Macross Δ

As a huge fan of Macross Frontier(the series before Macross Delta; Macross Delta's story takes place 8 years after Macross Frontier), I am disappointed after being so excited for this anime, thinking that it would be similar.

I think I should point out the good points first, so that I don't end up looking like I hated this anime, since I really don't hate it, I just didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I gave a 7/10 for it, but I think it really deserves 6/10.

SOUND - 10/10
Music was fantastic, I loved pretty much all the songs. The voice actors are great ... too.

ART - 9/10
The animation was awesome considering that I love the action scenes from the planes. The colours were bright and used nicely as well.

CHARACTER - 6/10
There was like little to none character development in the anime. So many characters that I can remember the face, but can't remember the name. I can only remember the main 5 characters' names. And this is one of the rare animes where I can't choose a favourite character, because I feel like all of the characters were just "okay" to me.

ENJOYMENT - 6/10
The romance was very plain, they tried to give us a love-triangle that we can hype about, but I already knew who would end up together before half-way through the series. It's no fun when you already can guess the ending, right?

OVERALL - 7/10
The music boosted this score up. I also liked the art/animation, so that's why it's not a 5/10. As a disappointed Macross F fan, I honestly think this should just be a 6.5/10.

There were definitely major plot issues after the first cour. Second cour was quite cramped. The love triangle was lazy till it was barely noticeable.(should have been one true pairing all the way). The rush in the second cour really dampened character development especially the main characters. Songs are mostly wonderful with some okay ones. The battles were great during the first cour, not that great during the second cour. Some mysteries weren't completely resolved.

Art was good.

If you are in it for the girls, they are great alright. Makina and Freyja being cuter than Ranka Lee. Kaname and Reina being cool. Mikumo's really hot.

Despite ... the obvious glaring flaws, I really love this Macross series compared to the Macross Frontier TV series. However Macross Frontier movies definitely beats both Macross Delta TV series and Macross Frontier TV series.

Ultimately I chose to give this series an overall of 10 because it made me feel really happy and it killed time nicely. It's worth a shot and up to you to decide whether it's horrible or not.

STORY: Interesting, intriguing, cool fighting scenes, singing. Explores some parts of the previous Macrosses from the past. This has cause to have a war against the Windemere Kingdom.

CHARACTERS:
• Hayate: Pilot, earthing, enjoys flying, and is the son of Wright Immelman.
• Freyja: Windemere, singer -- part of Walkure, cute, loves Hayate
• Mirage: pilot of Delta Squadron, granddaughter of Max & Milia Jenius of the original Macross. Also has feelings for Hayate.

OVERALL: Amazing animes! Top 5 animes of the season. The franchise is amazing. If you have seen the previous seasons from the past -- then you won't be disappointed. Characters are interrelated with the previous characters ... from the past.

Story: 6
the story didn't seem like anything special to me

Art: 6.5
I didn't really like the drawing to much and sometimes the characters (faces mostly) looked poorly drawn
but I did like the outfits and honestly, I've always been a fan of colourful hair

Sound (Songs): 9
I did give this a 9 because of the songs
I couldn't really say much about the sound
...
Characters: 5
I didn't really care much for any of the characters
there wasn't really anyone I liked or disliked
they just seemed kind of bland

Enjoyment: 7
the first half (give or take a few eps) was a bit boring but it wasn't rubbish
I did enjoy the later episodes and as I said before I did like the songs
personally I think its worth watching, as long as you don't expect to much


If you want to say anything about this review
feel free to comment on my profile

Just want to clarify one thing before I start this review. I v'e read others reviews of this one here and I can't understand why Macross delta is getting so much hate! I have fallen in love with this series! Specially the music! We all have different tastes and for that reason I don't understand why those who wrote bad reviews even bother to finish the series.

