VFTF1

I usually don't actually read the sub-titles, or even look at what's going on. I just stare at Misa when she's on screen and dream about her when she's off screen. Pete

It is awesome. But remember - even in the world of Gurren Lagann, some people actually prefered staying under ground. Viral was right to defend them. We shouldn't force them out from the underground either... Pete

Between Exosquad, Transformers, and Robotech... the VF-1 has sure gotten a lot of traction... poor little guy... the Valkyrie is like the town (Cobr-) lu-lu-lu-lu-lut (my way of getting around Slurm...): everyone seems to have screwed with her Pete

So poor Mark Hamil was the only freelancer involved with the project? This is worse than when he did that time travel movie... Pete

Yeah, there is more and more an inclining of them... Amuro not getting knocked out by that one big Mobile Armor's acceleration... Seyla "sensing" Char piloting the Zanzibar... etc etc... But again - I guess I like how it is subdued. I would like to watch Zeta next, but I seem to be having trouble finding it. Thankfully, Turn-A-Gundam is readily available, and I'm very interesting in seeing that. But for now, still about 10 episodes left to complete MSG. Overall, I like this series. Heck - I made it this far. That didn't happen with Gundam OO, where I just couldn't bring myself to go past episode 5. The only reason I stalled on MSG was because of bad luck. After 16 episodes, my computer died. I lost all my anime, including the 16 episodes of MSG I had. And since MSG wasn't on the top of my list, I first had to regain NGE, TTGL, Macross SDFM, and DYRL....which technically shouldn't have taken me this long... but I'm like an old man. I do everything really slowly. Whenever I get into a rush - bad things happen. Accidents, explosions, I bump into things (I'm always not fitting into doorways - always bump my shoulder or something...)... err... Anyways - eventually I got around to - um - now - and am finishing up the series. Oh...Haruhi Suzumiya kind of consumed me for a while there too... I have to say it was such a refreshing break from Super Robot/Real Robot/Any Robot anime... But I do like Gundam the series. Char's Counter Attack has too many shades of SEED in it. I just could not STAND SEED. Icky poo. The animation improved - sure - but the plot was just far too much of an "updated" version of MSG, with nothing new in it. And the mecha were way over the top... I prefer the clunky old school designs in MSG. Speaking of which... I seriously laugh at the G-Fighter. The whole concept is ridiculous. It seems that the only purpose of the G-fighter is to build tension and make it look like Zeon might win when - oh - look - G-Fighter can release Gundam! I mean - what good is this "upgrade" if all it basically does is prolong the suffering of the Federation troops until finally they have to release Gundam from the G-Fighter? Yeah - technically the G-fighter operating on its' own can act as air support for Gundam - whoopy. But it could do that without having to enclose Gundam and encase him too. You don't see Guntank or Guncannon enclosing Gundam and releasing him when the going gets tough - they act as a support mecha and function autonomosly just fine... So... what's with the G-Armor? I mean - the thing itself is a nifty weapon - yes... but in terms of it carrying Gundam around and effectively keeping Gundam out-of-commision AND then having to execute A and B module combinations mid-air and mid-combat... it seems that it's more dangerous than just launching Gundam from White Base without having it go out encased in G-Fighter....? Finally - that big Mobile Armor that Amuro destroys during the fight with the Zanzabar... that kind of reminded me of the Armor QUess gets killed flying in Char's Counter Attack... I bring this up only to wonder aloud whether subsequent Gundam series/OVAs are not too repetiious... I know, I know...there's plenty of homages in Macross Frontier too ... and in general it's kind of what series like these do... But Macross Frontier also manages to introduce fresh unique characters and concepts...whereas Gundam seems to like repeating itself a bit much... Of course - I do realize I am talking out of my ass here since I haven't seen enough Gundam to make judgements - so please just treat these as the passing thoughts of a Gundam newbie getting into the franchise. And finally...or next... hmm...what did I want to say?...slipped my mind...mmm... oh...yeah - I also got inclings of the Titans here... but is that Gundam Zeta or ZZ Gundam when the Titans story is told? In either case - it seems that MSG and then the story of the Titans will be interesting and I expect they will be novel.... But other than that...well... I dunno... Why SEED hurt so much? Pete

Now, now. Don't jump on people for not loving Gurren Lagann. Be nice. Nobody's perfect. However- I do hope that Renagade Zendradi finally got those 4 pizzas and cokes and went ahead and watched it Pete

