Summary: >

Macross Plus is primarily about a test pilot named Isamu Dyson. Dyson is selected to pilot a new type of fighter as the next generation in the RDF fleet. There is a competing fighter also being tested however, and it is flown by Guld Bowman who was once Isamu's friend but now the two are enemies. Dyson's fighter also has another twist in that the pilot doesn't control the fighter through standard controls, but instead uses a cybernetic link directly to the pilots brain.

Things become intense not only in the competition between fighters, but also on a very personal level. Things get to the boiling point when they also end up fighting over the woman they both knew as teenagers: Myung Lone. Myung is now the manager for the hottest pop star Sharon Apple. Well manager may not be the right term since Sharon isn't actually real, she's more like a virtual idol. With all the male fighting going on over her, the last thing Myung needed was another headache. But when Sharon becomes self aware Myung finds that some male squabbling may be the least of her troubles when a virtual idol's jealously could lead to her being killed.

Thoughts: >

So where to start with an action anime that does everything right? Well first of all this is an installment in the Macross franchise, but most of the crazy stuff about Minmay and such isn't present (to the relief of many). The core elements of what made Macross are also present here: mecha action and music.

However as a mecha anime, this is probably the most approachable title out there for non mecha anime fans. The action is solid and actually not so much about "robots" as it is about jet fighters - think of it in terms of a futuristic Top Gun. It's got all the great action you'd expect, including the signature uber Macross missile attacks but the animation is actually pretty good in elements not related to the fighting action.

The music for this series is just superb. It's supplied in not only interesting ways by Sharon Apple directly, but in her themes as background music. It supplements the animation to great effect. During the climax the song "Information High" supplies an intense techno beat which is coupled with fantastic animation sequences. In contrast the tranquil music at the beginning of the series along with the serene animation fully makes you understand how Guld and Isamu were friends without a single word spoken.

Now as far as the story goes, it's about as solid as you're going to get. It evolves at the perfect pace with some minor interesting twists but nothing confusing. It's not going to blow your mind, but for an action title spanning four OVAs it's about as good as a coherent action based anime gets.

Personally I'd recommend this to anyone unless you specifically don't like action. Having actually met a person who didn't like this title, I'll say I don't know what their beef is since this anime didn't have a single weak point. Oh, and in parting thoughts I will mention that this anime is a four part OVA. You'll probably also find that there is another "movie" version of this anime, where they claim to have joined everything together. Having had the misfortune of seeing this incarnation I will implore you to avoid it at all costs. It essentially butchers most of the story and cuts out a lot of plot development. Macross Plus is perfectly balanced at 4 OVAs, the movie version just takes that and turns it into into a more chopped up incarnation of itself. Some however say they like the move more, particularly the ending which was less... abrupt than the OVA so I suppose you might want to keep that in mind.

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