I could say several different things about Robotech which have been said by many reviewers before me, mostly positive. But ya' know, even taking into account the controversial "anime butchering" aspect of this series, I've come to define the scope of this adaptation with one sometimes-overused word... EPIC! Here we have a story arc which quite literally covers a time span of 45 years, three generations of brave soldiers worth their salt in three wars, all fought over the same source of energy which makes up the technology namesake of this show; the core of Robotechnology, Protoculture, a fuel-type foodstuff that is (along with Earth) the central focus of this series.
Many props to Carl Macek and the many other writers of Robotech for managing to find a way to adapt a concept already in the original Macross series into something which could believably continue into two more anime series. And to think, in preparation for rewriting, Macek watched all 85 eps originally with no audio or subtitles. He was able to tie together main character from the first two sagas in profound and yet subtle ways, such as the fact that the battle fortress which crashes on Earth in the first Macross episode comes from the character Zor, whose clone we don't see until the Masters story.
Then of course there's other not-so-subtle stuff like the ominous references to what was to come in the third & final saga of the series, the Invid, whom get mentioned as early as some latter episodes in the Macross Saga. From my point of view, it's genuinly smart how certain things like excerpts of footage of the Masters in a couple/few Macross Saga eps and even the creation of "Dana's Story" further help with connecting everything together, especialy given how rushed a production Harmony Gold had. On that note, some of the acting can be truly excellent, even compared to this day and age of anime voice acting, my favorite being Greg Snegoff's Scott Bernard (though Iona Morris captured me more than any other emotionally during Roy Fokker's untimely demise).
In an odd twist, my favorite saga would have to be The Masters; though as for a favorite episode, it's a tie between The Macross Saga's "To The Stars" and The New Generation's "Symphony Of Light". My favorite character overall, definitely Scott Bernard, though I will argue to the end of time that Rick Hunter is the overall main character of Robotech; he was the main dude in The Macross Saga & The Sentinels feature, became something of a prominent offscreen character in New Generation, and even returned for a couple cameo spots in Shadow Chronicles. In that same respect, I'll also argue that the core family of the series was no doubt the Sterlings, given how important characters Max & Miriya were, as well as their daughter Dana taking up the mantle in The Masters (and even her younger sister Maia in Shadow Chronicles).
It's not just the series itself I greatly enjoy though, I also get much excitement out of seeing the few original movies Harmony Gold has managed to make through the past couple decades, which in themselves further help connect the three primarily separate sagas. Characters from all three wars meet, future battles are foreshadowed, closure you never thought you'd get is given (even if just a little bit), and tears will definitely be shed. These fantastic features come in the separate styled forms of Robotech II: The Sentinels, which is set between The Macross Saga & The Masters, and the incredible continuation from episode 85 that is Shadow Chronicles. There is also a very obscure movies often referred to as The Untold Story, though trust me when I say, that is so sloppily edited and put together that it's just about the only animated material I'd call non-canon.
On the subject of the two much better and canon-friendly movies, Sentinels, being the in-betweener feature that it is, serves a few important functions beyond getting together characters from separate sagas. It serves as mostly an epilogue piece to the original characters from the Macross Saga, as aside from the obvious exception of Dana, a very hazy cameo of Max & Miriya in ep 60, and Rick's cameo-ish return in Shadow Chronicles, this is the final time we see said gang as they prepare for the REF's Pioneer Mission. It also serves as a very nifty bridging piece between the 15 year gap that is "To The Stars" & "Dana's Story", as we see the character of Dana getting to where she's at in The Masters (blonde and all), with even Bowie Grant as a childhood friend of hers, as well as a couple cool scenes General (soon to be known as Supreme-Commander) Leonard shares with Exedore and a cameo-spotted Rolf Emerson.
As Sentinels is also the chronological first time we see the Invid, I feel it helps further enforce how truly dangerous and threatening an enemy they with the many references made toward them, plus it's pretty neat getting to see a much less antagonistic side of the Robotech Masters' civilization back on Tirol. Aside from that and what I pointed out above, the definite highlight of this feature has gotta be the wedding of Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes, an event that absolutely makes the Sentinels feature worth seeing. it's not just a beginning to a new and unseen chapter in their lives, but also a farewell to the characters' romantic legacy, as they finally reach the point they'd been destined for ever since that first innocent "sourpuss" comment of young Hunter's.
Now with Shadow Chronicles, what we have here is a combination of two factors; a retrospective of the final battle with the Invid, as shown in the final two episodes of the series, except this time from the perspectives of the returned REF forces. On top of that, we have a continuation that takes up right where episode 85 leaves off, as wee see what becomes of Scott Bernard (as well as his Invid love, Ariel/"Marlene") after heading off into space. In addition to Scott's continuing story, we get the return of other such legendary characters as Rick Hunter (okay, just a couple cameo instances, but awesome no less!) and even Louie Nichols, one of the few survivors of the vague 15th Squad genocide. Such moments as when we see Vince Grant talking with the older Admiral Hunter, Louie investigating with Maia Sterling (yep, little sister of Dana), or even when Scott and Louie shake hands, just oddly puts the biggest smile on my face.
