Macross

Macross is a major Japanese science fiction media franchise. It centers on a mecha anime universe involving humans and humanoid aliens.

The series features a fictional history of Earth and the Milky Way galaxy. It began in 1982 through a collaboration between Studio Nue and Artland. Shōji Kawamori served as a prominent designer, writer, and producer for the franchise. The franchise is massive, containing four TV series and nine movies. It also includes six OVAs, various manga, and light novels. There are even 40 video games set within this universe.

In the series, the term Macross refers to a main capital ship. This concept started with the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Much of the technology in this world comes from "Overtech." This term describes scientific advances found in an alien starship called ASS-1. After this ship crashed on South Ataria island, humans began reverse engineering it. This process led to the creation of advanced mecha and faster-than-light space fold drives. These technologies define how characters move and fight throughout the timeline.

The name Macross has a unique origin involving a compromise. The original project was called Battle City Megarōdo. This name had a double meaning in Japanese. "Megaload" referred to a spacecraft containing an entire city. "Megaroad" referred to the long journey through space back to Earth. However, a sponsor named Big West Advertising wanted a name inspired by Shakespeare. They suggested a name similar to Macbeth. The final name, Macross, uses the prefix "macro" to suggest massive size. It also hints at the vast distances traveled in space.

One of the most iconic elements is the variable fighter. These are transformable aerospace fighters designed by Shōji Kawamori and Kazutaka Miyatake. The most famous model was the VF-1, known as the "Valkyrie." These machines can change into three distinct modes. They can function as a jet or space fighter. They can transform into a humanoid robot called a Battroid. They can also take a hybrid form called Gerwalk. Gerwalk stands for Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-joint.

Space travel is made possible through a process called space folding. This allows for nearly instantaneous travel across ultra-long distances. A spacecraft performs a "fold in" to enter super dimension space. The ship swaps its location with this subspace. It then performs a "defold" or "fold out" to arrive at its destination. During Space War I, which lasted from 2009 to 2012, time moved differently in this space. One hour in super dimension space equaled approximately ten days in normal space. However, folding has limits. The energy required increases geometrically with the mass of the object. This prevents very large objects from folding easily across vast distances.

Music is a central pillar of the Macross experience. It is not just background noise; it is integral to the plot. Music idols often play leading roles in the stories. For example, the character Lynn Minmay is a very notable idol. In many series, music actually influences the behavior of antagonists. Some stories even show how music and culture can resolve conflicts. In the series Macross Delta, singing idols work alongside Valkyrie fighters. They attempt to stop the spread of a rage virus in a star system.

The franchise also explores a deep, ancient history involving the Protoculture. This was an advanced humanoid race that lived 500,000 years ago. They created an Interstellar Republic that covered much of the Milky Way. This civilization began its expansion 498,000 years ago. The Protoculture are credited with creating both the Zentradi and Homo sapiens. They used genetic engineering to create humans as a "sub-Protoculture" race. This was intended to prepare Earth for future colonization. This complex history connects the modern human era to ancient galactic events.

The military aspect of the series involves the U.N. Spacy. This is a fictional space military arm of the United Nations. The term "Spacy" is a portmanteau of "Space" and "Army" or "Navy." It was established to defend Earth from hostile aliens. The U.N. Spacy fought Space War I against the Zentradi race. Later, its role expanded to include interstellar colonization and peacekeeping. While other series like Gundam focus on the political horrors of war, Macross focuses on how individuals cope. It emphasizes that love and culture can bridge the gap between enemies.