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SECTION III: ROBOTECH
SPINOFFS AND "SEQUELS"
3.1: ROBOTECH THE SENTINELS
3.1.1: What is it?
3.1.2: How many episodes
were produced?
3.1.3: Will there be any
more?
3.1.4: Where can I get
a copy?
3.2: THE McKINNEY BOOKS
3.2.1: What are they?
3.2.2: How do they differ
from the TV series?
3.2.3: What is "End of
the Circle" and "Zentraedi Rebellion"?
3.2.4: Are they still in
print? Where can I get copies?
3.2.5: Who is (are) Jack
McKinney?
3.3: THE COMIC BOOKS
3.3.1: The Comico Robotech
Adaptations
3.3.2: The Comico Graphic
Novel
3.3.3: Robotech II: The
Sentinels
3.3.4: Robotech II: The
Malcontent Uprisings
3.3.5: Robotech: The Legend
of Zor
3.3.6: Robotech: Cyberpirates
3.3.7: Robotech: Return
to Macross
3.3.8: Robotech: Invid
War
3.3.9: Robotech: Invid
War Aftermath
3.3.10: How many of these
titles are still in print?
3.4: THE MOVIES
3.4.1: ROBOTECH: THE MOVIE
3.4.1.1: What is it?
3.4.1.2: What was it
about?
3.4.1.3: Where does
it fit in the TV series?
3.4.1.4: Why was it
never released nationwide?
3.4.1.5: Where can
I get a copy?
3.4.2: CLASH OF THE BIONOIDS
3.4.2.1: What is it?
3.4.2.2: What was it
about?
3.4.2.3: Where does
it fit in the TV series?
3.4.2.4: How is it
different from "Macross: Do You Remember Love?"
3.4.2.5: Where can
I get a copy?
3.4.3: ROBOTECH: NOT NECESSARILY
THE SENTINELS
3.4.3.1: What is it?
3.4.3.2: Who is Seishun
Shitemasu?
3.4.3.3: What other
Robotech parodies have they made?
3.4.3.4: Where can
I get copies?
3.4.4: MACROSS: HARMONY
GOLD DUB PRE-ROBOTECH
3.4.4.1: What is it?
3.4.4.2: Original theme
song
3.1: ROBOTECH: THE SENTINELS
3.1.1: WHAT IS IT?
The Sentinels was to be a 65-episode sequel to the Robotech
TV series, detailing the adventures of the REF on Tirol and
other worlds conquered by the Regent, king of the Invid. For
financial considerations described more fully by Carl Macek
in _Robotech: Art III_, the project was canceled, though the
story was rewritten by Jack McKinney in a novel form, and
published by Eclipse comics in a graphic form. Both new media
dramatically modify the plot as described by Macek in _Art
III_, especially toward the end of the series.
3.1.2: HOW MANY EPISODES WERE PRODUCED?
The footage for the first three episodes were completed
before financial complications doomed the project. These episodes
were rearranged, with new dialogue and some old footage added,
and were released on videotape, originally through Palladium
books, and later through Streamline. This footage is now widely
available on video and laser disk, usually in the 'Animation'
section.
3.1.3: WILL THERE BE ANY MORE?
Extremely unlikely. The animated TV version of the Sentinels
is, in effect, on hold. There is some renewed interest at
Harmony Gold because of the popularity of Robotech on the
Sci-Fi network, but no firm plans have been made public.
3.1.4: WHERE CAN I GET A COPY?
Check your local video retail or rental store, or write:
STREAMLINE PICTURES P.O. Box 691418 West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (310) 657-8559
3.2: THE McKINNEY BOOKS
3.2.1: WHAT ARE THEY?
The Robotech novels are published by Del Rey and are copyrighted
by Harmony Gold U.S.A, Inc. and Tatsunoko Production Co.,
Ltd. - except for #19 which is just HG. Robotech is a trademark
owned and licensed by Harmony Gold U.S.A.
