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NEWS: Super Dimension Convention to Host Voice Actress Run Sasaki




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Zin5ki



Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 6680
Location: London, UK
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:40 pm Reply with quote
A Macross-specific convention?
At that time of year?
At that time of day?
In that part of Los Angeles county?
Localised entirely within an art centre?
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azabaro
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Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 251
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:32 pm Reply with quote
It's been in the same place the last 2 years IIRC, and running for pretty much the same time. It actually expanded to use more of the facilities last year - more dealers selling stuff, and a separate art exhibit area. One of the dealers brought in a Macross pachinko machine attendees could play.

The outdoor area also had a Valkyrie cockpit cosplay prop/setting.
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GeorgeC



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Posts: 795
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 3:39 pm Reply with quote
Zin5ki wrote:
A Macross-specific convention?
At that time of year?
At that time of day?
In that part of Los Angeles county?
Localised entirely within an art centre?


It's been around for over 20 years.

I think it used to be held in Long Beach but don't quote me.
They've always been held in the general LA area.
It used to be called Macross World but they rebranded the name.
It's had forums up on the Internet far longer than most people here have been anime fans.
The Macross fandom in the US is still a cult one but it's a very strong one with many people being fans of the show for over 20 years, quite a few 30-year and longer fans. VHS tapes of the original Macross were shown at science fiction and comic cons in the 1980s before the first official anime cons took off in the States in the early 1990s(?).

I think sooner or later, the obstinancy towards licensing this series to the West has to stop. It's grown as much as as it can in Japan. I'm not so sure all of the franchise would do well in the West. I've seen bits and pieces of most of it and am convinced Mac 7 and Mac Delta would be flops.
(* Allegedly the issue that stopped Macross 7 from being licensed in the West in the 1990s was music rights clearances and that show is known for its rock music. Macross Plus and Macross II were originally licensed by LA Hero who passed on that license to Manga Video. There are have been copies of those series on mediocre-quality DVDs for years...)
The rest of it, besides the original show which most people know through Robotech, could be big. A lot of people liked Macross Plus back in the day when it was available and Macross Zero and Macross Frontier have the potential to do well. At the very least, the Macross franchise could compete well alongside Gundam. That's really the only other series that's bigger in the science fiction anime arena. I just wish they would evolve beyond doing idol series! Mac Delta, again, was really bad!

It won't be Harmony Gold, btw, that has to be overcome. They're almost out of the picture. Their rights to the anime footage Tatsunoko owns and controls expire in 2021 (unless they magically come up with money to pay Tatsunoko the renewal licensing fees that company wants for the animation footage; HG is far too focused on a live-action film; mark my words, Robotech will end up at a different company before 2030) BUT there would still be a problem licensing Macross in the West.

The logger-jam all along, contrary to what many naive fans here believe, has been Tatsunoko, the co-producer of the original series and the original source of the conflict where the international distribution issue is concerned. They're the company that ultimately had to be dealt with where the original Macross series is concerned (for the US releases by AnimEigo and ADV Films who worked through HG still since HG was Tatsunoko's co-producer and licensing partner since the 1980s) but obviously dealers are able to bring in merchandise and unless HG's lawyers are cranky that month, it gets into the country. I've seen PLENTY of Macross models and artbooks at cons when I've bothered to look. They haven't stopped these cons. Like I said the cons have been going on close to a quarter-century now.
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Psajdak





PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 3:59 pm Reply with quote
I will never forget 2009, year when I marathoned everything Macross in order of release, and year when I totally fell in love with Mari Iijima, and her nostalgic voice, not to mention year when first Macross is actually happening...

Such beautiful series; really should watch it again.

And Macross: Do You Remember Love?, if you never saw that movie, you never lived.

Happy for Run Sasaki, she voiced one of those three lovely operators, Vanessa...

...

If you never saw Macross, please, give it a chance, I loved it, even though I saw it so many years after it aired.
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SWAnimefan



Joined: 10 Oct 2014
Posts: 634
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:32 pm Reply with quote
GeorgeC wrote:
It's been around for over 20 years.

