マクロスΔ（デルタ） / Macross Delta

Macross Δ.

It's hard to start another Macross review without mentioning how much this franchise has grown despite the Harmony Gold (Tatsunoko & Big West?) blockade that has stopped Japan from exporting its wonderful series, movies and music. Anyway, fans don't give up so easily and thanks to the internet, there's a huge community built around Shoji Kawamori's gargantuan creation. It's not secret a few days ago Harmony Gold renewed or extended (it's not clear at this point) its license contract to profit from SDF Macross, SDC Southern Cross & Genesis Climber MOSPEADA, meaning things don't change for the avid fans. Expensive import box sets, bootlegs, fan subs, and E-Bay have been playing a crucial role in the expansion of the franchise outside Japan. 

Background

Today's entry is to celebrate the legacy of Macross with their latest series: 

マクロスΔ, AKA  Macross Delta, a space opera anime television series that aired on Tokyo MX in Japan from April 3, 2016 to September 25, 2016. The fourth television series set in the Macross universe, it is directed by Kenji Yasuda (Arata: The Legend, Noein) and written by Toshizo Nemoto (Log Horizon, Tokyo Majin) with Shōji Kawamori being the chief director and mechanical designer, while Chisato Mita handling the original character design. Kawamori is also credited as the original creator along Studio Nue.

A new (almost) love triangle.

Not one, but five idols!

Synopsis.

Macross Delta is about the Var Syndrome, a mysterious disease that drives people crazy to the point of losing their will and becoming extremely violent towards everyone around them. The consequences of the spread of the disease are well known across star systems and the only possible way of fighting back at it, is music. Yes, music, like in every other Macross series, only this time, there's a specialized team known as Walküre (Valkyrie in some Nordic language according to the series) This all female singing team seems pretty much like the animated version of a K-pop/J-pop band of teenagers, so if you're not into that kind of music be warned, the entire series features not one, but many songs in that style throughout its 26 episode run. Obviously, these girls are not alone in the battlefield. A full team of ace pilots is ready to aid the ladies while dogfighting the enemy's valks. Moreover, there's a bigger battle linked to the origin of protoculture and who's worthy of it in order to conquer the universe as the ultimate sentient being.

The main characters are Freiyja Wion & Hayate Immelman but, a Macross series isn't a Macross series without a love triangle, so the third main character is Mirage Farina Jenius. 

A news squadron of heroic micronians.

Massive transforming battle fortresses!

Review.

One thing that makes Macross, THE Macross, is that after 35 years of history, the “love conquers all” motto remains as relevant as ever. While there are obvious space wars taking place, the winning stroke of luck has always been brought by love, through music.

From SDF Macross to Macross Plus to Macross Frontier, Macross has always upped their game when it comes to aerial and mecha combat. The accompanying soundtrack has also been Macross' zeitgeist. Hence, some of the bad reviews that claim Macross Delta lacks depth, and that it was only made to cash in a piece of the J-Pop/K-Pop idol craze. Sadly, for old fans, the music industry is constantly changing. You can't expect the producers to bring the old 70's/early 80's hits back to life to a brand new population of Otakus. However, and as it's always been the Macross tradition, Delta features a lot of interesting connections to previous series, even in musical form. 

Fan service!

This is not what you think it is.

If some people didn't like Macross 7  for constantly  relying on music to defeat the space vampires, then Delta may not be your cup of tea. Walküre is not merely singing from afar; they are engaged in battle, often themselves at the epicenter of dogfights. And from start to finish, it is never any less ridiculous to watch the team assess combat, dodge bullets, and talk to each other all the while maintaining their harmonies!. OBVIOUSLY, this is science fiction, and liberties are taken for artistical purposes. As with Frontier before it, the premise of Delta gives the opportunity for an anime veteran to work along side a newcomer with Koshimizu Ami and Suzuki Minori fronting Walküre. The backing members are nothing to shake a stick at either with Yasuno Kiyono’s solo piece “Axia” being the most moving in the entire series. The incredible vocals extends equally impressive voice acting.Some people say, "if there's one good thing about the Macross franchise, it's the seiyuus (voice actors)".

Plotwise, the good guys v/s bad guys standard storytelling features a mild twist that will have the main characters question their views on the rising conflict between the U.N. forces and the Windermere. Interestingly, the series also spends time explaining the origins of protoculture, and how this ancient power is linked to music as the ultimate weapon. Unfortunately, other stories weren't fully explored: Walküre's group dynamics, the Windermere short lifespan, Mirage trying to live up to the legacy of her family, character development/growth, etc. Yet the series never takes advantage of them, preferring to remind the audience of plot and lore. Where previous incarnations were oddly unconcerned with mythology beyond pineapple related fanservice, Delta is smothered in it, leaving nary a moment to properly develop its characters. Walküre itself is a stock sentai even by stock sentai standards. Even at the forefront, Freyja experiences little drama outside small bouts of anxiety. Likewise, her relationship with Hayate is treated less as a budding romance and more of a foregone conclusion. Despite Macross’ reputation for love triangles, there is barely a token one, as Freyja’s supposed rival Mirage gives up on Hayate in the early episodes.

