FIF#236-Super Dimension Century Orguss

2062. The World finds itself caught up in  a civil war over the planets energy supplying space elevator.  During a pivotal battle, a forbidden weapon is used, with pilot Kei Katsuragi caught in its blast.  Instead of dying, Kei is propelled years into the future where everything has changed.  Kei’s arrival is detected by two feuding factions, both with their own interests in Kei and his Bronco II fighter.  With no way to return home, Kei sides with a group of peaceful traders as he fends off their foes and tries to figure out why his presence is so important to the future of Planet Earth.

 
Contrary to popular belief, including my own, of the three 80s Anime under the “Super Dimension” umbrella, only Macross and Southern Cross were chosen to become part of Robotech alongside Genesis Climber Mospeda.  The middle chapter of that unconnected trilogy, Super Dimension Century Orguss, was apparently never considered despite having several of the elements that helped make Robotech the legend it is today (for better or worse).  So how come Orguss was left out of the bunch?  Might it have something to do with that weird alien horse thingy…cause I’m kind of leaning that way myself.
 
Coming out in 1983, just a year after the launch of Macross, Orguss looks the closest to its predecessor compared to the pretty ugly looking Southern Cross.  I had to look up information to see if it wasn’t held my Shoji Kawamori too, it is not.  The planes don’t look as sleek or bad ass as the Macross Valkyrie’s but I could see them as a “Proto Valkryie”.  Yeah the first half of the first episode could’ve been used as the premise for a special Robotech prequel episode showing some of the conflict in the World War that preceeded the Zentradi Invasion.  Main character Kei even looks like he could be related to Hikaru Ichigo or Maximillian Jenius. 
 
However, I think the reason Orguss didn’t make it into the Robotech pantheon is because of the back half of the premiere which sets up the main plot of the series.  Jumping into the future is a novel idea and the mecha still share that transformable DNA from Macross, albeit without the Battleoid mode though that could come in later.  It’s a future filled with cute girls who don’t seem the most combat profifient…oh and there’s some kind of Alien Horse who can talk.  At first glance, it’s kind of nightmare fuel, Kei’s reaction is on par with what mine would be.  It’s kind of a bizarre leap from the super gigantic Zentradi to the more alien looking whatever the heck that thing is.  Chances are it would have been a hard sell for Robotech fans.
 

Robotech comparisons aside, Orguss has an interesting premise and a fun premiere.  It’s no Macross but it sure as heck superior to Southern Cross.  Might be worth looking into another episode or two to get a feel for whether or not I think this is a neglected classic, overshadowed by its vastly more popular brethren, or hits it high points too early on and gets worse the more it goes on.  Just gotta get used to whatever that horse…alien…summary says it’s a Dragon?  WHAT IS THAT FREAKING THING!!!!???

Ahem anyway, with that First Impression Friday is taking it usual couple month long break so I can work on other things for the summer.  But the 10^th Season will resume right after Otakon in August, capping off later this year with its 250^th episode, right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.