Macross 25th Anniversary and upcoming new TV series thread

[Zinjo]

Nice Teaser!!

If only it would get uploaded to the Stage 6 website!

[chrono]

I agree with Beltane70. The VF-25 does not fly apart. I've had to correct people on other message boards about this as well, it seems for some reason people are mentally blocking the "fuselage forks" and are mesmerized by the embellishing CG effects. In fact, the VF-1 is the only Kawamori design to my knowledge that cheats with the separation of the legs. Every other design stays together during transformation. Besides, Macross already had it's "Super Robot" phase in Macross 7 and it's since bounced firmly back into real robot with Macross Zero. I don't think there's anything to fear with Macross Frontier on that issue.

I see the forks your referring to now. Sadly the connection is fairly dubious like many transforms that hand wave the connections. Maybe I'm just tired of seeing the "dramatic zoom in while the hero transforms" camera work. I still think the design is more than a bit Fugly in all modes though, but that could be the horrible 3D making it look that way since the design is WAY too detailed to work with CelShading materials.

I'm beginning to think that I need to stop looking at M:F material until at least June/July of next year because it's starting to look like something I'll pass on. Final Fantasy with mecha. And that's something that I never wanna consider Macross to be.

[Oihan]

VF-25 transformation gif I created. Lol.

Does it need to be faster?

Well...I don't mean to be a 'negative-nancy,' but to be honest...I dislike the transformation. I understand that it's thE latest fighter out there so to say, but this futuristic transformation stuff (that green electricity bolt thing) just isn't doing it for me.... If only they would to do away with the green sh*t and keep the same transformation.... Hopefully it will grow on me >_< I still am, however, very much looking forward to the new series! The teasers have done their job perfectly...they sure have teased me. Also, in the second teaser we see, the very first scene we see reminds me a little of Macross II!

Edited November 18, 2007 by Oihan

[eugimon]

meh, M7 featured little electricty effects during transformation sequences... this is just a big fancy continuation of that.

[Seven]

So I assume that singing won't really matter in the same way as it did with Minmay and the Zentradi, given that well... space bugs don't have ears or cockpits or radios in said cockpits. So it really won't matter either way if they don't listen to Sheryl's song. At least Basara's target audience had ears.

[wolfx]

Well...I don't mean to be a 'negative-nancy,' but to be honest...I dislike the transformation. I understand that it's thE latest fighter out there so to say, but this futuristic transformation stuff (that green electricity bolt thing) just isn't doing it for me.... If only they would to do away with the green sh*t and keep the same transformation.... Hopefully it will grow on me >_< I still am, however, very much looking forward to the new series! The teasers have done their job perfectly...they sure have teased me. Also, in the second teaser we see, the very first scene we see reminds me a little of Macross II!

I can't see why people are complaining of a little transformation effects that probably will only be obvious in 1-2 episodes out of the whole show. The action will be too fast and furious for you to notice the green energy thing anyway and I doubt the transformation will be that slow for you to notice it. Besides electric transformation effects has been around since Macross 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh25-V63IBk

[Smiley424]

All I have to say is if Bandai will give me some Joke Machines, that would be awesome, especially a JM VF-171 (closest thing to a JM VF-17 we'll ever officially get). I do have some trepedation with Bandai having the license, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Also, I'd like to see some valks get taken out mid transformation, I don't think I've ever seen that in any Macross series. Always blowing up in fighter or battroid mode mostly.

Bandai? Is this confirmed? I feel afraid for it then. Look at what Bandai did to Macross II and Macross 7. Hell....look what they did to any of the non-gundam toy lines. Eureka 7? Code Geass? Evangelion (the 1st toylines and model kits were meh).

I Fear the worse. I can't think of a good bandai non-gundam toyline not counting Soul of Chogokin.

Edited November 19, 2007 by Smiley424

[Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0]

Transformation looks like its fairly straightforward and easy to replicate in a toy. Especially compared to the YF-19, SV-51 and YF-21.

Well there might be hope yet then. 1/60 is the scale for PG Gundams. So a PG Valk would be about the same size as Yamato's 1/60.

