| Sketchley's Translations Main Index | Macross Portal |
| By AARON SKETCHLEY (aaronsketch@HOTdelete_thisMAIL.com) | Ver 1.0 2013.04.16 |
| Plus 02A: Macross Plus "Episode 2" |
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Story
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Commentary
As understood from "Sharon Apple's" concert scenes that became the opening of the second episode, this series used computer graphics and cell anime as part of the production. The introduction of CG into an animated production was novel at the time, and the world of virtual reality was vividly impressed on the user. Also, this fantastic concert production with bewildering variation was inherited into the concert scenes of "Macross F", which was published 13 years later.
In addition, one of the greatest features of Macross Plus is the adult scenario which hadn't appeared in any of the series so far, such as setting the ages of the main characters raised to the mid-20's, and the drama of the emotions of two men over one woman. The screenplay writer, Nobumoto Keiko, handled a number of trendy dramas that built an era at the time, and established a new world view by dropping these dramatic elements into an animated production. It's possible to say that her sublime achievements are great as Macross Plus was the first anime to take in trendy dramatic scenarios, whose specialities were on the spot filming and special effects.
Staff
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Cast
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Song
"Santi-U" Sharon Apple (Gabriela Robin)
"Idol Talk" Sharon Apple (Arai Akino)
"My Boyfriend's a Pilot" Kate (Takano Urara) from "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross"
* "My Boyfriend's a Pilot" is the tune that Kate sings as karaoke in the middle of the episode.
Characters and Mechanic that appear
Note: items that appear are in colour with a yellow background; (y) in the following. Items that don't appear are black and white.
Character
(y) Isamu Dyson / (y) Guld Goa Bowman
(y) Myung fang Lone / (y) Millard Johnson / (y) Jan Newman
(y) Lucy MacMillan / (y) Marge Guldoa / (y) Sharon Apple
(y) Kate Matthau / (y) Morgan Matthau / (y) Kate's children / (y) Dr. Werth
Mechanic
(y,N/S) YF-19 / (y,N) YF-21
(y/N) VF-11B, Ghost X-9, Macross
(y) Monster, (y) VF-1J, (y) 8-Engine All-Wing Giant (Person) Bomber, (y) Battle Suit
N: Normal, S: equipped with FAST packs or Super Parts.
Topics: The Pioneering Virtual Idol
Although it has certainly become typical now, we wonder whether or not the "Sharon Apple" in this series was the first to have taken up the concept of a virtual idol. The "Macross" series also invented her, and it could be said that new values are lined up in her songs.
Topics: Itano's Direction which Evolved Based on Actual Observations
When this series was produced, speciality director Itano Ichiro went over to America with General Director Kawamori and experienced a mock dog fight. In order to experience the extreme situations of pilots, the instructor operated the aircraft with the control column in overdone angles without notice, and they tasted blackouts and loss of consciousness (G-LOC). That experience led to the real depiction of dog fights in this series.
Next
Episode 3