Macross Δ

Macross Δ
Macross Δ (マクロスΔ, Makurosu Deruta)
Production
Producer	BIG WEST Satelight
Director	Kenji Yasuda
Story & Script	Toshizou Nemoto
Character Design	Mita Chisato
Mechanical Designer	Shoji Kawamori Kazutaka Miyatake
Art Director	Atelier Musa Vincento Niemu Thomas Romain
Music	Saeko Suzuki TOMISIRO Mina Kubota JUNNA Minori Suzuki Kiyono Yasuno Nao Toyama Nozomi Nishida
Release
Japanese	April 3, 2016 — September 25, 2016
Number of Episodes	26

Macross Δ (マクロスΔ(デルタ), Makurosu Deruta), also known as Macross Delta, is a 2016 anime television series. It is the latest entry within the Macross Timeline, set in 2067, eight years after the events of Macross Frontier. It aired from April to September 2016 on Tokyo MX and BS11 .

A theatrical adaptation, Macross Δ Movie: Passionate Walküre, was released on February 9, 2018. Additional story material can be seen in Delta Mini-Theater.

Synopsis

In AD 2067, deep within the Brisingr Globular Cluster, a mysterious disease called "Vár Syndrome" begins infecting humans and Zentradi alike, causing them to go berserk and resulting in massive loss of life and property.

An interstellar enterprise known as Chaos forms Delta Flight and the tactical sound unit Walküre to counteract the spread of the Var. Walküre's idols' power lies in their singing, which contain powerful "bio-fold waves" that help calm those infected with the disease. Mikumo Guynemer, Kaname Buccaneer, Makina Nakajima and Reina Prowler tour system to system in hopes to quell the symptoms of the disease.

At the same time, an elite variable fighter unit known as the "Aerial Knights" of the "Kingdom of the Wind". Led by King Gramia VI, Heinz Nehrich Windermere and Roid Brehm, they openly declare war on the New United Nations Government for war crimes they committed in their home system of Windermere seven years ago.

Caught in the conflict is would-be Walküre idol Freyja Wion and Delta Flight pilots Hayate Immelman and Mirage Farina Jenius. They will soon be entangled with the mystery of the Protoculture's legacy of the Star Singer. The curtain is raised for the story of passionate teamwork and love larger than a star system.

Missions

Episodes in Macross Δ are called "Missions".

Mission	Title	Japanese Airdate
0.89	Prologue on the Battlefield (Prefetch Edition)	December 31, 2015
01	Prologue on the Battlefield	April 3, 2016
02	Ready for the Audition	April 10, 2016
03	A Stormy Dogfight	April 17, 2016
04	A Shocking Debut Show	April 24, 2016
05	Dancing in the Moonlight	May 1, 2016
06	Decision Overload	May 8, 2016
07	Behind Enemy Lines	May 15, 2016
08	Escape Resonance	May 22, 2016
09	Uncontrolled on the Edge	May 29, 2016
10	Axia Flash	June 5, 2016
11	Jellyfish Reminiscence	June 12, 2016
12	King of the Wind	June 19, 2016
13	Passionate Diving	June 26, 2016
14	Embracing Adrift	July 3, 2016
15	Parting Resolution	July 10, 2016
16	Hesitating Birthday	July 17, 2016
17	Scatter on Stage	July 24, 2016
18	Sense Emergence	July 31, 2016
19	Eternal Songs	August 7, 2016
20	Impulse Experiment	August 14, 2016
21	Yearning Secret	August 21, 2016
22	Extreme Brave	August 28, 2016
23	Scarred Requiem	September 4, 2016
24	Fatal Judgment	September 11, 2016
25	Star Singer	September 18, 2016
26	Eternal Walküre	September 25, 2016

Characters

SDF/C-108 Macross Elysion Crew

• Ernest Johnson
• Beth Muscat
• Mizuki Yuri
• Nina O'Brien
• Guy Gielgud
• Harry Takasugi

Walküre

• Mikumo Guynemer
• Kaname Buccaneer
• Makina Nakajima
• Reina Prowler
• Freyja Wion

Delta Flight

• Mirage Farina Jenius
• Arad Mölders
• Messer Ihlefeld
• Chuck Mustang
• Hayate Immelman

Kingdom of Winderemere

• Heinz Nehrich Windermere

Aerial Knights

• Roid Brehm
• Keith Aero Windermere
• Theo Jussila
• Xao Jussila
• Bogue Con-Vaart
• Hermann Kroos
• Kassim Eberhardt
• Wolf Gura

