The Robotech Protoculture collection is excellent!

[yoda313]

Well I went and bought the Robotech Protoculture collection on amazon for 75.00 plus shipping as suggested by lordsmurf in the other thread I started.

WELL WORTH IT!

It's like twenty some discs and has the Macross Saga, Masters and New Generation seasons. Also has I think 7 bonus discs.

One thing I love is the bonus discs have the original toy commercials from the 80's!!! How cool is that I wonder if those are on ebay........

Anyway I watched the first episode of each series and I'll be watching Macross this weekend sequentially. Very nice restoration job. The clarity is nice, no distortion or aging that I could tell. Though one thing that is a little out of place is the graphic title work seems to be redone. It's, I don't know, "ENHANCED" somehow that looks out of place with the age of the show. No big deal but very nice.

Yeah and Lordsmurf was right about the "restored" scenes of the bare Minmei shots..... Man isn't that like kiddie porn or something??? I mean she's only supposed to be 16 or something right???? Maybe that's why these collections are mail order only and not on any store shelves.....

All in all this was definitely worth it. Also I barely remember the Masters or New Generation series. I'm gonna have fun rediscovering these

Thanks for the suggestion Lordsmurf!

[lordsmurf]

Minmei was 15 at the time, she turns 16 a few episodes later. That's 1970s-1980s Japan for you! Just remember they don't consider teenagers to be children, nor is nudity necessarily sexual. Different culture. Lots of Japanese shows (like Macross, Dragonball Z, etc) have content edited for USA.

[yoda313]

That is different I'll admit that lordsmurf.

Ok I've got a question on the sequence here. I'm going through the Macross saga now. After that I see the bonus discs have features too.

What order should I watch in?

Macross saga
robotech 2
robotech feature (that one on the first bonus disc)

Is that how it goes before the masters set??

Also what about that robotech movie that was mentioned by that guy in the interview on the bonus disc? Is that robotech 2? Where does that lie in the timeline?

[the_man_one]

its just a guess but robotech 2 could be the sentinels or the original animae part 2... the sentinels was the continuation of the sdf3 saga to the masters homeworld (several other planets too [they made 1 movie before it was nixed] this series is when rick decided to retire from varitech pilot {he wasnt good enough anymore} to be admiral... he gave his lead spot to max stearling [dana's dad] in skull squadren) before they came back to confront the invid in the 3rd series..they came out with a new movie that showed the second attack wave back from masters galaxy (the wave after scott bernard's assault failed)... the original animae was called macross & was quite different than the version americans saw (might have been called macross 2)... the american version was cut & spliced from the original macross series pilot & protoculture was added as a plot hook to appeal to americans... the books are a good read if u can find them... there are 3 books that fill in gaps between the series & end the saga too.... unfortunatly i have a senior moment & can only remember the last book's name.... robotech full circle (happens after the invid leave earth & take the culture with them.... [funny part lang becomes a flower of life])

[the_man_one]

as a second note, the guy that made transformers was a fan of robotech, the 2 big jets (jetfire was one) were copies of skull squadrens jets

[lordsmurf]

Robotech was original written by Carl Macek as a circular storylines, with several concurrent storylines.

The first third of the show is "Robotech" what most of us know to be a cobbling of three anime series, which spanned three generations, covering 2009 to about 2045, from the Earth prespective.

The second series was going to be Robotech: The Sentinels, would cover the years from about 2015 to 2035 or thereabouts, but from the perspective of the original Macross crew who had let Earth to plead truce with the Masters (they were unaware of the Masters having come to Earth), and this is where the Invid first appear. This series was named for the group of multi-planet "outlaws" that fought the Invid on that side of the Universe, after the Zentraedi left the fight (and thus left the Invid unchecked). This included the Haydonites and some others you might have seen in Shadow Chronicles.

The never-produced series Robotech: The Oddyssey would have made up the final third of the series, and is mostly covered in the long novel "Full Circle", which covers a number of mysteries of Robotech (for example: Why did the fold engine disappear in the original Macross saga?) It also "ends" the story with Zor sacrificing himself and sending his ship to Earth. The next episode would have been episode #1 of Robotech. The whole story was going to be 200+ episodes long. A circular history, where the effect leads to the cause, which again leads to the effect.

Much of this is covered in the three Art books, especially Robotech: Art III, which was only available in hardcover and had a much smaller press run than the others (mine is autographed by Carl Macek).