I think it used to be held in Long Beach but don't quote me.
They've always been held in the general LA area.
It used to be called Macross World but they rebranded the name.
It's had forums up on the Internet far longer than most people here have been anime fans.
The Macross fandom in the US is still a cult one but it's a very strong one with many people being fans of the show for over 20 years, quite a few 30-year and longer fans. VHS tapes of the original Macross were shown at science fiction and comic cons in the 1980s before the first official anime cons took off in the States in the early 1990s(?).

I think sooner or later, the obstinancy towards licensing this series to the West has to stop. It's grown as much as as it can in Japan. I'm not so sure all of the franchise would do well in the West. I've seen bits and pieces of most of it and am convinced Mac 7 and Mac Delta would be flops.
(* Allegedly the issue that stopped Macross 7 from being licensed in the West in the 1990s was music rights clearances and that show is known for its rock music. Macross Plus and Macross II were originally licensed by LA Hero who passed on that license to Manga Video. There are have been copies of those series on mediocre-quality DVDs for years...)
The rest of it, besides the original show which most people know through Robotech, could be big. A lot of people liked Macross Plus back in the day when it was available and Macross Zero and Macross Frontier have the potential to do well. At the very least, the Macross franchise could compete well alongside Gundam. That's really the only other series that's bigger in the science fiction anime arena. I just wish they would evolve beyond doing idol series! Mac Delta, again, was really bad!

It won't be Harmony Gold, btw, that has to be overcome. They're almost out of the picture. Their rights to the anime footage Tatsunoko owns and controls expire in 2021 (unless they magically come up with money to pay Tatsunoko the renewal licensing fees that company wants for the animation footage; HG is far too focused on a live-action film; mark my words, Robotech will end up at a different company before 2030) BUT there would still be a problem licensing Macross in the West.

The logger-jam all along, contrary to what many naive fans here believe, has been Tatsunoko, the co-producer of the original series and the original source of the conflict where the international distribution issue is concerned. They're the company that ultimately had to be dealt with where the original Macross series is concerned (for the US releases by AnimEigo and ADV Films who worked through HG still since HG was Tatsunoko's co-producer and licensing partner since the 1980s) but obviously dealers are able to bring in merchandise and unless HG's lawyers are cranky that month, it gets into the country. I've seen PLENTY of Macross models and artbooks at cons when I've bothered to look. They haven't stopped these cons. Like I said the cons have been going on close to a quarter-century now.


Afraid you might be right regarding Macross 7. But I personally enjoyed it and hope it will make it to North America. Not sure on the dubbing though, but with Aya Hirano taking up the role of Mylene, maybe they could get her be the dub voice, like they did with Mari with the Macross dub.

With Macross Frontier, I agree, I too believe it will do well. The music and the stories are well thought out and it meshes well with modern anime, even a decade later. Which unfortunately, Macross Delta really failed to grasp.

Though I do not think Harmony Gold has much ground left. I haven't heard anything in a year regarding developments with the Robotech movie and appears to be in development hell. Which is good because it means Harmony Gold has a lesser chance or renewing the agreement, while Shouji can get a better deal and promote the real Macross, worldwide. Just 3 more years!
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Stampeed Valkyrie



Joined: 10 Aug 2014
Posts: 825
Location: PA
PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:49 am Reply with quote
It was originally called Macross World Con.. Which started as a fan convention from the folks on Macross World.. I was able to make it out for the first 2, and if it has been 20 years... holy cow time flies!

I haven't been to any of the recent gatherings but I hear good things..
I'd probably go if it was closer to AX like it used to be.
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TarsTarkas



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 5821
Location: Virginia, United States
PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:00 am Reply with quote
Don't count out Harmony Gold yet. I've got a feeling that as long as Japan keeps cranking out sequels to Macross, Harmony Gold will put the money down. It is like being at a casino. Harmony Gold has been pulling on that handle to the Macross slot machine for years now, there is no way they are going to leave their seat and let someone else win that Jackpot.

There will have to be a 'sea change' on the Japanese side. It is their squabbling that brought us to the present situation.
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