Kaldar5

Can't wait to see some properly scaled 1/72 dioramas with regular 1/72 Valks.
So rare to see pics of Glaugs and Monsters properly scaled with Valks. People never realize how friggin big they are.

And if you are attempting to "sneak in" a 1/72 Monster without your wife noticing... um... that might not be the best plan.

Oh, neat! While there is a cynical part of me that wants to question anyone's ability to accurately subtitle Yoko Kanno nonsense-language, I am going to ignore it and say that is super cool. Thank you for sharing!

You can hear it pretty clearly in the song itself, since it's sung very slowly at this point.

I always assumed the tuna came from there. Why wasn't it stuck in the ice? Uh... it jumped.

Yeah I assume there would be quite a bit of violent thrashing knocking water away in the last few moments of the tuna's confused and strange end.

Question:

Does anyone have any information on the Valkyrie craft compliment maximums of the SMS light carrier Gefion from Macross 30?
(I know you can fit limitless number of Valks in the game, heh)

Just wondered if there was any design info or specs out there. Light carriers are pretty cool, big enough to have as a base, small enough to be pirates or mercenaries.

It occurred to me recently that I don't know what Ranka's "real" name is. She presumably uses the Lee surname because of her relationship with Ozma, but wasn't born with it (barring a crazy coincidence). Her given name might not even be Ranka; if she was found as a deeply traumatized, amnesiac five-year-old, she might not have been able to provide her name, and I'm unclear what records of her background were retrievable.

Is that right? And, if so, is her birth name known?

I wanted to add in that Ranshe Mei's research into the Vajira "language" seems to have inspired Ranka's name:

"Ranka" is actually a word in the true version of the Aimo song.

Makes sense, that was the research she was working on while preg, and what she sang to her all the time as a toddler.

(Guessing from the song translation I would say Ranka means "hope"?? Just a guess tho.)

DYRL ending: original theatrical vs later post Flashback 2012 release.

I know the Angel's colors concert video during the credits is "new", but is the "Silent forgiveness" scene between Minmay and Misa "new" also?
(Minmay relaxes, turns around, hold up Misa's translation, Misa smiles and makes "Oh no no, you," motion and bows a tiny bit, Minmay smiles ect)

Did the original movie just end after the statement of hope about one song bringing all this change from Britai?

Nope, didn't miss that... but you have to consider her state of mind at the time. She'd already seen her one-sided crush locking lips with her rival/idol/mentor, been manipulated into being used as the latest weapon against the Vajra, and was living with the guilt of learning that Ai-kun was, in fact, the same type of alien who put her friend Nanase in the hospital and nearly killed her adopted brother on multiple occasions. I doubt her reasons for running away were entirely altruistic, and it probably didn't help that Alto clearly took exception to her leaving the fleet with Brera and a Vajra.

You could read her motivations for leaving the fleet as an altruistic desire to stop the war, but you could also interpret them as a teenage girl running away from her problems under the cover of an attempt to do the right thing.

Yes she was dealing with all the other stuff, and still made the hard choices and tried to do what needed to be done. You don't "run away" by spacefolding into unknown hostile alien territory.

Her intentions are clearly stated, by her, in ep 23. She went there to stop the war, and she broke up with Alto to do it. She specifically used past tense of love when she left.

(And you are using Alto disapproving of her leaving as a reason for her leaving??? Wat?)

This is Macross. You know, the series about ending war in some way with music and culture?

But if you want to ignore the entire concept and point of the Macross universe and character hate, sure, go ahead an interpret it that way instead.

who becomes one anyway because she's picked by someone with the resources to make it happen anyway

Elmo Vector.

Resources?

The man is a small time failure. Still loveable and hilarious though.

If he had "resources to make it happen anyway" she wouldn't be dressed as a friggin carrot.

Elmo's efforts to promote her are, to an extent, a flop because of Grace's interference... but she never displays the professionalism we see in most other Macross idols. When she's forced to shoulder the reality of her world, she doesn't carry on and forge ahead... it breaks her completely. Ranka's character arc sort of stops prematurely... it never lets her "grow up" the way Minmay did.