Would a SoulSpec Valk transform or is it strictly action figure/ battroid?? It would be even better than a Revoltech.

Which are still small for a PG valkyrie. MG yes, but for PG its too small. I imagine any VF-25 toy Bandai makes will be variable. Out of the lines they make now, Soulspec seems like a better fit than SOC. Though I would not mine either one. Or perhaps a new line altogether, so we can get a DX VF-25 w/FAST pack giftset with styrofoam interior packaging.

BTW Zinjo your avatar kicks ass. If we are this impressed with the VF-25, imagine if its not even the main valk to be used in the majority of the series. Imagine if there is something better yet to be seen. So far I like what I see.

[Mr March]

Because my dear wolfx, we're starved Macross fans waiting for a new show but have but a single trailer to over-analyze, nitpick and dissect until the show is released. Just like we do with every movie trailer that comes out

"Scrutiny" is the new "passing interest"

[Morpheus]

Awesome video

Boy, the VF-25 is really something. Is that a full armored VF-25 or just a Super variant of it, the gunpod is almost similar with full armor thunderbolt gunpod.

If the VF is rendered in CG with full transforming parts, then Yamato can make it directly with using CAD-CAM. Come on, release one prototype already.

[Graham]

I use VLC for taking screenshots because it takes snapshots of almost everything without problems. When I have had issues with the speed of the footage and pausing, I just play the video in slow motion and screencap away.

How do I take snapshots using VLC? I can't find any function on the menu bar.

Graham

[cyde01]

holy cow already getting fastpack pics and transforming full armor!!!!! if only there were super bad enemy mecha to fight these valks..

[Valkyrie addict]

I never knew Optimus was that sexy Seven, hahaha!

I'm liking the VF-25 a lot, I think this sorta 'slow' with 'bolts' tranformation are just for the first few episodes to show off how cool will this mecha be, later the transformation should be almost inmediate, like how we first saw that uber cool detailed transformation in the first episode of Macross Zero, and later it would just transform rather quickly

one thing that calls my attention, we have only seen it transform from Gerwalk to Battroid, haven't shown from fighter to battroid yet....

[Graham]

I'm just wondering if that is two completely different types of FAST Packs/Armour being shown in these two pics.

Graham

[GGemini]

http://rapidshare.com/files/70597510/mfcommercial.flv.html

It's the orignal flv file posted before. Hopefull we'll get a better quality one later.

Thanks! I'm also hoping someone can get the windows media files from Bandai Channel.

And, here's the mobile version of the TV ad Macross_F_TV.zip

[Graham]

I'm so lucky that my salary triples after I get registered as a pharmacist. Otherwise, I may not be able to keep up.

Although, I heard that Bandai swept up the toy licence. I hope they do a good job, they haven't made a complex transforming variable fighter for ages.

It looks that way. From what I understand, as major sponsor of the TV series (i.e. financial backer), Bandai gets first dibs on the licence and then it becomes available to other interested parties after a couple of years.

This could be good or bad. Traditionally, Bandai has no great love for Macross and has never put a great deal of effort into merchandising. Look for example at the lackluster job Bandai did for Macross 7 toys and models and the way they completely ignored Macross Plus.

However, this is not 1994 and the toy industry has changed a great deal in the intervening 13 years, with the market for collectors grade toys really booming in recent years.

Basically, I see this as either going two ways. One, Bandai will completely screw us and release minimal crappy merchandise. Or two, Bandai will do good and release multiple lines, such as HCM-Pro, SPEC, etc in multiple colors.

Graham

[UN Spacy]

Wow. This is pretty big news....thanks for confirming it Graham.

[wolfx]

A picture of the gerwalk mode will be better for you to do the comparison but I think they are almost the same. The boosters in the gerwalk mode look like a "Strike-pack" configuration which has bigger more bad-ass looking boosters probably holding tonnes more missiles. It has missile launch ports on the sides! The red fighter mode is probably a standard fastpack or a trainer-type booster since it has nubs at the front like the VT-1.