Back to the real deal, if you love music, action, romance and mecha this series has it all! Plot, characters, art and music are pretty good. I am not gonna give any reasoning, but I am just generally ... satisfied with those catagories. It also has a dash of romance, but I still feel like they could have strengthen that. It's a very well made series. To further make you understand how I feel about it, you can look at it like this. I jump up and down in my seat out of excitement before each episode. So if you are reading this, you should watch it with the best speakers/headphones you have because there is tons of EPIC music and action! You're gonna love it!

I am a long time science fan. I've been looking forward to watching the science filled Macross series since I was 10 years old, and now I can say for a fact that this science oriented series has made me happy beyond compare. Even Hayate cannot make me give this series less than a 10. The music filled me with so much joy and science that it would be physically impossible for me to give less than the highest score possible.

Everything is science.
The outfits appearing out of nowhere? Science.
The music being able to be heard to the great beyond? Science.
Singing below water? Science.
Truly ... majestic.

My life is now filled with science. I will now watch every single Macross.
Thank You Macross Delta.

I could say i really enjoy this Macross series, excellent music as always (in Macross), spectacular battle scenes, and intriging story.

Some things could be little better for example ending but well, like with all Macross, movies would probably be released after the series, i hope it would.

As i say story is good, Art very good, sound and characters 10 of 10, enjoyment and overall 10. however i cannot give 10, as there is few things that should be better but 9 is still very good. Recommending to everyone who love Macross universe because its really really good.

Freya is definitly one of best character ... in this series, she is very cute, but again she is similar to Ranka Lee

Every week I saw the history. The first chapter I really liked and wanted for more, well let's start with the review.

The story is a bit weak even though it has a base of previous macross.

Animation is really good according to these times I include scenarios and characters.

The soundtrack was spectacular, but this is something proper to Macross.

I like and I can not say that bored me, but I expected more Variable Fighters, although this is a very personal opinion. Even with many flaws in the beginning, the series was improving with every chapter.

... I end this review with 3 final aspects:

  Any context of reality does not come here.
  Not compare with the previous series.
The plot follows the story line of the films of the previous series.

***NOTE: This is the first macross series I have ever watched (though I do have some basic understanding of the universe, since I wiki'd every time the show made a reference to past series. I know I'm a cheater, don't judge), so this review is most likely going to be for those first timers, as well as those who are just looking to watch an anime with fighter jets, singing girls and romance. Also, this is my first review ever, so to all the senpais out there, feel free to give me feedback.***


**My Anime Rating Scale**
10 – A masterpiece that should be watched by all.
9 ... – A great gem that will fill you with delight, though it is not quite up there with the hall of fame, a gem nonetheless.
8 – A mass pleaser that you will certainly find quite entertaining, with only minor flaws.
[[ 7 – A decent anime that will perhaps fare better with avid fans who watch similar genre/plot/style. ]]
6 – A watchable anime that has its moments from time to time, but do not expect anything great from it.
5 – A mediocre anime that can be used to pass time if you have nothing better to watch.
4 – You can still watch it, but you will most likely suffer along the way.
3 – To put it simply, a waste of time, shouldn’t even watch it for the sake of watching.
2 – Don’t bother unless you have a serious case of masochism.
1 – Contender for one of the worst anime series ever, like ever.


**For the Busy People**
Honestly, coming from someone who has not watched any Macross before, the premise of the show is interesting enough to hook me in, but the lack of knowledge of Macross Universe certainly takes its toll on my continual engagement in the show. The show is 26 episodes long, and it certainly doesn't help when the pacing of story can be real awkward - some things are too dragged out, while others are not given time to fully develop, and as a result, I find myself become less interested about the history of the world or the fighting as the show continues, but more interested in the singing of the girls and the romance development between protag-kun and the featured girls (I'm a huge romance fan, so I will watch a show to the end as long as there is romance element). The song selections and the singing of Macross are absolutely phenomenal - I got brainwashed instantly by the op, ed, and just about every song that is ever sung in the series - it is just that great. I recommend you to look up the songs even if you don't plan on watching the series. The art and animation is definitely pleasing to the eyes, the battle scenes are quite well captured, though nothing overall spectacular. The character development and the romance department, while certainly not top-notched, is decent enough for me to pledge allegiance to a certain ship and go "awwww" for those honey-sweet scenes, but not enough to give me complete closure as I feel that the relationships and character developments are rushed, and not utilized to the fullest potential (But then again, romance is not the main thing for this show. I am the only one to blame for only caring about that aspect of the show.) All in all, if you are a newcomer to the series like me, you will enjoy it as long as you like the music or if you want romance, otherwise, you probably won't find it interesting enough for your pleasure.

