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Robotech DVDs Released!
shane writes "Robotech has been released on dvd finally. Check robotech.com for more info." I used to get up super early on Sunday mornings to watch Robotech every week when I was still a rugrat (being very quiet so as not to wake the parents). But personally I'm waiting for the animeigo release of the Macross Box Set instead (you can pre order it, as well as the Urusei Yatsura boxes) And I still really need to get Star Blazers.
This looks like it's about to become a repeat of the VHS releases which came out in the 80's. They released the first few episodes and gave up. Unfortunately not many people are going to want just the first 12 episodes this time either. Without much demand for the first 12 episodes they won't see a need to finish the series.
The second 2 generations were in some ways better than Macross. They got rid of the bimbo and the warrior women had a much bigger role. My favorite scene is still Rick Hunter telling Lynn Bimbo to go stick it, but the bravery of Dana Sterling and Lisa Hayes was irreplacable. You could never write a female character as self sacrificing for the fate of the universe as Lisa Hayes into a show today.
Rook Bartley seemed more aligned with the modern heroine, more concerned with seeking revenge for some wrong done to her by a man than saving the world, but brave nonetheless.
That's only for the original japaneese release of the *ENTIRE* series (Like 36 episodes?). That is *NOT* Robotech: Macross.
7
The ones released today are at http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=2
-- I'm the root of all that's evil, but you can call me cookie..
No...he was correct. The $50 is for the 3DVD English box set. The $350 is for the 9 DVD Japanese box set, which is seperate - read the second link!
In a way, anime is/are "cartoons" by dictionary definition. Generally I find the Japanese cartoons (anime) more interesting than the American ones or for that matter anywhere else.
Unfortunately the typical anime falls into cliches too many times but the standouts are extraordinary. The hard part is trying to figure out the originals and the copycats, and determining the merit of the copycats.
Also, I would consider Akira very dang popular (but that doesn't mean I liked it). there will be 100,000 of Pioneer's "Limited Edition" tin of Akira released and they are already pre-sold out over a month before release (currently late July). Most limited goodies take a few months to sell out in quantities of 10,000 or 20,000.
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The more I learn about the Internet, the more amazed I am that it works at all.
For all those puzzled by Slashdot's new fascination with anime, for all those curious why CmdrTaco has posted less than 50 articles here since April 15th while an editor like Timothy has posted over 230, let me explain.
http://www.animefu.com/
Top users at animefu:
CmdrTaco (194)
Cacophanus (80)
Battousai (73)
Kayos (64)
kurt (52)
That would be 194 reviews written my CmdrTaco - reviews I might point out that are far longer than the quick Slashdot summaries he writes.
Our fearless Slashdot leader, the only person in the position to address the increasing cynicism, to deal with the degeneration of dicussion, and to tweak the increasingly counterproductive moderation system, has reduced Slashdot to his second priority.
Slashdot is still an amazing place... but here is to the old days of Slashdot, and perhaps to some future Slashdot innovations.
(And please, no jokes about CmdrTaco hedging himself in case he is the victim of VA Linux reductions)
Ben
studionext.com...quicktime format
"Let him go, Ralph. He knows what he's doing." --Otto Mann (simpsons)
You can find them a lot cheaper than $40 at buy.com.
--
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
Here's an explanation I found on Home Theater Forum:
"...Animeigo is NOT doing Robotech, they are doing the original Japanese seres that Robotech used for its animation. Robotech is edited from the original and has a different script and storyline, and the Animeigo release will not have an English dub, just as Robotech doesn't have an Japanese track.
If you want Robotech, the ADV version is the only one."
