Macross Frontier – 10
Bird Human, featuring Ranka Lee as Mao Nome.
I give a lot of credit to Satelight Inc. for successfully blending the filming of “Bird Human,” the premier of the movie, the plot of Macross Frontier, and some of the events that occurred outside of the filming into a single episode. More than just pushing the Sheryl-Ranka-Alto triangle and throwing Ranka into the spotlight, Episode 10 managed to highlight just enough of (Mao’s parts in) Macross Zero to keep this fan grinning. I am not a huge fan of Macross Zero, but it was showcased nicely–the dialog, the setting, the episode title at the end, and even the movie poster.
There really was absolutely no way Satelight could “screw up” an episode about a Macross Zero movie because they animated back in 2002 and 2003. However I still appluad them for recreating the 3 scenes shown in episode 10 similar to how they were during the OVA.
(Frontier first, then Zero)
Macross Zero, episode 1: Shin wakes up on Mayan Island and questions the locals about where he is and where his friend (Edgar) is. Sara Nome gives her Kudan and Mayan schpeel and Mao slides down the tree to greet them.
Macross Zero, episode 3: During “Scene 47,” Mao takes Shin to see her “treasure” that is underwater. They dive down and see the Birdman’s head and Mao kisses Shin.
Macross Zero, episode 5: Shin’s variable fighter is damaged and is plummeting to the sea, when Sara’s “spirit” rescues him and he too flies off into space with her. Mao and some of the Mayan survivors sing their island’s song and watch Shin fly off into space with Sara.
For the most part, it looked like they just reused the animation from Macross Zero, spliced into Ranka’s shots, and then slightly altered the “taking off” scene. A bit disappointing that 95% of this part was rehash, but it actually sounds A LOT better with Aimo playing instead of Arkan. Aimo reeks of Voices Kanno Yoko, so I’m not that surprised it fits in a number of places, even in Macross Zero.
Not only was episode 10 and nice throwback to Macross Zero, it also pushed the plot forward (unlike episode 8’s filler…). We are seeing, little by little, Leon’s work involving the Vajra. I really don’t know what to make of him or even Grace, but for right now, it doesn’t seem like their hands are too clean. Also figured out who Leon Mishima looked like reminded me of (though, not at all deceiving).
Who’s that Pokemon!?
Mystery bishounen also identifies himself as Brera Sterne. Thankfully his voice isn’t that of Kira, Kaoru, Kei-kun, or Masashi. More importantly it looks like Subaru and him hang out, he is working under the orders of someone, and seems to be looking to atone for his past. Who he was talking to is unknown, but it faintly sounded like Inoue Kikuko… or maybe it’s just feeling the effects of me writing way past my bedtime. Yet it wouldn’t surprise me if Grace wasn’t just Sheryl’s manager. Time will tell on that.
“Doctor” Mao? Did Mao go on to do something of importance after the event on Mayan Island? Could it be that Sheryl is actually a decedent of Mao somehow? Or perhaps Ranka? Ozma’s comments about it being fate that she played Mao are pretty puzzling… Is Frontier going to pull more from Zero than just “Bird Human” and the name Nome? I wouldn’t mind that really. The Protoculture was expanded upon a bit in Macross 7 in relation to the Protodevlin and then their time on Earth was explained somewhat during Macross Zero. However, I still don’t fully understand who or what they were beyond the notion that they were the advance race who existed hundreds of thousands of years ago across the galaxy, and that they were responsible for affecting the evolution of humans and were also responsible for engineering the Zentradi. Other than telling us what exactly happened to the Megaroad-01, learning more about Protoculture is tops on my Macross Frontier wish list.
CULTURE!
Sheryl <3 <3 <3
Outside of the Nyan Nyan reference, Ranka is beginning the same path that Minmay took on the SDF-1 Macross. Although Minmay won the first Miss Macross, both Ranka and Minmay began receiving notoriety through fame. And that fame (along with a busy schedule) is what began to separate Minmay and Hikaru and looks to push Ranka and Alto apart. What else is interesting in all of this is Sheryl’s apparent jealousy of Ranka. Not only has she been shown to get serious when she sees Ranka with Alto, but also when Ranka showcases her singing talent. Ranka is Sheryl’s rival on a number of levels. Macross hasn’t seen a fiery love-triangle like this since Macross Plus. Both Ranka and Sheryl express their jealously and this triangle looks like it will be something much more important than a subplot in this series.
Cool…
…and Spicy.
Alto, you da’ man! Was it a rip, or were the animators once again showing the Japanese tradition of not reusing footage, rather remaking the scene every time they need it again? ZERO’S ENDING WAS SAD! I ALMOST CRIED! And, finally; RANKA AND ALTO!
So I was just going back threw the episodes and saw something. Ranka is 1/4 zintradi so if she is related to Mao it would have to be at least as a grandmother i may be wrong though.
I dont think ranka and alto will share the same path that followed minmay and hikaru, because alto understands the way a star lives, and hikaru only knew a army pilots life. Even alto gives advice to ranka when she seems very lost, the real problem will be sheryl, because shes pretty determined to have alto for herself.
dont like alto…i like the robot dude!!!
HOOOOOOORAY for Sheryl XDD
Well… ‘Doctor Mao’ implies two things:
1) Mao Nome survived the holocaust of Earth, possibly as a member of the UN Spacy, or one of the people who managed to be in Moonbase ALICE or one of the orbital stations.
2) Mao Nome… Sheryl Nome… a missing mother, a person who had knowledge of the Protoculture… perhaps she’s the mother of either Ranka or Sheryl? That’s my guess, anyways, since Sheryl would’ve been born in 2040 (IIRC), while Ranka was born in 2043. If this was Mao who was the mother, then she would’ve been in her forties; not impossible, not by a long shot, although it’s possible she was a grandmother rather than a mother.
Plus, the Sheryl kiss has sparked off the romance aspect, at least for the two leading ladies. Alto, on the other hand, is equally shocked by both kisses. And, of course, resents being dragged into theatre again – but alas, this appears to be his destiny.
Looks like they retouched the footage from Zero
I wonder what is the nature of Dr. Mao’s work and her relationship to Ranka?