Summary
Unavailable shows and movies being unavailable normally aren’t the result of lack of interest; sometimes there are legal matters that are messy and tangled. Otherwise, known as ‘red tape,’ sometimes classic media finds itself in a position where fans want to see the media, executives want to sell you the media, but no one is quite sure who owns what (in some cases themedia in question IS lost, which is different).
In the case ofMacross, rights issues have prevented most of the franchise from being available to the world for years. Now, that is going to change, and fans may have Disney to thank for that.
What is Macross?
Macrossis a Japanese science fiction franchise that originated with the 1982 anime television seriesSuper Dimension Fortress Macross. It is known for itsmecha (giant robot) battles, intricate storytelling, and music, particularly through the use of pop songs as a central plot element. The originalSuper Dimension Fortress Macrossseries follows the story of humanity’s struggle against alien invaders known as the Zentradi, who are drawn into a conflict centered around a massive spaceship called the Macross. The series combines elements of space opera, romance, and military drama.
A Quick Breakdown of the Macross Series
If you want to get intoMacross, there is a lot to choose from. Here are the various TV series, movies, and OVA’s that are available toMacrossfans:
Here’s a comprehensive list of the main Macross anime series, OVAs, and movies:
TV series
OVA series
Macross Delta the Movie: Absolute Live!!!!!!(2021)
Movie
Please note that the above list includes themain entries in theMacrossfranchise, but there are also various additional media, spin-offs, and adaptations that expand upon the Macross universe. However, most of these installments in the franchise have not been legally available in most of the world for years, and fans have a little company called Harmony Gold to thank for that.
The History of Macross in America
The history ofMacrossin America is closely tied to its localization and distribution under the American titleRobotech. In the early 1980s, Harmony Gold USA acquired the rights to several Japanese anime series, includingSuper Dimension Fortress Macross,Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, andGenesis Climber MOSPEADA. These three series had nothing to do with one another other than a slight similarity in the animation style, but that wasn’t an issue for Harmony Gold.
The Birth Of Harmony Gold’s Robotech
Harmony Gold took these three series and rebranded them to createRobotech, a single continuity spanning three generations of mecha warfare. Yes, you heard right: Harmony Gold took three unrelated series and edited them together into one show (there’s a reason the’sub vs. dub' debate was a thing).Robotechpremiered in the United States in 1985 and quickly gained popularity, becoming a cult classic among American fans of science fiction and anime. The series aired on television and was accompanied by a range of tie-in merchandise, including toys, comics, and novels.
Robotechdiverged significantly from the original Japanese series in terms of story, character development, and cultural references.
WhileRobotechintroduced many Americans to the concepts and themes ofMacross, it also diverged significantly from the original Japanese series in terms of story, character development, and cultural references. Despite these differences,Robotechplayed a significant role in popularizing anime in the West and remains a beloved franchise to this day, and fans who saw it on TV tend to have fond memories of the series.
At some point, severalMacrossseries and movies were released in the United States in their original form, either through official licensing agreements or unofficial fan translations. These releases allowed American audiences to experienceMacrossin its original Japanese language with English subtitles, providing a different perspective on the franchise compared toRobotech. That said, it didn’t mean Harmony Gold wanted to letMacrossbecome a household name either (thesame as other studios).
Harmony Gold Provides Legal Headaches
The legal issues between Harmony Gold and the creators ofMacrossstem from the complex rights situation surrounding the distribution and adaptation of theMacrossseries outside of Japan. Harmony Gold holds the rights to theRobotechfranchise, which includes the adaptation of the previously mentioned anime series. One of the key legal issues arises from Harmony Gold’s assertion of exclusive rights to distribute and adapt the originalSuper Dimension Fortress Macrossseries in the United States. This has led to conflicts with the creators and rights holders ofMacrossin Japan, particularly Studio Nue and Big West Advertising, who hold the rights to the originalMacrossseries.
Over the years, there have beenvarious legal disputes and challengesbetween Harmony Gold and the Japanese rights holders regarding the distribution and licensing ofMacrossoutside of Japan. These disputes have resulted in limitations on the availability ofMacross-related content outside of Japan and have complicated efforts to create new media or adaptations for international audiences.
Disney Swoops in After Legal Drama Settles
Though the legal issues aren’t100%settled, an agreement was reached that few fans saw coming: Harmony Gold and Big West (the Japanese company behind many of theMacrossfranchise titles) reached an agreement that “immediately permits worldwide distribution of most of theMacrossfilms and television sequels worldwide." The key word in that statement is “most.” While the details of the agreement are kept under wraps (for the time being), both studios likely saw that too much money was being left on the table. Now, Big West gets to shop most of theMacrossseries overseas as well as find new streaming distribution partners in Japan. Harmony Gold, meanwhile, gets to continue to pursue their live-actionRobotechmovie they have been developing with Sony for the better part of two decades.
The deal was made very quickly after the rights settlement was announced, which means there is a very good chance Disney might have secretly gotten involved in the legal dispute to broker a deal, as deals of this magnitude can take months or years to finish. Notably, the originalMacrossseries as well asMacross: Do You Remember Love?are not cleared for release outside of Japan, so chances are if those are to be released in other countries new deals will have to be struck with Harmony Gold. Though that is frustrating for fans who want to watch the original series after all this time, at least fans can soon stream many of the other series and movies.
