Customer Reviews

Robotech - The Macross Saga - Legacy Collection 2

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Robotech Legacy: Macross Saga Collection 2, a three disc collection, contains episodes 13 through 24 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. Robotech was the most popular of the Americanized Japanese anime series to hit American TV waves during the 1970s and 1980s. Known for its cutting edge animation, thrilling battle scenes, futuristic weapons (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. Set in the 21st century, Robotech's sweeping saga spanned three seasons. The basic story premise is that the earth became forever changed after 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 saga itself though, merely becomes the backdrop of a deeper "human" saga. This volume chronicles the "meat" of the adventures from the first season - The Macross
Saga. In this volume the story is off at full steam with TONS of INTENSE ACTION and intense loss as the enemy attacks relentlessly. Also at full speed is the equally intense soap opera love triangle between Rick, Lisa, Minmei and Kyle. Here's a listing of what you'll find on these discs.
Disc 1 - Homecoming, episodes 13 -18. Episode 13 - Bluewind: It's a race against time as the Zentraedi renegade Khyron renews his attack. Can they make it back to earth before Khyron destroys them? Plus, the Zentraedi infiltrators begin their study of "Micronian" culture. Episode 14- Gloval's Report: Recap of the events till date as Gloval files his report to the Earth Government recounting the events of the past year. Episode 15 - Homecoming: Gloval and Lisa report to the Earth government calling for peace negotiations. Plus, introducing Minmei's cousin, Lynn Kyle.
Episode 16 - Battle Cry: Rick is critically wounded!!! Episode 17 - Phantasm: As his body struggles for life, Rick's mind struggles over his feelings for the two women in his life, Lynn Minmei and Lisa Hayes. Episode 18 - Farewell, Big Brother: Rick recovers in the hospital. Lisa struggles with her feelings over Rick. Ace Zentraedi pilot Miriya meets her match in Max Sterling.
Plus, tragedy befalls as one of our greatest champions goes down. Disc 2 - Battle Front, episodes19 - 24. Episode 19 - Bursting Point: Another cataclysmic battle with the Zentraedi. The plan to
unload the civilian refugees goes awry as for the second episode in a row, tragedy strikes again...
Episdoe 20 - Paradise Lost: The spies return home sharing and reflecting on their life changing "Micronian" experience. Also, BANISHED - the SD-F1 without a home!!! Episode 21 - A New Dawn: Rick and Lisa bond while trapped in a section of the SD-F1 during an attack. Plus, Minmei and Kyle make their big screen debut (with EVERYONE tuned in)!!! Episode 22 - Battle Hymn: Macross City invaded!!! Plus, Minmei's music FOREVER changes the Zentraedi empire... Episode 23 - Reckless: Desertion in the Zentraedi ranks!!! Plus, more fighting and more soap opera escapades with our four star-crossed lovers... Episode 24 - Showdown: Lisa returns to Earth to lobby for peace. Miriya gets her rematch with Max, at the arcade!!! Disc 3 - Extra 2: Elements of Robotechnology This is the "Special DVD features" disc that contains all the DVD extras. It is only purchasable with the Boxed Set. On this disc you'll find the following: 1. Robotech Galaxy of Stars: 90 second promotional video highlighting a fan fest where the toyline debuted. 2. 11 original Robotech toy commercials (with LAME jingles and dialogue....) 3. Comic Book Cover Gallery: 36 comic book covers from Comico's adaptation of the 36 episodes of the Macross Saga. Cool stuff!!!
4. Animation Production Sheets: Drawings of the mecha. COOL stuff!!! 5. Character Bios for theMacross Saga. Very informative. Great background info. 6. Point of View with Carl Macek: Fifteen minute interview with Robotech producer Carl Macek done on a talk show back in the 80s. A Must Listen!!! 7. More International Clips. Listen to both the scene where the SD-F1 "bridge babes" metup with the Zentraedi spies and where Roy Fokker passed away in either French, Portuguese, Spanish or Italian. VERY cool stuff!!! I am personally very happy that ADV and Harmony Gold have finally released this series on DVD. This is BY FAR one of THE BEST cartoon/anime series from the 80s or the best ever PERIOD!!! If you've never seen Robotech, simply put YOU MUST. The action and the drama are compelling, clearly showing why Robotech became a pop culture hit. It is the series that forever put Japanese anime on the map in the US. If you did grow up with Robotech, give these a watch again. They're great for a trip down memory lane. I can honestly say that they are better than I remember. You can't lose!!! Give this (and all other current and future releases) a watch. You won't be disappointed. If you are planning on purchasing, 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. For the cost, it's still a great bargain for all the action and extras. Highest Recommendation

