Macross Frontier Part 5 Episodes 21-25

Chaos engulfs the Frontier Fleet as Leon’s coup d’etat begins during a devastating Vajra invasion.  Having lost Michel and with Ranka in enemy hands, Alto must pull himself together to retake the fleet and finish the fight.  Sheryl must also contend with an uncertain fate and play her part in the battle to come.  The hearts and souls of Alto, Sheryl and Ranka are the last chance Humanity has at a peaceful end to this war and to make the ones who started it pay for it as the Macross Frontier reaches its journeys end.

There were moments during these final five episodes of Macross Frontier where I felt the show was stumbling at the finish line.  In fact while I have had my gripes here and there, most of my overall complaints for the story fell in maybe 2-2.5 episodes of content.  Thankfully, Macross Frontier isnt Macross 7 and actually manages to overcome these hurdles to produce a pretty kick ass finale that definitely saved the best action, music and character moments for last.
 

FIF#244-Gad Guard

In the future, Earth resources have almost totally run out and Humanity is in a state of stagnation.  Hajiki Sanada is a child of the new world, barely making ends meet with his family in one of the lowest dumps of Unit 74.  Everything changes when a delivery gone awry causes Hajiki to end up with a special piece of tech called a GAD.  In an instant, a new breed of robot, the Iron Giant, is born.  Now Hajiki is being targeted by everyone wanting to get their hands on this mech.  Luckily, he’s not the only one with a Robot like this and soon Hajiki finds the world around him changing as fast as his ever evolving mecha.

 
Today’s FIF entry comes as a request from a friend and we’re heading back to the early 2000s where Digipaint Anime reigned supreme.  Not only that but Gad Guard feels like a series trying to sort out a bit of an identity crisis.  It’s scifi/mecha/dystopia for sure but the more I watched the first episode the more I found it was trying to do a lot with its first 23 minutes of run time.  In fact, to me, there’s a lot going on but none of it is interesting.  Hopefully my friendship with this friend remains intact after this one.
 

T5W#528-Top 5 Anime Supergirls

Yesterday marked the 66^th Anniversary of the debut of one of my all time favorite superheroines: Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl.  While the Girl of Steel has had a pretty healthy life in comics, TV and film, her popularity is on the rise once more as Mily Alcock takes on the cape and costume in James Gunn’s DC Universe, having made a surprise cameo appearance at the end of the new Superman movie in the lead up to her solo film adventure next year.  Now Anime is no stranger to beautiful, costume clad power houses who can punch holes through mountains but how many of them are on the same level as Supergirl herself?  It was an interesting question I asked myself and decided to use it as the basis of today’s Top 5 Wednesday as I pick out the Top 5 Anime Supergirls.  Couple of ground rules first: 1. No Magical Girls, Supergirls powers are biology based for the most part though augmented humans can be applicable (also Sailor Moon would hands down win).  2. All applicants can at least fly, have super strength or possess extreme durability.  Much like Superboy in some iterations, not every Supergirl has the same power set so I’m flexible in terms of what these ladies can do.  With that in mind, onto the Top 5.

Macross Frontier Part 4 Episodes 16-20

With her music proving effective against the Vajra, Ranka finds herself on an even higher pedestal as she’s hailed the next Lynn Minmei.  Meanwhile, Alto deals with the revelation of the importance of the Vajra to the fleet while Sheryl receives ominous news from someone she thought she could trust.  While it looks like the Frontier Fleet could be in the clear, theyre anything but as a ship wide conspiracy prepares its own endgame, just as the Vajra close in for a final confrontation.

This weeks penultimate set of Macross Frontier episodes breezed along at a nice, steady pace but did hit some turbulence here and there and some of that involves problems I’ve had with a couple of things up until this point.  Luckily, when it comes to the action and the core trio of the show, the show is as reliable as ever and man did Alto, Sheryl and Ranka get put through an emotional ringer, putting them all in prime, important positions for the finale.  Let’s get into what worked and what didn’t work about arguably the most important chapter of Macross Frontier thus far.
 

FIF#243-Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective

At the Tenikai General Hospital, the lives of dozens hang in the balance daily.  For Doctor Ameku Takao, most of those cases can be solved in seconds.  It’s the more mysterious illnesses with no clear cure or answer that really intrigue her.  Together with her hand chosen staff, Ameku leads the Investigative Pathology unit, using unpredictable and unorthodox methods to solve mysteries and maybe save a few lives in the process.

