Episode 11: First Contact
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
On air date: 1982.12.19
Story
(translation pending)
Staff
(translation pending)
Commentary
This is the episode when Hikaru and others have the first genuine contact with the Zentrādi Forces. Simultaneously, the contrasts between Earth and the alien civilization are depicted, and the word "Protoculture"—which will become an important keyword from now on—appears for the first time. Incidentally, Kawamori Shōji, who was in charge of this episode's storyboards, said in a conversation that the depiction of Hikaru, who was unable to witness Minmei's debut and had his first kiss with Misa, foreshadows the love pattern of the series thereafter. On the other one hand, the viewers were on pins and needles about not having perceived the connection between Misa and Hikaru. Also, on the mechanic side, good use is made of the performance of the Valkyrie in impressive scenes that have a different disposition than the depictions of the Valkyrie so far: such as Hikaru's VF-1J, which challenges his opponent Buritai with pro-wrestling-like hand-to-hand combat; and Max's VF-1A wearing the uniform that was taken from the Zentrādi soldier he knocked unconscious.
Cast
(translation pending)
* Hayami Shō's Max role is credited to his real name, "Ōhama Yasushi", until episode 12.
Song
"My Boyfriend's A Pilot" Lynn Minmei (Ījima Mari)
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
Jamisu Merin
Mechanic
Macross /
(N) VF-1J (Hikaru) / VF-1J (Max) / VF-1J (Miria) / 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
[Jināru] Fighter Pod /
Furubusu Barensu
N: Normal, S: Super Valkyrie, A: Armoured Valkyrie
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Topics—The Creator Of The Protoculture is "Kurokawa Eiji"?
As a matter of fact, the newcomer Kurokawa Eiji, who was in charge of this episode's storyboards, is one of Kawamori Shōji's pen-names. The sword fight at the beginning—where the opponent recoils from the jet exhaust from the Valkyrie's foot, the VF rises into the air holding its opponents body in its arms, and from there throws the body to the floor—seems to be something characteristic of the the person in charge of the Valkyrie's design and it's setting. Also, the neologism "Protoculture", which appears for the first time in this episode, is considered to be a word that Kawamori created while finishing the storyboards. In the original literary setting it was simply written as "culture", and it remained "culture" even at the screenplay stage of this episode. However, he then thought that it was somewhat lacking, and coined the word "Protoculture" as a similar term.
Episode 11 "First Contact"
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Topics—The Lyricist Of "My Boyfriend's A Pilot"
The name Asaga Akane, which is credited as the lyricist of all of the songs in the TV version of "Macross", including "My Boyfriend's A Pilot"—which Minmei first introduced in this episode—is really the shared pen-name of the staff. Concerning "My Boyfriend's A Pilot", the lyrics were actually written by the producer, Iwata Hiroshi. In an interview at the time concerning the song lyrics, Iwata answered: "it is difficult to explain an image for the song and its detailed setting if you place an order with someone. That being the case, we concluded that we should produce it ourselves." According to the same interview, the title of this song was picked up from Asaoka Megumi's hit song "My Boyfriend's Left-handed", and that its lyrics were completed in about 10 minutes (only the lyrics at the time of its first broadcast).
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Preview of the Next Episode
Hikaru, Misa, Max, and Kakizaki plan an escape to pass along to their allies the valuable information that they obtained in the Zentrādi Fleet Flagship. However, in the middle of the large enemy fleet—whose location in space they aren't even sure of—their hopes of being able to return to the Macross are next to zero. Next time, "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross", "Big Escape".