Film: Macross Plus – The Ultimate Edition
Release date: 24th June 2002
Certificate: 12
Running time: 120 (movie) & 190 (episodes) mins
Director: Shôji Kawamori & Shinichirô Watanabe
Starring: Takumi Yamazaki, Unshô Ishizuka, Rica Fukami, Mako Hyôdô, Kenji Utsumi
Genre: Anime
Studio: Manga
Format: DVD
Country: Japan
While many people might have heard of Macross through its Western counterpart Robotech, fewer might know of the impact it has had on the ability to license Macross series’ over here. As the only piece of Macross fiction to receive a proper UK release, this is a rare gem from one of Japan’s biggest anime franchises.
In the year 2040, three decades after humanity’s great war with alien race the Zentradi, hot shot pilot Isamu Dyson is called to the colony planet of Eden to test out a new transforming fighter aircraft by the U.N. Government. Competing against Dyson is a rival team with their own fighter, whose pilot is none other than Dyson’s childhood friend-now-turned-rival Guld Goa Bowman.
The rivalry between the two pilots only heats up further with the arrival of mutual friend Myung Fang Lone on Eden. Now the producer of AI pop sensation Sharon Apple, Lone attempts to rekindle her friendships, but only manages to further strain the relationship between the two men.
But as Sharon Apple turns rogue, and holds her staff and audience captive during her concert on Earth, it’s up to the two rivals to put aside their differences and save both the planet and the woman they both love…
This Ultimate Edition offers both the movie and episodic versions of Macross Plus, both offering the same story with different sequences. No version is better than the other, but both offer a full narrative that offers certain things that the other one doesn’t. For example, the episodic edition offers more test flight sequences, while the movie edition focuses much more on the characters and their interactions with the supporting cast.
Regardless of your choice in which version to view, unlike other mecha/robot series’ Macross may be compared to, Macross Plus always puts the development of its characters before the explosive robot battles. Interspaced between the plot’s development are flashbacks to the incident causing the rift between Dyson, Guld and Lone, which gradually reveal more and more until the cause is made clear. From a narrative standpoint, this works to very good effect, however, in terms of character development, it feels like far more could have been done. The reveal, while initially surprising, feels like a let-down, and for characters that seem like they were written for a more adolescent market, the lead triangle rarely act differently to spoilt children.
Dyson is arrogant (as far as willing to destroy a multi-million project in order to boost his ego), Guld is stubborn and Lone is indecisive. It is not until the very end that these three venture out of these traits and become much more diverse characters. While this is the perfect example of how one event can destroy a friendship, people looking for the darker tones Macross Plus initially suggests to have may be disappointed. What these negative personalities do emphasise, however, is Sharon Apple – a character who you could easily argue is not really a villain, but an extreme personification of the difficult relationship between the three protagonists.
As a staple of the Macross franchise, the music also plays a huge part of the story, with a soundtrack by legendary anime composer Yoko Kanno (responsible for the music on series’ such as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex). With Sharon Apple’s various songs sung in Japanese, English, French and even Macross’ own fictional alien language, it feels like an attempt was made to not only make Apple a strictly Japanese affair, but a star that is relevant and loved worldwide. This endeavour pays off in not only breaking language barriers, but reinforcing the illusion that is Sharon Apple. The score itself is a blend of orchestral pieces and bizarre techno mixes that, while difficult to listen to on their own, suit the technologically advanced 2040 AD better than you’d expect.
While the animation may initially seem dated, Macross Plus has retained its own distinct style after all these years. The neon lit cityscapes of Macross City contrast perfectly with the luscious bright greens of Eden, which in turn complement with the sandy deserts of its test flight station. By making the two lead fighters so different from each other in design, the aerial dogfights the conclusion promises are able to be fast paced and action-packed without too much confusion of who’s who and what’s happening. Most importantly, the combination of dazzling visuals and unique music make Sharon Apple’s performances look just as spellbinding as they did in 1994.
Despite its shortcomings, Macross Plus is a distinct, visually stunning story that stands out from both its predecessors and those similar to it. Although receiving critical status, it is often forgotten by the less knowledgeable anime fan. This is a shame, due to its success of being both a brilliant stand-alone piece of fiction, and a piece of the larger puzzle that is the Macross franchise. AJ
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