Although I'm glad ROBOTECH is available on the digital format- with 6 shows per disc, no less!- I'm somewhat disappointed by the picture quality. Sadly, it's only a slight improvement over the old VHS tapes I used to own. The sound's not too much better, either. But, at least there's some improvement. And if given the proper care, I'll never have to worry about the picture & sound quality degrading on the DVD format like I did with the VHS counterparts. So there's some good news, anyway.

Another disappointment I have is the fact that the Robotech DVDs aren't in 'Perfect Collection' format, where the viewer can watch both the American-release eppie and its original unedited Japanese (w/ English subtitles) counterpart. You know, a little something for both the hard-core Robotech nut and the Macross/anime purist. Sadly, this ain't likely to happen in the near future- the Macross series (which was re-made into the first part of Robotech) is getting its own separate DVD release. Looks like I'll have to clear off some more space on my video shelf...

Anyway, this particular set includes Volumes 3 & 4 (shows 13 through 24) of "Robotech: The Macross Saga" (lots more death & destruction, and the loss of a couple of the series' beloved stalwarts), and an extra features disc that's exclusive to this set. Probably the most interesting bit on this extras platter is a 15-minute interview with producer/writer Carl Macek on a Dallas-area community-access show. Although the clip is somewhat bland, Macek does discuss the other then-upcoming Robotech projects that never really took off, including the Sentinels series and rarely-seen Robotech Movie, which saw only a limited release in the Dallas- Fort Worth area before it pretty much disappeared from the scene. In fact, a few scenes from the movie are shown here, and are likely the only parts of the ill-fated flick that'll ever see the light of day in a legitimate commercial recording. BTW it's probably just as well anyway; I've seen the entire Robotech Movie on bootleg video. It's a pretty sad sight to say the least...

Also featured are brief character bios & animation model sketches of various mecha & equipment seen in the Macross segment. Unfortunately, these extras weren't too new to me, since most of the bios & sketches are also available in the Robotech Art 1 book. But, since Robotech Art 1 is a rare book, and thus very hard to track down, these particular bits are likely to be brand-spankin'-new to the average 'Techie. Then there's the featurette that takes you behind-the-scenes at the 1986 Robotech Galaxy of the Stars convention, complete with droves of geekin' fanboys, autograph booths, toys, buttons, posters, & other swag, and... Malcolm Jamal-Warner? What's he doing there, and why does he have his own autograph table? Was it part of a plot to cross over ROBOTECH with 'The Cosby Show'? Methinks a sinister conspiracy is afoot...

Like the previous box set extra features platter, this set's disc includes clips from the show dubbed in different languages. I find these parts kinda painful to look at. It's mainly due to the fact that the voice actors doing the foreign dubs tend to sound better than the English ones! Better emoting, inflections, the whole nine yards- especially the French & Portuguese voice-overs! I'm glad to see some folks still take pride in their work. Too bad it's in languages I only partially understand!

Finally, there's the wide array of Robotech toy ads- action figures, vehicles, die-cast toys, playsets, and fashion dolls! All done in that trademark loud, pumped-up 80s hype-it-to-death style that got many a spoiled brat to annoy the 'rents to buy, buy, buy! And you thought Transformers & G.I. Joe toy commercials were obnoxious!

'Late!

Few people today can truly appreciate the genius, creativity, etc... behind the original Robotech series. To put it simply, it was ahead of its time. Robotech was more then just high tech robots, intergalatic war, and cheesy plots. The Robotech series dealt wiht many issues during its tenure from topics such as sex, gender/race descrimination, interracial marriages, young love, growing up, war, death, etc... Cartoons/animated series don't even compare today to what Robotech was back then. The story line was so in depth, dealt with so many issues, encompassed a wide variety of characters, and at the same time was fun to watch. Discovering that the original series would be released on DVD was a dream come true . For less then 40$ I could buy a priceless piece of my childhood and to a certain extent, see where a lot of my beliefs/morals/ideals came from. It may not be the most technologically advanced anime out there today, but it is without a doubt a classic series which I will enjoy watching over and over again.

