| |
Studio : Satelight
Also involved: Big West
Length : 25 Episodes
Year : 2008
Genre : Military - Action - Science-Fiction - Mecha - Drama
Synopsis :
It has been over 40 years since the war against the Zentradi. Since then, Humanity has expanded its domains further into the galaxy, attempting to spread its culture throughout the stars,
The Macross Frontier Colonization Fleet is part of this effort. Among its civilian population are Ranka, a bubbly and cheerful girl who works at a Chinese restaurant, and Alto, a stern pilot trainee exasperated with his life and by the fact that he is frequently teased for his natural good looks. They meet each other thanks to a performance by Sheryl, the famous "Galactic Fairy"; stunning, beautiful, and with the voice of an angel, who also meets Alto during her concert.
Unfortunately, not all is peace for the Macross Frontier; as it is under attack by the powerful and mysterious Vajra aliens. With its peaceful voyage interrupted by this conflict, the Macross Frontier's fierce fight for survival has just begun.
Additional Notes: A special version of the first episode aired in December 2007, while the series itself (with a different version of episode 1) started its run in April 2008.
Added : 2007-12-25
Synopsis by : Himitsu/leoxjm
Last update : 2009-09-06
Last update details : Modify info
Score : 7.17
Number of reviews : 6
Link(s) :
Official #1 : MBS' Macross Frontier Website Page (Japanese)
Official #2 : Official Macross Frontier Website (Japanese)
Song(s) :
Opening #1 : Maaya Sakamoto - Triangler
Opening #2 : Megumi Nakajima - Seikan Hikou
Opening #3 : May'n & Megumi Nakajima - Lion
Ending #1 : Megumi Nakajima - Ai, Oboete Imasu ka
Ending #2 : Megumi Nakajima - Aimo
Ending #3 : Sheryl Nome starring May’n / May Nakabayashi - Diamond Crevasse
Ending #4 : Megumi Nakajima - Neko Nikki
Ending #5 : May'n - Northern Cross
Ending #6 : Maaya Sakamoto - Triangler
Ending #7 : Megumi Nakajima - Ao no Ether
Ending #8 : May'n & Megumi Nakajima - Triangler (fight on stage ver.)
Release(s) :
2010-08-31 -- Episode(s) 2-4 by Central Anime. BT Link
2010-08-29 -- Episode(s) 5-6 by Central Anime. BT Link
2010-08-29 -- Episode(s) 5-6 by Central Anime. BT Link
Found 200+ releases. Click here to [ Find them! ]
Hits : 27994
[ Go Back to Main Page - Go Back - Post review ]
| |
Spot a mistake ? Want to send fresh information ?
[ Message an admin ]
Got a synopsis?
[ Send a synopsis ]
Found the latest episode?
[ Submit a new release ]
|
Posted by : du5k 
Posted on : 2010-02-06 
I knew Macross was always about singing songstress and their pilot boyfriend, but the only Macross I've watched is Macross Zero the movie, which isn't really about songs that gave imba powers or make otherworldly creatures achieve the nirvana state... Which (to what I know) was something like that for the first two series. I thought that this macross idea would die out after a few series, but to my pleasant surprise, Macross Frontier turns out to be really enjoyable... Make me wanna watch "do you remember love?" some time.
Both Ranka Lee and Sheryl Nome are very good character designs that coupled with their songs, gained many real life fans. Like music anime, the character singing and dancing gave the series the tempo that the audience would enjoy... I find this most effective when they keep using it with the action scenes. It's like using the BGM effect, but making it part of the story.
One flaw that I find is that in the latter part the series, they tend to over complicate the story in order to create different angles and sides of the story line to play with. Sometimes it feels like main character Alto does not have a definite personality... And that the choices he made are usually not based off his character design, but how the director wants the story to develop.
Although in the end, it's mostly Alto's relationship with the girls that made the series interesting in the end, not the fate of the colony or the war... Because all the reasoning of the war and action scenes just gets a little tiring after a while. That's where the points are loss for me... They should have just use more Ranka or Sheryl in the latter half of the series.
Plot/Concept: Good
Story Style: Excellent!
Audio/Visual: Very Good
Value: 8
Posted by : Frundock
Posted on : 2009-03-28
Macross Frontier was a nice addition to the Macross Frontier. It definitly felt like the son of Macross Plus. It had everything I could want in a Macross series.
While it featuring solid animation, there were some moment where you could feel a very distinct drop in quality. The CG however, was always top notch, providing very good action sequences.
