Streaming service Disney+ scored a major win, as it will be able to stream 18 shows from the Macross Franchise. This makes up nearly all the essential shows, as well as spin-offs, which have remained in a perpetual legal snarl. According to the press release, mecha fans can expect the shows to appear online before 2024 is out; however, lingering licensing issues have caused some shows to remain locked in Japan.
The news officially broke on the official Macross website, which lists the 18 shows that will be appearing on the streaming service. Despite being a popular and foundational mecha series, fans never had easy access to Macross, resorting to expensive imports if they wanted proper DVDs or other merchandise.
Disney+’s acquisition of streaming rights makes most of these shows finally viewable to a broad audience, including shows that otherwise have never appeared internationally.
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Majority Of Macross Shows To Stream Worldwide.
Popular franchise infamous for four-way legal turmoil, which includes US-based Harmony Gold
According to the news release, the following shows will be appearing on Disney+:
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross (Japan only)
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (Japan only)
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012
- Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again
- Macross Plus
- Macross Plus: Movie Edition
- Macross 7
- Macross 7 the Movie: The Galaxy is Calling Me!
- Macross Dynamite 7
- Macross Zero
- Macross Frontier
- Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress
- Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Farewell
- Macross Frontier Short Film: The Labyrinth of Time
- Macross FB7: Listen to My Song!
- Macross Delta
- Macross Delta the Movie: Passionate Walkūre
- Macross Delta the Movie: Absolute Live!!!!!
The collection includes several otherwise obscure titles that fans likely only know of by their reputation, such as Flash Back 2012, Labyrinth of Time, and FB7, which are short films and compilations that supplement the mainline releases. The Macross 7 has notoriously also evaded official global releases until 2022, despite being part of the four TV series that comprise the franchise. Disney+’s collection, therefore, can be considered the definitive experience for international viewers, allowing them to follow the complete timeline of events. The only caveat is that the original anime and its film retelling are not available outside Japan.
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The regional differences are likely due to fallout from the legendary legal dispute the franchise is involved in, with Big West, Studio Nue, Tatsunoko Productions quibbling over the distribution rights for both the various anime and the countless original songs made for them. Furthermore, US-based production company Harmony Gold owns international distribution rights, further adding to the confusion. It was only in 2021 that an agreement was made to distribute Macross media jointly, though there seem to be residual issues that have made it simpler to keep the oldest Macross shows in Japan, rather than deal with Harmony Gold’s rights.
Macross Gets New Wings In 2024
Disney+ brings Macross’ disparate shows to a single location
Nonetheless, Disney+ has made almost the entire franchise viewable in one place, which ought to be a relief for fans who’ve resorted to hunting for each anime – and spin-off – piecemeal. Macross, despite its relative inaccessibility, is still renowned as one of the classic mecha series: it is known best for its eclectic mixture of elaborate dogfights, love triangles, and idol music, with such singers in the original shows being a precursor to the current-day popularity of idol anime. Disney+ acquiring the streaming rights means that 2024 could mark a renaissance for Macross after languishing in limbo for decades.
