Robotech facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robotech |
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Title screen from the 1985 television broadcast
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| Original work | Robotech (1985) | |
| Owner | Harmony Gold USA | |
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| Books |
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| Novels | Robotech novels | |
| Comics | Robotech comics | |
| Films and television | ||
| Films |
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| Animated series | Robotech (1985)
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| Games | ||
| Traditional | Robotech Collectible Card Game | |
| Role-playing | Robotech role-playing games | |
| Video games |
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| Audio | ||
| Original music | Robotech music | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Toys | Robotech Defenders Robotech Robolinks |
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Robotech is a cool American science fiction story that started with a TV show in 1985. It's an anime series made by Harmony Gold USA and Tatsunoko Production. This TV show was made by combining three different Japanese anime series: Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA. They were put together to create a longer story for TV in the United States.
In the Robotech world, "Robotechnology" is special science found in an alien spaceship that crashed on an island. This technology helped Earth create amazing robots and transformable mecha. These machines were used to fight against three different alien invasions.
Contents
What Does the Name "Robotech" Mean?
Before the TV show, a model kit company called Revell used the name "Robotech" for their Robotech Defenders toys in the 1980s. These toys were mecha models from Japanese anime shows like Super Dimension Fortress Macross.
Later, Harmony Gold got the rights to the Macross TV show. They decided to use the "Robotech" name for their new combined TV series. This series brought together Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA into one big story.
The Robotech Story Timeline
The Robotech story happens over many years. Here's how the main parts fit together:
| Timeline | Story Part (release date) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 (2009) – 2014 | (1) | Robotech: The Macross Saga (1985) |
| 2022 | Robotech II: The Sentinels* (1987) | |
| 2027 | Robotech: The Movie* (1986) | |
| 2029–2030 | (2) | Robotech: The Masters (1985) |
| 2031 (2042) – 2044 | (3) | Robotech: The New Generation (1985) |
| 2044– | Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles (2006) | |
Some older Robotech stories, like Robotech II: The Sentinels and Robotech: The Movie, are now considered "secondary continuity." This means their events still exist in the Robotech world, but the main story comes from the original TV series and the 2006 movie Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.
TV Shows and Movies
The Original TV Series
The Robotech TV show from 1985 tells a new story using animation from three different Japanese mecha anime series:
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982–1983)
- Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984)
- Genesis Climber MOSPEADA (1983–1984)
Harmony Gold combined these shows because TV stations needed at least 65 episodes for a daily show. Each original Japanese series had fewer episodes. By combining them, they created a long story that spans three generations. Humanity has to fight three big "Robotech Wars" against different alien groups. Each group wants a powerful energy source called 'protoculture'.
- The First Robotech War (The Macross Saga): This part is about humans finding a crashed alien ship. They fight giant warriors called the Zentraedi. Earth is almost destroyed, but the Zentraedi are defeated. Humans learn about protoculture and the Robotech Masters.
- The Second Robotech War (The Masters): The Robotech Masters arrive on Earth looking for the only way to make protoculture. A war starts, and the Masters are defeated. Earth becomes covered in spores of a plant called the Flower of Life, which attracts the mysterious Invid.
- The Third Robotech War (The New Generation): The Invid arrive on Earth, drawn by the Flower of Life, and quickly take over. Many heroes from the First War had left Earth to find the Robotech Masters. Now, the Robotech Expeditionary Force sends teams back to free their home planet. This story follows one group of fighters trying to reach the final battle with the Invid.
Robotech: The Movie
Robotech: The Movie was the first new Robotech adventure after the original TV series. It used animation from a Japanese movie called Megazone 23 – Part 1, plus scenes from "Southern Cross" and new animation. The movie had a limited release and was not very successful.
Robotech II: The Sentinels
This was a planned American series that would have continued the adventures of Rick and Lisa Hunter. It was meant to show what happened during the events of The Masters and The New Generation. Only three episodes were made. The series was canceled because of money problems.
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles
In 2002, a new movie sequel was announced, called Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. This movie continues the story from the end of the original TV series. Trailers were shown in 2005, and the movie was released in 2007. It was shown at film festivals and then on DVD.
