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22 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :- The catalyst for the Anime explosion in the West, 21 July 2001 Author: phoenix_809 from Brisbane, Australia
I first saw Robotech as an 11-year old at 6 in the morning back in early 1986, when it aired for the first time. Having grown up on anime in the form of Marine Boy, Battle of the Planets, Star Blazers, and Astroboy, I was totally blown away by this incredible series.It was not until nearly a decade later I learned of Robotech's Japanese origins, that it was a melding of three totally unrelated Japanese anime series. That just increased my awe of this series. To take three totally unrelated series and make it into a coherent story spanning almost half a century is absolutely incredible (the only link was that Super Dimension Cavalry: Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA, which constituted the "Robotech Masters" and "New Generation" portions of Robotech, were trying to cash in on the phenomenal success of Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, which obtained a cult following on prime-time Japanese television).What made the show so popular then, and still makes it amazingly popular more than 15 years on, is a combination of storyline, mecha, and characters that people connected to. Sure, there were transforming robots, lots of battles and action, but these things did not cause detriment to the storyline. Characters died, grieved, fell in love, bickered, protested, the list goes on. And these aspects made the story, and were never overshadowed by the slick Veritech fighters and alien mecha, but were instead complimented by them.It took bold steps in the somewhat conservative realm of American cartoon timeslots - major characters died, Earth was annihilated, and characters fought the odds and won. Fans talk of how they cried when Roy Fokker died, how they cheered the RDF on as the SDF-1 and the Zentraedi aligned with them took on 4 million ships and beat them, how they cursed when Rick Hunter was pining over the annoying Lynn Minmei when Lisa Hayes was right under his nose the whole time. Fans related to the characters, the story, their trials and tribulations.Add to this a brilliant background music soundtrack and mood-setting songs (the Lynn Minmei rendition of "We Will Win" as SDF-1 and her air group took the enemy armada head on could only be be described as inspiring) and you have a series which will stand the test of time.Macross purists can bag it all they want, but they must realise anime would not have gained as big a foot in the door of the US market if it weren't for Robotech - anime would still be imported from Japan and viewed in college dorms and club meetings instead of seeing the likes of Neon Genesis Evangelion on the shelves of the local video library or DVD store.Robotech's popularity has not dwindled over the past 15 years, but has instead flourished, bringing new fans who may not have even been born the time the series first aired. This can be evidenced at the series' official site, with the Robotech Renaissance being born in recent times with new DVDs, collectors' items, computer games for the latest platforms, and even talk of the possibility of a new series to entice the next generation of Robotech fans.
15 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :- Robotech is still one of the best anime/mecha series yet to date., 3 February 2005 Author: sparkytc from United States
I remember seeing this show on channel 25 after coming home from school. Now 20 some odd years later I still watch them. The series was very well done by one Carl Macek an the combining of 3 separate series was nothing short of brilliance. As a young person just starting to think girls where no longer yukky an icky, the show had a lot of feelings that I myself was starting to feel as well. The relationships between the main characters an how the situations either brought them closer or apart actually kept my interest just to see what was gonna happen next. I could never guess who was going to have the final relationship till the last episode. The giant transforming robots were also a big thing that kept my attention. About the same time Transformers were on TV an loved them big robots too. The three series that were combined were. Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeda. All were unrelated until Mr Macek did his magic. This was one anime I do not think I will ever forget. This is a must see anime for anyone who would like a well done English dubbing an a series with a very interesting story like....oh yea! an lotta giant robots too!
