Robotech is an American science fiction franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production ; it was first released in the United States in 1985.
98-569: The show was adapted from three original and distinct, though visually similar, Japanese anime television series ( Super Dimension Fortress Macross , Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA ) to make a series suitable for syndication. In the series, Robotechnology refers to the scientific advances discovered in an alien starship that crashed on a South Pacific island. With this technology, Earth developed robotic technologies, such as transformable mecha , to fight three successive extraterrestrial invasions. Prior to
196-595: A role-playing game based on the Robotech series, including several books covering the Sentinels portion of the storyline. The original Robotech RPG line went out of print as of June 30, 2001, but Harmony Gold and Palladium Books signed an agreement in 2007 to produce a new line of Robotech RPG books, beginning with a book covering and promoting the feature-length film The Shadow Chronicles . The Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Role-Playing Game sourcebook first book
294-564: A "remastered" version was released on the A&;E DVD set, Robotech: The Complete Original Series DVD . This version has opening titles resembling those found on the "Robotech Remastered" DVDs, as well as a new ending with text explaining the fate of the SDF-3. Also, all of the flashback footage used from "The Macross Saga" has been removed, including the re-used footage from the episode "Wedding Bells". In 2002, Tommy Yune announced development of
392-408: A colonization mission to preserve human culture across the galaxy. Lynn Minmay, who was left by Kaifun and now loves Hikaru, does not want him to leave to join the fight. However, Hikaru still goes to defend the city anyway. Eventually Quamzin is killed. After a long emotional conflict Hikaru finally decides to be with Misa and join the colonization mission, but the two remain good friends with Minmay in
490-494: A deal where it acquired the license to distribute the show worldwide (i.e., outside Japan), as well as earning some royalties to the merchandise. Tatsunoko then sub-licensed Macross to Harmony Gold USA in 1984. In 2002, the Tokyo District Court ruled that Big West/Studio Nue is the sole owner of the original character and mecha designs for the first series, while that same court ruled in 2003 that Tatsunoko owned
588-587: A demonstrated kiss between Hayase and Hikaru. After escaping, Hikaru and the others report their findings to their superiors, who have trouble accepting the reasons behind the Zentradi attacks as well as the huge forces the aliens possess. After much difficulty returning to Earth, the UN Spacy refuses to allow the Macross and the civilian passengers to return to land. Minmay's cousin, Lynn Kaifun, decides to join
686-465: A drought of Robotech product through much of the 1990s, except for publishers who continued The Sentinels storyline in print. In 1986, Starblaze Graphics published Robotech Art 1 , a reference book containing artwork, Japanese production designs, and episode guides from the original television series. This was followed by Robotech Art 2 , which was largely a collection of art by various American artists and fans. In 1988, Carl Macek collected much of
784-411: A few years later). When Macross debuted on 3 October 1982 (with only three episodes made so far) its stunning success among Japanese television audiences convinced Big West to approve an extension to 36 episodes, allowing the staff to end with the "two years after" story arc. Animation work was contracted out to a number of sub-contracting studios, including Artland ( Haruhiko Mikimoto 's employer),
882-500: A graphic on their website stating that a live-action Robotech movie was in development with Chuck Russel attached to write and direct. While never formally announced by Harmony Gold, Kickstart Entertainment's announcement of this project was reported by Anime News Network on February 27, 2006. Anime News Network's article was updated on March 1, 2006 saying that this announcement had been removed. On September 7, 2007, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Warner Bros. had acquired
980-459: A knife duel, Milia is defeated and falls in love with Max, and the two are subsequently married. Their wedding aboard the Macross is broadcast to the Zentradi as a message that aliens and humans can co-exist. Since the Zentradi's exposure to culture and to Lynn Minmay's songs, some of them become eager to join the humans. Believing the "miclone contamination" is becoming a threat to all Zentradi forces, Boddole Zer orders his entire army to exterminate
1078-472: A marketing tie-in to a similarly named comic book series by DC Comics , which ran for only two issues. At the same time, Harmony Gold licensed the Macross TV series for direct-to-video distribution in 1984, but their merchandising plans were compromised by Revell's prior distribution of the Macross kits. In the end, both parties signed a co-licensing agreement and the Robotech name was adopted for
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#17327869166851176-433: A new 24-minute pilot episode. The crowdfunding project was to have closed on August 9, 2014; however, on August 2, the project was canceled with a pledge level of US$ 194,574, or 39% of its target. Harmony Gold, however, announced that further plans to fund the project were being explored. At the 2014 Long Beach Comic Con, it was announced that the producers at Harmony Gold were in talks with at least one new media network on