I also liked the soundtrack, featuring a good mix of original music and a lot of pop music for two of the main characters, creating a very good overall ambiance.
The main flaw would probably be the plotline, which isn't bad, but tends to drag a bit on some non-important issues. It's interresting but once "used" some mini story were completely left unused.
Still, Macross Frontier is a very good watch. It brings a nice sense of conclusion, even using some parts of the Macross Zero OAV from a few years ago. Enjoy!
Posted by : leoxjm
Posted on : 2008-11-22
For the third Macross TV series, I had moderately high hopes for Macross Frontier. It is true that it is still a rather good show and that it outdoes the so-so Macross 7 in just about every conceivable aspect, but is still quite a stretch between that and being a true landmark.
Macross Frontier once again leaps forward in the Macross timeline, this time following the 25th colony fleet, a.k.a Macross Frontier, as it encounters the insectoid Vajra and.. well there's the struggle to survive, although this time the catch is that the Vajra, being pretty much insects, are fundamentally incapable of understanding humans, let alone music. Add to that your typical Macross love triangle and you get Macross Frontier.
Admittedly, I liked the characters in the show. sure, I think alto could have worked his family issues out better than he did throughout the show, but that's relatively minor. That is because, to me, this leading man is far outdone by the leading ladies Ranka and Sheryl. Ranka is your "every girl", full of dreams and hopes who admires the resident superstar and wishes to be famous too, and works her way to her dreams and beyond while displaying an enviable fortitude. Sheryl too is good, even though early on she's pretty much an annoying, high-maintenance superstar who could use some modesty. But anyway, her backstory and eventual development make her quite the colorful character, and I consider her the best character the show has to offer. The secondary and side characters are a good assorted lot, all with their own distinct personalities, even though some (like Nanase or the resident bridge bunnies) don't really do much or get a chance to grow beyond their cookie-cutter personalities.
Sadly, it precisely because of the characters that this series falls short of greatness. In the Macross 7 tradition, Macross Frontier also leaves the character stories open-ended. You never really know what happens to them after the Frontier-Vajra conflict is done.. I mean, there are hints, but no real meat. This is exactly why I found Macross 7 somewhat unsatisfactory, it is truly a shame that Macross Frontier does the same. All that build up, for nothing? And another lesson that Macross 7taught us was not to expect anything from the sequels when it comes to filling the series' gaps. Even so, Macross Frontier does not feel like a complete product. Even if it was meant like that, I really don't think of that as something positive.
Visually, Macross Frontier is largely impressive. The battle animation and mechanical design, as always, are quite impressive, but the show seriously drops the ball more than once when it comes to character animation. The design is oftentimes overly simplified, making the faces look odd with annoying frequency. The parts where the characters are properly animated or at least more on-spec are pretty neat, but the inconsistent quality gets annoying. Even the aforementioned battle scenes are not all what they could be, since the use of stock footage is plentiful and starts from relatively early on. You can only see the same really cool VF blow up or do a flyby so many times before getting sick of it. On the whole, the animation is not bad, but the high quality of some parts really made me wonder why the quality of some others is so relatively low at times.
The one aspect where Macross Frontier doesn't let down is in its music. Now, I have to admit that this will not be the highlight of Yoko Kanno's career, as I certainly liked her work in other series more than in this one, but the quality of the soundtrack remains, in my opinion, above average. But the real treat are the insert songs by May'n (in the case of Sheryl) and Megumi Nakajima (for Ranka). I'm more partial to Shreyl/May'ns music than Ranka's too-bubbly themes, but even the quality of those is good. They are typically complemented by impressive imagery, be it in their concert halls or the battle going simultaneously, so the aesthetic aspect of the show is at times highly impressive. Also, the series' Opeing themes are also among the best I've seen in long time. Maaya Sakamoto's Triangler is quite appropriate in terms of both mood and lyrics, while the May'n/Nakajima duet in Lion is also quite fitting for the series by the point it appears. Once again, the visuals are a treat in both cases. For a medium-length series, Macross Frontier sure has lots of different endings but, given the contexts they are used in, that is actually a good thing.
The storyline is good in general terms and comes with a kickass finale, but the unfinished businesses between the main characters is something that really detracts from the impact the show makes at the end. That plus the inconsistent animation quality drop the show " moderately good" when considered as a whole. I don't give it a 7 because of the high regard I have for its music, even though most of the time the show really does feel like that would be the fairer score. Especially by the end. Really recommended for fans of the Macross franchise, because in my opinion Macross Frontier is not going to get many new fans.
