Released in 1994, the original version of Macross Plus was a set of four 40 minute OVAs produced by Shoji Kawamori to predate the release of Macross 7 in the same year. Set thirty years after the original Macross series reaches its conclusion, Plus chronicles the development of the YF-19 and -21 fighters, the latter of which is the signature mecha of the main character in Macross 7. Thrown into the mix is a love square between Guld Bowman, test pilot of the YF-21; Isamu Dyson, test pilot of the YF-19; Myung Fan Lone, former singer and current producer of the fourth member of the love square: the self aware, and obsessive, Sharon Apple. The movie version covered in this review is a retelling of the story from the OVA series.

As with the previous Macross Plus installment, the Macross Plus movie revolves around conflict. Isamu and Guld compete for the success of their respective aircraft and for the love of Myung, their former high school sweetheart; Guld and Myung are at constant odds with their respective pasts; and, Myung is at conflict with her role as manager of Sharon Apple, when she really desires to be the one singing. This is a marked departure from all of the other Macross installments, whose primary conflicts were more about humans versus brutal aliens than internal strife between the characters. In fact, this movie version forces all the action to take a back seat to the characters themselves.

Added into this mix of complex and dynamic characters are the supporting characters, each of which is a Macross archetype. The first one we encounter is Lucy MacMillan, who is drawn into the vortex of Guld/Isamu/Myung/Sharon because of her relationship with Isamu. She's a mix of the bridge bunnies (three women who were the bridge crew of the SDF-1), and a large part of the changes within the series. The second is Yang Newmann, principal designer of the YF-19; his character seems to be a sort of counterpoint to Isamu's energetic testing of his aircraft. The third is Colonel Milliard, commander of the New Edwards test base on Eden. Milliard is essentially a more radical version of Captain Gloval; he covers for Isamu when he "borrows" the YF-19.

The quality of the animation is superb: the original four OVAs were the most expensive OVA productions in anime history, and the movie continues the trend. All of the footage seen in the motion picture has been lifted straight from the OVAs and it retains its impeccable animation quality. The animation combines traditional cel animation with the newer CG technology, though it may seem slightly dated in comparison to the likes of Cowboy Bebop and the Zone of the Enders series. The movie edition brings in 10 minutes of additional animated footage, including an expanded version of Sharon's concert on Earth and Guld's pitched battle with the Ghost.

Sonically, Macross Plus is a work of art. The movie edition retains all of the music from the original, with the addition of one new song for Sharon's earth concert. The music itself was composed by Yoko Kanno of Cowboy Bebop fame, and serves to heighten mood in most instances. There are some instances, like during Guld and Isamu's fight in the later half of the movie, where the music doesn't fit, though. The Japanese comes through in remarkable clarity, including some modifications to the dialogue. I feel compelled to mention the changes in the sound effects: the YF-2's laser weapon has been given the same sound effect as a bullet weapon, as opposed to the high whine of the laser in the OVAs, just a little thing.

As with the additions, the movie version makes multiple subtractions in favor of story continuity and plot development. First of all, Isamu no longer comes to Myung's aid after receiving a mysterious phone call: he's having sex with Lucy, so he never gets the phone call. The test that leads to the fight between Isamu in the YF-19 and Isamu in the YF-21 never takes place: the footage is replaced with the abortive test of the YF-21 that leads to Guld squashing Isamu with the 21 after Isamu saves his bacon. This makes more sense, considering Isamu would have definitely suffered some injury there.

The menus are simplicity in themselves: easy to navigate and presented in vibrant colors. The main menu features a remix of A Sai En playing in the background, which, unfortunately, isn't carried into the special features or set up menus. The Audio options include Dolby 2.1 and 5.0 sound in Japanese; an English audio track was not included (thankfully!) because Manga entertainment did not dub the additional 10 minutes of footage. The special features include previews, trailers for the OVA, character bios, an art gallery, and the credits for the OVA episodes.

So how does the movie edition stack up against the OVA? Favorably, the movie edition’s modifications to the story and the overall presentation of the plot allow for a more concise and cohesive storyline, easier to grasp for newbies to anime. Additionally, the movie edition’s new content (Sharon Apple's dream sequence) allows for a better explanation of the movie’s conclusion. All in all, the movie version stands as a better alternative to purchasing both Macross Plus DVDs or collecting all four VHS copies.

If you've never seen Macross and Plus is your first introduction to its world, it does the job remarkably well. Long time Macross enthusiasts will be pleased with the return of Shoji Kawamori to the franchise and with the depth of the plot. I wouldn't recommend it to younger audiences due to the sexual content and the amount of profanity that Isamu spews on a regular basis, but for more mature viewers, Plus is a taste of what anime could and should be.

Distributor: Manga Entertainment
Creator: Macross Project
Released: 1995

Plot: A
Character Design: A
Music: A+
Animation Quality: A
Overall: A