Macross
| Macross | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original title | マ ク ロ ス | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| transcription | Makurosu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| genre | Shōnen , mecha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series and sequels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Macross ( Jap. マクロス , Makurosu ) is the name of a longtime Mecha - and space opera - franchises of manga , anime serials and films, the long produced with the production of the first, about a year series Chōjikū Yosai Macross ( 超時空要塞 マ ク ロ ス , The Super Dimension Fortress Macross ) began in 1982 and is continued with the current series Macross Delta ( マ ク ロ ス Δ ). In the franchise, music plays a major role relevant to the action.
Originally, Macross was with Chōjikū Yōsai Macross alongside Chōjikū Seiki Orguss and Chōjikū Kidan Southern Cross part of a science fiction series sponsored by the Japanese advertising agency Big West Advertising . Macross, designed by Shōji Kawamori from Studio Nue in collaboration with Artland , grew to a Francise to which several television series, movies, OVAs , mangas , computer games , the pen & paper role-playing game Macross II from Palladium Books , as well as other fan articles includes.
action
In the fictional year 1999, an extraterrestrial , city-sized spaceship crashes to earth. The technology hidden in it brings amazing insights for mankind and accelerates their progress immensely. However, the world's population is only informed to a limited extent about the occurrences. Since the crash, it has been ruled by an alliance under the United Nations . However, there is also bitter resistance to this reorganization, so that the world falls into two major military powers and a global civil war breaks out.
In a resource-devastating struggle, both sides are looking for opportunities to develop even the smallest advantages. Both factions are therefore looking in 2008 for the legendary " bird man ", an extraterrestrial device that indicates that the evolution of mankind was influenced and driven by an extraterrestrial protoculture. In this conflict, the first "variable fighters" are deployed, combat aircraft that can be transformed into combat robots and which are superior to previous combat jets due to their maneuverability. These new weapons will be put into service by both factions around the same time. When both parties try to complete the bird man, which exists in two individual parts, and from whose systems they try to learn, this is aroused by the emotions of a native islander.
Driven by the knowledge that they are not alone in the vastness of the universe, people manage to repair the crashed spaceship within ten years and to arm themselves against a possible extraterrestrial threat. During this time, however, there were repeated clashes between the two parties of the UN and the anti-UN. Shortly before the maiden flight of the reconstructed Macross , the Zentradi navy, which was looking for the crashed spaceship, reached Earth. On the day of the planned launch into space, an automatic defense system causes the main gun to be fired, wiping out a reconnaissance unit of the approaching Central Fleet. The Zentradi, who are in the belief that the ship would be controlled by their archfeiden, the Protodeviln ( プ ロ ト デ ビ ル ン , Purōtōdebirun ), then initiate an attack. The Macross escapes through the first use of the superlight drive , but ends up in orbit of the planet Pluto when this drive inexplicably disappears without a trace.
A return trip to earth for about a year begins, during which the crew repeatedly encounters associations of the Zentradi and learns to know and use the ship's over-technology. While the Zentradi let go of the earth and exclusively pursue the spaceship, there is a conflict among them between those who want to get to know the people and their culture - especially since the Zentradi are a pure warrior race to whom culture is extremely alien - and those who see prey in the ship to be killed. The Macross returns home via the waypoints near Saturn and the surface of Mars , but above all the crew has to recognize that they are being abandoned, as all returnees were declared dead a year ago.
The disappearance of the island on which the Macross lay was propagated as an anti-UN assassination attempt to cover up the alien attack, in which the island was completely destroyed with all its inhabitants and the Macross. In the following weeks there was an open outbreak of hostilities with the Zentradi, at the end of which the earth was under a world government and a peace was made with the attacking Zentradi fleet. Together they finally proceed against the supreme commander of the Zentradi, who planned the extinction of the people and their culture.
Conception
title
The name of the complex is traced back to a dispute between Big West Advertising , a Japanese advertising agency, and Studio Nue (especially Shoji Kawamori ). In August 1981, the basic ideas for a screenplay, a 52-episode mecha series, were recorded and set under the working title Battle City Megaload . The name can also be translated as Battle City Megaroad , since the Japanese project name allows both transcriptions . "Megaload" here refers to a large spaceship that houses an entire city. The long journey through space that the spaceship has to cover speaks in favor of the translation as “Megaroad”. Despite this very appropriate play on words, the sponsor wanted to name the spaceship after the character Macbeth ( マ ク ベ ス , Makubesu ) invented by William Shakespeare . In a compromise they agreed on Macross , as there are similarities in the pronunciation to Macbeth and the original message of the play on words was retained. Macross is derived from the terms “macro”, for huge size, and the distance to be covered ( to cross ).
Themes and motifs
Recurring elements in the course of the individual episodes are both the large space ships, above all the spaceship Macross, as well as the Variable Fighters - fighter planes that are capable of transformations similar to those known from the Transformers toys made at the same time , and partially or completely Can take the form of a Mech combat robot but still be controlled by humans.
