T.A.O's: The Classics:

Review:

-Some animes make me laugh, cry or think. Others cause me to wonderfully ponder about things. Complicated yet simple things such as the meaning of existence, the birds & trees outside; and the almost irreverent feelings one gets from listening to people having interesting conversations. Voices.

The attentive sounds of the rain outside, and how it makes you feel things in unexplainable ways. These kinds of things might sound just a little bit silly or ridiculous to most people, but it's the sort of feelings I get when watching great anime. They might be beautifully crafted visually, which speak wonders for the visions of the film makers; far better than any words ever could. "Macross Plus" is one of those.

When anime fans even begin to mention the inklings of the "Macross" universe, most of them will be talking about things like: Gigantic & cool mecha, childish-looking people or young boys & girls piloting battle robots in combat. Corny but all-around timeless dialogue (Which is either legendary or simply annoying depending on what cartoons you grew up with; for me, it was "Speed Racer".).

Macross Plus is an anime which is inspired by those wonderfully complex visions about different worlds & universes. People and places. Envisioned by the man who started it all, "Shoji Kawamori". It is more refined, mature & grown-up. It takes itself seriously, but still remembers the days of old when science fiction was not mostly manufactured compost, but indeed brilliant and full of dreams.

For if there are any truly original visions of contemporary science fiction, Macross Plus is a definitive example; but most important of all, it's entertaining. It's also a triumph for director "Shoji Kawamori", who's incomporable technical works involve a history with "Mobile Suit Gundam", the original "Macross Series", the wonderful "Escaflowne" & much, much more. But of all his works, Macross Plus is the most professional of the bunch; and one of the top ten greatest animes ever made.

Macross Plus works so well as an action/thriller narrative, that I often forget it's undeniable human qualities. It's sensitive characters and emotionally charged dialogue. So involved, so understated. So perfect.

The series is in essense: a conflict, a confrontation & a love-triangle. I realize: it's darned original stuff I know (Not really)... But I kid you not, this is a good one. Macross Plus actually does start out seemingly conventional & subdued. It introduces us to a handfull of characters, then picks up the pace. It takes it's time in conveying itself, but in the end it prevails. And then some.

As for the OAV's set-up, well; it's about as classic as they come in anime. We are introduced to three close friends: "Isamu Alva Dyson", "Myung Fang Lone" & "Guld Gowa Bowman" (These funny names will seem well-chosen when you watch it). One of them is a hot-shot/hot-head tough guy. The second one (The woman) is a depressed, emotionally-torn ex-singer. The last is a rock-hard, (Almost-emotionless) but fundamentally heart-felt guy. That last one's also a quasi-alien.

The two guys are best friends, but in the anime world that translates to: they're each other's worst enemy. They are both in love with the same woman... This scenario is both commonplace & predictable, but it works.

Macross Plus is a classic because Kawamori makes us both love & hate these characters at the same time. It's also hard to ignore their emotional qualities when they're all paired with an A-grade sci-fi plot, with a mesmerising score to boot. The series is rather famous for these three factors. As for myself however, I mostly remember the series for it's third factor: Yoko Kanno's wonderful score. Which is in fact very much like the series itself: fast, dynamic & emotional.

The series opens with a blisteringly fast mech space battle; "Isamu Dyson" is our anti-hero of sorts battling some enemies in space as if a routine exercise. As we soon discover, Isamu's (self-proclaimed) short temper & intolerance for authority leads him to be transfered to the planet "Eden". As a punishment, Isamu is sent to the "New Edwards Test Flight Center", in order to begin training on a secret military project called "Super-Nova". This is where things start to take-off; literally.

It turns out that Isamu was just itching at the chance to become a test pilot, and that he is looking forward to the exploits at New Edwards (Notice the humorous moment with his superior commander before he is sent off. Humor which is very much anime & furthermore: Japanese in tone. Isamu himself looks nothing like what you might think a typical anime character would look. If you've never seen Macross Plus, consider this information irrelevant).

