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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.
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
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. */
Oh Rick!
Oh Minmei!
Oh Rick!
Oh Minmei!!
Oh Rick!!
Oh Minmei!
Oh RICK!!!
Oh MINMEI!!!
---
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.
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.
Don't Panic Yet!
Check out the Vinny the Vampire comic strip
"It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
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
http://cacophanus.net/
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.
Check out Althea for a stable IMAP email client for X. Now with SSL!
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
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
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.