Rating: 
Summary: Robotech finally on the digital plane- could be better
Review: Finally... after a five-year moratorium, 'Robotech' is back on video- and in DVD format, no less! Now eBay is no longer my last resort (a maddeningly expensive last resort at that) to completing my collection of episodes! Then there's the kicker- six eppies on each disc! Most of my VHS tapes had only two shows per, and each tape originally cost just as much as one DVD. So not only am I getting a great value, I'm also saving mondo shelf space! Boo-Yah! Then there's the features & extras that comes with this box set. One of the most surprising additions are the between-commercial 'Stay tuned, we'll be right back' bumpers at the midpoint mark of each episode. Then there's the exclusive bonus disc featuring the 'Codename: Robotech' special that was produced to attract viewers to the show. Sadly, after seeing it again for the first time in fifteen years, I found it to be something of a disappointment. Basically, it's just a 75-minute recap featuring snippets from the first 14 episodes, with a slightly different narration by Captain Gloval. The picture quality is rather pathetic, too. Personally, I think it should be viewed more for its historical significance than its entertainment value. The best thing to do is watch it while listening to the Carl Macek commentary track. In his low-key, soft-tone manner, Macek covers the history, production, licensing, "bloopers", and other factoids about the making of 'Robotech' as the show plays on. He also discusses the methods and techniques of producing and filming anime, as well as adapting it for the North American market. Also etched into this platter are different foreign-language dubs (French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian) of the Rick Hunter/Lynn Minmei mock marriage scene. There's also a music-&-sound-effects-only track. But, despite my elation over 'Robotech' being released, I do have a few gripes. For one thing, the sound isn't exactly top notch. But then, the original mix was fairly limited to begin with. Also, it's better than the audio quality of the VHS tapes I used to own, as I could perceive a few of the more subtle sounds that I never noticed before. The picture quality isn't the best either, especially the aforementioned 'Codename: Robotech' special. And I was hoping that Harmony Gold would win the distribution rights for the original Japanese episodes that the series is based on (Macross, Southern Cross, Mospeada) and present both the American eppie and its Japanese originator on the same disc, in a 'Perfect Collection' format. You know, a little something for both the 'Techie AND the anime purist. No such luck, though- the original 'Macross' series is slated for a separate DVD release, and is getting a full picture & sound restoration. And there's no word yet on the possibility of the other two series being released on the digital format. Looks like I might not be saving as much shelf space as I originally anticipated... 'Late
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Summary: Finally, The Anime Series That Started It All, on DVD!!!
Review: The Robotech Legacy: Macross Saga Collection 1, contains episodes 1 through 12 of the legendary anime series from the mid 1980s. The first two discs contain six episodes each. The third disc contains all the 'Exclusive DVD features' and is only available if you purchase this boxed set. For the uninitiated, Robotech was the most popular of the Americanized Japanese anime series to hit American TV waves during the 1970s and 1980s (along with Star Blazers, Voltron, Transor Z, etc.) Known for its cutting edge animation, thrilling battle scenes, futuristic techonology (planes, tanks, motorcyles that transform into robots), cool alien invaders, and realistic and compelling storylines, Robotech swept an entire generation and helped put Japanese Anime forever on the map of American pop culture. Robotech's sweeping saga spanned three seasons and weaved together three actual separate storylines based on Japanese anime: Season 1 - The Macross Saga, Season 2 - The Robotech Masters (The Southern Cross in Japan), and Season 3 - The New Generation (Mospeada in Japan). The basic story premise is that the earth became forever changed when a mysterious alien battleship crashed on earth. The people of the world, now knowing that they are not alone in the universe, end all wars and unite to understand and assimilate the advanced technology and prepare for the inevitable alien invasion that is sure to come. As the story unfolds mankind would go on to battle three separate alien races over the next three seasons. The sweeping intergalactic war saga itself though, merely becomes the backdrop of a deeper 'human' saga. This Boxed Set contains 3 DVDs. Here's a listing of what you'll find on these discs. Disc 1 ' First Contact, episodes 1 ' 6. 