Macross Frontier (2008)

[マクロスF (フロンティア)]

Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi, Shoji Kawamori
Studio: Studio Nue, Satelight
Starring: Yuuichi Nakamura, Megumi Nakajima, Aya Endou
Episodes: 25

Synopsis:
A former kabuki actor turned pilot candidate crosses paths with two singers amid the rise of an alien menace to the Frontier colony fleet.

Impressions:
Given how much Macross Delta left a sour taste in my mouth, it's not much surprise that I'd come revisit this series. Actually, it was my coverage of the thoroughly mediocre manga adaptation that was the main trigger bringing me back. I will say that rewatching this makes me feel that much stronger that Delta shouldn't have happened. Oh, well. They can't all be winners. Enough about Delta.

So what is it that I like so much about this series? Just about everything, honestly. We've got a solid lead with a clear vision of what he wants who takes the steps to make it happen. We've got a nice contrast between Ranka the rising star and Sheryl who's at her peak. The fact that Alto has a past as a stage performer gives him an insight into the girls' world that other Macross leads haven't had, which means that we don't have as much of an outsider factor for one leg of the love triangle as in previous series. All three have compelling development over the course of the series as well.

I also can't fail to mention the supporting cast, which is nicely fleshed out and greatly contribute to the richness of the story. There's enough going on with them to keep you invested in their stories and the various plotlines weaving together makes for a rather effective narrative. In fact, I would argue that this series has the best realization of its complex plot of the entire franchise. As much as I love the original series, I would say the storytelling is more fully matured here.

We have Yoko Kanno doing the music. That can't be understated. We not only get a number of fine original songs but also several new takes on popular selections from the franchise's history. I particularly like the series first OP, "Triangler", sung by Maaya Sakamoto, but the second OP, "Lion", is also quite good. (I like the dueling duet gimmick.)

As far as the visuals go, there are occasional dips in the production values, but things generally look quite good. Normally CG in anime bothers me, but because it's restricted to hard-body objects, I didn't mind so much. The space combat is excellent with all the dynamism you'd expect from the series.

In addition to being an excellent production in its own right, this series is also a fine love letter to the franchise and a great way to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Although I feel its successor was a misstep, I continue to hold out hope that we can hit a high note like this again. It's rather difficult to follow through on this due to the rights issues with the franchise, but I can easily recommend this for your collection.

Rating:
Own It