ZrAeNiAn
10-26-2004, 02:17 PM
Cause my previous was a bit soft here a much better one ;)
Macross Zero is a five episode OAV based in the Macross universe as a prequel. Taken 6 months per episode to draw and animate, Macross Zero is an expensive and long term piece of work. Considered to be Yukikaze's rival at the time due to simliar release dates, both Macross Zero and Yukikaze contains amazing airplane fights and scenes. Currently unlicensed, it is amazing and astonishing why Macross Zero isn't, due to the highly beautiful and detailed piece of artwork. Being a prequel, it is rather informative how and where the macross series got their technology.
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/9360/snapshot20040820213708.jpg
http://img18.exs.cx/img18/7089/snapshot20040820213344.jpg
Title Screen and a picture of a F-19. *drool*
The story begins as a prequel for the Macross universe. During the 1999s, an alien aircraft crash landed on earth. It was salavaged, which developed and enhanced the technology of warfare betwen the U.N. and the anti-U.N. groups. Because of the many casualties of pilots and soldiers, teens and children were soon drafted into war. The story tells the story of a young pilot by the name of Shin Kudou, a F-19 pilot who gets shot down by an unknown flying object. He lands unconsciencely on an uncivilized island where he befriends the villagers. Without realizing it, the island he crashed on is connected to the alien technology that was crashed on Earth 8 years ago, which send both the U.N. and anti-U.N. groups after it. Macross Zero tends to give a lot of insight, which allows the viewers to understand how technology grew throughout Macross Zero to Macross Plus.
As I mentioned before, the art is absolutely gorgeous. As seen in the screenshots, the pictures themselves are full of detail in the F-19s. You can notice the amount of skill and artwork involved to create stunning computer graphic images. What is enough more impressive is the amount of design and detail that went into the dogfights, they keep you off the edge of the seat when watching them. Despite all the awesome artistic imagery given, some people gave complaints due to the mixture of normal animation and 3D effects. They felt it was too weird, awkward, and wasn't right. They argued that the series didn't feel like anime, so they disliked the series. However, I thought it made the series more unique and distinct compared to the plenty of straightforward anime. It is true that while this style is rare, more anime nowadays [FF7: Advent Children] is using this style to present their artistic form of anime. I await when more mainstream anime uses this style, and I embrace it.
http://img51.exs.cx/img51/7494/snapshot20040820213833.jpg
http://img32.exs.cx/img32/1777/snapshot20040820214015.jpg
OMG its the F-19s in action
Characters aren't really the highlight of the series. Most of them are outrageously predictable and cliched in terms of anime aspects. Your main character Shin, is a rather typical hardcore American hero who believes force and violence is the answer to things. Then there's the lovely women/villager who believes in peace through the use of music. It is rather interesting during the interaction on how Mao and Shin be friends with each other, leading the trust of her sister, Sara and the other villages. However, with the new introduction of characters, character development is where this OAV series strays off. One episode was made for character development, making them very weak and straight forward characters. I had no sympathy for them, nor would I feel for their character. It is rather easy to tell the main focus of this series was the artwork and detail in the dogfights, with less emphasis in the characters. The story telling through the perspective of Sara was interesting though, as she mixes the Mayan belief of a giant bird with the awesome prototype mech fighters.
Overall, the Macross series is greatly executed with its mighty beautiful artwork. The later episodes, which the screenshots do not show outshines the art given in the first. While the plot and characters are mediocure at best, the action and artwork does not disappoint at all. Highly recommended for animeholics, not for beginners to anime.
If you have no idea of the Macross setting or universe, I highly recommend Macross Plus. Also, if I was not clear enough in the review, Macross Zero both features planes as well as mechs.