Forgive the double post but I'm basically doing little more today than catching up on the remainder of Mobile Suite Gundam... Finally found a character I could like, and discovered there'd been one I liked a lot all along - only needed some time to develop. The latter is Kai - who started out as an irrelevent B character who was there for the token "I'm scared/see me be a coward/hear me make whitty cynical remarks" character but has developed into someone I can really identify with. Amuro was right when he called the General's threat to imprison people who didn't want to be conscripted "martial law." The problem is, every time Amuro notices that the Federation is corrupt or notices that the Zeon are also human... he doesn't do anything - doesn't act on it. He tried once- running away with Gundam - but was ropped back into the fight. Kai at least had the gutts to leave - to basically say "yeah, whatever - I own myself and I don't want to fight this war anymore." And he didn't need to take mobile armor with him... And I liked his return. It was basically like "what a bunch of loosers - so lost without me" He's funny, he's witty, he's got a good heart and his fear makes him very human. Ryu was noble, as is bright - but part of the problem in the Gundam universe that is destroying the world is the fanatical devotion to military duty and the basic destruction of non-military society and non-military roles in life. Anyways... I also think Kai has great taste in women. I now officially forgive him for thinking Matilda was hot. I have written before about how I am totally unattracted to Matilda and therefore found little empathy with the legions of men, Amuro amongst them, who went gaga over her. Kai included... But Miharu - she is something else. That's exactly the type of girl I love because she has a weak backbone underneath a tough exterior. Or rather - her toughness is a sign of her weakness; if that makes sense. She does these daring and risky things because she lives in fear that her siblings will starve - so she does "what she must" to feed them - but then realizes all she's doing is starving other kids and putting them in harms way. I also admire Kai for falling for this girl - because I think Kai saw his own weakness in her - and this is something that the two of them shared... this ability to undestand and not judge and jump to conclusions and call eachother out as cowards. Of course, leave it to Tomino to kill the best girl in the whole series... very sad Pete

Well, I'm now watching the remaining episodes of MSG the original series and dag. It looks like I stopped right before an episode where the first inclings of Newtype vs. Oldtype appear - namely when Amura has his psychological problems and runs away - Bright starts to "doubt" his leadership, the whole crew of the Trojan Horse starts to quarrel with one another - and there is a clear psychic breakdown taking place... almost as if Amuro's mental condition influenced everyone else. Still - it's pretty subtle - which I like, and which contrasts heavily with what I've seen of later Gundam where it's just like "Hi, I'm John." "Oh - Hig John - you're a newtype right? So just get into this giant robot and let her rip!" I don't mind watching things in the wrong order... it's not that bad... and Haruhi Suzumiya has gotten me accustomed to everything being out of sinc anyways As for porn - porn is no where near as fun as anime. I just can't seem to get into the characters in Gundam that much...although, I am certainly most warm to the ones is MSG... maybe I just shouldn't watch OVAs? I seem to be the kind of guy who needs a series long epic to really get the feel for characters rather than a two hour movie... Pete

Basara neve slapped anybody. I think he punched somebody. But he never slapped anybody... Pete