Posted by : kevinchaosvs
Posted on : 2008-11-21
Story/Dev:75%
To begin with, I’m new to the Macross verse, so I’ll just review Frontier as a series on its own, without comparison or references to the other Macross series. With that said, the story sure is rather simple, when compared to the other current mecha such as Eureka 7, Gundam series or maybe even Code Geass, but that’s what I like about it. Macross Frontier is pretty much the very definition of the good ol’ classic sci-fi flicks: aliens, star-trek-ish settings, travelling through space and different planets and such – the sort of sci-fi elements which I found that is not very common in current mecha anime. Indeed, Macross Frontier sure brings back the nostalgia of watching classic sci-fi. In addition to being new to the Macross verse, I’m also only a casual Gundam fan, not that well-versed in the Gundam verse, so I can’t make the judgment about originality.
Characters/Dev: 60%
Now the characters on the other hand cause the downfall of the series. The characters' development were rather shallow, particularly the protagonist. Personality wise, nobody in the cast left much impression in me. Rinka and Sheryl are just idols (singers, pop stars whatever you want to call them) which is ironic, because, on one end, that really are their positions in the plot, yet on the end, because of the way the story is done, I just see them as dolls on the stage, rather than proper characters with actual background other than their stage persona. Frontier could have been much better if the series was longer (and maybe have more romance thrown in as well). The greatest pity however, goes to the protagonist himself. His personality was considerably stagnant throughout the series. He just lacks that "resolve"; his character simply lacked the impact to mark his presence as a protagonist.
Animation/Graphics/Design: 90%
This is where Frontier drew in all its fans. One certainly cannot deny that the art quality is one of the finest. The explosions, the smoke, the CG for the mecha… …the quality is simply terrific! I particularly love the way the concert scenes were choreographed – fantastic music matched by all that bright colour foreground and the depth of black space background – truly brought out the essence and hypes of the concert. Throw in the innovative camera angels used: splendid I say, splendid! Though on another note, while the pitfall of Code Geass is that it has too much mecha, I’m lamenting on the fact that Frontier has somewhat too little mecha – but that's just a minor issue.
Music: 80%
I like the songs, particularly the duets between Sheryl and Rinka, especially the 3rd OP. However, I have to say that the BGM variety is rather limited: they were mostly recycling Rinka and Sheryl's songs for the Themes and Inserts. Thankfully, I liked most of the songs so I'll be lenient and not give a low score for this section. Nevertheless, it did give the impression that the production team placed all their efforts on the graphics, compromising on the BGMs. Or that they spent most of their budget on the animation.
Summary:
Macross Frontier gave me the impression that it has more barks than bites. Sure, it's got stunning visuals which are very catchy, appealing and all, but sadly, as mentioned it lacked characters to really make this series memorable. Fans of mecha genre needing a break from those with complex plots, and are looking for some classic good versus bad sci-fi, need not look further: Macross Frontier is worth the watch. Even if the characters were considerably forgettable, the superb visuals will more than make up for it.
Personal overall rating: 78%
A 7/10 bumped up to an 8 for the visuals and sounds.
Posted by : ghostshadow
Posted on : 2008-10-14 
What can I say about this particular anime other than, it needs a new theme song. The story starts off like you would have hoped. Gripping action, a rapidly developing storyline, mechas, aliens insects. Perfect! At least for the first three or so episodes. You get pulled off into some wonderful fantasy world in the future where music cures everything from cancer to poverty. Why? Because it's the future!... Where there is also a need for the human race to have now moved to a small colony of mobile ecosystems. The main character Alto is somehow trapped in a situation where he starts being a helpless student attached to a jetpack glider, and within the blink of an eye, able to pilot some extremely complex exoskeleton system! Though a bit shaky at first, he somehow is able to move it around! It's no Gundam, but it'll do. He then rescues a girl, Ranka Lee! Who at the start is made out to be a lovable little character with not so much as a lone brain cell in that cute head of hers, yet somehow she is fortunate enough to *Throughout the entire series* be saved countless times by Alto, who later becomes a pilot for the military, and his brigade of galaxy pilots! Along the way they also encounter Sheryl, the Britney Spears of the future. She's got everything to begin with, but later, really does turn out like Britney when everything seems to come crashing down. Not on just her, but on every character throughout the series, except for the overly dramatic openly gay pilot of Galaxy. He's just always happy. *Kudos for having a gay anime character in a series censored enough to be put on American television in the near future*.
