A
few years ago, a "Robotech 3000" pilot episode was shown at Fanime Con,
an attempt to revive the anime sci-fi franchise that began with the
conversion of three series into Robotech in the 1980's. "Robotech 3000"
was laughed out of the hall by the anime convention audience, and
Harmony Gold went back to work. The company is spending 2005 on a
revival tour, sending Kevin McKeever and Steve Yun to conventions so
they can promote Robotech models and the latest version of the series.
After dropping the failed pilot, Harmony Gold went back to the source
to create a new animated series. They're partnering with Tatsunoko Pro,
the animator of Superdimensional fortress Macross, and DR Movie, the
Korean animation house which has been the uncredited animation source
behind some major Japanese series. The three companies are working on
the first true Robotech OVA, to be titled "Robotech - Shadow
Chronicles." It will be a direct-to-video release, picking up the
Robotech story line from the final episode of the 1980's series. And
it'll have some interesting voices, including Chase Masterson, known
for her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine work, and Mark Hamill, who has
followed his Star Wars role of Luke Skywalker with some distinguished
voice acting in the Batman series.
Harmony
Gold has reasoned that "Robotech 3000" flopped because of it's 3d look
(its story probably was a larger factor), so they're going to animate
"Shadow Chronicles" in a more conventional 2d fashion, although the
characters have been redesigned in the style preferred now and will be
shaded in a fashion not possible in 1985. The ships and mecha will be
3d rendered, with a level of detail not possible with the hand-drawn
techniques of 20 years earlier (although flying attack missiles will
still have something of the 1980's look pioneered by Ichiro Itano). A
Korean connection is going to be part of Harmony Gold's strategy to
develop new properties. For years, Japanese animation studios have
farmed out their heavy lifting to Korean animators, a move that has
shown Koreans how to handle the technical side of the art form. Now,
Koreans are trying to develop their storytelling skills to match their
animation ability, and animated shows are coming from Korea. Harmony
Gold is going to release two of those series in the U.S., the drama
"Legend of Blue" and the kids' show "Tango and Ullashong." Before those
shows are released, Harmony Gold is going to promote their latest line
of Robotech mecha, selling transforming planes that are a several
levels of construction and design above the Robotech toys of years ago.
A
few years ago, a "Robotech 3000" pilot episode was shown at Fanime Con,
an attempt to revive the anime sci-fi franchise that began with the
conversion of three series into Robotech in the 1980's. "Robotech 3000"
was laughed out of the hall by the anime convention audience, and
Harmony Gold went back to work. The company is spending 2005 on a
revival tour, sending Kevin McKeever and Steve Yun to conventions so
they can promote Robotech models and the latest version of the series.
After dropping the failed pilot, Harmony Gold went back to the source
to create a new animated series. They're partnering with Tatsunoko Pro,
the animator of Superdimensional fortress Macross, and DR Movie, the
Korean animation house which has been the uncredited animation source
behind some major Japanese series. The three companies are working on
the first true Robotech OVA, to be titled "Robotech - Shadow
Chronicles." It will be a direct-to-video release, picking up the
Robotech story line from the final episode of the 1980's series. And
it'll have some interesting voices, including Chase Masterson, known
for her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine work, and Mark Hamill, who has
followed his Star Wars role of Luke Skywalker with some distinguished
voice acting in the Batman series.
Harmony
Gold has reasoned that "Robotech 3000" flopped because of it's 3d look
(its story probably was a larger factor), so they're going to animate
"Shadow Chronicles" in a more conventional 2d fashion, although the
characters have been redesigned in the style preferred now and will be
shaded in a fashion not possible in 1985. The ships and mecha will be
3d rendered, with a level of detail not possible with the hand-drawn
techniques of 20 years earlier (although flying attack missiles will
still have something of the 1980's look pioneered by Ichiro Itano). A
Korean connection is going to be part of Harmony Gold's strategy to
develop new properties. For years, Japanese animation studios have
farmed out their heavy lifting to Korean animators, a move that has
shown Koreans how to handle the technical side of the art form. Now,
Koreans are trying to develop their storytelling skills to match their
animation ability, and animated shows are coming from Korea. Harmony
Gold is going to release two of those series in the U.S., the drama
"Legend of Blue" and the kids' show "Tango and Ullashong." Before those
shows are released, Harmony Gold is going to promote their latest line
of Robotech mecha, selling transforming planes that are a several
levels of construction and design above the Robotech toys of years ago.