Sheryl agreed to be Leon's pawn without really giving a whole lot of thought to whether she wasn't going to serve some evil purpose and be exploited for evil ends again - even though it just recently happened to her. She agreed to be Leon's pawn partially because she thought by doing so she'd get revenge against Grace, and partially because Alto (Sheryl's crutch) convinced her that she was meant to sing independent of the tragic truth behind her career. I'm sure that she also thought she was helping people cope - the scene in the bunker where she sings and calms the people was very moving. Still, it's one thing to sing and help innocent civilians. It's another thing to naively believe that a politician who was allied with the cybord that exploited you, lied to you, and effectively attempted to murder you is going to now use you for the benefit of humanity. Speaking of Alto, he decided that the Vajra needed to be whiped out and that he would "kill Ranka" if that were necessary to accomplish the task. He also decided to fire on Ozma and blindly obey orders to bring the Macross Quarter and its' pirate crew back. I'd say that makes both of them "powerless and weak" as compared to Ranka who had the backbone to go with Brera to discover the truth about the Vajra, and who also had the strength and courage to trust Ai-kun and Ozma, Wilder, Cathy, Boby and the Quarter crew who had the same courage to seek out the truth rather than be pawns. Regarding that first sentence... how do we know this? All we know is that Sheryl was an orphan, and then she was taken in by Grace. I am presuming that she went from being a starving orphan to being someone who didn't have to worry about things like food, a warm place to sleep. Someone who got music lessons, a good education, and was from an early age groomed to be a songstress. Now, of course I have no doubt that Sheryl had a lot of inner strength, perseverence and unyielding dedication to improve herself - but the foundation of that strength was the economic safety afforded to her by Grace. Regarding the second part of that sentence - you write that we should not forget that "these were the same strengths that enabled Sheryl to pick herself up after Grace betrayed her." Really? I seem to remember Sheryl walking around in the rain, seeing her CDs going for 50% off, eventually falling down, weak and crying, taken into custody by Alto's "brother" and given shelter at Alto's father's house where she was given warm quarters, dry clothes and safety. I also remember Alto breaking his pledge never to set foot back at his father's place to go and see Sheryl and to comfort her, convince her that she had to go back to singing and give her support. I then remember Alto and Sheryl practically living together, having a romantic dinner and enjoying their company. So - to use your language - Alto was Sheryl's "crutch." Now - I will grant that Ranka had many "crutches" as well - mainly Nanase on a practical level, then Alto on an emotional level, and even Sheryl herself - who was very kind hearted to take an interest in Ranka and encourage her. But then again, I would never argue that Ranka didn't have a "crutch" - it's kind of hard for me to imagine a good protagonist that doesn't rely on others - friends, lovers, family... Ranka had a lot of people rooting for her. Heck - even Micheal helped her out with his "can you sing like that guy by the escalator?" speech... The problem is - I think you're viewing Sheryl through the lense of her PR. Her "I'm tough! I'm Sheryl Nome!" image. But it's just an act. It's all part of her act. In real life she's also a weak woman who needs people. For a long time, she could act like she didn't need anyone because she had Grace. But then she still needed a man - enter Alto. Then she needed a little protege. Oh - enter Ranka. Then, when all of that fell apart, she desperately needed someone - and again enter Alto as someone who took care of her. Finally - she needed to sing, and needed to have the thrill of being able to move crowds and influence people. Ranka needed all of this too of course - and in many ways the two girls are very similar to one another. But there's one big difference: Ranka also needed the truth. And for that, she was willing to cast everything behind - to do what Sheryl could only verbally articulate and pretend to do in creating her image: namely to give up everything and follow her heart for better or for worse. That's something that Sheryl could ultimately never do - which is why she let herself be exploited not once (Grace) but twice (Leon), and why she didn't even TRY to convince Alto that fighting wasn't the way to go, let alone "killing Ranka" [meanwhile Ranka pleaded with Alto to recognize that the Vajra could also be looked at as individuals. When Alto said "they killed Micheal!," Ranka said "but not this one" - see... it's the humans who came up with the theory that the Vajra have no individual consciousness and are just one big hive. But... who says that's true? Ai-kun seems to have liked Ranka, and not just because she was the "queen" - after all - he didn't pounce on Alto, didn't do anything violent to him. Ai-kun seemed to have assimilated or learned that Ranka as a human was not dangerous but was his friend. In any event - going to that planet was brave and confronting the Vajra on her own was brave. Speaking of brave - Brera and Sheryl were both exploited by Grace. Brera went with Ranka to discover the truth instead of just suddenly becoming a Frontier-Drone following Leon against Galaxy after being a Galaxy-drone following Grace. Sheryl didn't have the stomach to stake out that path. So - slapping is "never" a postive form of motivation, except when Sheryl is doing the slapping? As for what Ranka accomplished - first; I think she didn't need to demonstrate empathy since she knew she could cure Sheryl. What she needed to demonstrate was firmness in the face of Sheryl's despair. See - this scene was basically a surprising climax - because the "student" had become wiser than the "teacher" and needed to teach "the teacher" a few things. Sheryl, like most people on Frontier, had become blinded by fear, hatred and the desire for revenge. She wasted her songs and her talents serving the wrong cause (again). Ranka showed her that no matter how many mistakes she'd made - she was still someone who could feel good about themselves and deserved to be redeemed. After all - that's Ranka's whole theme: like Bassara, she doesn't make it a point to say "ha ha - you were wrong." She wants EVERYONE to get along and she loves everyone - the Vajra, Ai-Kun, Alto, Ozma, Sheryl... all of them. She ventures out to discover the truth because she sees that everyone she loves is becoming lost in endless violence and hate and that even her music is becoming an instrument in a war she hates. Not saying that this all means that Sheryl is "weak" and not "strong" - but just that all of the things that Sheryl can be blamed for - Ranka can also be blamed for. All of the things Sheryl can be praised for - so can Ranka. The only difference is that Ranka can also be praised for something Sheryl can't be praised for: namely Ranka actually did what Sheryl only projected herself as doing in her PR - namely she took a strong, independent stand - a very strange and unconventional one. She decided to go with her green friend Ai-kun to the Vajra home world and try to bring peace and end the war. Yes - true - Alto rescued her and discovered Grace's ultimate deception - I am NOT trying to cast any of these characters as being bad... they are all very interdependent on eachother actually... but in the end...all Alto did was discover that - hey - Ranka was right. And Sheryl made the same discovery. Maybe what irks people is that the series did end up basically establishing Ranka Lee as the Songstress of the Universe - not Sheryl Nome... or at least that's how I read it But I'm biased on behalf of the little green haired girl Pete