1274-494: A new animated sequel. Originally announced as a television series with a planned 2004 release date, the project was revealed at Anime Expo 2004 as a feature-length film titled Robotech: Shadow Force . The storyline overlaps with and continues from the unresolved ending of the original series. The title of the story arc was soon changed to Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles . The first trailers with finished animation were shown at Anime Expo and Comic-Con International in 2005. It
1372-519: A number of sequels, including Macross Plus (1994), Macross 7 (1994), Macross Frontier (2007) and Macross Delta (2015). In North America, Super Dimension Fortress Macross was adapted into the first saga of the Robotech television series (1985–1986), called The Macross Saga , which spawned the Robotech franchise. Robotech was influential in the Western world, helping to introduce
1470-511: A prequel to the Sentinels, as both projects were initially meant to share many characters. Harmony Gold producer Carl Macek worked with the OVA's original creators to make the story and the new ending work. The film had to be changed again after the distributor of the film, Cannon Films , saw an incomplete rough cut of the film and were upset by it. They ordered Macek to remove multiple scenes from
1568-467: A single continuity. On July 2, 2010, Ecuadorian animator Patricio "Pat" Mosquera uploaded to YouTube a teaser for Robotech Skull Knights . On August 17, 2010, second teaser revealed Rick Hunter standing in front of an image of the VF-4 shown in the final episodes of the original series. Robotech Skull Knights has not been released yet. In July 2013, Patricio Mosquera was included as an animation director in
1666-432: A six-disc PAL format version of this edition entitled Macross Ultimate Collection . In the summer of 2005, ADV Films announced that it would be releasing an English dub of Macross on 10 January 2006. This is the first uncut, unedited English dub for Super Dimension Fortress Macross , and featured Mari Iijima returning to reprise the role of Lynn Minmay. This version was released by Hulu for online streaming in
1764-420: A third series title Robotech III: The Odyssey , which would have raised the total number or Robotech episodes 215 had both series been produced. He envisioned two additional series ( Robotech IV and Robotech V ) to bring the total number of episodes to around 300, one to air every weekday for over a year. For Robotech III: The Odyssey, Macek stated that his plans were to create a time-travel loop, allowing
1862-480: A total of 65 episodes. In Robotech Art 3: The Sentinels , Carl Macek blamed the cancellation of the series on the crash of the Yen/Dollar exchange rate , which caused toy partner Matchbox to withdraw from the project. Harmony Gold lacked the funds to produce the series on its own, and production ceased after only three episodes. Robotech II: The Sentinels was released on VHS by Palladium Books . In 2011,
1960-530: Is an anime television series from 1982. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori , it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war. It is the first part of: The Super Dimension trilogy and the Macross franchise . Macross features mechanical designs by Kazutaka Miyatake and Shoji Kawamori (both of Studio Nue ) and character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto of Artland . Macross also created one of
2058-461: Is motivated in one way or another by a desire for a powerful energy source called 'protoculture'. While each of the three animated series used for its footage informs its content, the Robotech storyline is distinct and separate from each of them. Robotech: The Movie , also called Robotech: The Untold Story , is a feature film and was the first new Robotech adventure created after the premiere of
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#17327869166852156-487: The Macross to see his parents and also look after Minmay. Because of Kaifun's relationship and constant contact with Minmay, the pair eventually enter a romantic relationship. After deliberation, the UN Spacy orders the Macross to leave Earth as a means to get the Zentradi away from them. During all these events, a female Zentradi ace fighter pilot, Milia Fallyna , is micloned and attempts to assassinate Maximilian Jenius , an ace UN Spacy pilot. Attempting to kill him during
2254-514: The Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles 2-disc collector's DVD, along with behind-the-scenes motion capture footage. In October 2004, veteran animation writer and producer Greg Weisman revealed that he developed an animated spin-off series titled Robotech: Mars Force . When asked about the project, Weisman said that he was under a non-disclosure agreement with Harmony Gold and was only allowed to mention that he developed
2352-708: The Shadow Chronicles production, titled Robotech: Shadow Rising and was to be a co-production with FUNimation Entertainment . Pre-production reportedly began in February 2007 and a projected release date of sometime in 2009 was originally expected. In 2009 Harmony Gold revealed that production had not moved forward since the summer of 2007, due to the announced development deal of a live-action film deal with Warner Bros. in September 2007. At Comic-Con 2012, Tommy Yune announced that Love Live Alive would pave
