Macross Frontier

Macross Frontier(マクロスF(フロンティア),Makurosu Furontia)is a Japaneseanimetelevision series and the third Japanese anime television series set in theMacrossuniverse. It was broadcast onMBSfrom April 4, 2008 to September 26, 2008.

Macross Frontier
DVD cover ofMacross Frontier
マクロスF(フロンティア) (Makurosu Furontia)
Genre	Musical,romance,space opera
Created by	Studio Nue Shōji Kawamori
Anime television film
Macross Frontier: Close Encounter - Deculture Edition
Directed by	Yasuhito Kikuchi Shōji Kawamori
Studio	Satelight
Original network	MBS,TBS
Released	December 23, 2007(2007-12-23)
Runtime	27 minutes
Further information Manga Illustrated by Aoki Hayato Published by Kadokawa Shoten Magazine Shōnen Ace Demographic Shōnen Original run December 26, 2007–November 26, 2009 Volumes 5 Manga Macross F Chō Jikū Uta Miko Ranka Illustrated by Kuroiwa Yoshihiro Published by Kadokawa Shoten Magazine Comp Ace Demographic Shōnen Original run February 26, 2008–May 26, 2008 Anime television series Directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi Shōji Kawamori Produced by Hiroo Maruyama Daiki Hasebe(Bandai Visual) Shinichi Hirai Hirofumi Morotomi Written by Hiroyuki Yoshino Shōji Kawamori Music by Yoko Kanno Studio Satelight Licensed by Big West(licensing) Disney Platform Distribution(worldwide streaming license) NA:Crunchyroll(home video) Original network MBS,CBC,TBS,TBC,SBS,RCC,RKK Original run April 4, 2008–September 26, 2008 Episodes 25 Light novel Written by Ukyō Kodachi Illustrated by Risa Ebata Hayato Aoki Published by Kadokawa Shoten Imprint Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko Demographic Male Original run July 1, 2008–March 1, 2009 Volumes 4 Manga Macross F Dakishimete, Ginga no Hate Made Illustrated by Sorahiko Mizushima Published by Kadokawa Shoten Magazine Comp Ace Demographic Shōnen Original run July 26, 2008–Feb 26, 2009 Anime film The False Songstress Directed by Shōji Kawamori Produced by Shinichi Hirai Hisanori Kunisaki Written by Hiroyuki Yoshino Shōji Kawamori Music by Yoko Kanno Studio Satelight Eight Bit Licensed by Big West(licensing) Disney Platform Distribution(worldwide streaming license) Released November 21, 2009(2009-11-21) Runtime 120 minutes Manga Sheryl~Kiss in the Galaxy Illustrated by Kariko Koyama Published by Kodansha Magazine Bessatsu Friend Demographic Shōjo Original run September 13, 2010–October 10, 2012 Volumes 4 Anime film The Wings of Farewell Directed by Shōji Kawamori Produced by Shinichi Hirai Hisanori Kunisaki Written by Hiroyuki Yoshino Shōji Kawamori Music by Yoko Kanno Studio Satelight Licensed by Big West(licensing) Disney Platform Distribution(worldwide streaming license) Released February 26, 2011(2011-02-26) Runtime 115 minutes Anime film Labyrinth of Time Directed by Shōji Kawamori Written by Shoji Kawamori Music by Yoko Kanno Studio Satelight Licensed by Big West(licensing) Disney Platform Distribution(worldwide streaming license) Released October 8, 2021(2021-10-08) Runtime 14 minutes

Macross Frontieris the story of a human space colony fleet trying to find a habitable planet near the center of theMilky Way.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

Main article:List of Macross Frontier characters

The series features the 25th New Macross-class Colonial Fleet, dubbed theMacross Frontier,en route to the galactic center. This heavily populatedinterstellarfleet (consisting of numerous civilian vessels and their military escorts) contains a makeup of both human occupants and theirZentradiallies. As such, many of theMacross Frontier's companion vessels appear to merge more metallic Human designs with organicZentradiaesthetics.Macross Frontier'splot explores a combination of action/political intrigue/space drama more than previousMacrossseries have done in the past.

As the series begins, during a mission to an unexplored asteroid belt a reconnaissance NewU.N. Spacy(N.U.N.S.)VF-171is destroyed by extremely powerful and fast insectoid biomechanical alienmechaknown 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 aprivate military providerorganization called S.M.S. (Strategic Military Services) which utilizes the new VF-25Messiahvariable fighter to combat the alien menace.

Media

Anime

Main article:List of Macross Frontier episodes

The series was animated bySatelightand was broadcast inJapanonMBSfrom April 4, 2008 to September 26, 2008.A pre-broadcast airing titledMacross Frontier: Close Encounter - Deculture EditionorMacross Special Edition(マクロスSP bản,Makurosu SP Ban),showcasing a preview version of the first episode was aired on December 23, 2007. The series premiered on satellite television in Japan onAnimaxon April 7, 2008.

The series started streaming onDisney+globally (via theStarhub) in 2024.The series started streaming onHuluin the United States on January 13, 2025.

Manga

Four separatemangaadaptations were run inShōnen Ace,Comp AceandBessatsu Friend,starting in December 2007, February 2008, July 2008, and September 2010, respectively.