The basic concept also includes music, often as a conflict-solving element, which is also expressed in the fact that pop idols have leading roles. Another recurring element of the series is that a triangular relationship is created between the idol or idols and the protagonist . Compared to the depiction of the love affair, the history of the war often takes a back seat.
Release history
In the course of time several television series, movies, OVAs and mangas appeared:
| Initial release | title | Publication type | Period of action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982/83 | Chōjikū Yōsai Macross ( 超時空 要塞 マ ク ロ ス ) | Television series | 1999 to 2012 |
| 1983 | Chōjikū Yōsai Macross | novel | |
| 1983 | Yumemiru Prelude: My Fair Minmay ( 夢見 る プ レ リ ュ ー ド My Fair Minmay ) | novel | |
| 1984 | Hayase Misa: Shiroi Tsuioku ( 早 瀬 未 沙 白 い 追憶 ) | novel | |
| 1984 | Macross - The Movie | Motion picture | 2009 |
| 1987 | Chōjikū Yōsai Macross: Flash Back 2012 ( 超時空 要塞 マ ク ロ ス Flash Back 2012 ) | OVA | 2012 |
| 1992 | Macross II: Lovers Again ( 超時空 要塞 マ ク ロ ス II Lovers Again, Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu II: Lovers Again ) | OVA | 2089 |
| 1992 | Chōjikū Yōsai Macross II: Lovers Again | novel | 2089 |
| 1993 | Chōjikū Yōsai Macross II: Lovers Again | Manga | 2089 |
| 1994/95 | Macross Plus | OVA | 2040 |
| 1994/95 | Macross 7 ( マ ク ロ ス 7 ) | Television series | 2045/46 |
| 1994-2001 | Macross 7: Trash ( マ ク ロ ス 7 ト ラ ッ シ ュ ) | Manga | 2046 |
| 1994/5 | Valkyrie Rock ( バ ル キ リ ー ロ ッ ク ) | Manga | |
| 1995 | Macross Plus: Movie Edition | Motion picture | 2040 |
| 1995 | Gekijōban Macross 7: Ginga ga Ore o Yonde Iru! ( 劇場版 マ ク ロ ス 7 「銀河 が オ レ を 呼 ん で い る！ ) | Motion picture | 2046 |
| 1995 | Macross 7: Encore ( マ ク ロ ス 7 ア ン コ ー ル ) | OVA | 2046 |
| 1996 | Macross Plus | novel | 2040 |
| 1997/98 | Macross Dynamite 7 | OVA | 2047 |
| 1998 | Macross Dynamite 7: Mylene Beat ( マ ク ロ ス ダ イ ナ マ イ ト 7 ミ レ ー ヌ ビ ー ト ) | Manga | |
| 1999/2000 | Macross Dynamite 7 | novel | 2047 |
| 2000 | Macross - True Love Song | Game for WonderSwan | |
| 2002 to 2004 | Macross Zero | OVA | 2008 |
| 2007/08 |
Macross Frontier ( マ ク ロ ス |
Television series | 2059 |
| 2008 | Macross Frontier | Manga | |
| 2008 | Macross Frontier: Chōjikū Utahime Ranka ( マ ク ロ ス F 超次 空 歌 巫女 ラ ン カ ) | Manga | |
| 2008 | Macross Frontier: Dakishimete, Ginga no Hate made. ( マ ク ロ ス F 抱 き し め て 、 銀河 の 果 て ま で。 ) | Manga | |
| 2009 | Chōjikū Yōsai Macross: The First ( 超時空 要塞 マ ク ロ ス THE FIRST ) | Manga | 2009–2012 |
| 2009 | Gekijōban Macross Frontier - Itsuwari no Utahime ( 劇場版 マ ク ロ ス F 虚空 歌 姫 〜 イ ツ ワ リ ノ ウ タ ヒ メ 〜 ) | Motion picture | 2059 |
| 2011 | Gekijōban Macross Frontier - Sayonara no Tsubasa ( 劇場版 マ ク ロ ス F 恋 離 飛 翼 〜 サ ヨ ナ ラ ノ ツ バ サ 〜 ) | Motion picture | 2059 |
| 2016 | Macross Delta ( マ ク ロ ス Δ ) | Television series | 2067 |
Robotech
Due to the success of the first series in Japan, Harmony Gold bought it for the American market. Carl Macek edited the first three episodes, which appeared in September 1984 on VHS on the direct-to-video market in the USA. However, contrary to expectations, the publication was only of little success. The toy manufacturer Revell had previously bought the figures from Japan and brought them onto the market under the name Robotech . So that both companies could benefit from mutual marketing and Harmony Gold could demand a profit sharing from Revell, Macross should come under the already well-known title on American television. However, the length of the series of only 36 episodes was too short for daily television broadcast. In order to get to the required 85 episodes, Macek decided to combine the anime television series Chōjikū Kidan Southern Cross and Kikō Sōseiki Mosupīda together with Macross into a new series. Both comprised 23 and 25 episodes, the additional Robotech episode 37 serves as a transition between the "Macross" story and that of "Southern Cross". All three series came from the same studio and had similar characters and backgrounds. The plot and story of the characters was changed so that they merged and each showed a different generation in the same world. For Revell this had the advantage that figures for the other two series could also be sold. From March 1985 Robotech was shown on various regional channels in the USA and later also translated into many other languages.