2450-638: The Sony PlayStation 2 console. This game had levels based in both the TV series and its movie adaptation . More recently, a new 3D shooting game called Macross Ace Frontier included several elements from the original series. It was developed by Artdink for the Sony PSP and was released in 2008. In the Anime Encyclopedia , authors Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy called
2548-473: The United Nations , featuring Scott Bernard and Ariel, was animated during the production of The Shadow Chronicles . Although it did not use the original voice actors and the dialogue was somewhat out-of-character, it nonetheless marked the first fully completed Robotech footage in many years. On July 27, 2007, at their Comic-Con International panel, Harmony Gold and Yune unveiled the second entry of
2646-535: The anime medium to North America. In 1996, Hyper magazine reviewed The Macross Saga , rating it 10 out of 10. Macross popularized the concept of transforming mecha , which can transform between a standard vehicle (such as a fighter plane or transport truck) and a fighting mecha robot. Shōji Kawamori introduced the concept with Diaclone in 1980 and then popularized it with Macross . Kawamori then went on to design transforming mecha for Transformers (1986). The transforming mecha concept became popular in
2744-426: The "Megaload/Megaroad" ( Macross ) project seemed to be in permanent hiatus. Studio Nue bought the rights of the show from "Wiz" and searched for a sponsor with no avail. Big West , an advertising agency looking to branch out into animation sponsorship, approached Studio Nue about the project and agreed to sponsor it. Big West insisted on a leaner budget, not convinced that the show would pan out as profitable and pared
2842-401: The 'official' events of the 85-episode animated series. Robotech (1985) is an original story adapted with edited content and revised dialogue from the animation of three different mecha anime series: Harmony Gold's cited reasoning for combining these unrelated series was its decision to market Macross for American weekday syndication television, which required a minimum of 65 episodes at
2940-474: The CGI effects for Robotech: Academy . Attempts at producing a live-action Robotech have been in development for an extended time , with numerous writers, directors, and actors attached at various times and the film rights changing between studios. Some time prior to February 2006, the company Kickstart Entertainment (founded by Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and Robotech 3000 producer Jason Netter) featured
3038-572: The English adaptation's production crew and two Tatsunoko producers. No mention of the creators is shown in the credits. In 1999, Harmony Gold asserted it had exclusive rights to the "distribution of the Macross television series and the right to create and authorize the sale of merchandise based on such series" outside Japan, and began sending cease-and-desist letters to import toy dealers, temporarily barring Macross -related merchandise from North America. The merchandise has since been imported again by
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3136-683: The First ) began releasing in Japan in 2009. It is a comic format alternate telling of the events in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (with modern character and mecha designs) that was serialized in the Macross Ace manga magazine until its cancellation, being moved to Newtype Ace manga magazine until its cancellation, then to ComicWalker online magazine, and then to Cygames Psychomi online magazine. It
3234-514: The Macross battleship. She was the boss and commanding officer of the fighter pilot protagonist Hikaru Ichijyo , and later his love interest. This was a scenario Kawamori came up with which he had not seen in any Hollywood movies before. A similar scenario, however, later appeared in the Hollywood movie Top Gun (1986). According to Kawamori, "Many people pointed out that later films like Top Gun copied that idea and setting, as well as including
3332-449: The Sky , My Neighbor Totoro , and Kiki's Delivery Service . As of 1993, Streamline Pictures distributed their anime through Orion Home Video and was eventually purchased by Orion in 1996. Before his death, Macek was working as a scriptwriter for the English dub of Naruto and Bleach for Viz Media , and consulting for Harmony Gold on Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles . Macek
3430-522: The Supervision Army. As the aliens, known as the Zentradi , approach the Macross , the original systems override the crew's commands and fire its main cannon, wiping out the advance alien scouts and starting a war. While Hikaru takes the new VF-1 Valkyrie on a test flight the aliens retaliate. He then encounters Lynn Minmay and rescues her from the aliens. The Macross crew attempts to use
3528-427: The TV syndication of Macross combined with Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984) and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA (1983). The Robotech chronology, according to Harmony Gold, is illustrated below: * Asterisked works are now considered ' secondary continuity '—that is, that their events exist in the continuity of Robotech , but 'don't count' when conflicts arise with the primary continuity that comprises
