Macross Plus

The year is 2040 and the galaxy is flourishing with several colonies and advanced technology. AI is near perfection and the current top idol is the near-completed Virturoid Idol Sharon Apple. All that is missing are her actual feelings, which instead are supplied by Myung Fang Lone. Sharon's debut concert is on planet Eden, where at the same time, fighter pilots Isamu Dyson and Guld Bowman battle over air superiority for the "Supernova Project." Isamu, Guld and Myung were once childhood friends, but after an accident seven years ago, they went their own separate ways. With Myung back in the picture, the old disputes are once again awakened. And when an unstable and illegal AI technique is installed in Sharon, the situation is worsened.

(Source: ANN)

Dyson, Isamu Alva Main

Yamazaki, Takumi Japanese

Fang Long, Myung Main

Fukami, Rica Japanese

Bowman, Guld Goa Main

Ishizuka, Unshou Japanese

Apple, Sharon Supporting

Hyoudou, Mako Japanese

Gueldoa, Marj Supporting

Hayami, Show Japanese

Masseau, Morgan Supporting

Yara, Yuusaku Japanese

Marley, Reymond Supporting

Ginga, Banjou Japanese

Johnson, Millard Supporting

Utsumi, Kenji Japanese

McMillan, Lucy Supporting

Hayashibara, Megumi Japanese

Gomez Supporting

Kitamura, Kouichi Japanese

Takanashi, Minoru Producer

Watanabe, Shinichirou Director, Storyboard

Kawamori, Shouji Director, Storyboard, Mechanical Design, Creator

Mima, Masafumi Sound Director

Reviews

Sep 13, 2024

SgtSalamander

Recommended

Macross Plus is one of the best looking anime of the 90s, hands-down. Its visual execution is simply exquisite from start to finish, and on these grounds alone it is an experience worthy of everyone's time. However, underneath the eye candy, there's a predictable story that tends towards unoriginality and, were it not for the visuals, would have otherwise lost my interest. Beginning with the story, as I just said, it's basic. It's not necessarily bad, and features very cool worldbuilding, though it's hard to tell how much credit should actually go to the art in that regard. In any ... case, the story can be summed up as Top Gun in a different setting. Top Gun's a good story, don't get me wrong, but watching this anime just feels like it's channeling so much of its influences without handling them in any meaningful way, or coming up with enough of its own. Plus, the old, mysterious conflict between the childhood friends feels contrived, and ultimately anticlimactic. It would have been better to simply say they left on bad terms instead of holding on to something so half-baked. Regardless, I have to reiterate that it's not a bad story, but in comparison to the art its flaws just stand out that much more, and after all, the story isn't what you're here for in the first place.

Now, moving on to this anime's strongest aspect, the art. In this respect, Macross Plus can rightfully be called a masterpiece. It is a monumental work of art, one of those once-in-a-generation displays of skill and passion that stand the test of time as something distinct, something special. Indeed, the art is what's doing most of the heavy lifting here in regards to its overall score. It displays some of the defining characteristics of 90s anime, like a lavish use of color and rich, multifaceted backgrounds, while also going above and beyond in terms of things like animation quality and overall detail. The experience of watching a mechanical marvel, with all its circuits and rivets, dodge and weave through the sky as smooth as butter, all while the animation effortlessly captures the moment, without a single mistake or stutter, can best be described as arresting. The feeling of watching a techno-psychedelic concert explode with color and light in a hypnotic synthesis of CG and traditional animation is totally unique, and something you will undoubtedly remember forever. I could go on, but the constant, unceasing visual mastery of Macross Plus is always on display, and has stood the test of time as one the most legendary visual feats the medium of anime has ever produced.

The sound is also fantastic, and while it's not quite on the same level, it is uniquely excellent. The English dub, notably featuring a young Bryan Cranston, is among the best, and is particularly impressive considering the wider state of English dubs during that period. The OST is simply magical, and the perfect pairing for the visuals on display. The inimitable Yoko Kanno worked her magic here for sure, wreathing the incredible art with a unique sound that pairs with it so as to create a totally immersive sensory experience.

The characters, meanwhile, meet all basic standards of quality, with my favorites being Isamu Dyson and Myung Fang Long, Isamu for being a fun embodiment of the irreverent badass protagonist, and Myung for being a tragic character caught up by the winds of fate, managing to strike a realistic measure of her actions, avoiding the mary sue trap while also not being entirely helpless. Overall, Macross Plus, while not perfect, more than makes up for its flaws by being a visual masterpiece that is absolutely vital for anyone who considers themselves a serious enthusiast of anime as an art form.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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May 5, 2024

Irememberlove

Mixed Feelings

It’s a much more character driven Macross story, with really good animation. I’m not a fan of the overall soundtrack, but Voices remains one of my favorite songs in the franchise.

