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.
 
Let’s start with the animation.  Studio Nue is handling the production of Macross Frontier and that’s a bit of a no brainier choice considering they also worked on Macross Zero.  Zero has it’s problems but when it comes to the mecha action and aerial dogfights, they raised the whole damn bar with that OVA.  Macross F’s action sequences actually look on par with Zero’s and it’s good to see Valkyries quick changing, zipping all over the star map with trails of light behind them, and looking like they have always meant to since the original Macross.  While there isnt anything as stand out as say Roy Focker’s first step by step transformation sequence from Macross Zero, Frontier quickly answers the call for bigger and more intense action.  Cudos to the Vajra designs too, Nue giving them a nice hybrid of Alien fighter and Kaiju making them stand out from previous Macross antagonists and terrifying foes for the new fighters of the Frontier. 
 
Onto the characters.  We’re back to having a more large ensemble with a core love triangle trio at the center.  Alto, Sheryl and Ranka are all stand outs and a very different trio from OG Macross’ Hikaru, Misa and Minmei or Macross Plus’ Isamu, Gould and Myung.  For one thing, both Sheryl and Ranka are musicians and sure to have more of a rivalry down the line as Ranka’s music career begins.  Sheryl might be one of the most drop dead gorgeous characters in all of Macross (like a far off future Taylor Swift) but Ranka steals the show more times than she does with her honest cuteness and nervousness that makes you want to root for her.  As for Alto, if I were to make a Gundam comparison, if Hikaru was Amuro Ray, Alto feels more in line with Zeta Gundam’s Kamile Bidan (WHO LOOKS LIKE A GIRL?!!!).  He’s angsty and a bit jaded and sensitive about his feminine looks and hailing from a long line of Kabuki performers.  He’s got a chip on his shoulder but I do like Alto slowly warming up to Ranka and wanting to protect her and the citizens of the Macross by joining the SMS.  He’s already showing more growth than a certain someone from another show I’m not gonna talk about right now.  What’s more surprising is that Alto has solid and likeable chemistry with both Sheryl and Ranka.  For the first time, I don’t feel like there’s a right answer to this love triangle…that’s awesome.
 
I think one of the reasons Macross 7 struggled as much as it did was because franchise creator Shoji Kawamori wasn’t in the Directors Chair (probably was working on Escaflowne around the same time).  Having him back only amplifies the potential success for Frontier.  There’s already an instant draw to the mystery of the Vajra and why they’re very interested in Ranka.  You also get a lot more detailed insight into how the Frontier works as a galactic community.  One of the best moments in the first five episodes is the cast visiting a Zentradi dome where Giants and normal sized being mingle together like it’s the way its always been.  You’ve even got Zentradi working with both the Macross military and SMS, the most notable being Captain Klang, a giant blue haired Goddess of a Zentradi…who gets turned into a kid when Miclone-ized, it’s pretty funny.  Couple that with more natural and fun moments with more of the cast from Alto with Sheryl and Ranka to Ranka and our Roy Focker stand in, Ozum, to Alto being constantly teased by his teammates Michel and Luka, and you’ve got a series that feels like a natural continuation for Macross straight from Macross Plus without missing anything from 7.
 
Speaking of Macross Plus, Yoko Kanno is back doing the music for another Kawamori production and MMMMMMPHHH!!  Damn this woman knows how to make an orchestra produce the sweetest and most epic sounds for any kind of action scene.  It’s not quite on the level of Macross Plus or Escaflowne but it’s still Yoko Kanno and all of her work is top tier.  What really steals the show is the music from Sheryl and Ranka.  Both have beautiful voices and amazing songs.  Sheryls more the show woman with boundless sex appeal and stage presence while Ranka uses her words and lyrics to her advantage while she feels like she lacks the physical presence of her upperclassmen.  And I’m sorry, I have to say it, but the music of Macross Frontier is already better than Macross 7’s.  7 had good music for sure but the same damn song was played on endless repeat every episode.  Frontier has at least one new song from either Sheryl or Ranka in each of the first five episodes and they all sound so much better than Basara. 
 
I’ll close out the review with my negatives.  While the show is off to an amazing start, it does seem to be leaning a bit too hard into classic Macross tropes and moments from the original series.  Alto saving Ranka mid flight during the opening battle, the Miss Macross contest that Alto has to miss, & Alto being trapped in the bowels of the Frontier with Ranka and Sheryl, there’s plenty in the dialogue and, of course, the characters present to stand out but sometimes they might be a bit too on the nose with their references.  Also, and this is me being petty, but I almost lost my mind when “Totsugeki Love Heart” came on Ozuma’s radio.  Like “SERIOUSLY, KEEP THAT MACROSS 7 S*** OUT OF MY NEW MACROSS SHOW, WE’RE PAST THAT NOW!!!”  Ahem not that I feel strongly about it or anything but I get the feeling that as nice as it is to hear Ranka sing “My Boyfriend is a Pilot”, the songs of Fire Bomber might rear their ugly head here and there…why?
 
After all the misery Macross 7 put me through, Macross Frontier’s premiere is a back to basics Macross opener with a few nods to the greatest hits while also charting a new course with new ideas, bigger action and a cast of characters I’m already getting a good feel for.  I know it’s still early on but this feels like a proper Macross sequel that’s taking everything that made the OG work and taking it to a whole other level…maybe not Macross Plus levels but that’s a pretty high bar.  Is there a chance Macross Frontier could match that bar, or just get really close?  We’ll be gathering evidence to answer that question all month long.  See ya Next Monday for more Macross Frontier, right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.