Well... meaning absolutely no offense and not intending for this to create bad blood, flames or lynch mobs but... Wouldn't that basically mean that people would prefer for Macross to be more like Robotech? I mean - for me personally, what makes Macross superior as a story to Robotech is precisely what Bassara haters seem to want less of - namely music, and more precisely - the idea of music as a peaceful weapon that can change the hearts of the enemies and is itself part of a broader weapon - namely culture. I mean, if you'll note - and again no offense - particularly to active or past millitary folks - but Macross has a pretty low opinion of the military in general. In SDFM TV, the UN spacey government is shown to be a bunch of corrupt politicians who lie to the populace telling them the Macross was destroyed by an alien invasion - and using that as a pretext to take tyranical power over the entire Earth, and presumably using Over Technology to tyranize people. In Macross Plus, the military treats pilots as little more than fodder and opts for drones rather than valkyries with pilots in them. In Macross 7, the military grudgingly concludes that music can be an effective weapon, but predictably misses the point that music is something that comes from love and the heart rather than something that can be ordered. Jamming Birds is the military version of Fire Bomber, and they fail because art does not come about from training and discipline without heart. In Macross Frontier, the military is a failing beauracry that lacks motivation and moral, and their job is taken over by the private sector which is more efficient due to the existence of real measures of success and failure (a price mechanism) instead of a budget that has everything to do with political pull rather than a real cost/benefit analysis. Naturally, this in no way detracts from the bravery of individual soldiers and pilots in Macross, or the nobility of their intentions - protecting civilians, protecting Earth, protecting their families. And it also does not mean that corruption and evil don't exist outside the military - even in the realm of music and art (Sharon Apple, Grace...just to name two examples. Honey could also be an example of the moral corruption of celebrity...when art becomes "just another business" - the bottom line gets in the way of producing true works of passion)... But...all of these sophisticated elements are nicely non-existant in Robotech - particularly in the Shadow Chronicles which seems not to deal with things like economic scarcity, politics, show business, art vs. business, military discipline vs. noble aims of defending civilians... I mean... maybe I can say it this way - I understand the hatred of Basara and it doesn't bother me - so long as it's not a hatred of Macross 7. Then I get puzzled. Because - you see - I can understand how within the context of the story - people could really hate Basara or at least find him annoying. That's just part of his character. But it doesn't make the story bad, it actually makes the story more interersting. Without such characters - what would we have left? Well - we'd have Robotech. I mean - in Robotech...who are the memorable characters? Who do I remember from Shadow CHronicles? Nobody. I don't even remember their names. I remember the guy who got killed because the main character's friend needs to die to make the story more realistic and gritty. I remember the sexy invid girl with the red hair who needs to be sexy and needs to be an alien so we don't know whether we want to bang her or blow her brains out which creates dramatic tension. I also remember the Cameo crowd: the Regis, Rick Hunter, Vince Grant - these are iconic Robotech names that had to make appearances just like Optimus Prime had to be red, turn into a truck and be voiced by Peter Cullen. I also remember Janice - who is impossible to forget on account of her heartwarming rendition of We Will Win...(I hope you catch the sarcasm oozing out of that sentence).... Fine. But did I walk away from that show loving OR hating any of the characters? Nope. I am indiferent towards them. It's just a bunch of military guys fighting a bunch of alien dudes. Boom. Bang. Hey look, not all aliens are evil - some of them can change their shapes from red lobster like creatures into sexy red heads which makes it ok. Oh - and by the way - Victory is what you make it so just take it we will win. La la la. And that's it... But... I can't believe THAT'S what Basara detractors are reall out for? I mean - most Macross fans who dislike Basara DO enjoy Minmei and her music - right?... They wouldn't want Minmei to get cut from SDFM TV? They wouldn't want DYRL to end with the introduction of the VF-1S Super Duper Valkyrie piloted by Rick Hunter who flies in to the enemy base and single handedly destroys Boldoza? They wouldn't want to cut Oboeteimatsuka? So.. it's hard for me to buy the "because they don't like music in Macross" argument - since Macross is so very much about the music. Heck - even in Macross Plus, where the music was - true - way more demure... it was only because the story demanded it, since the theme was about how music could be used for evil as well as good, and become corrupted... Besides - from all of the debates we've had - I've read a number of carefully concieved arguments against Basara - most of them siding with Gamlin and the notion that Basara got in the way, endagered lives, that Planet Dance sucked or was played too often, that Basara was a jerk to everybody, that he was pompous etc etc etc... I never came across anybody arguing "Basara sucks because music in general in Macross sucks and they should get rid of it and focus on mecha ripping eachother up." I dunno... maybe I'm wrong. But if Mr. March is scratching his head over Ranka getting such a big "hate" vote... well... I'm STILL not clear about why people really don't like Basara? Except for the "too much planet dance" argument...none of the others seem to resonate Pete

I kind of agree with Bri - but I am surprised by one thing... Who ever said Macross was a purely real robot show? I mean - if anything, the series mixes elements of both super and real robots... I mean.... I dunno...that's sort of provided for with the idea of a 16 year old in a skimpy mini skirt singing and thereby defeating a fleet of dimmension hoping super aliens... Or another way of putting it... while I understand the reason why there was and still is a tangible difference between super and real robot shows...I think that more and more the two are being mixed and that Macross was one of the first shows to do this very explicitly... I mean...without Basara...just what was Macross 7 supposed to be about? Would people have prefered that it simply not have been produced? Maybe... I guess Macross plus was a more "realistic" treatment of music - although the concept is still more suited to a super robot show because in the Macross universe music is this funadmentaly important thing that everyone reveres and that has the power to move mountains, planets, people's hearts...you get the picture... I dunno. I'm just wierd. My favorite characters are Shinji, Basara, Ranka... heck... in Gurren Lagann I admire Kamina's tenacity and his one liners - but I really like Simon and identify more with him on an emotional level... Maybe anime is just structured so that there's something for everyone in it? ... But I wonder...what alternative to Basara would his detractors propose? Or is it just a case of "just don't make Macross 7 period." Pete