3626-470: The United States in February 2010 and was removed in February 2013. On April 8, 2021, Harmony Gold and Big West reached an agreement to allow Big West to release Macross globally. Four manga adaptations of the TV series by different artists were serialized in 1982. A new manga adaptation called Super Dimension Fortress Macross: The First ( 超時空要塞マクロス THE FIRST , Choujikuu Yousai Macross
3724-484: The United States. Macek came to public attention in 1985 as the producer and story editor of the influential animated television series Robotech , which he produced for Harmony Gold USA . Robotech is considered one of the titles most responsible for igniting anime fandom in North America and internationally. Macek intended to produce a sequel to Robotech , Robotech II: The Sentinels , but this project
3822-426: The animated series C.O.P.S. , was the executive consultant for the animated film Heavy Metal 2000 , and wrote the animated adaptation of Brian Pulido 's Lady Death . Macek adapted the treatment by Merian C. Cooper (the producer of King Kong ) for the unproduced film project War Eagles into a novel and screenplay in 2008. The book was published in the summer of 2008 by Angelgate Press. Macek became one of
3920-499: The bulk of the scheduled advertising for the series was targeted to children. The film had limited success in Argentina and Belgium . In 2011, A&E Home Video released, as a part of their Robotech: The Complete Series collection, a 29-minute version of Robotech: The Movie containing only footage used from "Southern Cross". There was no attempt to remaster the footage. This aborted American-produced series would have followed
4018-612: The colonization ship SDF-2 Megaroad-01 , but the sequence was scrapped due to lack of time and budget. However, due to fan demand this sequence was later used in the Macross Flashback 2012 OVA released in 1987. Super Dimension Fortress Macross was produced as the first of the three Super Dimension mecha anime television series in Japan. It was followed by Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983) and Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984). These shows were related in name only. In 1984, Harmony Gold licensed
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4116-411: The combination of many songs and fighters too." For the video game Devil May Cry 4 , motion and voice actor Reuben Langdon was told to be cockier than his younger persona, albeit more mature. Despite the staff's concerns for the difficulties of such a portrayal, Langdon had no issues after choosing Roy Focker from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross as his character model and noting he had almost
4214-527: The continuing adventures of Rick and Lisa Hunter and the Robotech Expedition during the events of The Masters and The New Generation . The feature-length pilot is composed of the first three (and only) episodes that were produced. The Sentinels featured characters from all three Robotech sagas and introduced the SDF-3 along with an overview of their new mission. The series was planned to have
4312-425: The distance they must cross. "Super Dimension Fortress" prefix ("Chō Jikū Yōsai") is a wordplay on an intermediary working title for the series, which was originally "Super Dreadnought Fortress Macross" ("Chō Dokyū Yōsai Makurosu"). Originally proposed in 1980 and greatly inspired by Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-1980), the show created by Studio Nue (from an original concept by newcomer member Shoji Kawamori )
4410-637: The end of the first Space War the transition into the Human ways becomes difficult to some Zentradi who cannot stand the idea of a pacified life. Quamzin Kravshera constantly incites conflicts towards the civilians. He repairs a damaged Zentradi warship to return to his old ways and attacks the new Macross City built around the SDF-1. Moments before the final Zentradi attack, Misa Hayase tells Hikaru Ichijyo of her feelings for him and her decision to leave to space in
4508-475: The end. A number of sequels and one prequel to the series have been produced. The series title uses the name of the main spacecraft (which is usually shortened to Macross as it is Earth's first Super Dimension Fortress ). The original name for the Macross project was Battle City Megaload (or Battle City Megaroad , as the Japanese transliteration to either ⟨l⟩ or ⟨r⟩ gives
4606-426: The episode count to 27 episodes (meaning the show would have ended with the battle against Boddole Zer 's fleet). Even then, Big West found that the show was going to run more expensive than it had bargained for, and to secure more money, entered into a partnership with animation studio Tatsunoko Production which included international distribution (what would culminate in the creation of the " Robotech " adaptation
4704-416: The exception of Japan. After Harmony Gold and Big West reached an agreement which was signed on March 1, 2021 regarding to the Macross and Robotech franchises, announced on April 8, 2021, Big West officially affirmed as part of the deal that they will not take any opposition on Harmony Gold's upcoming live action adaptation of Robotech . Both Harmony Gold and Big West will cooperate on future projects for
4802-486: The experimental " Fold System " ( faster-than-light drives) to escape to the Moon's orbit, but instead it accidentally takes the Macross and South Ataria Island to the edge of the solar system. The people from the Macross salvage everything they can, including the city surrounding the ship and its civilians (who have survived in special safety shelters, which were transported along intact), and attach two aircraft carriers to
