Macross Frontier (マクロス
The series was adapted into two movies; Macross Frontier Movie: The False Songstress and Macross Frontier Movie: The Wings of Goodbye which later got their own side-story, Macross FB7 Galaxy Flow Soul: Listen to My Song!.
Synopsis
There was once a war between mankind and a race of giants called Zentradi. Mankind, threatened with extinction during their first battle with extraterrestrial life, sought out their future by advancing into the great Outer Space, and departed for the farthest reaches of the galaxy in search of a new frontier. In the year AD 2059, the 25th Giant Immigration Fleet, also known as Macross Frontier, continued its great voyage toward the centre of the galaxy...
Plot
As the series begins, during a mission to an unexplored asteroid belt a reconnaissance New United Nations Spacy (N.U.N.S.) VF-171 Nightmare Plus is destroyed by extremely powerful and fast insectoid biomechanical alien mecha known as the Vajra (バジュラ), which immediately begin their attack on the rest of the fleet. Unable to stop the new enemy threat, the N.U.N.S. Colonial Defense Forces authorizes the deployment of a private military provider organization called Strategic Military Services (S.M.S.), which utilizes the new VF-25F Messiah, VF-25G Messiah and VF-25S Messiah variable fighter to combat the alien menace.
Like other instalments of the Macross universe, the story mainly revolves around a trio of characters, including Alto Saotome, a young pilot who joins the S.M.S just after the invasion begins, Sheryl Nome, a famous singer known as the "Galactic Fairy," and Ranka Lee, a teenager aspiring to be a singer herself, that form a love triangle.
Production
The new show celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV series (1982–1983), and is chronologically subsequent to Macross 7 (1994–1996). This third TV series introduces Earth's latest main variable fighter, the VF-25 Messiah (メサイア) and a new ship called the Macross Frontier. The show retains the signature space opera theme consistent with all series set in the Macross universe (which intertwine musical numbers with fast-paced variable fighter-combat). New episodes aired weekly on the MBS network Thursdays at 25:55, and on the TBS network Fridays at 25:55 (the 24+ hour clock is a common Japanese TV broadcast notation). Three separate manga adaptations have been running in Shōnen Ace and Comp Ace, since February 2008, April 2008, and July 2008, respectively.
On the Macross timeline, the story is set in 2059, 47 years after the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross, 19 years after Macross Plus, and 14 years after the story of Macross 7. The series features the 25th New Macross-class Colonial Fleet, dubbed the Macross Frontier, en route to the galactic center. This heavily-populated interstellar fleet (consisting of numerous civilian vessels and their military escorts) contains a makeup of both human occupants and their Zentradi allies. As such, many of the Macross Frontier's companion vessels appear to merge more metallic Human designs with organic Zentradi aesthetics. Macross Frontier 's plot explores a combination of action/political intrigue/space drama more than previous Macross series have done in the past.
Missions
Episodes in Macross Frontier.
Episode | Title | Japanese Airdate |
---|---|---|
00 | Cross Encounter (Deculture Edition) | December 23, 2007 |
01 | Cross Encounter | April 3, 2008 |
02 | Hard Chase | April 10, 2008 |
03 | On Your Marks | April 17, 2008 |
04 | Miss Macross | April 24, 2008 |
05 | Star Date | May 1, 2008 |
06 | Bye Bye Sheryl | May 8, 2008 |
07 | First Attack | May 15, 2008 |
08 | High School Queen | May 22, 2008 |
09 | Friendly Fire | May 29, 2008 |
10 | Legend of Zero | June 5, 2008 |
11 | Missing Birthday | June 19, 2008 |
12 | Fastest Delivery | June 26, 2008 |
13 | Memory of Global | July 3, 2008 |