Robotech: Love Live Alive
This movie was revealed in 2011. It's based on a 1985 Japanese animation called Love Live Alive, with some new animation added. The film was released on DVD in 2013.
Other TV and Film Projects
Robotech 3000
There was an idea for a new Robotech series called Robotech 3000. This would have been a fully computer-animated show set 1,000 years in the future. It would not have featured any of the old characters. A short trailer was made, but the idea was stopped because fans didn't like it and the company had money problems.
Robotech: Mars Force
In 2004, writer Greg Weisman worked on an animated spin-off called Robotech: Mars Force. This series was planned for younger audiences and would follow the children of the Robotech Expeditionary Force. A similar idea was later used for the canceled Robotech Academy.
Robotech: Shadow Rising
In 2007, a second movie in the Shadow Chronicles series was announced, called Robotech: Shadow Rising. It was planned for 2009, but production stopped due to disagreements between the companies involved.
Robotech Academy
In 2014, Harmony Gold tried to raise money through Kickstarter for a new pilot episode of Robotech Academy. This project was developed by Carl Macek before he passed away. They wanted to make a new 24-minute episode, but they didn't reach their funding goal. The project is currently not being made.
Proposed Live-Action Film
There have been many attempts to make a live-action Robotech movie. The rights to the film have changed hands several times. In 2007, Warner Bros. got the rights, and Tobey Maguire was set to produce it. Many writers and directors were attached to the project over the years.
In 2015, Sony Pictures took over the film rights. In 2021, an agreement was reached with the Japanese company Big West, which means the live-action Robotech movie can move forward. As of 2022, Rhys Thomas is set to direct the film.
Other Robotech Stuff
When the Robotech TV show first came out, there were also comics, novels, role-playing games, and toys. Many of these items were stopped when Robotech II: The Sentinels was canceled.
Art Books
Several art books have been released, showing artwork and designs from the Robotech series. These include Robotech Art 1 (1986) and The Art of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles (2007).
Comics
Robotech comics have been published by many different companies over the years, starting in 1984. Some of the publishers include Comico, Wildstorm (DC), and Titan Comics.
Collectible Card Game
A Robotech collectible card game was released in 2006 by Hero Factory.
Music and Soundtracks
You can find various Robotech soundtracks on records, cassettes, and CDs. These include music from the TV show and video games.
Novelizations
The Robotech story was also turned into novels by writers using the name "Jack McKinney". These books added many details to the story. Even though some parts are different from the main TV show story, many fans love these novels.
Role-Playing Games
In 1986, Palladium Books released a role-playing game based on Robotech. Players could create their own adventures in the Robotech universe. A new line of Robotech RPG books started in 2007. There's also a tabletop miniatures game called "Robotech: RPG Tactics."
Toys
Action figures of Robotech characters were first released in 1985 by Matchbox toy company. These figures were about 3.75 inches tall. Matchbox also made larger figures of the giant Zentraedi characters.
Many toys of the vehicles and mecha from the series were also released. These included transformable Veritech Fighters. Since the late 1990s, new Robotech toys have been made, with Toynami becoming the main toy maker.
Video Games
Robotech has inspired several video games:
- Robotech: Crystal Dreams: This game was planned for the Nintendo 64 but was canceled.
- Robotech: Battlecry (2002): This game for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube takes place during the Macross era. Some of the original voice actors from the TV show returned for this game.
- Robotech: The Macross Saga (2002): A side-scrolling shooter for the Game Boy Advance.
- Robotech: Invasion (2004): A first- or third-person shooter for Xbox and PlayStation 2. It covers the New Generation part of the story and features transformable body armor/motorcycles called Cyclones.
- Robotech: The New Generation (2007): A top-down scrolling shooter for mobile phones. You can play as different characters and transform into "Battloid Mode."
- Robotech: The Macross Saga HD Edition (2021): A remake of the 2002 Game Boy Advance game, with updated graphics for the Nintendo Switch.
See also
In Spanish: Robotech para niños