Score:
Plot 9/10
Characters 8/10
Action: 10/10
Art: 10/10
Overall: 9/10
Here are more screenshots for your delight.
http://img43.exs.cx/img43/5603/snapshot20040820214230.jpg
http://img43.exs.cx/img43/4572/snapshot20040820213917.jpg
Shin in his F-19, and Shin again in bandages with villagers Sara and Mao
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/4125/snapshot20040820214131.jpg
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/1761/snapshot20040820214734.jpg
Mech formation and transformation
-Zr-
Macross Zero is a five episode OAV based in the Macross universe as a prequel. Taken 6 months per episode to draw and animate, Macross Zero is an expensive and long term piece of work. Considered to be Yukikaze's rival at the time due to simliar release dates, both Macross Zero and Yukikaze contains amazing airplane fights and scenes. Currently unlicensed, it is amazing and astonishing why Macross Zero isn't, due to the highly beautiful and detailed piece of artwork. Being a prequel, it is rather informative how and where the macross series got their technology.
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/9360/snapshot20040820213708.jpg
http://img18.exs.cx/img18/7089/snapshot20040820213344.jpg
Title Screen and a picture of a F-19. *drool*
The story begins as a prequel for the Macross universe. During the 1999s, an alien aircraft crash landed on earth. It was salavaged, which developed and enhanced the technology of warfare betwen the U.N. and the anti-U.N. groups. Because of the many casualties of pilots and soldiers, teens and children were soon drafted into war. The story tells the story of a young pilot by the name of Shin Kudou, a F-19 pilot who gets shot down by an unknown flying object. He lands unconsciencely on an uncivilized island where he befriends the villagers. Without realizing it, the island he crashed on is connected to the alien technology that was crashed on Earth 8 years ago, which send both the U.N. and anti-U.N. groups after it. Macross Zero tends to give a lot of insight, which allows the viewers to understand how technology grew throughout Macross Zero to Macross Plus.
As I mentioned before, the art is absolutely gorgeous. As seen in the screenshots, the pictures themselves are full of detail in the F-19s. You can notice the amount of skill and artwork involved to create stunning computer graphic images. What is enough more impressive is the amount of design and detail that went into the dogfights, they keep you off the edge of the seat when watching them. Despite all the awesome artistic imagery given, some people gave complaints due to the mixture of normal animation and 3D effects. They felt it was too weird, awkward, and wasn't right. They argued that the series didn't feel like anime, so they disliked the series. However, I thought it made the series more unique and distinct compared to the plenty of straightforward anime. It is true that while this style is rare, more anime nowadays [FF7: Advent Children] is using this style to present their artistic form of anime. I await when more mainstream anime uses this style, and I embrace it.
http://img51.exs.cx/img51/7494/snapshot20040820213833.jpg
http://img32.exs.cx/img32/1777/snapshot20040820214015.jpg
OMG its the F-19s in action
Characters aren't really the highlight of the series. Most of them are outrageously predictable and cliched in terms of anime aspects. Your main character Shin, is a rather typical hardcore American hero who believes force and violence is the answer to things. Then there's the lovely women/villager who believes in peace through the use of music. It is rather interesting during the interaction on how Mao and Shin be friends with each other, leading the trust of her sister, Sara and the other villages. However, with the new introduction of characters, character development is where this OAV series strays off. One episode was made for character development, making them very weak and straight forward characters. I had no sympathy for them, nor would I feel for their character. It is rather easy to tell the main focus of this series was the artwork and detail in the dogfights, with less emphasis in the characters. The story telling through the perspective of Sara was interesting though, as she mixes the Mayan belief of a giant bird with the awesome prototype mech fighters.
Overall, the Macross series is greatly executed with its mighty beautiful artwork. The later episodes, which the screenshots do not show outshines the art given in the first. While the plot and characters are mediocure at best, the action and artwork does not disappoint at all. Highly recommended for animeholics, not for beginners to anime.
If you have no idea of the Macross setting or universe, I highly recommend Macross Plus. Also, if I was not clear enough in the review, Macross Zero both features planes as well as mechs.
Score:
Plot 9/10
Characters 8/10
Action: 10/10
Art: 10/10
Overall: 9/10
Here are more screenshots for your delight.
http://img43.exs.cx/img43/5603/snapshot20040820214230.jpg
http://img43.exs.cx/img43/4572/snapshot20040820213917.jpg
Shin in his F-19, and Shin again in bandages with villagers Sara and Mao
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/4125/snapshot20040820214131.jpg
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/1761/snapshot20040820214734.jpg
Mech formation and transformation
-Zr-