The order to read them:
/-13-14-15-16-17\
1-2-3-4-5-6-19< >18
\-7-8-9-10-11-12/
The following descriptions were taken from the back of #19.
The Macross Saga aka First Generation:
#1 Genesis ISBN: 0-345-34133-3
As the Global Civil War was about to wipe out Humankind,
a dying alien genius dispatched the abandoned Super Dimensional
Fortress to Earth - and put Humanity's future in the hands
of a corps of untried, resolute young men and women: the Robotech
Defense Force. Then the most feared conquerors in the universe
attacked, and the real war began...
#2 Battle Cry ISBN: 0-345-34134-1
Henry Gloval, Human captain of the alien spacecraft called
the Super Dimensional Fortress, was a practical man - he only
asked himself once or twice a day how in the world he had
ended up in commend of the stupendously powerful SDF-1. After
all, he had more important things on his mind - for now the
Zentraedi had come to claim the alien space fortress as their
own...
#3 Homecoming ISBN: 0-345-34136-8
For more than a year, the Humans aboard the SDF-1 had fought
and eluded an endless armada of Zentraedi warships. Now the
space fortress would have to battle her way back to Earth.
But villains came in human form as well as alien - and the
treachery of power-hungry men might be the most lethal threat
of all...
*** These first three books have also been recently published
as a '3-in-1' volume. ISBN: 0-345-38900-X ***
#4 Battlehymn ISBN: 0-345-34137-6
For two years, the SDF-1 had been chased through the Solar
system by a race of giant alien warriors, only to be made
to feel like unwanted relatives when they finally returned
to planet Earth. But after three months of inactivity, the
SDF-1's Captain Gloval took matters into his own hands. In
direct violation of Council dictates, he ordered the SDF-1
airborne. After all, the fate of the Earth was at stake...
#5 Force of Arms ISBN: 0-345-34138-4
The giant Zentraedi had given up their efforts to capture
the SDF-1 intact. Now they wished only to destroy it - along
with its Human crew, the whole Human race and its homeworld,
and those aliens who had defected to the Terran side. Supreme
Commander Dolza mobilized the largest fleet of Zentraedi warships
the universe had ever seen... and all their weapons were aimed
at Earth.
#6 Doomsday ISBN: 0-345-34139-2
It was a war without victors - one that had brought two
species to the brink of extinction. And it was a war without
spoils, save for the devastated Earth itself. After the final
battle, Humans began the painstaking process or reconstruction.
The Zentraedi would help them - for the two former enemies
new shared a common goal: survival. But all was not well in
this bravest of new worlds... for one Zentraedi had vowed
to lead his race back to their former glory - at any cost.
*** Del Rey has collected books 4-6 into one '3-in-1' volume
as with 1-3. ISBN: 0-345-39145-4 ***
Southern Cross aka The Robotech Masters aka Second Generation:
#7 Southern Cross ISBN: 0-345-34140-6
Twenty years after the First Robotech War, the Robotech
Masters came to Earth to finish the conquest their Zentraedi
warrior-slaves had begun... and a battle-ravaged Earth had
to defend itself once more. And young Dana Sterling, half-Human,
half-Zentraedi commander of an elite Hovertank unit, stepped
into the spotlight of interstellar history!
#8 Metal Fire ISBN: 0-345-34141-4
An alien fortress had crashlanded on Earth - brought down
deliberately in the struggle between the Robotech Masters
and Earth's Human inhabitants. Now the fortress sat silently
overlooking Monument City, daring someone to penetrate its
dark mysteries. And who better to brave the ship than Dana
Sterling's 15th Squadron ATACs - after all, they had brought
the thing down to begin with!
#9 The Final Nightmare ISBN: 0-345-34142-2
The war for Earth had become even more desperate: the Robotech
Masters' Protoculture Matrix was degenerating, transforming
into the Flower of Life, which was sure to draw the savage,
merciless Invid across the galaxy. But the Army of the Southern
Cross vowed to wage war for Earth to the bitter end. And Dana
Sterling, half-alien commander of an elite Hovertank unit,
waged a desperate war of her own to uncover the meaning of
her strange visions and the secret of the alien heritage...
