Macross Frontier

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Macross Frontier


caption =
ja_name = マクロスF (フロンティア)
ja_name_trans = Makurosu Furontia
genre = Mecha, Romance, Space Opera, Real RobotInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author =
illustrator = Aoki Hayato
publisher = Kadokawa Shoten
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
demographic = Shōnen
magazine = Shōnen Ace
first = December 26, 2007
last = ongoing
volumes = 2
chapter_list =
OEM = Infobox animanga/Manga
title = Macross F Chō Jikū Uta Miko Ranka
author =
illustrator = Kuroiwa Yoshihiro
publisher = Kadokawa Shoten
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
demographic = Seinen
magazine = Comp Ace
first = February 26, 2008
last = May 26, 2008
volumes =
chapter_list =
OEM = Infobox animanga/Manga
title = Macross F Dakishimete, Ginga no Hate Made.
author =
illustrator = Sorahiko Mizushima
publisher = Kadokawa Shoten
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
demographic = Seinen
magazine = Comp Ace
first = July 26, 2008
last = ongoing
volumes =
chapter_list =
OEM = Infobox animanga/Novel
light = yes
title =
author = Ukyō Kodachi
illustrator = Risa Ebata, Hayato Aoki
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kadokawa Shoten
demographic = Male
first = July 1 2008
last = ongoing
volumes = 1Infobox animanga/Anime
director = Yasuhito Kikuchi
Shōji Kawamori (supervising director)
writer = Hiroyuki Yoshino
Shōji Kawamori (original concept, story composition)
studio = Satelight
licensor = flagicon|Japan Big West
network = flagicon|Japan MBS, TBS, Animax
animation style = Hybrid traditional of drawn animation/Computer Generated Imagines
first = April 3, 2008
last = September 25, 2008
episodes = 25
episode_list =

nihongo|"Macross Frontier"|マクロスF (フロンティア)|Makurosu Furontia is the most recent Japanese anime television series set in the "Macross" universe. Animated by Satelight, it premiered Japan on MBS on April 3, 2008. A pre-broadcast airing, called "Macross Frontier Deculture Edition" or nihongo|"Macross Special Edition"|マクロスSP版|Makurosu SP Ban, showcasing a preview version of the first episode was aired on December 23, 2007. The series also received its satellite television premiere in Japan on Animax on April 7, 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.animax.co.jp/feature/index.php?program=NN10000665|title=ANIMAX アニメ見るならアニマックス：番組表|title=ANIMAX アニメ見るならアニマックス：番組表|publisher=Animax|accessdate=2008-04-03]

Plot and overview

The new show celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original "Super Dimension Fortress Macross" TV series (1982~1983), and is chronologically subsequent to "Macross 7" (1994~1996). This third TV series introduces Earth's latest main variable fighter, the VF-25 Messiah (メサイア) [http://macross.anime.net/wiki/VF-25#Background] and a new ship called the "Macross Frontier". The show retains the signature space opera theme consistent with all series set in the "Macross" universe (which intertwine musical numbers with fast-paced variable fighter combat). New episodes aired weekly on the MBS network Thursdays at 25:55 and on the TBS network Fridays at 25:55. The 24+ hour clock is a common Japanese TV broadcast notation, in the MBS case indicating 01:55 am Friday and in the TBS case indicating 01:55 am Saturday. Three separate manga adaptations have been running in "Shōnen Ace" and "Comp Ace", since February 2008, April 2008, and July 2008, respectively.cite web|url=http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/マクロスF|title=マクロスF (Macross F - Japanese Wikipedia)|accessdate=2008-04-03]

The series features the 25th New Macross-class Colonial Fleet, dubbed the "Macross Frontier", en route to the galactic center. This heavily-populated interstellar fleet (consisting of numerous civilian vessels and their military escorts) contains a makeup of both human occupants and their Zentradi allies. As such, many of the Macross Frontier's companion vessels appear to merge more metallic Human designs with organic Zentradi aesthetics. On the Macross timeline, the story is set in the year 2059, 47 years after the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross, 19 years after Macross Plus and 14 years after the story of Macross 7. "Macross Frontier"'s plot explores a combination of action/political intrigue/space drama more than previous "Macross" series have done in the past.

As the series begin, during a mission to an unexplored asteroid belt a reconnaissance New U.N. Spacy (N.U.N.S.) VF-171 is destroyed by extremely powerful and fast insectoid biomechanical alien mecha known as the "Vajra", (バジュラ) [http://macross.anime.net/wiki/Vajra] , which immediately begin their attack on the rest of the fleet. Not being able to stop the new enemy threat, the N.U.N.S. Colonial Defense Forces authorize the deployment of a Civilian Military Provider organization called S.M.S. (Strategic Military Services) which utilizes the new VF-25 "Messiah" variable fighter to destroy the alien menace.

