cc-30@ucbcory.BERKELEY.EDU (Sean "Yoda" Rouse) (11/03/85)
First, thank you Sean, for not stealing the thunder, and letting me emote on
Harlock first.
I am NOT a Japanese Animation expert, (although I'd love to learn how to be
one) but I've learned a little bit about it this summer, like how Harmony Gold
murders stories and names and "creatively edits" whatever they turn out. They're
preferred over other production companies, however, in that they don't murder
quite as badly as others (Kimba case in point).
As I've said, I've only heard this, so it doesn't upset me that Harlock's
been made psionic, and that they've put Queen Millenia in the same timeline as
Harlock.
Major differences from Robotech:
Animation style is radically different. Toei (sp?) is NOT Tatsunoko.
Also, the storylines were spliced episode by episode. Thus,, both the LaMatalle
and the Mezones (spelling is incredibly arbitrary, here, guys. Besides, what
does it matter? When HG changed the Inbit to the Invid, I gave up.) will
appear in a single episode. There's also been an interesting subplot dealing
with Melody (the alien friend of Harlock with no nose or mouth) and Olivia
Snow (Queen Millenia). Some type of bloodfeud or something. Melody had
a line about how The Queen had been responsible for the destruction of her
planet.
What I like is that there are few annoying good-guy twits. No Minmei!!
and no Dana!!(Can youi believe that she's supposed to be the daughter of Max
and Miria? Carl Mecek screwed up on that one!!) The twits act like twits
either because they're bad guys, or because they're pre-adolescents.
OK, down to basics.
This show has it's fair share of science fiction, but it is mainly
a MELODRAMA. If you like Japanese animated melodrama (I do!!!!!!!!) this
is perfect for you. Lots of loyalty oaths, lots of high-sounding heroes,
lots of angst,, etc. Also cleaar demarcations of good and bad guys (at least
in the first few episodes. I've been missing 'caause 36 keeps moving the
time slot, and classes cut into it.)
There isn't any giant-robot stuff, but the character interplay more
than outweighs that. The characters are great. Really dramatic, both in
looks and speech.(Note for those unfamiliar with Harlock: Harlock is that guy
with the eyepatch, scar, and skull and crossbones , and dark flowing cape that
you've seen on posters at cons.)
I'm sorry I can't tell you which Harlock series is used, but he has the
Arcadia, a ship faar ahead of the rest of earth's technology. It's manned by
an undisciplined, but good-fighters-when-it-counts, extremely loyal creew.
The second in command is a blonde woman named Kay, and there's also a computer
that takes over in the most beeneevolent of ways. Harlock also has an alien
woman named Melody, who never seems to be quite in this world, who counsels
him, and listens to his problems. She also saves his ass a lot. The story
opens with scientists being murdered by blue-skinned female assasins, the
Mezone (Mazone? Meson?). One scientist who is murdered leaves behind a son
Terry, who joins Harlock's band in fighting the Mezone. During all of this,
Harlock is believed to be a villain by the earth-authorities, and gets
blamed for everything that goes wrong. A subplot to all this is the little
girl Maia (Minmei's voice wears better on a 7 year old). The daughter of
Harlock's best friend (dead, of course), Maia represents somewhat of a problem
for Harlock. She cannot come into space with him, as this is too dangerous,
so she stays on earth, in the evil clutches of Colonel Cameron, a blundering,
military thickskull, who earnestly believes that Harlock is responsible for
most of the evil happenings going on (caused by the Mezone). He constantly
uses Maia as the bait to trap Harlock. Harlock has eluded capture so far.
(I know this all sounds a bit manic, but I'm just not a good story teller)
The second main plot of the series (based on Queen Millenia) is sort
of similar. The Boss of a Thousand Thieves is going around killing scientists.
One scientist leaves behind a son. (does this sound familiar?) He joins a
research group headed by Dr. Corben, one of his father's colleagues, and
the mysterious woman, Olivia Snow. The kid, Christopher, (Rick Hunter's
Voice) is constantly getting kidnapped by the Boss of a Thousand Thieves and
interrogated for information which he doesn't have. Lately (This is really
fragmented because I've seen about one episode per week) he has discovered
the hidden world of the LaMatalle a race without a world that wants to claim
the earth as its own. He has somehow been accepted as one of them, under
the wing of their queen, Olivia Snow. He's training to be a soldier of
sorts, flying jets and such. It's weird how his teacher has Roy Fokker's
voice. Any bets this guy dies waiting for a pineapple salad?
I'm sorry the story's come out so fragmented, and that i've been so
flippant. i love this series. I just keep watching it in snips and pieces.
So, I miss the major plots. But this series really is worth watching. Just
don't come in expecting robotech. You even get used to the muffinhead-style
of animation after one or two episodes. And it's got heart.
One added note at the end of this incredibly style-lacking article,
the reason Robotech and Harlock had to be combinations of series is because
for American syndication, an animated series must have a particular number of
episodes. Neither Macross, nor Captain Harlock had enough. That's why they
added on. You might want to check out the Amazing Heroes, or Comics Interview
articles on Robotech. (The Amazing Heroes one was the one with the Claremont
thing in it).Carl Macek also mentioned something about a Robotech movie...?
(OK, so that wasn't one last thing), in case you haven't seen the
original Macross, etc. and are wondering how much you've missed, the
impression I get is that it's mostly a matter of style. Most of the scenes that
got cut from Robotech were either too graphic for kiddie t.v. (I.E. faces
blown off, or Minmei's naked bod in the shower scene), or were long panning
shots which the American public usually turns off in the middle of. More
major omissions dealt with trying to string the three series into a coherent
story. The first episode of Southern Cross was taken out, to preserve the
"protoculture" continuity. (not to mention the second moon). Also, the ending
of the Southern Cross story was rewritten, making Zor an idiot rather than a
hero.
This makes the story of Robotech seemingly week and ridiculous at certain
points. (Sorry for you newcomers, but Macross is the best it gets.) Macek
has mentioned that he's going to try and commission Tatsunoko to do animation
for episodes that will rectify these writing problems. He wants to eventually
have one episode for every day of the year. If he could do it it would be
great. The script writing wouldn't have the limitations of lip-synching that
the re-dubbed stuff does.
Anyways, I better get off before anyone falls asleep reading this.
--Kathy Li