
Big West
Country of origin
Japan
Format
OVA
Running time
5 x 30 mins
Year
2002

Macross Zero

By otaku_kei
9th Feb 05

Before the Zentraedi came from across the cold depths of space, before humanity came up with the Minmay defense, prior to all the test flights on planet Eden, before all previous Macross series - humanity was at war with itself. The UN forces are stretched across the globe in a constant struggle against ZAFT, an anti-UN army. Fighting in the UN airforce is Shin Kudou, a man who is on the edge, living from day-to-day in the fight against ZAFT, trying to avenge his parent's murder. Stationed on an aircraft carrier just off some South Pacific islands that spark into a warzone at the very start of the first episode of Macross Zero. In residence upon the islands that are only now starting to fought over, is a village of aboriginals still keeping to their own faith and ways but slowly having outside influences encroach upon their way of life. Amongst these people lives Sara, the holy woman who is descended by blood from the ancient union of bird and fish human. In the bright clear skies and rough jungle terrain a war will be fought, a people threatened and an ancient power renewed. Welcome to the world of Macross Zero!

Macross Zero is a five part anime stands as the most expensive OAV to produce in anime history, and I have to say that it looks as if was money well spent. Macross is one of the longest running franchises in anime, a pedigree that has produced some of the biggest fan favourite shows around whilst also repeatedly setting the bar for mecha shows and what they can achieve. The animation for this show is superb, as is the soundtrack, plotting, script... In fact the level of attention and care that has gone into this title is simply breathtaking. I guarantee that the aerial dogfights will keep you glued to the screen, and I am certain that when you first see the Veritech Zero transform for the first time you will transfixed. The transformation sequence is amazing as you see all the panels moving, where the gears shift to... a great use of CGI.

Now everyone knows that no show will hold a fans attention without a cast of believable and intriguing characters (unless you're a Matrix fan). The characters on all sides of this conflict are luckily well fleshed out and interesting, even if a disproportionate amount of these people are haunted by the ghosts of their past. On both sides of this war we find people that have been scarred by the brutality of this ongoing conflict, Shin's parents were murdered. Or the lead ZAFT fighter pilot who watched her family murdered by UN troops whilst she was raped and then left for dead. But not all the characters are so downbeat, as fans of the original Macross series (and Robotech for that matter) we have the welcome return of Roy Fokker ace Veritech pilot and leader of the Skull Squadron. We also have the two main lasses from the aboriginal tribe Sara and her younger sister Moa who are trying to hold their village and culture together in what has now become a battleground for these phenomenal forces. But what secret powers do these two hold?

Zero is a fitting instalment to the long running Macross franchise, but unfortunately it is not pure gold. Whilst it is an exciting and well-paced show, and the characters do hold you attention Zero does not measure up to the gravity and excitement of Macross, or the sheer beautiful majesty of Macross Plus. And one of the reasons behind this is the soundtrack. As good as the music to this series is, it is not what we have come to expect from a Macross soundtrack. Perhaps Yoko Kanno spoiled it for us all with her phenomenal work on Macross Plus, but unfortunately the music for Zero does not sweep the viewer along like other Macross soundtracks have in the past.

All in all this is a great show, and any Macross fan would be mad to miss out on it as there is a lot here to recommend it. I even think that non-mecha fans would find a lot to enjoy but I'll be the first to admit that being an anime fan does not mean you need to be all accepting of every title out there. If you want your action with a bit of emotional punch then check this out, if you want a psychological mind bender of a show go watch Paranoia Agent.

-- otaku_kei 9th Feb 05

Macross Zero Images