/* The beatings will continue until morale improves. */
You young whippersnappers...Robotech was nothing compared to "Battle of the Planets" (also known as Gatchaman or G-Force). I remember watching it on a black and white TV in the back room of my dad's gas station after school, way back in the late '70s (later got to see it in color, too). Now THAT was an awesome series. Nothing I've seen since then has gotten me like G-Force did. Voltron, Robotech, all those TV series that came after paled in comparison IMO. Zoltar/Berg Katse was a pretty cool villain...or was it villainess? ;-)
I've heard you can get G-Force on DVD now...hmm, gotta see if I can get it...but then again, if I watch it now, it'll probably ruin it (kinda like watching Star Trek OS today). *sigh*
Ah well. There's an old site about G-Force/BotP with lots of pics here: http://www.pearl-jam.com/botp/home.html
Transmute!
Ethelred
Everyone wants to be Ethelred. Even I want to be Ethelred.
Oh Rick!
Oh Minmei!
Oh Rick!
Oh Minmei!!
Oh Rick!!
Oh Minmei!
Oh RICK!!!
Oh MINMEI!!!
---
Linn Minmay: A~ Hikaru!
Ichijou Hikaru: A~ Minmay!
Linn Minmay: A~ Hikaru!
Ichijou Hikaru: A~ Minmay!
Linn Minmay: A~ Hikaru!
Ichijou Hikaru: A~ Minmay!
Linn Minmay: A...HIKARUU~!
Ichijou Hikaru: A...MINMAAY~!
Hayase Misa: eeeEEH?!!! OI, NANYASORE~?!?! (This line added in Director's Cut.)
< tofuhead >
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It is still the dark of night.
You could always buy the shit pie that is "Clash of the Bionoids." It's a horibbly-dubbed (Hong Kong-produced, I believe), heavily-edited, marketed-to-children version of Ai: Oboeteimasuka. It's horrendous, and I highly recommend it...buy a copy as a Christmas present for your worst enemy.
I think I bought mine for a few coins at Walgreens, just to see how bad it is. What I got was an EP-speed VHS tape with a huge tape spool, and it was impossible to watch with automatic tracking enabled. I think it had linear stereo tracks, though, so you may be in "luck" if you have a linear stereo VHS VCR, AND it still works. Heh.
To anybody who's seen it: "Shut...UP! You talk far too much!" (I still quote that line to my sister to this day. =)
< tofuhead >
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It is still the dark of night.
I haven't seen Cowbow Bebop yet, since I'm not MADE of money and nowhere here rents it, but everyone I've talked to who has seen it has liked it.
Cowboy Bebop is one of the best series I've seen. If you see some and like it, consider also checking out Outlaw Star (which I absolutely love). (You can rent that from a few places, at least around my house). They're quite simliar in some ways, but Outlaw Star is less dark and has more humor, and also the character roles are somewhat less typical. For example: the pilot of the Outlaw Star get sick in space, the muscle of the crew is a pair of women, and the planner/backup guy is an 11 yro kid.
If you're a Batman fan in addition to big robots, check out "The Big O" as well (even if not, you may well like it). When it showed on Cartoon Network they used the tagline "One part Batman, one part Bond, one part giant city-smashing robot". It's not too "serious" an anime, but it's a lot of fun.
Love Hina is great. If you like Tenchi or love comedies in general you'll probably enjoy Love Hina. It has good art and a nice, lighthearted story line. Stay away from Ep 25 and the spring special though...they aren't representative of the series.
Oh comon, love hina 25 wasn't THAT bad was it? It's an insult to stick it in the same group as the spring special! =]
;-] ... and episode 29 was just subbed yesterday, 30 to come next monday. Word of advice, do NOT watch 29 until you get 30... you'll know why.
25 was just like another episode from my point of view, of course, as everyone thought that was the END of the series, which i agree WOULD have been one crap ass ending, but the creator (uhmm.. forgot his name) said that if someone watched it for the first time, it would be 1-25, winter, then spring special.
