Episode 17: Phantasm
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
On air date: 1983.02.07
Story
(translation pending)
Staff
(translation pending)
Commentary
This episode is a re-edited one that was produced mainly based on episodes 1, 2, 4–7, 9–12 and other footage, with some new shots added (all the dialogue is newly recorded for this episode). It is composed of various previous scenes jumbled together without any connection as a dream that Hikaru sees. The last scene, where the partner that Hikaru kisses changes from Minmei to Misa, suggests that Hikaru's heart is gradually leaning toward Misa. It should be noted that there is no script for this episode, and its production was carried out based on the storyboards created by Shōji Kawamori (named Eiji Kurokawa). According to Kawamori's recollections, he was thinking about new lines to use with existing footage in the two weeks before its broadcast. Kawamori recalls that such work "was fun" and it seems to have been well received from the reaction of the viewers. On the other hand, Kawamori also said, "I don't want this to happen any more"—suggesting that there were great difficulties at the production site.
Cast
(translation pending)
Song
"My Boyfriend's A Pilot" Lynn Minmei (Mari Ījima)
"Macross" (Makoto Fujiwara)
Title Unknown Lynn Minmei (Mari Ījima)
"0-G Love" Lynn Minmei (IMari Ījima)
"Cinderella" Lynn Minmei (Mari Ījima)
※ The Title Unknown song is the a capella song that the captive Minmei sang at Buritai (Kaifun), at the start of the B part.
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
Mechanic
Macross /
(N,A) 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
VF-1D /
VF-1J (general craft) /
Cat's Eye /
[Jināru] Fighter Pod /
Fan Racer
N: Normal, S: Super Valkyrie, A: Armoured Valkyrie
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Topics—The Surrealistic Rendering Unique to Dreams
Surrealistic choreography with an atmosphere that differs from the usual one frequently appears in this episode, which depicts the dream world that Hikaru sees. According to Shōji Kawamori, the mocking laughter of people pours onto the shot-down Hikaru, to "boldly connect the scenes without using new shots, which were limited." Also, Kawamori borrowed the dream scene with "the hero riding a flying bicycle"—originally planned to appear in the rejected "Space Palace Dockingham" project—in the sequence where Hikaru rides a bicycle toward the Moon in the middle of this episode. It's said that the "Dockingham" project was developed even earlier than "Macross". However, it didn't materialize due to the release of "E.T.", which has a scene where bicycles fly in the air.
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Episode 17 "Phantasm"
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Topics—Was It Really Her Debut Song? "O-G Love"
Minmei's new song "0-G Love"—which plays in the scene where Hikaru escapes with Minmei—first appears in this episode. The song was made by audio recording director Yasunori Honda and others (credited to the joint pen name "Asa Akane") and was originally supposed to be Minmei's debut song. However, rumour has it that for various reasons the debut song was assigned to "My Boyfriend's A Pilot". Incidentally, there are traces that "0-G Love" was Minmei's debut song on the "Macross" soundtracks that were sold at the time, where it was recorded in the order of "O-G Love" on Vol. 1, and "My Boyfriend's A Pilot" on Vol. 2.
[Captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
[More captions and quotes from the episode (translation pending)]
Preview of the Next Episode
Hikaru Ichijō still isn't able to return to the battle lines. Meanwhile, the Quadoran Rō squadron that Miria commands launches an attack. However, her objective isn't the Macross, it's Max! Next time, "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross", "Pineapple Salad".