Episode 2: Count Down
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
On air date: 1982.10.23
Story
(translation pending)
Staff
(translation pending)
Commentary
Minmei—who was only introduced in the first episode—genuinely appears in this episode, which depicts her meeting Hikaru. The impressive scene in the production is Hikaru's GERWALK rescueing the falling Minmei. This approximately 20 second long scene was depicted in one shot without such things as switching the setting of the scene. The scene was extremely elaborately animated, and it has become a problem since the time of its telecast. Ichirō Itano, one of the lead animators of this series, was in charge of drawing this scene. It's said that 370 cels were devoted to this one shot. It also left an episode where there was a dispute between Itano and Animation Director Mikimoto Haruhiko over whether they ought to depict the interior of Minmei's skirt, which is flapping around in the strong winds in this scene.
It's established that the enemy soldiers are giant humans in the last part of this episode, which created quite a stir among the viewers who had guessed that the enemy pilots were also human sized. In addition, this setting of "enemy = giants" also succeeded in giving a strong persuasiveness to the raison d'être of the ridiculous mecha called a giant robot, as "the Valkyrie is a humanoid weapon developed to counter the giants".
Cast
(translation pending)
Song
None
Characters and Mechanic that appear
Character
Ichijō Hikaru / Lynn Minmei / Hayase Misa / Roy Fokker / Claudia LaSalle / Bruno J. Global
Kim Kabirov / Shammy Milliome / Vanessa Leyard / Maximillian Jīnasu / Kakizaki Hayao / Miria Farīna Jīnasu / Lynn Kaifun
Buritai Kuridaniku / Exsedor Formo / Warera/Rory/Konda / Kamujin Kraveshera / Rapu Ramizu / Bodoruzā
Town Council Chairman / Yotchan / Minmei's uncle / Minmei's aunt
Mechanic
Macross / VF-1J (Hikaru) / VF-1J (Max) / VF-1J (Miria) /
(N) VF-1S /
(N) VF-1A (general)
VF-1A (Max) / VF-1A (Kakizaki) / Tomahawk / Defender / Phalanx / Spartan / Monster
Rigādo /
Gurāji / Nūjaderu-Gā / Quadoran-Rō /
Buritai's Ship
VF-1D /
VF-1J (general)
N: Normal, S: Super Valkyrie, A: Armoured Valkyrie
Episode 2: Count Down
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Topics—the Depiction of Each Part of the Valkyrie
The highlight of this episode's depiction of mecha is the detailed depiction of the Valkyrie when it transforms. Detailed transformation parts are accurately drawn in such scenes as when Fokker's Valkyrie transforms into Battroid and shutters come down over the thigh intakes and the flanks (where there is a gap due to the transformation), and when Hikaru's Valkyrie transforms to GERWALK and the canopy cover is stowed away.
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Preview of the Next Episode
Before the overwhelming military strength of the enemy forces, Captain Global decides to press ahead with a Fold. However, what result does this first-time Fold bring? However, the consequences of the first Fold are completely unpredictable by both the enemy and Global himself. The Macross faces a new phase of the war. Next time on "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross": 'Space Fold'.