I'm more bugged by wtf is wrong with the green haired girl's hair rather than the green energy thing. Why does it flip up that way and looks like a sea cucumber......argh! >_<

[Oihan]

I can't see why people are complaining of a little transformation effects that probably will only be obvious in 1-2 episodes out of the whole show. The action will be too fast and furious for you to notice the green energy thing anyway and I doubt the transformation will be that slow for you to notice it. Besides electric transformation effects has been around since Macross 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh25-V63IBk

Yea...been around since Macross 7...not something all of us have seen or are used to. And the transformation in the video you linked is nowhere near as 'fancy' with the electricity. You know Wolfx...I can't see why people are complaining about some kid flying a plane in the middle of a war playing his guitar, singing his heart out while amazingly dodging everything that comes at him....

[eugimon]

It looks that way. From what I understand, as major sponsor of the TV series (i.e. financial backer), Bandai gets first dibs on the licence and then it becomes available to other interested parties after a couple of years.

This could be good or bad. Traditionally, Bandai has no great love for Macross and has never put a great deal of effort into merchandising. Look for example at the lackluster job Bandai did for Macross 7 toys and models and the way they completely ignored Macross Plus.

However, this is not 1994 and the toy industry has changed a great deal in the intervening 13 years, with the market for collectors grade toys really booming in recent years.

Basically, I see this as either going two ways. One, Bandai will completely screw us and release minimal crappy merchandise. Or two, Bandai will do good and release multiple lines, such as HCM-Pro, SPEC, etc in multiple colors.

Graham

the other side of this, is that if bandai does release quality macross goods, yamato will have to up their game or maybe even lower their prices to compete.

[wolfx]

Yea...been around since Macross 7...not something all of us have seen or are used to. And the transformation in the video you linked is nowhere near as 'fancy' with the electricity. You know Wolfx...I can't see why people are complaining about some kid flying a plane in the middle of a war playing his guitar, singing his heart out while amazingly dodging everything that comes at him....

Oh no....a Mac7 h8r.

<sarcasm>You can't see? Neither can I frankly. This is Macross Universe after all with flying rocks, birdmen, space whales, space giants, love and song prevailing over weapons....its quite amazing to see a talented pilot/singer do stuff like that huh?</sarcasm>

the other side of this, is that if bandai does release quality macross goods, yamato will have to up their game or maybe even lower their prices to compete.

I'll have to see it to believe it. Frankly I am very disappointed with Bandai's non-gundam and non-SOC releases. Their recent handling of the Evangelion 1.0 toy line was subpar at best even.

[Graham]

I'm very happy with my SPEC Dragonar-01, but yeah, generally, Bandai only puts their top designers and a big budget on Gundam, and their 'B' teams gets to handle everything else with a smaller budget, often resulting in sub-par products.

Graham

[Chronocidal]

I'm just wondering if that is two completely different types of FAST Packs/Armour being shown in these two pics.

Graham

Judging by the amount of stuff that looks like it's added, and assuming the armored one is a base white color like the fighter mode pic (just with yellow/black Roy-ish markings), there's a lot more stuff tacked onto the armored one ... The armor color looks similar to old TV fast pack green-ish grey, and there are bits of it all over, around the hips, shoulders (shoulders, not so sure, they're the same shape/size as the regular battroid, but not white like the nose cone), especially over the front of the chest. The head even looks like it's got an extra armor layer over it in a helmet shape around the visor. I seriously doubt that much stuff would still allow it to transform. Looks like there's also an added layer of armor over the arm shield.

Speaking of transformation though, one thing about this design really bugs me, and it's very visible in that animated gif on the last page.. how do the hips even connect? I've never seen any Valk pull off such a bow-legged pose before. I know they've always kept intakes on the VFs, but by the looks of it, this thing's hip joint would have to be smack dab in the middle of the compressor blades.

Edit: K, it took reformatting the animation to 20 sec/frame before I could see it.. but it looks like the hip joint might actually mounted on top of the intake, allowing the hip to pivot outwards, and the tips of the intakes actually can pivot behind a portion of the lower torso. Nice change posability-wise, but structurally that might be tough to pull off for a toy/model.

