News: Macross II, Plus, 7, Frontier and Delta acquired for home release in the West
After the momentous deal with Harmony Gold that liberated the Macross franchise and opened the door to the world for the Super Dimensional franchise, BigWest have wasted literally no time to make some BIG moves to bring Macross to the world. After releasing the DX Chogokin VF-25 International version, as well as screening Macross Plus and Frontier’s movies in the US, even the tv series are now getting some love from publishers in the West.
Firstly, Nozomi Entertainment has licensed Macross 7, Macross Frontier and Macross Delta and Anime Limited has licensed Macross Plus, and AnimeEigo with Macross II: Lover’s Again for BluRay home release in North America and Europe.
Macross II: Lover’s Again take place in A.D. 2089 – 80 years have passed since Space War I changed the lives of both human and Zentradi races. Both races are at peace on Earth when a new alien race called the “Marduk” appear within the Solar System. While covering the first battle between the U.N. Spacy and the Marduk fleet, SNN rookie reporter Hibiki Kanzaki discovers Ishtar, an “Emulator” that enhances the Marduk’s combat abilities through singing. Hibiki brings Ishtar to Earth to teach her the values of life and culture. Together with ace Valkyrie pilot Silvie Gena, Hibiki and Ishtar must find a way to save Earth from total destruction at the hands of the Marduk leader Ingues. Considered non-canon in the overarching timeline of the franchise, Macross II is still a series beloved by many for having great music and VF designs.
Macross 7 will be released in two Blu-Ray Disc sets, with both a regular edition as well as an “Collector’s Ultra edition” with bonus content. The first set will include the first 29 episodes plus the anime shorts, and the second set will include episodes 30-49 and Macross 7 Encore. Macross 7 (December 18, 1997 – August 25, 1998) is a series that takes place some 35 yrs after the original series, and is part of the offering for the series’ 15th anniversary. It tells the story of the 7th Emigration Fleet exploring the galaxy for new habitable planets and their struggles against an enigmatic enemy called Protodeviln. In it all, a band of spirited musicians called Fire Bomber, and led by the charismatic Basara Nekki, takes center stage.
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Macross Frontier will also get a Blu-Ray release in the US. Macross Frontier (April 4, 2008 – September 26, 2008) is the 25th anniversary offering for the Macross series. Following in the the “colonization fleet” footsteps of Macross 7, Macross Frontier goes back to the “love triangle” roots of SDF Macross as it follows the lives of Ranka Lee, Alto Saotome, and pop idol Sheryl Nome on board the Macross Frontier colonization fleet. Along the way they encounter the mysterious race called Vajra, who will seemingly do everything to prevent them from establishing the next human settlement. It is unclear if the 2 movies will be included in the release, but fingers-crossed that they will be following shortly.
Macross Delta (April 3, 2016 – September 25, 2016) is the latest tv series for the Macross franchise. Set in the year 2067, or 8 years after the events in the Macross Frontier series, Delta features aspiring pilot Hayate Immelmann and equally aspiring singer Freyja Wion. Through a series of events, they both end up joining Xaos, an interplanetary military contractor. Hayate becomes a pilot-in-training for Delta Flight, a team of experienced variable fighter pilot who protect the Tactical Sound Group Walküre, which Freyja becomes a member of. At each step of the way, they are confronted by the Kingdom of Windermere’s Aerial Knights, thwarting their efforts to end the Var syndrome. During Anime Expo, a special Sneak Peek for the 2nd Delta movie: Zettai Live was shown in the Macross panel, which means the two movies might get a theatrical release in the US!
Macross Plus (August 25, 1994 – June 25, 1995) is a 4-part OVA that is a direct sequel to the original SDF Macross series. Set in the planet Eden in 2040, the UN government greenlights the Super Nova Project, aiming to develop the next generation of variable fighters. The series focuses on the 2 rival test pilots, the hotheaded and happy-go-lucky Isamu Alva Dyson, the stoic Guld Goa Bowmann, and their mutual friend Myung Fang Lone. The story heats up as the personal grudges and histories of the characters interfere with their testing of competing VFs, the YF-19 and YF21. After two screenings of the movie version in the U.S, the OVA version will finally make its way to fans at home as well.
Overall, this is a VERY positive move for the franchise. It is easy to see that Macross is spreading its wings as wide and as fast as they can to make up for all those years confined to Japan. This also mean that the potential to include Macross in cross-franchise collaborations such as Super Robot Wars also increase. It’s such a pleasure to be living in the time this liberation take place!
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Overall, this is a VERY positive move for the franchise. It is easy to see that Macross is spreading its wings as wide and as fast as they can to make up for all those years confined to Japan. This also mean that the potential to include Macross in cross-franchise collaborations such as Super Robot Wars also increase. It’s such a pleasure to be living in the time this liberation take place!
Check out more articles:
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