chrisk

Question: When did you start realizing the franchise wasn't going anywhere post-2000 "reboot" under the Yunes?

Was it after you bought all the variant covers of the Love & War comics, not realizing it was a very boring retread of the show?

Was it when your Alpha fighter toy broke apart after you pulled it out of the box?

Was it during the hoopla surrounding Shadow Chronicles? Or the film itself that was a disappointment?

Was it because you got annoyed by Robotech Master's talkshoe show?

Was it because of that lame Halo-ripoff Mospeada game?

Did you get turned off by the legal ramblings with Big West?

Or was it simply because you got tired of Tommy Yune's promise of fame and awesomeness in a post-Hollywood Robotech world?

Have you ever seen the Harmony Gold offices? What goes on in there?

They definitely hate Darkwater, Tom, and I at HG. Apparently, they're looking for more people to volunteer to be Robotech moderators. One of my friends, who was loyal to the franchise and was a moderator, told them that he'd be a moderator again, but he was demoted simply for knowing Darkwater, Tom, and I. Immediately following that, he was banned.

Gosh. You'll still get invites to the Robotech LAM premiere when it comes, right?

Seriously, how can you NOT be snarky with companies like Harmony Gold and the lunatic fringe fanbase? Herobot mentioned they're "staffing up" as well? Have they finally hired back MEMO as the office security guard?

Even my insurance company issues out calendars like its no big deal. It's called customer service.

Why does a calendar have to be one of their big announcements? Shouldn't this be something they issue every year? And why the hell are they still using Tommy's stiff 10 year-old art? What the hell does Tommy Yune do 365 days in a year?

I'm sad and pissed at how lame this f****** franchise turned out to be. What a disappointment! THANK GOD FOR MACROSS!!!!

The only disappointment I have is not knowing who did actually banned me. I'm putting my money on McKeever!

I've got my money it's that pesky 'webmaster' of theirs

Now, thanks to people being able to focus on one thing on the internet, not only the fans, but the people behind Robotech really think it's a big thing. At Anime Expo, when a fan asked about "the movie," Kevin interjected and said "you have to be specific, Robotech is SO BIG that there are THREE movies going on right now!" No, Robotech is not that big. If it were, there'd be more than three people on staff at Harmony Gold handling Robotech.

I can tell McKeever is a big fan of The Secret.

And racism. Don't forget that.

* One thing I'm learning from his feed though is that while Harmony Gold are godawful amateurs in business, they can throw one hell of a party. This merely reaffirms my believe that these jokers are in the wrong business. They want the fame and glory that goes with running a purported "megafranchise" without actually doing the hard creative work.

With the Jaume Collet-Sera helmed US remake of Akira now officially green lit the talk now turns to casting the beast. Word began to circulate late last week that Tron: Legacy star Garret Hedlund is in talks to play Kaneda and while Twitch is indeed hearing those talks are ongoing - albeit in the early stages - there are two other parts that are much more advanced.

Twitch has learned that Gary Oldman has been offered the role of Colonel while Helena Bonham-Carter has been offered Lady Miyako.

90M could be a small figure because they're not hiring big-name stars like Christian Bale or Brad Pitt to headline the picture... I believe most of the budget will be applied on the cast's make up to make them look more Japanese. Can't imagine Hedlund passing himself off as a man named "Kaneda" unless they don't care ala race-bending in Last Airbender. The supporting cast should fare better though since they're used to playing weirdos. /sarcasm

This week on Robotech

McKeever shows off Robotech's immense popularity:

http://robotechnews....tos-online.html

Robotech DVDs are a success - and futher proof Harmony Gold doesn't need to put out original content

McKeever continues to post about Hollywood's woes. In other words, no LAM buddy? Meanwhile, Akira movie is greenlit with 90M++ budget. What next? Gigantor?

Akira movie confirmed;

Garrett Hedlund In Talks For Kaneda

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/51674

Sup, don't know if this has been posted yet:

http://www.fandompost.com/2011/10/18/carl-maceks-robotech-universe-event-thoughts/

Some choice quotes:

The documentary itself, comprised of old footage, photographs, and interviews with scenes from Robotech interspersed throughout, lasts approximately thirty minutes.

While plans for a live action Robotech film have been in the works for some time, Harmony Gold has another project, initiated by Macek, that is a little more retro. Apparently, they have unused footage of Yellow Dancer/Lancer from the New Generation arc, and their intent is to edit it and put it out to the fans. Sure, it’s 80-style animation, but for the die-hard Robotech fan, it’s something exciting to look forward to.

After several months, my opinion still stands.

Fuuuuuuuuuuu----

A TRIBUTE TO TOMMY YUNE

The 2011 con season seems to be slowing down, and so I wish to write a small tribute to the one, the only, Tommy Yun.

=======================================================================================

http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/20/my-fanboy-moment-robotech-honcho/

"I was a very young student at the time, but anime series such as 'Robotech' and 'Speed Racer' made big impressions on me. I had arrived to enter a piece into the event's art contest and the organizer told me that they already had too many submissions," he said.

