Macross II - What happenes after Macross 7

Episode 1 --- Episode 2 --- Episode 3 --- Episode 4 --- Episode 5 --- Episode 6

Have you ever played the 8-bit Mega Man games, seen any sports film sequal, or to a lesser extent (since the film and series that I will mention is something that I enjoy as much as anime, this is a major lesser extent) The Return of the Jedi. You bring up the same plot premise, the same triumph, and usually people will see it no matter how good it is. Rarely is there improvement (Jedi isn't as good as Empire Strikes Back and Mega Man 3-6 aren't as good 2), but this is a major improvement on the Macross Saga. I mean, the Macross Saga that was on Toonami.


After a few years animation naturally improves (compare this to Macross Plus that was created after this), but there is a lot more to Macross 2 that makes it greater than what I was watching everyday on Cartoon Network at 3:30. These are characters, music, and plot which also are lacking a bit in Robotech.


Emmerich and Devlin could learn from these. Especially in the music category because there is no way I'd put a Bob Dylan impersonater singing David Bowie on a soundtrack. If you like Macross in any form which includes Robotech, you've got to see this. Possible exception to Macross Plus fans who may like the more dramatic less action based show, or just have a thing for Lucy or Sharon. Sorry neither Ishtar or Silvie are as good looking as those two.


*Warning* Macross 2 is packaged in the so called movie form that is actually all 6 episodes of the series just without end or opening credits behind each episode. Hell, they even kept the commercial bumper, maybe just so you know where you can pause to relief yourself.


Contact


Hibiki Kanzaki is a reporter for SNN who has just reported on one of the biggest scandals when he caught U.N. Spacey's Commander Exagram and valkyrie ace Lt. Silvie Gena leaving a hotel together (wink wink nudge nudge). Sure, the approach isn't professional journalism, so he is still forced to apologize to the two, but fortunately an attack occurs from "Transcend Zentradi". Ever the opportunist, Kanzaki voluteers to fly into the danger zone to get the scoop. Unfortunately, he only gets to pilot for his new rival reporter Dennis Lone.


Ishtar


Hibiki along with the help of his transvestite friend, Mosh, are taking care of the girl he and Dennis found on the enemy ship. He acts pretty kind, and basicly tell the girl whose name is Ishtar that he wants to show her to the world through TV. Distracted by his footage of the battle being edited by U.N. Spacey, Ishtar go out to see Macross City as she tries to make her way to see the Alus (the Macross) and survive the culture shock.


Festival


Ishtar is allowed to stay on Earth, but the only way she can give any knowledge to Hibiki is by going to the Macross. Here we find out that the enemy are the Marduk who uses song to control the Zentran. Their final goal is to destroy all other cultures.


Marduk Disorder


Since there is a threat of contamination in the Marduk fleet, they plan to brain wash Ishtar, so she can continue as an emulator. As a bonus they're going to try to brain wash Hibiki, so he can be used as a spy, but Silvie comes to the rescue.


Station Break


Hibiki and Silvie are arrested after Hibiki shows the footage from the Marduk ship. The U.N., not wanting the people of Earth to panic, disavows any facts in the film despite the Marduk are now pushing pass each defense line.


Sing Along


Exagram allows Silvie to be released to break Hibiki out, so that they can activate the Macross. In the first fleet of the Marduk, Feff allows Ishtar to leave because there is no way he wants to see her die (ain't that cute). Now the question is can the Alus destroy the mothership.


Whatever Robotech did, Macross II did it better. The chararcters aren't totally original, but they are refined. Hibiki is to Rick as Ishar is to Lynn Min Mei as Silvie is to the boring looking chick, Lisa. They're all improvements. It doesn't take much to be better than Min Mei, but by the end they all are out of character. Why have Hibiki end up with ______ instead of ______?


The music is great (nothing compared to Plus), and the plot is better constructed than Robotech which it would have to be since it is only 6 episodes. Its a great title, but there are indeed better ones to choose. Since it's packaged in a weird way maybe you're better off checking some other title before, so you don't make the mistake of watching 6 TV episodes in one night. Even South Park can be boring after 4 episodes depending how much you like or dislike Kenny dying. Also the cuteness of Lovers Again could get under your skin, but it can't be as bad as 6 Dragon Ball Z episodes.

Macross 2: Lovers Again © 1992, 1993 Big West / Macross II Project