The New Generation aka The Invid aka Third Generation:
#10 Invid Invasion ISBN: 0-345-34143-0
The Invid Regis had succeeded where the Robotech Masters
had failed - her warrior horde had gained control of Protoculture
and laid claim to Earth. It was up to the space-weary Human
veterans of the Expeditionary Force to retake the planet -
a world most of them had never seen. And the counterinvasion
would be more difficult than anyone could imagine...
#11 Metamorphosis ISBN: 0-345-34144-9
There had never been a less conventional band of champions:
a downed pilot who was a stranger on his own homeworld...
a former biker hellion... a young forager obsessed with the
vanishing heritage of Humanity's lore... a lethal Robotech
warrior... an irrepressible adolescent convinced that the
world owes her a Great Romance... and a cloned enemy Simulagent
who couldn't recall who she was. And somewhere ahead of them
lay Reflex Point, nerve center and stronghold of the Invid
conquerors - and the destination of the group that was Earth's
last hope.
#12 Symphony of Light ISBN: 0-345-34145-7
It had been a long, hard road for the ragtag band of Robotech
irregulars, but Reflex Point was finally close at hand, and
preparations were underway for a full-scale assault on the
Invid stronghold. But the Invid Regis would not surrender
so easily the world she had come halfway across the galaxy
to claim. And no one had thought to ask whether Protoculture
might have something to say in these matters. But indeed it
did, and the final encounter of the Robotech Wars would be
more mystifying than anyone had imagined...
The Sentinels:
#1 aka #13 The Devil's Hand ISBN: 0-345-35300-5
It was 2020, and the Super Dimensional Fortresses 1 and
2 had long been destroyed. But Earth was now on the mend,
and the Robotech Defense Force had fashioned a new battle
fortress: the SDF-3, tasked with a trip across the galaxy
to make peace with Triol's Robotech Masters. But unknown to
Admirals Rick and Lisa Hunter and the SDF-3's crew of thousands,
the Robotech Masters were already on their way to Earth. And
at Tirol, the SDF-3 would face the galaxy's fiercest warlord:
the Invid Regent!
#2 aka #14 Dark Powers ISBN: 0-345-35301-3
Stranded on the far side of the galaxy after battling the
Invid hordes, the Robotech Expeditionary Force's chances for
survival are slim. But suddenly, a starship unlike any other
appeared - manned by an incredible assortment of beings determined
to challenge the Invid Regent himself! REF volunteers signed
on, their mighty war mecha in tow, for a campaign that would
mean their total destruction - or liberty for the planets
of the Sentinels!
#3 aka #15 Death Dance ISBN: 0-345-35302-1
Four months had passed without a word from the Sentinels,
and the members of the Expeditionary mission to Tirol feared
the worst - even as they began truce negotiations with the
Invid Regent himself. Far away, the surviving Sentinels were
hopelessly stranded on Praxis, a planet in cataclysm, at the
mercy of the Invid Regis. But deep within that world's core
were answers to the Sentinels' prayers - if they could only
reach them before Praxis tore itself apart.
#4 aka #16 World Killers ISBN: 0-345-35304-8
The bearlike Kabarrans and the swashbuckling amazons from
Praxis, the feral natives of Garuda and the Human Robotech
heroes - these oddly match champions banded together with
yet other species to form the valiant Sentinels. But no fighting
force could hope to dislodge the Invid hordes from Haydon
IV, ethereal world of superscience, or Spheris, crystalline
globe of living minerals and murderous resonances. Nevertheless,
the Sentinels launched their attack...