4900-541: The film and to add more violence (most of the scenes removed were scenes setting up characters and showing female characters interacting). Macek reluctantly did what they ordered, and created a new script and rough edit for the film in less than 24 hours. When the distributors saw Macek act out the new film, they were much more pleased with the new cut. The opening night in Texas received a positive response, but Cannon Films pulled out after noting that most attendants were adults;
4998-434: The film rights to Robotech , with Tobey Maguire producing and pursuing the lead role. A Harmony Gold representative stated that the company had been approached by WB and would have "a say" in the film's creative direction. A March 2021 review of a 2008 draft written by S. Craig Zahler by the website Scriptshadow revealed the initial plot was very loosely based on The Macross Saga portion of Robotech . Writers attached to
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#17327869166855096-431: The final minutes of Carl Macek's Robotech Universe , a documentary on the making of Robotech dedicated to the then-recent passing of Macek, Love Live Alive is an adaptation of the 1985 Genesis Climber Mospeada OVA, Love Live Alive , incorporating some brand-new animation. The film was released on DVD on July 23, 2013, by Lionsgate Home Entertainment in North America. This promotional VHS tape created by Matchbox
5194-424: The first Macross series from Tatsunoko and planned to dub the series on home video. In 1985, Harmony Gold, without permission from Studio Neu or Big West, edited and rewrote the series with The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada , collectively releasing them as Robotech , to syndicate on weekday television and to promote a Revell model line. Robotech' s credits listed only
5292-547: The first virtual idol . Voiced by Mari Iijima , Minmay was the first fictional idol singer to garner major real-world success, with the theme song "Do You Remember Love?" (from the film Macross: Do You Remember Love? ) reaching number seven on the Oricon music charts in Japan. This was later further explored in Macross Plus with the virtual idol Sharon Apple , an artificial intelligence (AI) computer program who takes
5390-594: The first anime idols Lynn Minmay , turning her voice actress Mari Iijima into an instant celebrity, and launching her musical career. Most of its animation (with edited content, story changes and revised dialogue) was adapted in the US for the first saga of Robotech . In 1999, a city-sized alien spacecraft crashes in South Ataria Island on Earth. Over the course of 10 years the military organization U.N. Spacy reverse-engineers its technology and rebuilds
5488-564: The first episode of the Japanese version of Macross . However, the first adaptation of the Robotech television series did not arrive until 1985 with Comico's Robotech: The Macross Saga Number 2, which continued from the first Macross issue. The various comic publishers include: The first Robotech collectible card game was released in 2006 by Hero Factory, which had previously produced Robotech trading cards. Various Robotech soundtracks have been released on records , cassettes , and compact discs since 1988. Since 1987, Robotech
5586-617: The foreseeable future. For the Sony production, James Wan was announced in 2015 to direct a script written with Kurt Johnstad ; Andy Muschietti took over the project in 2017 after Wan dropped out to direct Aquaman , with Jason Fuchs writing the screenplay from scratch. On April 27, 2022, it was reported that Hawkeye producer and director Rhys Thomas will be directing the film, with duo Art Marcum and Matt Holloway writing. In June 2023, artist Col Price posted images on both social media and his official ArtStation page of concept art he
5684-416: The form of an intergalactic pop star , and in Macross 7 with the virtual band Fire Bomber who became a commercial success and spawned multiple CDs released in Japan. Macross set the template for later virtual idols in the early 21st century, such as Hatsune Miku and Kizuna AI . Another innovative character concept in Macross was the role of Misa Hayase , who was one of the main commanders of
5782-559: The future of the Robotech universe and feature none of the old series' characters. In the three-minute trailer, an expedition is sent to check on a non-responsive mining outpost and is attacked by "infected" Veritech mecha. The idea was abandoned midway into production after negative reception within the company, negative fan reactions at the FanimeCon anime convention in 2000, and financial difficulties within Netter Digital who
5880-443: The human race and all those Zentradi previously exposed to human culture. Because Britai Kridanik was "contaminated" as well, he works with the humans to defeat the main Zentradi forces. The resulting battle culminates in the large scale devastation of Earth, but the people of the SDF-1 survive. After Boddole Zer is killed and his armada defeated, the surviving humans and their Zentradi allies begin rebuilding Earth. Two years after
5978-516: The last episode of The Odyssey to lead directly into the first episode of The Macross Saga. This particular plot detail was eventually adapted into the Robotech novel The End of the Circle by Jack McKinney . In 1986, fan publication Macross Life published an interview with Harmony Gold executive Richard Firth who first mentioned the Robotech IV and Robotech V series plans. Firth said
