Well… yeah… at least I never saw this coming… it’s not every day where you can see an idol who cancels her first concert, crosses a galaxy and tames hordes of huge bloodthirsty soldiers just by singing. The sudden serious nature of this episode really caught me by surprise, but the most baffling was of course the way that it went from seriousness to silliness when Ranka arrived.
I’m obviously not that big of a fan of those Zentradi who all forgot about fighting and dumped their weapons, just because Ranka showed up. In fact, I’m wondering how they’ve even heard of Ranka. I can understand how she’s known in the Frontier-fleet, but I think that the entire universe is a bit too early to think about when she hasn’t even done her first live concert. Either that, or I hardly know anything about the Japanese idol-scene. I suspect it’s the latter…
One interesting detail is that Sheryl finally seems to realize that she isn’t going to get Alto that easily. In the last episode, she knew the date of Ranka’s first live concert, and one of the reasons she invited him to come along was probably so that he would miss said concert. Now that that plan failed, she became sick and Ranka found a device that crosses time and space in an instant (that may have required a bit more build-up, but whatever), I can see some nice character-development coming for the second half of this series. đ
Also, here’s a question to those who saw the original Macross: the “Macross” that Alto and Ranka ran into at the end of the episode, is that some kind of mecha that appeared in an earlier series?
Yup….. Macross is an uber ship which was found on earth and is formed from ‘Protoculture’ technology …. i watched a sub and think they missed this link. The Zentradi wanted protoculture and attacked earth for it …. Earth hasd rebuilt the ‘protoculture’ ship and sent it out to attack the zentradi….. the zentradi lost cause chicks in little skirts and cute handsignals does not inspire 50ft men to fight FACT !!
//Well⊠yeah⊠at least I never saw this coming⊠itâs not every day where you can see an idol who cancels her first concert, crosses a galaxy and tames hordes of huge bloodthirsty soldiers just by singing.//
She didn’t cancel her first concert, that’s why Michael loaned Alto the special fold booster so he could get back to the frontier in time.
//Iâm obviously not that big of a fan of those Zentradi who all forgot about fighting and dumped their weapons, just because Ranka showed up. In fact, Iâm wondering how theyâve even heard of Ranka.//
It’s not quite because Ranka showed up that they drop their weapons, it’s because of the culture shock (or deculture) from Ranka’s singing, something that throughout the Macross shows Zentradi have been rather vulnerable to.
//Also, hereâs a question to those who saw the original Macross: the âMacrossâ that Alto and Ranka ran into at the end of the episode, is that some kind of mecha that appeared in an earlier series?//
Pretty much what Kono said, however THE Macross is a unique ship and it remained on earth after the war (indeed, Earth’s capital is built around the Macross), which begs the question why it is on Galia 4?
They’ve never heard of Ranka, that’s the whole point. It’s more like those Zentradi only made war in their life, and they’ve never listened to music, watched tv, fall in love, get married, and other stuff what keeps humans busy in general. They’ve only fought. So when something entertaining, cute and literally unweaponing like Ranka comes along, it’s sure to release their inner fanboys — a culture shock.
The titular Macross was supposed to be the source of Mankind’s technological boom just before meeting the Zentradi. Valkyrie technology was derived and inspired by technology and information found aboard the Macross. As mikemil mentioned above, it became the headquarters of the UN Spacy after the end of the original series when it was attacked and supposedly rendered intact but un-spaceworthy.
It has a huge cultural significance to both humans and Zentradi, as Earth was recolonized around the city within the Macross, and it was the ship that literally caused millions of Zentradi to mutiny against their masters.
“Iâm obviously not that big of a fan of those Zentradi who all forgot about fighting and dumped their weapons, just because Ranka showed up. In fact, Iâm wondering how theyâve even heard of Ranka.”
>> This is clearly your first Macross series. đ
I suggest you to watch the movie “Macross – Do You Remember Love ?”, two hours long or so and it has the basics of Macross universe and themes.
Zentradi are living killing weapons created by the Protoculture race, which was a race that reigned over the universe zillions of years before our era. The Protoculture race was so advanced that, through clonage or something equivalent, men did not need women to reproduce themselves and vice-versa. Men gradually separated themselves from women, as they had obvious different objectives and aspirations on how to use their knowledge or how to live.
Men and women made war to each other for years. Men created the Zentradi, and women created the Meltrandi, races of giants made for killing. These giants originated from the Proculture, therefore, they had the “culture” gene on them, but didn’t make use of it for zillions of years. All they did in their life was fighting, fighting and fighting. Therefore when they hear “songs”, “melodies”, it “stimulates” their “culture” gene, their fanboy inner self, as said above, and they abandon arms to actually “enjoy themselves”.
This is why songs are actually so important in the Macross universe in the first place. đ
As silly as it may sound, it actually makes sense, don’t you think ?
If you still don’t want to watch the movie, at least watch its climax.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Gzn5VWKg7lY&fmt=18
YES, it’s wonderfully animated, better than 90% of today’s anime.
Actually, Sheryl can’t even keep track of her own concert dates – Grace does. How’s she supposed to keep track of Ranka’s?
