Tom Bateman

Guillermo "MEMO" Patino... whatever happened to you? Memo, at one time, was one of the best of fans... …he was also one of the best of friends... When I wanted to move up to Los Angeles at the end of 2003 (after two years, I was tired of commuting from Orange County), it was Memo who I called and asked "Do you know anyone who needs a roommate?" Shortly thereafter, he put me in touch with Jasonc, who I had known (but not well) from the Robotech parties that we had in SoCal, many of which took place at his home in West L.A. Jason and I became roommates at the beginning of 2004 and remained so until mid-2007, when he got married. During that time, our place was a great place for the SoCal RT fans to hang out. We would often get together on Friday nights to go to dinner, go to movies and just hang out. Those were some of the greatest times and it really became a family. Obviously, since it was what brought us all together in the first place, many times conversations would turn to ROBOTECH, which we all had an interest in. The opinions over the direction of Robotech and the quality of products that would come out were candid and vocal. I wanted my friends to be honest with me. It was my obligation to them and to Harmony Gold to give the best advice that I could regarding all matters concerning Robotech. Just to be clear, Tommy Yune was not my boss at Harmony Gold. I was not his direct report and he did not sign my paycheck and he had no authority over me. Yes, he is Creative Director in charge of Robotech, a mistake that Harmony Gold is paying for every single day he remains employed. Just add up his $80,000 a year salary (last I heard) since 2002 and ask "Is he worth it?” I would say without any doubt or reservation that he is not. Everything I did when I was at HG was in the best interests of HG and of Robotech. My job was to make my company rich and turn Robotech into a major multi-million dollar franchise and I made every effort to do so. I kept the faith with my company and I was loyal to it and to Frank Agrama …not to Tommy Yune. Why they followed Tommy's advice on so many critical decisions will perplex me forever. There is no logical reason for turning over franchise decisions to someone who had no business experience or plan. Tommy was completely responsible for so many of Robotech's failures in the last decade. Both video games suffered from his creative direction (or lack thereof), the big breasts in RTSC, those were his doing; the lackluster comic books, those were his area of so-called "expertise" Over the three years that I lived with Jason, Memo attended many of our Friday night gatherings; I think he came to enjoy the fact that Tommy and I were at odds over the direction of Robotech. He said many things to egg it on, or to get a rise out of me and others. Many people were there to witness it; they are free to talk about it if they want. Memo would also show off, brag about information that Tommy had told him, show stuff that Tommy had given him. Being in the position I was in, I knew a lot of things that Memo was saying could only have come from Tommy, who clearly trusted Memo. In fact, I think Memo is the only guy I have ever seen Tommy buy lunch/dinner for. From what I have seen and my own personal opinion, Tommy doesn’t have many close friends, certainly not amongst the RT fans, except maybe for Memo. Obviously, I kept the fact that I lived with another Robotech fan a secret from Tommy, because I know how much he would freak out and try to make a control issue out of it. Which is exactly what he did once he found out and used it to get me fired. Of course, Memo knew I lived there since I moved in back in 2004; after all, he set it all up. After I was fired, I met up with Memo and asked him if he ratted me out, Memo of course denied it and claimed that it was Kevin McKeever who ratted me out. Kevin McKeever also knew I lived with Jason since the beginning, and he too kept it a secret from Tommy, at my request, but Kevin would have had nothing to gain by revealing his knowledge of my living with Jason, whereas Memo would see it as an opportunity to enhance his standing with Tommy, by removing Jason and also helping Tommy get rid of me. People had been leaving the site for a long time, fans were getting disgruntled and voicing their opinions about Robotech and the direction that Tommy and HG were taking it. I did my best to be the voice of those fans as I agreed with them. Robotech was not headed in the right direction under Tommy’s (mis)direction and I think we had squandered a golden opportunity with RTSC. It should have been so much more than it was. When people started getting disgruntled with Robotech, and people started leaving the boards or getting banned; I think Memo saw that as his opportunity to assert himself as the #1 fan. Many times, Memo would brag to us that Tommy had offered him a job at HG, but he had turned it down. This was ridiculous as Tommy didn't have the authority to hire or fire anyone. Tommy has done a lot to insulate himself from criticism, which is why he took so much personal interest and attention in banning ANY dissent or criticism of him on Robotech.com, lest any of his superiors decide to read the website. As anyone can see now, it’s practically dead there. It’s amazing how EVERY negative comment about RTSC would be construed as a personal attack on Tommy. At conventions, Tommy loves to “hold court” with fans who are starstruck and naïve and won’t question his decision making. It’s sad how he strings them along, with talk of the non-existent RLAM or Shadow Rising. Tommy surrounds himself with yes-men, like Kevin McKeever. His brother Steve could care less, but he will do whatever his brother tells him to. Steve is just happy to still have a job and collect a paycheck. Tommy certainly was not honest in his appraisals of the health of the franchise to our superiors. Did our superiors listen to me? One did, but she wasn’t with the company long enough to change things. It’s a shame that HG doesn’t take a harder look at what kind of return on investment they are getting from their (un)Creative Director. Tommy is incredibly insecure. He’s unable to take criticism and is quick to blame others (i.e. Korean animators, Vicious Cycle) I knew he was trying to fire me since the beginning. He would freeze me out of as many decisions as possible. I had to fight to get my input in. Eventually, Tommy succeeded in getting me fired. It’s what he wanted and obviously what Memo wanted too. It's just as well that I got fired. In the end, it came down to him or me, and they chose him. Oh well. When I was fired, I told HG that Robotech would never be a success as long as they listened to Tommy. It has been THREE AND A HALF years since I left Harmony Gold and what has been accomplished in regard to Robotech? Not much. This is what happens when you put a cartoonist in charge of a potential multi-million dollar franchise. I truly doubt Tommy is even a fan of Robotech as I never had a conversation where he would talk about the show the way someone with a true passion for it would. Never a chat about what his favorite episode was, or favorite moment or favorite character. Just look at him on the “Birth of a Sequel” documentary or on a video at a convention, there is no sincerity in his voice. Memo’s agenda? Who knows? He’s still trying to stir stuff up for whatever reason, but it’s like being mayor of a ghost town… when everyone has gone and moved out, who really cares?