Yune got in line to meet the creator of "Robotech," Carl Macek. Soon after Macek saw Yune's artwork, he took it, and Yune was later announced as the co-winner of the contest.

Who knew that this single moment in time would set forth an unstoppable chain of events that would eventually make Robotech the powerhouse retro brand it is now?

Thank you, Tommy Yune. Thank you for recycling art you did ten years ago and slapping it into every single merchandise you can think of, since you clearly can't be bothered to make new stuff. Thank you for revitalizing Robotech with brand new stories that while trite and hackneyed, the point is you tried. I wish to extend a hand to your brother, Steve Yun, even though all he seems to do is ride on your "success". And ban people on the website. And I would like to thank you for introducing the world to the marketing coordinator like Kevin McKeever, for without him, Robotech wouldn't be as funny to make fun of.

Thank you Tommy! Thank you for everything!

Go go Robo-tech!!!

I've always wondered what a c-beams glitters look like near the Tannhäuser Gate...

If HG was really influenced by this thread they'd have packed it up and called it quits for Robotech and backed off of their strangle hold on bringing Macross over to the US and the rest of the world. But I guess it's progress that they ditched the horrible idea of adapting LLA.

Okay, so they don't listen to us all the time, but at least we're a big enough "influence" to some of their more obsessive staffers (as evidenced by McKeever's weird quotes on his lousy blog, a blog which mind you, rips off from previously more informative, more insightful blog). Good riddance to LLA.

In my blog days, I used to hear things I would say addressed directly at conventions. They'd say things like "Fans on the internet have been saying..." and it was something only I was saying. Then there were times a fan would ask a question at convention and the answer would be something I said almost verbatim in a forum or on my blog.

And now you have none of that except here. Weird. If they value criticism of their work so much, why make it one of their company's mission to ban and suppress, and even mock it at some point?

Speaking of which, whatever happened to the zealot DOZ fan group. What little I've been able to find of their forum remains seem to be super dead.

I think the DoZ's ultimate purpose was to get their lazy "webmaster" to make a lame banner on their dated site.

From certain facts gathered, at one point, it was the idea. However, after numerous negative remarks, and questions of why, it seems like they ditched that effort. Seriously, you'd think that if thy were going this route for over a year now, they'd have much more done on their side project than just 30 seconds of hardly anything. It seems like they only fairly recently decided to do original animation. That's one of those things they'll never admit to, but well, what do you expect? You think they'd actually admit to anything or tell the truth?

I'm gonna make an obvious guess that the LLA redub was originally Carl Macek's idea. That got scrapped partially because they didn't want to pay Michael Bradley (Lancer's original singing voice) royalties, it looked dated as hell, and partially because this thread thought it sucked(?).

Hmm... are we the only place on the internet that cares to critique Harmony Gold's latest moves? (If so, they haven't been listening to us about those boring Powerpoint presentations...)

It doesn't matter how many of the poor drones come here. I do know that HG personally comes here to see what we think of them, their little projects, and their actions. I'm sure we've said stuff that has either caused them to go into panic mode, or has (maybe unknowingly) help them to change their minds in some decisions. For example, I'm sure that one of the three spent a long time on youtube, looking for more of the rt2011 footage from AX, after I said that it's still up there. The truth is, there wasn't, until now.

What I want to know is, is there any truth to the Mospeada OVA redub? I thought it was actually happening...

You gotta remember, cons are the only way HG wants to market the franchise as McKeevie says the internet isn't as effective. HG believes it help with fan relations and keeps everyone in the loop. Moreover, we fans supposedly want these con appearance which definitely was true a few years ago though now it seems less likely since the panels are often empty due lack of info and a recycled power point presentation. Still, the main reason these appearances continue is so the HG triumvirate can have time in the spotlight on a regular basis since they can't get the spotlight by actually releasing a product. Still, they teased that more exciting news will come at the end of this years con season so there's still hope for something other than a re-re-re-re-release of the series. Afterall, why would any company want to unveil big news at the biggest, most publicized con of the year? Just more proof that HG doesn't know what they're doing.

No. Let Robotech go away for a long, long time (I'd say five years). Stop hoping that the stuff that comes out from the House of Yune will be worthwhile, because they won't! Not now, not ever. Not while the same people and weirdo fanboys are running the joint for the next ten years.

Seems they threw everything and the kitchen sink. I won't be surprised if this sells out though, since Robotech fans are starving! They don't have the... luxury of other fanbases.

Still, a hundred bucks for extras is still a hundred bucks for stuff that will eventually find their way to Youtube or some wiki page. In any case, I've seen bits of the remasters and they're pretty dreadful. I think I'll hold on to my six-year old China-made bootleg boxset DVD which I bought from a place called Quiapo...

Just heard part of the interview with Kevvie Mac, and well.... WTF? They were talking about oil prices, and the economy, and a bunch of excuses for things, but not a lot of definitive explanations. Answers were left very open ended, and most of it was just strange. He talked about how Robotech is probably in better shape now, then back in the 85, and used the LAM which isn't even a for sure thing yet as evidence, as well as one half-assed movie, and a side project. Ummm, really? Back then, they were making toys, had advertising on T.V. had comic books in large production, and plenty of other stuff. I had a big Kool-Aid grin when he was trying to explain that, as it's just not true.