Besides, nobody, not even Alto knew about Ranka’s plans until the last minute because she held off for so long.
On the other hand, Sheryl was first and foremost upset about the fact that Alto wouldn’t get the chance to fly because of the hostage situation, rather than worrying about her own illness or her concert. So I doubt that she was acting for anyone’s sake other than Alto’s when she first invited him out.
Seeing load of reviews of macross 12 – looking forward to finding time to sit down and watch
In 1999, an extraterrestrial ship of unknown origin fell to Earth. The valuble data that was found on the ship began the new technological rennasaince. While most scientists around the world were trying to mass produce this new technology for the benefit of mankind, several engineers began to repair the ship to make it spaceworthy again. That ship became known as the Macross.
However, the ship originally belonged to a group of aliens that waged war with the Zentrati and lost. In fact, the reason why the Zentrati engaged in a war with Earth in the original series was to destroy the supposedly last remaining weapon of their enemies.
(And yes, the ship can transform into a giant mecha.)
WATCH THE ORIGINAL!! đ
The Macross and Zentradi motherships are obviously in touch and share news – we see that throughout the Macross Frontier story.
Zentradi (after events in original Macross series) became notorious idol singer fanboys. This was a bit of a running gag in the original Macross series. It’s clear they still are.
Given that all the fleets are in touch – the episode says that they were only 2 hours communications lag difference – and the presence of a Zentradi community on the Frontier, it’s not unlikely that they follow all the news and (probably get all the idol magazines). Given that they’re Sheryl fans, the gossip rags would be covering Sheryl’s doings on Frontier and so obviously would have reported on Ranka as Sheryl’s new discovery.. as well. So it’s not that her fame had to spread through the galaxy, just that she’s close enough physically to Sheryl at the moment that any Sheryl coverage will also mention her.
Also, we already saw Ranka doing promos and such in the Zentradi town on Frontier, which probably helped her image…
Anyway, given the drooling fanboy nature of Zentradi soldiers, it’s not far fetched that some of the 33rd Marines no about her! It’s amusing, though.
wow, this must be your first macross series.
Sounds like a great time for you to drop Macross F and watch every Macross series from the beginning! And this is why I hate anime fans.
Macross frontier heavily referers to all macross series, i was told.
So i got recommended to at least watch the movie do you remember love. Which shows the origin of the ships and explains all the races.
After that i got recommended to watch Macross Zero which is a 5 epsidic ova which showed up in the Frontier epsiode on the island of the movie shooting.
With that you also recognize some of the songs which are an important part of the macross universe.
I was advised not to waste time on macross seven since it basically is that ranka scene with the boomboxmech but then with an annoying guys who keeps solving stuff with songs
yeah, skip macross 7. The ending theme song is from macross – do you remember love
Don’t skip Macross 7, it’s just as important as the other entries, and actually is a pretty fun show. As for “OH HAY IS THIS MACROSS IMPORTANT? IS IT FROM AN EARLIER SERIES” … please, put Frontier on hold, go out, watch “The Superdimension Fortress Macross”, now, as you have just asked one of the worst questions possible for the franchise. After that, watch Do You Remember Love (with “Flash Back 2012” afterwards if you wish to see a brief epilogue to the show), then Macross Plus/Macross Plus Movie Edition, then M7, (Dynamite 7 is optional, but watch it if you liked 7) and then Zero. Seriously, you need to watch the older series because you’re going to probably be even more confused or not used to this otherwise.
yeah but the big question is what is the sdf macross doing on galia 4 it is supposed to be on earth where it is a monument (as seen on macross, macross plus, idont know about macross 7 because i havent watched it yet) can’t wait for the next episode!
As everybody said, you should go see the original Macross, or at least the movie. It’ll help you understand some of the things that happen in Frontier.
If you like it, you should also check Macross Plus, and maybe give Macross 7 a try.
Macross 7 is a pretty odd series (“Is that guy piloting his mech using a guitar!?”), but also quite entertaining, in particular the second half.
This is all you need to know about Macross 7:
http://xil.iespana.es/xil/mangas/MCTrash08.JPG
Grace is actually the one heading the whole plot of screwing things up!
Yeah, realistically it may be stupid to see how singing could pacify 50-ft. soldliers, but that’s how it worked during the original Macross. They even came up with something like a “Minmei Attack” that worked on Zentrans.
It’s Macross, and singing has been an integral element in this series, just as those masked characters are in Gundam.
What I do find weird though is finding Macross in Galia 4. Is this some sort of retcon? I remember in Zero, the one-eyed ship folded out of the sky, and that could end up in Galia 4, but to find Macross, the original Macross there is weird. Didn’t this Macross end up crash landing on Earth and was refurbished to fight the Zentraedi invasion?
did some body had seen macross 2 lover again
and did some body remember what hapened with hikaru ichijyo (rick hunter) and his sdf-2
there could be the answers
Im a big fan of macross!
http://www.watchmacross.blogspot.com
I hated the part when ranka came and everything calmed down, (the heart-shaped eyes made everything more ridiculous) but maybe this is because i really hate ranka, and wish for aldo and sheryl to stay together.