#5 aka #17 Rubicon ISBN: 0-345-35305-6
Optera - birthplace of the Flower of Life and its agents
of retribution, the Invid - was to be the site of the final
confrontation between the Sentinels and Edwards and his Invid
allies. Edwards, with Lynn-Minmei prisoner and a handful of
Invid Inorganics under his control, had fled Tirol for the
distant planet. Breetai's Zentraedi were headed there as well
- and so were the renegade forces of Tesla, mutated by the
fruits of the Flower. The Sentinels themselves were not far
behind... and it was a battle the Sentinels had to win!
The conclusion to the series:
#18 The End of the Circle ISBN: 0-345-36311-6
The SDF-3 manifested from spacefold, but no one aboard had
the slightest idea where they were - the ship appeared to
be grounded in some glowing fog, ensnared by the light itself.
And the ship's Protoculture drives had disappeared. Meanwhile,
in Earthspace, the Ark Angel had been spared the destructive
fate of the REF main fleet, and a mission set out to locate
the SDF-3. Elsewhere, mysterious events were being set into
motion, and the ultimate conflict was imminent...
An additional side-story:
#19 The Zentraedi Rebellion ISBN: 0-345-38774-0
Not every Human was eager to share the planet Earth with
the Zentraedi survivors of the First Robotech War, and there
was little prospect of a lasting peace. The tensions in the
Southlands had given rise to two opposing groups: the Army
of the Southern Cross, and a loosely organized brigade of
Zentraedi insurgents, driven by the Imperative to continue
the fight - until one race or the other was eradicated. Caught
between those rivals was the Robotech Defense Force, which
would play a crucial role in what would be called the Malcontent
Uprisings...
3.2.2: HOW DO THEY DIFFER FROM THE TV SERIES?
Overall, the first twelve McKiney novels follow the Robotech
series exactly, so that when reading the novels one can simply
imagine the film in their head moving along with the words.
The novels add another dimention to the Robotech universe
and the characters, bringing out their thoughts, feelings,
and inner conflicts as well as describing the scenes in a
way not possible with television. There exist however, several
imporant differences between the novels and the animated series
that should be mentioned.
One of these major differences is the McKinney team's use
of the "Thinking Cap", the sensor-packed helmet that Veritech
and other mecha pilots need to interface with their vehicle
to form the mysterious symbiotic link made possible by protoculture.
In the series there is no mention of the thinking cap. Indeed
there are several scenes where the pilot flies his vehicle
without one, such as when Rick Hunter rescues Lisa Hayes from
the destroyed Grand Cannon: he has her wear the helmet and
skillfully pilots his VT in guardian mode out of the ruins
with Lisa on his lap.
In addition to protoculture's use as a fuel source and power
behind the mysterious symbiotic link, McKinney portrays it
allowing metal objects to act like a living entity, repairing
and readjusting themselves according to needs at hand. Examples
include the SDF-1's solid floor allowing Captain Gloval's
team to pass through to different levels during their initial
encounter right after the fortress crashlanded on Macross,
their robotic probe's circuits rearranging themselves after
entering the SDF-1, Breetai's ship's hull resealing itself
after Ben Dickson fired missiles to try and escape with his
buddies, and Khyron's ship rebuilding its command center
After the McKinney team finishes covering the saga as seen
on film, they create their own material when continuing the
series, most notably in the Sentinels series of novels. The
most recent addition is Book #18: The End of the Circle, which
has been received with mixed feelings by the Robotech fans,
some of whom do not agree with its canonism. Their latest
book, #19: The Zentraedi Rebellion also attempts to cover
ground not supported by the tv series when it tries to explore
the crisis caused by Zentredi living on Earth who can not
adapt to a peacful existence. However one wishes to judge
these books is entirely up to them, but the McKinney novels
will remain a major part of the Robotech universe left to
be explored and enjoyed by its fans.
3.2.3: WHAT IS "END OF THE CIRCLE" AND "ZENTRAEDI REBELLION"?
End of the Circle is a new story designed to tie up all
the loose ends in the Robotech universe post-Sentinels. It
is a creation of Jack McKinney's and is not related to the
Robotech III: The Odyssey concept mentioned in Robotech Art
3.