Soundtrack

See also:List of Macross Frontier albums

Others

Radio Macross

Radio Macrossis a radio program, based onMacross Frontier,which was first broadcast onBunka HōsōandMBS Radioon January 3, 2008. It has featuredMegumi NakajimaandKenta Miyake,voice actors for the characters Ranka Lee and Bobby Margot, as hosts.

Macross Fufonfia

Macross Fufonfiais a series ofFlash-based 90-second promotional shorts developed bySatelightand sponsored byMainichi Broadcasting Systemwhere characters fromMacross Frontierare portrayed asoffice ladiesand employees at the "Frontier Software Company". While not exactly standard anime, more a sort of paper cut-out animation, theseONAshorts 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

Macross Trial Frontier
Developer(s)	Artdink
Publisher(s)	Bandai NamcoGames
Series	Macross
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3
Release	JP:October 7, 2010 (AlongsideMacross Frontier The Movie: The False SongstressHybrid Pack)
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single-player

A theatrical version of theMacross Frontieranime 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 withShōji Kawamorithe movie was to be anadaptationof the story from the television series. JapaneseanimemagazineAnimediahad 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 anitasha(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 creatorShoji Kawamoriand 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 ofMacross Frontieropened in Japan on November 21, 2009, under the nameMacross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress(Kịch tràng bản マクロスF hư không ca cơ 〜イツワリノウタヒメ〜,Gekijōban Makurosu Furontia Itsuwari no Utahime).The Kadokawa Cineplex and Shochiku Multiplex theaters' websites revealed the title and date, and the second issue of Kadokawa Shoten'sMacross Acemagazine 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.

ABlu-ray Discrelease of the movie, titledMacross 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 titledMacross Trial Frontieris included in the Hybrid Pack, playable on the PlayStation 3. A standard DVD was also released in the same day. Later Namco Bandai (nowBandai Namco Holdings) released theMacross Frontier the Movie 30th d Shudisuta b Boxon May 15, 2014.

Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Farewell

Macross Last Frontier
Developer(s)	Artdink
Publisher(s)	Bandai NamcoGames
Series	Macross
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3
Release	JP:October 20, 2011 (AlongsideMacross Frontier The Movie: The Wings of GoodbyeHybrid Pack)
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single-player

The official website of the Macross Frontier anime series has confirmed that there will be two theatricalMacross Frontierfilms. WhileThe False Songstressprimarily reedited footage from the show's initial 13 episodes, the second film, titledMacross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Farewell(Kịch tràng bản マクロスF luyến ly phi dực 〜サヨナラノツバサ〜,Gekijōban Makurosu Furontia Sayonara no Tsubasa),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 Farewellprovides an original story and an alternate conclusion toFrontier,following directly off ofThe False Songstress.

Blu-ray and DVD editions of the movie were released byBandai NamcoGames 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 titledMacross Last Frontieris included in the Hybrid Pack, and it can be played when the disc is in the PlayStation 3.Later, Namco Bandai (nowBandai Namco Holdings) released theMacross Frontier the Movie 30th d Shudisuta b Boxon May 15, 2014.

Macross F Galaxy Tour Final in Budokan

In November 2008, a live concert ofMacross Frontier's 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 bothMacross ZeroandMacross Frontier,the official website ofMacross Frontierposted two newly animated short films featuring Air Show style demonstrations for both series. People who purchased the first pressings of eitherMacross ZeroorMacross Frontierreceived a unique code to enter into the website and therefore be able to watch the short film of the respective anime.

International release

See also:Macross § Legal complications with international distribution

Due to the legal dispute over the distribution rights of theMacrossfranchise, involving Studio Nue and Big West against Harmony Gold, much of theMacrossmerchandise post 1999, includingMacross Frontier,has not received an international release.Until Big West, Studio Nue and Harmony Gold reached an agreement on the international distribution of mostMacrosssequels and films, on March 1, 2021.

The twoMacross Frontierfilms each received a one-night theatrical release with English subtitles in the United States via Big West andFathom Events,withThe False Songstressshown on June 16, 2022, andThe Wings of Farewellshown on June 30, 2022.

Reception

As a tribute to the popularity of the series, JapanesechampioncosplaykickboxerYuichiro Nagashima( "Jienotsu" )crossplayedas 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 byBandai Visualmaintained the #3 spot in the sales chart for two consecutive weeks.It was revealed that about 45,000Blu-ray Discsand 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 Frontierwas also reported to be the first anime television series to ship simultaneously on both disc formats in Japan.

Theoriginal soundtrackof the series,Macross Frontier O.S.T.1 Nyan FRO,made it to #3 inOricon'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 wasThe End of Evangelionsoundtrack, released on September 26, 1997.

The first opening single, "Triangular" byMaaya Sakamoto,debuted at #3 inOricon's weekly singles chartand maintained the spot for three weeks before falling to #6. The second single, "Diamond Crevasse" byMay'n,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.

Macross Frontierwon the 40thSeiun Awardin the Best Dramatic Presentation category.Furthermore,Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Farewellalso won the 2011NewtypeAnime Awards for Best Anime Film and Theatrical Film Award at the 2011Animation Kobe(the latter prize was previously awarded to numerous Animated Film includingSpirited AwayandWALL-E).

External links

• Official website
• Official Website @ MBS
• Macross Frontier Official PV @ Bandai Channel (1Mbit/s)
• Macross Frontierentry at theMacross Compendium
• Macross Frontier(anime) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia
• Macross FrontieratIMDb
• Macross Mecha ManualA website profiling the fictional vehicles of the Macross series