sketchley

Some fun facts: 1) the characters in Macross are designed with their target audience in mind. SDF:M characters are slightly older, because that's what the target demographic was. M7 characters are younger because the times have changed. 2) Japan has different laws than your country. What constitutes a crime in one country, doesn't necessarily translate into a similar crime (sometimes isn't even considered a crime!) in another country. The law: http://www.ageofconsent.com/japan.htm 3) Haruhiko Mikimoto, especially when it comes to Macross, should be considered a freelancer, doing a contract job. Therefore, the people ultimately responsible for the results being discussed herein are the creators and producers of Macross. Its their perogative to want characters whom are a child in a woman's body, and a teenaged rock-star wannabe so as to discuss the issue of prearranged marrage.

The VF-1 has them - the two "bumbs" on the sides of the cockpit, below the canopy (they become part of the hips, in battroid mode.) If I'm not mistaken, they are IR cameras, though I'm only 50% confident about this statement.

wwwmwww: scary!!! I'm actually quite speachless; aside from the nagging image of a late night talk show that went about attempting to show the "dark side" of the Mickey Mouse corporation. Sad that they stoop so low.

Lessee... in Macross 7, Sound Force has all of three different mecha. Of that: VF-19 Kai: based off of the VF-19, and apparently has less total weapons, but includes speakers and flashy lights. VF-19 varients also include the VF-19A (atmosphere optimized), VF-19F (space optimize), VF-19S (F version squadron leader), and VF-19P (Zolan.) VF-17T Kai: basically a modified two seater VF-17T. VF-11 MAXL Kai: probably the most extreme of the Sound Force VFs. However, it is a (heavily?) modified VF-11 MAXL, which in turn is a modified VF-11 that includes parts from the VF-16 in a delta-winged fuselage. In two of the 3 VFs, by not seeing more of the other varients that exist works against them; however that may have been the intention of the producers of the show.

For some reason, I was under the impression that travelling in space fold was rigourous. Therefore, my perception was that the airframes of the VFs capable of mounting the fold booster where somehow hardened to better protect the pilot/vehicle whilst in Super Dimension Space. This is not to say that the other arguements are not valid - they are; and they are quite interesting - along tangents that I hadn't mentally explored. Also, aparently the prototype of the VF-11 can mount a fold booster, but the production model cannot. From what little information can be gleaned from sources like the Compendium, a VF sized fold booster was developed and deployed at the, or prior to the development of the VF-11. I'm of the opinion that the first VF scale fold boosters looked nothing like the one introduced with the YF-19 and YF-21 in Macross Plus. The Shinnakasu Industry/OTEC FBF-1000A External Fighter Fold Booster prototype of Macross Plus is also "Not certified for performing a one-way trip of 20 light years." Which leads me to suspect that the preceeding VF sized fold boosters had smaller ranges.

I think it means: the ability to handle a space fold when using the VF fold booster.

For starters - Shouji Kawamori is a Gundam fan first. Any similarities can be traced to his love of Gundam. Coming out of the Golden Age of Anime were 3 super shows with anime first: Space Cruiser Yamato: realistic looking space ships Mobile Suit Gundam: semi-mass production, and true 3-D space combat Super Dimension Fortress Macross: realistic looking transforming mecha, and mass production to the mind boggling scale. All shows built on the firsts established by their predecessors. And all shows are still known, with the occasional sequel being produced every few years or so. Mangledmess - it's funny you mention production, resources and speeds. Gundam obviously doesn't have the capabilities, yet they have the most variety. Macross has the capabilities, but over the course of the timeline, they have produced a far smaller quantity of different vehicles. Yes, Macross 7 has a lot, but on the other hand, it's a series that takes place about 45 years since the development of the first VF. Therefore, I don't see the show as introducing a lot of different VFs from the same time, but rather showcasing the results of years and decades of VF development. Even then, all the "rock star" VFs are growths out of existing VFs.

To be honest, I think it goes well beyond what style people are trained in. Sure, that training does influence the look of the finished designs, but lets examine one core philosophical difference in culture: Robots and their perception. Japan - robots are your friends. They are more often then not tools for people to complete tasks with (wether that be construction, or firing a nuclear missile at close range into an enemy fleet.) Western Countries*: robots will go mad, try to kill you, and then take over the world. With these two fundementally opposing views, there is not only a difference in the result of designs (anime stylized robots,) but also in everyday practical applications of robots (come to Japan. See the robot caretaker of the elderly. The one who plays soccer. The company receptionist. Etc..) Even amongst anime fans, we tend to refer to anime robots as mecha, and do not refer to non-anime robots as mecha. Maybe droids, but definitely not mecha. Are the robots in the Matrix mecha? By the Japanese definition they are. (Mecha = mechanical, as in anything mechanical created for a production.) * I'm having a bit of trouble defining this culture. I'm using it in terms of English and of Western European decent, possibly including the non-English countries of Western Europe, but possibly not; I'm not as familiar with the science fiction and sci-fi productions from the non-English speaking European countries, but suspect it is true as all Europeans have a history of interactions with their neighbours in times yore.)

English. Language of the UN in the early 1980s, when Macross was made. In addition, there is numerous signs, symbols and words in English Roman letters in all of the Macross productions, and there is some English heard in things like the introduction animations of some of the video games, etc.. The 2nd language of Macross would be Zentraedi. (Check out some of the signs in the background when Myung leaves Eden in Macross Plus, eps. 3: English Roman letters, and Zentraedi on the signs!)