Most of it just sounded like fluff, and he did mention that all of us here are having meltdowns because the battleposds are on a boat. First off,,,meltdown??? I think that description will let people know just how out of context he takes things. Meltdown??? OK,,,anyways, I wonder if he realizes the only news of that was to pretty much laugh at his stupid excuse for why it's not here, and that Toynami, the day after their AX panel, had something else to say about why they aren't here.

He also mentioned something in regards to a question about having Macross over here, and while I was busy eating a nice steak at the time, the only thing I got was at the end, where he says that those proceedings are still in process, which again, just isn't true. Ahhh, a good laugh to keep the stomach tight, and reassure many that our thoughts on Kevin are 100% right on.

Idiots.

ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIES

Street date: October 18, 2011

Sug. Retail Price: $99.95

Running Time: 32 hrs., 30 mins. + bonus

Format: DVD/ 17 discs

THE FIRST ROBOTECH WAR (THE MACROSS SAGA)

Format: DVD/5 Discs

Running Time Approx. 15 hrs.

Sug. Retail Price: $49.95

THE SECOND ROBOTECH WAR (THE ROBOTECH MASTERS)

Format: DVD/4 Discs

Running Time Approx. 10 hrs.

Sug. Retail Price: $39.95

THE THIRD ROBOTECH WAR (THE NEW GENERATION)

Format: DVD/4 Discs

Running Time Approx. 10 hrs.

Sug. Retail Price: $39.95

Wowee! It's like printing money!! Up yours creativity!!

Not that anyone really cares, but Kevin McKeever is doing a post panel discussion on the (wonder how they came up with this name) Robotech world podcast. If anyone is on talkshoe, someone should ask him why he lied about the Toynami pods being stuck in a factory in China or stuck on a boat? Whether they got made or not, why make up such a stupid reason that makes no sense? If he says that they have been made, then one can ask why Toynami has given a different answer right after Anime Expo...

Not sure how much you can get from a show hosted by a delusional fanboy interviewing a dishonest weirdo... But we'll see.

They got one of the mid-size/large panels rooms. BUT....The Vertigo panel is before them and the Garth Ennis: Stitched world-premiere panel and Torchwood: Miracle Day Episode 103 follow that panel so you have to ask how many people are actually camping in there for those panels. Additionally, it's scheduled from 7-8PM. But we all know the 1st and last (minus the dealer room) days of these conventions are the lightest.

Can't wait to see Steve Yun's yearly Audience Panorama Shot of Doom. Ultimately, it doesn't matter since whatever they're doing pales in comparison to everything else going around in SDCC, and they know it.

i have no modern interest in ROBOTECH, curiosity or otherwise, as i've never been a fan of "American Anime"

the japanese invented Anime, and only they know how to do it, and cultural differences have proven to be MAJOR component of that factor.

as a result, the ONLY thing that America at large knows what to do with the Asian Artform is to royally F&%k it over, well beyond any reasonable recognition...

So say we all. Sweet collection by the way!

In other news, hey look, I found the robotech movie!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/

The press are dubbing it a "monster movie", and its about "...a group of humans who use piloted robots to defend earth from an extraterrestrial force." It stars Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba and Charlie Day and is being released by Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros this 2013.

Gee.

Good thing Robotech fans have a sidequel this 2012, eh?

Or people like me, who were there only to hear the B.S. I think the only good thing was the documentary stuff they showed, which was decent. Somehow, no one from the Row boat techies there, have commented on the documentary. Must not be as important as HG wants you to think it is.

I hear ya. Did anybody... recognize you there? Make eye-contact with anybody on panel there? Any awkward conversations? That'd be awesome.

How do you know they're not waiting for the next panel? Or trying to sleep off a hangover?

Those same dudes cheered when they heard a Reba West song... I think it's safe to say they're fans

I happen to like SC, some of it anyway. Especially the armors. But I also like Mospeada. Now, let me count how many HG related toys I have. Oh yeah, the Beagles... engineered by the people that make Yamato toys... lol. Even if HG decides to make Toynami toys of SC items, I doubt I would care, and how many more fans feel like I do? I'd say that brings down any significant number of people that would be interested close to nil.

Edit... dammit chrisK! haha!

Well, the stuff Toynami got 'right' (i.e. the Beta/Tlead and the bikes) were molds "borrowed" from the Japanese toy companies, right? Sorry Southern Cross fans, but would you really pay hundreds of dollars for a known lemon Hovertank and even moreso the Space Chopper? I know I wouldn't.

The (30 second convention-exclusive) clip is still up, and they probably could have had it pulled by now, so perhaps their strategy is "Let's make it super-forbidden and tempt people into recording it so that the fans will see it and say 'I want more!'" Then again, it has a whopping 223 views so far, which proves that buzz from a few internet forums mean NOTHING in terms of sales. Still, I feel safe knowing that they patrol them all.

Shows how much people care about a Yellow Dancer 'sidequel', I say.