1.Booby Trap: While visiting his friend, Rick Hunter becomes an unwilling fighter pilot in the midst of an alien invasion!!! 2.Countdown: As Rick struggles to figure out his strange airplane, the SD-F1 struggles to lift off!!! 3.Space Fold: The SD-F1 warps in order to outflank the alien invaders, unknowingly taking Macross Island with it. 4.The Long Wait: Rick and Minmei are stuck deep within the depths of the SD-F1. 5.Transformation: In order to survive a Zentraedi attack, the SD-F1 must transform, at the potential cost of 70,000 refugee lives!!! 6.Blitzkrieg: Rick enlists!!! Disc 2 ' Transformation, contains episodes 7 ' 12. 1.Bye, Bye Mars: Lisa Hayes journeys to Mars hoping to find her long lost fiancé. 2.Sweet Sixteen: It's Minmei's birthday and Rick just got promoted and assigned two pilots under him!!! 3.Miss Macross: Minmei enters the Miss Macross beauty pageant while Rick dogfights it out with a Zentraedi recon ship. 4.Blind Game: Vermillion Group is captured by the Zentraedi!!! 5.First Contact: While interrogating Vermillion Group the Zentraedi finally reveal WHY they are so interested in the SD-F1. What is protoculture? 6.The Big Escape: Vermillion Group makes a break for it!!! Disc 3 ' Extra 1: Elements of Robotechnology This is the 'Special DVD features' disc that contains all the DVD extras. It is only purchasable if you get the Boxed Set. On this disc you'll find the following: 1. Codename Robotech: This is an hour long 'prelude' to the Macross Saga which was limitedly released to certain markets prior to the initial airing of Macross Saga in the mid-80s as an 'introduction' to the series. It contains a summary of the first 13 episodes of the Macross Saga told as a 'flashback' by Captain Gloval. 2. Audio Commentary by Carl Macek: Macek was the producer of the Robotech series. Macek does a voiceover commentary over the Codename Robotech feature. It is an invaluable commentary that reveals the series origins, WHY it was produced, HOW the series was produced, etc. It provides a valuable insight into the cartoon industry, both in the US and Japan. 3. Character Sketches for all the characters of the Macross Saga. Pretty cool stuff!! 4. Clips of Robotech in foreign languages. This is an awesome and cool feature. Robotech was released worldwide and here is a small sampling of how other countries and cultures caught all the action. For our viewing pleasure we can watch the famous clip of Rick and Minmei trapped in the SD-F1 in the following languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian!!! Here's my rundown: Awesome: Robotech on DVD, 'nuff said!!! Must Listen: Carl Macek's commentary on the E1 disc. It's a fascinating look behind the scenes. Pretty Cool: Robotech in foreign languages (found on the E1 disc). Hilarious!!! Bad: Nothing at all!!! If you've never seen Robotech, simply put YOU MUST. It is the series that forever set the standard for Japanese anime. If you did grow up with Robotech, give these a watch again. They're great for a trip down memory lane. Watching it again now, I can honestly say that it's better than I remember. Give this (and all other current and future releases) a watch. You won't be disappointed. If you are planning on purchasing these, by all means pick up the Boxed Set. It's the only way you'll get the Elements of Robotechnology Disc. Alone, the individual volumes DO NOT come with DVD extras... it's still a great bargain for all the action and extras. Get the Boxed Set. Highest Recommendation possible.
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Summary: I loved it
Review: What can I say I love robotech and I love the boxset format with a seperate extras dvd. this is one sexy box set. This is what BOTP should have done.
Rating:
Summary: Defending Robotech
Review: I really can't believe some of the recent reviews. It's pretty obvious that some people bought this with unreasonably high expectations. Did you expect it to look like a new big budget Walt Disney production just because it's on DVD? It looks like a mid-80s cartoon because it IS a mid-80's cartoon. It's also AFFORDABLE. To make it look beter, you would have to go through and edit the animation cell-by-cell. Animego is doing just that with the original Japanese Macross series (already a year behind schedule, and still no official release date). You can see stills of the difference this process makes at robotech.com. I just got the first box set last night and watched all 12 episodes in one sitting. I thought it looked and sounded GREAT considering the age of the footage. Is it "state of the art"? Of course not, but if the cost of remastering the animation puts the cost of the set around the cost of my RENT, I'm more than happy with the quality of these discs.