The intent of project Super-Nova is primarily one thing: it's to compare two distinct airships which can transform into mechs (battling robots of sorts if you don't know). See which on is superior, & then the inherent organization will present the funding to whichever one is better. You've probably already guessed that Isamu's ex-best friend "Guld" ends up being the test pilot for the other plane, and that there is inherant confrontation. But then again, who's counting plot devices here?

Macross Plus is so sure of itself, that we never have to question it's motives, it's characters or it's pacing. It is so insanely well-crafted & directed, that it flows like melted butter. It's an OAV series but it's paced like a movie. Kawamori and screenplay writer "Keiko Nobumoto" (Who later went on to write "Cowboy Bebop") create attentively simplistic but at the same time very thoughtful dialogue.

These characters are presented to be not picture perfect pilots, but real people with flaws and feelings. The big, seemingly confrontational one, "Guld", has a drug addiction problem. Isamu is conveyed as a hot-shot pilot who is suppressing feelings about the woman he loves (Who Guld also loves). Macross Plus also plays around heavily with animé anecdotes, but it makes good use of them and doesn't allow for them to overshadow the story. Which is really what Macross Plus is all about.

However, despite the obvious conflict and great storytelling potential the two pilot characters present, much of the story's heart revolves around "Myung" the ex-singer & close friend of Isamu & Guld. She has become the "producer" of the virtual 'pop-idol' (So it seems even pop-idols can be virtual in Kawamori's world) "Sharron Apple"; who is the #1) singer in the entire galaxy; it would seem so according to the narrative. Myung has old college friends named "Kate" & "Morgan". Whom are now a married couple whom Myung seeks emotional comfort in, but soon turns away from; as she has to deal with her own past as well as Isamu & Guld.

There are unique, tiny little side-story narratives which play themselves out rather nicely. Such is the one involving an unfortunate accident at the hands of Guld, who as far as we know intentionally loads 'real-ammunition' during training trials for his plane, (The "YF-21") purposely reserved for a special someone who ends up in the hospital (Along with Myung there to console him, Guld gets angry w/Isamu. You do the math.).

At the heart of the YF-19 staff are a young prodigy "Yang Newman" (A 16-year old genius who's the designer of the YF-19), and "Lucy"; a feisty blond with an affection for Isamu; but soon learns she has to give it up (In one of the most beautiful moments in anime if you want my opinion).

The series also features a full-blown space-opera narrative, which questions the meaning of existence more like something resembling "Mamoru Oshii's" terrain. But it takes the back seat ride, as the beautiful love story plays out at the intended core, in a central character relationship so fine tuned it would make most movie relationships a bit jealous. It's just enjoyable to watch as the story plays itself out.

Macross Plus remains to be one of the most influential animes of the mid-90s, thanks to it's detailed & impeccable artwork; and some fine anime CGI. Which is not the least bit dated or out of place even now. The mech-action scenes remain among the finest ever animated. And the show's finale, is one of the greatest endings in anime history; not to mention it's stunner climactic mech battle between Guld & Isamu, which must be seen (& heard) to be believed.

Kanno's lavish & thrilling score is both taunting & evocative. It leaves us with a sense of profound beauty that's nearly brooding, but also enlightening. A wonderful mix of j-pop, techno, classical score & other great compositions. It remains to be one of Kanno's greatest works.

In my most favorite episode, the third one, Isamu & Myung stand serenely atop a green hill. There, Isamu sees the gigantic bird soaring in the sky which he spoke of before, from his childhood. The scene is so heartwarming, well-played & touching for what it is, that it just left me with so much emotion when I first saw it. And it still does to much avail. The combination of dialogue, music & the characters is apsolutely sublime. And simple yet breathtaking.

But in the end, the star of Macross Plus is not the dialogue, the characters or even the majestic music; it is the marvelous direction by Kawamori. A veteran film making master who shows us that even a fundamentally simply story can be riveting and profound. That simple ideas can be an astonishing technical 'tour de force'. And that, when done with great measure; animation can also be a thing to cherish. Timeless, inspirational & "dedicated to all pioneers".

~This Has Been Yet Another One Of "T.A.O.'s" New Reviews Of Classic Anime Titles.~