Robotech the Japanese animated series (anime) of science fiction

Robotech is an 85-episode Japanese science fiction animated series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production and first released in the United States in 1985.

The series is the adaptation of three original and distinct, albeit graphically very similar, Japanese anime television series (Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA) to create a series suitable for syndication.

In the series, Robotechnology refers to the scientific advances discovered in an alien spaceship that crashed on an island in the South Pacific. With this technology, Earth has developed robotic technologies, such as transformable mechas, to combat three successive extraterrestrial invasions.

In Italy it was broadcast on TV in 1986 on the Mediaset networks and subsequently had several repeats on the Italia 7 network.

Prior to the release of the TV series, the Robotech name was used by model kit manufacturer Revell on the Robotech Defenders line in the mid-80s. The line consisted of mecha model kits imported from Japan and featured in anime titles such as Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982), Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983) and Fang of the Sun Dougram (1981). The kits were originally meant to be a marketing link to a similarly named comic book series from DC Comics, which was canceled after just two issues.

At the same time, Harmony Gold licensed the Macross TV series for home video distribution in 1984, but their merchandising plans were compromised by Revell's previous distribution of Macross kits. Eventually, both parties signed a co-licensing agreement and the Robotech name was adopted for Macross's TV syndication combined with Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984) and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA (1983).

History

Harmony Gold hired American writers to adapt the scripts for the three Japanese series. This complicated process was overseen by producer Carl Macek, a pioneer of the anime industry in the United States.

This combination has resulted in a storyline spanning three generations, as humanity must fight three destructive Robotech wars in succession over a powerful energy source called "Protoculture":

The first Robotech war (The Macross Saga) is about humanity's discovery of a crashed alien ship and the subsequent battle against a race of giant warriors called the Zentraedi, who were sent to retrieve the ship for unknown reasons. Throughout this chapter, the Earth is nearly annihilated, the Zentraedi are defeated, and humans gain knowledge of the energy source called protoculture. Humanity also learns of the Robotech Masters whose galactic empire is protected and patrolled by the Zentraedi.
The Second Robotech War (The Masters) focuses on the arrival in Earth's orbit of the Robotech Masters, who have come in search of what turns out to be the only means in the universe of producing protoculture. Through a combination of mistrust and arrogance, their attempts to recover it meet opposition from humans and unleash a war that leaves the Masters defeated and the Earth awash with the spores of a plant called the Flower of Life, the source of protoculture and a beacon to the mysterious Invid who searches the galaxy in search of his presence.
The Third Robotech War (The New Generation) begins with the arrival on Earth of the Invid, who are attracted by the Flower of Life and quickly conquer the planet. References in the previous two chapters explain to viewers that many of the heroes of the first Robotech War had left Earth to seek out the Robotech Masters on a preemptive mission, and it is this Robotech Expeditionary Force that sends missions from across the galaxy to attempt a liberation of theirs. home planet. The storyline follows a group of freedom fighters as they make their way to the final battle with the Invid.

The movie Code name: Robotech

Code name: Robotech is a 73-minute animated film that preceded the series. It is set in the events of the First Robotech War. It was a very extended version of Gloval's Report, the fourteenth television episode that sums up the beginning of the series. It aired on some television stations prior to the series' broadcast in 1985. It was included on DVD as an extra with the first volume of the Robotech Legacy Collection and the entire Protoculture Collection, by ADV Films. The disc includes the audio commentary option from producer Carl Macek and was also released in Australia by Madman Entertainment.

Technical data and credits

Author Carl Macek
Basato su Part 1:
Super Dimension Fortress Macross
(from Studio Nue)
Part 2:
Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross
Part 3:
Genesis Climber MOSPEADA
Screenplay by Ardwight Chamberlain, Greg Finley, Steve Flood, Jason Klassi, Steve Kramer, Mike Reynolds, Gregory Snegoff, Jim Scommessa, Tao
music Ulpio Minucci
country of origin United States, Japan
No. of seasons 1 (3 parts)
No. episodes 85 (list of episodes)
The producers Carl Macek, Ahmed Agrama
Animation studio Tatsunoko production
Duration 25 minutes
Production company Harmony Gold USA
uncredited:
Studio Nue
Artland
artmic
Distributor Harmony Gold USA
Original network First run syndication
Sci-Fi Channel, Cartoon Network, KTEH
Image format NTSC
Audio format 1.0 monophonic (1985)
5.1 Dolby Surround (2004)
Exit date March 4 - June 28, 1985
Timeline
Preceded by codename: Robotech
Following Robotech: The Movie
Robotech II: The Sentinels
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles
Robotech: Love Live Alive