The spring special is the ending to the series. Isn't it nice to end with that? The crappy disnification of that special is incredible. It felt wayyyy too much like a disney movie. For Example, the "let's all go on an adventure for some stupid reason" is in there, the "cute cuddly animals" (in this situation it was turtles, and a fsckload of em), and finally, the one that irritated me the MOST was the "now boys and girls, let's all sing a song at the end". Grrrrrrrr. Can you tell i'm INCREDIBLY pissed at the spring special? This is supposed to be the ending of a GREAT series and they blew it with this bullshit.
GAAH! At least I have InuYasha to tide me over. It's going to be 90something episodes so i'm going to have to watch for a while
For some reason, I don't remember the Robotech cartoon being so campy/cheezy. It's probably a combination of 1) my age at the time of first viewing and 2) I have more vivid memories of the book series. Still, as far as children's television programming goes, they just don't make 'em like this anymore.
Also, it may just be me, but this series seems REALLY violent for a "suitable for all ages" series. After watching the first disc, I was amazed that my parents actually let me and my younger brother watch this when we were kids! (bless them for not overprotecting us from quality programming!)
Anyway, I'll be anxiously waiting the release of discs 3 and 4 in early August! (I've already got them pre-ordered!)
"...stuff related to their fantasies about young japanese women. "
I don't think so....my fantasies all involve large robots....
"Before Judging someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes!"
"And I still really need to get Star Blazers"
... uh.yeah.
Some things are more important than karma. So here goes...
Star Blazers 0WNZ J000 B|TC|-|Z!!!!!11!!1!!!!!
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1. Nobody has licensed Macross: DYRL as of yet, and what with Whoremony Gold being the bastards they are, I wouldn't expect it for a long, long time. 2. That's Valkyrie, Veritech is a Robotech term. And no, it's looking increasingly unlikely that the YAMATO/Toycom MacPlus Valk's (or the upcoming DYRL Valkyries) will ever see a North American release. Blame Harmony Gold. If you really want them, import them. Get 'em at Hobbylink Japan. You pay Yen price + shipping.
Escaflowne is great (one of the best I've ever seen), and if you like mecha, this might be a good shot for you (mecha and magic, yay!) Continuing on the giant robot theme is Neon Genesis Evangelion, which rocked until the last couple of episodes (but I hear they are making more!)
Serial Experiment Lain is also pretty good. I haven't seen Cowbow Bebop yet, since I'm not MADE of money and nowhere here rents it, but everyone I've talked to who has seen it has liked it. Good luck!
psmylie's dictionary: Godzillion (noun) Any number large enough to destroy Tokyo
Star Blazers was THE thing when I was in 2nd grade. You gotta love a big gun that requires ten minutes of buildup before it can fire!
Of course, the slightest mention of the show gets the American theme song stuck in my head. Off to Napster I go!
(to the idiots: no, I don't use napster anymore and yes, I am aware of the alternatives)
psmylie's dictionary: Godzillion (noun) Any number large enough to destroy Tokyo
As seen here:
http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=27
The DVD's can be picked up at most major video stores around the US. They can also be bought online at many major shopping sites, at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $14.98 or less for the individual DVD's, and $44.95 or less for the box sets.
Looks like you spotted the prices for different set:
Super Dimension Fortress: Macross - Complete Box Set This special Macross DVD box set includes the 36-episode Macross series in its original Japanese form, uncut and with remastered footage. In addition, fans who sign up for the preorder list now will enjoy a hefty discount of $110 off the retail price! IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the Japanese Macross series, not the Macross Saga of Robotech.
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Carl Macek deserves the electric hair. Admittedly the likes of Robotech made anime accessible to the Western general public (so did ULysses 31 for that matter and that was also done by the studio behind Macross - Studio Nue).
The real problem with Robotech is that it merged three completely unrelated anime series:
Macross
Southern Cross
Mospeada
...consequently butchering the intricate narrative of each of the series.
I mean Protoculture as an *energy* source! The subtlety of Kawamori's original vision is completely knackered.
