anime experts on Robotech and Macross - help!

[mike c]

so i was adding samurai x dvd's to my online shopping cart and saw that macross was recommended.

i remember seeing bits of this as a kid. so i research macross and robotech (i don't really remember which i saw bits of)

are these totally different series?

if i were to collect these, these would be more than a crap load of dvd's = big bucks. is it worth it?

 

[j_garcia]

Macross is after the original Robotech series. Robotech I liked, but Macross went in different directions. There are a LOT of them, so I'd say rent some and see if you like it before starting to collect. I have a thread for you too....PM coming.

 

[gus6464]

Macross is after the original Robotech series. Robotech I liked, but Macross went in different directions. There are a LOT of them, so I'd say rent some and see if you like it before starting to collect. I have a thread for you too....PM coming.

That's incorrect. Macross is the first series which comprised of Misa Hayase (Lisa Hayes) and Hikaru Ichijyo (Rick Hunter). Robotech is actually three different animes put together (SDF Macross, Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeada).

Now in order for the three animes to fit together things were changed from the JP and US versions. When you hear the term SDF Macross they are actually referring to the original Macross which is the first part of Robotech. If you want the best Macross experience I suggest you buy the original JP version of SDF Macross as it has the real story without the changes made by Harmony Gold. I found Southern Cross to be kind of weak but Mospeada is actually pretty good.

If you really want to get into the Macross universe I suggest you purchase the original JP box sets of the three animes and continue from there. Out of all the different anime in the Macross universe, SDF Macross is the basis for all of them.

Now you don't have to buy them in a specific order to understand everything since they are all different stories which have nothing to do with each other. I suggest you start out with SDF Macross, then if you like it watch Macross Plus (one of the best OVA's ever made IMO). Macross Seven was pretty garbage so I would just skip that all together. Macross Zero is actually a prequel to SDF Macross whose main character is actually a secondary character of SDF Macross (Roy Focker).

To this day SDF Macross is still considered one of the best written and executed anime of all time and a lot of anime has tried to mimic it. The relationship between Misa Hayase and Hikaru Ichijyo is still one of my favorites in any anime.

Here are some amazon links to the versions you should buy:

http://www.amazon.com/Macross-Complete-Collection/dp/B001CK7OIS/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1219940923&sr=8-1
This is a re-release of the original Macross box set which cost $300 when it was originally released (I own it).

http://www.amazon.com/Macross-Plus-Collection-Two-Disc-Set/dp/B0009IOQXK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1219940923&sr=8-3
This is a 2+ hour version of the original OVA which comprised of 3 episodes. This is a better made cut than the OVA as the ending was redone and has some new scenes which put the story together a bit better. I suggest you watch this first then if you like it (I am sure you will) pick up the original OVA.

If you need more recommendations on Mecha anime let me know as it is one of my favorite genres so I have seen a lot.

 

[j_garcia]

Mospeada was the only one I liked of the original. I was thinking Macross Plus, etc... all of which was after the original series. I never got into it enough to buy it, though I actually do have a few import Japanese articulated figurines that I found at a flea market... Including a little Mospeada bike.

MikeC, I believe SamruaiX is available on PSN, as is Basilisk and a few other interesting ones. I have been watching Xam'D (exclusively available on PSN) recently and it is not bad.

 

[gus6464]

Mospeada was the only one I liked of the original. I was thinking Macross Plus, etc... all of which was after the original series.

MikeC, I believe SamruaiX is available on PSN, as is Basilisk and a few other interesting ones. I have been watching Xam'D (exclusively available on PSN) recently and it is not bad.

I love Samurai X (original OVA) but absolutely hated the series (Rurouni Kenshin). I am mostly a fan of old school anime and have yet to find something newer that I have really liked except for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 1st and 2nd gig.

 

[j_garcia]

My favorites are still Neon Genesis and Cowboy Bebop. Others would be Serial Experiments:Lain, Texhnolyze, Wolf's Rain (!), Initial D, Bubblegum Crisis, etc... The most recent one that I really liked was Afro Samurai - can't wait for season 2 with Lucy Liu voicing a main character.

 

[jostenmeat]

Neat, some anime buffs. I don't know anything about them, but I did enjoy Robotech. Some mature themes for a cartoon!

Question: my friend recently mentioned that Edward Norton wanted to do a live-action Robotech film. I can't remember if this friend told me later that the project fell through. Ok, I just googled that, and I got a little article of Tobey Maguire too.

Is there even a chance in hell this might happen? Or has it already been axed?

 

[j_garcia]

I think it would be difficult to capture that style well in a live action film, just like comic books to movies aren't so easy either. Most of the live action versions tend to lose a lot of the style of cinematography that is a big part of what makes Anime what it is.

Looked up robotech and found no details. There was mention of it on IMDB, but you have to pay to read it as it is considered "in development".

Found this:

Not sure if he'd be playing Rick Hunter, Roy Fokker, or even (gasp!) Breetai, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, Tobey Maguire is going to produce, and possibly star in, a live-action movie based on the Robotech TV series which pretty became the entire focus of my life when I was in 5th grade. (You seriously don't want to know how much of my spare time I devoted to tracking down even the most mundane details about the SDF-1, Veritech fighters, the Invid, and protoculture -- or to futilely trying to find a long-rumored VBF-1A Beta fighter to go with the die-cast plastic VAF-6 Alpha fighter I'd bought). Anyone who got into the show in the mid-Eighties will tell you that Robotech had a level of depth and realism well beyond that of any other animated series on US television at the time, which isn't at all surprising considering its Japanese origins (Robotech is credited with helping introduce anime to American audiences). Anyway, hopefully Tobey won't dumb things down like Michael Bay did with the Transformers movie. It was tough enough discovering a few years later that the entire show was actually three entirely different Japanese anime series awkwardly grafted together so that they'd have enough episodes for syndication in the US market -- turning Robotech into yet another mindless action fest might just be too much to take.