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#17327869166856076-539: The mid-1980s, with Macross: Do You Remember Love? and Zeta Gundam (1985) in Japan, and with Robotech and Transformers in the West. Transformers went on to influence the Hollywood movie industry. In contrast to earlier mecha anime which focused on combatants, Macross portrayed a mecha conflict from the perspective of non-combatant civilians, such as the fictional singer Lynn Minmay . She went on to become
6174-431: The most controversial figures amongst English anime fandom . Streamline Pictures- dubbed anime were among the first to be available on home video as well as broadcast on cable. Over the years, he has seen his share of detractors and proponents, for while he did help to bring Japanese animation titles and series to the United States, his edits, re-rewrites and mash-ups (particularly The Robotech Saga ) angered many fans of
6272-571: The movie at various film festivals in 2006, and it was first seen by a public audience at MechaCon on August 9, 2006, where it was showcased as a charity screening to help raise funds for the ongoing Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita recovery effort. A limited theatrical run followed in January 2007, and the film was released on DVD on February 6, 2007. A two-disc collector's edition was released in November 2007. First revealed in late 2011 in
6370-468: The nascent AIC and Gainax studios, as well as the Tatsunoko -supplied AnimeFriend and Star Pro . AnimeFriend and Star Pro are infamously notorious among fans of the show for having brought in very spotty, off-model and continuity error-laden animation work. There were plans for a splashy ending to the series, one that would have shown major characters Misa Hayase and Hikaru Ichijo blasting off in
6468-461: The original animation. Many Robotech fans consider the McKinney series to be an unofficial canon of its own, despite notable divergences in the writing from Harmony Gold's current official animation-based canon. Despite no longer being considered core-continuity by Harmony Gold, the novels have been recently re-issued by Del Rey Books as Omnibus compilations. In 1986, Palladium Books published
6566-515: The original series. It uses footage from the Megazone 23 – Part 1 OVA ( original video animation ; made-for-video animated feature) combined with scenes from "Southern Cross" and additional original animation produced for the film. The original plan for the film was to have it set during the Macross Saga, parallel to the SDF-1's return to Earth from Pluto. The film would also have served as
6664-471: The original titles and series. To this day, anime fans still remain divided between appreciation and scorn for his work. Jerry Beck , one of Macek's former business partners, revealed that Macek died of a heart attack on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Barely three months before his sudden death, Macek recorded a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour podcast interview with Anime News Network , offering an extensive retrospective on his entire career. His brief obituary in
6762-471: The people on board the Macross , and even have their Zentradi soldiers "micloned" (miniaturized) to learn more about their culture. The Zentradi capture several Macross personnel, including Officer Misa Hayase and Hikaru, to study. Boddole Zer , Supreme Commander of the Zentradi, is puzzled over things such as relationships amongst males and females. He confirms that the Miclones "are" Protoculture during
6860-545: The production rights to the first series. In 2001 the series was sub-licensed in North America by AnimEigo , who restored the series and released it unedited on DVD with Japanese audio and English subtitles. At first a limited edition pre-order boxset across nine discs was released on 21 December 2001. Preorders were available on AnimEigo's web store. Three smaller boxsets, each comprising three discs, were released from 10 September 2002. Finally, AnimEigo released nine individual volumes. In 2003 Madman Entertainment released
6958-466: The project included Lawrence Kasdan in June 2008, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar in November 2008, Tom Rob Smith in June 2009, and Michael B. Gordon in February 2015. Nic Mathieu had been announced as director in early 2013. On March 25, 2015, the Robotech franchise was acquired by Sony Pictures ; on July 3, 2015, Harmony Gold clarified that Sony has the rights to release the film worldwide with
7056-447: The prospect of producing the show. As of December 7, 2015, the project remains abandoned. In the 1990s, Seishun Shitemasu , an anime fandubbing group, produced the parodies Robotech III: Not Necessarily the Sentinels and Robotech IV: Khyron's Counterattack , using footage from, respectively, Gunbuster and Gundam: Char's Counterattack , continuing the tradition of the original Robotech's adaptation of unrelated anime series into
7154-475: The release of the TV series, the name Robotech was used by model kit manufacturer Revell on their Robotech Defenders line in the mid-1980s. The line consisted of mecha model kits imported from Japan and featured in anime titles such as Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982), Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983) and Fang of the Sun Dougram (1981). The kits were originally intended to be
