is a Japanese

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

television series and the third Japanese anime television series set in the ''

Macross is a Japanese science fiction mecha anime media franchise/ media mix, created by Studio Nue (most prominently mecha designer, writer and producer Shōji Kawamori) and Artland in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth and th ...

'' universe. It was broadcast on MBS from April 4, 2008 to September 26, 2008. ''Macross Frontier'' is the story of a human space colony fleet trying to find a habitable planet near the center of the

Milky Way The Milky Way is the galaxy that includes our Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye. ...

. The story focuses on three young adults (a famed pop singer, a private military pilot, and a rising pop singer) and the events that occur around them as the fleet faces a crisis of alien origin.

Plot

The series features the 25th New Macross-class Colonial Fleet, dubbed the ''Macross Frontier'', en route to the galactic center. This heavily populated interstellar fleet (consisting of numerous civilian vessels and their military escorts) contains a makeup of both human occupants and their

Zentradi The are a fictional, militaristic race of alien, humanoid giants and often the main antagonist in '' Macross'' media mix and its '' Robotech'' (1985) cartoon adaptation. It is transliterated as Zentradi, Zjentohlauedy, Zentrady, and Zentraedi ...

allies. As such, many of the ''Macross Frontier'''s companion vessels appear to merge more metallic Human designs with organic

aesthetics. ''Macross Frontier'' plot explores a combination of action/political intrigue/space drama more than previous ''

'' series have done in the past. As the series begins, during a mission to an unexplored asteroid belt a reconnaissance New

U.N. Spacy is a Japanese science fiction mecha anime media franchise/media mix, created by Studio Nue (most prominently mecha designer, writer and producer Shōji Kawamori) and Artland in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth and the ...

(N.U.N.S.)

VF-171 Fighter Squadron 171 or VF-171 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as Fighter Squadron 82 (VF-82) on 1 April 1944, it was redesignated VF-17A on 15 November 1946, redesignated as VF-171 on 11 August 1948 and dises ...

is destroyed by extremely powerful and fast insectoid biomechanical alien

mecha In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the meaning in Japanese is ...

known as the "Vajra" which immediately begin their attack on the rest of the fleet. Unable to stop the new enemy threat, the N.U.N.S. Colonial Defense Forces authorizes the deployment of a private military provider organization called S.M.S. (Strategic Military Services) which utilizes the new VF-25 ''Messiah'' variable fighter to combat the alien menace.

Media

Anime

The series was animated by

Satelight is a Japanese animation studio. Aside from several stand-alone projects, the studio is well known for producing the '' Aquarion'' and ''Symphogear'' franchises, as well as later installments of the ''Macross'' franchise. The company's Represen ...

and was broadcast in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

on MBS from April 4, 2008 to September 26, 2008. A pre-broadcast airing titled ''Macross Frontier: Close Encounter - Deculture Edition'' or , showcasing a preview version of the first episode was aired on December 23, 2007. The series premiered on satellite television in Japan on

Animax , stylized as ANIMAX, is a Japanese animation satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. The channel also dubbed other cartoons in Japanese language. A subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, it is headq ...

on April 7, 2008.

Manga

Four separate

manga Manga ( Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is ...

adaptations were run in '' Shōnen Ace'', '' Comp Ace'' and ''

Bessatsu Friend , formerly known as , is a Japanese manga magazine published by Kodansha, aimed at teenage girls. It was originally conceived as a , or companion magazine, to ''Shōjo Friend'', which is no longer published. ''Bessatsu Friend'' is commonly kn ...

'', starting in December 2007, February 2008, July 2008, and September 2010, respectively.

Soundtrack

Others

Radio Macross

''Radio Macross'' is a radio program, based on ''Macross Frontier'', which was first broadcast on Bunka Hōsō and MBS Radio on January 3, 2008. It has featured

Megumi Nakajima is a Japanese voice actress and singer, who is affiliated with Stay Luck. Her involvement in the entertainment industry began in 2003 when she participated in an audition held by the talent agency Stardust Promotion, becoming affiliated with the ...

and Kenta Miyake, voice actors for the characters Ranka Lee and Bobby Margot, as hosts.