Effect and meaning
The first series by Macross was one of the most successful of its time in Japan, motivated the production of further science fiction and especially mecha series and was important in the development of the Japanese fan scene or otaku scene. At the same time, many newcomers and young professionals were involved in the production of the television series, who later created other important titles, such as Hideaki Anno and Shōji Kawamori . The franchise also introduced music, and especially idol singers, as a theme in science fiction that other series later took over. Including the Kikō Sōseiki Mosupīda, which was united with Macross to Robotech . In addition to the first series, the following series, such as Macross Plus , were also influential in terms of technical implementation, music and topics. The Anime Encyclopedia names Macross, alongside Gundam and Star Blazers, one of "the three pillars of science fiction anime" . Among the "four great revolutions of the anime" is Macross by Lawrence Eng counted. It is the first work to emerge from the anime fan scene and, with its choice of topics, sets itself apart from the previously purely combat-focused mecha series.
The 1984 release of Macross on video was the first time an anime was aggressively promoted with its Japanese origins. However, this took a back seat when working as Robotech . In the form of Robotech , Macross became one of the first cult anime series in the USA and shaped the development of the local fan scene. The success also stemmed from the fact that the plot and themes of Robotech , with science fiction, robots, and multi-episode adventures, stood out clearly from the contemporary American series and addressed an older audience. However, the series did not have broad success and it also did not represent a breakthrough for anime in America, which only followed in the 1990s. This was mainly due to the fact that Robotech was marketed as an animation by the broadcasters as a product for children and could not meet expectations in this segment. The American version was criticized for its strong processing and is particularly controversial in the fan scene of that time and older. Antonia Levi not only writes of protests by the production company about cuts and trivialization for the purpose of broadcasting in children's programs, but also criticizes the American implementation and mixing with other series, which would have robbed Macross of the pacifist core message and many contexts. However, the series wouldn't have had a particularly strong plot in the original.
literature
- Fred Patten: Watching Anime, Reading Manga - 25 Years of Essays and Reviews . Stone Bridge Press, 2004.
Web links
- Official Website (Japanese)
- Overview at Anime News Network (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Egan Loo: The Macross that might have been… (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 30, 2006 ; Retrieved May 8, 2008 .
- ↑ Patrick Drazen: Anime Explosion! - The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation . Stone Bridge Press, 2002. pp. 177-179. ISBN 1-880656-72-8 .
- ↑ a b c Lawrence Eng : A look at "The Four Revolutions of Anime"
- ↑ a b Fred Patten: Watching Anime, Reading Manga - 25 Years of Essays and Reviews . Stone Bridge Press, 2004. p. 33.
- ↑ Jonathan Clements : Anime - A History . Palgrave Macmillan 2013. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-84457-390-5 .
- ^ A b Trish Ledoux, Doug Ranney: The Complete Anime Guide . Tiger Mountain Press, Issaquah 1995, ISBN 0-9649542-3-0 , pp. 7, 30, 31 .
- ↑ Fred Patten: Watching Anime, Reading Manga - 25 Years of Essays and Reviews . Stone Bridge Press, 2004. pp. 307f.
- ↑ Antonia Levi: Antonia Levi: Samurai from Outer Space - Understanding Japanese Animation . Carus Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-8126-9332-9 , pp. 15 .
- ↑ Fred Patten: Watching Anime, Reading Manga - 25 Years of Essays and Reviews . Stone Bridge Press, 2004. pp. 93f.
- ↑ Fred Patten: Watching Anime, Reading Manga - 25 Years of Essays and Reviews . Stone Bridge Press, 2004, p. 50.
- ↑ Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy: The Anime Encyclopedia. Revised & Expanded Edition. Stone Bridge Press, Berkeley 2006, ISBN 1-933330-10-4 , pp. 385ff.
- ↑ Patrick Drazen: Anime Explosion! - The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation . Stone Bridge Press, 2002. pp. 8f. ISBN 1-880656-72-8 .
- ↑ Fred Patten: Watching Anime, Reading Manga - 25 Years of Essays and Reviews . Stone Bridge Press, 2004. p. 69.
- ↑ Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy: The Anime Encyclopedia. Revised & Expanded Edition. Stone Bridge Press, Berkeley 2006, ISBN 1-933330-10-4 , pp. 539f.
- ↑ Animania 04/2003, p. 30.
- ↑ Antonia Levi: Antonia Levi: Samurai from Outer Space - Understanding Japanese Animation . Carus Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-8126-9332-9 , pp. 7th f .