SDF Macross Re-Watch 2011

[Pterobat]

SDFM Series in Review: Episode 1, Boobytrap

I’m a comparatively recent anime fan, but I discovered Super Dimension Fortress Macross through a set of surprising circumstances and instantly fell in love with it. Now it’s one of my all-time favourite anime, to which nothing else produced for Macross can compare. With that, let’s start with the first episode.

The opening sequence, showing the arrival and crash of the future Fortress, is a wonderful piece of animation that pulls you right in. The visuals are very cinematic, and the lack of any music or narration helps it to pack that special punch. When the narration kicks in (is it meant to actually be Claudia, or is it just the same VA?), and discusses the difficulties the new government had in forming, it showcases one of Macross’ strengths: it may be a very, very idealistic series as a whole, but it’s not afraid to inject a few small doses of realism, which actually strengthens its more wide-eyed aspects.

Watching Hikaru and Misa in the first episode, I wonder if their development was meant to compliment each others’: that is, Misa is being too mature (chewing out Claudia just for having a little fun), while Hikaru is being too immature (essentially crashing the flight demonstration and driving Roy bonkers). Both of them therefore end up together, in part, because they temper each other’s main flaws.

Of course, Misa and Hikaru develop more dimensions as the series goes on, so this alone is too simplistic an explanation for why they chose each other in the end, and furthermore, I don’t find Misa to be all that bitchy or stuffy at any point in the series. She’s not my favourite character in the series, but she’s by far my favourite of the main cast, and at no point do I find her that awful a person.

Roy, just for a second, lets his astonishment at Hikaru’s flying skills slip. It nicely suggests the maturing Hikaru, and therefore the perhaps archetypal need for Roy to die as part of a further rite of passage.

The Zentradi first arrive, and I just love their entire aesthetic. The designs of the ships and uniforms and characters are just wonderful. I particularly love Exsedol and Britai’s designs, both individually, and the way they contrast with each other’s. The interior of their flagship is first depicted as darker than it usually is, and I prefer the lighter shots, which demonstrate the contrast between the ships’ “organic” outside and technological interior. The characters of Exsedol and Britai aren’t explored much yet, but their traits are already shining through: a calm intelligence rather than a silly “warrior race” pomposity, as well as a good working relationship.

I realize that Macross was at some points in its development conceived as a comical series, and some of that emerges in the early episodes, but a muchof the comedy in “Boobytrap” is more along the line of dark Murphy’s Law stuff than broad slapstick or parody--that is, anything that can go wrong will, and usually at the most terrifying time. Of course there’s plenty of other jokes; I particularly like the chagrined look of the mascot on the Studio Nue building as it’s being destroyed.

Odd that the first Zentradi fighter craft seen are the Gnerl “planes” rather than the more famous Regults. I also love the way the Zentradi monitor forms piece by piece; it’s a very cool effect.

Overall, this is a good pilot episode. Most of the human cast gets a chance to shine, and the stage is set. There’s a lot of moments that feel very human, very natural in terms of their presentation, which only helps SDFM be awesome.

[grylsyjaeger]

I am so in on this!

[DragoZERO]

That was such a fun first episode. But this really brings me back, oh boy. I watched this series once a few years ago but still remember it so vividly.

I think I am going to point out things that they don't do in anime anymore... this episode: Minmay's skirt. It's long. If this was made recently, it would have been a short skit and there probably would have been a panty shot there too.

Remember: no smoking!

And I have to say, I find it so much fun watching someone old depict the future that has already arrived. I know most of the technology is due to the Macross being there, but some of the stuff depicted is plausible now. I'm waiting for the mobile vending machines myself.

[Tak]

Originally Posted by DragoZERO

I think I am going to point out things that they don't do in anime anymore... this episode: Minmay's skirt. It's long. If this was made recently, it would have been a short skit and there probably would have been a panty shot there too.

Her boobs would also be a lot bigger

On a second note, this is also the first time the Zentradi encountered with the so-called lost reactive technology. Most people have the misconception that these were thermal nuclear devices, but in fact, they actually weren't.

- Tak

[Yot-chan]

Originally Posted by Tak

Her boobs would also be a lot bigger

On a second note, this is also the first time the Zentradi encountered with the so-called lost reactive technology. Most people have the misconception that these were thermal nuclear devices, but in fact, they actually weren't.

- Tak

Why is that a misconception? The only reason they're called "reaction weapons" is because the show wasn't allowed to say "nuclear reaction."

[Tak]

Originally Posted by Yot-chan

Why is that a misconception? The only reason they're called "reaction weapons" is because the show wasn't allowed to say "nuclear reaction."

While Kawamori did intend for reactive weaponry to be analogous to nuclear devices, the analogy is in name only. In reality, reaction weaponry actually utilize pair-annihilation techniques (anti-matter/matter reaction, the stuff behind the big-bang), which is a vastly different animal. Since such weapons at the time was purely conceptual, Kawamori stated that people cannot protest against a concept.

In fact, nuclear weapons were used only once in Macross Zero, and have proven to be rather ineffective against OverTechnology.

- Tak

[CrowKenobi]

Oh, so Macross had Photon Torpedoes too...

[Tak]

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

Oh, so Macross had Photon Torpedoes too...

Hehehe, indeed, funny that. Its the basis of their anti-ship munition.

