Macross
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2008-07-15T15:29:45Z
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Time for action|Time for action]] ([[User talk:Time for action|talk]]) to last version by Kronnang Dunn
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Macross (franchise)
| image = [[Image:Macross_Box_Set.jpg|252px]]
| caption = The cover to the Macross Memorial DVD Box Set
| ja_name = マクロス
| ja_name_trans = Makurosu
| genre = [[Action film|Action]], [[Mecha]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''Macross'''''|マクロス|Makurosu}} is a long-running series of [[science fiction]] [[anime]], created by [[Shoji Kawamori]] of [[Studio Nue]] in 1982. The franchise features a fictional Earth History after the year 1999. The franchise title features three TV series, three movies, four [[Original video animation|OVAs]], and 2 [[manga]] series. The Macross II OVA carries the Macross title; however, it was not produced by Studio Nue.
Within the series, the term ''Macross'' is used to denote the main capital ship. This theme began with the first Macross, the [[SDF-1 Macross]].
==Title==
The series title uses the name of the main human spacecraft (which is usually shortened to ''SDF-1 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 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 one of the sponsors of the project, [[Big West Advertising|Big West]], was a fan of Shakespeare and wanted the series and the spacecraft to be named {{nihongo|''[[Macbeth]]''|マクベス|Makubesu}}. A compromise was made with the title {{nihongo|''Macross''|マクロス|Makurosu}} due to its similar pronunciation to ''Macbeth'' in Japanese and because it still contained connotations to the original title. The word ''Macross'' 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 gun destroyer) and the distance they must cross.
==Themes==
The following are themes commonly seen and established among the various series in the Macross franchise.
===U.N. Spacy===
The [[U.N. Spacy]] is a fictional military arm of the {{nihongo|[[Earth]] U.N. Government|地球統合政府|Chikyū Tōgō Seifu}}. It was established by the successor to the modern [[United Nations]] in order to defend Earth from a possible attack by hostile [[Extraterrestrial life in popular culture|aliens]], and was involved in [[Space War I]] against an extraterrestrial race called the [[Zentradi]]. Later operations of the U.N. Spacy expanded into interstellar [[colonization]] and general peacekeeping of off-world Earth settlements.
The term "Spacy" is an extrapolation of the terms ''Army'' and ''Navy'' - though some Japanese sources also use the term ''Space Army'' and some English-language sources use the term ''Space Navy'', suggesting that the term is a contraction.
===Variable Fighters===
A [[variable fighter]] is one of a series of transformable aerospace [[fighter aircraft|fighters]], primarily designed by [[Studio Nue|Studio Nue's]] [[Shoji Kawamori]] and [[Kazutaka Miyatake]].
===Music===
Music plays an integral part in almost every Macross title, having a significances in the way a series' antagonists behave towards it. Music idols also play a central role to various Macross stories. Often, the protagonist will be forced into a love triangle with a series' music idol; the most notable of them all is [[Lynn Minmay]].
===Space Fold===
[[Faster-than-light]] travel in the Macross franchise is achieved via the space fold. The [[Zentraedi]] introduced this capability during their Space War I invasion.