Mechanic

Chaos

• VF-1EX Valkyrie

Beta Flight

• VF-31 A Kairos

Delta Flight

• VF-31 Siegfried
  • VF-31C Siegfried
  • VF-31E Siegfried
  • VF-31J Siegfried
  • VF-31F Siegfried

Aerial Knights

• Sv-262 Draken III
  • Sv-262Hs Draken III
  • Sv-262Ba Draken III

Production

Idol auditions

A new Macross television series was first announced at a Kanto-area rerun of the Macross Frontier on the last Wednesday of March 2014. On October 20, 2014 around 00:000 Japanese time during the FIREBOMEBR 2014 BASARA EXPLOSION CONCERT, it was revealed that auditions to find new singers and voice actors would begin on December 1, 2014 and more information would be revealed about the series in November.

Auditions began on December 1 as intended. They are held at Joysound's Karaoke boxes across Japan. Applicants would choose their most favorite Macross song from the karaoke list, record oneself singing the song by the box's "Utasuki Douga" function, then send the video via Joysound's special site for the audition. One was required to must be 25 or under as of January 30, 2015, and a resident of Japan. One could be either a professional or amateur singer, but the condition was that one currently had no contract with any record companies, regardless if it was a major or indie label.

To celebrate the auditions, Macross Card Fighter held a special campaign where users input a new keyword each day in order to get a new Minmay card illustrated by Risa Ebata.

On February 7, 2015, it was reported that over 8,000 people auditioned to star in Macross Delta. The organizer was then in the process of choosing the finalists with videos and profile documents. The final selection round was held in Tokyo in late April. The finalist went through interviews with the judges, and demonstrated their singing and voice performing skills. It was stated that the new heroine would be announced on the portal site for the Macross franchise with more information about the anime.

Promotional Events

Macross Plastic Model Discussion

On October 26, Shoji Kawamori attended the Macross Plastic Model Discussion stage event at the All Japan Model and Hobby Show on Saturday with representatives from six plastic model and hobby companies. During the event, Kawamori provided more details on Macross Δ. The franchise's official website had posted images of two new variable fighters from the series the following day.

Kawamori confirmed that both fighters in the visual are "Valkyries" (transforming variable fighters), and he specifically cited the Swedish fighter Saab 35 Draken as an inspiration for the fighter in background. He added that he has been fan of Draken since he was a child.

He also acknowledged that the fighter in the foreground shares a design lineage with previous variable fighters in Macross anime and therefore was less of a challenge to design. By contrast, the background fighter will feature a relatively new transformation scheme that bears little similarity to those of previous Macross variable fighters.

The emcee also noted that the two fighters have exhausts in different colors, and Kawamori explained that this is because the fighters come from different manufacturers. Kawamori also noted that he has been deliberately avoiding more direct design inspirations from current real-life fighters, since stealth considerations have made real fighters look more similar and harder to distinguish from each other.

Kawamori added that this new series will emphasize "Valkyrie vs. Valkyrie," as opposed to previous television series. While video series such as Macross Plus and Macross Zero prominently featured variable fighters against each other, Kawamori has not done this in a Macross television series in a long time.

The emcee of the event noted that the Macross Delta logo features a planet within the Japanese characters that form the word "Macross." Kawamori specifically noted that this is in direct contrast with Macross Frontier, whose setting was primarily in space. He started to describe more about Macross Delta's setting but stopped short and asked fans to watch the Macross Δ Super Dimension Production Announcement Meeting (「マクロスΔ（デルタ）超時空製作発表会」, Makurosu Deruta Chō Jikū Seisaku Happyōkai) on October 29.

Kawamori pointed out that the delta symbol in the logo is made of triangular symbols, to symbolize the three main thematic elements of Macross: music, a love triangle, and transforming fighter planes. However, he noted that the two symbols are split, and explained that this is indicative that the three elements will not come together as expected in the new story. On December 4, a PV revealed a song from the franchise, Ikenai Borderline, sung by idol group Walküre.

Mini Concert

The first mini live concert "Waccine Mini Live" was held at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza. Minori Suzuki and JUNNA appeared and performed several songs, including Koi! Halation THE WAR and Rune ga Pika tto Hikattara. The venue was reportedly packed, with the 2nd floor up to the 5th floor filled to capacity. JUNNA was noted for her mature singing voice and Minori for the "genki" energy she brought in her performance. At the end of their show, they both exclaimed "Gorigori Attack!". The success of this event confirmed Walküre's popularity beyond the television series.