- Tak

[Yot-chan]

Originally Posted by Tak

While Kawamori did intend for reactive weaponry to be analogous to nuclear devices, the analogy is in name only. In reality, reaction weaponry actually utilize pair-annihilation techniques (anti-matter/matter reaction, the stuff behind the big-bang), which is a vastly different animal. Since such weapons at the time was purely conceptual, Kawamori stated that people cannot protest against a concept.

In fact, nuclear weapons were used only once in Macross Zero, and have proven to be rather ineffective against OverTechnology.

- Tak

Huh...the Compendium seems to waffle on the subject, implying (but not insisting) that they were pair-annihilation weapons only after 2045, but whatever.

[Yot-chan]

The Stuff you May Have Missed:

Spoiler for Kawamori gawks at his own design:

Spoiler for The Rarely-Seen Ghost, which will become much more badass in Macross Plus:

Spoiler for "Ka Wa Mo Ri" and "Haru":

Spoiler for Anime Friend? Gone.:

Spoiler for Artland? Gone.:

Spoiler for Studio Nue? Really gone.:

Spoiler for Some poor schmuck gets fried:

[Tak]

Originally Posted by Yot-chan

Huh...the Compendium seems to waffle on the subject, implying (but not insisting) that they were pair-annihilation weapons only after 2045, but whatever.

Not necessary to waffle really. Aside from Kawamori giving the finger to potential protesters, in the Frontier novels, these were definitely described as pair-annihilation devices.

OTOH, we do know thermo-nuclear devices were used in Macross Zero, but left much to be desired when fired upon the Protoculture Bird-Human. The Bird-Human, as you recall, took 4 nukes in the face, enveloped their explosion with its PPB to prevent emitted radiation from falling upon the islands below, but suffered only moderate outer-hull damage before folding into space.

And to think this was pulled off by a first generation Protoculture intergalactic vessel...

On a side technical note, nuclear devices don't work in space as they do within an atmosphere. There will be no mushrooms or shockwaves if detonated in space. In short, it won't go BOOM. However, pair-annihilation weapons will.

- Tak

[magnuskn]

Originally Posted by Tak

Not necessary to waffle really. Aside from Kawamori giving the finger to potential protesters, in the Frontier novels, these were definitely described as pair-annihilation devices.

OTOH, we do know thermo-nuclear devices were used in Macross Zero, but left much to be desired when fired upon the Protoculture Bird-Human. The Bird-Human, as you recall, took 4 nukes in the face, enveloped their explosion with its PPB to prevent emitted radiation from falling upon the islands below, but suffered only moderate outer-hull damage before folding into space.

And to think this was pulled off by a first generation Protoculture intergalactic vessel...

On a side technical note, nuclear devices don't work in space as they do within an atmosphere. There will be no mushrooms or shockwaves if detonated in space. In short, it won't go BOOM. However, pair-annihilation weapons will.

- Tak

Tak knows how to bring the BOOM.

[raile]

I liked Roy off the bat in the first episode.

[Yot-chan]

Originally Posted by raile

I liked Roy off the bat in the first episode.

Didn't everyone?

[Tak]

Originally Posted by raile

I liked Roy off the bat in the first episode.

Senpaiiii....



Hikaruuuuu....


...
...


...

*echo*

- Tak

[raile]

Originally Posted by Yot-chan

Didn't everyone?

Well it usually takes me 2 or 3 episodes to really warm up to any of the characters.

[Yot-chan]

Originally Posted by raile

Well it usually takes me 2 or 3 episodes to really warm up to any of the characters.

Roy's just likable that way, then.

Even if he is a murderer.

[lightsenshi]

Originally Posted by Tak

On a side technical note, nuclear devices don't work in space as they do within an atmosphere. There will be no mushrooms or shockwaves if detonated in space. In short, it won't go BOOM. However, pair-annihilation weapons will.

- Tak

They don't work as well. If you can get in proximity, you're going to do serious damage. In addition, there's nothing to mute down the radiation in space either.

[BetoJR]

Originally Posted by Yot-chan

Even if he is a murderer.

Isn't everyone?

[Tak]

Originally Posted by lightsenshi

They don't work as well. If you can get in proximity, you're going to do serious damage. In addition, there's nothing to mute down the radiation in space either.

According to this document

http://history.nasa.gov/conghand/nuclear.htm

"If a nuclear weapon is exploded in a vacuum-i. e., in space-the complexion of weapon effects changes drastically: First, in the absence of an atmosphere, blast disappears completely. Second, thermal radiation, as usually defined, also disappears. There is no longer any air for the blast wave to heat and much higher frequency radiation is emitted from the weapon itself."

But, radiation notwithstanding, it won't do much good against a well shielded and armored target.

The fact is, nuclear weaponry in Macross is a relatively substandard, third-class WMD. The only time it will work is when you use it against an unshielded and unprotected target. In the case of most Protoculture vessels (including the Zentradi), nuclear weapons are pretty much a joke. Assuming a nuclear missile is fired against a Zentradi warship within an atmosphere, its explosion and accommodating effects will easily be negated by the vessel's energy-conversion-armor. The only time nuclear weapons were used was in Macross Zero, and it only moderately damaged the Protoculture vessel because the latter literally swallowed four of them at once.

- Tak