14 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :- My favorite TV show of all time., 26 September 1999 Author: Robert Morgan from Indianapolis
I'm usually a purist with my anime, but I make no apologies for saying this- Robotech is my favorite TV show of all time, and my favorite anime.I won't get into the whole discussion of whether the translation butchered the original Japanese creators' intentions or not; I stand in awe with what Carl Macek was able to do with 3 distinctly unrelated series, and feel that the whole Robotech mythos is more engaging and fun than the original series.This is the only show that I have felt such an emotional attachment to, for so long. There is no rational explanation; my wife gave up trying to figure it out a long time ago...Robotech spans 3 generations of people battling to save earth. It was one of the first American cartoon series to have a continuing storyline, to have character deaths (and births!). It showed racism, interracial relationships, the futility but necessity of war... all in 1/2 hour weekday installments right before school. Plus, it had the coolest mecha around.I've heard rumors of a new Robotech 3000 series under development by the animators responsible for Beast Wars and the Voltron 3D show. I'm apprehensive but hopeful; I doubt any show can ever really hope to match (and mesh with) the standards set by the original series- identifying with characters may be a wee bit hard with CGI models. But, I hope that it renews interest about Robotech with the public. Perhaps then the snafus that have kept causing Robotech to disappear from store shelves will be overcome. (Anyone for a full DVD set?)
10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :- The Anime Saga of the 80s, 1 January 2005 Author: Robert Colt from Boston, MA
Well, what can be said? First step for a lot of kids when this originally aired into a more mature anime world.This was the first, that took itself seriously and was not censored by the relentless attacking parent groups out there who try dumb down anything that may seen as violent or potentially harmful to children.Well, they missed this one for long time and damn well happy they did. It was story about human race being finally forged into one people instead of divided nations. War without happy ending in may sense. A Drama that shows all faces of humanity facing inhuman forces from beyond. Which in may ways, did not know what they were doing as well.It puts a very big spin on anti-war, despite the conflict, glamorization of giant robots which i am a fan of. However its a hardcore story that with original writers of Japan and the American adapters trying make it work on American Television...before the television Der-regulations started to take away the independent television stations. This show was the thing to watch. Thou now it is a very affordable DVD, its may seem to a lot of purist that its is a rip off of another anime and its seems to be hacked up. This maybe bit crude...However, for those who had NOTHING but few scant shows (Starblazers, Force Five (For those who've heard of it!), Galaxy Rangers and even Transzor Z) I say to you, this was godsend and should be given a second look. This was NOT a goofy, far fetch show that has bubblegum style (unbelievable, trying hard not explain itself or take seriously) This was serious hardcore television show that was a true Story-book on TV, precursor to shows that came after it like EXO-Squad or more common Sci-fiction show....Babylon 5. This was Anime-Mech show that put generation on notice that there more to animation then goofy silly stuff. Starblazers started this in American (Maybe Gundam but i've never seen it when i was growing up), Robotech took America by the balls and kept its attention for least a decade!
8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :- The greatest anime of all time, 6 August 2003 Author: keyblade1000
Robotech is one of my favorite anime of all time. I love the old 80's style of animation. Early Japanese animation is great, some old anime is even better than the new stuff. Robotech is a very detailed series in Japan it's called Macross. One day I would like to see the japanese version. I have all of them on DVD except volume 8 which is part of the Robotech Masters series(season 2). The charaters are so unique and different and the love story is so much better than those other cliches used in today's anime, video games and movies. If you love watching the series you should also try Robotech Battlecry, even though you are using a character that doesn't even exist in the series it's a good game for any Robotech fan. If you are new to anime, Robotech is the perfect anime to start with. Robotech was one of my first.
9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :- one of the few greats, 9 December 2004 Author: anton_cronje from surrey
I have sat and watched the first robotech (macross) edition many times. I used to rush home after school just to watch it when it first aired in South Africa. I was amazed at the animation and the (in my opinion) depth of the characters, i also enjoyed the way the characters grew and evolved as the series progressed. I have recently managed to watch all the 2nd series episodes (robotech masters) and have started watching the third series. I was just as enthralled to sit and watch the characters evolve and their lives play out in the series.I have bought the DVDS of robotech and intend to introduce my kids (if i have any) to the magic that is robotech. If you love animated films/manga then i would recommend that you watch the robotech series.