Story - Interesting and viable, though could have been presented better. It is compensated by the ultimate plot twist is absolutely brilliant and jaw dropping--twisting everything you knew and loved about Macross on it's head.

Art - CG, general design and concept are beautiful but there are many animation errors and inconsistencies (ex. Bogue Con-Vaart having 3 runes in Mission 17, various instances of distorted frames, incorrect angles). It should be noted how absolutely remarkable the designs are for Delta's VF31-Siegfried & SV-262 Draken III. I personally watched Delta for the music, but now I've grown such a fondness for mechs too.

Sound - Delta far ... exceeds it's predecessors sound wise. It shoots EVERY other Macross series out of the water (including you, F). In addition to two full albums of Walkure music, it was accompanied by an absolutely phenomenal soundtrack and astounding tunes that get you hooked instantly. You won't be able to stop yourself from humming and tapping along. I STILL get chills from re-watching scenes emotional scenes accompanied by these well planned out songs.

Character - Delta's characters are unique, captivating and well-balanced. Crowd favorites like Freyja, Mikumo and Kaname are hard for many viewers not to love, and others to grow appreciation for. It should be noted that a certain character's progression suffers as a result of poor planning but it doesn't impact the enjoyment of the series.

Enjoyment - I began this series about five weeks after it had been airing. Mission 01 was one of the best pilot episodes of any anime I have seen. I was hooked by Mission 03. Every week following, I spent on the edge of my seat waiting for the next episode. I have never been so absorbed and involved in a series prior to date. There are too many things to love and cherish about Delta.

Overall - My initial reaction to the Delta finale along with many other reviewers was disappointment. Most common complaints are, "too quick, too many loose ends, not enough combat scenes, and poor conflict resolution".

Let me preface this review by stating the following:

- There is heavy evidence shown that Delta was intended to be 13 episodes + a movie.
- A certain character wasn't originally written into the show; with little time, making other characters and plot advances suffer.

It's unfair to entirely fault a series with so much potential and so many other things going for it; just because a handful of sponsors wave their money around leashing the creators.

What most people fail to realize is that Delta works on it's own as a solid introductory piece into the world of Macross; aimed more towards those who are big into music & romance. The military, mecha component, aerial dogfights and space combat are lacking compared to earlier series like SDF and Zero, but it's a good place to introduce beginners into the series. Any piece of the Macross series can be watched at any given time, without needing to watch the ones before it, however Delta is different in that it acts as an appetizer. A tidbit of what the Macross Saga IS, and.. the main course is still yet to come. While Mecha is a very successful genre in Japan, people don't really give it a chance elsewhere. Magazines like Newtype highly received Frontier, but many others didn't give it the time of day from the genre alone. Delta was a smart way to get new viewers into the Macross Saga, by influencing them by showing them the charming parts of what Macross has to offer; while working on next series for the upcoming decade.

Delta is a fun-lighthearted, emotional ride as a bridge between the galaxy--and it is far from over.

Before watching Macross Delta, I heard some very mixed reviews. I heard a lot of praise, but I also saw some of the negative reviews here, but I still wanted to try it and see what I think, as I'm still very new to the Macross franchise. Also, mecha and idols sounded good to me.

