Initial Thoughts - Macross Frontier
It’s hardly cool to admit it, but I absolutely adored Macross Zero, glowing naked singing hippy women, floating rocks and all. It was actually only my second exposure to the Macross universe after, rather oddly, Macross II, which I understand has been completely disowned and renounced as having anything to do with the series. Never seen the original show, never seen Plus (I know!), never seen Macross 7. I’d actually completely forgotten about the preview airing of episode 1 of Macross Frontier because it landed smack bang in the middle of the festive season.
Shouldn’t have done that, really.
The thing that strikes me most about Macross Frontier, at least for the first episode, is that it’s been very, very carefully planned. Everything about it is highly polished; we’re given just enough of an introduction to all the major characters that we have a handle on what’s going on, no-one is too exaggerated or too forgettable, there’s plenty of action or otherwise high-energy sequences… the show leaves a very good first impression. The story itself isn’t shaping up to be anything revolutionary for the franchise - a singing idol, a rookie pilot, big bug alien things - but it teases just enough whilst delivering a cohesive stand-alone experience.
Obviously, you can’t really talk about Frontier without talking about the CG. It’s really quite phenomenal how only Kawamori and co seem to understand that the best way to do CG in anime is to completely avoid blending it with cel animation, but it pays off in spades - the computerised dogfighting sequences are astonishingly accomplished, and it’s obvious that Kawamori’s learnt from his continued refining of Aquarion and the work done in Kissdum (at least something was salvageable from that trainwreck!) to produce the pinnacle of current TV CG. I just hope it doesn’t get sloppy along the way; the first episode has had cash splashed liberally all over it in some kind of economic orgy, and I have my doubts as to whether the budget will last for the whole series.
That goes for everything, to be honest. The first episode is almost too polished - the Kanno-tastic music really heightens the atmosphere (with a couple of thumping pop tunes and a re-arrangement of a classic Macross track to boot), the acting is surprisingly low-key yet clearly professional (and I’m including the newcomer who plays Ranka in that), and the cel animation is hardly anything to be sniffed at either. I wouldn’t say the episode blew me away - whilst it’s pretty, transforming mecha alone don’t send me into paroxysms of glee, and I’m reserving judgement on Sheryl and Ranka until the show makes their roles clearer - but it’s clear that Satelight pulled out all the stops to grab our attention and they’ve certainly succeeded.
I guess now I just have to wait until April to see if the show delivers on the promise of this first episode. Ho hum.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I was about to rag on you about Macross Plus, but since You Know I guess I’ll let you off.
Seriously, though, just go watch it. Free free to skip First Macross (although the TV show hasn’t aged that badly, and DYRMs animation is really amazing given when it was animated) and Macross 7 (Errrr, I really do like the cheesetastic music, but there isn’t much else positive to say about it), but you should watch Plus.
Errr, I’ve not actually watched Frontier yet ^^;
December 29th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Yes, go watch Macross Plus as soon as possible. You won’t regret it.
I think Macross F is a step in the right direction. It’s already better than Zero was. I didn’t like Zero at all.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:00 am
I’ve just finished watching the first episode Macross Frontier, and I must agree with you. It does feels too polished. Tastes like market tested actually.
Production value is indeed high, though I’m not too convinced about the CG space stuff. I’m actually one of those people that like the CG+cell integration. Blood the Last Vampire and Macross Zero were beautiful in that regard. Frontier just feels too much like shiny plastic.
As for the music… I’m pretty disappointed. I must mention that my initial encouter with the Macross universe (and Kanno, and all of japanese animation actually) was with Macross Plus. When you see it, you’ll understand. It just means my ‘bar’ is set at the ‘work of art’ level.
Nevertheless… Am I going to watch it? Yes. Am I going to complain once I’m done? Most likely.
(I feel I’m going to hate Sheryl’s character…)
P.S. Just to put things in perspective, the only Macross I’ve seen are Plus, Zero and the two first episodes of the original series.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 am
I hope those of you who have only seen Macross Plus and Macross Zero at least take the time to watch the feature film, “Do You Remember Love?”. Dated as the anime may be (1984 after all!), this is, in my opinion, one of the best directed films (anime or otherwise) out there, with the perfect combination of romance, action, fantasy, drama, SF, and all with perfect timing. Definitely a must-see.
Me, I haven’t seen Macross Frontier, but even the worst reviews of it have me very eager to see it.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I agree with Mr. Satyre if you have seen Macross “Do you remember love?” Quite frankly its f…ing awesome. Macross plus was great too, and good music for once.
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
OMG, I feel like I’m twelve again. This is a show I have to watch. I mean it’s San Francisco in Space!!! I’m a native of the city and I have to tell you it is surreal watching this because I know those places & objects they are showing. It’s insane the detail they have put in this!
May 7th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Well its not really San Francisco in space. Its really several cities but predominantly SFO. If you recall in the original series the entire planet was levelled by the Zentraedi. So these colonization fleets feature recreated Earth cities for sanity I suppose.