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- Real Fantasy world, 31 July 2003 Author: angel_bluesky2100
I would love to say I highly recommend this series....but due to the 80s animation, it would prolly turn off new viewers. The original robotech fans can still view this series and admire the great story lines and wonderful characters. Although the animation is really bad compared to what we have today, the characters still come through with amazing clarity despite the fact that we don't even see their lips move properly when they talk. As much as its a science fiction/fantasy story, the issues addressed are still real. Robotech is divided into 3 different series as one person already pointed out and it circles around wars with alien races. There is violence and death, there is even the seemingly glorification of war. But ultimately the moral of the story is "war produces nothing, it only leads to death and destruction" (quote by the character of Lynn Kyle...quote may be off a lil'). And the series proves that message mostly in the last of the 3 series when there is a compromise and a truce with the alien race of invids. By then much had been lost but the lesson has been learned by both sides.The love stories are told wonderfully; the dilemnas of romance and how ppl sometimes fall out of love and outgrow each other. I can still watch this cartoon series (i hate calling it a cartoon!) with interest and i'm in my mid 20s. I was lucky enough to be outside of North America when this series aired so I got to view all 3 different series. And yes the sentinel movie was a bit of a disappointment. It was nice to see the characters grow but it seemed the artists behind the work just made everyone look older by making them taller and changing their hair completely. Yes I'm being picky here and the musical score was not as good as the original series did.This is the most amazing set of stories told in any animated series I've seen in my childhood (and i saw plenty!). The characters are so real and well developed that you really identify with them. Even the villains are portrayed as well developed characters with human frailties and flaws, as opposed to being an evil alien race. All characters learn and grow and can change their perspectives on things.I loved robotech when it first came out and it still makes me nostalgic when i see it or hear about it, not just because it reminds me of my childhood but because it represents a wonderful fantasy world with fantastic characters embarking on wonderful adventures...something that strikes everyone with an active imagination as extremely viewable.
8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :- Brilliant, 24 April 2001 Author: takmaz (takmaz@netone.com.tr) from Istanbul, Turkiye
All I can say that I was amazed by the story after I've watched the 36 episodes one by another. I was a child when I first met ROBOTECH. It was on tv every sunday and I remember I couldn't wait the episodes and every sunday morning I was happy to watch ROCOTECH.After ( I tink 11 years ) I've found 36 episodes of Robotech. Yesterday I've spent 12 and a half hours, I'm now exhausted because at 7:00 AM I've managed the finish all episodes with a smile on my face.The story is so briiliant that it shows whatever we live in the real world as male's and females. I can hardly believe that such emotional scenes can be made in an animation series.
6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- One of my favorite childhood memories, 24 June 2002 Author: B. Caesar Cubillos (CubeJack@aol.com) from El Paso, TX
I remember running home to watch this show after school. I played little league baseball and missed it the first time around but was able to catch the repeats. I can't describe how much this show stuck with me. It was the first time I could remember seeing shows end on down notes the way this one did on all 3 parts. The Robotech Masters was my least favorite of the generations but I eventually came to enjoy that one too. The Invid Invasion was just great, especially with all of the love stories they added to keep it from being the typical sci-fi shoot 'em up that some other similar shows were. I recently started buying the episodes on DVD. I can't believe I'm still watching. The date on this site says 1985 but I know it was on TV before that because I saw it when I was in 6th grade, which was in 1983-84.
4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :- AWESOME!, 20 November 1999 Author: Celeste Keenan from Cobourg, ON, Canada
My brother and I used to watch Robotech when we were kids. Now that they have it on video I'm poised to get it because I thought that it was such a beautiful cartoon. It's very well animated and the plot lines are very well written. I always thought that Robotech would go on past 1985 but since it didn't this is as good as it gets. My hats off to the people who keep Japanese Annime alive and well into the next Millenium.
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