Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles

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Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles

from HarmonyGold.com
Directed by Tommy Yune
Dong-Wook Lee
Produced by Frank Agrama
Alan Letz
Jason Netter
Written by Ford Riley
Frank Agrama
Music by Scott Glasgow
Ulpio Minucci (main theme)
Editing by David W. Foster
Distributed by FUNimation Entertainment
Release date(s) August 25, 2006 (festival)
January 5, 2007 (USA)
February 6, 2007 (DVD)
March 14, 2007 (Australia)
Running time 88 minutes
Language English
Preceded by Robotech
Robotech II: The Sentinels
IMDb profile

Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles is the 2006 animated sequel to the 1985 Robotech television series. It was released on DVD on February 6, 2007.

At Anime Expo 2004, Harmony Gold USA revealed that Robotech: Shadow Force was in production to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Robotech in 2005. The name of the new story arc was soon changed to Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and the film was not completed until January 27, 2006.[1] This project was initially met with skepticism from the fan community due to Harmony Gold's spotty track record of completing Robotech sequels and spinoffs in past decades. The first teaser trailer debuted at Anime Expo 2005. An official trailer was more recently released on The Shadow Chronicles website during the NATPE conference, a broadcast industry trade show. Harmony Gold held a number of film festival showings in 2006, but FUNimation delayed the theatrical and Region 1 DVD release until January 5th and February 6th, 2007, respectively.

Contents

[edit] Story and development

The storyline is a direct continuation from the 85th (and final) episode of the original Robotech television series, and the first third of the movie runs concurrently with the events at the end of the end of the TV series - albeit from different points of view. The plot revolves around the Robotech Expeditionary Force's final battle with the Invid on Earth, and the fallout from the events of that battle. An old enemy of the Invid is making its presence known, and is determined to wipe out all protoculture users, including humanity. The production is a mixture of 2D animation and cel-shaded CG mecha animation.

Though the involvement of original Japanese studio Tatsunoko Productions appeared to be limited to early development, the actual digital production of animation was handled by the Korean animation company DR Movie, whose credits include subcontracting on the animation and finishing of Macross Plus and the in-between animation of Yukikaze. Co-director Tommy Yune said in a Newtype USA interview (republished on the official Robotech website) that the producers "consulted extensively" with Kenji Terada, a writer on Southern Cross and Mospeada (two of the three series adapted into the 1985 Robotech series).

DC Comics’ Wildstorm label released Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, a comic prequel series bridging the end of the aborted Sentinels storyline to The Shadow Chronicles. Each of the issues features a "behind the scenes" article about the animation production.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) fleet gathers for its final attempt to drive the alien Invid from the Earth. Two previous attempts have been made, but failed. This time, the REF has important technological advantages in the new Shadow technology and Synchro-cannons. But if even those aren't enough, then the REF has prepared the devestating Neutron-S missiles as a last resort to wipe out the primary Invid hive at Reflex Point.

General Reinhart, commander of the REF forces in the Earth system, sends Vince Grant, captain of the Icarus, on a rescue mission to look for Admiral Rick Hunter, head of the REF military. But too much time passes and Reinhart is forced to begin the attack on Earth before Vince can return. Casualties are excessively heavy on the ground at Reflex Point. When Reinhart tries to get an update he, makes contact with resistance leader Scott Bernard, a survivor of one of the previous failed REF assaults. Scott informs Reinhart that the attack is going poorly. Ending the communication, Scott meets with Ariel, an invid that looks like a young human woman, and Scott's love interest. Ariel hopes to convince the Invid Regess that the humans and the Invid can live in peace.

Vince finds Admiral Hunter's ship, the SDF-3, near a brand new black hole. Both the SDF-3 and a nearby science vessel have been badly damaged by an accident involving the testing of the new Neutron-S missiles. Admiral Hunter orders Vince to warn the REF fleet that there's a problem with the missiles. An unfamiliar alien warship attacks and rams the SDF-3, and the Icarus is forced to race back to Earth with the wrecked science vessel. The SDF-3 is left behind drifting.

Ariel meets with the Regess, but the Regess is skeptical of Ariel's claims. She recognizes the humans' new Shadow technology as something used by an ancient enemy of the Invid - the "Children of the Shadows". When the Regess sees the Neutron-S missiles, she realizes that the REF has been duped; if the REF knew how powerful the missiles were, they never would have used them. Realizing that the Earth is no longer a safe haven for the Invid, the Regess transforms the invid race into energy and leaves. As a parting gift to Ariel, who has chosen to remain behind, the Regess destroys the Neutron-S missiles.

Following the battle, wounded personnel and damaged ships are evacuated to Space Station Liberty. Because the Invid took all of the protoculture with them the REF only has enough power to last a little less than a year. And the only way to generate more power is with the Protoculture Matrix onboard the SDF-3. Due to losses in combat, Wolf Squadron, home of Marcus Rush and Alex Romero, is folded into Maia Sterling's Skull Squadron. Marcus is attracted to Maia, but has only managed to bungle a pass at her so far.

Back on Earth, Scott is surprised to find that Ariel has stayed behind. But Scott can't stay. He has decided to try and convince the REF leadership that humanity can co-exist with the Invid. As he flies to the main REF base at Moon Base Aluce, he stumbles upon the just arrived Icarus and the enemy fighters that it accidentally brought with it. He helps the Icarus against the fighters, and then escorts it to Aluce. Once there, he is reunited with Marcus, who is the younger brother of Scott's late fiance, Marlene.

The science vessel is examined, and the only surviving crew member is Janice, an android that uses a holographic overlay that makes her look like a young woman. Louis takes Janice to the science lab, and the two go over the test data to try and figure out what went wrong with the missile test. While there, Louis learns from Janice that the new REF technologies - Shadow technology, Synchro-cannons, and the Neutron-S missile - were partly the result of aid from an advanced alien race known as the Haydonites. The Haydonites aided the REF because they'd also suffered at the hands of the Invid. Janice herself is a combination of Human and Haydonite technology, built to act as a go-between for the two races. Louis finds himself somewhat distracted by Janice, and decides to take a break. He goes to the Officers' Club with Janice and Maia.

Scott, Alex, and Marcus are already there, and Scott is silently disturbed by Marcus's hatred for the Invid. Ariel suddenly walks up behind Scott and surprises him. He introduces her as a friend from Earth before hurrying off with her. Questions about his abrupt departure are put on hold as Janice gets on stage and demonstrates her ability as a singer with the Minmei song, "It's You". The three men watch in fascination until a visibly annoyed Maia informs Marcus that Janice isn't his type.

In an empty room, Ariel informs Scott that the reason she came to see him was because she had a vision. The Children of the Shadows are planning on attacking the REF. The Children destroyed the first Invid homeworld because they fear the power of protoculture, and they will attack the humans for the same reason. The discussion is interrupted by Marcus and Alex, and Marcus realizes that Ariel is an invid. Scott is arrested and interrogated. During the interrogation, he warns of the impending attack, and reveals the Childrens' connection to the new REF technologies. Reinhart and Vince watch on a monitor in another room. But the name Scott uses for the alien race is unfamiliar. And Reinhart suspects that the warning is an attempt by the Invid to drive a wedge between the REF and the Haydonites.

But during the interrogation, contact is lost with Space Station Liberty. Louis analyzes the transmission data, and realizes that the race that attacked the SDF-3 is jamming communications. Vince is ordered to head to Liberty and determine the situation there. Vince takes Scott and Ariel with him. Also attached to the Icarus are Janice and Skull Squadron.

When the Icarus arrives, Space Station Liberty is under attack by a large fleet of alien ships. The battle is going poorly for the REF. Ships are being destroyed with just one hit, and the enemy is using an energy wave that causes the new Synchro-cannons to overload. Instead of charging into the battle, Vince sends Skull Squadron to collect information. While flying through the REF fleet, Skull Squadron records an REF carrier destroyed due to a single hit on its reflex furnace. Janice sees the footage and realizes that such an event should be impossible due to the Shadow technology incorporated in all REF vessels. The Haydonites are the mysterious Children of the Shadows, and are exploiting hidden weaknesses in the technologies they provided to the REF.

Skull Squadron is ordered to head to Liberty and change to fighters that don't incorporate Haydonite technology. Unfortunately, on the way there they are attacked by Haydonite fighters. The Synchro-cannon mounted on Alex's fighter is hit and begins to overload, and he makes a suicidal charge into the middle of the enemy fighters as his cannon explodes. Louis finds one ship on the Liberty's ship list that has no Haydonite technologies installed - the colony ship Ark Angel. Vince orders the evacuation of all station personnel to the Ark Angel, and gives Louis one hour to get the ship's inactive reflex furnace on-line. In the meantime Skull Squadron has located brand new prototype Advanced Shadow Fighters that haven't had the Shadow technology installed yet, and Maia promises to buy time for the evacuation.

Scott and Vince board Cyclones and prepare to head into the space station. Liberty has the remaining stockpile of Neutron-S missiles, and Vince sets one to self-destruct. The Ark Angel is able to depart as planned, with the Icarus following closely, and Skull Squadron fights to hold off the Haydonites. The Neutron-S warhead explodes and destroys Liberty, along with the Haydonite fleet.

Back on Aluce, Reinhart gives Vince his new orders. Vince and his crew, including the new additions on the last mission, are to take the Ark Angel and attempt to locate the SDF-3. Also joining the crew will be Vince's wife, medical doctor Jean Grant. As the Ark Angel leaves, Scott and Ariel share a first kiss, Marcus and Maia console each other over missed loved ones, and Louis reassures a confused and uncertain Janice that, "We will win."

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Release status

[edit] Region 1

[edit] Theatrical

Kevin McKeever, operations coordinator at Robotech.com/Harmony Gold, confirmed at the New York Comic-Con in February 2006 that the movie had been completed,[2] but that earlier discussions with a potential distributor had failed due to contract terms that Harmony Gold considered unfavorable.[3] McKeever posted an FAQ regarding these issues on Robotech.com's forums.[4] The finished film was screened theatrically for the cast and crew on March 8, 2006.

Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles was shown for the first time in its entirety outside of Harmony Gold at the Cannes Film Market on May 22, 2006 in the Grey One Theatre to an audience of distributor representatives and staffers. According to Robotech.com, the audience reportedly cheered at the end of the screening.[5] A number of independent film festivals screened the film during the summer and fall.[6] It was awarded Best Animated Sci-Fi Feature at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival, although it was the first animated feature ever shown in this Arizonan festival's history.[7]

On December 21, Kevin McKeever announced the first round of theatrical viewings of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles in January 2007.[8]

[edit] DVD

On July 22, 2006 at the Comic-Con International, FUNimation Entertainment announced that they had just licensed the home video, broadcast and theatrical rights of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles from Harmony Gold. Harmony Gold and FUNimation issued a joint press release with a November 21, 2006 DVD release date, but delayed the release until February 6, 2007.[9] Some retailers, disregarding street dates for anime DVDs, had begun selling it to consumers as early as the end of January 2007.[10][11]

The Region 1 DVD has the following features:

  • Animated menus.
  • Anamorphic widescreen transfer.
  • English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby surround; closed-caption subtitles.
  • 45-minute featurette: Robotech: Birth of a Sequel.
  • Trailers for Shadow Chronicles and other Funimation titles.

[edit] Other regions

Madman Entertainment in Australia were the first international distributor to license Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles for release, announcing that they had acquired the title at a panel at the 2006 Supanova Pop Culture Expo in Sydney, later announcing a March 14th 2007 release date, with some retailers selling stock on the quoted release date of the 7th. [12]

The Region 4 DVD has the following features:

  • Animated menus.
  • Anamorphic widescreen transfer.
  • English 5.1 soundtrack.
  • The Robotech: Birth of a Sequel featurette.
  • Still Gallery.
  • Trailers other Madman titles.

[edit] Music

The musical score was composed by Scott Glasgow and mostly performed with synthetic recordings and samplings. A few cues were performed by noncontracted players affiliated with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, as opposed to a live recording with the full orchestra as listed in the credits. [13] [14] Chase Masterson is singing some of the parts for her robotic character Janice. Glasgow confirmed that Melissa Kaplan, the lead singer of the band Universal Hall Pass, has vocalized some of the background music.[15]

[edit] Apparent Contradictions with the Original Series

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

There are some apparent contradicctions on the movie, which can be easily explained.

  • In "Dark Finale" and "Symphony of Light," all six members of Scott's team of freedom fighters as well as two humanoid Invid were involved. In this theatrical version, the events shown exclude Rand, Rook, Lancer, Lunk, Annie, Corg and Sera. However, the events in the movie happen chronologically following the events in "Symphony of Light". When Scott Bernard sees Marlene/Ariel going to the hive in her "light" form. He asks himself, "why she is going back to the hive?"
  • In the Movie. Scott refers to Marlene by her Invid name, Ariel, rather than her human form's name, Marlene. This is explained briefly when they meet before she enters the hive. Scott begins to call her "Marl..", but is interrupted by Marlene/Ariel. She says that now she truly knows who she is. It appears that she wants to distance herself from the real Marlene Rush.
  • The 1985 series implied that the Invid destroyed a portion of the Robotech liberation fleet upon their hasty exodus with a scene of destroyed ships. In the movie, no Human ship is seen destroyed. However, the scenes after the battle focuses on a smaller number of ships than the initial sequence. So, ships might have been destroyed off-screen.
  • Ariel can instantly teleport large groups of people and equipment, an ability she demonstrated with only six Humans and their equipment in the 1985 series. In the movie she justifies this ability as she says that she is barely beginning to know herself and what she is capable of doing.
  • The clone of the masters (Rem) and the Zentraedi allies who were supposed to be with the REF are not shown anywhere in the movie. Since the clone of the masters were former enemies or civilians there is no reason to show them. The Zentraedi on the other hand weren't in the movie, although they were showcased on the comic prequel to the movie. In the comic prequel they were decimated in battle over Optera. The surviving zentraedi might have been commissioned to other ends or fought off-screen.
  • The Invid Marlene is said to be an Invid princess, when in the original series she was not addressed as such, only Sera and Corg were addressed as princess and prince. However, as Ariel is their sibling, the implication is that she is also a princess.
  • Marlene joins Lunk and Annie after the battle of Reflex Point, these characters are not shown in the movie. In the movie she apparently goes directly from Earth to Moon Base Aluce to find Scott. Howewer her reunion with Lunk and Annie is implied by a camera shot from the movie were Lunk's truck is shown near Ariel before her vision of the attack on Space Station Liberty.
  • In the movie, a few vessels attacking the Invid during the Reflex Point battle in space were equiped with synchro cannons, something that was not shown in the original series. These ships were in the 3rd attack group, which was not in the main battle until later. The battle scenes on the 1985 series were more focused on the front line ships which used conventional weaponry.
  • In Animated Sentinels and in McKinney's books, Janice was created by Dr. Lang (using technology from SDF-1) before the SDF-3 & REF left earth (and had been Minmei's singing partner by the time SFD-3 left earth). In Shadow Chronicles, Janice was created much later (during the Sentinels campaign) with Robotech and Haydonite technology. Although according to the Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, her original body from the novels and Sentinels is destroyed and replaced with the Haydonite/Terran hybrid robot.
  • When Icarus is first attacked by Haydonite battleships in Ommicron (?) sector, no one can identify the ship as being Haydonite. Haydonites were a part of the Sentinels, so some of their technology should have been identifiable at least by a mechanical genius like Louie Nichols, who spent some time with the REF.
  • General Reinhardt (briefly mentioned during the Southern Cross segment) is now identified onscreen as the commander of SDF-4 Izumo. Originally, this commander was unnamed. The Sentinels animation had another character named Commander Reinhardt who a was bald, older gentleman with a chinstrap beard. However, the script refers to this Sentinels Reinhardt as Commander Adams and his re-naming may simply be due to the hasty rewriting of the aborted Sentinels series into a 90 minute movie.

[edit] Contradictions with the Original Series

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

There are a number of contradictions between the 1985 Robotech series and this movie. Notably, the events involving the Regis, Ariel, and Scott Bernard from the final two episodes of the 1985 series, "Dark Finale" and "Symphony of Light," have been considerably simplified and rearranged.

  • When Ariel met the Regis for the second time, the Regis repeated much of what she said to Sera, Lancer and the rest of the group, when she decided to depart Earth. Adding some expanded dialogue about the children of the shadow and human connection. This dialogue should happen simultaneously with Sera and rest of Scott's group.
  • The Invid's motivation to abandon Earth at the end of the 1985 series - always a little vague - has been retconned to a fear of "The Children of the Shadow" final weapon.
  • Scott Bernard is flying an Alpha-Beta Combo in the movie, his Alpha was shot down during an earlier event in the 1985 series. This could be explained by getting another one hidden nearly as his Beta was on the 1985 series. Nevertheles this does not account for the switch necessary to explain why he returned to his Beta when saving Sera and Lancer from Shadow Drones in the 1985 series, to return to his Alpha-Beta Combo inmediatly after that. Also he is shown in the Beta cockpit on the original series, which is quite distinct from the Alpha cockpit.
  • In the movie Scott continues to fight standard Invid fighters after Ariel enters the hive to convince the Regis.
  • No other Invid Mecha are seen except for the standard Invid fighter.
  • The Horizont Drop Ships are not seen in the movie, when they were a common component of the expeditionary fleet.
  • The Alpha-Beta Combo is portrayed as a single ship. Ignoring the Beta as a stand-alone mecha. Examples: The portable syncro cannon is located over the Beta when ejecting it does not work Alex does not try to ditch the Beta. When Marcus is hit after rescuing Maia, he does not abandon the Beta to go with only the Alpha. Also, Maia does not tell him to do the obvious; ditch the Beta.
  • In the series, the Protoculture Matrix was destroyed and buried along with the rests of the SDF-1, in the movie it's aboard the SDF-3, however it is possible that it could have been dug up and moved to that more secure location at some point between the end of the Robotech Masters storyline and the start of this movie (From the Prelude comics it was hinted at that a new matrix had been made on Tirol to fuel the REF mission back to Earth).
  • In the series, the SDF-4 isnt capable of firing synchro cannons, in the movie it is.
  • The pilots of the Wolf Squadron do not seem to know who Maia Sterling's relations are. The immediate reaction should have been "you are Max & Miriya's daughter?!?!" Better yet, all would be hot-shot veritech pilots would know at least by reputation who the leader of the Skull Squadron is and her background.

[edit] Continuity with the Original Series

There are a number of fan service references that link Shadow Chronicles to the 1985 series, such as:

  • Louie Nichols from the Robotech Masters story is now chief engineer of the Icarus.
  • Several characters hum, whistle, or occasionally sing Minmei songs during the movie.
  • Most of the recurring characters from the 1985 series are voiced by their original voice actors.
  • Two minor characters from the final episode of the 1985 series, Sparks and the originally unnamed SDF-4 Izumo commander, have expanded roles in this movie. The commander is named General Reinhardt for the first time onscreen.
  • Space Station Liberty makes its only onscreen appearance (after previous onscreen mentions and offscreen appearances).
  • Scott rides the same Cyclone he rode in the 1985 series.
  • Much of the dialog from the first third of the movie is very similar to its appearance in the final episode of the 1985 series.
  • Maia Sterling is the other daughter of Max and Mirya Sterling. Dana Sterling had a brief psychic vision of Maia (who was then unnamed) in the final episode of the Robotech Masters segment of the 1985 series.
  • Dr. Emil Lang is briefly mentioned but not seen.
  • Variations of the main theme from the 1985 series appear prominently in the soundtrack, albeit in significantly different arrangements.
Spoilers end here.

[edit] Cast

According to IMDb, some of the original voice actors are reprising their roles for characters such as Scott Bernard, Rick Hunter, Vince Grant, Sparks, and the Invid Regis alongside well-known actors such as Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).

[edit] Sequel Information

  • On February 27th, 2007 at the New York Comic Con, Shadow Chronicles director Tommy Yune said, "Robotech: Shadow Chronicles has been doing good business at retail and we are currently in production on the sequel" [1]
  • Later that same day, Yune mentioned that the sequel would be a theatrical feature. [2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ imdb.com/
  2. ^ animenewsnetwork.com
  3. ^ robotech.com
  4. ^ robotech.com
  5. ^ robotech.com
  6. ^ imdb.com
  7. ^ horrorscifi.com
  8. ^ robotech.com
  9. ^ theshadowchronicles.com
  10. ^ animeondvd.com
  11. ^ robotechnews.blogspot.com
  12. ^ madman.com.au
  13. ^ Jarry, Jonathan (2007-03-05). Review of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Soundtrack. SoundtrackNet: The Art of Film and Television Music. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
  14. ^ Meadows, Chris (2007-02-27). Scott Glasgow Interview, Part 2 (mp3). Space Station Liberty. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
  15. ^ robotech.com

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

 v • d • e Robotech
Animation Robotech (TV series) • Robotech: The Movie • The Sentinels • Robotech 3000 • The Shadow Chronicles
Video games Robotech: Crystal Dreams • Robotech: Battlecry • The Macross Saga • Invasion • The New Generation
Franchise Art books • Collectible card games • Comics • Novels • Music and Soundtracks • Role-playing games
Robotech Wars First Robotech War • Malcontent Uprisings • Second Robotech War • Third Robotech War
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