As it regards Jetfire, I don't think it had anything to do with the creator being a fan. Transformers was one of those early 1980s cartoons that followed the mold of Mattel. The toys were created first, and the cartoon was their way to market them. This landed them in hot water with the FCC, because of how the toons/commercials were seen as a 30-minute infomercial. Matchbox wanted to capitalize even more, so they bought molds and full rights to existing toy lines throughout Asia (Korea, Japan, etc). They re-created existing toys, gave them new paints jobs, and released them into the USA market for the first time. Transformers is an American show, Asia got it after we did. The VF-1S mold was also leased by Mattel, and used for the "fighter jet" toy they had wanted on the "good guy" side. Because this extended only to the toy, Skyfire was created for the cartoon. By the way, a Jetfire figure was released earlier this year, but it looks a lot like Skyfire did in the show. Most of this is well documented on serious Transformers toy sites, and is very detailed.

Dubiously missing from the show is Robotech the Movie: The Untold Story. This is not released on DVD, and it was only officially released on VHS, in PAL, for rental use. I bought one of the UK rental tapes about 8 years ago. They're pretty rare. Don't buy an eBay bootleg, the quality sucks and many of them are butchered.

If you've not read the novels, you're seriously missing out. The Robotech books go into far more detail than the cartoon did, and then it continues where the cartoon stopped. It even fills in gaps, such as what happened between the Macross Saga and the Masters era (and includes some Untold Story aspects), as well as what happened between the Masters and New Generation (Invid) era.

There are also a number of comic book lines, most of which simply illustrated and abridge the story. As I understand it, you can download these. I prefer paper, and they tend to stock all the issues for a fair price at www.mycomicshop.com

The new Shadow Chronicles officially replaces Macek's original vision and the books that carried it out. However, not too much is changed, aside from the pace at which events unfold. The Haydonite treachery was much farther into Sentinels than shown in the new movie series. I can't wait for the next installment. It's a nice re-imagining, and is good for seeing the characters, if nothing else.

[lordsmurf]

In the world of Macross, ignoring all of Robotech...

Macross 7 is the sequel to Macross, with the charcter you'll know in English as Max Sterling as the leader of the Macross 7 (in Robotech terms, it would have been called the SDF-7).

Macross Plus followed the plight of Valkyrie (Veritech in Robotech) test pilots.

Macross II was ... I forget ... it was separate from the others. It was really not all that impressive. I fell asleep a lot, watching this one.

Macross Zero follows the early days of the character you would know best as Roy Fokker. In Macross, the third World War happened AFTER the Macross (SDF-1) crashed on Earth. There was a power struggle. Unlike the Utopian Robotech, the landing of a ship did not unite the world, it shattered it for a good decade. Sadly, this is probably more realistic. I've not had time to watch Zero, but I believe it happens during this time frame, and shows the early experimental uses of Valkyries.

Again, plenty of Macross and Robotech fans sites have this info well documented and detailed to levels you would not believe.

[Dv8ted2]

The book that you are referring to is actually "End of the Circle". I have read it about five times. It is written by Jack Mckinney. I have the entire series of books by Jack Mckinney.

[lordsmurf]

Yeah, that's it. The whole series is like 21 books. I last read it in 2001, all 21 in a row, within a period of 12 weeks.

[the_man_one]

i read the books back in the 90's its been a while for me, im supprised i remembered that much.... the whole series was good as i recall... i especially liked when the leader of the zentradi (dont recall the name) turned on the aliens & helped the humans, any of yall ever play paladium rpg robotech?

[the_man_one]

As Jetfire's TF Universe profile points out, Jetfire was always mistaken for his TF cartoon counterpart, Skyfire. 2. The Jetfire that we know and love was created from the toy version of Robotech's VF-1S Super Valkyrie Veritech Fighter. Since the Robotech series was out in the States at the time Jetfire was introduced, his name, body, and transformation was changed severly to avoid a law suit. But yes, he was meant to be one of a large unit of piloted robot fighter planes resembling F-14 Tomcats. His space flight armor (the red pieces) were seldom seen (in Robotech), though. 3. Other Transformers made by BANDAI (as opposed to TAKARA, the Transformers' true Japanese founders) who were left out of the series include: Whirl, Roadbuster (both believed to also be from Robotech or other animé series), and the Deluxe Insecticons (those who weren't black, purple, & yellow w/unneccesary cockpits). 4. On Jefire's Cyberjet body, his face under his helmet is a gold version of Skyfire's...... quoted from tf universe... notice the number 2... the original creater of the transformers was a fan of robotech.... it may be in the extras of the robotech or transformers boxed sets..... also there is a rpg that got sued (mechwarrior ?) because they made exact drawings of robotech planes to use in their game (the creater liked robotech too)

[yoda313]

Wow thanks everyone!

Well the other weekend I did finish the Macross saga all the way through - very satisfying! So much was forgoten. I started remembering it as it was coming.

I then watched a little bit of that codename robotech on the bonus discs but it was just an hour or so compiled clip telling of the macross saga. It wasn't even in chronological order that I could tell - I just skipped through most of it.