Release

Similar to the Macross Frontier Deculture Edition version of the first episode of Macross Frontier that aired before the series began, the first episode of Macross Δ, Prologue on the Battlefield, also had a special airing called Macross Δ Episode 1 Prefetch Edition (『マクロスΔ（デルタ）』#1先取りエディション, Makurosu Deruta Dai-ichi Sakidori Edishon) which took place on Thursday December 31, 2015 at 18:00 JST on Tokyo MX and BS11. The series itself, however, was stated to begin airing in spring. On March 9, 2016, the official airdate for was finally announced via the Macross Δ spread in the April 2016 issue of Animedia magazine.

The Macross Δ DVD and Blu-ray home releases contain English subtitles. Additionally, customers who preordered the first volume received an exclusive 1/72 VF-31 Siegfried scale plastic model, as well as a 40-page special booklet, an art box and inner jacket with illustrations by character designer Majiro, and a sleeve case with illustrations by "Macross visual artist" Hidetaka Tenjin.

Staff

• Color Key Artist: Kanako Hayashi
• Art Directors: Shigemi Ikeda (Atelier Musa), Yukiko Maruyama (Atelier Musa)
• Worldview Design: Thomas Romain
• Art Design: Vincento Niemu
• Valkyrie Design: Shoji Kawamori
• Mechanic Design: Stanislas Brunet
• Director of Photography: Atsushi Iwasaki (T2 Studio)
• CG Director: Hironori Morino
• CG Supervisor: Hiroyuki Kashima (unknownCASE)
• CG Animation Director: Atsushi Sakiyama (unknownCASE)
• Editor: Kentarou Tsubone (REAL-T)
• Sound Production: Flying Dog
• Sound Director: Masafumi Mima

Gallery

マクロス 新作TVシリーズ 始動！

Announcement made at the end of a Macross Frontier rerun.

Promotional art for idol auditions.

新作「マクロスΔ(仮)」歌姫オーディション告知 開催中ver.

Auditions announcement video.

Key visual of new Valkyrie.

Spread in Animage 2016 February issue.

「マクロスΔ（デルタ）」特報

News Flash

「マクロスΔ（デルタ）」特番番宣スポット

First video with one of the main songs.

特番「マクロスΔ 先取りスペシャル」告知PV

First Full Preview

「マクロスΔ（デルタ）超時空製作発表会」

Super Dimension Production Announcement Meeting

Poster showing airing times on different channels.

Macross Δ in Animedia April 2016 Issue. The initial airdate is in the top right corner.