14 | Mother's Lullaby | July 10, 2008 |
15 | Lost Peace | July 17, 2008 |
16 | Ranka Attack | July 24, 2008 |
17 | Goodbye, Sister | July 31, 2008 |
18 | Fold Fame | August 7, 2008 |
19 | Triangler | August 14, 2008 |
20 | Diamond Crevasse | August 21, 2008 |
21 | Azure Ether | August 28, 2008 |
22 | Northern Cross | September 4, 2008 |
23 | True Begin | September 11, 2008 |
24 | Last Frontier | September 18, 2008 |
25 | Your Sound | September 25, 2008 |
Characters
Nyan-Nyan
Mihoshi Academy
Strategic Military Services
- Richard Birler
- Anne
Skull Squadron
Macross Quarter
Pixie Team
New United Nations Government
New United Nations Spacy
- Catherine Glass
- Leon Mishima
- Jessica Blanc
- Major Ohgotwhai
- Major Ohgotwhai's Advisor
- Tehmzin
- Machida
Other
- Sheryl Nome
- Mao Nome
- Elmo Kridanik
- Grace O'Connor
- Brera Sterne
- Ranzō Saotome
- Yasaburō Saotome
- George Yamamori
- Miranda Merin
Mechanic
New United Nations Spacy
Strategic Military Services
Staff
- Original concept: Shōji Kawamori, Studio Nue
- Supervising director, story composition: Shōji Kawamori
- Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi
- Series composition and screenplay: Hiroyuki Yoshino
- Character design: Risa Ebata, Yūichi Takahashi
- Variable Fighter (VF) design: Shōji Kawamori
- Mechanical design: Junya Ishigaki, Takeshi Takakura
- Mechanical art: Hidetaka Tenjin
- Conceptual design: Kazutaka Miyatake
- Motion graphics: Itsurō Sasakura, HIBIKI
- Art designs: Akihiro Hirasawa
- Color design: Kumiko Nakayama
- Color design assistant: Satoshi Takezawa
- Set director: Stanislas Brunet
- Music: Yoko Kanno
- Music producers: Shirō Sasaki, Toshiaki Ōta
- Music director: Hiroshi Inoue
- Music production: flyingDOG/JVC Entertainment, Border Rain
- Sound director: Masafumi Mima
- Sound production: Techno Sound
- Producers: Hisanori Kunisaki, Hirō Maruyama, Hirofumi Morotomi (MBS), Shin'ichi Hirai, Tsutomu Kasai
- Executive producers: Yoshimasa Ōnishi, Kazumi Kawashiro, Seiji Takeda (MBS), Michiaki Satō
- Animation production: Satelight
- Production: Big West, Macross F Production Committee, Mainichi Broadcasting System
Soundtrack (in VOCAL)
See also: List of Macross Frontier albums
Songs | Composer | Lyrics | Arrangement | Debut | Vocals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Triangler" (トライアングラー ) | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | Opening Theme, Episode 19 (ED) | Maaya Sakamoto |
"Ai Oboete Imasu ka" (愛・おぼえていますか Do You Remember Love?) | Kazuhiko Kato | Kazumi Yasui | Yoko Kanno | Deculture edition Ending Theme, Episode 12 (ED), 18 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Aimo" (アイモ ) | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | Episode 1, 3, 7 (ED), 8, 12, 14 (Ranshe & Ranka), 18, 21, 23, 24, 25 (Ranshe) | Megumi Nakajima, Maaya Sakamoto (episodes 14 & 25) |
"Aimo ~ Tori no Hito" (アイモ~鳥のひと Aimo ~Bird Human) | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin, Maaya Sakamoto | Yoko Kanno | Episode 10 (ED) | Megumi Nakajima |
"Diamond Crevasse" (ダイアモンド クレバス ) | Yoko Kanno | hal | Yoko Kanno | First Ending Theme, Episode 6, 7, 20 (ED) | May'n |
"Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late" (射手座☆午後九時Don't be late Sagittarius☆9pm Don't be late) | Yoko Kanno | Dai Satō, hal, Maiku Sugiyama, Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | Episode 1, 7, 24 | May'n |
"What 'Bout My Star?" | Yoko Kanno | hal | Yoko Kanno | Episode 1, 5 | May'n |
"Totsugeki Love Heart" (突撃ラブハート Charge! Love Heart) | Junki Kawauchi | K. Inojo | Junki Kawauchi | Episode 2 | Fire Bomber |
"SMS Shoutai no Uta ~Ano Musume wa Alien" (SMS小隊の歌~あの娘はエイリアン SMS Platoon's Theme ~That Girl is an Alien) | Yoko Kanno | Shōji Kawamori | Yoko Kanno | Episode 4 | SMS Platoon |
"Watashi no Kare wa Pilot -MISS MACROSS 2059-" (私の彼はパイロット My Boyfriend is a Pilot) | Kentarō Haneda | Akane Asa | Yoko Kanno, Hisaaki Hogari | Episode 4 | Megumi Nakajima |