When she decides to personally lure the Vajira to a fold bomb, without being directly asked, she volunteers and does it no complaining or indecision. Then she makes a personal effort to end the war. Then does so in Episode 25. Hardly "broken".

It wasn't a song she came up with which got her the role either... it was one manufactured at the 117th Research Fleet by Grace and co.

Now you are really stretching and just trying to use the word "manufactured" in a sentence to make your point.

The song was the Vajira mating song that Ranshe Mei was translating. She named Ranka after a word in the song.

So I guess Minmay is a "manufactured idol" because "Ai Oboete Imasuka" is a "manufactured protoculture" song?

This is ridiculous.

You hate Ranka? That's fine. Please don't lose sight of what Macross is about though. It's more than just the characters.

To me, she just was a version of Minmay who never really got the chance to grow up and get over her typical teenage girl-ish bout of self-centered-ness.

Did you miss the part where she gave up on Alto, left her family, & safety to attempt to stop the needless war (& Illegal per NUNS) in ep 21 and explained by her in ep 23?

I wouldn't exactly call that "self centered".

I don't blame you, it's easy to miss - but it is the heart of the series.

She's sort of a subversion of Minmay too, in that she DOESN'T really meet with success through her own ability... she's a manufactured idol.

Ranka is a manufactured Idol? You kidding?

So the Mr Vector of the one man operation "Vector productions" that bums around the mall in tacky clothes and begs on his hands and knees, gets her those great roles and gigs with his power and funding such as:

• "Carrot" at the prestigous venue of "Vegtable stand",
• Passing out tissues at the Mall, personally asking people to please buy her music, and
• "Island girl #3" in a movie

No, Ranka worked her butt off - and got noticed for her talent by a small time agent that couldn't manufacture a star if he wanted to. Orininal fame, fame from the ep 12 air concert, and lead roles in the movie came from her singing talent alone. Not from artificial backing.

While Sheryl started as a child dying in an alley, an immortal cyborg researcher with the resources of an entire colony fleet picks her out, picks her up, injects her with stuff, THEN has her sing in the big leauges for Grace's own ends with Grace backing her finacially. That would be manufactured.

The most recent incarnation of it can be found here (last paragraph of Kawamori san's introductory letter):

http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Trans/MCRseriesguide/SrsGuid.php#0203

Thank you sir! Exactly what I was looking for.

Few too many new fans are 100% sure they know absolute canon

I vaguely remember a Kawamori quote regarding DYRL/SDF continuity/canon differences; something like "The truth is somewhere in between" or some other such cop-out, er phrasing.

Can anyone provide me with the exact quote or interview?

Thanks!

About to buy one of these kits myself. How is the poseability on these?
Any other tips on finishing or small problems you had with the build?

Thanks for posting the pics.

Macross Frontier is making a big impact with it's broad appeal and high production quality, and a decent number of new MF fans are going back to watch the old stuff.
Some of those will be our new generation of Macross fans.

I haven't watched it, but I wonder if Shouji Kawamori's AKB0048 will have a weird indirect impact on Macross fandom.
Could some fans of that go from "super cute music saving everybody sci-fi" to "serious music saves everybody sci-fi"?

Possibly checking out what else Kawamori has done?

The question is, will those fans stick around here when they see what a bunch of old fuddy duddy love triangle haters we are?

Katsucon 5 from 1999 has a Mikimoto cover. That year, Mikimoto was a guest. Unfortunately, Katsucon went cheap with the program book that year. I think the cover is from the Sega Saturn QuoVadis game. Kinda looks Macross-ish doesn't it?

Nice! I was there, still have that booklet stowed away.

Yep, too bad it was super cheap.

While the colony in 7 is decent, I just wanted to portray the fact that the Mac 7 colonists regularly left the main ship for other entertainment (At external entertainment ships) and that it did have slum areas.
Not saying that City 7 was a hell hole, but averaged out Frontier seems nicer with less complaints from the average citizen (Miria, are you behind those stacks of papers?) And a larger more self sustaining design.

Oooh! Yen/dollar predictor! I needed that; thanks for the link.