The Zentraedi Rebellion is a story that takes place between
the end of the Macross Saga and the beginnings of Southern
Cross and The Sentinels. It is based strongly on the Eternity
Comic's miniseries The Malcontent Uprisings.
3.2.4: ARE THEY STILL IN PRINT? WHERE CAN I GET COPIES?
Del Rey has collected the first three novels into one volume,
and may continue this with the rest. #19 is new, however,
at this time I do not believe the earlier books are still
in print. However, they still seem to be available from earlier
printings.
Still-in-print Robotech novels can usually be ordered through
your local Waldenbooks or other favorite book store, or by
mail order from:
Del Rey Order Department
Randome House Distribution Center
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: 1-800-733-3000
3.2.5: WHO IS (ARE) JACK McKINNEY?
Jack McKinney is a pen name for the team of Brian Daley
and James Luceno.
3.3: THE COMIC BOOKS
3.3.1: THE COMICO ROBOTECH ADAPTATIONS
Author: (?) Artist: (?) Publisher: Comico Number of Issues:
Macross: 36
Masters: 25
New Generation: 25
Dates of Publication: 1985-1988 (?) Plot: Comic book adaptation
of the Robotech TV episodes.
3.3.2: THE COMICO GRAPHIC NOVEL
Author: Mike Baron Artist: penciling by Neil Vokes, inking
by Ken Steacy, coloring by Tom Vincent Publisher: Comico Date
of Publication: 8/86 Plot: Gloval, Edwards, and Fokker explore
the newly-crashed Battlefortress in 1999.
3.3.3: ROBOTECH II: THE SENTINELS
Author: Tom Mason and Chris Ulm (after Bk 2 Issue #14, Tom
Mason) Artist: Jason and John Waltrip Publisher: Eternity/Malibu
Number of Issues: 16 in Book One, 2 in the Wedding Special,
3 in the Illustrated Handbook, 21 in Book Two, 8 in Book 3.
Dates of Publication: 11/88 to 4/94 Plot: The REF departs
to Tirol to confront the Robotech Masters, but find Invid
there instead. With the aid of the Sentinels, aliens formerly
in the Masters' empire now under the Invid yoke, a group of
REF soldiers set off to defeat the Invid. A retelling of McKinney's
novelization of the never-completed TV series.
3.3.4: ROBOTECH II: THE MALCONTENT UPRISINGS
Author: Bill Spangler Artist: Michael Ling Publisher: Eternity/Malibu
Number of Issues: 12 Dates of Publication: 8/89 to 12/90 Plot:
In separate adventures, Max Sterling and Johnathan Wolff,
and Miriya Sterling discover a plot by Zentraedi malcontents
to avenge themselves on humanity for atrocities committed
against them by mankind, and work to prevent it. This series
is set a number of years after the destruction of the SDF-1.
3.3.5: ROBOTECH: THE LEGEND OF ZOR
Author: Jason and John Waltrip Artist: Jason and John Waltrip
Publisher: Eternity/Malibu Number of Issues: 6 Dates of Publication:
3/92 to 10/92 Plot: Zor sets off from Tirol and discovers
the Flower of Life. The Robotech Masters seize power on Tirol,
and order the defoliation of Optera by the Zentraedi. The
story ends with Zor sending his Battlefortress to Earth.
3.3.6: ROBOTECH: CYBERPIRATES
Author: Bill Spangler Artist: Thomas Tenny and Fred Perry
Publisher: Eternity/Malibu Number of Issues: 4 Dates of Publication:
3/91 to 7/91 Plot: A couple of years after the departure of
the SDF-3, the Southern Cross testing its new Alphas. But
something goes wrong; an outside force is taking the planes
over.
