Rating: Summary: Robotech is AWESOME, but don't buy this DVD Set Review: Robotech is the classic English translation of three Japanese cartoon series Macross, Southern Cross, and Mospeada. To say that the Robotech Saga was great does it no justice. Robotech is extraordinary. One of the first animes to make the jump from Japan to the US, Robotech brought animation to a whole new level in the US. This isn't a cartoon with 30-minute essentially non-related episodes. The Robotech Saga melds 3 different Japanese cartoons into one storyline. Although I am not the biggest fan of Southern Cross or the 3rd Generation, the First generation, which encompasses the first 36 Episodes of Robotech is simply stellar. The storyline is robust, characters are amazingly developed, and the action is amazing. The animation may be a bit plain, but considering that Macross was first drawn 20 years ago, I would argue that it has withstood time quite well. Although Robotech is a must-own for any fan of anime, DO NOT BUY THIS SET!!! ADV is coming out with a remastered version of Robotech on DVD which will include digitally remastered video and sound. I unfortunately bought this set well before the announcement of the new set and was somewhat disappointed with the video and sound quality of these DVDs. In addition, most of the Bonus DVDs in these sets contain useless items, except for E3, which contains the Sentinels episodes.
Rating: Summary: Robotech Great, Price Rippoff. Review: Robotech was the greatest cartoon series I have ever seen. Period. I thought that when it came out on DVD that I would pay any price. BUT, looking at it now - much older and with a decent job to afford DVDs, I feel that the price is too steep. While $33 is not that much for 6 great episodes (plus the movie), I am thinking of the larger picture - of getting the whole Robotech collection (85 episodes). If all the episodes do indeed come out on DVD, which I hope it would, and this price would be indicative of future pricing ($33 for 6 episodes), then the whole collection would cost almost $500! That is a ton of money! I just feel like they are taking advantage of my childhood exerience - addiction. I just hope that they package the episodes better and come up with some discount pricing. At least with Xfiles DVDs, I feel I am getting a bargain - 20+ episodes all hour long!
Rating: Summary: Finally it is coming Review: Anybody that watched this as a kid, discovered it recently, or is just discovering it now, Will absolutely love this DVD. It is an exciting adventure that helped bring Anime to America. The story and animation is simply stunning. We have been waiting for this for quite a long time. The boxed set will be coming with 3 DVDs.The first 2 will have 6 episodes a piece giving you a third of the Macross Saga. The third one will be Codename:Robotech. A 90 min. special that helped introduced Robotech to us. If you are a huge fan and would like a lot more about Robotech, then just check out Robotech.com. It has quite a lot about the show as well as a fabulous forum with a lot of friendly people. Have fun with this, the first of quite a few DVDs about Robotech to come. Happy viewing. (I wish I could have given it more than just 5 starts)
Rating: Summary: One of the best old school anime series! Review: There are a few classic anime series which should never fall out of print- Speed Racer, Star Blazers(Yamato), 8th Man(the english translation) and MACROSS. Carl Macek's mid-eighties adaptation of the original Macross Saga into the Robotech series wasn't flawless, but it allowed American kids a chance to see some creative animation which didn't draw from the same pre-packaged toy pushing corporate garbage animation formula which overpowered American TV in the eighties. For the first and only time in the eighties kids got what they lusted for- space battles, robots, action, hard luck, death, romance, intensity. The Macross portion of Robotech delivered in spades, and nearly everyone who glimpsed an episode of this epic tragedy was changed, influenced by a thoughtful story matched with skilled animation artists creating an awesome milestone in animation history. There were obviously three or more crews of animators and layout artists working on the Macross Saga in Japan. As you watch the episodes you will notice a quarter of the episodes are amazing in every aspect. The layout looked just like Mikimoto's original designs for the characters, the mecha functioned flawless, the animation was superb and the storyboarding was pushing the boundaries of what could happen on an animation camera stand. Another third of the series is very well done, but not quite as stylish as the best episodes, and the remainder was pretty horridly drawn and animated. The difference in drawing styles is very apparent, as are all the old Japanese hallmarks of bad animation(lens flares, cel scratches, inconsistant color, popping layers) which appear more in the lower quality episodes. The story is still quite a fun epic journey culminating in the obliteration of the earth's surface in one of the most unforgettable epiosdes in TV(the episode which got Robotech taken off the air in the later eighties due to explicitly gruesome violence as people fry and obliterate as a million atomic blasts devastate the earth), and then following its reconstruction period afterwards. There are so many unforgettable moments in the Macross saga which I have remembered ever since seeing it as a kid. The worth of this series is incalculable. Currenty I work in the American animation industry and just yesterday I used some Chinese VCDs of Macross as reference for explosions and laserbeams. Every so often I and my artists influenced by this series will harken back to it for animation and storytelling reference because of its artistic strength. Mind you, I haven't seen the DVD edition yet, but if it is the unadulterated adaptation of the Robotech series without bizarre editing or gruesome color correction, 'creative' voice or video alteration then it is a definite 5 star must see for any anime fan who enjoys any genre. Thank you, Carl Macek for finally releasing a true classic. Now, if only you could release 'Porco Rosso' with your translation in tact....