Ollie
Cacophanus
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Yeah, I saw a boxed Macross DVD set for sale in this Sunday's Best Buy add in the local newspaper. I don't know all the specific episodes as I'm not a total anime freak, but I've thought about picking it up just for the Saturday morning nostalgia effect. :)
;) The entire macros box set is like 360 bucks when it comes out.. but it's every season.. the whole shebang..
:).. I had the first box set of 12 episodes preordered since the day they started accepting preorders and I'm happy to say I got a notice of shipment yesterday, so I should be getting them soon!! :) WOOT! :)
I think the price as advertised at Best Buy was only $34.95 for the 3 DVD box set.
Okay.. just to be a little helpfull.. it's very important that you realize that Macross and Robotech are COMPLETELY different series.. Robotech is what you saw as a child on TV, the first 12 episodes are in the box set that came out yesterday for 40 bucks (2 dvd's of episodes and 1 dvd of extra features). Macross is the Japanese version of Robotech (the original version) but has a widly different plot after the first season.. it eventually dwindles down to singing at the bad guys until they die..
Now, the Robotech that is 40 bucks is only 12 episodes of 85 total produced episodes.. so expect another 6 or 12 to be released at a time for the next year or two until the entire 85 episode series is out.. and of course sitting in my house!
I thought someone said there was going to be free beer!
Chekc out http://anime.plan9.de here for a bunch of anime. Including parts of the the Robotech series.
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Oh, Macross Plus is another anime with a decent dub. In fact, I think it's dub sounds better than the Japanese track!
Geek dating!
GPL Deconstructed
Um, you really want to know?
What the Zentradi are looking for;
What the connection between Zentradi, Maltrendi, and humans are;
The power of music;
Post-apocalyptic earth;
What else is there? I mean, that's the whole story, isn't it?
Geek dating!
GPL Deconstructed
I wouldn't cout Akira, Ghost in the Shell, or Ninja Scroll as 'popular' anime.
Popular anime: Ranma one half, Rouroni Kenshin, Evangelion are popular anime.
So you've fallen for the classic trap of anime is just a 'friggin cartoon'. It's basic storytelling (no different than TV, movie, CG, or any other live acting) but expressed in paints and cels.
So if you want good anime, you need to know what you like. Do you want drama and adventure? Soul searching?
Here are a smattering of good anime:
Evangelion: Story of a boy pilot and 100 feet tall robots. The crux of the story is the humanity and fraility of the boy and his peers.
Why to watch Evangelion: Very strong portrayals of human emotion without actually jerking you around on a rollercoaster.
Escaflowne: The story of a girl transported to an alternative world with 40 feet tall robots. She's mystical and can see the future. The story is really about fate, conviction, and strength of will.
Why to watch Escaflowne: Exciting and touching
Mononoke Hime: Evidently you didn't like this one. The story of Iron Town, the Great Forest, and immortality. A prince is cursed by a dying Boar God/Demon and travels to the Great Forest and Iron Town to try to lift the curse. Focus is on the conflict between human nature, human expansion, and the health of the world we live in and depend on.
Why to watch Mononoke: Very mystic, spiritual, and exciting.
Macross Plus: Story of a fighter pilot Isamu Dyson who gets to fly a state of the art airplane as part of a military design competition. Things get complicated when a complex AI system starts taking over everything. This story is mainly about the complex love triangle between the two X-plane pilots and their best friend/singer.
Why to watch Macross Plus: It's a love story and the story about best friends.
Trigun: A western sci-fi set on a desert planet. Vash is a wandering gunman with a bounty on his head. You follow his adventures as you figure out who this mysterious gunman is and why someone hates him so much. In the end it's a morality tale about the value of life and living.
Why to watch Trigun: It's funny, it's exciting, it's emotional. Very cool.
