Is it just me?

Obviously this is a more souped up, glamorous version, but I feel that one of the strong points of the original Macross series is its story, which is actually pretty complex, as well as the memorable characters. The movie presumes a prior knowledge of these elements because it really focuses on the 3 central characters while other characters are largely glossed over, and it simplifies the reasons for the war between the humans and aliens. However I have to see Macross in its original form, as I'm largely working off of my Robotech: The Macross Saga knowledge.

“Do devils love each other?”
–Lestat

The Macross movie was developed durning the filming of the TV series, and you have to keep in mind they have to condense a 24 episode show into 2 hrs, and yes Macross the TV show was only intended for 24 epidsodes, but do to it's HUGE popularity, they added the aftermath story. The movie was extremely well animated for it's time. And because it's condensed it left out some of the minor sub sub sub plots to speed up the story. I love both in it's own aspect, but I love the mecha in the movie a lot more as well as the character design. And also the darkness gave it a bit more of an atmosphere that the TV version didn't have.

- What a whiny little runt... I said runt - Brian, Family Guy

FYI, the backround music in Do Your Remember Love is actually mostly the same stuff featured in the Japanese tv series. :)

Actually the show was originally going to be 52 episodes but then it got cut back to 24 then it got another 12 episode extension. As to the movie in relation to the series. The story line of the show is the official timeline. The movie is supposed to be a movie made within the universe around 2045 or so. Although they used design elements from the movie in the later Macross Plus, Macross 7 and there was also Macross Zero but since it was a prequal it doesn't have much baring that regard. The only thing non-canon completly in relation to Macross is Macross II it is considered an alternate universe.

No. I liked the feature film a heck of a lot more than the TV show.

Thanks guys

I also kinda liked that part where they show the city in ruins and explain the story behind it. I kinda felt that they could have focused on this aspect a bit more than some of the cory, sheesy nonsense they put in the TV series.

Don't get me wrong, the TV series was great too - few moments in cinema have made my heart feel pangs of anguish.


******* SPOILERS!!!! ***********


For example when I realised that Roy had suffered a mortal wound.

******* END SPOILERS!!!! ********




No, the TV series has an appeal of it's own. No question about it.


I suppose I just can't explain why I like the movie version somewhat better. maybe it's laziness in that I can grasp most of the whole story in one short span instead of having to pop multiple DVDs to get the whole picture? :-p

Well it all depends on what you are looking for in story. The film is condensed, and therefore faster paced, and probably more exciting, but a bit more shallow in story development. The TV series is slower, and builds at a gradual pace, but it also is more effective in it's dramatic moments, as they are based on the slow build up. I think something like...


######SPOILER########







the death of Roy Fokker...





######SPOILER########



...is much more effective in the TV series because it plays on the fact that audience having gotten to know and care about him over such a long period of time before it happens.

I think that the movie is excellent, and it is far superior in art design, and animation, and it is probably a little more exciting in the short run, but I think that it is a tad more shallow than the TV series, and I prefer how the show builds slowly. The story pays off much better that way.

But it doesn't really matter as both are excellent, and you can't go wrong with either.

I have not seen the original Macross but I grew up in love with Robotech. So I can go off of that (like other posters)

I used to watch alot of anime when i was a kid, but this movie kinda strikes me as the movie version of escaflowne (which is sadly flawed!) branched off of the tv show and upped the violence. Or perhaps the manga vs. film versions of Akira (which are both masterpieces) in terms of chopping stuff down. Either way, it happens in any adaptation.

The movie certainly is cool, but it gets pretty cheesy in the romantic parts. The first version I saw was the Australian dub on an old tape a few years back (the picture would roll up and down the screen through the film). Of course, that experience was terrible. Now watching it again in Japanese (the dvd has an english track as well, perhaps its the same one?) is def has the air of something that existed to jazz up the concept and at times even has an exploitative air. There's that random shower scene that every "adult" anime has on top of some pretty shocking violence (those poor Zendradi soldiers! Jesus! It's like watching Genocyber or something!). Special care is taken to be as sadistic as possible when the chance arises. Plus Exador looks like he has a ballsack for a head. And he was so dignified in his original form! Then of course there's the singing, o god the singing! Even as a kid I was embarrassed by it!

That being said, as other posters pointed out there is a grandiose atmosphere especially during the montages of everyday life (like in the beginning). The action scenes are very fluid and the characters are rendered quite well and if you know what's going on its going to hit a soft spot. Just like the soaps yo!