Well - I can see how Ranka can be polarizing. I mean... look - you say she's written as a mediocre character, but think back - or take a look back - at the episode-by-episode commentary on MW when we were all watching Macross Frontier as it came in (I usually chimed in a weak late and didn't read the threads till I'd watched an episode so as not to be spoiled)... What is clear from those threads is that the Sheryl vs. Ranka "battle" was pretty intense. There was no venom and it's not like we had flame wars - but the emotions were pretty high. I remember being so in love with Ranka while other people were really hot on Sheryl. And it's not just on the basis of looks - it's on the basis of character, songs, behavior. I remember Ranka got a lot of negativity for being Moe, and people would attack her for being lolicon. People were aggravated that she commanded so much attention in the series as opposed to the more mature character (Sheryl). I personally loved her in spite of her being a lolicon. I'm not usually into younger girls. In fact, all of my girlfriends have always been 4 to 11 years OLDER than me in real life. And every single time I tried hitting on younger girls I was summarily rebuffed. Younger girls hate my gutts and I can't seem to find myself at all interested in them or attracted to them... I'm generalizing of course - but suffice it to say that strangely enough the generalization has held up in real life - and also in anime where I always like the older girl better. The exception is Macross Frontier. Why? Because of the passion and beauty of Ranka's songs. As a girl, she was immature - but she was also a dreamer and when she sang, it was with the powre of a very mature self-aware beaitiful and intense woman. In this, she was so much better than Minmei even, because Minmey initially was just a "regular" kind of folksy idol. Her songs were full of gush. Ranka's songs are dead serious even though Ranka herself is a bit dittzy. Also - I really liked her determination. And you know who else liked her? Sheryl. Finally, Ranka is a beautiful girl and has a lot of heart and grace. But again - I think lots of people couldn't get past her being this little lolicon that keeps taking up screen time. And then, when it turned out that Ranka had a power that Sheryl didn't and then Ranka was suddenly the MAIN character and focal point of the show - it just sent people off the deep edge. I dunno - I think if you want to find the reasons - just read over those threads. It's all there. Again - and this is a testamony to how cool MW is - these debates about Ranka and Sheryl were all civil - it's not like we were flaming each other - but heck - I remember we had like 6 "Ranka vs. Sheryl" polls per day "Whos music is better?" "who should Alto be with?" "who would you prefer to sleep with?" "who would you marry?" "Who is cooler?" "Who sings beter?" and on and on and on. So - I'm not surprised that some of that intensity is shining through in this vote still. Pete

It's not a violation of free speech - sorry. The website is not public domain. It belongs to private entities who hav the right to set the boundaries of what can and cannot be said. It would violate their property rights to say that Seto can go there and say whatever he wants - even if all Seto is saying is the truth, the facts, and saying it politely. For free speech to have been violated, HG would have to for example send a letter out to all other websites that allow Seto to post insisting that they also ban seto, and then basically trying to get an injunction prohibiting Seto from ever opening his mouth or at least from speaking his mind on the subject. Nobody has a right to go on a website and write things that the owners of the website don't want to have posted. Now - naturally as a matter of convention and how things work - I think that they are just hurting themselves by getting rid of Seto - but they do have the right to do it. I also 100% agree with the remark about HG's business model being archaic. I don't know if they're dying a slow death though - clearly they have money to litigate with. I don't now what the numbers are in terms of say DVD sales for Shadow Chronicles or stuff like that... But you're right - in the long run - they'll have to produce something to sustain interest - and that something will have to be new. In any event... companies like HG have a way of sticking around longer than you or I might want. Personally, again - I would have nothing against them, or against Robotech, if not for their constant attempt at shutting down other people, bullying retailers and generally being so..well...ah...you know But no - not a violation of free speech by a long shot. Seto is still able to spread his message. People can chose not to listen - that's what Robotech.com has chosen. Pete

The one thing that remains a mystery to me about Macross 7 is why the leader of a group of sentient bio-mechanic super weapons from a different dimension would want to appear to us as a Transsexual stripper whose side kick is a naked angel with cotton around his crotch and a lolly pop in his head. Other than that - it makes perfect sense Pete

Those instructions are kick ass! Now I'm gonna make one too! Is that a mop? Pete

Good for Big West if that's true. I think we can safely say they their response was ine line with the heart felt emotions of Macross fans. Even if it means keeping Macross out of the USA "officially." Personally, when considering what happened to Macross last time they made it "official" in America - I would prefer it to stay "unofficial" and original in Japanese. Pete

