The first series in the highly popular Japanese anime franchise Macross was broadcast in Japan in 1982, and since then about 14 different Macross series have been released. Each individual series is very long, and it would be quite a task to cover all of them. So today, we have decided to present 7 select series in the series to recommend to you. It’s never too late if you want to catch up on the most important series! Now, come read the summaries below and choose the Macross series you want to watch next!
Macross Story Overview
The first key event of the Macross saga is around 500,000 years ago, with the prosperity and demise of the “Protoculture”. Other important points include humanity’s first contact with the Vajra alien creatures, when civilization first learned of the space folding navigation method, and when this method was further developed to support the war against aliens. With technology brought by aliens, the first Valkyrie variable fighters were also developed. These various technologies have played a large role in later events in the series, such as the First Space War, the Galactic Age of Navigation and the Battle of Ballota.
A long period of war between humans and aliens is covered in the Macross series. During the war, there are singers and bands whose singing voices have the power to encourage their friends or influence aliens. Each new series in the franchise is based on the perspective of the singers/bands of each era, showing their experiences and points of view during the war.
The First Choice for New Fans! 7 Recommended Macross Series
Super Dimension Fortress Macross
The first Macross anime series, running for a total of 36 episodes. Broadcast from the beginning of 1982, it was the first Japanese animation that successfully combined such disparate elements as idol singers, love, transforming robots and others. At that time, it set off a wave of enthusiasm and rose rapidly in popularity.
Super Dimension Fortress Macross tells the story of a huge meteorite that fell on South Ataria Island in the Pacific Ocean. After further investigation, the meteorite turned out to be a giant space warship with technology that surpassed that of human beings on Earth. After Earthlings learned that there were other highly intelligent creatures out in space, they integrated the human governments of all the world’s existing countries, and at the same time rebuilt this alien spacecraft, code-named ASS-1, renaming it the SDF-1 Macross. On the day of an event being held to celebrate the completion of the Macross’ reconstruction, the crew suddenly lost control of the ship.
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again
Also known as Macross II, this is a story that continues from where the first anime series left off. The story takes place 80 years after the previous work (that is, in the year 2092) in what is now called the “Parallel World” timeline, separate from the main series timeline. In addition to the three essential elements of Macross, which are ‘songs, love triangles, and Valkyries’, Macross II’s other story elements are quite different from the last entry. Some major ones include the fact that the protagonist is not a pilot, and that the alien enemy also uses songs as a weapon. Other points such as the new Marduk alien race and the concept of the ace pilot this time instead being a beautiful girl give Macross a whole new refreshing look.
Macross Plus
This OVA continuation of the official Macross series timeline from the first anime is divided into four episodes. In 1995, a movie version of the four episodes edited together was released. Thirty years after the story of the first Macross, the United Army has developed new variable fighter jets in alien colonies. Macross Plus has three protagonists – Isamu, Guld, and Myung, who grew up together before moving on towards their different dreams. After the three grew up, they unexpectedly returned to their hometown at the same time. This reunion revived old feuds from long ago, and Isamu and Guld’s rivalry even causes issues with the military’s Project Super Nova that they are a part of.
Macross 7
The Macross series’ famous fictional band ‘Fire Bomber’ takes the stage with this installment. The musician Basara Nekki tries to touch the Prododeviln alien enemy and others with his singing. This series has the musicians as its protagonists this time, witnessing what happened after the humans and the Zentradi made peace after the First Space War in Macross.
Macross Zero
A OVA anime prequel story to the original Macross anime series, that covers the U.N. Wars, and the battles between humans to compete for alien technology. Taking place in an alternate version of the world in 2008 AD, around the time of its real world release, in which the Soviet Union did not disintegrate in the 1990s, there are many scenes of modern weapons appearing throughout the runtime. Macross Zero consists of five episodes, which were released from 2002 to 2004.
Macross Frontier
The third anime series in the franchise is also the 25th anniversary commemorative work of the Macross series, running for a total of 25 episodes. It is the debut of the two singer characters Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee. The story describes the story of these two singers and the flight candidate Alto Saotome. At the same time, it is also a story about the possibility of peace with aliens and the different thoughts of the humans and alien characters.
Macross Delta
The fourth anime series of the Macross franchise, the story of Macross Delta focuses on the Walküre singing idol team. Centered on the border of the Milky Way, there is a mysterious disease called ‘Var Syndrome’ that can cause infected people to go berserk. In order to combat this syndrome, Walküre and the Delta Flight Valkyrie squad team up in joint operations. Freyja Wion, one of the main protagonists, is a girl from the opposing Windermere Kingdom who soon joins Walküre to fight with its other members.
The works of the Macross series are suitable for audiences of any age. Although each series has the main three story elements of songs, love triangles and Valkyries, they all also feature their own qualities! If you are interested, please choose your favorite series and check it out!
