OMG, the otaku are gonna freak...

[mikailborg]

While looking up info on the American version of .hack, the multimedia series, I discovered that Harmony Gold is planning a new Robotech series for 2004.

Somone's already posted a rumored transforming fighter design for the show - it does seem to match a fighter seen both in current computer wallpaper from robotech.com, and several years ago in the "Macross: 2012 Flashback" special.


This announcement is going to divide my friends clearly into 3 camps - those who couldn't care less about a new mecha cartoon, those who are thrilled to see more Robotech material, and those who are appalled that we Americans are 'ruining' the Macross legend even further.

Frankly, I'm in the second camp. Robotech had everything an SF series needed, back when I was exposed to it: an engaging animation style I'd rarely seen before; an ongoing storyline where every episode mattered to the overall plot; complex, evolving characters; a world where the consequences of violence mattered; interesting aliens with their own motivations and technological styles; a cool soundtrack; and believable, sharply designed transforming space fighters. (Not to mention the slightly less believable but way-cool transforming hyperspace-capable battle fortress with a main gun capable of wiping out a small fleet in a single shot.)

If they do a decent job with this at all (not necessarily a 'given' when Harmony Gold's concerned), I'll be buying their DVDs when they hit the shelves. Now if Harmony Gold would only lay off of FASA and WizKids, so I can pilot my Phoenix Hawk in the MechWarrior miniatures game...

Comments

[polar-bear-sama.livejournal.com]

Does their transformations go well with that whole "conservation of mass" thing? Or is it more like Transformers where Megatron as a robot is taller than most, but changes into a gun that SoundWave holds and fires one-handed.
And don't get me started about the Astro-Train fiasco.

PB

Valkyrie fighter transformation

[mikailborg.livejournal.com]

That was one of my favorite things about Robotech: Macross. The transformation is very real-world (assuming remarkably strong materials and powerful, compact servomotors). The toy versions change in exactly the same manner as the "real" fighter, with no mysteriously vanishing or appearing bits. In the first episode of "Macross: Zero", they are even able to do a detailed, drawn-out transformation sequence in 3D CGI without cheating, morphing, or hiding inconvenient bits.

And I know exactly what you mean about Astrotrain. ;)

Re: Valkyrie fighter transformation

[polar-bear-sama.livejournal.com]

That's nice, at least. It's one thing (as a physics major) that would tend to just kind of throw me off. The magical land of off-camera being used to hide loads and loads of mass. Off-camera also considered to be behind any bit of metal conceiling inner workings.

It's also where Optimus Prime hid his trailer when not in truck form.

PB

Re: Valkyrie fighter transformation

[yubbie.livejournal.com]

Nah, optimus's trailer would just disengage and fall back; you'd see it being left behind. It also had enough power of it's own to be able to run and catch up to him when he wanted to transform back.