==Series chronology==
Several sequel series and one prequel have followed, with most using a chronology created by the Studio Nue creators, the rest followed their own storylines regarded as "parallel storyline" by the studio. The main Macross production consists of (in chronological release order):
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Release Dates
!Episodes
!Work
!Title (original)
!Chronology
|-
|1982/10 to<br>1983/06||36||TV series||''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]''<br>Original work adapted by Harmony Gold to become ''[[First Robotech War|Robotech: The Macross Saga]]'' in 1985.||1999-2012
|-
|1984/07||NA||Movie||''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?]]''<br>Alternate telling of the events in ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'', specifically episodes two through 27.||2031<br>"movie" within story
|-
|1987/06||1||OVA||''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012]]''<br>Epilogue of the Movie, segments were added in the movie's definitive "Perfect Edition".||2012
|-
|1992/05 to<br>1992/11||6||OVA series||''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again]]''<br><small>"Macross 10th Anniversary"</small><br>TV series' sequel created without Studio Nue.||2089<br>"parallel"
|-
|1994/08 to<br>1995/06||4||OVA series||''[[Macross Plus]]''<br>TV series' sequel created by Studio Nue. A side-story.||2040
|-
|1995/03 to<br>1995/07||4||OVA series||''[[Macross Plus|Macross Plus: International Version]]''<br>Alternative version with English cast and songs.||2040
|-
|1994/10 to<br>1995/09||49||TV series||''[[Macross 7]]''<br>Sequel to Macross Plus. First of the sequels to touch upon the metaplot.||2045-46
|-
|1994/10 to<br>2001/05||8 volumes||Manga series||''[[Macross 7|Macross 7: Trash]]''<br>Comic side-story first serialized in ''Shōnen Ace'' magazine then released as volumes.||2046
|-
|1995/09||NA||Movie||''[[Macross Plus|Macross Plus: Movie Edition]]''<br>Alternative version with a different editing and additional scenes.||2040
|-
|1995/09||NA||Movie||''[[Macross 7|Macross 7 the Movie: The Galaxy Is Calling Me!]]''||2046
|-
|1995/12||3||OVA||''[[Macross 7|Macross 7: Encore]]''<br>Three '94 TV series additional episodes.||2046
|-
|1997/12 to<br>1998/08||4||OVA series||''[[Macross Dynamite 7]]''<br><small>"Macross 15th Anniversary"</small><br>'94 TV series' sequel.||2047
|-
|2002/12 to<br>2004/10||5||OVA series||''[[Macross Zero]]''<br><small>"Macross 20th Anniversary"</small><br>Original '82 TV series' prequel.||2008
|-
|2007/12||1||TV series pilot||''[[Macross Frontier]] (Deculture Edition)''<br><small>"Macross 25th Anniversary"</small><br>'94 TV series' sequel pilot episode, series start in April, 2008.||2059
|-
|2008/04||25||TV series||''[[Macross Frontier]]''<br><small>"Macross 25th Anniversary"</small><br>'94 TV series' sequel.||2059
|}
A feature film, subtitled [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?|Do You Remember Love?]] (愛・おぼえていますか ''Ai Oboete Imasu ka''), was released in [[1984]], with a condensed version of the storyline and cutting-edge animation. This movie was later described as a "historical drama" movie within the Macross universe (similar to, for example, ''[[Braveheart (film)|Braveheart]]'' in the real world). In ''Macross Plus'' and ''Macross 7'', it is revealed that there was a movie produced after [[First Space War|Space War I]] (the original Earth-Zentradi conflict). (A shortened, English-dubbed version of the feature was also released to video as ''Clash of the Bionoids'', though this is largely lambasted.) ''[[Macross II]]'', the only animated project without Studio Nue's direct involvement, was declared a parallel-world story by Studio Nue.
In March of 2007, Studio Victor placed a casting call for a voice actress to play the heroine, Ranka Lee <ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-08-18/yoko-kanno-heroine's-voice-announced-for-new-macross Yoko Kanno, Heroine's Voice Announced for New Macross]</ref> , in a then untitled new Macross series.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-09/follow-up-victor-voice-actress-auditions-for-macross Follow Up: Victor Voice Actress Auditions for Macross]</ref> 18 year old Megumi Nakajima was selected in the nationwide singing and acting audition for the role of Ranka Lee in Japan. The project was given the tentative title of ''Macross 25''. Later, as part of the 25th anniversary concert, a trailer was shown that revealed the new tentative title of ''[[Macross frontier|Macross F (Frontier)]]''. During the concert, [[Shoji Kawamori]] mentioned that the timeframe of Macross Frontier is about 2070 A.D. Kawamori also announced that [[Yoko Kanno]] will be the music co-composer of the new Macross series. According to Newtype Magazine, this new series were supposed to take place in a school. The pilot episode aired in December 23, 2007. The new series have been finally set in the year 2059 A.D. and take place in a new Macross Colony Fleet called "Macross Frontier". The new series' episodes will begin their regular broadcast in April 04, 2008. It is being produced by [[Satelight]] and is scheduled to premiere on April 4, 2008 at 2:00 A.M. in [[Mainichi Broadcasting System|MBS]] channel of Japan.