Warner Bros. is involved as well, apparently they are the studio who own the rights to distribute.

 

[mike c]

thanks john and gus for the recs, i'll look them over

MikeC, I believe SamruaiX is available on PSN, as is Basilisk and a few other interesting ones. I have been watching Xam'D (exclusively available on PSN) recently and it is not bad.

since you mentioned samurai x again, i have some trouble looking for "reflections" online. i only found it on amazon included in samurai x "complete" box set.

but the problem is:
i already have Trust, Betrayal and the Motion Picture
and have season 1-3 in my cart.

so buying the 99$ set would only gain me the reflections oav, reflections directors cut and trust/betrayal directors cut.

do you guys know of online sources just for reflections?

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

im thinking a live action robotech/macross movie would either be ultra cool or horribly suck (see transformers blurry cgi)

 

[Pheaton]

Hi,
I would also recommend the Appleseed series. The original was from the late 80's/early 90's. Then one came out in 2003, which I think was a remake of the original. And then Ex Machina came out last year. Both the 2003 Appleseed and Ex Machina look great. I preferred the storyline in the 2003 version over Ex Machina, but the graphics were better in Ex Machina. I have just ordered Ex Machina in Blu-ray since we have added a PS3, I can't wait!!!!!!

Another recommendation would be for Origin, spirits of the past. Did netflix for this one a couple of weeks ago and it was a good one.

Pheaton

 

[darien87]

I love Samurai X (original OVA) but absolutely hated the series (Rurouni Kenshin). I am mostly a fan of old school anime and have yet to find something newer that I have really liked except for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 1st and 2nd gig.

Come on dude, you didn't like the CG Appleseed movie?!?!? I thought that kicked ***!!!

I'm a huge fan on Ninja Scroll. Although the series was a little lame. I think Karas - Th Prophecy is one of the best animes I've seen in a LOOOONG time. The 2nd part was a bit of a letdown though.

One of my all time favorite animes is Cyber City OEDO. Great story, great characters and an AWESOME soundtrack! I've been trying to find the original Japanese soundtrack for years, but have had no luck. All I've come across is some lame English version that isn't even the same music.

I just saw on G4 last night that they're supposed to be doing a movie of Voltron!!!! How cheesy is that gonna be????????

 

[j_garcia]

Considering that Voltron the show was pretty lousy, I'd say really bad.

Ex Machina was good, but the first one (CG) was excellent. I agree, the animation was better in Ex Machina though.

My favorite "big robot" series so far is easily Neon Genesis: Evangelion. The story is unusual and the battles are epic. The finale, which was a 2hr movie, was utterly shocking too.

 

[pzaur]

I purchased the complete Macross series from Animeigo.com when they re-mastered it. All in Japanese with subtitles. They offer a ton of different Anime.

As has been said, be sure to do some research if you are puchasing Macross/Robotech/Mospaeda/Southern Cross. They're all related, but go in different directions. Macross was the original. It's incredibly confusing to buy because they all bare similarities. Robotech.com carries all the box sets (not the Animeigo.com set) that are currently available.

There are only 36 Macross episodes.

-pat

 

[gus6464]

I purchased the complete Macross series from Animeigo.com when they re-mastered it. All in Japanese with subtitles. They offer a ton of different Anime.

As has been said, be sure to do some research if you are puchasing Macross/Robotech/Mospaeda/Southern Cross. They're all related, but go in different directions. Macross was the original. It's incredibly confusing to buy because they all bare similarities. Robotech.com carries all the box sets (not the Animeigo.com set) that are currently available.

There are only 36 Macross episodes.

-pat

A lot of people get confused with Robotech and Macross and realize that they can be very different. While Southern Cross and Mospeada were in part of Robotech, in reality they have absolutely nothing to do with each other, other than the fact that they exist in the same universe. While Macross was in Robotech, they are some very subtle and completely different things that happen. I always hated that Macross started the whole thing yet the original characters were never heard of again after Macross ended.

My other favorite mecha anime is Gundam. More specifically Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory from the UC timeline and Gundam Wing from AC. Gundam Seed was also good but the 2nd series was very disappointing.

 

[Thunder18]

Neon Genesis Evangelion was a great series for the giant-robo genre. On that note, you may want to check out Eureka7. Again, a very deep story that can be taken at face value or contemplated endlessely like Evangelion.

Right now, I'm currently into Bleach and Naruto Shipuudden for crazy off the wall battles(DragonBall Z with much better story telling and character development). If you like thing that are out there, you may want to check out Death Note as well.

 

[pzaur]

DragonballZ was always entertaining. I just couldn't find the time to stick with it.

gus6464 - I was just going off what was on the Animeigo website. No worries. I never really into the Robotech series. My brother was a huge watcher and fan. He dragged me into it a little...

-pat

 

[j_garcia]

I like Death Note, but I don't like Bleach, Naruto or DBZ. I checked PSN and they have Samurai7, not SamuraiX.

Xam'D is a little slow, so I will give it another episode or two before I decide if I will keep watching it. Xam'D is made by the same group that did Eureka7, Full Metal Alchemist and Wolf's Rain. Another favorite is Samurai Champloo (from the makers of Cowboy Bebop).

If you haven't seen it, I'd seriously rent or buy the Cowboy Bebop movie. It doesn't require you to have knowledge of the series to understand and it is pretty good. Once you've seen that you'll have a good feel for the series and decide if you want to check out the rest. The series is a bit of a mixed bag with some weird episodes that don't seem to fit in, but the ones that are the core story are really good.