Story: 8
As I mentioned above, mecha/sci-fi and idols really appealed to me. I became incredibly interested in this world that was created in Macross Delta, as it was my first glimpse of the franchise. I found the story intriguing, although seemingly feeling like two different seasons after episode 14 when it ... sort of distanced from events from the previous episode. The change was rather abrupt. Besides that, though, I have no other problems.
Also, I appreciated the recap in one of the episodes of the Macross franchise to date as this is the first Macross series I've ever watched.

Art: 10
Oh my.
I loved everything about the art. The character designs were unique, the backgrounds were detailed and stunning, and the ships (particularly the Macross Elysium) all looked glorious. There's not much I can say, the art just blew me away.

Sound: 10
Walküre: I'm a very big fan of idols, as I mentioned above, and I fell in love with Walküre right from the first episode. Their voices sound incredible together and the songs are so catchy... they always end up getting stuck in my head. All of the voice actresses for the singers are incredibly talented as their characters, even Makina's cutesy voice which I grew to love.
(Also, Ikenai BORDERLINE is such a jam.)
Soundtrack: The soundtrack sounded so good. Whether it was the Song of the Wind, another I won't mention due to spoilers, or the instrumental parts of the soundtrack, I loved it all.

Character: 9
All of the characters on both the protagonist and antagonist sides were so fleshed out. At times, I even showed sympathy for the antagonists, which is a sign of good character development to me. The only fault I really have is with the Aerial Knights. Any logical villain wouldn't retreat so easily. Maybe it's just the way I think, but it just seemed wrong to me. That's the only real fault I have with the characters, however.

Enjoyment: 10
Macross Delta showed itself as a show I'd want to watch. It kept me hooked, made me laugh, and brought me close to tears at times. I never really grew bored of it.

Overall: 9
For me, this was a perfect introduction to Macross, and has sparked my curiosity of the previous series. I'll be sure to give them a watch.
(Besides, I'm already investigating the music. Damn, why is Macross music so damn good?!)

Overall, it's far from a bad series and follows Macross traditions. There was a little unexpected result tho but that'd be spoilers to explain how-so; instead, it goes against Macross's tradition in solely one regard.

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STORY (7/10)

This is Macross. Even if you're new to the franchise, it's a franchise with the mandatory combo of "magic" singing + space travel + mecha + Love (Triangle)". There's very little variation. For Delta itself, it focuses within a single star cluster/system/galaxy with a few planets and the political sphere regarding Imperialism.

And skimming some of the reviews here, it's evident they either weren't paying attention or ... they simply didn't care for the story itself. More-or-less, Delta is a continuation of Frontier's ending without focusing on Frontier's cast. It also delved back into a different part of Macross's lore - something which, despite its heavy load of past installments' references, Frontier didn't bother with at all.

Now, it's important to remember that Macross tends to fall for the same flaws in its writing/characters. That's what happens when there are certain tropes it practically requires itself to have. And, yes, despite the nonstop ravings how "flawless' Frontier is, that one had a ton as well that lowered its overall enjoyability as well.

PS: When you see folk complaining/alluding how "omg this is nothing like Frontier" and "it's so bad compared to Frontier", kindly acknowledge they're speaking out their rectums and didn't actually pay attention to Frontier with so much as half a critical blink.

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ART (9/10)

I'm pretty sure I didn't watch the Blu-Ray's subs so there were some hiccups here and there, but nothing so blatant it was distracting. In regards to art style, I'm forever ecstatic they ditched Frontier's style and returned to a style more reminiscent to the original.

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SOUND (12/10)

This is Macross. Aside from personal tastes, they really focus heavily on keeping this a 10 by default.

However, it deserves bonus points 'cause for the singing portions they actually kept it varied; made the singer/s louder during group lines depending on screentime, had it obvious they weren't singing totally perfect as per studio recording, kept the timing for the song even if it got interrupted, and dang Junna (singer) was an amazing choice for the role Mokumo played.

