Robotech: The Movie (1986)

Directors:

Noboru Ishiguro
Carl Macek

Writers:

Carl Macek (story)
Ardwight Chamberlain (screenplay)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The adventure never stops in this full length animated feature

Plot:

Re-edited version of a Japanese TV serial, released in the U.S. as a feature.

Plot Keywords:

Anime | Independent Film

Cast

Kerrigan Mahan	...	Mark Landry (as Ryan O'Flannigan)
Brittany Harlowe	...	Becky Franklin
Muriel Fargo	...	Eve
Gregory Snegoff	...	Colonel B.D. Andrews (as Greg Snow)
Michael McConnohie	...	Rolf Emerson (as Jeffrey Platt)
Greg Finley	...	Commander Leonard (as Guy Garrett)
Tom Wyner	...	Robotech Master #1 (as Abe Lasser)
Mearle Pearson	...	Professor Embry
Edie Mirman	...	Kelley Stevens (as Penny Sweet)
Wendee Lee	...	Stacy Embry (as Wendee Swan)
Wayne Anthony	...	Additional Voices
Spike Niblick	...	Additional Voices
Bruce Winant	...	Additional Voices (as Bruce Nielson)
Ike Medlick	...	Additional Voices
Jonathan Alexander	...	Additional Voices

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

Japan | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Harmony Gold

Trivia:

A new "happy ending" was animated because the original ending of the Megazone 23 footage was too downbeat.

Movie Connections:

Edited from "Chôjikû kidan Sazan Kurosu" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Underground

Have loved it since 1986 when i first rented it

Contrary to popular belief, this title , to me at least, is not so very bad. In fact. I regard it as a favoured film of all time. The welding of stories wasn't structured too well when you consider the differences between the series, however despite all this, you can watch it quite happily. For a feature film of its day, the scenes are well proportioned and the characters remain consistently believable.

The sound/audio track is a personal favourite of mine. Nearly everything has a correct sound effect and many of the voices suit the characters much better than their, now badly cast US dub, counterparts. The sync is perfect in every shot. I had a few issues with the casting for the 'alien' voices (please forgive the crude naming, it has been a while since i've seen it). Otherwise however, the cast seemed perfectly balanced. I feel and believe in the characters of this movie. Dubs are often a subject i rarely agree with from so long ago. I loved the OSD's from back then but the castings often let series down.

At this point i would like to add that this was one of the first anime i saw in my life. It has historical value to me, but even after seeing the original Megazone 23 it remained stronger and more watched in my collection.

To my knowledge the title only ever made it to the US in Texas. Personally i think its a big shame. Had the correct audience been subject to it, i think Robotech the Movie would have been accepted and not tarnished over the years. I am involved with anime each day of my life and everyone i have shown this movie thought it was a nicely put together title.

Watching the film after its separate components will allow the viewer to notice the evident plot holes between shows. However, without seeing the originals, a viewer wouldn't really notice. Since the animation is identical in style, there was no reason to question it back in its day. The UK had very limited access to anime. Laser discs were the most productive media. Personally i like the way Carl had the balls to at least push the genre. I mean Harmony wasn't going to put up the cash for the series to get publicised.

Despite the few picky faults people have had with this film, The eighties feel of it keeps me in love. If you watch Megazone 23 now, to its original Japanese audio, or the new dub, i believe you will be greatly disappointed with the OSD. Cast your minds back to the original Bubblegum Crisis Dub soundtrack and imagine new eighties audio to E.V.E.

Saying all this. This film's popularity nowadays is most likely down to its rarity on the open market. Personally, it spawned a collection for me. I'm now scouring the world for merchandise from the three components that made it up and if i ever get to meet Carl Macek, ill shake his hand for the effort, and buy him a pint or a crate for getting me into anime.