Rating: 
Summary: A true Macross fan? Don't bother. A robotech fan? Sure.
Review: Originally I had high hopes for this set, after all they used the name Macross on the title. However after popping the DVD in I was severely disappointed. Not only is the childish dubbing still present, it is also the cut, convulated American version. You see "Robotech" is a whole bunch of Macross sagas tied together for America messing up alot of the story line.
If you are interested in the original and pure version you are better off buying the AnimEigo versions, they don't have any special features but it is the true vision of Macross.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a legend
Review: Robotech is a series I missed back in the '80s (as it aired against some of my existing favorite shows on Saturday mornings), but watching this disc, I can easily understand what the "fuss" has been about. While definitely a product of the '80s (note the titles and a few obvious moments of obvious visual and dialogue editing for US audiences), the series has definite depth, and a cohesive storyline that was previously impossible for American cartoons (thanks to problems with airing orders and general meddling from the Big Three TV networks). The narration is concise and, when needed, quite extensive, which helps ease the neophyte viewer into the show while in no way harming the style of the series. One negative point is that the video isn't restored. Of course, given the nature of this series (a heavily edited and re-edited showing of three very different television shows), I'm not surprised. However, the video is at the same level as the original broadcasts (which unfortunately speaks ill of how TV shows were broadcast in the days before cable was in most of our homes), and everything is included (even commercial bumpers, recaps, and previews). The special features disc is equally loaded, with a special premeire movie (and commentary by Carl Macek, who is for all intents the "creator" of Robotech) and a series of character model sheets. While certainly dated, with its sometimes primitive animation and now-unimaginable dubbing policies, Robotech is an essential series for all cartoon fans, and (naturally) this set is the best place to start.
Rating:
Summary: A God Sent!
Review: This DVD set starts the best saga from the best anime of all time. Any long term fan of Robotech will have noticed that the tapes became unavalble a few years back and for those of us who did not have all the tapes and forgot to record the shows off Cartoon Netword this is a God sent gift. Robotech is the story of the power the human heart. It also deals with a lot of issues such as war in a deep maner but not in the overly dramic way that you see in shows such as Gundam Wing. This DVD set includes great features so get a good deal in that way too. If you are just coming across Robotech then its best if you view this set before going to the others or buying the great books. If you are an anime fan looking for blood, guts, etc. then go else where (not that I don't like blood and guts myself). While Robotech is a show of war it is not a grafic anime. Also be warn if you buy this one you will most likely be buying all the rest. Goodness knows I did.
Rating:
Summary: Great Series
Review: What can I say, a must have for any otaku collection.A great series with good plotline development and animation,not to mention the mecha.
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest series ever.
Review: This is a great series with lots of emotional rollercoasters, love triangles and action. I never saw the american version, but the Japanese version called Macross was awesome, basically the same thing with english subs. The Mech designs still remain the standard for most mecha anime. I used to collect action figures and I have 3 transforming Valkeries, they look exactly like they do in the cartoon its amazing. This series is a true classic in the way that Gundam is. If you enjoyed this series, I reccomend Gundam Zeta, its verry similar, but its verry dark and tragic, which naturally makes it way better.
Rating:
Summary: Like a little soap opera with your space robots?
Review: How old is Robotech? So old, when it first aired it was before my family owned a VCR so I recorded the show (audio only!) by setting my cassette recorder on the floor in front of the TV. I must have used to drive my neighbors nuts, because I liked all those syrupy pop songs Min-mei sang and I would sing along with the tape recorder at the top of my lungs. "Oh weeee, we must fight all this defeat. We must stand tall and not retreeeeat. With the strength of our own lives, there's no fight we can't fight...together. We will win!" and so forth. (Now picture giant purple haired space pilots clutching their heads in agony, starships exploding and interstellar peace being declared and you've got the plot resolution.) Boy, it feels good to tell someone about this. :) Like group therapy or something. Now if only I still had my Minmei doll.... Highly recommended for girls (or grown-up girls) that like space opera. Oh, Rick!
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