Also, CD Japan preorders:
If you pay with PayPal, they take it immediately.
If you use credit card, they take it when the item comes in, so you can play the currency market that way too.

That is up to you. I'd probably go the production timeline-route as it would be better watching the progress of the animation style as opposed to the series chronology. So start with SDFM first.

And once you start we can help you on where you want to go next. There's a thread for that (I finally get to say that).

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=38543

Agreed. Zero wouldn't mean quite as much if you watch that first.

Azrael has the best option for if you want to watch everything.

We have another similar thread active with new fan viewing opinions and order (lots of differing opinions!) going on you may want to check out for further input on this:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=38683

Don't forget to share what you enjoy and impressions with all us old timers. It's great to hear about new fans enjoying things for the first time.

I just typed the below up quick like. If anyone has a better version of a simple timeline, share it.

Timeline, shows in bold text:

1999 Macross crashes to earth

2008 Some alien tech is incorporated into human tech, small scale fusion reaction engines not yet in Valks

Macross Zero

2009 Macross finishes refit, launches

Macross SDF TV

Macross DYRL movie

2012

Macross Flashback 2012 special (basically a music video. Hikaru, Minmay, and Misa leave on the Megaroad-01 colony ship, and "go off into the sunset")

2040 Human planetary colonization is widespread from use of short term emigration ships. (decent, but wouldn't want to live for years on one)

Macross Plus

2045 Full fledged Colony fleets now common, and become much more livable on a near permanent basis

Macross 7

2059 Colony fleets are wonderful to live in on a permanent basis. Some young adults have lived their entire lives inside colonies.

Macross Frontier (refers to Zero, SDF, DYRL, barely refers to Plus, does not really refer to Macross 7)

Macross Frontier Movies 1 & 2 (overlaps with TV series, but watch the TV first)

Macross 2 - not canon, creators basically say it didn't happen. Watch it if you run out of stuff to watch.

---

Frontier somewhat refers to Zero, so do try to watch Zero before Frontier. Not a huge deal tho.

Frontier is also a perfectly viable way to start watching Macross, as it is a high quality full stand alone series with stuff for everyone and all tastes to enjoy.

Not a good start option for true Macross fans of course (You would watch everything, duh), but might be viable for modern picky anime fans that can't deal with older animation. Once they fall in love with the Macross universe, they can go back and watch older stuff.

LOL Remember, new Mac F watcher thread here people not too much info

True, and she can dance in the backseat of a moving VF with the canopy open. That's pretty amazing dexterity right there.

Never thought about it before, but I think the VF-25 Inertia Store Converter system could have helped with that.

It seems stressful. One of my lady friends goes every year so I hope she can help me.

Nah, we are likely talking over a whole weekend.

Just figure out what you "have to do" (really bummed if you don't) and make sure to do those.

Get Mikimoto to sign stuff, go to his panel, score Macross goods. Done.

Secondary missions: Know what he looks like so you can buy him a drink, or tell him he rocks personally in a non-stalkerish way if you see him somewhere. Bonus points for doing it in broken bad Japanese. At least you tried, culturally Japanese people rarely frown on people at least attempting.

The rest of the time hang out, do what you like, talk to friendly strange people, take pictures of strange people, have a room party, invite the strange people you met, and get sloshed.

Huh? Who am I hating on...?

I dunno, Luca? He could put some big boy pants on.

No offense meant to you or Mylene; I'm not a Mac 7 hater, it just surprised me for someone to say that. Personally I feel there is lots of Moe in Mac 7, and that's not a bad thing by any means. Mylene is a great character. (Even flower girl)

Maybe you have a very strict definition of moe, (such as shows identical to K-on) that's cool with me, and some people use it that way.

I'm used to discussions with people that overall have a looser definition perhaps that very much includes tsundere.

Lum from Urusei yatsura is considered the very first "Moe" character, and she is the tsundere type moe.

I'll just chalk it up to differences in translation and word usage. Didn't mean to attack ya.

Let's just help out and enjoy stories from a new Macross fan as they share the excitement of watching stuff for the first time, not devolve into yet another character trashing fest. I can't take another 30 years of it.

Ugh. I hope he doesn't do that. I really want this program signed.

