| Sketchley's Translations Main Index | Macross Portal |
| By AARON SKETCHLEY (aaronsketch@HOTdelete_thisMAIL.com) | Ver 1.1 2013.07.02 |
| Episode: F05A: Macross F Eps. 5 "Star Date" |
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Story
(...)
Commentary
This episode doesn't have fighting scenes with mechanicals, but is the episode which had that share give priority to such things as the depiction of characters and an explanation of the world view. Unlike the Frontier Fleet, due to the development of implant technology in the Galaxy Fleet, the cyborgization of the human body has advanced and the episode talks about the existence of advanced cosmetic surgery. Also, the episode reveals that although the Vajra are living creatures, they have combat abilities greater than the level of a Valkyrie. The highlights of the drama are the date, where Sheryl and Aruto search for Sheryl's earring, and Ranka's sudden live performance on the street. Especially the scene where the musical performance gradually follows Ranka's a cappella and accurately depicts the appearance of people who are gradually attracted to Ranka's singing. Furthermore, the relationship between Ranka's singing and the Vajra response begins to be clearly depicted, and immediately after the episode's broadcast, it led to various guesses about the effect of Ranka's songs and her parentage between the fans. A small highlight of the episode is that although it includes a scene that closely resembles the line, "is it unpleasant to be with me?" from Lynn Minmei and Hikaru Ichijo's date in "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross Do You Remember Love?", Aruto's reaction in this episode is the curt "ah, it's a bother", which contrasts with Ichijo.
Staff
(...)
Cast
(...)
Song
"Diamond Crevice" Sheryl Nome (May'n)
"What 'bout My Star?" Sheryl Nome (May'n)
"The Ship of Space Brothers" Tokugawa Kiichiro (Osaka Motoshunsuke)
Characters and Mechanic that appear
Note: items that appear in colour with a yellow background are indicated with a (y) in the following. Items that don't appear are black and white.
Character
(y) Saotome Aruto / (y) Ranka Lee / (y) Sheryl Nome / (y) Ozuma Lee / (y) Catherine Glass / (y) Mihaeru Braun
(y) Luca Angeloni / (y) Kuran Kuran / (y) Nene / (y) Laramia / Canaria Bernstein / (y) Matsuura Nanase / Geoffry Wilder
Bobby Margo / Monika / Miina / Ram / Grace O'conner / (y) Leon Mishima / Burera Stern
(y) Elmo Kuridaniku / (y) Tokugawa Kiichiro / (y) Richard Bilraa
Mechanic
Macross Frontier / Macross Quarter / VF-25S / VF-25F / VF-25G / RVF-25
Koenig Monster / Kwadoran-Rhea / Cheyenne II / VF-171 / RVF-171 / VF-171EX (Aruto) / VF-171EX (standard)
RVF-171EX / AIF-7S / VF-27γ / Macross Galaxy / Vajra (small) / (y) Vajra (large)
N: Normal, S: equipped with Super Parts, A: equipped with Armour Pack
Topics: Individual Portable Terminals*
Although portable terminals frequently appear during the series, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on their shape. Although the portable terminal that Aruto has is in a fairly orthodox shape, Ranka's "Japanese Giant Salamander" (popular name: [Ranka's] portable buddy), is a fairly novel, elastic portable terminal. This "Japanese Giant Salamander" was sold as stuffed animals and pouches by Bandai, and its popularity spread as a kind of mascot.
Left: Ozuma's seal case* type terminal
Right: Aruto's portable terminal
Down: Ranka's portable terminal
Translator's notes:
* Portable Terminal: a telephone and Internet supporting portable computer. Distinct from a Smartphone, which didn't start appearing en masse in the Japanese mobile phone market until during or after the original broadcast of the series.
** Seal case: a case for a signature seal.
Topics: The Zentraadi Town "Forumo"
In the town "Forumo", where many Zentraadi -who are a tribe of giants- live, the residents can spend their daily life as-is in a giant size. The spectacle of the sense of daily life, such as running a dairy farm in a giant size, came as a surprise to a lot of fans, just like Sheryl in the series. The town name originates in Exedoru Forumo, who appeared in such series as "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross".
Caption: [M] Exedoru Forumo
Preview of the Next Episode
The Galaxy Fleet was attacked. The information makes Aruto et al walk down a road that they cannot return from. Next time, "Bye-bye Sheryl", the song of parting resounds in the galaxy.