That and having her entire career bankrolled and created for her by a corporation also helped. Now - I am not saying Sheryl was not a strong character, but let's face it - a lot of her strength came from having the world handed to her on a platter. In fact, when push came to shove - she was weak and powerless. She thought Alto was dead, her whole world fell apart, and she was crushed by the knowledge that she was infected by a deadly virus. In comes Ranka to slap some sense back into her. It wasn't a "get back to work lazy bitch!" slap. It was a "hey! You're Sheryl - Sheryl Nome! I admired you for being strong - so - be strong!" slap. Besides -Ranka was just imitating Sheryl, who she admired, and administering Sheryl's own medicine to her. I dunno. There is some consistency in the voting, since Sara is running a close second to Ranka, and her only crime was being right about what would happen to her civilization if they adopted the ways of cities, holding a romantic view of life, being awesomely in love with Shin and then sacrificing her life to save human kind. Although it could be worse. At least Misa is loosing this one Pete

Well... I can't speak to the specifics of why Macek did what - but in general, I think that his failing was inevitable for the very reasons why Kawamori succeeded in Making Hikaru and Misa enduring characters: Let me put it this way - there's a scene in Zendradi Rebellion where Rick and Lisa interact - Rick really wants to have sex with her...or maybe she really wants to have sex with Rick - I can't remember or be arsed to get up, walk across the room and pull out my copy of the book... but they kind of end up snuggling and flirting and having a little gushy-wushy giggle moment. Now. That scene to me is so totally and completely out of character for Hikaru and Misa - because for 36 episodes we saw Hikaru and Misa developing a deep love for one another BENEATH their exteriors which were such that they wouldn't have thought to get close to eachother. And even once it became "clear" they loved eachother, they still had a big big problem with getting close and showing affection. Part of the reason was the war, which kept intruding into their private time together. But a BIGGER part of the reason -for Misa - was that she had been brought up in a military family where love was frowned upon in favor of duty AND the one true love she had experienced had been more painful for her than anything else in her entire life. She was scared to get close to a man, scared to be a woman, but on the other hand her humanity demanded it of her - she couldn't be complete or happy without it. Yet at every single step of the way, she had this tension in her. Hikaru, on the other hand, was in love with Minmey and it took him a long long looong time to realize that Minmei and he had never really existed as a couple - that Minmey never loved him. That even towards the end, when Minmei started to "realize" her feelings for Hikaru - those feelings weren't love of Hikaru - they were a longing for a long lost youth where there were no paparazi, no public persona, no post-apocalyptic Earthern poverty, and no cousin getting drunk and getting into her panties all the time. So up until the very end, the romantic relationship between Mis and Hikaru had this great great tension that just made their love all the more REAL. Now... Kawamori was WISE as a writer to END it there and NEVER GO BACK. Because it's kind of like real life - you can never go back or recapture that feeling of love - not in its' initial form. A good story knows when to END. So - no matter WHA Macek did - he was bound to fail because he chose to continue something that Kawamorii consciously meant to be FINISHED. This is why Robotech fails as a dramatic tale while Macross succeeds. It's because with Robotech - Rick and Lisa are not what they were in Macross - they are Macross PLUS a whol bunch of other stuff, where by the end they're calling themselves "pussy cat" and acting like the Jetsons or something. The more Rick and Lisa there is in Robotech, the more diluted the characters become, and the less enduring their legacy. Kawamorii was wise to disengage the heros in his story from the story itself. Macross as a story can continue WITHOUT Hikaru and Misa and even Minmei. You don't need to have Minmei time traveling to get knocked up by a clone and give birth to Zor. You don't need Lisa and Rick to be in command of the entire Robotech forces and the Sentinels and happen to go to every single important adventure there is to go on while being in love and having Minmei tag along to try and re-create a romantic tension that is impossible to perpetuate into infinity. So - it's a matter of writing more than anyting else. Kawamorii has the story of Macross as something that is not necessarily attached to any set of characters. Macross is fine without Misa and Hikaru and Roy and Minmei. And Macross will be fine in the future if we never see Ranka and Sheyl again. This is because Macross has a history to it, just like the real world, that is - yes - composed of people - but not dependent on them. It's not like other franchises where Optimus Prime and Megatron just HAVE TO come back, and Superman and Lois Lane ALWAYS need to be there. The story can go on without them. That's a pretty unique achievement I think. And something that Robotech will never achieve because it's got too much anchoring it down. Pete