 
Maybe it’s my immense love for Apothecary Diaries but when a random title comes across my feed about a Doctor who (no pun intended) happens to be a cutie, it might merit a first episode peak.  Unlike Apothecary Diaries though, Ameku MD is a modern day medical drama featuring a main character who bears a very, let’s just say uncomfortable resemblance to another infamously beloved Anime menace.  And lets just say by the end of the first episode, I’m not sure I’d trust this Doctor Detective with my life much less anyone elses.
 

T5W#527-Top 5 Anime that could do well in the US after Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Part 1)

Well would you look at that.  Demon Slayer didn’t just meet my expectations from last week, it surpassed them.  Ok maybe thinking an opening north of $100 Million might’ve been a little far reaching but still it kicked ass at the US Box Office this past weekend, opening to the tune or $70 Million, more than doubling the opening weekend gross of Pokemon: The First Movie back in 1999.  Considering it clobbered hit holdovers like The Conjuring: Last Rites as well as two new releases: Downton Abby: The Grand Finale and The Long Walk, Demon Slayers runaway success might mean Anime is on the verge of a more mainstream spotlight compared to previous years…or Demon Slayer is just as big a title as Dragon Ball Z that it’s name alone will put butts in seats so again, might be reaching.  But the year isnt over yet.  And while I don’t think any of these picks for todays Top 5 Wednesday will do nearly the business Demon Slayer did this weekend, interest might be high enough to leave a little more than a simple one weekend only showing mark on the industry.  These are the Top 5 Anime that could do well in the US after Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Part 1).

Macross Frontier Part 3 Episodes 11-15

When Sheryl’s trip to the planet Galia 4 for a concert for disgruntled Zentradi results in an uprising, it’s only the beginning of a larger conflict to come.  Buried on Galia 4 are long lost secrets that some will go to destructive lengths to keep buried.  The Frontier Fleet finds itself in a dire battle with the Vajra while Alto must push himself to the limits to save a captured Ranka.  And as Ranka’s musical star rises, is Sheryl’s star destined to fade away?

The midpoint of Macross Frontier sure dials up everything to whatever your most sophisticated threat level you can name might be.  Epic battles, major revelations (or at least further steps towards a few) and some amazing music once again coalesce to form a solid change in direction for just about every aspect of this series from the threat of the Vajra to how our heroes (and their shady would be allies) are dealing with them.  Oh and we got some good ties back to OG Macross once more that might’ve been one of my favorite parts of the series so far.
 

FIF#242-Sakamoto Days

Taro Sakamoto runs a nice little Convenience Store in the suburbs of Tokyo.  He’s married, has a beautiful daughter and is beloved by his community.  Only a handful of people know the truth: Sakamoto used to be the most feared and dangerous hitman alive…until he met the love of his life and decided just to give it all up.  Said old life isnt done with Sakamoto yet but just because he’s quit the game, gained a few pounds and settled down, doesn’t mean Sakamoto hasn’t lost any of his edge.  On the contrary, he’s still the most dangerous man alive, he’s just got a new profession you might not want to take him away from.

 
This one comes highly recommended from many in my Anime circles and two things come to mind when I heard the premise of Sakamoto Days: 1. This is like “What if John Wick had a semi happy ending” and 2. Isnt this Way of the House Husband?”  And…yeah it can be argued Sakamoto Days is both of these things but also different enough to stand apart and yet still be fun on its own merits.  Don’t let the grocery shop clerk who has the head of a gerbil fool you, this is a potentially awesome show.
 

T5W#526-Top 5 Reasons Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Part 1) Could Top the US Box Office This Weekend

Well folks, the wait is almost over.  This Friday, after months of hype and anticipation, Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba): The Movie-Infinity Castle (Part 1-Akuza Returns) makes landfall in the US.  Demon Slayer has become one of the biggest and most commercially successful Anime hits worldwide and fans have been eagerly awaiting the launch of this new, non preview film for well over a year since the end of the Hashira Training Arc.  In fact, I dare say the anticipation is so high that it’s possible the first chapter of the Demon Slayer Finale could do some serious business at the US Box Office this weekend…maybe even secure the #1 spot?  It’s not impossible, in fact it has been done before.  How do I think this is a real possibility?  Well that’s what we’re looking at on Todays Top 5 Wednesday as I count down my Top 5 Reasons Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Part 1) Could Top the US Box Office This Weekend.

 

Macross Frontier Part 2 Episodes 6-10

As Alto completes his training and officially joins the ranks of the SMS, the Frontier receives an SOS from the Macross Galaxy fleet.  Alto and his teammates fly into the face of danger itself as they face a horde of Vajra, leading to a very close and personal encounter.  Meanwhile, Ranka’s burgeoning singing career begins to take off while Sheryls finds her fate uncertain after her home fleets attack.  As the fleet becomes fully aware of the enemy they now face, Alto, Sheryl and Ranka’s relationship continues to grow both stronger and more confusing, especially when the three find themselves on a film project detailing the events of a long lost conflict just before the Zentradi War.