Rating: Summary: looking forward to it Review: I've seen the whole series on tv and on tape. I can't wait to see the dvd. I can sit there and watch it all in one sitting. I'm going to order it right away.
Rating: Summary: SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM... Review: With a stroke of success in the 80's, the Robotech: Macross series still has a place for many fans today and shares a strong cult following. Being a fan of the series as a kid, I decided to buy the whole Robotech: Macross series, but I came across the overwelming amount of editions to the series. I didn't know which to buy, so I watched them all. Here are the differences between to different boxsets (all offered through Amazon): Robotech: the Complete Macross Series One Boxset: 6 disc Sells for around $60-$65 Nothing special, picture quality is not great, but bearable. Comes in one compact boxset with all the disc in it. Would not reccomend getting this edition unless you just want a copy of the series and want to spend the least possible amount of money. Robotech: The Legacy Collection: Macross Saga (Collections 1-3) Three Boxsets: with 3 disc in each Sells for around $40 each boxset, entire set around $120-$130 Same picture quality as the above set, but with addtional features. Comes with the most extras out of any current sets, but even then, they are so-so. I would actually recommend getting the above edition as I was not impressed with the extras, some were interesting, but it definately didn't justify the price. Your paying almost twice the price. Robotech Remastered: The Macross Saga (Volumes 1-3) Three Boxsets: Two disc each boxset Sells for around $25 each boxset, entire set around $75-$80 Remastered picture quality superior to both sets above, sound quality much improved. This is the set that I would recommend. The price is affordable and well worth the extra money compared to the first set. Also includes a few bonus footage. Macross: Super Dimensional Fortress (Sets 1-3) Three Boxsets: Three discs each boxset Sells for around $60-$70 each boxset, entire series around $180-200 Macross is the original Japanese series of the Robotech: Macross Saga. The storyline is slightly different with different music and sounds. When it was brought to the US, Harmony Gold added the Macross material with two other Japanese series to make Robotech. Macross is more "mature" and includes several scenes taken out of Robotech. Picture quality is even more crisp than the Remastered Series. I would reccomend only to die-hard Robotech fans. It's pretty expensive and lacks really any real extra features.
Rating: Summary: SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM... Review: With a stroke of success in the 80's, the Robotech: Macross series still has a place for many fans today and shares a strong cult following. Being a fan of the series as a kid, I decided to buy the whole Robotech: Macross series, but I came across the overwelming amount of editions to the series. I didn't know which to buy, so I watched them all. Here are the differences between to different boxsets (all offered through Amazon): Robotech: the Complete Macross Series One Boxset: 6 disc Sells for around $60-$65 Nothing special, picture quality is not great, but bearable. Comes in one compact boxset with all the disc in it. Would not reccomend getting this edition unless you just want a copy of the series and want to spend the least possible amount of money. Robotech: The Legacy Collection: Macross Saga (Collections 1-3) Three Boxsets: with 3 disc in each Sells for around $40 each boxset, entire set around $120-$130 Same picture quality as the above set, but with addtional features. Comes with the most extras out of any current sets, but even then, they are so-so. I would actually recommend getting the above edition as I was not impressed with the extras, some were interesting, but it definately didn't justify the price. Your paying almost twice the price. Robotech Remastered: The Macross Saga (Volumes 1-3) Three Boxsets: Two disc each boxset Sells for around $25 each boxset, entire set around $75-$80 Remastered picture quality superior to both sets above, sound quality much improved. This is the set that I would recommend. The price is affordable and well worth the extra money compared to the first set. Also includes a few bonus footage. Macross: Super Dimensional Fortress (Sets 1-3) Three Boxsets: Three discs each boxset Sells for around $60-$70 each boxset, entire series around $180-200 Macross is the original Japanese series of the Robotech: Macross Saga. The storyline is slightly different with different music and sounds. When it was brought to the US, Harmony Gold added the Macross material with two other Japanese series to make Robotech. Macross is more "mature" and includes several scenes taken out of Robotech. Picture quality is even more crisp than the Remastered Series. I would reccomend only to die-hard Robotech fans. It's pretty expensive and lacks really any real extra features.
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: 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.
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