So...I just watched Char's Counter Attack. In reading my thoughts and impressions - please keep in mind that I'm a Gundam newbie. All I've seen is about 16 episodes of the original Mobile Suit Gundam (first 16), some of Gundam SEED (movie), one of those CGI Gundam movies about a Zaku pilot...in short - not much... anyways...here's my take: Ok...well... hm. First, I have to say that in certain respects, I kind of prefered the original Mobile Suit Gundam insofar as (at least 16 episodes in), there was no mention of "New Types" and instead we just basically had a kind of inter-planetary World War II story with giant robots. Even when they fired their guns, you could hear the sound of machine guns rather than lasers. I have nothing on principle against super robots or characters with super powers. But to me, the only real virtue of Gundam - the only thing that made it interesting - was that the robots went "clunk clunk" and there was this sense of realism to it. Another way to put this is.... All of the characters would have been boring if the machines they were surrounded with were any more superior or capable of super feats of strength. As such, what was excellent about the show was that the driving focus of the plot was the sense of LIMITS. There was a war, so you had rationing, which meant people didn't have enough to eat. At one point, White Base had to detour to get salt because without salt in their diets, everybody would eventually die. The Gundams were not easy to use in combat, and while they sure could DO a lot, there was a sense that you really needed to be a great pilot (not have a T-shaped bar in your pocket) to pilot them... Now... with Char's Counterattack...we suddenly get these New Types. Ok - probably not "suddenly" - but to me (Gundam newbie) - it's sudden. I don't know if I like it that much. Ok - in fact- I don't like it. I don't like it because the charactes and situations in Gundam are - frankly - to me...not interesting enough to merit my attention. Yes, true, sure - I do like Char and Bright. And I think Nania (Char's girlfriend - the OLDER one) is AWESOME. But these are exceptions to the rule. Amuro has always been an utterly boring character to me. He's just soooo card-board cut out. He was boring as a character in the original Gundam as well - but again - Tomino did a really good job of making the situations that Amura was stuck in interesting. I guess it's kind of like with Hikaru - as a character in his own right - he's kind of bland - but given the story of SDF Macross, he serves his purpose because we are interested in what's going on around him. Although... I guess not having finished MSG I can't judge Amuro too harshly. I mean, last I left him he ran away with Gundam - so maybe that was the beginning of something interesting... But just on principle, I'm hard pressed to like the idea of Newtypes because they kind of relegate the only interesting thing in Gundam - the grit and realism and the DIFFICULTY of piloting these robots...to the side. Yes, I "understand" the technology - the idea behind it. But you know...Macross does a better job on this front. The YF-21's brainwave apparatus is so well atuned to the human mind that it even manages to pick up things like fear, jealousy, resentment... and this results in technology which is faulty and unstable, and the eventual option to go with un-manned ghosts. But in Gundam, it seems that none of the anxieties of the New Type kids ever make it hard for them to pilot their mobile suits... I dunno... Besides - it's suggested in the movie that Amuro, like other Newtypes (like Qu...Que...I forgot her name even though I just watched this...um...the Lolicon) ... It's suggested that Amuro, like the Lolicon, also just plop managed to pilot a Gundam his very first time...suggesting he has some special Newtype skills... But... In MSG, I just got the feeling Amuro had his Dad's smarts and interests. It's obvious from the first scene we see him in. And while he's in the Gundam, he's flipping through the manual. It's only thanks to the better armor on Gundam that he manages not to get blown up while trying to figure out how it works. Now...the story as such was fun. And I did ...strangely...get some memories of...Turn-A-Gundam...which I also saw like one or two episodes of.... but that's largely due to Tomino continually using antiquated colonial architecture whenever we see scenes of Earth. It looks like something out of a Latin American soap opera...which isn't a criticism...I actually quite like those scenes and that aesthetic in Gundam. Um... hm... what else is there to say? The mecha are cool. The general plot is good. But it falls apart on the specifics. Oh - and the politics. I just don't understand the Neo Zeon forces being authentically so homogenous (although I guess they aren't, since in the end, even Douga pilots are trying to save the Earth)... But I think the attempt at showing how there is "true" popular support for Char falls flat because it is too full of pathos. That is a major failing. Mmm...what else? I dunno. I guess it's just very hard for me to get into Gundam. I keep trying to find an angle which will make me say "wow! I love this!" but...it just keeps falling short. I guess I have to just go back to finishing the original MSG. And I've heard good stuff about Zeta too. But it's hard to maintain my enthusiasm honestly...because the show just keeps falling flat on too many levels, and I'm not that into mecha porn for ONLY that to sustain me. I guess I'm one of those people who are just bowled over by Bandai's models. If the Gundams weren't model kits, but just robot action figures, I'd probably not want anything to do with them... the show would not be enough to keep me interested. I even tried watching Gundam OO, and again, found some themes I enjoyed, others I didn't... but 5 episodes in..I just stopped... Perhaps the reason I can't get into Gundam is the lack of sexy icons? I mean - yes, there are a couple of lolicons and that one woman was great (shades of Misa Hayese in her) -- er...I mean that woman who was close to Charr... but there's no one like Yoko or Minmey or Sheryl in the show... the women are either cynical and withdrawn or childish... These traights aren't necessarily bad but.. they just don't really work in the long run... Although..again... I did like Mirai in the original MSG, and that blond chick (Shyla?) was ok too... I dunno. I can't say I "don't" like it. I do. It's just...I dunno... maybe if there was more story, more plot, more character interaction - and less mecha battles... Beats me. I'm confused. Will I ever actually like Gundam at the same level as other anime I've enjoyed? Pete

So season 2 consists of the Sighs of Haruhi Suzumiya, Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody and 8 episodes of...episode 8? A bit short - but still satisfying. And I'm glad to hear they'll be making more. They need to make more. Pete

