Episode 15: Chinatown
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
On air date: 1983.01.23
Story
(translation pending)
Staff
(translation pending)
Commentary
This episode has the first clear depiction of the Earth Unified Forces, an organization that has the Macross, with Lynn Kaifun appearing in the series for the first time. It has been a long time since the 4th episode where there's an episode without fighting. Conversely, the episode depicts the state of the Alaska Earth Unified Forces Base, and the sights of Yokohama. This episode introduces the Grand Cannon—the Earth's trump card that will be used in the 27th episode. However, what is impressive is the depiction of Admiral Hayase. If one looks at such things as his anecdotes of the Unification War period and his personal letters to his daughter, they can see that he is a good individual. However, the fact that even such a person has to take a hard-headed position withing a huge military organization makes the critical situation of the Earth Unified Forces even more striking.
Cast
(translation pending)
Song
N/A
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
Maistrof / Town Council Chairman / Minmei's Manager / Minmei's Father / Minmei's Mother / Hayase Takashi / Unified Forces High Official
Mechanic
Macross / 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
Fan Racer /
VF-1A (Unified Forces Headquarters Specification) /
VC-33 /
VC-27
N: Normal, S: Super Valkyrie, A: Armoured Valkyrie
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Topics—The Production Of The 2nd "Macross" Soundtrack
On Jan. 19, just before the broadcast of this episode, Mari Ījima, who plays Minmei, recorded the songs included in the soundtrack "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross Vol. II". That record was planned in response to "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross" being a hit—it was released in the previous month on Dec. 15. According to anime magazines at the time, as Ījima recorded the song "Gentle Goodbye", Ījima said that she had a premonition that Minmei would break up with Hikaru in the end.
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Episode 15 "Chinatown"
[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 Holy Land Of Macross: Yokohama
Yokohama, where Minmei's parents' house is, seems to have been chosen as a familiar location, because it's where Shōji Kawamori's parents' home is, and it's also the location of Keio Senior High School—the school that Kawamori, Mikimoto and the others attended. Incidentally, as the narration at the start of the 16th episode says, "Hikaru and Minmei received special permission from Captain Global to visit Minmei's parents in Japan," it seems that Minmei's visit to her parents in this episode was a fairly special measure.
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Preview of the Next Episode
Minmei's cousin, Lynn Kaifun, returned home after been transferred to the Macross. Thus, this one-of-a-kind passenger will create new ripples not only for Hikaru, but also within the Macross. Next time, "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross", "Kung-fu Dandy".