3.3.7: ROBOTECH: RETURN TO MACROSS
Author: Bill Spangler Artist: Mujib Rahiman and Tim Eldred
Publisher: Eternity/Malibu Number of Issues: 12 Dates of Publication:
3/93 to 3/94 Plot: During the years before the arrival of
the Zentraedi, an assassin stalks the SDF-1, and a rogue submarine
from the Global Civil War tries to capture Fokker and Edwards
and hold the RDF hostage. Meanwhile, Breetai and Khyron are
sent on a mission to investigate an alien ship, as they look
for Zor's missing battlefortress.
3.3.8: ROBOTECH: INVID WAR
Author: Bill Spangler and Tim Eldred Artist: Tim Eldred
and Fred Perry Publisher: Eternity/Malibu Number of Issues:
18 Dates of Publication: 5/92 to 10/93 Plot: The first twelve
issues detail the early days of the Invid occupation of Earth,
centering around Nova Satori, Johnathan Wolff, Lancer, and
John Carpenter, especially Satori's systematic attempt to
expand her personal powerbase on Earth, and preparations on
Moon Base to assist Earth. The later six chapters detail adventures
of Scott Bernard and his band between episodes of the TV show,
up to the departure of Scott in search for the SDF-3.
3.3.9: ROBOTECH: INVID WAR AFTERMATH
Author: Bruce Lewis Artist: Bruce Lewis, David Lanphear,
and Tim Eldred Publisher: Eternity/Malibu Number of Issues:
6 Dates of Publication: ~11/93 to 4/94 Plot: In the years
after the departure of the Invid, Lancer, Sera, Annie, Rand
and Lunk build an oasis among the devastation, called Bellmont.
Eventually, Nova Satori, with the assistance of Scott Bernard
and Rook Bartley, takes over the city and establishes herself
as tyrant. Meanwhile, a starving army of Zentraedi is closing
on the city, with the firm intention that their demands will
be met.
3.3.10: HOW MANY OF THESE TITLES ARE STILL IN PRINT?
In the summer of '94, Eternity Comics ended its affiliation
with the Robotech line, with several titles to be picked up
by Academy Comics. The notes in the last Eternity issues indicate
that _Sentinels_ will definitely be picked up, with the possibility
of _Return to Macross_ and _Invid War: Aftermath_ being picked
up as well.
3.4: THE MOVIES
3.4.1: ROBOTECH: THE MOVIE
3.4.1.1: WHAT IS IT?
Robotech: The Untold Story was a cinematic release that
combined footage from the Japanese OAV release MEGAZONE 23,
footage from SOUTHERN CROSS, and 15 minutes of new footage
at the end in the Megazone style. Originally released in Dallas
and several other Texas cities, and occasionally appearing
elsewhere, the Robotech Movie was a commercial failure in
the USA. It remained on Cannon's catalog for a while, but
was (apparently) eventually withdrawn.
3.4.1.2: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?
In 2027, the Robotech Masters arrive at Earth to retrieve
the memory core of the battlefortress of theirs that had crashed
here in 1999; this memory, incorporated into the E.V.E. computer
at Earth's Robotech Research Center, is vital to the survival
of their civilization. To capture it, they abduct B.D. Andrews,
a leader of the research team, and replace him with a simulagent.
One of Andrews' men is suspicious, and passes on a mobile
data terminal (a huge transformable motorcycle) to his friend,
civilian Mark Landry, before he is killed by agents accountable
to Andrews. Mark is told by his friend in the exchange to
contact Eve.
Mark takes the MODAT 5 with him, and eventually discovers
that the only Eve he knows of, a popular singer and talk-show
hostess, is really a computer- generated hologram used for
propaganda by the United Earth Government, produced by the
E.V.E. computer and now partially under Andrews' control.
Meanwhile, the Armies of the Southern Cross are doing battle
with the Robotech Masters in space, using a battle plan generated
by the E.V.E. computer; but the Andrews simulagent sabotages
the plan, and the Earth forces are defeated, and retreat.
Eventually Mark confronts Andrews, and threatens to go public
with what he knows (the arrival of the Robotech Masters was
kept secret from from the public) if Andrews tries to injure
him or his friends.
