Last week I started doing something that I honestly should have done years ago.

I started watching ROBOTECH.

For Christmas I got the 3rd Robotech Remastered DVD box set. While this was a nice gesture, it really didn’t do me any good since I would need to watch the episodes from the 1st and 2nd box sets before delving into the 3rd. But it was finally a good excuse to go and buy that show, something I had wanted to do for a long time since I know that Robotech is probably the single most important entity in the proliferation of anime fandom in North America. So at Anime North I bought the other two box sets I needed up to that point, giving me the complete Macross chapter of the saga.

I wasn’t really able to get to watching them until last week, but I’m glad I waited until I had a significant block of time to devote to the experience. I started watching at midnight, and before I knew it, it was 6 a.m. and I was finished with 12 episodes. I watched Robotech for 6 straight hours, and enjoyed every last minute of it. It was awesome.

I’ve often gotten really frustrated with people who are still so upset over how Carl Macek took these 3 unrelated shows and changed them so that they’d fit together. As if it isn’t bad enough that they can’t get over it even 20 years later, but there were reasons why that had to happen and it’s not a secret to anyone. I prefer anime presented in it’s pure form too, but Robotech was what it had to be for its time, and the results were still great. There was no hate or spite in the creation of Robotech. Having seen 36 episodes of the show, I can safely say that there was more love and care put into that series than any fansub I’ve ever seen.

It’s probably going to be awhile before I see anymore episodes though. I’ve just recently gotten word of a new collected edition that contains all 14 disks of the show, plus the 7 extra disks with bonus material that were included in the original DVD releases. I’m thinking I’ll wait for that to come out and put it on my Christmas list this year.

Even though it’s been a long time coming, I think I picked a great time to finally get into Robotech. After years and years of rumors and false starts, Robotech is finally getting a brand new sequel! It’s called “The Shadow Chronicles“. I’ll be keeping my eye on that too.

For those who have yet to see Robotech, I totally recommend that you do. Not only is it an important piece of anime history for both sides of the Pacific, it’s also just really good Sci-fi with a solid human story. Don’t let it’s age fool you. Don’t let the elitist anime fans stop you. Don’t even let the fact that it’s animated prevent you from watching this show if you’re not into cartoons. Robotech is quality stuff. Watch it.

It sure kicks Star Trek’s ass, at least.

Sayonara.