Re: Volume of Macross Product vs. Volume of Robotech Product: That there in and of itself is actually proof that Macross is "winning." After all - we need to keep in mind that while there is some small truth in the idea of supply driving demand via marketing; in the long run, it is demand that drives supply. The greater volume of Macross goods vs. Robotech goods is a result of Macross simply being more popular than Robotech - plain and simple. What is truly silly, however, in HG's behavior, is that they are wasting their dwindling resources on writing cease and decist letters and their PR is overshadowed by their growing public perception as being that one company that keeps suing people. They could do themselves a favor by creating something new - although I guess that's what Shadow Chronicles was supposed to be... Re: The Novels - I have actually only "read" three of them - the Zendradi Rebellion and some other two...Planet Killers was the one with the hackers and the other one was ...The Masters Gambit. I found them in a bookstore, in english, in Warsaw, and my girlfriend bought them for me when she saw my face light up. Why did my face light up? Probably for the same reason it would have lit up if I had seen Transformers Actionmaster Krok in a toy store in Warsaw - it's not a figure I particularly care deeply about, nor am I dying to own it - but if I happened to see it MISB in a toy store - the occasion would be such a rare occurence - that I'd buy it. As to why you remember being annoyed with the novels, but not remembering why Gubaba - let me see if this jogs your memory.... Reading the Zendradi Rebellion, I was able to read it through cover to cover largely because the events took place right after the end of Macross. So despite all the problems in that novel, there were plenty of familiar characters and there was some continuity in terms of themes. Minmay's struggles as a celebrity, and also the Zendradi rebellion that was brewing had shadows of Kamjin's efforts in the second half of the series. All of this nostalgic value was apparently enough to keep me interested. But in Masters Gambit and ESPECIALLY in Planet Killers - the only thing that I had any attachment to was that the words "Minmey" or "Macross" were sometimes mentioned. I found myself falling asleep every time the writers introduced what were apparently "purely" Robotech themes (like those hackers) and thinking, to quote Swoop from Transformers the Movie... "Good part! Tell Swoop good part!" And I'd flip through trying to find the "good part." I remember the the "final battle" in Planet Killers felt like a cross of Gundam Seed with Silverhawks. Not a good feeling. Re: SETO and RT.com Well it's about time they locked that thread. I generally agree that when people think, present logical arguments, do so politely, and persist in doing it, they are doing a great disservice to humanity. Think of all the suffering caused by people like that in the history of the human race. These sorts of people are truly disgusting. But I think RT.com is being too lenient as it is. They need to send cease and desist orders straight to Kawamori himself. After all - let's not beat around the bush here: What is the source of Robotech's troubles? It's Kawamori. If he would just STOP making up new Macross series - there would be no problem. We live in a globalized world. So when Kawamori makes something up, even if it's in Japanese, it will unfortunately filter out to people who have a sad habit of finding it more worthwhile than HG's superior products. The solution? Sue Kawamori. Send him a cease and decist letter. And while you're at it - send one to that Tomino guy as well. Robotech footage CLEARLY shows people getting into giant robots to pilot them. Now, this Kawamorii guy keeps making these shows about pretty much the exact same thing. What has to happen is this case has to go before the International Human Rights tribunale in the Hague. It's the only way to stop them - and to ease the suffering of people who have felt the wrath of those like Seto. Pete

Well - with one exception: he can still trust Yuki. Just because Yuki said "you can't trust me" doesn't mean Kyon can't trust her. In fact, Yuki was the only one of the three to bring her OWN version into doubt. Koizumi just bad mouthed Asahina-san, and Asahina-San badmouthed Koizumi. But Yuki pretty much bad mouthed herself because she realizes that what all of them are fighting over is ultimately an interpretation. The battle is driven by fear and anxiety more than knowledge or even faith. Koizumi's faction does not fight for its' point of view out of reverence for the Haruhi-God, but out of fear that the Haruhi-God could destroy them if she were so disposed. Asahina-san and the Data Entity are the same. The difference is that Yuki seems self-conscious about what motivates her masters - and her motives are not clouded by emotions (like fear). This in turn allows her to be frank with Kyon - telling him that her motives are also not to be trusted. Besides - remember that movie/shmovie, but it was Asahina-san who gave Kyon the advise he needed to save the universe (snow white). And Koizumi and Yuki also did their parts. But getting back to the point - while I understand Kyon trusting Asahina and Koizumi less - I think it would be impossible for him to trust Yuki less. Yuki saved his life and is quite adamently willing to risk herself for him. Sure, she says it's because her job is only observation and that Haruhi would be disturbed if anything were to happen to Kyon... but we all know it's actually because she loves him Pete

I remember that dude and his obsession with Dana. He agrees to "look after" Dana or something because her parents are going away on the SDF-3? Or something like that? I dunno... Also - there was one novel which featured a bunch of computer hackers. That was a pretty "original" idea - too bad it was written so drop dead boringly that I never actually read through it... But I do remember "Zendradi Rebellion" as being one of the better novels. Pete

Yamato have already announced that they are discontinuing the VF-1 in favor of 17 color variations of that doll. Pete