There’s two love triangles (because we love them so much). One of them is really weak and pointless, and you wonder why it wasn’t treated as something more simple.

The strength of the characters is mostly between the three estranged friends, but none of them stand out that much on their own. Guld was sort of interesting and likable, but by the end in the OVA, he'd lost most of that.

The reveal about the fallout ... between the three friends relies on a really stupid plot device. Towards the end of the movie, Isamu and Guld do some stuff that seems overly violent for their characters unless I misunderstood the scene. The ending is very abrupt and thus a little disappointing.

It does unfortunately continue the trend brought forth by the last 9 episodes of SDF, where there are racial differences between humans and Zentradi (more prone to anger and violence). A terrible message in a franchise like Macross. It's possible it is meant to be racism within the Macross universe (not an actual fact), but it's unclear. A certain character’s decision seems to hint at the possibility of this at least.

It’s best if you watch both the OVA and Movie version (OVA first). But if you were only to watch one, I’d recommend the movie instead. Unless you absolutely want to have a dub version (odds are you probably don’t if you’re watching Macross), the OVA is the only one that is dubbed (and I believe is the only other Macross series to be dubbed aside from SDF).

By the way, if you ever watch it dubbed, Bryan Cranston voices Isamu. Might be worth a listen.

It might sound like I have a lot of negative things to say, but it’s not even close to bad. You watch this for either the well animated fights or the trio of estranged friends and their story. Enjoyable overall, but somewhat held back in the last episode. Sometimes you forget it’s part of the Macross franchise, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It does its own thing within the Macross world, and does it mostly well.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Aug 30, 2024

Tooootla

Not Recommended

"Macross Plus" is the type of series where you get excited about what's going to happen next, at least in the beginning... But then, suddenly, you realize the story you were expecting is over, and from then on, all you will get to watch is a nonsense romance drama until the end. The same thing happened in Season 1. ( Macross) Original

"Macross Plus" (a 4-episode series) starts with an amazing soundtrack. The main character (isamu ) seems like a free spirit who is also a pilot and loves his work. There are two other characters,one female ( myung) and another guy (guld) who ... doesn't matter much, even though she is a complete bitch. I was expecting to see an amazing mini mecha series.



The entire story -- ( also for A movie after this)
The real mess starts from episode 2 and continues to the end. The two guys who hate each other and fight over a girl include one character, Guld, who doesn’t matter at all. He’s a pilot and a rapist who doesn’t even know what he’s doing. Throughout the show, this guy is obsessed with saying, 'I love her, I love her,' while blaming Isamu for everything. In the end, he realizes it was all his mistake and dies. Lol.

Isamu - the only worthy character, this is what he was looking in the beginning but his potential got wasted over nothing . The guy who loves to fly his Meha plane , the free spirit guy suddenly disappears and now a part of over dramatic romance nonsense.

And here we have Myung, the main female mc the bitch is sleeping with other guy but ended with mc later, and this nonsense is romance.. Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to root for this so-called romance when she can't even keep her legs closed long enough to figure out what she wants?
And this wh@re puked the entire show , she is like I like guld but I love isamu even more , in the entire show all she did " I can't sing because of my past , blame the mc ... that's all.


The AI content is beautiful, with some intriguing ideas about technology and its consequences. The concerts scenes were just so beautiful , mecha scenes were good though.However, because of the overwhelming love drama, it all gets overshadowed. Instead of focusing on the potential of the AI plot, the series wasted on a love xhit romance.

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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	Poll: Macross Plus Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 ) otoko_tenshi - Jan 18, 2009	54 replies	by Cooltaff12 »» Aug 25, 8:37 AM
	Poll: Macross Plus Episode 2 Discussion Veethorn - May 14, 2010	23 replies	by EmmyMoomin »» Jul 14, 2:58 PM
	Macross Plus General Discussion arimakenshin - Jan 8, 2009	8 replies	by jyagan0 »» May 4, 12:04 AM
	Forgiving Guld *major spoiler alert* arimakenshin - Jan 8, 2009	6 replies	by Gatalis »» Feb 15, 12:29 AM
	Poll: Macross Plus Episode 1 Discussion HooHiraiBunny - Nov 19, 2009	25 replies	by usern0tsc00ter »» Nov 7, 2023 2:20 AM

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