Does this mean that GUNDAM: THE ORIGIN is finally coming to an end? At what point in the story are they now? Did not notice Max the first time I looked through Vol. 2 (p. 142) I really liked the shot of Admiral Hayase back on Earth after the Macross fold. MACROSS: THE FIRST... it's "crack" for old-school types.

Well, there's not much that can be done about that. Fans have very little control over that. Yes, this was a fan produced video. It may actually shock you, but there are Robotech fans who do respect the original Japanese series and the people who made it a reality.

Other than the principals at Tatsunoko, the original staff members were not listed in the original ROBOTECH credits back in 1985, or in the "Remastered" DVDs that came out in 2003-04. On the same note, even the American voice actors were not credited, at least not with their real names. This "RESTORED" End Title attempts to correct both of those wrongs: Credit to Mike Lugo and Rick Quitoriano for this contribution.

I would disagree with that. Most RT fans are not aware of other Macross series. If any were to make that comment, I would bet good money that they had not actually watched a Macross sequel. If they had seen it, it would have been immediately apparent that Macross sequels and Robotech would be like oil mixing with water. Take for instance MACROSS ZERO, on the surface, the idea of seeing Roy Fokker again is pretty exciting, but the story wouldn't make sense in the Robotech universe, no matter how you slice it. A square peg fitting into a round hole. Robotech should follow its own path and do its own story. Say what you will about The Sentinels, but at least that was an attempt to go down its own road. Other than being set before the first 36 episodes, there is virtually nothing the "From the Stars" comic has in common with Macross Zero. As someone who contributed some story elements to FtS, I can assure you that it was important to avoid Macross Zero, which wasn't hard to do. Using tech specs of mecha that relate to the Macross Saga (i.e. DYRL variations) is not what I would call a serious (or even non-serious) campaign to bring Macross sequels over as pseudo-sequel of Robotech. I don't agree with this broad characterization, I've never encountered a single RT fan who seriously advocated incorporating Macross sequels into Robotech, certainly not anyone who had actually watched them. It might come up as a passing comment, but the notion is quickly dismissed as any RT fan that takes a serious look at the Macross sequels would quickly realize their incompatibility. The response would be "Oh, you're right. What was I thinking?" Touché, sir. Touché

While MACROSS and ROBOTECH both share the same basic elements of the first 36-episode television series, that should be ALL that they share. Both shows' stories diverge from each other, and that is how it should be. Hikaru Ichijo is NOT Rick Hunter and vice versa. I consider the stories and characters of each show to be completely separated from the other. Just because I like both ROBOTECH and MACROSS, that doesn't mean I think they should be mixed together. I am abhorred at the mere idea of incorporating ANY of the MACROSS sequels into ROBOTECH. That notion makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Anyone even suggesting that should have their head examined.

Intellectual Property Thieves? It would be wrong to characterize Harmony Gold as such. Disagree with them if you must, but I can assure you, their trademark and copyright of Macross (outside of Japan) is not the result of anything illegal. This is just me talking, but a panel on this "tour" is not the place where you are going to find out information regarding any Robotech live-action movie project. The speakers on those panels are not high up enough at Harmony Gold to be in the loop on that.

Keith, taksraven... I think a common mistake is assuming that Kawamori and Big West are one in the same. Kawamori is not an employee of Big West, and therefore is not their representative. It is important that the distinction be made between the two, even though I know you are just joking... or are you?

Nah, that's not the way that kind of thing works. I can't imagine any scenario where he would be the target of a C&D.

Qui Gon should have been Anakin's father. He finds Anakin and begins to train him as a Jedi as a way to right a past wrong (for knocking up Mama Skywalker). It would have given their relationship some resonance and also a reason for Obi Wan to take up Anakin's training. Would have been interesting having him in other movies, maybe killed in Ep. 1, but appearing in the other two prequels as a Force ghost to Anakin, the way Obi Wan was for Luke. The "virgin birth/Darth Plageus" idea, like most of what's in the prequels, makes no sense.

Never met Big West, or Studio Nue (though, I did have a brief "I'm not worthy" encounter with Shoji Kawamori at AX2002 when he came by the Battlecry booth that was set up. I gave him a set of the Animeigo DVDs... no, he did not throw them back at me) I haven't a clue. I haven't worked there in over three years. People being banned from robotech.com for disagreeing with the Brothers Yun? Surely you jest! I think it's pretty evident that almost any criticism directed towards Tommy can be construed into being a personal attack. It looks like nothing has changed. Of course, that's just my opinion, take it or leave it.

Am I real or am I "necromanced"? Not sure what that means in my case. CODENAME: ROBOTECH is more or less a 90-minute version of the 14th episode "Gloval's Report", so I can't see what's so bad about that.

You're kidding, right? You actually own all those Robotech titles?

Actually, he did design that himself. Personally, I thought it was in keeping with the original Mospeada design. Too bad it wasn't used in any animation.