The more I watch this thing, the more it reminds me of the YF-19 transformation, with the shoulders/upper torso moving up and over as the forward fuselag folds to shorten. They just had to add more folds on this one for the longer fuselage to work.

Edited November 19, 2007 by Chronocidal

[eugimon]

I'll have to see it to believe it. Frankly I am very disappointed with Bandai's non-gundam and non-SOC releases. Their recent handling of the Evangelion 1.0 toy line was subpar at best even.

well, I'm hoping Bandai has been watching fans buy up the yamatos and seeing that we're willing to put up the cash and bring their A game to the table. After all, any yamato macross release costs as much as 90% of the PG kits and there's far less engineering and overhead with a valk.

[sketchley]

Translation of the two articles completed, and up: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/index.php?topic=1422

(finally found the time to complete it... busy, busy!)

Clarified the first article, and added some translation notes. By the sound of things, I think we might be in for a special 1 hour broadcast, followed by a lull, and then the start of the series proper.

[Graham]

Not sure why so many people are getting worked up over the electrical discharges during the VF-25’s transformation. As has been mentioned, these type of flashes were present IIRC in M7 for both the VF-19Kai and the VF-17D/S transformation, although to a lesser degree. Although, the main purpose is probably just to add a bit more visual appeal for the SEED/SEED Destiny generation. I’m sure Kawamori probably has a technical explanation for it.

Same with the VF-25’s Swing-bars, what’s the fuss? These look pretty damn big and strong to me, especially compared to the ultra thin swing-bars shown during the VF-0S transformation. Designing a transforming toy of the VF-25 should be not too difficult according to my understanding of the transformation. Probably the most tricky area for a toy is going to be the shoulders, as these seem to use a VF-11 type transformation method.

Graham

[wolfx]

After scrutinising the armored gerwalk -> battroid sequence. That thing is huge and chunky! The gunpod is super huge as well, and the overall sillouhette in armored gerwalk mode reminds me of the Metal Siren in Macross II. It even has missile pods on its legs ala GPB-1 and added cannon piece on its left arm (armored battroid pic). The chest pods also reminiscent of the GBP probably store missles as well. (Yellow/Red pods in fighter mode)

Fighter mode with the armour modules. As you can see the fast packs are the same as the one with the red fighter.

But in gerwalk mode, the packs seem larger, as if it opened up and looks more menacing.

[Graham]

Yep, looks like you are right wolfx, they do look the same. Thanks for the new pics. That means we have confirmation that 3-mode transformation is possible with the new FPs.

Graham

[GGemini]

Translation of the two articles completed, and up: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/index.php?topic=1422

(finally found the time to complete it... busy, busy!)

Clarified the first article, and added some translation notes. By the sound of things, I think we might be in for a special 1 hour broadcast, followed by a lull, and then the start of the series proper.

Thank you for the translation!!

Regarding the special, I think it will be something like what was done for M7:

Special: Macross's Fastest Liftoff!! - airdate 10/2/1994

Episode 1: Speaker Pod - airdate 10/16/1994

[GGemini]

Yep, looks like you are right wolfx, they do look the same. Thanks for the new pics. That means we have confirmation that 3-mode transformation is possible with the new FPs.

Graham

Are those boosters mounted on the wings?!

[Elektrix]

Two questions; is the VF-171 then in fact somehow based on the VF-17 (and is that the reason for the similarity in designation)?

And that article translation mentions it taking place near the galactic core. Isn't that where the MEGAROAD-01 went? Why would they be sending another colony ship there? What are the odds they run into humans/people from MEGAROAD-01 out there?

[Mr March]

I think the attention given to electrical discharges and the fuselage forks is just fans being fans. It's really just scrutinizing something that was never meant to be scrutinized.

