Unavailable shows and movies being unavailable normally aren't the result of lack of interest; sometimes there are legal matters that are messy and tangled. Otherwise, known as 'red tape,' sometimes classic media finds itself in a position where fans want to see the media, executives want to sell you the media, but no one is quite sure who owns what (in some cases the media in question IS lost, which is different).

In the case of Macross, rights issues have prevented most of the franchise from being available to the world for years. Now, that is going to change, and fans may have Disney to thank for that.

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What is Macross?

Macross is a Japanese science fiction franchise that originated with the 1982 anime television series Super Dimension Fortress Macross . It is known for its mecha (giant robot) battles, intricate storytelling, and music, particularly through the use of pop songs as a central plot element. The original Super Dimension Fortress Macross series follows the story of humanity's struggle against alien invaders known as the Zentradi, who are drawn into a conflict centered around a massive spaceship called the Macross. The series combines elements of space opera, romance, and military drama.

A Quick Breakdown of the Macross Series

If you want to get into Macross, there is a lot to choose from. Here are the various TV series, movies, and OVA's that are available to Macross fans:

Here's a comprehensive list of the main Macross anime series, OVAs, and movies:

The History of Macross in America

The history of Macross in America is closely tied to its localization and distribution under the American title Robotech. In the early 1980s, Harmony Gold USA acquired the rights to several Japanese anime series, including Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA. These three series had nothing to do with one another other than a slight similarity in the animation style, but that wasn't an issue for Harmony Gold.

The Birth Of Harmony Gold's Robotech

Harmony Gold took these three series and rebranded them to create Robotech, a single continuity spanning three generations of mecha warfare. Yes, you heard right: Harmony Gold took three unrelated series and edited them together into one show (there's a reason the 'sub vs. dub' debate was a thing). Robotech premiered in the United States in 1985 and quickly gained popularity, becoming a cult classic among American fans of science fiction and anime. The series aired on television and was accompanied by a range of tie-in merchandise, including toys, comics, and novels.

While Robotech introduced many Americans to the concepts and themes of Macross, it also diverged significantly from the original Japanese series in terms of story, character development, and cultural references. Despite these differences, Robotech played a significant role in popularizing anime in the West and remains a beloved franchise to this day, and fans who saw it on TV tend to have fond memories of the series.

At some point, several Macross series and movies were released in the United States in their original form, either through official licensing agreements or unofficial fan translations. These releases allowed American audiences to experience Macross in its original Japanese language with English subtitles, providing a different perspective on the franchise compared to Robotech. That said, it didn't mean Harmony Gold wanted to let Macross become a household name either (the same as other studios).

Harmony Gold Provides Legal Headaches

The legal issues between Harmony Gold and the creators of Macross stem from the complex rights situation surrounding the distribution and adaptation of the Macross series outside of Japan. Harmony Gold holds the rights to the Robotech franchise, which includes the adaptation of the previously mentioned anime series. One of the key legal issues arises from Harmony Gold's assertion of exclusive rights to distribute and adapt the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross series in the United States. This has led to conflicts with the creators and rights holders of Macross in Japan, particularly Studio Nue and Big West Advertising, who hold the rights to the original Macross series.

Over the years, there have been various legal disputes and challenges between Harmony Gold and the Japanese rights holders regarding the distribution and licensing of Macross outside of Japan. These disputes have resulted in limitations on the availability of Macross-related content outside of Japan and have complicated efforts to create new media or adaptations for international audiences.

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Disney Swoops in After Legal Drama Settles

Though the legal issues aren't 100% settled, an agreement was reached that few fans saw coming: Harmony Gold and Big West (the Japanese company behind many of the Macross franchise titles) reached an agreement that “immediately permits worldwide distribution of most of the Macross films and television sequels worldwide." The key word in that statement is "most." While the details of the agreement are kept under wraps (for the time being), both studios likely saw that too much money was being left on the table. Now, Big West gets to shop most of the Macross series overseas as well as find new streaming distribution partners in Japan. Harmony Gold, meanwhile, gets to continue to pursue their live-action Robotech movie they have been developing with Sony for the better part of two decades.

It wasn't long afterwards that Disney swooped in and acquired the streaming rights to the entire Macross franchise. Much like they wanted to be in business with the late Akira Toriyama and his upcoming project Sand Land, executives at Walt Disney of Japan were very aware of how much anime fans wanted to see this classic franchise. As they are still aiming to make a dent in the Japanese market, they knew this franchise would attract the attention of the Japanese public (and even give American anime fans reasons to subscribe to Disney+ as well).

The deal was made very quickly after the rights settlement was announced, which means there is a very good chance Disney might have secretly gotten involved in the legal dispute to broker a deal, as deals of this magnitude can take months or years to finish. Notably, the original Macross series as well as Macross: Do You Remember Love? are not cleared for release outside of Japan, so chances are if those are to be released in other countries new deals will have to be struck with Harmony Gold. Though that is frustrating for fans who want to watch the original series after all this time, at least fans can soon stream many of the other series and movies.

Sources: Forbes, Cartoon Brew

Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982)

Mecha

Action

Romance

Release Date

October 3, 1982

Seasons

1

Studio

Tatsunoko Production

Japanese Title

Choujikuu Yousai Macross

Number of Episodes

36

MyAnimeList Score

7.90

Expand

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