''Macross Fufonfia''

''Macross Fufonfia'' is a series of Flash-based 90-second promotional shorts developed by

and sponsored by

Mainichi Broadcasting System , or MBS, is a radio and television broadcasting company headquartered in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network (JRN), National Radio Network (NRN), Japan News Network (JNN) and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. It i ...

where characters from ''Macross Frontier'' are portrayed as

office ladies ''Office Ladies'' is a rewatch podcast hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey which premiered on the Earwolf platform on October 16, 2019. It is also produced by Earwolf. In each episode, Fischer and Kinsey, who co-starred on the American tele ...

and employees at the "Frontier Software Company". While not exactly standard anime, more a sort of paper cut-out animation, these

ONA Ona or ONA may refer to: Anthropology * Ona people, an indigenous people of southern Argentina and Chile ** Ona language, a language once spoken in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego * Ona, a pre-Aksumite culture in Sembel, Eritrea Geography * On ...

shorts are a fun spoof of the original series intended to promote the show. The series was aired in 2007 and featured 20 episodes.

''Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress''

A theatrical version of the ''Macross Frontier'' anime television series was announced in Japan during the broadcast of the 25th and final episode "Your Sound" ("Anata no Oto") on September 25, 2008. According to interviews with

Shōji Kawamori is a Japanese anime creator and producer, screenwriter, visual artist, and mecha designer. He is best known for creating the '' Macross'' mecha anime franchise and the ''Diaclone'' toyline, which were in turn the basis for the '' Robotech'' ...

the movie was to be an

adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

of the story from the television series. Japanese

magazine ''

Animedia is a Japanese monthly anime magazine by IID. First published on June 9, 1981. Overview Animedia was first published on June 9, 1981 by Gakken Holdings (currently IID). The magazine provides news and information on the anime industry, including ...

'' had originally announced that the film was to be released during the summer of 2009. Other reports later placed the premiere in the fall of 2009. That report was confirmed by an ''

itasha In Japan, an is a car decorated with images of characters from anime, manga, or video games (especially ''bishōjo'' games or ''eroge''). The decorations usually involve paint schemes and stickers. The cars are seen prominently in places such ...

'' (vehicle decorated with character art) mini-van outside the "Macross: The Super Dimension Space Launching Ceremony" event that took place on February 22, 2009 in Japan. However, at that point, the creator

Shoji Kawamori A is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of translucent (or transparent) sheets on a lattice frame. Where light transmission is not needed, the similar but opaque ''fusuma'' is used (oshiire/ ...

and the cast members Yuuichi Nakamura (Alto Saotome), Aya Endo (Sheryl Nome), and Megumi Nakajima ( Ranka Lee) noted on the actual event, that the new date and the title were still subjected to changes. The theatrical film adaptation of ''Macross Frontier'' opened in Japan on November 21, 2009, under the name . The Kadokawa Cineplex and Shochiku Multiplex theaters' websites revealed the title and date, and the second issue of Kadokawa Shoten's ''Macross Ace'' magazine eventually published the details on June 26, 2009. The teaser trailer for the film premiered in Japanese theaters on June 27, 2009 (the same day ticket pre-sales began in Japan). The first movie retells the events of the anime from episodes 1 to 13, with significant alterations to the story and timeline of the television series. A

Blu-ray Disc The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...

release of the movie, titled ''Macross Frontier The Movie: The False Songstress Hybrid Pack'', was released on October 7, 2010. The Blu-ray release contains the Blu-ray jacket, the hybrid disc, a 48-page artwork booklet, a theatrical release archive, and a card featuring frames from the movie. The pack also included a code that allowed the owner to be entered into a contest to attend the Macross F Christmas Live event that year. A PS3 game titled ''Macross Trial Frontier'' is included in the Hybrid Pack, playable on the PlayStation 3. A standard DVD was also released in the same day. Later Namco Bandai (now

Bandai Namco Holdings also known as the Bandai Namco Group and generally Bandai Namco, is a Japanese multinational holding company, production enterprise and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, formed from the merger of Bandai and Namco on ...

) released the ''Macross Frontier the Movie 30th d Shudisuta b Box'' on May 15, 2014.

''Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Farewell''

The official website of the Macross Frontier anime series has confirmed that there will be two theatrical ''Macross Frontier'' films. While ''The False Songstress'' primarily reedited footage from the show's initial 13 episodes, the second film, titled , diverges significantly from the events of the television series, featuring entirely new animation and new music. In the Macross Frontier Girasama Festival, the movie's release date is confirmed to be on February 26, 2011. ''The Wings of Farewell'' provides an original story and an alternate conclusion to ''Frontier'', following directly off of ''The False Songstress''. Blu-ray and DVD editions of the movie were released by Bandai Namco Games on October 20, 2011. The Blu-ray version is still a Hybrid Pack, the same as the first movie released in Blu-ray. A PS3 game titled ''Macross Last Frontier'' is included in the Hybrid Pack, and it can be played when the disc is in the PlayStation 3. Later, Namco Bandai (now

) released the ''Macross Frontier the Movie 30th d Shudisuta b Box'' on May 15, 2014.

