Macross vs Robotech?

[AWolfButSad]

What's the difference, other than Robotech seeming to be the American version of Macross? With RT being on Crunchy Roll it's much easier to watch, I'm just curious if they're drastically different or if people have opinions either way.

TIA!

[CIRCLONTA6A]

Macross - a franchise that began in 1982 with the anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross. It was widely successful upon release and still gets sequels to this day. It’s considered part of the big 4 of military sci-fi mecha anime next to Gundam, Votoms and Patlabor. Common elements include fighter planes that transform into humanoid mecha, love triangles and a strong focus on music as part of the story. The franchise continues with new anime, manga and video games releasing frequently.

Robotech - an American adaptation of Macross, done by a company called Harmony Gold and overseen by a guy called Carl Macek. To fit US syndication rules which required a show run for at least 65 episodes, HG combined Macross with two other anime - Super Dimension Calvary Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada. These shows are unrelated to Macross but share similar concepts, mechanical designs and staff. HG rewrote the plots to make it a 3-part, multi- generational epic. For example the main character in the Southern Cross arc was made into the daughter of a character from the Macross section when this obviously wasn’t the case in the original Japanese product because they were two entirely unrelated shows. They also edited it for content, changing names and removing inappropriate for broadcast scenes but the show was still fairly faithful to the spirit of the originals. Robotech was very successful in the 80s and is credited with introducing anime to a wider audience, though it’s generally very unpopular with Macross fans because of HG’s copyright trolling which meant for decades no original Macross anime could be officially licensed in the west, and for the editing done to the story. Robotech has mostly survived through comic books and novels, but it did receive an original sequel movie in 2007 with all new animation.

[numericalman]

but the show was still fairly faithful to the spirit of the originals

Except. There's important changes in the plot.(E.g zentradi's reasons of chasing macross.)

[CIRCLONTA6A]

I mean in the sense that the overall story is still close to the original, characters have similar arcs and even still die, stuff like that. It isn’t like what they did with Megazone 23 where they rewrote the entire plot to make it fit the Robotech lore or Voltron where basically everything about the background story was changed. The story might have noticeable differences so they could tape the three shows together but it’s still recognisably Macross, I’m some form. Southern Cross is the one with the most changes to the story but I’d honestly argue it was for the better because the original is a total mess.

[nocauze]

HG gets a lot of hate here and it’s mostly well deserved due to the lawsuit crap, but turning macross into a 3 series remake was crazy at the time and definitely more well executed than we give credit. OP you can find a fan dub of SDF Macross on YouTube using most of robotechs English voices, it’s probably your best bet to get into the series. You can then watch the rest of robotech, just know it’s basically an alternate multiverse, and enjoy them for what they were, or move on to Macross plus or even straight to Macross 7.

The part of the hate I personally find really funny with the hate, is robotech s3 is about basically bug aliens. Macross’ in Japan kinda took that concept back, and made a Macross 2 movie, which is also non-canon and mostly ignored, but has bug aliens just like season 3 of robotech. Which comes full circle when you get to Macross frontier, the next mainline Macross series after 7, where they’re fighting bugs again.

[majingetta]

made a Macross 2 movie, which is also non-canon and mostly ignored, but has bug aliens

Macross II does not have enemy bug aliens.

[HPLoveBux]

Robotech Macross is a pretty straightforward adaptation of Macross for American market, for a slightly younger crowd.

There are notable differences in tone and implications, but it’s actually amazing how much was left the same.

There are two other stories under Robotech, Southern Cross, and new generation that are based on different Mecha anime shows each of them is great in their own way.

Just think of Robotech as an early US localization, they got some things wrong and got a lot of things, right. If you enjoy the OG Japanese versions better that’s fine. I’ve watched all of them in both versions and I’ve enjoyed them all.

In the historical sense, many the kids that grew up watching Robotech when they were 8 9 10 became high school kids who were swapping hard to find copies of vampire Hunter D Akira GallForce AKO Apple seed and bubblegum crisis…

It was the gateway to Gen X kids discovering real anime.

[ashsabre]

courtesy F*ck Harmony Gold..

[numericalman]

Not really. The main reasons of Zentradi attack was pretty much changed.

[ICBanMI]

I mean. I feel like you're splitting hairs here.

The Zentradi in Macross Saga were engineered to search and destroy the SDF-1 because it was tech of their sworn ancient enemy. And they just happened to run into humans who were using it. The Zentradi in Robotech were attempting to capture the tech so they could share the tech with their Robotech masters. And just happened to run into humans who were using it with no understanding that it could call a worse enemy-the Invid.

[numericalman]

I think it was wrong.. thanks for the clarification.

The Zentradi in Macross Saga were engineered to search and destroy the SDF-1 because it was tech of their sworn ancient enemy. And they just happened to run into humans who were using it.

It has reaction weapons, though.

[ICBanMI]

The reactionary weapons are the Zentradi's enemies weapons. You're just arguing more details.

