The Thread About All Things Macross

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by PondaBaba

unless i've misunderstood this sounds very definitive and has me disappointed if true. Why's this the case and why is whatever needs to happen for a release to be a possibility seem so unlikely as to state that it's not going to happen ever?

I'm not sure it specifically means 'never', but it could well end up meaning that I guess.

The brokered peace between Studio Nue, Big West and Harmony Gold specifically excluded Macross works prior to and including 1987 - which effectively rules out the original SDF Macross, DYRL and Flash Back 2012.

Given that these are all works around the original series, my guess is that these are the ones that HG really don't want competing with ROBOTECH, and BW/SN paid that price in order to release the rest of the franchise out into the wider world beyond Japan.

DYRL possibly has the added complication of Toho as well. I thought they only had the Japanese theatrical rights to the movie, but checking my old copy of the Kiseki VHS release they licensed it from Toho, so perhaps not.

I think the best case scenario is that HG are only bothered about holding up the original series until the ROBOTECH movie has been released and died a death, but it's more likely that HG just don't want it released at all. Ever.

[PondaBaba]

thanks for the info, i didn't realise there was a robotech movie in the works.

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

but it's more likely that HG just don't want it released at all. Ever.

yeah this will be sad if it ends up being the case. i know there's dvd but what i'd give for a hi def high fidelity english friendly release of this smh. i did at one point look up the japanese release on ebay where there were a couple of copies going to like $400-500 iirc lol, but i don't think i was remotely tempted once i realised that release isn't english friendly (assume you'd be able to get it a bit cheaper on japanese sites but never looked)

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by PondaBaba

I did at one point look up the japanese release on ebay where there were a couple of copies going to like $400-500 iirc lol, but i don't think i was remotely tempted once i realised that release isn't english friendly (assume you'd be able to get it a bit cheaper on japanese sites but never looked)

I imported the LE boxset of the original series about 8 years ago, and it was around £400 then. It was tagged as used but when it arrived it was pristine. Similar for the 30th anniversary LE for DYRL around the same time, can't remember how much I paid for that, but again it was steep even then.

Both English-unfriendly. I ended up muxxing in my own sub tracks and then ripping the English audio track from the ADV DVDs for the series and muxxing those in too. It's a long-winded way of doing it, but it beats the DVDs at least.

[LexInHD]

I have a feeling that the SDFM-related content won't come until all the other stuff is released. The release emphasis is definitely on the music-centric Macross Delta/Frontier/Seven stuff, with Macross II and Plus thrown in just to make some money off of the nostalgia junkies who love the early 90's stuff and won't touch the idol-heavy later content.

[PondaBaba]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

with Macross II and Plus thrown in just to make some money off of the nostalgia junkies who love the early 90's stuff and won't touch the idol-heavy later content.

then make money off me by releasing OG SDFM and DYRL cos i ain't interested in robotech either dangnammit!

[CouncilSpectre]

If the hold up on the original series is HG then you'd hope there'd be a deal there to be made that would satisfy both sides.

Offer HG use of the 41 characters for a derivative ROBOTECH work. You'd think HG might be interested in that given that pretty much every other ROBOTECH spin off has died a very quick death, most likely because it's unrecognizable from the original series/characters.

I'm pleased that we'll finally get to see a load of Macross content officially, but excluding the original series/films is like finally getting a hold of the Star Wars movies but excluding A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK....

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by PondaBaba

thanks for the info, i didn't realise there was a robotech movie in the works.

Well, there's been a Robotech movie in the works for just about as long as there's been a Star Blazers movie* in the works - AKA, since the mid nineties. I wouldn't hold my breath.

*To be fair, there was the 2010 movie, but that was Yamato, not Star Blazers, and not from America.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

Well, there's been a Robotech movie in the works for just about as long as there's been a Star Blazers movie* in the works - AKA, since the mid nineties. I wouldn't hold my breath.

*To be fair, there was the 2010 movie, but that was Yamato, not Star Blazers, and not from America.

Yeah it's been in development hell forever, but I think we'll see progress now. It sounds like SN/BW not raising any objections to the movie in Japan was a large motivating factor that brought HG to the table (most likely at Sony/Funimation's behest).

[LexInHD]

Frank Agrama passed away on the 25th, in his home, surrounded by friends and family.

I expect that this will open the door for the release of classic Macross and DYRL, which HG had been against for so long.

[gloomranger]

I kinda doubt it considering they bring up the Robotech live-action movie in his obituary. I was under the impression that was the hold up on an international release for The Super Dimension Fortress Macross series and the Do You Remember Love? movie.

https://www.facebook.com/robotech/po...6273260543084/

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

Frank Agrama passed away on the 25th, in his home, surrounded by friends and family.

I expect that this will open the door for the release of classic Macross and DYRL, which HG had been against for so long.

[milo bloom]

Originally Posted by gloomranger

I kinda doubt it considering they bring up the Robotech live-action movie in his obituary. I was under the impression that was the hold up on an international release for The Super Dimension Fortress Macross series and the Do You Remember Love? movie.

https://www.facebook.com/robotech/po...6273260543084/

Press releases always like to add in the most recently discussed project for the person in question. I'd say it's more likely that it was Mr. Agrama that was holding up DYRL and it's the one thing my wife and I have been waiting for a release of the longest.

[batman2000]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

Frank Agrama passed away on the 25th, in his home, surrounded by friends and family.

I expect that this will open the door for the release of classic Macross and DYRL, which HG had been against for so long.

Really he was the reason macross was not getting us releases?

[LexInHD]

Originally Posted by batman2000

Really he was the reason macross was not getting us releases?

Frank called all the shots with Robotech and ran Harmony Gold his way, with the assistance of his family members, some of whom have also been involved in criminal activities. The only reason Macross got an SD video restoration from Animeigo - made with HG's 16mm film assets - and then an English dub and release from ADV, is because he was too cheap to do it himself - Robotech Remastered was also born from that - and because he was in legal trouble, with his overseas assets eventually being frozen. Because of his legal troubles, HG had to sell off their US media assets and it killed the Robotech revival, which failed with The Shadow Chronicles having run out of funding to complete post-production and further work. They went so far as to threaten those selling Macross merch with lawsuits and even threw some at overseas companies who wanted to release Macross, because Frank felt that HG had all rights to Macross outside of Japan. Many people involved with the production and localization of Robotech were screwed over by him and his family and Carl Macek is the only HG employee that is remembered fondly from those days.

[gloomranger]

https://twitter.com/macross_bigwest/...rCqjsUTlfggNyg

Originally Posted by MACROSS

New MACROSS animation project is in preparation for launch!
Studio: SUNRISE

macross.jp

[gloomranger]

https://twitter.com/animeigo/status/...rCqjsUTlfggNyg

Originally Posted by Robert Woodhead

#Macross2 Kickstarter is coming later this summer. Details at @Otakon panel. We announced this at @animazement but somehow I "spaced" on tweeting about it. If you have interesting ideas for stretch goals, tweet away!

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by gloomranger

https://twitter.com/macross_bigwest/...rCqjsUTlfggNyg

Sunrise?

[Show spoiler]

[milo bloom]

Good to see movement on both fronts.

[segapluto]

wow, still no new info on the home video releases that got licensed last year.

[LexInHD]

Originally Posted by segapluto

wow, still no new info on the home video releases that got licensed last year.

We'll likely get some news out of Otakon. Now that Frank Agrama is dead, the doors are opened to releasing whatever the Japanese content owners allow.