Macross F Galaxy Tour Final in Budokan

In November 2008, a live concert of ''Macross Frontiers music was performed by May'n, Megumi Nakajima, and Yoko Kanno. A video recording of the concert was released in November 2009, and is available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

All That VF - Macross 25th Anniversary Air Show (Frontier Edition)

Coinciding with both the 25th anniversary of Macross and the Blu-ray releases of volume one of both '' Macross Zero'' and ''Macross Frontier'', the official website of ''Macross Frontier'' posted two newly animated short films featuring Air Show style demonstrations for both series. People who purchased the first pressings of either ''Macross Zero'' or ''Macross Frontier'' received a unique code to enter into the website and therefore be able to watch the short film of the respective anime.

International release

Due to a current legal dispute over the distribution rights of the ''Macross'' franchise, involving Studio Nue and Big West against Harmony Gold, much of the ''Macross'' merchandise post 1999, including ''Macross Frontier'', has not received an international release. However, on March 1, 2021, Big West, Studio Nue and Harmony Gold reached an agreement on the international distribution of most ''Macross'' sequels and films. The two ''Macross Frontier'' films each received a one-night theatrical release with English subtitles in the United States via Big West and Fathom Events, with ''The False Songstress'' shown on June 16, 2022, and ''The Wings of Farewell'' shown on June 30, 2022.

Reception

As a tribute to the popularity of the series, Japanese

champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, a ...

cosplay Cosplay, a portmanteau of "costume play", is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture ...

kickboxer Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general ...

Yuichiro Nagashima ("Jienotsu") crossplayed as the character Ranka Lee during one of his tournaments and also in a promotional event for the show. The first DVD volume of the series released in Japan by

Bandai Visual was a Japanese anime, film production, and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai and a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. They focused mainly in international distribution of anime properties in North America. Most of the anime and f ...

maintained the #3 spot in the sales chart for two consecutive weeks. It was revealed that about 45,000

s and 55,000 DVDs were shipped by Bandai Visual for the first volume. This marked the highest Blu-ray Disc pressing among all Bandai Visual releases. ''Macross Frontier'' was also reported to be the first anime television series to ship simultaneously on both disc formats in Japan. The original soundtrack of the series, ''Macross Frontier O.S.T.1 Nyan FRO'', made it to #3 in Oricon's's weekly album chart. The album sold over 72,000 copies, becoming the first anime album in eleven years to rank in Japan's top 3. The only anime album to rival these sales was ''The End of Evangelion'' soundtrack, released on September 26, 1997. The first opening single, "Triangular" by

Maaya Sakamoto Maaya may refer to: * Maaya (given name) Maaya (written: 真綾 or 真礼) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and voice actress *, Japanese actress and voice actress *, ...

, debuted at #3 in Oricon's weekly singles chart and maintained the spot for three weeks before falling to #6. The second single, "Diamond Crevasse" by

May'n , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer from Nagoya. Aspiring to become a musician since childhood, she began her music activities in 2003 upon passing an audition held by talent agency Horipro International. She made her major de ...

, also debuted at #3. The third single, Megumi Nakajima's "Seikan Hikō", reached #5 with 34,501 copies. The fourth single, including the second opening "Lion" and the second ending theme "Northern Cross", sold about 56,000 copies in its first week, reaching #3 as well. These four singles sold a total of over 500,000 copies, marking the start of a "new anime song boom" in Japan.

References

External links

*
Official Website @ MBS

Macross Frontier Official PV @ Bandai Channel (1Mbit/s)

Macross Frontier
entry at th
Macross Compendium
* *

A website profiling the fictional vehicles of the Macross series {{Authority control 2007 manga 2008 Japanese novels 2008 manga 2009 anime films 2011 anime films Fiction set in 2059 2000s romance films 2010s romance films 2000s science fiction films 2010s science fiction films Animated romance films PlayStation 3 games PlayStation 3-only games Anime series Animated films based on animated series Japan-exclusive video games Japanese animated science fiction films 2000s Japanese-language films Japanese idols in anime and manga Japanese romance films Japanese science fiction films Kadokawa Shoten manga Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko Light novels

Frontier A frontier is the political and geographical area near or beyond a boundary. A frontier can also be referred to as a "front". The term came from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"—the region of a country that fronts ...

Mainichi Broadcasting System original programming Mecha anime and manga Romance anime and manga Satelight Space opera anime and manga Shōnen manga Television series set in the 2050s