I don't think it's a case of English speakers not being able to do good mecha. I think it's a case of "they aren't Japanese, so whatever they produce isn't good enough to be called mecha" combined with the perception that if it doesn't look like other, established mecha (ergo copying, and not being original), it doesn't look good (thus, isn't mecha), or originality is added, making it look less like traditional, accepted mecha, and it becomes something that isn't mecha. To further bust your noodles (and preconceptions and stereotypes): how many Japanese mecha designers speak English? Shoji Kawamori appears to have a good command of spoken English, given the amount of English included in his lineart. Thus, by the logic given, he's not a good mecha designer. @.@ (runs away and hides from the ensuing backlash)

Hmmm... he is one of my favourites, simply because he can create some truly beautiful and unique artwork, that can be very simple (ie: very few lines.) I think his eyes, especially in the Macross 7 designs, are the most powerful aspect of his characters. That said, my most favourite character designers are: Hiroyuki Okiura (Ghost in the Shell (1995)) and the Masami Yuuki and Akemi Takada team that resulted in the highly realistic, yet still simply (in terms of the number of lines in them) character designs for Patlabor 2 (1993)

Not trying to split hairs (or argue semantics, or whatever), but from what I have learned on the topic, satellites orbit at varying altitudes, and the use of the term is general, at best; which is my motivation for including a differentiation between the 'altitudes' of orbit - as technically anything that travel's around the Earth without either touching the Earth or escaping it's gravity is in Earth's orbit (yes, English definition, and not necessarily a scientific one.) <- wow! That's one long run-on sentence.

If I'm not mistaken, the VF-4 can also do it, and depending on who you ask, the VF-1 (and thus, all VFs that came after it) CAN do it, but they must immediately refuel after doing so (see the first couple of episodes of SDF:M.) Though the question then becomes which type of orbit: low, medium, high, geo-synchronous? The VF-1, as per what's seen in SDF-1, can probably do only low orbit, at best. The VF-4 with it's rocket thrusters? Something higher. The VF-19 and VF-22? Geo-synchronous and beyond. IMHO.

Agreed. The three books introduced me to anime in general (the last section of the books.) Yes, they are definitely dated now, but they do give a good time-capsule-esque view into the state of 'Japanimation', and the English/North American perception of it in the era of their publishing. In a way, they are of much higher quality than the TIA: SDFM 3-series of books - sure, they don't have as much lineart or production work, but they do have a lot of glossy colour images.

Roger has not stated nor made the claim that HG is the copyright holders. He has stated that HG is the legitimate license holder in the United States. The actual Japanese owners of the copyright of the material believe so too. If the Japanese owners believe it, then who are we to argue about the right of licensing the material in the United States? In addition, I would not be suprised if Roger spent more than $5,000 USD to go and get the material. And that's not even including translation and negotiation time!

Now who is being the anus? Bullet 1: See Roger's post above. By having the legitimate license holder publish the images, the owners of the material will get money, along with Roger, the legitimate license holders, and whomever they involve in the project. I have a question: did Imai work on Macross? Macross is the only property that is in a legal gray zone regarding licensing. Superdimension Century Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeada are seperate. From the links provided, I am of the understanding that the material in question has to do with Mospeada, not Macross. Bullet 2 & 3: You're entitled to your opinions. I find it both amusing (in a facinating way) and worrisome (in a 'are you insane' way) that a post stating that your arguement is confusing from multiple perspectives means those opinions. Can I use your posts as an example of the strawman arguement elsewhere? Bullet 4: see response to bullet 1

Danth - you're arguement makes no sense; and that's from legal, moral, and as a fellow fan, standpoints.

And yes, I agree with Roger: not only has he gone out of his way to acquire the materials, and to have the materials professionally translated into English*, he has made agreements with the owners of the materials to not give the material away for free (at financial loss to the owners, as the interest expressed in this thread for the material is proving.) * How many times have you non-Japanese fluent Macross fans been left scratching your heads at the Japanese text that accompanies lineart; let alone the, at times, contradictory fan translated text that accompanies lineart, and subtitled anime?

SaveRobotech - you may live in Japan, out of HG's reach, BUT you live in JAPAN, in reach of the true and rightful owners. As you appear to be unaware, it is illegal, in Japanese law, to use any part of a copyrighted work without the owner's consent. Here's the law, in English: http://www.cric.or.jp/cric_e/clj/clj.html

Please keep in mind that Wallace and Grommit have a similar stature in Japan, as anime does in your country, (cool foreign (claymation?) animation,) and that it brings in money for Studio Ghibli to continue producing the excellent productions that it does. Amongst my kindergarten age students (here in Japan,) Thomas (the train) is their most favourite show. However, Fuji TV has got the licence for that...

This is an old topic that the originator of it in this thread refuses to let go of: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...mp;#entry462200

Don't you have to get tickets something like a month in advance to go to the museum? The wife and I had wanted to go to the museum during our trip to Tokyo last month, but couldn't because of that. http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/

Something along the lines of: Daedalus portside (left side) cut-away model *Monster omitted

I agree. Perfect Memory is, well, perfect! After that comes: Shoji Kawamori Macross Design Works TIAS: Macross Plus Macross 7 Animation Materials Macross VF-X2 Official Visual Guide Honorable Mentions are: Kazutaka Miyatake Design Works: Macross & Orguss TIA: DYRL Tenjin Hidetaka Valkyries Macross Plus: Game Edition

Macross 7 = 12 year old TV series. SDF:M = 25 year old TV series. Not only is Macross 7 newer, it's also more relevant - as in the social themes, circumstances and so on mentioned, explored, and hinted at in the series. And for all of those frettng about SDF:M - it WAS rebroadcast, sometime in 1992, if I'm not mistaken. Macross 7 isn't treading on new territory at all here, what with being rebroadcast et al.