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Date Posted: 10:49:57 03/15/03 Sat
Author: Goktimus Prime
Subject: Macross Zero, Episode 1 (contains spoilers)

I saw the first episode last week and it rocked!! The animation was absolutely spectacular with plenty of CG -- *especially* the dogfights! Unfortunately I missed the first dogfight at the beginning of the episode, cos I was walking back from Maccas, but everyone says that it was awesome. I saw the second dogfight towards the end of the episode and that was just fantastic!! *drool*

The Story

Macross Zero is set before the original Macross story. The television series mentioned that in the years leading up to the crash of the Macross, the world was engaged in a massive Global War. It was shortly after the Macross crashed on Earth that the Global War ended and humanity united to create the U.N. Spacy and prepare itself for the coming of the Zentraedi.

Macross Zero occurs at the tail end of the Global War. The Macross has crashed and secret excavation and research of the alien technology found in the Macross has already begun. The faction that will become the United Earth Government are fighting the last of their enemies -- however, it seems that more than one nation has been able to access the information and technology that was found in the Macross.

One of the main characters is a pilot called Shin Kudou. His plane crashes on a strange Mayan island inhabited by people who have continued to live in their ancient and traditional ways with little contact from the outside world. Part of their culture involves the worship of the Bird People (the fansub calls them "Bird Men" - which I suppose is an acceptable translation, but I should point out that overall, the fansub's translation is pretty poor - but don't worry, I've heard that Bandai will be releasing a commercial version on DVD that will hopefully have a more accurate translated set of subtitles) and there are strange shrines around the island of these Bird People who, according to island lore, came to Earth from the stars a long time ago and created the islands by splitting a turtle shell in half. Shin befriends two of the island's local girls -- Sara Nome and her younger sister, Mao Nome.

In the mean time, Roy Focker is assigned to lead a squad of raw test pilot recruits -- the Skull Squadron. Intelligence reports that the enemy has developed some powerful form of transforming jet fighter, although they have no idea how it will look or handle. The Skull Squadron are assigned to pilot the new prototype VF-0 prototype Valkyrie fighter (which was built by combining new technology with their F-14 Tomcats). During a flight mission, Roy engages in combat with an enemy fighter (I think it was an SV-51 Nora). An extensive dogfight ensues. Much to his surprise, the fighter transforms into a robotic Battroid mode (which looks *very* Zentraedi-like in design). Roy finds it difficult to outmanuevre the enemy fighter who has gained superior manuevreability in its Battroid mode. After nearly dodging some enemy missiles and failing to score a hit onto his bogey, Focker swings his throttle stick to one side and locks it forward and then right -- this configures his VF-0 into Battroid mode and the dogfight continues between the two fighters in Battroid/robot mode!

This fight occurs over the Mayan island where Shin and his friends are. When they see the VF-0 hovering right over them with its wings spread out, they realise that it bears an uncanny resemblance to the Bird People shrine that can be found all over the island. Sara (who had a violent physical reaction when her psychic abilities gave her a premonition just before the fight broke out) remarks that the Bird People have returned.

Shin notices that the dogfight is approaching the islander's village, and a lot of the stray missiles are exploding in a forest where Mao went to collect sacred water. Shin orders Sara to go and help warn and evacuate the villagers whilst he runs off to find and save Mao in the forest.

Comments

* It's interesting to see Kawamori doing a prequel to the classic Macross legend. This OVA series seems to draw from elements from both the original Macross TV series and the movie. In terms of artistic style, it lends more from the movie. This is very evident in the Valkyrie pilots' flight suits. However, there are more story elements drawn from the series - I guess because the movie was always nothing more than an abridged version of the series anyway.

* Hearing the original Japanese Seiyuu (voice actor) for Roy Focker reprising the role of a younger Focker was a nice touch! Although I didn't see Gloval in this episode, I've heard that he has been voiced by a different seiyuu because the original seiyuu for that character passed away about ten years ago. Focker hasn't meant Claudia yet and his current love interest is a military scientist by the name of Aries Turner -- again, showing the image of being a womaniser that Focker was meant to have until he met Claudia.

* The graphics are just superb. As mentioned before, this series uses a LOT of CG that is blended in well with the cel animation. For example, whenever a fighter zooms by the camera, a heat trail, where the air looks distorted, can be seen rippling by. You can also see all kinds of heat and vapour trails rippling all around the surface of the mecha in any close up shot -- as well as detailed vents and other forms of exquisite detail (including the camera lens moving from inside the "eye" of the Battroid).

* One funny thing about the VF-0 is that in some ways, it does seem more advanced that the VF-1 series of Valkyries that follow it. For example, its cockpit in Battroid mode looks more like the cockpit in the YF-19. Sure, the VF-1s had HUDs as well, but they didn't have a computer targetting system that tracked the pilot's eyeball! When Focker is trying to get a target lock for his missiles, you see a red dot rolling across his iris and it follows it whenever Focker darts his eyes in any direction. The configuration controls are also more advanced -- requiring the pilot to merely manipulate a the throttle in a special way (a red button on the throttle toggles it from being a velocity throttle to being the transformation control stick), whereas the VF-1 series had a series of three slide buttons! Of course, all of this looks awesome when you see it, but you can't help but think that the VF-0, being a *predecessor* to the VF-1 series, really shouldn't be equipped with features that are far more advanced than the series that follows it. Ah well. There is one distinct drawback from the VF-0 that was outlined in episode one -- it is NOT fuel efficient. This was due to the fact that the company that was supposed to manufacture its thermonuclear reactor didn't get it completed in time for the production of the VF-0 prototypes (but are naturally standard in all VF-1 Valkyries).

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