Songs

Songs	Composer	Lyrics	Arrangement	Debut	Vocals
"Giritic♡BEGINNER]" (ジリティック♡BEGINNER, "Giritic♡BEGINNER]")	Kotomi Fukagawa	Atsuda Uuzuya	Takeshi Kuraiuchi	Insert Song	Reina Prowler, Makina Nakajima
"Song of the Wind" (決意の風, "Song of the Wind")	Mina Kubota	Mina Kubota	Mina Kubota		Melody Chubak
"Fukakuteisei☆COSMIC MOVEMENT" (不確定性☆COSMIC MOVEMENT, "Fukakuteisei☆COSMIC MOVEMENT")	Kotomi Fukagawa, Junko Rokumi, Akiko Watanabe, Anada Doumiya	Atsuda Uuzuya	Takeshi Kuraiuchi	Insert Song	Walküre
"Rune ga Pika tto Hikattara" (ルンがピカッと光ったら, "Rune ga Pika tto Hikattara")	Nishi Nishi	コモリタミノル	コモリタミノル	Ending Theme	Walküre
"Jellyfish" (クラゲ音頭, "Jellyfish")	Nemoto Kozo	SUZUKI Suzuki, TOMISIRO	Kubota Mina	Insert Song	Reina Prowler, Freyja Wion, Makina Nakajima
"Walküre Attack!" (Walküre Attack!, "Walküre Attack!")	UiNA	Kotaro Kodaka, UiNA	UiNA	Insert Song	Walküre
"Koi! Halation THE WAR" (いけないボーダーライン, "Koi! Halation THE WAR")	Nishi Nishi	コモリタミノル	コモリタミノル	Insert Song	Walküre
"Ikenai Borderline" (いけないボーダーライン, "Ikenai Borderline")	Nishi Nishi	コモリタミノル	コモリタミノル	Insert Song	Walküre
"Walküre's Birthday Song" (ワルキューレのバースデイソング, "Walküre's Birthday Song")	Happy Field	Mina Kubota	Mina Kubota	Insert Song	Walküre
"God Bless You" (いけないボーダーライン, "God Bless You")	Takeshi Kitagawa	Takeshi Kitagawa	Takeshi Kitagawa		Walküre
"Hear The Universe" (, "Hear The Universe")	Yuho Irisari	Rasmus Faber	Rasmus Faber	Insert Song	Walküre
"AXIA~Daisuki_de_Daikirai~" (AXIA 〜ダイスキでダイキライ〜, "AXIA~Daisuki_de_Daikirai~")	Rokumi Junyo	Yoshiki Matsumoto	Suzuki Daichi Hideyuki	Insert Song	Walküre
"Lukeet Alcane - Star Songs" (ルーチェット・アルカーン 〜星の歌〜, "Lukeet Alcane - Star Songs")	Mina Kubota	Mina Kubota	Mina Kubota	Insert Song	JUNNA, Ami Koshimizu
"Absolute 5" (Absolute 5, "Absolute 5")	Kisuke	Takuya Watanabe	Takuya Watanabe	Insert Song	Walküre
"LOVE! THUNDER GLOW" (ワルキューレ, "LOVE! THUNDER GLOW")	Saeki Kenji	SiZK, Stephen McNair	SiZK	Insert Song, Ending Ep 18	Walküre
"Silent Hacker" (Silent Hacker, "Silent Hacker")	Kisuke	Takuya Watanabe	Tatsuya Kurachi	Insert Song	Reina Prowler
"GIRAFFE BLUES" (GIRAFFE BLUES, "GIRAFFE BLUES")	Naho	h - wonder	Kato Yuuke	Insert Song	Walküre
"NEO STREAM" (NEO STREAM, "NEO STREAM")	Emi Nishida	Watanabe Future	Takeshi Kuraiuchi	Insert Song	Walküre
"REMEMBER 16" (REMEMBER 16, "REMEMBER 16")	K.INOJO	Aiki Kawachi	bamboo tree	Insert Song	Walküre
"Zettai Reido θ Novatic" (絶対零度θノヴァティック, "Zettai Reido θ Novatic")	Koichi Kojima	Koichi Kojima	Mitsunori Ikeda	Insert Song, Opening Theme	Walküre
"Hametsu no Junjou" (破滅の純情, "Hametsu no Junjou")	Nishi Nishi	Nishi Nishi	Comoritamin	Insert Song, EndingTheme	Walküre

Trivia

• Much of the terminology of the series is inspired by Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). Examples include:
  • The idol group Walküre is named after the German word for Valkyrie who are the titular beings of the second part; Die Walküre.
  • The forename of main character, Freyja Wion, comes from the Norse goddess Freyja which inspired the character Freia, whereas her surname is inspired by the apple giving goddess Iðunn which is what Freyja Wion's apple motif homages.
  • One of the main variable fighter series, the VF-31 Siegfried, is named after the titular dragon-slayer of the third part; Siegfried.
  • The other main variable fighter series, the Sv-262 Draken III, is named after the Swedish word for Dragon in contrast to the VF-31 Siegfried. The reason for using the Swedish word as opposed to the German word is because, in addition to its name, its design is heavily influenced by the J35 Draken, manufactured by Swedish company Saab.
  • The planet Ragnar is named after Ragnar Lodbrok, the Viking king who (according to legend) married Siegfried's only child, Aslaug.
  • The Brisingr Globular Cluster is named after the Old Norse word for fire, or amber "brísingr". It may also be a reference to the goddes Freyja's torc (a type of neck ring), which was called "Brisingamen", meaning "gleaming torc", or "torc of sunshine".
• In the July 2016 issue of NewType Magazine, Macross Δ was ranked the best series. Additionally, Hayate Immelman and Messer Ihlefeld were ranked the best and ninth best male characters, respectively whereas Freyja Wion, Mirage Farina Jenius, Mikumo Guynemer, Sheryl Nome and Reina Prowler were ranked the best, fourth best, fifth best, eighth best and ninth best female characters, respectively.
• Locations on the Planet Windermere including Windermere itself are named after various locations in the Lake District in the UK.

External Links

• Official Site (Japanese)
• President Michiaki Sato Of Satelight On Fairness And Holding Onto What You Make - Forbes