Macross Frontier a retelling of the original?!
Question: Just finished watching the 1st episode of this series and I get a strong distinction that this is a slight retell of the original story, set in the same universe in a different time period against a different race.
It doesn't bother me, infact, I love the idea. Just looking for confirmation if this true or not? I mean the way things are panning out are almost mirror image from from the original SDF Macross. Even the ending song is a strong indicator.
Answers: Just finished watching the 1st episode of this series and I get a strong distinction that this is a slight retell of the original story, set in the same universe in a different time period against a different race.
It doesn't bother me, infact, I love the idea. Just looking for confirmation if this true or not? I mean the way things are panning out are almost mirror image from from the original SDF Macross. Even the ending song is a strong indicator.
Well, it's definetly a combination between the first Macross TV series (Chou Jikuu Yousai Macross) and the second Macross TV series (Macross 7), plus several references to previous Macross stories.
They do try to introduce familiar concepts to make sure people are comfortable, like:
Cute Chinese restaurant waitress, an oujosama type girl, and an ace pilot.
New Macross class type ship attached to a bunch of Megaroad class type ships.
A VF that look like a cross between the VF-4 and the VF-19.
So it's not as 'in your face' different style of Macross 7, which while is different, unique, and originial, it might have too much 'cultural shock' to some fans and people.
However, Macross Frontier probably will divert from the previous stories and start its own unique totally different story. Though if it's not... it's just a "Ai, Oboeteimasuka" under a different name and format (think Macross II), and I don't like "Ai, Oboeteimasuka", at least not its love story and its pro-alien theme.
Final Fantasy VII, now THAT I considered to be a retelling of a Macross story. The characters even kind of similiar: enemy spies that are like friends, a reluctant lead male character that always chase the lead female character, an over protective 'older brother' type character, a girl fascinated over similiarity to an old boyfriend, a waitress 'childhood' friend, etc. The stuck in the slum of Sector 5 scene sure resemble the stuck in the block scene, it's kind romantic seeing a boy being both puzzled and charmed at the same time by the cute attitudes of a cute girlish girl. There's NO WAY I will trade that for a scene of Tifa decoding the secrets of the Ancients (Cetra/Settlers) during her sexual escapade at the Forgotten Capital.
Nevertheless, the promo for Macross Frontier said "new galactic love story" ("atarashii ginga rabu sutoorii"), so they better deliver what the promo said.
As for mirror image. Star Trek: The Next Generation done a similiar trick, mirroring some of the originial series episodes for its early seasons. As you know, Star Trek: The Next Generation later on evolved its own uniqueness.
If Macross Frontier ever get a second season/series, will it done a Gundam ZZ / Gundam Seed Destiny type of second season/series?
I do see plenty of potential.
Rinka is an alien, or at least part alien. So she sort of Minmay, Milia, Mylene, Elma, Guvava, and a green haired moe-ish character ("Midori no Hibi", "SoltyRei", etc) rolled into one. I see plenty of potential in her, she's not my type, but I do see plenty potential in her. Her 'hair' will allow unique expression without the need of the animation to go 'super deformed'.
Sheryl seems probably a descendant of one of the Nome siblings (did one of them survived? I don't watch much of Macross Zero). From the look of it, she seems the jealous type and quite headstrong, like a certain bridge officer? Or maybe like a certain pink haired character?
Alta/Alto? is definetly a bishounen, I would compare him to Isamu or even Gamlin, and to a lesser extent also to Max. There's one fate I don't want him to end up, for him to end up like Katshushiro in Samurai 7.
The other characters are also interesting. I wonder if more familiar characters will appear?
Personally, I would like to see them evolve more the concept of Spiritia, it's a shame to leave it in the originial Macross (it was shown in one scene of the Xiao Bai Long movie, Vritai was shocked) and Macross 7.
It would be interesting to see a Macross RPG with a Hp and Ep/Mp/Sp display, done in the style of Xenogears. Including mechas with spiritia/ether amplification.
Anyway. Is Hal (Haruhiko Mikimoto) still alive? Or is it now he's sort of like Yoshitaka Amano? Only in a per contract basis.