Characters

Episodes

Terminology and Background

taff

*Original concept: Shōji Kawamori, Studio Nue
*Supervising director, story composition: Shōji Kawamori
*Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi
*Series composition and screenplay: Hiroyuki Yoshino
*Character design: Risa Ebata, Yūichi Takahashi
*Valkyrie design: Shōji Kawamori
*Mechanical design: Junya Ishigaki, Takeshi Takakura
*Mechanical art: Hidetaka Tenjin
*Conceptual design: Kazutaka Miyatake
*Motion graphics: Itsurō Sasakura, HIBIKI
*Art designs: Akihiro Hirasawa
*Color design: Kumiko Nakayama
*Color design assistant: Satoshi Takezawa
*Set director: Stanislas Brunet
*Music: Yoko Kanno
*Music producers: Shirō Sasaki, Toshiaki Ōta
*Music director: Hiroshi Inoue
*Music production: flyingDOG/JVC Entertainment, Border Rain
*Sound director: Masafumi Mima
*Sound production: Techno Sound
*Producers: Hisanori Kunisaki, Hirō Maruyama, Hirofumi Morotomi (MBS), Shin'ichi Hirai, Tsutomu Kasai
*Executive producers: Yoshimasa Ōnishi, Kazumi Kawashiro, Seiji Takeda (MBS), Michiaki Satō
*Animation production: Satelight
*Production: Big West, Macross F Production Committee, Mainichi Broadcasting System

Sources:

oundtrack (in VOCAL)

Adaptations

Radio Macross

"Radio Macross" is a radio program, based on "Macross Frontier", which was first broadcast on Bunka Hōsō and MBS Radio from January 3, 2008. It has featured Megumi Nakajima and Kenta Miyake, voice actors for the characters Ranka Lee and Bobby Margot, as hosts. cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-10/radio-macross-show-begins-broadcasting-web-streaming|title=Radio Macross Show Begins Broadcasting, Web Streaming|date=2008-01-10|accessdate=2008-01-10|work=|publisher=ANN]

"Macross Frontier" Movie

A theatrical version of the "Macross Frontier" television anime series was announced in Japan during the broadcast of the 25th and final episode "Your Sound" ("Anata no Oto") on September 25, 2008. However, it hasn't been revealed yet if the new movie will be a sequel, a spin-off, a remake or an adaptation. The release date for the new animated film is still unknown. cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-25/macross-frontier-movie-announced|title=Macross Frontier Movie Announced|date=2008-09-25|accessdate=2008-09-25|work=|publisher=ANN]

Reception

"Macross Frontier" is a largely popular anime in its country of origin due to the significance of it as a production celebrating the 25th anniversary of the "Macross" franchise there. It has received widespread reception in all over Japan. Some oversea markets are unable to export the show (example United States) due to international copyright problems with the franchise. However, underground following of the show in the rest of the world is strong (thanks to the work of several fansubbers) despite the legal issues.

The first DVD volume that has been released in Japan by Bandai Visual sustained a third position in the sales chart for 2 consecutive weeks, prior to its release. Namely, from 21 July 2008 to 6 August2008. [citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-08-07/japanese-animation-dvd-ranking-july-31-august-6|title=Japanese Animation DVD Ranking, July 31–August 6)|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-09-05] It is revealed that about 45,000 Blu-ray disks and 55,000 DVDs are shipped by Bandai Visual for the first volume of the series. This marks the highest Blu-ray Disc pressing among all Bandai Visual releases. "Macross Frontier" is also reported to be the first television anime series to ship simultaneously on both disc formats in Japan. [citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-25/macross-frontier-volume-1-ships-45000-blu-ray-discs|title=Macross Frontier Volume 1 Ships 45,000 Blu-ray Discs|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-09-05]

Music wise, the first opening single, "Triangler" performed by Maaya Sakamoto made the Oricon's weekly top 10 chart for all Japanese singles. "Triangler" debuted at #3 and sustained for 3 consecutive weeks before falling to #6. Similarly, the first ending single "Diamond Crevasse" performed by May'n also debuted at #3. [citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-14/two-macross-frontier-singles-in-japan-weekly-top-10|title=Two Macross Frontier Singles in Japan's Weekly Top 10|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-09-05] The Original Soundtrack for the series titled, "Macross Frontier O.S.T.1 Nyan FRO" made it to #3 on Oricon's next weekly chart of all albums sold in Japan. The album sold over 72,000 copies becoming the first anime album in 11 Years to rank in Japan's Top 3. The only anime album which managed to rivalled the sales of this is The End of Evangelion soundtrack, which was first released on 26 September 1997. [citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-10/1st-anime-album-in-11-years-to-rank-in-japan-top-3|title=1st Anime Album in 11 Years to Rank in Japan's Top 3|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-09-05] More recently, the second opening single "Lion", which also features the second ending theme "Northern Cross" has sold about 56,000 copies in its first week and thus reached #3 on Oricon's weekly chart for all CD singles. All four of the Macross Frontier singles that have been released have debuted at #5 or higher. This brings the total sales of the Macross Frontier CD singles to 500,000, marking the start of a "new anime song boom" in Japan. [citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-08-26/lion-is-4th-macross-frontier-cd-single-in-top-5|title='Lion' is 4th Macross Frontier CD Single in Top 5|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-09-05]

Animation

Like "Macross Zero", many of the mechanical objects in "Macross Frontier" were created through computer drawn cel-shaded animation which allows complex objects to be more easily animated with less budget than previous traditional cel-drawn incarnations or Digipaint.

References

External links

* [http://www.macrossf.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.mbs.jp/macross-f/ Official Website @ MBS]
* [http://www2.b-ch.com/cgi-bin/cmn/pv/pv_view_1000.cgi?pv_c=994 Macross Frontier Official PV @ Bandai Channel (1Mbit/s)]
* [http://macross.anime.net/wiki/Category:Macross_Frontier Macross Frontier] entry at the [http://macross.anime.net/wiki/Main_Page Macross Compendium]
*
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* [http://www.new-un-spacy.com/m3.html Macross Mecha Manual] A website profiling the fictional vehicles of the Macross series
* [http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org UN Spacy Database] Macross related roleplay data and stats database
* [http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums Macross RPG Galaxies] Online Macross roleplay Campaign web forums
* [http://www.oricon.co.jp/ Oricon] jp icon