Andrews busies himself with the process of downloading the
E.V.E. memory to a satellite, where the transmissions are
intercepted by the simulagent's alien masters.
Andrews' agents kill one of Mark's friends, and take the
film she'd made of the MODAT, sending Mark into a rage. He
confronts Andrews again, and is defeated.
Computer Minister Embry has meanwhile been alerted to the
illicit transmissions, and prepares to make them known to
the Supreme Command. To prevent this, Andrews declares Martial
Law in the Far East sector, and while Minister Embry's plane
is readied at the airport, Andrews' troops close in on him
to stop him.
Left for dead, Mark is awakened by E.V.E., who offers to
help him. She directs him to a Robotech fighter, and Mark
speeds to the airport, defeating Andrews and his men. Back
in space, General Emerson is attacking the Robotech Masters
again. Without Andrews at the controls, E.V.E. formulates
a new battle plan, which is implemented by a hovertank squad,
resulting in the downing of one of the aliens' flagships.
The Earth is safe, for now.
3.4.1.3: WHERE DOES IT FIT INTO THE TV SERIES?
The Movie is set just before the beginning of "Dana's Story";
in a sense, it is a preliminary episode to the Second Robotech
War, though there are a number of continuity problems with
the TV series. These problems are discussed in detail in "A
Fly's View of the Tangled Web", an essay written by Peter
Walker (pww@spacsun.rice.edu) and available from him or from
the FAQ archive.
3.4.1.4: WHY WAS IT NEVER RELEASED NATIONWIDE?
There were a number of factors that may have contributed
to it. Firstly, Cannon did a poor job of advertising it in
the test markets; commercials for the movies were slated for
6:00 in the morning. Secondly, the movie was competing with
Transformers: The Movie, which had a bigger advertising budget
and a wider appeal. Thirdly, the movie was too cerebral for
the general kid- vid audience, and many parents who took young
children were not prepared for the adult themes (sex and violence).
Most importantly, the fan reaction was luke-warm at first,
and has become increasingly hostile with the passage of time.
3.4.1.5: WHERE CAN I GET A COPY?
I don't know, but if you do, please tell us! Seriously,
the Robotech movie has never been released on video in the
American market. Sightings of the film on video in England,
the Netherlands, and elsewhere have been reported on the net,
but nothing firm is known.
3.4.2: CLASH OF THE BIONOIDS
3.4.2.1: WHAT IS IT?
CotB is a dubbed and edited release of Macross Summer '84:
Do You Remember Love?
3.4.2.2: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?
DYRL was a theatrical version of the Macross TV series in
Japan that condensed the plot and used revised character and
mecha designs. The plot is pretty much the same as the Macross
Saga since very little was changed from the original to make
Robotech. Of course, the original definitions - non-Robotech
- for protoculture, etc. The major difference was that the
male aliens were Zentraedi and the females were Meltraedi
and they were at war with each other, and BOTH were after
the humans.
3.4.2.3: WHERE DOES IT FIT INTO THE TV SERIES?
It doesn't really. It isn't actually a part of Robotech,
it is unrelated. Yes, the designs are the same, however, it
is *not* part of the universe. It was not licensed by Harmony
Gold and the release is unrelated to RT. It is basically a
capsulized version of the Macross Saga as far as the footage
goes.
3.4.2.4: HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM MACROSS: DO YOU REMEMBER
LOVE?
Basically some scenes of graphic violence and nudity were
edited out. And the voice actors weren't great. There is a
bootleg of the dub of DYRL *before* the cuts were made circulating
in fandom.
3.4.2.5: WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF IT?
It should be available from any video retailer. [I am searching
for the company and full information currently, this will
be added as soon as I get it.]
3.4.3: ROBOTECH: NOT NECESSARILY THE SENTINELS
3.4.3.1: WHAT IS IT?
_Robotech III: Not Necessarily the Sentinels_ is a film
that is two parts parody of and one part homage to Robotech.