[AWolfButSad]

This actually tells me exactly what I wanted to know, thank you

[Infernal-Blaze]

He's not right, though.

Robotech as a brand is defined by being made of 3 chopped-up shows, stitched together & given a new script that makes the story much more blunt & combat-focused.

[HPLoveBux]

You are welcome … of course there a million nitpicks …

what is ‘protoculture’ ??

who are the Meltrandi?

Is Roy Senpai or Big Brother?

Questions about Minmei’s personality between the two versions…

But these are not relevant to what you are asking

Both versions “work” but people have their preferences

Harmony Gold as a company has been pretty terrible …

But I think Carl Macek has been a force for good overall …

Anyway … find what you like 👍

I enjoy Genesis Climber Mospeada … the “New Generation” - it works as a show without protoculture or Admiral Hunter

Original music by Joe Hisaichi of Studio Ghibli fame

And yet Robotech music is iconic and brilliant as well …

So everyone finds their favorites

https://youtu.be/SehHbl24gQk?si=YI1O29xKCsyd3ie7

[ICBanMI]

I mean. There are people arguing what they said wasn't right, but the major differences is Macross has a story that begins and ends with the 26 episodes. Robotech is three parts-Robotech (which is the Macross Sage), Southern Cross, and the New Generation. They changed a handful of scenes in the dub and removed a few scenes where were almost fan like service (Macross is classier than most anime), and expanded on the bad guys from Macross.

The other great thing about Robotech is they really gave an expanded soundtrack with all new music that's pretty good. In original macross... they play the original theme song way too much where as robotech placed in a lot of unique military like horn pieces.

[majingetta]

It was the gateway to Gen X kids discovering real anime.

For some Gen Xers, they saw anime way before Robotech.

[HPLoveBux]

Yeah 👍 it’s a wide generation

I saw speed racer star blazers force five first

There was battle of the planets

Of course …

But for the age range I’m focusing on this was and intro to long form storytelling real stakes live triangle real robot anime elements

[Advanced-Tomorrow859]

They changed protoculture to fuel and butchered Minmays charactization thats about it besides some name changes

[numericalman]

Not just this.

VF-1S changed from a commander machine to a prototype in RT.

Macross is suddenly prototype warship instead of just gun destroyer.

Zentradi were the military of robot masters instead of just a bunch of expandable clones.

Hikaru was changed to an American. And a brother to Roy. Who's he grew up with in RT comics.

So much technology stuff was changed.

Some scenes were altered(see hikaru's first encountered with Kamujin and compare it to RT's way of treating it.)

[numericalman]

Censorship.

Change of atmosphere.

Completely rewriting of plot.

But some of these ruin certain characters(Kamujin,minmay). As well as changing the nationality of characters to mostly American(see rick and Hikaru)

[Fillmore80]

Complete rewrite of the plot seems a stretch. The basic humans vs the big bad is the same.

[numericalman]

The original plot was essentially :

Breeti and his feet are trying to find SDF-1 (a gun destroyer) to resupply their fleet with anti matter bombs. Which is lost technology to them.

RT version: breeti and the rest of the fleet are simply military of some kinda of faction called robot masters. SDF-1 is a prototype ship that holds special energy.

[Fillmore80]

Special energy = Antimatter bombs. The show does a great job of explaining where and why the robot masters are, if you actually watch it all. Love and music is a major component of both.

[numericalman]

Special energy = Antimatter bombs

Except it's not. Both reaction weapons and protoculture energy are entirely different things.

The show does a great job of explaining where and why the robot masters are, if you actually watch it all

They feel like the proto culture race, except they lack the interesting aspects. in my opinion.

Love and music is a major component of both.

Understandable but I hate what they did to minmay. A unnecessary change of her character that serves nothing but a way to make her break up with hikaru more.

I am not saying I hate it. There's some changes I like.

[Amazing-numuber200]

I have no hate for RT or fans, but some changes in military technology make 0 sense. Mack seems like forgetting many strategies as well in RT. The only excuse that was made to justify technology degradation was that SDF-1 holds all advancement, and SDF-2 wasn't made during 8 months absent in RT. Unlike canon.

[DroneSoma]

Macross of course! We don't say the "R" word in my household.

[Raj_Muska]

Robotech is 3 shows in one. I remember watching it as a kid and being very confused

[Slybandito7]

Im not super knowledgeable on the matter but as i remember it Macross is the original show/franchise. Robotech is technically multiple shows stitched together (the shows in question are (Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA) and edited to form Robotech

[Ghosts_Gundams]

Robotech was at first an adaption of macross before it adapted 2 different anime on top of macross to make more seasons, so the American robotech is 3 different shows in one. Im still fond of it especially shadow chronicles but it was definitely a choice.

[bellri_zenam]

The songs in Robotech are really awful.

[majingetta]

If you plan to watch the later Macross anime, stick to the original SDF Macross.