Robotech (TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robotech
Title screen from the 1985 broadcast
Genre	Epic, Mecha, Space opera
Created by	Carl Macek
Based on	Part 1: Super Dimension Fortress Macross (by Studio Nue) Part 2: Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross Part 3: Genesis Climber MOSPEADA
Screenplay by	Ardwight Chamberlain Greg Finley Steve Flood Jason Klassi Steve Kramer Mike Reynolds Gregory Snegoff Jim Wager Tao Will Uncredited: Winston Richard Tom Wyner
Story by	Carl Macek
Directed by	Robert V. Barron Ippei Kuri Uncredited: Noboru Ishiguro Yasuo Hasegawa Katsuhisa Yamada
Starring	(see below)
Narrated by	J. Jay Smith
Theme music composer	Ulpio Minucci
Composer(s)	Ulpio Minucci
Country of origin	United States Japan
No. of seasons	1 (3 parts)
No. of episodes	85 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s)	Carl Macek Ahmed Agrama
Animator(s)	Tatsunoko Production
Running time	25 minutes
Production company(s)	Harmony Gold USA Uncredited: Studio Nue Artland Artmic
Distributor	Harmony Gold USA
Release
Original network	First-run syndication Sci-Fi Channel Cartoon Network KTEH
Picture format	NTSC
Audio format	1.0 monaural (1985) 5.1 Dolby surround sound (2004)
Original release	March 4 – June 28, 1985 (1985-06-28)
Chronology
Preceded by	Codename: Robotech
Followed by	Robotech: The Movie Robotech II: The Sentinels Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Robotech: Love Live Alive

Robotech is a cool American animated TV show from 1985. It has 85 episodes and is about giant robots and space battles! The show was created by combining three different Japanese anime series. In the world of Robotech, a special alien technology called "Robotechnology" is found. This tech helps Earth build amazing robotic machines, many of which can turn into vehicles. These robots are used to fight three big alien invasions.

What is Robotech?

Robotech was one of the first anime shows in the United States that tried to keep the exciting stories and drama from its original Japanese versions. It was made by Harmony Gold USA and Tatsunoko Production.

The show combines animation and stories from three Japanese anime series:

• The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (from 1982)
• Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (from 1984)
• Genesis Climber Mospeada (from 1983)

Harmony Gold decided to combine these shows because TV stations in the US needed at least 65 episodes for a show to air every weekday. Each Japanese series had fewer episodes than that.

How the Show Was Made

Carl Macek, a key person in bringing anime to the US, was in charge of adapting the Japanese stories. American writers helped change the scripts for the new combined show.

This combination created one big story that covers three generations of humans fighting three "Robotech Wars." They are fighting over a powerful energy source called "Protoculture."

The Three Robotech Wars

• The First Robotech War (The Macross Saga): This part is about humanity finding a crashed alien spaceship. They then have to fight giant alien warriors called the Zentraedi. Earth is almost destroyed, but the Zentraedi are defeated. Humans learn about Protoculture and also about the Robotech Masters, who the Zentraedi worked for.
• The Second Robotech War (The Masters): The Robotech Masters arrive near Earth, looking for Protoculture. Because of misunderstandings, a new war starts. The Masters are defeated, but their actions spread spores of a plant called the "Flower of Life" across Earth. This plant is the source of Protoculture and attracts a mysterious alien race called the Invid.
• The Third Robotech War (The New Generation): The Invid arrive on Earth, drawn by the Flower of Life, and quickly take over the planet. Many heroes from the First Robotech War had left Earth to find the Robotech Masters. Now, this "Robotech Expeditionary Force" sends missions back to Earth to try and free their home world. This part of the story follows a group of freedom fighters as they battle the Invid.

What is Codename: Robotech?

Codename: Robotech was a special 73-minute animated pilot episode that came out before the main series. It showed events from the First Robotech War. It was a longer version of an episode called Gloval's Report. Some TV stations aired it before the series started in 1985.

Where and When Robotech Aired

Robotech first aired in the United States in 1985. It was sold directly to local TV stations, which was a new trend for cartoons back then. This was often done to help sell toys related to the show. Even though Robotech was popular, the toys didn't sell as well, which might have affected plans for future Robotech shows.

Robotech Around the World

• Australia: Aired from 1986 to 1995 on different networks.
• France: Broadcast in 1987 and again in 1991.
• Philippines: Aired in the late 1980s.
• Hong Kong: Aired all 85 episodes from 1994 to 1995.
• UK: Shown on The Children's Channel in the mid to late 1980s.
• Spain: Aired from 1990 to 1991, and again from 1993 to 1994.
• Russia: A dubbed version was shown in 1992 and again in 2012.
• Middle East: An Arabic version started airing in 2010 on MBC 3.

Later Airings in North America

Robotech has been shown again on many channels over the years:

• Sci-Fi Channel in 1993
• Cartoon Network's Toonami in 1998 (only episodes 1-60)
• Superstation KTEH (a PBS station) showed parts of the series.
• The Anime Network and Space (Canada) also aired it.
• As of 2017, all three parts of Robotech are available to stream on Netflix.
• Pluto TV started showing the original Japanese versions (Macross, Southern Cross, Mospeada) in 2019.

Home Video Releases

Over the years, Robotech has been released on many different home video formats, including VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD.

• Early releases on VHS often had edited versions of the show.
• Later, the full, uncut series was released on VHS and Laserdisc.
• In 2001, ADV Films started releasing the entire series on DVD. These DVDs often included special features and even earlier versions of the Japanese shows.
• Some fans were excited when a "remastered" version of Robotech was released on DVD. This version had improved video and sound, with new opening and ending scenes.
• Other companies like Manga Entertainment (UK) and Madman Entertainment (Australia) also released Robotech DVDs.
• More recently, A&E Networks Home Entertainment and Funimation have taken over the rights to release Robotech on home video.

Original Series Cast and Crew

Many of the voice actors used different names (pseudonyms) because Robotech was not a union project.

What Happened After the Original Series?

Harmony Gold tried to make more Robotech shows and movies after the original series.

• Robotech II: The Sentinels was a planned follow-up, but it faced problems with toy licensing and money issues. The story of The Sentinels continued in books and comic books.
• Robotech: The Movie (1986) had a very limited release and wasn't widely seen.
• A planned project called Robotech 3000 was canceled in 2000 after fans didn't like its preview.
• Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles was a movie released in 2006 that continued the story directly from the original series' last episode.
• Robotech: Shadow Rising was a planned sequel to Shadow Chronicles but was never made.
• There have been talks about making a live-action Robotech movie, with Tobey Maguire (from Spider-Man) possibly involved.
• Robotech: Love Live Alive was released in 2013, based on a Japanese animation but with new parts.
• Robotech: Academy was a planned TV pilot that tried to get funding from fans, but it didn't reach its goal and was canceled.

Images for kids

• 

  Title screen from the 1985 broadcast

See also

In Spanish: Robotech (serie animada de 1985) para niños