Macross Plus

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“Macross Plus” is a 4-episode OVA series and a theatrical movie to the original Macross television series that took place in the official timeline. Macross Plus was written by Keiko Nobumoto and directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. It was produced by Studio Nue., Triangle Staff, and Bandai Visual, and Yoko Kanno oversaw the music. Manga Entertainment licensed the anime. It was released in 1994, with an exceptional production standard for its time, often considered the pinnacle of anime. It aired from August 25th, 1994, until June 25th, 1995, and lasted 39 minutes per episode. It featured the genres of Drama, Romance, and Sci-Fi and had the core themes of Adult Cast, Mecha, Military, and Space. It received a rating of R - 17+ for its violence & profanity.

The first two episodes of the series were covered in a companion visual book released by Shogakukan called “This Is Animation Special: Macross Plus.” A further book covering the production of the Movie Edition was published. Kadokawa Comics is currently serializing Macross Plus: TAC Name, a brand-new manga adaptation of the anime. The comic's plot is a recounting of the anime's events and a more thorough explanation of the characters' history.

The comic was created by Naoki Moriya and has been available since February 10, 2012. A sequel, Macross 7, aired in 1994, animated by Studio Production Reed, and a prequel, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Aired in Fall 1982, animated by Studio Tatsunoko Production. In Japan exclusively, the original OVA's video game adaption ("-Game Edition-") was published in 2000. The game includes specific units from the first Macross series as well as the interchangeable fighters and mecha from the OVA. Some of the original cast and crew are present in this Shoeisha Co. Ltd. PlayStation game, which also contains some original music and a few sequences taken from the Macross Plus Movie Edition.

The year is 2040, three decades have passed since the major conflict between humans and the Zentradi, and the galaxy is thriving with a number of colonies and advanced technology. Artificial intelligence is almost flawless, and Sharon Apple, a practically finished Virturoid Idol, is the current top idol. Her own emotions are the only thing lacking, but Myung Fang Lone fills that need. On planet Eden, Sharon performs her first performance as loose cannon Isamu Dyson in prototype YF-19 and the Zentradi mixed race Guld Bowman in prototype YF-21, an even more advanced fighter jet controlled by its pilot's mind, engage in air superiority combat for the "Supernova Project."

Isamu, Guld, and Myung were once childhood friends, but after an accident seven years ago, they went their separate ways. Isamu is given the opportunity to test the boundaries of human flight in his dream career. Still, as the mission takes him back to his home planet of Eden, he is also forced to face a history he would rather forget. Their resentments end up interfering with the testing and sabotaging the program. Their hatred intensifies further when their old friend, Myung Fang Lone, arrives. When they run into each other again, they discover that Myung is now the developer of the hottest performance in the galaxy, AI hologram Sharon Apple. The Sharon AI is not finished and, unbeknownst to the broader public, needs Myung's assistance for emotional input during performances.

The last showdown between Guld and Isamu occurs during a testing session. Before switching into battroid form and concluding the battle on the ground, the two pilots engage in a breathtaking dogfight utilizing the test aircraft. After turning off their communications equipment, they immediately start tearing the entire area apart in their battle for supremacy over the other despite being in the middle of a testing area. During this fight, Isamu is hurt by an " accidental gun pod discharge." He is then transported to the hospital, where when he awakens, Myung is keeping watch over him.

The Ghost X-9, an advanced stealth UCAV prototype secretly being produced on Earth, while two other prototypes (YF-19 and YF-21) were simultaneously tested for Project SuperNova by Isamu and Guld on planet Eden, were completed. Testing on the YF-19 and YF-21 was put on hold indefinitely once the Ghost X-9 was finished because officials thought the new crewless aircraft was superior in every aspect.

The New Edwards Test Flight Facility station commander reluctantly informs both pilots that the U.N. Spacy High Command has scrubbed their mission and the project. Marge Gueldoa, the project's principal scientist, placed an illegal bio-chip that has caused the AI Sharon Apple to gain sentience which is unstable and makes her hostile. Sharon quickly commandeers the Ghost X-9 and the SDF-1 Macross Fortress during her performance in the Atlantis Dome of Earth's Macross City, hypnotizes her audience and the Macross employees, and imprisons Myung within the Macross.

Isamu and Yang, the YF-19's engineer, take the fighter aircraft and space-fold to Earth to defeat the X-9, with Guld pursuing the YF-21. Will they save the planet or mend their past wounds?

Yoko Kanno wrote the music for Macross Plus. Except for "Dogfight," the symphonic score was recorded in Tel Aviv, Israel, by musicians from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (an orchestral track used during the final battle between Isamu and Guld). Numerous musicians have played Sharon Apple's tunes. The series' most famous song is Myung's "Voices," which is the sole Japanese-language item on the soundtrack and is sung by Arai. An English dub version with a North American cast and an English version of “Voices” was created for the worldwide market. Four songs are performed in the made-up Zentran language: "After, in the Dark - Torch Song," "Santi-U," "A Sai En," and "Wanna Be an Angel."

Mind you; this was developed back in 1994. It is a remarkable OVA series, thanks to its outstanding production quality. Each mecha, machine, and vehicle has excellent detailing and rendering. Nobumoto and Watanabe, few filmmakers, could aspire to match the grasp of atmosphere that the two possess together. Hideaki Anno's skills as a significant animator for the opening combat in the asteroid field were also utilized in Macross Plus.

The timeless soundtrack and the story have a wholly unique plot that can be understood without having watched the rest of the series, which means being unfamiliar with the Macross universe is totally okay. It approached a conventional sci-fi topic from a different viewpoint, making it emotionally compelling and strangely poetic. The aerial combat and the soundtrack are the two key highlights of the action. The anime is entertaining despite its pace and character development issues. At moments, it was just breathtaking. It is reasonable to state that this series is not just for science-fiction or mecha fans; I believe everyone may enjoy the plot. Do I recommend this show to anyone? Absolutely yes!