Then I watched Robotech 2 which indeed was the aborted Sentinels series. It was kind of weird having the masters homeworld under attack but the "heroes" weren't anywhere near to save the day. Though I will say it was worth it to see the "wedding". Definitely fullfilling to see Rick and Lisa get hitched finally! Man that show really was more of a soap opera than I even remembered! (but had plenty of action to keep it from getting too sappy ).

I am about to start the Masters set (the middle of the Protoculture collection).

I will try to look into some of the robotech books. Is there anyone in particular that "starts" the series? Or are they all kind of independent of one another?

[the_man_one]

roboteck macros is book 1... i think there are 3 or 4 mini books per novel (3 or 4 episodes)... book 2 is the worst book ever (i hated when roy died) book 3 is the climax of macross

[yoda313]

(i hated when roy died)

??? that was an actual episode - bye big brother or something like that. So are these retellings of the episodes or is it more?

[the_man_one]

its the full episode & more detail.... when reading the book the animae will be real in ur mind.... like u will read a line that rick said & it will be a line in the animae (word for word)... then u will read another line & think where was that in the animae? such as roy & rick were closer friends in the book than the animae.... khyron was more intensely insane in the books than the animae (i also hated when gloval died), things like that, also more background info that couldnt be told in the animae.... books & animae go hand in hand for the most part tho... btw u can send that collection to me when u r done with it... lol... i promise ill take good care of it & return it when im thru watching it)

[the_man_one]

also the sentinels is a series running parrallel to the masters (for the most part)... the masters were comming to earth while the sdf3 went to their homeworld...they waved to each other in passing... lol

[yoda313]

Ok thanks themanone.

I have another question - I started watching the masters last night.

Is it my imagination or is the guy that was Dana's superior who let her command the squadron the same voice actor as Khyrons??? I mean it so close I would be suprised if it wasn't the same guy.

[the_man_one]

check the credits) im not sure

[yoda313]

Ok I looked it up khyron in wikipedia and got the voice actors name:

greg snegoff

The only thing is I'm not sure who the charcter name is in masters - hes the one that talks to dana in the prison.

Here is what imdb.com has for greg snegoff for robotech:


"Robotech" (1985) TV Series .... Khyron, Scott Bernard, Dr. Emil Lang, Alan Fredericks (unknown episodes)
Robotech II: The Sentinels (1986) (V) (voice) .... T. R. Edwards, Emil Lang

So is it the dr emil lang guy?? It says unkown episodes so that could mean the masters series. I don't have more time right now but I'll pop in that episode again and try to figure it out.

thanks.

[lordsmurf]

About a dozen people provided all of the voices for all of the characters. Many of them returned for the Shadow Chronicles too, which is why so many fans accepted the new show.

Dr. Emil Lang had the black eyes (read the novels to know why, it's never discussed in the cartoon), and was the robotechnology/fold engineer and scientist. He is a Macross Saga character.

In the Masters story? Was he a master, a good guy, or a bad guy? Or was he Zor Prime?

This is one of my favorite shows, in case you've not guessed.

[the_man_one]

in the masters he was not on earth.... ill stop here if this is a challenge to yoda, but i do know the answer if its not a challenge)... the eyes are a sign of addiction, ill also stop there just in case its a challenge

[the_man_one]

its my all time favorite animae also.... i just havent been fortunate enough to get any of the series, & had to borrow the books when i read them

[Dv8ted2]

I just paid for this set on Amazon. I am looking forward to seeing it again. This is one of my favorite shows. I am also looking forward to seeing the force five cartoons again. I remember Danguard Ace and Gaiking. They were exciting cartoons.

[the_man_one]

dv8ted2 i guess u r a lantern fan? which one, my favorite is guy gardner & alan scott, then kilowog, then hal & ion.... i hope with all the comiy decide to make a gl corps movie

[Dv8ted2]

dv8ted2 i guess u r a lantern fan? which one, my favorite is guy gardner & alan scott, then kilowog, then hal & ion.... i hope with all the comiy decide to make a gl corps movie

I like Hal and Kyle before he became Ion. My favorite storyline is Emerald Twilight. You would never think that a green lantern would turn not only against the other lanterns, but also the guardians as well.

[the_man_one]

thats when parralex came about aint it? if so hal wasnt responsible for his actions, he was possesed by a yellow being that used to live in the big oa lantern.... when that thing got out it stoped the yellow weakness that the rings had... hal got killed became the specter... now back from the dead & being a gl again

[the_man_one]

my favorite story is the KC green lantern, the kc heroes altogether, he (alan scott) wore the armor that emerald dawn gl used permanently, supposed to be at the pinnacle of his power

[lordsmurf]

I'm looking forward to the Sinestro Corps storyline.

[the_man_one]

yeah, i wanna see the sinestro corps kill the daxamite with a gl ring.... hard enuf to take supes out... but with a gl ring nearly impossible

[lordsmurf]

One of the Sinestro rings tried to tag Batman, but he fought it off. Had it stayed on his finger, that might have been interesting!