7252-475: The same age as Dante during the production of the game. Carl Macek Carl Frank Macek (September 21, 1951 – April 17, 2010) was an American screenwriter and producer. Noted for his work on English-language adaptations of anime during the 1980s and 1990s, he was the creator of the Robotech franchise and the co-founder of Streamline Pictures . His work is considered to have been instrumental in creating mainstream awareness of Japanese animation in
7350-474: The same toy dealers in direct sales. In 2000, Big West and Studio Nue took Tatsunoko Productions to the Tokyo District Court over who had the rights to the first Macross series, due to Harmony Gold's attempt to bar Japanese Macross merchandise in North America the previous year. During production, Big West entered into a partnership with Tatsunoko to assist in the production of the series in
7448-442: The series "One of the three unassailable pillars of anime sci-fi, pioneering the tripartite winning formula of songs, battling robot-planes and tense relationships". Super Dimension Fortress Macross was the basis for two different animated franchises, Macross in Japan and Robotech in North America. In Japan, Super Dimension Fortress Macross spawned an animated film adaptation, Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984), and
7546-580: The series. In 2006, Harmony Gold Creative Director Tommy Yune elaborated on the project in the Space Station Liberty Podcast, saying that Mars Force was a series geared at younger audiences, following the children of the Robotech Expeditionary Force. A similar plot would later be used for the canceled 2014 spin-off, Robotech Academy . A sixty-second public service announcement for the 60th anniversary of
7644-507: The ship. Since the fold systems have vanished after the jump, the Macross is forced to make its way back to Earth by conventional power. The Zentradi suspect the humans might be their creators, the Protoculture. Under the command of Britai Kridanik and Exsedol Folmo , they plot ways to understand them. Fearful of their old combat directives of not interfering with Protoculture, the Zentradi perform attacks to test their theories about
7742-466: The spacecraft, naming it the SDF-1 Macross . In 2009 at the launch ceremony of the Macross , a young civilian pilot, Hikaru Ichijyo , comes to visit the Macross upon U.N. Spacy pilot Roy Focker 's request. During the launch ceremony, a space war fleet from an alien race of humanoid giants arrives into the solar system and identifies the Macross as a former battleship used by their enemies,
7840-479: The staff list in the IMDb page of Love Live Alive . On December 31, 2012, Cesar Turturro uploaded to YouTube an Argentine fan trailer for Robotech Valkyrie Project . In December 2013 the first episode was uploaded to YouTube, and in January 2014, the second episode was also uploaded. The series was cancelled after Harmony Gold issued a "cease and desist" letter to the producers. The team was, however, hired to do
7938-411: The story would be about a retired Commodore character from The Macross Saga telling a story via flashback, but Macek later refuted that plot detail in a 2007 interview. Macek stated that while he was hoping to do up to five series, nothing was ever written for the final two. Macek attempted another sequel with the development of Robotech 3000 . This all-CGI series would have been set a millennium in
8036-592: The three-part Robotech TV series and 2006's Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles . In 2002, with the publication of the WildStorm (DC) comics, Harmony Gold officially decided to retcon the Robotech Universe. The following Robotech material is now relegated to the status of secondary continuity: While these materials are not precisely 'retired' or 'removed' from the continuity, their events are subject to critical review, and are strictly subordinate to
8134-506: The time (thirteen weeks at five episodes per week). Macross and the two other series each had fewer episodes than required, since they originally aired in Japan as weekly series. On some television stations, the syndicated run was preceded by the broadcast premiere of Codename: Robotech , a feature-length pilot. This combination resulted in a storyline that spans three generations, as mankind must fight three destructive 'Robotech Wars' in succession with various invading forces, each of which
8232-422: The title a double meaning in reference to the story line: Megaload , referring to the spacecraft containing an entire city of people; and Megaroad , referring to the long journey through space back to Earth). However, the director of Big West , one of the later sponsors of the project, was a fan of Shakespeare and wanted the series and the spacecraft to be named Macbeth ( Makubesu ( マクベス ) ). A compromise
8330-421: The unused designs from Robotech II: The Sentinels into Robotech Art 3: The Sentinels , which also included his story outline for the rest of the unfinished series, with an explanation behind its cancellation. In 2007, Stone Bridge Press published The Art of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles . Robotech comics were first published in 1984 with DC Comics' short-lived Robotech Defenders and Comico's adaptation of
8428-427: The way for Shadow Rising , and one year later announced at Anime Expo that they had resumed work on Shadow Rising. Harmony Gold's trademark of the term "Shadow Rising" was filed in 2007, extended in 2010, but abandoned since 2011. On July 5, 2014, Harmony Gold started a Kickstarter project for Robotech Academy , which Macek had developed before he died. The goal of this project was to raise US$ 500,000 to produce