But I digress, I can see this has turned into almost as much a review of the Robotech movies (the good ones anyway...) than the show itself. Thank you, Harmony Gold. thank you, Carl Macek. And thank you, Tommy Yune and all the other young fellas whom are currently working on getting the Shadow Rising continuation in gear. I have me the Protoculture and Two-Disc Collections of both the Robotech series and Shadow Chronicles, I'm ready for more! Bring it on~moreless
Robotech
Other (ended 1988)
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- 62 EPISODES ONLINE Watch Online
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Show Summary
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Robotech is the critically acclaimed animated series about mankind's first contact with warring alien races, and the use of alien technology to defend Earth. The series was broken into three chapters, The Macross Saga, The Robotech Masters, and The New Generation. Released in 1985, Robotech was the first anime (Japanese animation) series that many fans had seen, and is often accredited as the cause of the anime fandom that continues to grow today in the United States. COMMON TERMS Robotechnology Refers to technological systems that operate using protoculture. Veritech Refers to a series of personal war-machines that can change their configuration between at least two modes. Destroid Refers to a series of personal war-machines similar to Veritechs, but are limited to one configuration (usually somewhat humanoid). Mecha Refers to the generic term for any personal war-machine used. Battloid Refers to the generic term form any mecha with/in a "humanoid" form. Zor's Battlefortress Also known as the SDF-1. The Tiresian scientist Zor (angry over what the Robotech Masters had done to the Invid), destroyed all of the Tiresian data and production facilities for the creation of protoculture; except for the last remaining protoculture production matrix that he hid aboard the SDF-1. He was critically injured in an Invid attack. His final attack was to have the SDF-1 abandoned and set on a course that would eventually take it to Earth. Flower of Life Refers to a plant that was native to the Invid homeworld before it was defoliated by the Zentraedi acting on orders from the Robotech Masters. The plant is as essential to the survival of the Invid as flowers are essential to the survival of bees. The Invid use it for both survival and evolutionary purposes. Protoculture Refers to a substance derived from the the flower of life. It is used as the main source of power for the majority of the technology scene in the series. Alien Races Tiresian The Tiresian scientist Zor was given the secrets of creating protoculture during a first contact mission with the Invid ruler - the Regis. From their homeworld of Tirol, the Tiresians built an entire empire based on protoculture and robotechnology. At some point the Tiresian rulers (the Robotech Masters) decided that they should have exclusive control over protoculture, and ordered the Zentraedi to defoliate the Invid homeworld of Optera. Zentraedi The Zentraedi race was created by the Tiresian scientist Zor through genetic engineering using protoculture and robotechnology. Through the use of protoculture sizing chambers they can alter their forms from human size to that of giants averaging 40-50 feet in height. They act as the "enforcers" of the Robotech Masters, performing peacekeeping/war-making missions when called upon. Invid The only non-humanoid race in the original Robotech series. The "natural" form of the Invid resembles that of a 4-foot slug with limbs. The Invid can use protoculture to change their form to whatever shape they deem necessary. Where humans might "terraform" a planet to suit their needs; the Invid would "bioform" themselves to suit their environment. Their society is similar to that of social insects, with a queen (the Regis) leading them. An Invid cannot survive outside of their mecha, unless they have been "bioformed" to survive in the surrounding environment. They were peaceful, trusting creatures until their homeworld was defoliated by the Zentraedi. The Invid have been hostile toward all life that is not Invid since that day. (UN)COMMON ACRONYMS SDF (SDF-1) Super Dimensional Fortress ARMD (Armor-1) Armored Reflex Missile Defender VERITECH Variable Engineering and Robotic Integration TECHnology. AGAC (Ajax) Armored Gyro Assault Chopper ATAC Alpha Tactical Armored Corps GMP Global Military Policemoreless
| S 4 : Ep 2 | The Sentinels | ||
| S 4 : Ep 1 | Robotech: The Movie | ||
| S 3 : Ep 25 | Symphony of Light | Aired 6/28/85 | |
| S 3 : Ep 24 | Dark Finale | Aired 6/27/85 | |
| S 3 : Ep 23 | Reflex Point | Aired 6/26/85 |
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Tom Wyner
Jonathan Wolf
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Melanie MacQueen
Lisa Hayes, Marlene
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Melissa Newman
Dana Sterling
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Symphony of Light
S 3 : Ep 25
Aired 6/28/85
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Dark Finale
S 3 : Ep 24
Aired 6/27/85
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Reflex Point
S 3 : Ep 23
Aired 6/26/85
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The Big Apple
S 3 : Ep 22
Aired 6/25/85
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RIP Carl Macek
04/26/101Reply
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Robotech to air on Space in Canada!
11/01/082Reply
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How did you get into this series?
11/01/0838Reply
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Macross starting to be released on DVD in 2006
07/07/084Reply
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Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles
05/03/074Reply
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