"What 'Bout My Star?@Formo" | Yoko Kanno | hal | Yoko Kanno | Episode 5 (Ranka), 15 (Sheryl & Ranka), 19 (Ranka) | May'n, Megumi Nakajima |
"Uchuu Kyoudaibune" (宇宙兄弟船 Spaceship of Brothers) | Yoko Kanno | Hiroshi Ichikura | Yoko Kanno | Episode 5 | Ichiro Dokugawa |
"Infinity" (インフィニティ ) | Yoko Kanno | Yūho Iwasato | Yoko Kanno | Episode 7 ("Infinity #7" version), 15 | May'n, Megumi Nakajima |
"Ninjin Loves You Yeah!" (ニンジーン Loves you yeah! Carrot loves you yeah!) | Yoko Kanno | Hiroshi Ichikura | Yoko Kanno | Episode 8 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Neko Nikki" (ねこ日記 Cat Diary) | Yoko Kanno | Hiroshi Ichikura | Yoko Kanno | Episode 9, 11 (ED), 12 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Chōjikuhanten Nyan-Nyan" (「超時空飯店 娘娘」 "Super Dimension Chinese Restaurant Nyan-Nyan") | Yoko Kanno | Hiroyuki Yoshino | Yoko Kanno | Episode 1 (Lynn Minmay), 11 & 15 (Ranka Lee) | Mari Iijima, Megumi Nakajima |
"Seikan Hikou" (星間飛行 Interstellar Flight) | Yoko Kanno | Takashi Matsumoto | Yoko Kanno | Episode 12, 15, 17 (OP), 18, 19 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Welcome To My Fanclub's Night!" | Yoko Kanno | hal | Yoko Kanno | Episode 15 | May'n |
"Diamond Crevasse 50/50" | Yoko Kanno | hal | Yoko Kanno | Episode 15 | May'n & Megumi Nakajima |
"Aimo O.C." | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin, Maaya Sakamoto | Yoko Kanno | Episode 16, 20 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Northern Cross" (ノーザンクロス ) | Yoko Kanno | Yūho Iwasato, Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | 2nd Ending Theme (First appearance in Episode 16), 22, 25 | May'n |
"My Soul For You" | Yoshiki Fukuyama | K. Inojo | Junki Kawauchi | Episode 17 | Fire Bomber |
"TRY AGAIN" | Yoshiki Fukuyama | K. Inojo | Yasuyuki Tanaka | Episode 17 | Fire Bomber |
"Lion" (ライオン ) | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | 2nd Opening Theme (First appearance in Episode 18) | May'n & Megumi Nakajima |
"Shinkū no Diamond Crevasse" (真空のダイアモンド クレバス Empty Diamond Crevasse) | Yoko Kanno | hal | Yoko Kanno | Episode 20 | May'n |
"Ao no Ether" (蒼のエーテル Azure Ether) | Yoko Kanno | Maaya Sakamoto | Yoko Kanno | Episode 21 (ED) | Megumi Nakajima |
"Anata no Oto" (アナタノオト Your Sound) | Yoko Kanno | Anju Mana | Yoko Kanno | Episode 19, 20, 25 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Yousei" (妖精 Fairy) | Yoko Kanno | Anju Mana, Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | Episode 22 | May'n |
"Ai Oboete Imasu ka ~ bless the little queen" | Kazuhiko Kato | Kazumi Yasui | Yoko Kanno | Episode 24, 25 | Megumi Nakajima |
"Nyan Nyan Service Medley" Featuring: Lion, Infinity, Watashi no Kare wa Pilot, Diamond Crevasse, Seikan Hikou, What 'Bout My Star?, Lion, Ai Oboete Imasu ka, Lion, Aimo (娘々サービスメドレー ) | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin, Yūho Iwasato, Dai Satō, hal, Kazumi Yasui | Yoko Kanno | Episode 25 | May'n, Megumi Nakajima & Maaya Sakamoto |
"Triangler (fight on stage)" | Yoko Kanno | Gabriela Robin | Yoko Kanno | Episode 25 (ED) | May'n & Megumi Nakajima |
Trivia
- A recurring theme is the number 25, this is because the series commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Macross franchise. Examples are:
- 25 episodes
- The airdate of the final episode, September 25.
- It was on at 1:25 AM (25:25 on some Japanese TV clocks).
- The setting is the 25th migration fleet.
- The main mecha series is the VF-25 Messiah.
- Ranka is quarter (25%) Zentradi.
- The "Macross Quarter," so called as it is 25% the size of the SDF-1 Macross.
Chronology | ||
---|---|---|
2047 | 2059 | 2059 |
Macross Dynamite 7 | Macross Frontier | Macross FB7 Galaxy Flow Soul: Listen to My Song! |
Production | ||
2002/12 to 2004/10 | 2008/02/26 to 2008/05/26 | 2009/11/21 |
Macross Zero | Macross Frontier | Macross Frontier Movie: The False Songstress |