8526-583: Was a co-editor of Film Noir – An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style (1979) and a contributor to McGill's Survey of the Cinema . He authored The Art of Heavy Metal : Animation for the Eighties and Robotech Art 3: The Sentinels in which he chronicles in detail the conception and what went wrong during the production of the latter aborted animated series. He also worked as a scriptwriter for
8624-423: Was adapted into novel form by " Jack McKinney ", a pseudonym for the team of James Luceno and Brian Daley , a pair of writers who had been working with Macek since they had collaborated on the animated series Galaxy Rangers . Using fictitious epigraphs in the style of Dune , McKinney's novels fleshed out the chronology (including adapting the incomplete Sentinels source material) in far greater detail than
8722-407: Was animating the show. During a 2000 San Diego Comic-Con panel, Macek announced the series was would be re-conceptualized as a traditional, hand-drawn animated series, however that idea was abandoned sometime prior to 2002 in favor of development of what would become Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles . The trailer was hosted on the official Robotech website, and was included in the 2007 release of
8820-657: Was canceled. While at Harmony Gold, Macek also produced the little-known, rarely-seen Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years (which combines the almost-unrelated stories of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Queen Millennia ). Macek went on to co-found (with Jerry Beck ) Streamline Pictures in 1988. Joining him were writers who had worked with him on Robotech , most notably, Steve Kramer , Tom Wyner, Gregory Snegoff , and Ardwight Chamberlain , each of whom are also experienced voice actors. Streamline Pictures
8918-597: Was collected into six volumes. The artist for the new manga series is Haruhiko Mikimoto, who was the character designer for the original Macross . A game based on the TV series called The Super Dimension Fortress Macross was released for the Japanese Nintendo Family Computer console in 1985 by video game company Namco . Years later Bandai released The Super Dimension Fortress Macross 3D shooting game in October 2003 in Japan for
9016-473: Was hired to create for the film. While only citing "a few years ago" as the time frame of which they were made, Price's images depict an adaptation of The Macross Saga . At the time of its broadcast, Harmony Gold also launched Robotech through a popular line of comics to be followed by novels, role-playing games, toys, and other consumer products. With the cancellation of Robotech II: The Sentinels , many of these licensed products were discontinued, and led to
9114-521: Was included with their Robotech Wars playset. This video includes two episodes cobbled together from clips of The Macross Saga . Titled "To the End of the Universe" and "Battle Royale", these episodes contain no new footage, and are not meant to follow any continuity established in the TV series. During the production of Robotech II: The Sentinels , Carl Macek had already begun to plot out 13 weeks of
9212-522: Was initially sponsored by a group called the "Wiz" ( Uizu ) Corporation that was prepared to fund a 48-episode run. "Wiz" wanted to produce the Sci-Fi show as an outer space comedy, but this clashed with Studio Nue's original idea of a more serious and epic " space opera " storyline. The resulting animosity between both companies made the initial pre-production of the series very difficult and full of delays. However, by 1981 Wiz had gone out of business and
9310-405: Was made with the title Macross ( Makurosu ( マクロス ) ) due to its similar pronunciation to Macbeth in Japanese and because it still contained connotations to the original title. The word Macross also comes from a wordplay combination of the prefix "macro" in reference to its massive size (though when compared with the alien ships in the series, it is only a relatively small capital ship) and
9408-520: Was not until February 2006, when Kevin McKeever, operations coordinator at Harmony Gold, was able to confirm that the pilot movie had been completed. After a series of delays, FUNimation Entertainment was finally announced as the home video, broadcast, and theatrical distributor at the 2006 Comic-Con International in San Diego with the possibility of producing further sequels. Harmony Gold premiered
9506-782: Was one of the first American companies to successfully deal in the regular production of imported Japanese animation. Among the titles released by Streamline are Lensman , Robot Carnival , Doomed Megalopolis , Twilight of the Cockroaches , Crying Freeman , Wicked City , the Fist of the North Star film, Akira , Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo as well as the original English dub versions of Hayao Miyazaki 's Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro , Laputa: Castle in
9604-548: Was released on March 21, 2008, followed by sourcebooks covering the Macross, Masters, and New Generation chapters of Robotech (redrafted to reflect the Harmony Gold canon). Other sourcebooks and supplements are reflected in the Palladium Books production pipeline. Super Dimension Fortress Macross Super Dimension Fortress Macross ( Japanese : 超時空要塞マクロス , Hepburn : Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu , lit.)
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