I said it plenty of times last week and I mean it now more than ever, it is soooooo good to be watching a properly done Macross sequel.  Guess that also means that last weeks premiere wasn’t a fluke as Week Two ups the stakes, delves deeper into some of the supporting cast, and even adds a couple of new layers to the mystery of the Vajra.  Heck we even got a surprise return to Macross Zero of all things…and kinda made me wish Macross Zero had Alto and Ranka as the main characters there as well.  Still, wouldn’t say everything was perfect this week but we’ll get to those negatives after some positives, let’s go.
 

FIF#241-Moonrise

Jacob “Jack” Shadow’s carefree life on Earth comes to a cataclysmic halt when a group of rebels on the Moon send an orbital elevator crashing into Los Angeles.  What’s more, the authorities think that Jack somehow had a hand to play in this terrorist act.  In order to prove his innocence, Jack volunteers to join a secret squad of soldiers made up of Los Angeles survivors, and his closest friends, to travel to the Moon, in the middle of an all out war with the Earth, to terminate the leader of this chaos: Bob Skylum.  Along the way, Jack must confront his distorted past as he may be the only hope to ending this war once and for all.

 
Moonrise seemingly came out of nowhere onto Netflix and, from the trailer at least, looking like an exciting new scifi action Anime set on the Moon with some promise.  Ngl after the first episode, I’m somehow not surprised this one hasn’t made waves in the community.  Even with a powerhouse studio like Wit (Attack on Titan) and Tow Ubakata (Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Psycho Pass 3) writing, Moonrise’s premiere instantly fails when it comes to setting up the main conflict or giving us a reason to care about its main characters.  In short, it’s kind of a mess and here’s why.
 

T5W#525-Top 5 Anime Items I’ve Gotten from Collectors Corner

Last week, I went to Collector’s Corner in Parkville only to find the store closed and flowers at the front door.  After a week of understandable silence, it was confirmed that the owner, Randy had passed away.  I didn’t know Randy as well as other friends in our shared circles but everytime I came into Collector’s Corner and he was there, he was a huge help with just about everything you needed from purchase suggestions to a nice friendly nerd chat.  Being the big Anime fan and Gunpla Builder I am, we shared one or two conversations and really, some of the items I have in my own collection wouldn’t be here without his help.  Randy’s a guy I wish I got to know better outside of the store and it is with that in mind that I dedicate todays Top 5 Wednesday to him and Collector’s Corner as they continue the legacy he created that is in the best of hands of his amazing staff of friends.  Both of their locations in Parkville and Bel Air should be open once again so please take the time to pay them a visit and support however you can.  With all that said, let’s get into the Top 5 Anime Items I’ve Gotten from Collector’s Corner.

 

Macross Frontier Part 1 Episodes 1-5

2059 AD.  Fifty years have passed since the war with the Zentradi and Mankind’s expansion into space continues.  En route to the Galactic Core, The 25^th Large Scale Emigration Fleet, the Macross Frontier, encounters a powerful enemy, the Vajra.  During the first skirmish, civilian turned pilot Alto Saotome meets legendary pop idol Sheryl Nome and would be idol dreamer Ranka Lee.  Once more, the fates of the stars entwine themselves around three chosen youths whos dreams and aspirations will be tested by unknown challenges and terrors that will usher Humans and Zentradi into a whole new frontier.

After Macross 7 nearly took me out back in July, I needed a break to recharge and decompress (hence swapping Frontier for Patlabor plus Patlabor was shorter and could evenly fill the other August slots).  Seriously the frustrations with that 49 episode travesty is enough to make anyone want to quit reviewing Anime.  Thankfully, Macross Frontier looks to have learned from its TV predecessors numerous mistakes, or at least it has for the Premiere cause these first five episodes are a glorious return to what makes Macross, Macross.  No more self absorbed rock and rollers.  No more Aliens who love listening to the sound of their own voices.  Best of all, no more characters who don’t take the situation as seriously as it presently itself.  It speaks volumes that I’m praising Macross Frontier this much right out the gate…but that should also be a nice reminder of how f’ing awful Macross 7 was.  Also, I’m gonna try and limit my “This is why Macross F is better than Macross 7” comments so I can gauge Frontier on its own (plus that’s what I have Top 5 Wednesdays for).  Anyway, let’s head back into the Danger Zone and see just how much Macross Frontier fixes from prior entries and looks set to blaze a trail worthy of it’s 80s granddaddy genre giant.