I have been waiting for a long time for DVD UNCUT copies. I have been the unfortunate owner of the 6 volume set where footage was cut, and I couldn't afford the 3 episode tapes(uncut). I have seen robotech numerous times, but this time it was like watching it for the first time, since my memory is a little foggy when it first aired on TV. The bonus DVDs are nice and include a lot of info I wasn't aware of. I suggest this set for any hard core fan or first time viewer.

This DVD Collection is where everything changes. During these episodes, you get to really know the main characters and all of the plot lines are twisted. The episodes on these DVDs really brings new hope to the humans aboard the SDF-1. I don't wanna ruin it, so i suggest you go out and buy it.

Anyone who doesn't like the video quality, must not have seen the originals. I've seen the show on broadcast, on the original retail videotapes, and on home recorded tapes. The DVD version is outstandingly better than even the broadcast shows. BTW, don't complain about video quality and then call Robotech 'Japanimation' in the same review. If anyone wants to see before and after restoration photos check out robotech.com they have a good selection.

If you're reading this then you probably know the show well, and if you know the show well then you want to own these no matter what any review says. So buy them.

As another reviewer pointed out the extras on this disk are great. It looks like ADV bothered to even restore the original toy commercials, and even a local access cable show. The commercial with Bretai skulking around the SDF-1 is great. Rivaled only by the notorious 'magical bicycle' line that can be heard on one of the episodes.

This box set contains the following: Robotech: Homecoming, Robotech: Battlefront and Robotech Extras Disc 2. Since the first two discs can be bought seperately, my review will be on the extra disc.

First, there is the usual extras on here: Animation sheets and International Clips. The Animation Sheets feature the mecha designs that are quite fun to look at. The International Clips feature two clips this time. One where Rico, Bron and Konda talk with the bridge bunnies and when Claudia discovers Roy's injuries.

The new extras here are some neat ones. The most notable one being a 15 minute interview with Carl Macek done on a Dallas public access channel. Theres also a few scenes from Robotech The Movie in there too. The next big thing is the comic book gallery, featuring the entire Macross Saga issues. I have to admit that seeing Kyron hauling a sack of toys on Christmas was pretty funny. But not as funny as the Robotech toy commercials. Oh geez. These were so cheesy, you'll burst out in laughter. Especially when they show the play set commerical where they say "Oh no. Bretai's on the ship. Use the trap door". Too funny. The character Bios are pretty informative and nice to read. A worthy extra. And finally, the two minute Galaxy of Stars video featuring Robotech at a toy convention. Theres even some people there dressed up as Rick and Minmei. You only get to hear one kid say "its great" at the end of it. Pretty good extra.

And the episodes are even better. So buy this right away! You wont regret it.

Note: In episode 24, one of the games at the arcade is actually a Lupin 3 video game. You can find it easily.

On 1985 a cartoon series came up which changed the life of many people, including myself. So many things happened that were a first for a cartoon, the plot was amazing and the characters more real than many life series. Robotech set a precedent for future Japanese anime. Gundam, and other famous stories were developed thanks to the new concepts introduced in Robotech. Finally, after a long time we once more have the chance to watch this incredible adventure. In this particular release you will not only get the known episodes but also extras that come on a third DVD, which all fans will enjoy for sure. I already bought the first DVD boxed set and I can't wait for the second!

If you ever saw Robotech or like Japanese anime, then this is a MUST!!

Robotech, for may of us was one of our first tastes of Japanese Anime. For the longest while the only way to see it was on TV or to buy the VHS versions released by FHE video. It gladdens my heart to see them finally on DVD. With so many features and add-on in the legacy collection, it makes the perfect gift for the ulimate robotech fan.

You've got the 1st Robotech Legacy DVD box and thought you were ready for this one ? Think again; sure you may have (re?) -lived those fantastic moments where the civilisation on SDF-1 catches up and the people start to pick up there lives. Or you may have seen Minmee becoming Macross Queen.

This box continues the action big time, it just becomes better and better. And to top that they even put in yet another superb bonus DVD into the package. Did _you_ know about the Robotech toys? You will after getting this box... "A must have for Robotech fans" IMVHO.