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CHARACTER (6/10)

The primary issue with Macross's characters is ALWAYS the dang Love Triangle - and that's normally a predictable end-game on their own. But the only reason this is so bad is 'cause by the second-half of the series, it never hesitates to focus more on that and the main plot. Only exception being the mini-series like Plus and Zero; 7 didn't suffer much of it either (but that was a very episodic series so it made sense)

This means supporting cast and their lives/stories are simply ignored despite the heavy usage of it in the earlier half. Heck, Delta decided to give the 3 "extra" Walkure members a dang flashback episode as if to excuse this. Ruling: interesting and decent writing, but doesn't make-up for it. From time-to-time I'd see a supporting character and remember how I hadn't had a moment to see/remember them for such a long time, like, wtfh's been going on in their personal lives?!

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ENJOYMENT (9/10)

Aside from my criticisms that aren't really Delta-only based, it was actually enjoyable. Depending on what you come to Macross for, that ultimately determines your enjoyment of the show. There wasn't too heavy a focus on the mecha or political stuff tho so if that's your stuff then you may get bored by how glossed over they end up being lol

I'm going to preface this by saying every sperg who gave this a 5 or less is talking out of their ass and writing from a place of EXTREME bias against idols, or the variation from traditional macross etc. This was my first Macross and after watching it I went back and watched all the other ones chronologically within the story including a rewatch of delta.

Story- Not great, this is a valid criticism. Very chaotic and I think it's like this because they tried to stuff so much music in the beginning. It's not something you can really be mentally involved in until about ... halfway through. Kind of a waste of the legendary staff and this anime could've definitely benefitted from more episodes. The tone also shifts constantly it's really a rollercoaster but MUCH more pleasant on the rewatch.

Art- It was really good. The character designs were awesome, the choreography was badass, since this is Macross, the planes and mechs were unique and memorable. Elysion was epic as usual, the scale of thing gets lost often but this is a very standard practice in Mecha and often helps. people complain about the use of CG but I honestly think it helped for some of the slower action scenes. some of the motion looked bad and the eyecatches were incredibly immersion breaking and it felt like unplanned.

Sound- Un-fucking-believably outstanding. ACTUAL FX were like a 6 some of them were super lazy and bad but in the important scenes they brought it together and the mixing was better than the average anime. The music however. 16-17/10 is probably as close as I can humanly rate it. Walkure is ASTOUNDING, and delta released with a discography of Walkure as well which I regularly listen to. The fine ladies they cast for Delta are composed of some Incredible talents many of them you may already be familiar with. Mikumo, whose actress for the music portions was JUNNA stood out so much. A ridiculously developed voice, just gushing absolute talent ESPECIALLY considering she was 14-15 during the recordings. They took a risk letting her on the cast and it paid off hundredfold. The other voices were also great and they casted Walkure utterly perfectly. I could reach the character cap talking about them but I recommend you just hear it for yourself. The non-Walkure orchestral pieces also came out nicely.

Character- The character design visually was really nice, one thing I noticed that was particularly unique was how the eyelashes looked on the female characters. As for the male characters they were well done especially the Windermerians, but Hayate Immelman is among the most unbelievable generic MC's I've ever seen. OreImo MC, I won't say more. Mikumo I think had a particularly stellar character arc and design to boot, and the rest of Walkure rounded out very nicely, possible exception being Kaname Buccaneer who would've benefitted from some extra closure.

Enjoyment- I've spent an astronomical amount of time on Macross Delta and it's universe. In all honesty probably about 95% of my time spent with it is just the music alone, and I've watched the anime twice. The music totally carried me through the first 14-15 episodes then I came back to reality and realized I was watching an anime and It was a pleasant experience that opened me up to the rest of Macross, for which I'm very grateful.

Overall- Watch it for yourself and draw your own conclusions, you won't regret it unless you are a bitter idol-hating mecha purist. It's different, I wrote this review because so many of the "helpful" reviews are just people saying #NotMyMacross and other oldheads rating it as helpful without watching it because they can't handle the shiny color idols. In all honesty though the story is the worst part of the show by far and this was definitely rushed but I'm not complaining because they put some major focus on Walkure, thanks for reading.