Robotech - The New Generation - Legacy Collection 6

In this boxed set edition, the Invid had taken control of Earth, and is up to Scott Bernard and other freedom fighters to reclaim the planet and get rid of the Invid once and for all. This is a must for any Robotech fan, but if you are not that familiar with the Robotech saga I strongly suggest that you take a look first at the previous 5.


Last Phase of Robotech Series   February 11, 2002
D. Phillips (CA USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Finally, we are at the last phase of the Robotech series which is based on the Japanese anime Mospeada. Robotech holds an interesting place in anime history. Many people love it because it was the first mature anime that they were ever exposed to. Others dislike it because it continues in the tradition of American producers changing much of the original anime to suit American tastes (before everyone found out that American tastes were enormously suited to anime without any changes!). Obviously, I fall into the "love it" category. Even though I'm usually an anime purist, the sheer scope and inventiveness of this adaption is staggering and definitely worth checking out even if you are not a fan from way back. It is also fascinating the way this series has influenced many subsequent anime. Check it out and I'm sure you'll be surprised at how many current anime reference this series (particularly the Macross section).

The idea of turning three series into one epic multigenerational story of conflict was a brilliant one and even though there are a few sloppy bits where the series join (paticularly in the middle "Southern Cross") the joining of series really lends an epic heft to its themes about war, identity and what it is to be human. These themes are repeated throughout all three parts and the whole builds up to a powerful conclusion.

This third section deals with a third invasion of earth which is led by the parasitic (they feed off of protoculture) and mysterious Invid. These creatures are without known form and need the protoculture to evolve into a higher life form eventually capable of dominating the universe. Most of the earth, devastated by the previous conflicts, is more than willing to allow the alien occupation without a fight. However, a small band led by Scott Bernard is dedicated to finding the center of Invid activity and wiping it out. There is much mystery and exploration of an alien species and lots of action. The Cyclones (which are motorcycles that transform into fighting robots) are lots of fun and interesting to watch. The Invids are a fascinating multi-faceted enemy whose menace is well developed. The relationships of the characters, as in the other two sections of Robotech, are entertaining and moving. I remember one of my favorite scenes when I watched the series originally was when the group happens upon an abandoned shopping complex and tastes Vienna sausages for the first time. It was funny and touching at the same time and clued me in that I was watching something special.

The look of the series is somewhat dated. Even though at the time the animation seemed revolutionary for an afternoon cartoon (and the subject matter still does--when was the last time you saw people sipping wine together on afternoon cartoons???). The animation is largely hand-drawn with some computer enhancement and there are some impressive effects and transformations throughout. Unfortunately, the transfer doesn't look like it comes from a first generation source. The resulting look is somewhat "soft" and lacks the crispness and clarity of many newer anime series and blunts the impact of some very fine animation. Of course, this isn't feature film level animation but it is very good for a massive series. There are occasional flaws in the picture (nicks and scratches) but these are very occasional and don't interfere with the enjoyment of the show. There are no subtitles and no multiple languages available except occasionally on the supplement disks. I must add that the music throughout the Robotech saga is wonderful. None of it is from the original Japanese anime and several composers contributed. Ulpio Minucci supervised the whole and created different motifs for the many themes and characters (including writing songs for the characters who are singers!!) this really helped meld it all into one convincing saga.

I can hardly wait for the next set of disks which will conclude both the Invid section and the series as a whole!!!


It's all about the mecha   February 13, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This box set contains the following discs. Robotech: The Next Wave, Robotech: Counter Strike and Robotech Extra Disc 6. Since the first two discs can be bought seperately, my review will be on Robotech Extra Disc 6.

The main attraction on this disc is the never-before-seen Mospeda pilot. Completely unedited, original closing and original TV spots. However, the pilot looks like it was shot on 8mm film. Most obviously because of the countdown for the TV spots and soundless closing. Pretty good pilot though.

Moving on, we have a couple of promotional films. There are two different promotional films. There is one appealing to boys and one appealing to girls with reasons on why both genders will enjoy Robotech. The other special video is a special toy presentation featuring two people showing all the different toys and actually displaying how they work. Rather lengthy and fun to watch. And, yes, these people do have knowledge of Robotech. In fact, they actually spend a lot of time explaining Robotech.

Finally, we have your standard extras that you've come to expect. This ofcourse means animation sheets, comic book covers and international clips centering around The New Generation of Robotech.

After your done watching the pilot, watch the other two discs and see what they cut. One thing that was oddly cut is that Mint's name is Annie. However, they call her Mint as a nickname. Very strange, but not by much since she keeps whining about her love for pepermints.

Overall, theses extras are better than those of the extras in the Masters box sets, so I can easily recommend buying this box set.


Great show from childhood   July 11, 2010
du_nomad (Salinas, CA)
I absolutely LOVED Robotech when I was a kid. Of the three series', New Generation/Invid Invasion was my favorite. The bonus material is a bit lacking, though it does include the first couple episodes of The Sentinels (which sadly, never made it any farther than those few episodes).