It was put together by the fine folks at Seishun-Shitemasu,
through the magic of some very creative editing and dubbing.
_NNTS_ uses footage taken primarily from Gunbuster, Macross:
Do You Remember Love, Macross Flashback 2012, and Mospeada:
Love, Live, Alive, as well as music from the Macross, Robotech,
and some other soundtracks. The character voices are done
by Seitman Shitemasu people, in some cases surprisingly aptly.
The plot of the story centers around Annie LaBelle and Lynn
Minmei, who are "portrayed by" Noriko and (insert name here,
I don't know it) from Gunbuster. Annie and Minmei have to
pilot a new combining mecha against the Invid, who are now
determined to destroy the earth. Various revelations are also
made about the fates of the characters since the end of Robotech.
Without giving too much away, _Not Necessarily the Sentinels_
has some very funny things to say about Robotech and anime
fandom in general, but don't take it too seriously.
And a word of warning...were it to be rated, _NNTS_ would
be rated at least "R," for what I believe they call "sexual
situations." So, don't show it to anyone who might be offended
by its content.
3.4.3.2: WHO IS SEISHUN SHITEMASU?
Seishun Shitemasu was formed in mid-1990 by several San
Diego area anime fans, the "bunch of guys with a vcr." From
the beginning we have tried to create fun anime redubs which
take themselves just seriously enough, with humor and profundity
and frivolity and core concept all blended in measure. Seishun
Shitemasu (pronounced say-SHOON shteMAHS) originally grew
out the stupid realization that Nadia with her Blue Water
was not entirely unlike Sheeta with a tan, and, well, things
just sort of took off from there. The name is Japanese for
"[I'm] living in the springtime of [my] youth," taken from
the first Kimagure Orange Road opening credits("Kasuga Kyosuke,
ju-gosai... seishun shitemasu!").
There's no end in sight.
3.4.3.3: WHAT OTHER ROBOTECH PARODIES HAVE THEY MADE?
None, but they are producing a sequel to Robotech III...
Robotech IV: Khyron's Counterattack. Admiral Rick Hunter
and the Invid are gone. The Earth is at peace once again.
But from beyond the stars, the dark tides of shadow threaten
to rise again, to do the bidding of an ancient enemy. And
if the heroes of the fourth Robotech War repulse this new
threat, can they survive the wrath of Lisa? Annie and Minmei
are going where they've never gone before...
3.4.3.4: WHERE CAN I GET COPIES?
Try your local anime club, or post a request on rec.arts.anime.
3.4.4 MACROSS: HARMONY GOLD DUB PRE-ROBOTECH
3.4.4.1: WHAT IS IT?
Before they decided to do Robotech, Harmony Gold was planning
to dub Super Dimensional Fortress Macross and release it directly
to video cassette. The completed the first tape, called "Boobytrap"
which is the first several episodes of Robotech. It apparently
never hit wide-release, however it was pirated and copies
are circulating in fandom. The voices seem the same as Robotech,
except for the narrator. Some of the music is different, and
there are a few brief scenes that were cut from Robotech.
(Mostly Roy and Rick scoping Minmei's posterior.) Aside from
that the biggest difference is the names, they retained the
original last names.
There was a comic tie in via Comico, which is why the first
issue of The Macross Saga is just called 'Macross' and has
the original Macross logo. It was printed before the decision
to do Robotech was made.
3.4.4.2: ORIGINAL THEME SONG
This is a transcription from one of the pirates of the theme
song. It is as accurate as the nth generation copy could allow.
Soldier of warlords from deepspace Macross Hurled through
the night to this new place Macross Crushed and forgotten
to Earthlings Macross Magically healed and rebirthing
Just a pile of rust was all they found on that Isle That
no one suspected to see 10 years later Super Fortress Macross
would rise Guardian of you and of me
Macross the arm of the new wave Macross Champion and knight
of the new day Macross Gauntlet of mankind you stand forth
Super Space Fortress called Macross!
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