==Video games==
Macross video games are based on its universe, sometimes expanding it with original characters and sidestories, latest games often include newly created anime footage. All of them were released in Japan only probably because of the Macross / Robotech license issue. These include:
* ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'': A sidescrolling game released in 1985 for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Famicom]] by [[Namco]] and Bandai. The main objectives of the lone Valkyrie are to destroy the Zentradi forces, penetrate the Zentradi mothership, and destroy it. A simplified rendition of the song Shao Pai Long plays in the background throughout gameplay.
*''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie]]'' - A 2D shooter released on the [[Nintendo Super Famicom]] and based on ''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?|Do You Remember Love?]]''. The story takes place after the movie, but before the launch of the SDF-2 Megaroad-01.
*''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (game)|The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?]]'' - A 2D shooter created for the [[Sega Saturn]] , it was co-programmed by Sega and was later ported on the [[Sony PlayStation]]. It is closely based on the movie, with a mix of 2D and 3D action and special effects. It was released with 2 CDs as it contained footage and soundtrack from both the Macross movie and Flash Back 2012. The footage contained some new scenes including Hikaru and his fellow pilots still on Earth flying on their way to the Macross which made a space fold jump just before the massive Zentradi attack reached them.
*''[[Macross: Digital Mission VF-X]]'' - The first ever 3D graphics and polygonal game of the franchise made by Bandai Visual for the PlayStation. It was a best seller and was re-released as a budget priced game.
*''[[Macross: Digital Mission VF-X2]]'' - The sequel of VF-X is also a 3D shooter based on the VF-X original characters and released on the PlayStation.
*''[[Macross Plus: Game Edition]]'' - The third 3D shooter and last Macross game for the PlayStation. It is based on the [[Macross Plus]] OVA series storyline.
*''[[Macross M3]]'' - A 3D shooter released on the [[Dreamcast]]. ''M3'' takes place around 2014, and covers the story of Max, Milia, and their adopted daughter Moaramia, as the three of them continue to serve as Valkyrie pilots.
*''The Superdimensional Fortress Macross VO (Valkyrie Overdrive)'' - A space combat simulator released in 2001 only in Japan for the Pc. It was compatible with Windows 95, 98 and ME. A year later a Windows XP version was released (''The Superdimensional Fortress Macross VOXP''). The game was unique in the fact that it enabled players to sortie online using practically each and every [[mecha]], fighter and power armor from the different factions ([[Zentradi]], [[Meltlandi]] and [[U.N. Spacy]]) that appeared in Macross DYRL. It has become quite popular recently among western players (thanks to translation patches and reference files) with multiple online tournaments being done regularly.
*''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (PlayStation 2 game)|The Super Dimension Fortress Macross]] '' ("超時空要塞マクロス") - A full 3D shooter released by [[Sega-AM2]] only for the [[PlayStation 2]]. The game features both famous and new characters, as well as a large number of VF (Variable Fighters) from the TV series to [[Macross Flashback 2012]]. This game made by one of the most experienced and famous development team ([[Shenmue]] series, [[Virtua Fighter]] series, ''[[Daytona USA (arcade game)|Daytona USA]]'' series, ''[[Virtua Cop]]'' series) has been acclaimed by both the media and the gamers as the best Macross game ever released.
*''Macross 7 Ginga no Heart wo Furuwasero!!'' - A 2D side scrolling shooter released on the Game Boy Color. In this game you play as a few of the main characters from Macross 7. As you fly though the levels you'll get to parts where you have to tap the A or B button in order to sing your song and finish off the boss.
*There were three arcade games released by [[Banpresto]] during the 90s, all of which were scrolling shooters: ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'', (1992)<ref>[http://www.mameworld.net/maws/romset/macross Chou-Jikuu Yousai Macross]</ref>, ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II''(1993)<ref>[http://www.mameworld.net/maws/romset/macross2 Chou-Jikuu Yousai Macross II]</ref>, and ''Macross Plus'' (1996)<ref>[http://www.mameworld.net/maws/romset/macrossp Macross Plus]</ref>.
==References==
<references />
==External links==
*[http://www.macross.co.jp/ Macross Official Website (Japanese)]
*[http://www.bigwest-ad.co.jp/service/contents/macross.html Big West (Japanese)]
*[http://www.anime.net/macross/ Macross Compendium]
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