Macross Zero is set in the year 2008, and chronicles the final days of the conflict between U.N. Spacy and the Anti-U.N. forces on Earth. The story takes place in the South Pacific, in an area where an alien spacecraft crashed nine years before, and both sides are looking for it with the hopes of gaining a technological edge.
Kudou Shin, a pilot with U.N. Spacy, is downed by an enemy aircraft with the ability to transform, and crashes onto a remote island. When he regains consciousness he finds that his injuries have been tended by the natives, a peaceful tribe who want no part in the conflict.
Macross Zero is a big departure for the franchise in terms of it's story, being at times more brutal and less forgiving than other outings. In almost every other Macross series, the enemy has invariably been alien, but here the enemy is other humans, and because of this there is a certain harshness to the tone of the series which is actually rather refreshing. The franchise has always had a slightly sugary aspect to it's stories, so it's nice to finally see a Macross tale that has some teeth, and that allows the characters to behave more like humans instead of an ideal. That's not to say that characters from other Macross series are bad, simply that they have a bit more realism to their personas and actions in Zero.
The OVA is extremely well scripted and paced, and although the story has an element of predictably to it (it's Macross after all, so some things will automatically be included ), there is a distinctly fresh feel to it because of the premise and plot. There are also a number of surprising elements that actually explain several aspects about the entire Macross universe, especially Frontier.
In all fairness, Zero could actually be considered as not simply a prequel, but also a re-envisioning of the entire Macross franchise. Granted there are the staple plot elements of variable fighters, music and love triangles in the OVA, however these actually play second fiddle to what is a truly gripping story.
As with any Macross series there is a certain standard to the quality of the art and animation, and Zero is no slouch in this department. The OVA is possibly the best looking of any Macross anime, and contains some truly remarkable designs and visual concepts. The colours are vibrant and bold, and Zero features some of the most fluid animation seen in the franchise. At times the animation is good enough to put even the mighty Frontier to shame, and nowhere is this highlighted more than in mech combat.
The character designs are one area where Zero truly deviates from other Macross series, with almost every character possessing a certain realism which even extends to items of clothing and jewellery. Blue hair may be a norm in anime, but the lack of it can change the whole feel of a show, sometimes for the better.
One thing that Macross is famous for is music, in particular, songs and singing. Zero is no exception to this, and while the general music is familiarly orchestral (and more than a little martial), the all important singing is very different to what Macross fans will be used to. The songs in Zero have a distinctly tribal tone that is brought about because of the importance of the native islanders to the entire Macross universe. The OVA, unlike other Macross series, actually downplays the popular music element that is prevalent within the franchise. Because of this, the singing has a far more peaceful and natural feel to it, something that also plays a part in Macross Frontier.
One thing I did like about Zero in particular was the quality and timing of it's sound effects. Although there are times when almost everything else is drowned out by explosions, the effects are generally very sharp and clean.
Voice actingis another big plus for the OVA, especially with regards to the lead roles. Suzumura Kenichi performs extremely well as the troubled Kudou Shin, whilst Kobayashi Sanae is truly excellent as the proud Sara Nome. The rest of the cast are equally good, and are able to give their respective characters a greater sense of purpose than I've seen in any other Macross series.
As for the characters themselves, there is really very little to complain about. The lead characters are all individuals to a tee, each with their own problems, goals and ideals. Possibly the most interesting aspect is the internal conflicts that Sara, Mao and Kudou struggle with which, at various points in the OVA, promote some surprising developments in their relationships with each other.
Because the story is set during a period of conflict there is a certain amount of predetermination with regards to their development, which is actually the main weakness of the series. The viewer can almost predict how a given character will react in certain situations. This is, however, an unfortunate necessity because of the length of the OVA. At only five episodes there simply isn't enough time to offer the majority of characters any substantial development. so any that does occur is normally on the formulaic side.
Macross Zero is a surprisingly unique addition to the franchise, and one that will invariably cause some arguments among the more hardcore fanbase. For the average anime viewer though, it is an entertaining and sometimes thought provoking series that isn't afraid to try a new approach. The setting and time period, together with the more realistic tone of the story, also mean that it is more accessable to those who want to give the franchise a try.
Arguments notwithstanding, fans of the Macross franchise should be pleased with this addition, especially with regards to the recent Macross Frontier. Of all the Macross series' that have been released thus far, Frontier and Zero have the closest ties, not simply because of the infamous movie in Frontier, but also because it is suggested that Sheryl Nome is actually the granddaughter of Mao Nome, who we see as a young girl in Zero. There's also the "Birdman" link between the two series, and in all honesty fans of Macross Frontier should definitely watch Zero as it is not only a prequel to SDF Macross, but also the true beginning of Macross Frontier.
The Macross saga has it's detractors, and rightly so as there have been times when the franchise has simply not delivered.
Thankfully, Macross Zero isn't one of those occasions.