Yeah I'll probably get a silver marker for the cover, being black, or maybe red? Idk.

Do they usually have any Macross toys for sale there?

He'll prob sign it no prob.

They will likely have a moderate amount of Macross stuff at any con, but if dealers are smart they will have extra at this con because he will be there.

As with any con, hit the dealers room early Friday before all the good stuff is picked over.

Ask folks familiar with the con if prereg pick up takes forever, might be better to reg at the con instead of waiting in line forever at a badly run prereg pickup.

Some cons also have reg Thursday night.

And double check: ask several staff in advance several times where the signings will be, and if they have been moved. You do not want to have the location time changed on you and get screwed or line up at the wrong spot.

I don't think of Mylene as being a terribly moe character... she's not very clumsy, she doesn't call anyone "onii-chan," she doesn't look like she's five... if anything, she's more tsundere.

I suppose you could make the case for it (which is why I said "arguably"), but I don't really see it.

We have had the young looking character archetype ever since Shammy.

And really, looks 5? Honestly? Calls her adopted brother "brother"? How terrible.

Hey c'mon on now. It was Junya Ishigaki that designed the Ex-Gear. He's a long time unsung pro.

Whoops! My bad.

Thanks for the correction.

Macross 7 doesn't really have any moe (arguably). Macross Plus has none (inarguably). Macross Frontier has a fair amount (inarguably).

I'm not sure what you're saying here... I know I'm asking a huge favor here, but if you could just come out and EXPLAIN your reasoning, I'd be grateful. Honestly.

Weirdest thing I have seen on the internet today:

User named Gubaba claims there is arguably no moe in Mac 7.

Named after a alien mouse pet that mimics the expressions of an excitable young pink haired girl wearing a small one piece swimsuit that gets frustrated all the time and "needs protecting" by nearly everyone around her in Macross 7

---

Macross Frontier episode 8:

Yeah we could do without it, but just one off episode doesn't ruin an entire series. It just may annoy you if you hate pointless fanservice.

I live in Raleigh. Like a mile from the convention center. haha. Exciting!

I've never gone to animazement. I always thought I would feel very out of place with all the kids running around. But oh well.

I'm going to get him to sign this DYRL movie program:

Lucky!

Guest autograph signing in the US varies from con to con, but last time I met him in 1999 he was doing rapid fire beautiful Minmay pictures with marker and signing them (and no requests for other stuff).... but I am not sure if they were allowing other things to get signed instead of the personally drawn pic.

(Was incredible to see him draw so well so fast!)

But yeah, do bring the movie program, and a properly colored marker just in case.

Gah he should be working on Macross the First instead of making me think about attending a con with barely a month's notice.

Wish the big names didn't always confirm at the last min like that.

So. Here is my breakdown of viewing the first episode of Macross Frontier:

Told ya Just gets better. The fight scenes you have seen so far aren't even bad ass comparatively to what comes later, glad you are blown away already.

Alto is Hikru, Ozama is Roy, Sheryl is Minmay, Luca is Max, and Grace as Misa

And that's just another thing about Mac F. You think you know, and it feels familiar, but you are almost always pleasantly surprised - and it never feels forced.

For max enjoyment watching the show:

• When someone is drawn completely as a single color, that means something. It's not artistic license; something specific is happening. Sometimes the characters don't even notice. Make sure you do.
• If someone makes a decision, step back and think from that characters perspective, and what they are experiencing before you judge. (heck that should go for any complex show)

And make sure to frame-by frame some of those combat scenes, they are so detailed and so so fast.

Also check out the Ex-Gear flight suit when it ejects from or enters a cockpit. The suit and wings actually transform into the cockpit seat and controls, and it works physically. How do you do it Kawamori-san?

Just part of the movie. I might go back and give the show more of a chance.

To requote myself from the first page:

....Then back to Macross 7 and Macross 2 When you run out of other Macross stuff to watch.

Yep. Proceed onwards to Frontier good sir.

(Susume, Furonteia!)

And get a good translation, because the plot does get complex when it comes to shady conspiracy stuff. Bad subs make it hard to follow.

[Central Anime] does a good detailed job of it.