Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles is the 2006 animated sequel to the 1985 Robotech television series. Although it is the third Robotech movie, it doesn't follow the logical order of the previous two films, instead it begins right after the original series final episode. To make the following read worthy of your time, I spent some time not only re watching the film but, also all of the making off material and interviews that are available on disc 2 of The Shadow Chronicles Collector's Edition DVD set. 21 years after the success of the original series, Harmony Gold, Tatsunoko and a significant group of artists try to do the impossible: Bring back Robotech to life by bridging nostalgia & 21st century animation. In the past Harmony Gold tried to come up with new Robotech with no success. The farthest they went was a 1999 project known as Robotech 3000. Luckily for us all, nobody liked it and they moved on.
Characters from the past...
...Merge with a newer generation.
Five years later, at Anime Expo 2004, Harmony Gold USA revealed that Robotech: Shadow Force was in production to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Robotech in 2005. The name of the new story arc was soon changed to Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, and the film was completed on January 27, 2006. This project was initially met with skepticism from the fan community, due to Harmony Gold's spotty track record of completing Robotech sequels and spin-offs in past decades. The first teaser trailer debuted at Anime Expo 2005. An official trailer was later released on The (defunct) Shadow Chronicles website during the NATPE conference, a broadcast industry trade show.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Market on May 22, 2006 in the Grey One Theatre to an audience of distribution representatives. A number of independent film festivals screened the film during the summer and fall. It was awarded Best Animated Sci-Fi Feature at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival.
The Alpha fighters return!
So do the Beta fighters!
The storyline is a direct continuation from the 85th (and final) episode of the original Robotech television series,
and the first third of the movie runs concurrently with the events at
the end of the TV series — albeit from different points of view. The plot revolves around the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF)'s final battle with the Invid
on Earth, and the fallout from the events of that battle. An old enemy
of the Invid is making its presence known, and is determined to wipe out
all Protoculture users, including Humanity. The production is a mixture of 2D animation and cell-shaded CG mecha animation.
Though the involvement of original Japanese studio Tatsunoko Productions
appeared to be limited to early development, the actual digital
production of animation was handled by the Korean animation company DR Movie, whose credits include subcontracting on the inbetweens, ink and paint of Macross Plus, and the inbetweens of Yukikaze. Co-director Tommy Yune(probably the most hated HG member along with his brother and Kevin McKeever) said in a Newtype USA interview that the producers "consulted extensively" with Kenji Terada, a writer on Southern Cross and Mospeada (two of the three series adapted into the 1985 Robotech series). While there were previous novels explaining the fate of the SDF-3 and the ending of the Robotech saga, all these books are non canon to the animated series and the previous films.
Female characters are upgraded to porn star status with their huge T&A.
Meet Maia Sterling's gigantic tits.
In order to set things straight, DC Comics' Wildstorm label released Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, a comic prequel series bridging the end of the aborted Sentinels storyline with The Shadow Chronicles.
The main characters in the film include Vince Grant, Dr. Jean Grant, Marcus Rush, Maia Sterling, Scott Bernard, Ariel, Janice Em, Louie Nichols, Alex Romero and General Reinhardt. Rick Hunter is seen briefly at the beginning of the movie at an advanced age.
The film promised to explained what happened to the REF onboard the SDF-3 since episode 86 (Symphony of Light) had an open ending where the only thing clear was the Invid leaving earth, while Scott Bernard would return to space in search of admiral Hunter. Did it deliver? please, continue reading.
Everyone listen closely, the franchise is not coming back.
Smile for the camera.
With every new chapter created for a successful classic franchise,
you'll get the nay-sayers. "I like the original better"; "watch the old
series and forget this", "the CGI is terrible", "what happened to the
old director/producer/writer?"
Well, you get some comments like these if you go into the forums for: -
Battlestar Galactic 2003-2007 - Star Wars Prequels - Star Trek TNG to
ENT (to some degree)
Problem is, neither you nor the creators of the new shows are in the
70's or early 80's anymore. After 20 years, movies/animation are not
made the same way. You the audience are no longer in your childhood or
adolescence. So to enjoy a new twist on an old idea, you really have to
keep an open mind.
With those tits, you can get away with whatever you want Janice.
Rick Hunter hasn't aged that well.
So back to Shadow Chronicles. I think this production was done with a
lot of heart. Although the animation has been updated, the returning
characters are instantly recognizable. Love the fact that they used the
same voice actors again. I found the story intriguing and engaging.
Picking up the story from Reflex Point was a good idea and, the way the final episode is told from the RDF perspective adds a new vision that allows the entry of new characters into the game.
Some complained that this is more like a continuation of Mospeada
rather than the whole of the Robotech Saga. I suppose that's true to
some degree. Well, we definitely couldn't have those "F-14" veritechs
flying around anymore since this is a continuation in the chronological
sense. I mean, Macross was really appropriate for the 1st generation
because they mix real life fighters (F-14) with sci-fi (guardian and
battloid modes). But as time goes on, you get less recognizable
fighters like the Alphas and Betas, so Mospeada made perfect sense as
the newer generation. That was the genius in Macek's concept. In any
case, I think some are disappointed that we don't have more on Rick,
Max, Miriya, Minmei and Lisa. But the SDF-3 was purposely kept at a
distance for this movie. And Maia Sterling did say her family and love
ones are on the SDF-3. So, I'm pretty sure these characters will be
explored more in future chapters of this franchise(if they ever decide to continue this story since they're now into the live action film). But not to be all
"flowers and sunshine" I have to agree that I would've like to see more
on Rick's SDF-3 during THIS movie. At least Rick is not lost
indefinitely like the old series suggested.
New space fortresses.
New enemies too!
I liked the animation. Like I said, things have changed. You look at
all contemporary anime, the women always look "hotter than hell". And eyes are
more expressive rather than the "big round eyes" of the 70s style
animation from the east.
Lastly, I like all that's new about the movie. The Haydonite seems like
a worthwhile adversary for the new Robotech defenders. They're one
alien race that does not desire Protoculture in some way, but despises
the use of it by anyone else. That is an interesting twist. And
although we did not see any new transforming mechas (yet), the new
capital ships like SDF-3, Icarus, and ArcAngel all look way cool. But
they still retain the same basic architecture of the SDF-1. And the
front of the ships split open to fire the Synchro-Cannons, that's
another "tip of hat" to the Macross generation as well.
Love conquers all.
So, there are many elements from all three generations if you look for
them. But on its own, I think its a fine addition to a well loved
series. Just don't watch it with a close mind. Here's the trailer:
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