Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site caip.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!caip!cutter From: cutter@hub Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: RoboTech Message-ID: <361@caip.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Wed, 6-Nov-85 20:24:18 EST Article-I.D.: caip.361 Posted: Wed Nov 6 20:24:18 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 8-Nov-85 21:07:16 EST Sender: daemon@caip.RUTGERS.EDU Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 81 From: Joe Turner <@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA,@umass-boston.CSNET:cutter@hub> _Robotech_ is not new. It is a conglomeration of three Japanese animated SF shows. "Macross" came out in 1982, and was an instant hit on Japanese television. It spawned a sequel, "Orguss", around 1983/4; another hit for Tatsunoko Productions, and another sequel, "Southern Cross". All three shows came to be known collectively as the "Super Dimension" trilogy, because of the subtitles for each of the shows ("Super Dimension Fortress Macross", "Super Dimension Century Orguss", "Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross"). At LACon II, Harmony Gold USA premiered a tape for home-video called "MACROSS", which consisted of an english-language dubbing of the first three episodes of "Macross". It was well-received, and the tape hit the stores and sold well. There were rumors of a TV series. About a year ago, a story made its way along the east-coast Japanese animation grapevine that Carl Macek (a high-mucky-muck at Harmony Gold and a Japan- imation fan) had bought the rights to "Mospeada" and "Southern Cross", and was dubbing them. We all held our breaths, coming straight from the dissapointment of "Voltron" (now referred to as "Revolt-tron", "Voltrash", etc.). Around spring of '85, "RoboTech" began to show in California and other locations. I won't go into a plot synopsis because it's *much* too complicated. For the moment, I'll say that it has a bit of everything in it, heavy on the hardware and love-interests. Nasty aliens, lots of "protoculture", and F-14's that have arms and legs. That's an unfair synopsis, but you probably get the idea. At 84 episodes, with 40 more on the way and a feature-film coming for Xmas this year ("RoboTech: The Untold Story", a.k.a. "MegaZone Two-Three"), it'd take quite a few paragraphs... but for now: An alien ship crashes on Earth in the year 1990 and is rebuilt by earth's scientific community. The ship automatically fires at the enemy (known as Zentradi) and warps itself to the vicinity of Pluto --- all during the launching ceremonies! The ship has to make its way back to Earth, fighting Zentradi assaults, and try to stop them from taking over earth. I won't spoil it any more, but it has an interesting ending... and then there's the other two shows, of course, with *their* own plots... The shows are imaginative, and far above most American television (save for "Twilight Zone" and one or two others). The fact that it's animated may scare some adults off, which is a shame. The animation quality is *excellant*, and the voices are incredible. Move over, StarBlazers! Stand aside, Battle of the Planets! "RoboTech" is here, and it looks like to stay! Harmony Gold, by the way, is also responsible for "Captain Harlock and the Queen of 1,000 Years"... this has it's merits, in that it has the same level of intelligence that "RoboTech" has. However, "Space Pirate Captain Harlock" had only 45 episodes - not enough for a syndi show; same for "Queen of 1,000 Years" - it had 26 episodes. Together, however, they make 71 - enough to release it into syndication. They are two different shows, but have been interweaved plot-wise; sometimes it works, most times it doesn't. Both shows were done by the same animation house (Toei Animation, who brought us "Star- Blazers" a.k.a. "Space Cruiser Yamato") and the same character designer, so it "looks" right... it's not on in some areas, however. It's enjoyable to watch it for the characters and the plots of the individual shows. Give it a shot. If you are interested in more information about these or any other animated or japanese-animated shows, send mail to: ringwld!cutter@cca-unix.arpa OR cutter@UMB.csnet Animatedly, Joe Turner /**************************************/ case address of network: begin cutter@UMB.csnet; ringwld!cutter@cca-unix.arpa end; USPS: begin 329 Ward Street; Newton Centre, MA; 02159 end; phone: 617/969-5993 end;