Ranked #2572

Robotech II: The Sentinels

It's interesting that no one has written a review for The Sentinels yet. I suppose there are reasons for that, but I won't waste time considering them here. I will, however, use one of the likely factors (Sentinels being an aborted series turned into a pilot feature) to state that part of this review is speculative.

The story of Sentinels takes place between the Macross and Masters parts of the Robotech series. If it was completed, it likely would have filled-in a lot of story related to the most recent feature: Shadow Chronicles. A compilation of the first (and only) three episodes intended to be a much longer series, Sentinels goes through the opening invasion of the Master's homeworld by the Invid and the preperation for the expedition force of the SDF-3 to seek-out that same homeworld.

Here's where it gets speculative. The storyline for this intended series had amazing potential. While effectively a spin-off of the main storyline, a lot could have been done with a series focusing solely on the SDF-3's venture (then again, it might have ended-up a Star Trek rip-off for all we know :p). As it is, what we get is the opening stages of the Invid invasion of the Robotech Masters' homeworld (this involves two seperate foci: a scientist and his assistant on the homeworld on the one hand; the Invid leadership on the other) and the wedding of Rick and Lisa. Good base stuff, in my opinion, and it's a shame the project fell-through.

The artwork for this project is, from what I know, the greatest of its criticisms. I'd have to agree with that view to a large degree (not to it being inferior per se, just not that great. by modern standards, not much of Robotech is well-animated). Some of the sequences seem rather rough. Character design, in my opinion, leaves some to be desired. I did like the new looks of Rick and Minmay, but many of the other characters weren't very good (I wanted to throw something at whomever did Lisa's hair. GAH!). I think several of the exterior space sequences were decent enough though.

Sound is something I can't comment on with great authority here. The highlight of the feature is the song (if I recall correctly, titled "Together") performed by Minmay during the wedding. In fact, comparing it to the previous songs in the Macross saga (the butt of many old otaku jokes) it may be my favorite one from Minmay.

As can be expected when you let a project tank, there isn't enough time to develop anyone's character. No time for growth means we're stuck with impressions of familiar characters from other parts of Robotech, and "new" characters seem very one dimensional. On this count, you'll have to take it like a one-shot story.

The main reason why I enjoyed watching this movie was because it gave me a base to imagine how much bigger Robotech should've been. On top of that, if you can forgive its status of orphaned child and pretend there's more after it, it's not a bad flick. Really that's its greatest shortcoming, leaving you wanting more and it's not going to come (curse you Carl!). What's interesting to me is I'm not even a Robonerd (not that anyone calls them that anymore, but hey, I don't mind being a jargonist now and then) and I still liked watching it.

Given today's standards for anime, as well as this feature's several shortcomings, I can't give the feature more than a 5 on the overall. This "movie" is best reserved for Robotech junkies. If you are one, it's worth your time. Otherwise, you may want to look elsewhere to satisfy your needs. read more