Personally, I'm loving almost everything I've seen of Macross Frontier. I am trying to be as objective of the information released so far, but I can't lie; I'm excited about this series. I love the VF-25 and the new transformation. As far as the new look and animation techniques, this is just the way things are now in anime. The new motif for mechanical design in giant robot anime is "thin" and it has been ever since Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's likely to stay that way too until the next major design motif arrives, at which time everyone will follow suit yet again. Just like Gundam spawned real robot designs, just like Macross spawned transforming robot designs, just like Evangelion spawned emaciated robot designs. That's just the way art is, it's only commercialism that makes it as bad as it is through rampant replication of the same style to sell production that are popular at the time.

I sure never expected to see a fully transformable armored Valkyrie. Though maybe we should have seen it coming. Thinking back over Kawamori's designs, he has never abandoned the armored variant. He keeps creating them. And his attempts at the armored GERWALK in hindsight now speak to me as if he probably wanted to create a fully transforming armored Valkyrie for quite some time. Perhaps the unique transformation system of the VF-25 plays some part in that. Maybe Kawamori designed it that way specifically so he could create a transforming armor set.

Edited November 19, 2007 by Mr March

[Mr March]

Two questions; is the VF-171 then in fact somehow based on the VF-17 (and is that the reason for the similarity in designation)?

And that article translation mentions it taking place near the galactic core. Isn't that where the MEGAROAD-01 went? Why would they be sending another colony ship there? What are the odds they run into humans/people from MEGAROAD-01 out there?

Seems to me like it must be. The two designs are just far too close to be otherwise. But in point of fact, we can't know for sure until we see some literature on the subject.

Actually, the UNG has already sent several fleets toward the galactic core. The Megaroad-01 was one, as was the Macross 7 fleet and the Macross 5 fleet. It seems to be a popular destination, likely because the core of the Milky Way Galaxy contains far more stars than other parts of the galaxy. Thus, it would have more planetary systems and thus more likely to find habitable planets

[Oihan]

Oh no....a Mac7 h8r.

<sarcasm>You can't see? Neither can I frankly. This is Macross Universe after all with flying rocks, birdmen, space whales, space giants, love and song prevailing over weapons....its quite amazing to see a talented pilot/singer do stuff like that huh?</sarcasm>

I'll have to see it to believe it. Frankly I am very disappointed with Bandai's non-gundam and non-SOC releases. Their recent handling of the Evangelion 1.0 toy line was subpar at best even.

Haha, I don't hate Macross 7. I'm thinking you didn't pick up on my sarcasm either. :/ I was just simply stating that there are things about each series that people do not like. The transformation of this particular valkyrie is one of them.

Edited November 19, 2007 by Oihan

[Oihan]

Not sure why so many people are getting worked up over the electrical discharges during the VF-25’s transformation. As has been mentioned, these type of flashes were present IIRC in M7 for both the VF-19Kai and the VF-17D/S transformation, although to a lesser degree. Although, the main purpose is probably just to add a bit more visual appeal for the SEED/SEED Destiny generation. I’m sure Kawamori probably has a technical explanation for it.

Same with the VF-25’s Swing-bars, what’s the fuss? These look pretty damn big and strong to me, especially compared to the ultra thin swing-bars shown during the VF-0S transformation. Designing a transforming toy of the VF-25 should be not too difficult according to my understanding of the transformation. Probably the most tricky area for a toy is going to be the shoulders, as these seem to use a VF-11 type transformation method.

Graham

Graham, I wouldn't say people are getting worked up about the green electrical thing...at least I'm not getting worked up about it anyway. I'm not going to let that ruin my experience with this new series. I'm very much looking forward to this series actually (Macross is my number one obsession/passion above anything else). It's just that this green electric bolt thing just seems out of place in my opinion, tis all. TV, DYRL?, II, Plus, Zero didn't have any of that...which is what I'm used to and what I expect if you will; the transformations seemed all "realistic"...this green electricity, however, doesn't give me that sense of "realism" that I've found in the previous series (when it comes to the transformations). If there's a technical explanation for it, then I wouldn't 'complain'...but if it is as you say for the visual appeal...that's where I'm bothered. Again, it's not the end all be all that's going to make or break this series for me...it's just not something I'm all ecstatic about.

Edited November 19, 2007 by Oihan