Cho Jiku Yosai Macross

In order to appreciate modern anime better, I felt that I should continue to expand my classic anime knowledge. Thus when AnimEigo was forced to stop selling the original Macross series, I went ahead and purchased it on sale. Fortunately, I didn't waste my money.

For starters, one doesn't watch Macross for its art or animation. Both have aged poorly and are at times VERY ugly. Yet in a weird way, this ugliness adds to the charm of the series. It is just amazing how far art and animation in anime has come since this title was release.

As to the story, it was obvious to me that the writers had some fun with this title. They basically introduce elements that they think will be fun and run with them. Those that work they stick with and those that don't get quickly resolved.

At the center of everything is Hikaru, a young talented stunt pilot who is anti-war in his beliefs, even though his great friend and senpai, Major Focker, is an ace pilot assigned to the SDF-1 Macross. The sudden war between Earth and the alien race Zentraedi finds Hikaru forced to fight in the cockpit of a fighter which can transform to a mecha. I give great credit to the writers for not giving him combat skills nor some magical ability to control the fighter in mecha form. Instead, he has to be rescued. His flying skills are explained by his being a stunt pilot, and when flying a fighter into space for the first time, he is unable to fight because he doesn't have the skills. So that was very believable as was Hikaru's shift to join the military.

Every hero needs a romantic counterpart, to we are given Minmay, the 15-year old girl whom Hikaru rescues. Their relationship is one that many guys will identify with and that gets the writers more kudos. The two experience things which brings them together and causes Hikaru to fall in love with her. Yet when the crisis is over, she only refers to him as a friend, confusing the heck out of Hikaru, but never killing his love for her.

The writers also include Misa, a bridge officer, as a romantic interest for Hikaru. I never did understand her interest in him beyond the fact that they could push each others buttons in a negative way. The writers also introduced a dashing male cousin for Minmay to be with, causing yet another love triangle. Fortunately, the writers do resolve all of these items properly in the end.

Another plus is the constant explaination for why the Zentraedi don't just blow away the Macross and Earth. And the writers weren't afraid to kill characters either. So the writers do their job for the most part.

On the other hand, there are some writing flaws. The romantic scenes are written (dialog) in such a way to come off more like a soap opera than not. Add the music to those scenes and the soap opera feel is complete. Because of the "lets try this" method of writing, some things done don't quite ring true when introduced or don't have the impact they should (like Max's wedding or Claudia's love). Also, the writers left some things unanswered like why it took the Zentraedi 10 years to locate the Supervision Army ship that Earth turned into the Macross.

I got a bit tired of Minmay's music, especially since it was often the same songs over and over. To force me to listen to the music, the songs were often played as characters said important things over the top of the music. The music isn't bad, just not my thing.

Bottom line: this bit of classic mecha anime is certainly worth seeing for serious anime fans and worth a buy for those who like a good story.

Last updated Tuesday, January 25 2005.