Review of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles

Introduction

This review copy of `Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles` arrived just as I was polishing off the rather excellent `Robotech: The Macross Saga` box set with all 36 episodes generously spread across its six discs. As a slice of mid-eighties sci-fi camp, in the mould of `Battle of the Planets` and `Transformers`, it really was a cut above the norm, mixing fast-paced action with romance, human tragedy and a hefty dose of philosophy too. I was genuinely disappointed as I reached the last episode and realised that although later episodes were on offer, the style and pace of the piece would never be the same again. So this pick up from where the Macross drama ends was extremely timely.

Apparently produced as a 20th anniversary tribute to the original Shadow` picks up from just after the end of the TV series. `Robetech: The Shadow Chronicles` mixes computer generated animation with traditional animation to bring a whole new look and feel to the eighties series.
Picking up from the end of episode 85 (and bridged conveniently by DC Comics in a movie prequel comic for OCD anoraks) The Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) fleet gathers for a last attempt to drive the alien Invid from Earth, using powerful new `Shadow` technology and Synchro-canons as well as dangerous and unpredicatable Neutron-S missiles.

Admiral Rick Hunter (who`d have thought it!) has gone missing and General Reinhart, commander of the REF, sends Vince Grant, captian of the Icarus on a rescue mission. The rescue mission takes too long, and Reinhart has no option but to launch his attack on earth before the Icarus, and Admiral Hunter return. Things do not go well.

In the meantime, resitance leader Scott Bernard has taken to meeting Ariel, an Invid who looks like a young human woman and who has fallen in love with Scott. She is only interested in creating peace between the two races though their relationship does not go down well with the crew of SDF-1.

It`s Ariel who recognizes the humans` new Shadow technology as something used by an ancient enemy of the Invid - the "Children of the Shadows", and also knows that everything may not be as simple as it seems.

And there the scene is set for the high octane mix of pulverising action and sci-fi soap that defines the franchise.

Video

A high quality digital transfer that is almost flawless and looks great, with superb colour definition and no signs of visible artefacting. Having said that, this was a DVD-R and may not represent the commercially available disc.

Audio

The audio throughout is superb with a strong orchestral score and with English speaking voice artistes guaranteed to delight sci-fi fans (Mark Hammil and Chase Masterson in particular).

Features

As I received this on an auto-starting, menu free DVD-R I had no access to any advertised extras so can`t comment. Sorry!

Conclusion

`Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles` may pick up from the final moments of the last episode of the 85 episode TV series, but stylistically everything has changed. Rick Hunter is now an Admiral, and we`re on to a whole new cast. One of the first things to note is the change to the physicality of the animated cast. Men now generally have the shape of Schwarzenegger on steroids, and all the females have vast and incredibly well defined breasts. Very unlike the wiry Rick Hunter and the twiggy-like Minmei of Robotech`s first incarnation.

The animation differs too. Here it is digitally crisp and computer enhanced, whereas the original was fairly rudimentary cell animation. No better, no worse, just different.

Despite one or two thematic nods in the score to the original series (we hear a version of the opening theme and even a touch of Minmei`s famous song), there is very little left to connect the new adventure to the original.

The SDF-1 / SDF - 3 is similar in construction, though here looks far more believable than the original.

Having read a fellow reviewer`s review of the series, I think it`s fair to say that despite a fairly one dimensional narrative (there just isn`t time to develop intricate sub-plots), newcomers to the franchise may find this a confusing place to start. For me, it was a fascinating and nicely rendered update, though with little of the charm of the original series.