Idols are for kids!

I mean, Idols are for everyone!

It causes no shortage of frustration to think that in 26 episodes, Macross Delta invokes not an iota of pathos. Tantamount to the kind of pop songs presented here, beyond the high production value, the series isn’t really about anything new. Longtime Macross fans already know about the origin of protoculture (Macross Zero), the power of music (every Macross series, OVA and movie) and love triangles (same). The fact that now we have five singers instead of one, or two, doesn't really add to the overall plot of "let's defeat the bad guys through music and some dogfighting". 

I know a lot of people bashed this new series, but don't get me wrong, Macross Delta is good for what it is. I don't think the producers were desperately looking for adding new elements to the well established franchise mythology. Besides, we all love to see a good story retold many, many times. Take a look at movie reboots, or the MCU, where, honestly, a lot of stories have been retold, yet people frigging loved them. However, if you're looking for something fresh, please feel free to answer who is Lady M?

A familiar face.

Could Lynn Minmay be "Lady M"?

Apparently this is the greatest mystery Macross Delta has to offer us. As for the choices above:

Mikumo - It would be too obvious. besides she's got a mystery to solve on her own. The dreams?

Mirage - She's only a pilot, related to some great pilots, but only a pilot. I can't see how she can have some authority in the Government.

Makina - No need to say anything.

Minmay & Misa & Milia - They would be like sixty, respectively seventy and hardly can I image getting involved. Besides, I'm not sure of how much Kawamori and the other creators would like to bring past characters. Maybe from the more recent series yes, but the SDF series is far too old to stand a chance.

Myung - Don't think so. Macross Plus isn't one of the most popular and most beloved series in the franchise, besides being just a four-episode OVA, and bringing Myung would shock the fanbase, but not necessarily in a good way.


Mylene - She's a singer. Despite being related to the army (pilots), I'm not sure how much interest she could have gotten over time in politics, so that she would end up as some really important person in the Government. Not probable... at all.

Miranda - She would bring from the previous appearances little to nothing. It would be easier to bring her back than Mylene, Minmay, Misa, Myung, from the other series. And also all these characters had already had their stories. Miranda stands a chance of being brought back just because she wasn't part of the story before appearing just in 2 or 3 episodes, and can finally get some action for herself. She may be just an idol as well, but somehow she stands this chance.

Mao Nome - because M; Because of that weird thing Gramia and Heinz say: Rudanjal Rom Mayan, and Sara Nome was a Mayan priestess - which kind of connects things;
- Because The Song of the Wind - thing appears in MZero as well, and is connected to Mao herself;
- Because it wouldn't anyway be the first time Macross Zero proved to actually be important to more recent events.

However, Berger Stone (the Arabian businessman in the series) said there is a rumor that connects Lynn Minmay to a backer of Xaos known as "Lady M".

The Windermere shall rise and conquer!

Now, we're in trouble!

The finale has the… unenviable position of having to tie up so many loose ends at once, making it clear the production crew was on a deadline. Delta, especially in its second half, suffered from weak pacing, underdeveloped characters and excessive subplots and the finale has to ignore for the sake of the main plot. Still, Delta Squadron has saved Ragna and Hayate and Freyja get their happy ending, but the Windemereans make it clear the war is not over and the death toll numbers in the millions. Also, poor Mirage got her Love Confession rejected.

For the Windemerians’ case, their future doesn’t look bright for them. Though Heinz is willing to establish peace talks and at the same time, wants the UN Government to pay for their sins, it might not go very well and his kingdom will suffer a lot of backlash from the intergalactic community for their actions. Likewise, Heinz is slowly dying after his singing affected his health and his brother who is the strongest pilot in the air force died which not only left the Aerial Knights in a vulnerable position but also leave no successors to take the Windemerian leadership once Heinz kicks the bucket.

The power of music will be back!

Certain songs get you naked in space.

Anyway, the show did spawn the now, usual movie (and there's another on the way, suggesting a new Walküre member), an excellent soundtrack and even with all the divisive fans, I still recommend watching it for both Macross and casual fans of good quality Animé. The only thing I didn't like it was how the love triangle was handled so weakly, and according to some websites Shoji Kawamori didn't want the story to feature a love triangle but pressure from producers pushed him to do so ultimately. The movie version is focused mainly on Walküre instead of the love triangle and the raging war. Maybe that's an indication of what went on behind the scenes. 

Overall, while not as appealing as Macross Frontier, Macross Delta is another interesting installment in the hopefully, ever-going franchise. Maybe it's about time Mr. Kawamori & Co, take Macross to new frontiers (no pun intended) where the formulaic scheme is no longer needed by viewers to realize they're watching a new Macross product. After 37 years of songs and transforming Mecha, we could use some fresh air. Macross Delta tried, but according to some, (not me) it didn't try hard enough.

Here's the 1st opening:



Here's the 2nd opening:



Here's the 1st ending:



Here's the 2nd ending:



Walküre live 2018:



Mikumo & Freiyja in the studio:



Japan Expo 2017 featuring Macross music from different decades as "performed" by cosplayers:

 Walküre backstage: