Review: Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (Itsuwari no Utahime)

Macross Frontier: The False Songstress is a visually stunning 2-hour movie with enough differences from the TV series to keep you watching until the end.  But as I was watching it, I couldn’t help to compare it to DYRL. I like DYRL better because I can relate to its characters more easily:  I see more of myself in Hikaru than in Alto.  Why?  Because Hikaru, like myself, has a humble beginning, and is quite average-looking.  He’s not a dashing womanizer with a deep-sounding voice (Roy Fokker), and he’s not the best ace pilot (Max).  Yet he’s placed in extraordinary circumstances, and is our humble hero.  His situation speaks to our dream of being in extraordinary circumstances and being a hero.  In Macross Frontier, Alto is our hero, but he’s out of the ordinary:  he’s bishounen,  has an acting background, is quick-tempered, and tends to overreact.  I can’t relate to any of those qualities.

And how many of us men go through chasing someone who’s not right for us, just to see if we can make it work, and later discover it doesn’t, and then realize we need to be with someone whose lifestyle and tendencies suit us better?  This sounds like Hikaru’s fascination with Minmay before deciding Misa is better for him.

As for the women in the love triangles, I can relate to Minmay’s situation more than Sheryl or Ranka’s because she had an average upbringing.  On the SDF-1 in the TV series, she helps her aunt and uncle with their restaurant before making it as a successful singer.  How many of us have helped our parents or relatives with their businesses?   In contrast, Sheryl was homeless before being rescued and made into a star.  How many people do we know share a similar background?  Ranka is somehow the queen of the Vajra:  do we know anyone who can control insects by singing?  Ranka’s talent sounds like a superhero quality, something you’d see on X-Men, like Storm’s ability to control the weather.

And what about the choice Alto makes between Sheryl and Ranka?  Is either of them “right” for him?  He has a strong aversion to acting/performing, even though he did these before, so Sheryl wouldn’t be right for him.  And Ranka is too young for him.  Ranka’s crush is more like a high school girl who gets a crush on a college guy.

Oh, that’s right.  I’m not the target demographic.

Anyway, here’s the cover of the Blu-ray DVD Hybrid Pack, which comes with the movie and a trial version of a PS3 game on one disc.

Blu-ray DVD box cover

DVD cover sheet

DVD Booklet cover

PS3 game instructions.

Small film strip

Bandai’s DX Chogokin Robot Damashii VB-6 Konig Monster

Bandai just released their DX Chogokin Robot Damashii VB-6 Konig Monster from Macross Frontier.  I was at first skeptical in getting this toy, because I have the VF-25F, and it has some loose parts.  I much prefer the tightness of the Yamato valkyries.  Well, I’m impressed with Bandai’s VB-6.  It’s tight, and has no loose parts, even though it has quite a number of hinged parts.

Box front view

Box rear view

The box is about as tall and wide as a Yamato 1/60 valkyrie box, but not as deep.

Inside the box is the toy, some clear plastic stand pieces, an instruction booklet, and a small sheet of stickers.  You can either stick the two shark eyes on your toy, or the Sheryl and Ranka stickers.  I went with the shark eyes.

Fighter mode, left view

Fighter mode, right view

How big is this VB-6 next to a Yamato 1/60 VF-1S?

VB-6 and VF-1S TV Type, top view

The VB-6 is slightly larger than the VF-1S.

VB-6 and VF-1S TV Type, front view

Now onto gerwalk mode, my favorite!

Here’s a top view of the VB-6 in gerwalk mode versus the VF-1S.

And here’s a height comparison with the VF-1S in battloid mode.

I also like the VB-6’s feet.  They’re gigantic, and each flap is hinged!

Here are the sticker sheet and the instruction manual.

Sticker sheet. I already removed the shark eyes.

I got the VB-6 from Amiami.com:  http://www.amiami.jp/shop/?set=english&vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=TOY-RBT-1183&template=default/product/e_display.html Although EMS shipping was 4420 yen, the toy’s price was 13350 yen, bringing the total to 17770 yen.  In contrast, if I had bought it from HLJ, it would have been 16000 yen for the toy and 2880 for EMS shipping, for a total of 18880 yen.  With the weak dollar against the yen, I’ll take any savings I can get!

Finally, this is the regular version of the toy.  I didn’t want the extras that come with the special version–the extra stickers, the special display stand, and a Sheryl mission/credit card.  If you’re curious what comes with the special edition, please have a look at the Amiami.com product info page:  http://www.amiami.jp/shop/?set=english&vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=TOY-RBT-1184&template=default/product/e_display.html

Macross Frontier Action Figures from Bandai

Bandai has a set of gashapon characters from Macross Frontier!

Left to right: Alto, Sheryl, Ranka, Sheryl, Alto, Michel, Klan Klang, and Sheryl

All the standing figures have their own base, which is a nice touch!

First, we have our male hero protagonist, Alto, with his pilot jacket, and then in his school uniform.

And then there’s Ranka in her red Chinese dress.

Now here’s fashionista Sheryl, in multiple outfits.

And now for our Michel, the sharpshooter, whose blue color theme is analogous to Max’s.

Lastly, we have Michel’s love interest, Klan Klang, who was a lot more interested in him at first..

As a closing note, these figures are up to 2 inches shorter than the figures in CM’s Corporation’s Macross Figure Collections.

Bandai’s VF-25F Super Messiah Alto Custom: Robot Spirits Series

In Bandai’s Robot Spirits series of toys, there’s the VF-25F Super Messiah Alto Custom!

Front view of box

Rear view of the box

This toy comes with Super parts, including two missile pods on the shoulders.

This toy is not transformable, and is only 5 1/8″ tall.  The armor parts clip/snap on to the base battloid.  The back section above with the wings snaps onto the body using only one small notch, which is right below the back of the neck.  The missile pods open up, and you can see some neat red missile tips.

Let’s look at how tall this toy is relative to the Yamato GNU Dou VF-1J and the Yamato 1/60 VF-1A Max TV Type.

Yamato GNU-Dou VF-1J, Yamato 1/60 VF-1A Max TV Type, and Bandai VF-25F Super Messiah Alto Custom

“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?”  Heh.  I’m personally biased towards the 1/60 Yamato’s because they’re a good size, they’re extremely sturdy, and they have no nasty plastic odors.  In contrast, besides the VF-25F’s height, here’s what I don’t like about the toy:

• It has a nasty plastic odor.
• The armor parts aren’t very tightly attached.  Also, when I attached the shoulder missile pods, the back fell off.
• The gunpod doesn’t open up like the one in the DX Chogokin 1/60 toy.
• The laser antenna on the head do not pivot.

Something else just occurred to me:  because the head is wider than it is tall, and because the head is so flat, plus the fact that there are two antenna that point slightly outward, what type of insect does the head remind you of?

Bandai’s Queadluun Rare (Rau) Klan Klang Custom

Miriya’s red Queadluun-Rau from the Macross DYRL movie is one of the most memorable mechas.  In Macross Frontier, the Zentradi Klan Klang pilots a red Queadluun-Rau!

Klan Klang's Queadluun-Rau in Macross Frontier's Episode 4

Klan Klang's Queadluun-Rau in the Macross Quarter

Bandai has a toy replica, which is 12.5cm tall (4.9 inches), as part of the Robot Damashii / Robot Spirits line!

Box

One sheet of instructions

There is a pilot figure of Klan Klang inside!

Close-up of Klan Klang pilot figure (she's not removable)

Klan Klang in her pilot suit looks like she did in the Macross Frontier TV series.

The missile pods on the shoulders have a cover that can open and close.  In contrast, the missile pods on the legs come with removable covers, one open and one closed.

Shoulder missile pod

Two sets of leg missile pod covers

The back of the Q-R looks pretty much the same as the back of the Q-R from DYRL, except Klan Klang’s Q-R has a big cannon and two red thingies on the shoulders.

Rear view of the Queadluun-Rau

Another difference between Klan Klang’s Q-R and Miriya’s Q-R is that Klan Klang’s Q-R’s arm guns  stick out way much more than Miriya’s, but this is how the guns appear in Macross Frontier.

Finally, how big is this Q-R relative to Yamato’s Q-R?

Yamato's Queadluun-Rau next to Bandai's

Bandai’s is much shorter!  No scale is given on the box, unfortunately.  And one last note, the Bandai Q-R has a nasty odor, but it’s not as strong as what you’ll find with the Revoltechs.

Macross Frontier Galaxy Tour Final: May’n is wearing fold crystal earring!

In the Galaxy Tour Final concert, May’n is wearing the fold crystal earring that Sheryl Nome wears!

Macross Frontier Concert: “Galaxy Final Tour in Budokan”

On November 5th, 2008, May’n and Megumi Nakajima performed the “Galaxy Final Tour” in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.  This concert was beautifully recorded, and spans 2 DVD’s.

The first disc contains the main concert, and has 167 minutes of footage.  The second disc contains the encore presentation, plus footage of a rehearsal and excerpts on the concert day, and has 63 minutes of Macross goodness.  Here’s the track listing:

Not only did I enjoy Megumi and May’n’s performances, but the crowd was amazing too–so much energy!  Watching this DVD is almost like being there..

May'n (sings Sheryl Nome's songs)

May'n

Megumi Nakajima (sings Ranka Lee's songs)

Megumi sings Minmay's hit song, Ai Oboete Imasu ka

There’s even a guest appearance by the voice actors who played Alto, Michael/Michel, and Bobby!

Alto's voice actor, Yuichi Nakamura

Michael/Michel voice actor, Hiroshi Kamiya

Voice actor for Bobby (Macross Quarter guy with big hair), Kenta Miyake

At the end of the concert, the entire cast of Macross Frontier, including director/writer/creator Shoji Kawamori, appear on the stage!

Cast of Macross Frontier

Shoji also gives a bouquet of flowers to Megumi and May’n.

The high-energy crowd is amazing, as I mentioned before!

The cheering crowd!

If you’re a die-hard Macross fan, you have to see this concert!  It’s amazing to see the songs being sung/performed by the actual artists.

Bandai’s 1/60 DX Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Alto Custom

The first Macross Frontier movie is out in Japan, released 11/21/09!  Bandai is making the toys.  No Yamato’s yet, unfortunately.  Today, we’re going to have a look at the 1/60-scale  DX Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah Valkyrie Alto Custom!

CollectionDX and Wizartar have some great reviews on the 1/60 DX Chogokin line of Bandai Macross Frontier toys.  This one has the color scheme from the movie, Macross Frontier:  The False Songstress.  In my opinion, the toy looks great!  However, it does have some flaws.  First, it’s not as “tight” as the Yamato valkyries.  By “not tight”, I mean, the plastic pieces don’t quite fit as nicely as the pieces on the Yamato.  The plastic pieces hinges tend to be loose, especially the plastic pieces that allow you to fold the small fin on the leg into the calf.  The laser antenna on the head are also made of a soft plastic, and on my toy, one of the antenna is crooked (bends in an arc).

One difference between the VF-25F and the Yamato 1/60 valkyries is that the Alto pilot figure is not removable, whereas in all the Yamato valkyries, the pilot is removable.

Close-up of Alto pilot figure

The armor and boosters really make the valkyrie in fighter mode look great from the rear:

How does the VF-25F compare with a 1/60 Yamato valkyrie?  Well, the VF-25F is longer and wider:

VF-25F Alto compared with a VF-1J Hikaru

Also notice that the VF-25F’s gunpod is longer and skinnier than the VF-1J’s. In addition, the VF-25F’s gunpod is made of a softer plastic.  The Yamato gunpod definitely feels more solid.

I really wonder how much effort Yamato put into making the second-generation 1/60 valkyries “tight”.  Everything fits together close and tight on a Yamato–the landing gear doors, the legs, the arms, and the missiles.  Shake a 1/60 Yamato valkyrie, and you won’t hear anything rattling, except if you have the gunpod mounted to the arm(s).  Shake the VF-25F, and you’ll hear something rattling.