Jubei-Chan: A great samurai dies leaving the legacy of a legendary eyepatch bestowed with is soul and spirit. Jiyo Nanohana is his spiritual reincarnation when she wears this eyepatch. The story is about her struggles against who she is, what she is, what she's capable of, and why she's doing it, especially when her friends and loved ones cannot escape her destiny.
Why to watch Jubei-Chan: It's cute, it's funny, it's sad. Did I mention it's funny?
Geek dating!
GPL Deconstructed
Hmmm... How about "I think you are a dicktrocity."
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A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
A comemorative cent!
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All your
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
I also have a lot of the ALF 'toons, as these were some of my favorites. I was crushed when it was dropped. "What, for some piece of *&$%@ half-hour toy advert?!?!?"
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Gordon, Gordon, keep us in stitches, ain't no-one like you in the place...
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1. Will there ever be a release of the real Marcoss movie DYRL (Do You Remember love)? 2. Will Harmony Gold ever let Toycom bring in Veritech fighters to store shelves?
I almost sunk $40+ in to the DVD boxed set.
I stopped myself and asked "Why?" Because I saw this when I was in high-school? Because it was "cool"?
I've got this series on VHS, for gODSAKE. I've already dropped well over $100 in to it -- and that was 1980's dollars. Do I really want to spend this much form something that will in all likelyhood be played once then sit on my shelf?
Hell yes! -- no wonder my wife controls the checkbook...
-jhon
Could anyone recommend some Anime Titles? I was thinking of renting the Gundam titles and Cowboy Bebop, but outside of those none of the titles at my local store caught my eye.
You do have a *very* narrow cross-section for comparison. I consider myself a (pathetic) otaku and the only title I *don't* agree with you here on is Princess Mononoke.
While it doesn't shoot any fireworks off for me, you *should* try Cowboy Bebop. It's a pretty well done series. If you like it, you might consider Trigun, which is similiar in tone, if more comedic.
Also try :
The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
I think the price as advertised at Best Buy was only $34.95 for the 3 DVD box set.
My favorite anime is Maison Ikkoku. It's about this guy living in a house who has a crush on his apartment manager, and all of the guy's neighbors are wacky. I guess its not really for the action fans, but it's really funny.
Irresponsible Captain Tylor is entertaining too. It's about this slacker who somehow gets put in charge of some starship and he bumbles his way through numerous misadventures. Hillarity ensues!
I used to go to the anime club meetings when I was at school, and I saw a bunch of shows that I dont remember the names of. One where a kid got in fights all the time (that's about all i remember, but it was entertaining) and a bunch about giant robots. I was never that big of a fan of the giant robot anime genre, though there was one I liked a lot, and cant remember the name of that one either. I'm not much help!
-J5K
The libertarian solution to the failures of capitalism is to apply more capitalism til the failures are fixed.
Actually there are a few misconceptions about the release: -There are two box sets currently available for order. The Robotech: The Macross Saga (DVD 1 and 2 + bonus DVD) and the Complete Macross Saga Collection. The Robotech series is the one that most children grew up watching here in the states, while the Macross Saga is the series that originally aired in Japan. Robotech is actually an adaptation of the Japanese version Macross, and the stories are slightly different (I won't ruin it with spoilers, BUT VERY DIFFERENT ENDING!) -The Robotech DVD's (put out by ADV) are completely UNREMASTERED (no remaster of video or audio). So all the original bad audio and film scratches are there. They are just flat copies from the original tape put together by Macek and Harmony Gold. These are English Dubbed with a few silly song clips in other languages (see here). - The Macross DVD's (put out by Animeigo) are completely REMASTERED (both video and audio). They are quite beautiful in the rework (see here). BIG DIFFERENCE. However, they will be released only in Japanese with English Subtitles. - Also, the entire Robotech Saga will run you close to $100 after tax. The entire Macross Saga will run you $250 if you preorder it. Yes, I'm a fan. The only man somewhat proud to have a Lisa Hayes 12" doll to keep him warm at night.