Throughout the whole 25 some odd episodes, there seems to be a love triangle between Ranka, who only at the end makes up her mind, Sheryl, who was too focused on herself to care about anyone else but her and what the public thinks of her, and Alto, who is naturally *And overly* oblivious to it all! This is where the anime in my opinion takes a bit of a dive. Alto *Who is formerly an actor, who plays female parts*, is not a super human by any standards. He's not the brightest, he's not even that aware half the time. Yet somehow he still remains the central character aside from Ranka and Sheryl. If you're going to have characters that interact with eachother, have some dimension! Give them more than one emotion throughout your series. Alto-confused, Ranka-desperate, Sheryl-stubborn. That's it! That's utterly totally it! Never since Heroic Age have I found a series that has characters that are so one-dimensional. I don't like to tear things apart, but they had less emotion going on than Hiro from Gundam Wing.
Then we get to the plot. The plot is actually alright. Lost travelers looking for home- it's interesting. They have obstacles, great! They have subplots, better! They have a slightly adult subplot; now we're talking! Murder, Adultery, Sin with a capital S! And then there was the backstabbing and the deceit between Sheryl and her caretaker Grace, who has got to be a supervillain. Or just a very twisted up cyborg.
Animation! For 2008 I would have expected the same quality. Maybe just a tad bit better, but overall it was very smooth, good camera angles, not a heck of a lot of overlap when it came to using the same footage for battle scenes. *cough, gundam, cough*.
Music...oh music. Something I find very crucial to any series. This has got to be the most horrid soundtrack I've ever heard from any series. The same blasted song you hear at the beginning belted out by Ranka is constantly battering your senses throughout every waking moment of every episode. I didn't take particular notice, but since the song was heard in episide 3 or 4, it played through every single episode at least once, if not twice. And what, I know it's the future, but really, it's not all that great; a song cannot bring millions of people and insect aliens together in harmony. It doesn't happen. And besides, its just plain annoying. Learn, other creators of anime, if you've got a hit song to play, great, keep it to maybe 4 times in a 25 episode series for the sake of all the viewers.
Characters: 1/5
Music: 0/5
Animation: 4/5
Plot 4/5
Total 9/20. Is it worth it? MAYBE!! I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is a fan of deep plots and well thought out characters, but hey, if you like good animation, and songs that burrow into the inner most depths of your mind, then sure, watch it! Don't expect anything great.
Posted by : doctodd
Posted on : 2008-10-10
A solid but flawed anime, Macross Frontier has outstanding production values but a story that ultimately falls short of greatness.
Things did not get off to a very auspicious start for this series. When I watched the first episode in December, my first thought was, "this is so lame, guys flying around in jetpacks," my second was "who is this girly Alto character," and the third was, "wow the ending for this episode came straight out of Macross Zero," which was a series I was not very fond of. Months later, I gave this series another chance, and I'm glad I did.
This series has awesome mecha battle action. I really enjoyed the opening of the second episode where they paid homage to the original Macross series, only this time with state-of-the-art animation and Yoko Kanno's amazing score. The animation for the battles throughout this series is nothing short of spectacular. So was the music, both the songs and the score. Yoko Kanno's music to this series is one of her best, right up there with Stand Alone Complex and Escaflowne. My favorite piece of orchestral music was the dramatic action theme she came up with ("The Target") for the beginning of episode 2, later used in episode 14. Great contrapuntal writing.
I have several points of criticism for this series. Macross Frontier had a great serialized plotline, with twists and turns that keep you coming back for more. However, too often the story gets bogged down in tiresome explanations about fold wave theory and other such nonsense. I also understand them wanting to pay homage to the Macross of the past, but having the characters make a movie about Macross Zero, not that great a series to begin with, came off as just self indulgent. Alto, the main protagonist, looks and acts like a girl. I couldn't stand him. You wonder, this is the guy two chicks are fawning over? People even call him "Princess." This is explained by his kabuki actor/actress past. He is an effeminate loser who happens to have piloting skills, who has absolutely no sense of romance. This leads me to my last comment, about the ending. All I can say is that the ending of this series was a total cop-out; it resolved many plotlines, but not the one that was the most important. It really ruined what was otherwise a fantastic show.
|
|
|
|
|
There are currently, 225 guest(s) and 2 member(s) that are online.
You are Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here
|
|
|
|
|
