Editing Robotech (section)

==Television and film==

===The original television series===
{{Main|Robotech (TV series){{!}}''Robotech'' (TV series)}}

''Robotech'' (1985) is an original story adapted with edited content and revised dialogue from the animation of three different [[mecha]] anime series:
#''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]'' (1982–1983)
#''[[Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross]]'' (1984)
#''[[Genesis Climber MOSPEADA]]'' (1983–1984)<ref>(NOTE: ''[[Super Dimension Century Orguss]]'' was originally planned to be used as the third "season" after ''Macross'' & ''Southern Cross''. However, that plan was scrapped due to right issues, which resulted in its replacement by ''MOSPEADA''.)</ref>

Harmony Gold's cited reasoning for combining these unrelated series was its decision to market ''Macross'' for American weekday syndication television, which required a minimum of 65 episodes at the time (thirteen weeks at five episodes per week).<ref>Fredale, Jennifer Ph.D. (2008) "The rhetorics of context: An ethics of belonging" ''University of Arizona''</ref> ''Macross'' and the two other series each had fewer episodes than required, since they originally aired in Japan as weekly series. On some television stations, the syndicated run was preceded by the broadcast premiere of ''[[Codename: Robotech]]'', a feature-length pilot.

This combination resulted in a storyline that spans three generations, as mankind must fight three destructive 'Robotech Wars' in succession with various invading forces, each of which is motivated in one way or another by a desire for a powerful energy source called 'protoculture'. While each of the three animated series used for its footage informs its content, the Robotech storyline is distinct and separate from each of them.

*The First Robotech War (''The Macross Saga'') concerns humanity's discovery of a crashed alien ship and subsequent battle against a race of giant warriors called the Zentraedi, who have been sent to retrieve the ship for reasons unknown. In the course of this chapter, Earth is nearly annihilated, the Zentraedi are defeated, and humans gain knowledge of the energy source called protoculture. Humanity also learns of the Robotech Masters whose galactic empire the Zentraedi protected and patrolled.
* The Second Robotech War (''The Masters'') focuses on the arrival in Earth orbit of the Robotech Masters, who have come seeking what turns out to be the sole means in the universe of producing protoculture. Through a combination of mistrust and arrogance, their attempts at retrieving this meet with opposition from the humans and unleash a war that leaves the Masters defeated and Earth awash in the spores of a plant called the Flower of Life—the source of protoculture and a beacon to the mysterious Invid who scour the galaxy for its presence.
* The Third Robotech War (''The New Generation'') begins with the arrival on Earth of the Invid, who are lured by the Flower of Life and rapidly conquer the planet. References in the previous two chapters explain to viewers that many of the heroes of the First Robotech War had left Earth to seek out the Robotech Masters on a preemptive mission, and it is this Robotech Expeditionary Force that sends missions back from across the galaxy to attempt a liberation of their homeworld. The storyline follows one group of freedom fighters as they work their way towards the final battle with the Invid.

===''Robotech: The Movie''===
{{Main|Robotech: The Movie{{!}}''Robotech: The Movie''}}
''Robotech: The Movie'', also called ''Robotech: The Untold Story'', is a feature film and was the first new ''Robotech'' adventure created after the premiere of the original series. It uses footage from the ''[[Megazone 23]] – Part 1'' OVA ([[original video animation]]; made-for-video animated feature) combined with scenes from "Southern Cross" and additional original animation produced for the film.

The original plan for the film was to have it set during the Macross Saga, parallel to the SDF-1's return to Earth from Pluto. The film would also have served as a prequel to the Sentinels, as both projects were initially meant to share many characters. Harmony Gold producer [[Carl Macek]] worked with the OVA's original creators to make the story and the new ending work. The film had to be changed again after the distributor of the film, [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|Cannon Films]], saw an incomplete rough cut of the film and were upset by it. They ordered Macek to remove multiple scenes from the film and to add more violence (most of the scenes removed were scenes setting up characters and showing female characters interacting). Macek reluctantly did what they ordered, and created a new script and rough edit for the film in less than 24 hours. When the distributors saw Macek act out the new film, they were much more pleased with the new cut.<ref name="Macek, Carl: Robo-con 1995">Macek, Carl: Robo-con 1995</ref> The opening night in [[Texas]] received a positive response, but Cannon Films pulled out after noting that most attendants were adults; the bulk of the scheduled advertising for the series was targeted to children. The film had limited success in [[Argentina]] and [[Belgium]].{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

In 2011, A&E Home Video released, as a part of their ''Robotech: The Complete Series'' collection, a 29-minute version of ''Robotech: The Movie'' containing only footage used from "Southern Cross". There was no attempt to remaster the footage.<ref>''Robotech: 20 Disc-set'', Harmony Gold USA, 2014. DVD.</ref>

===''Robotech II: The Sentinels''===
{{Main|Robotech II: The Sentinels{{!}}''Robotech II: The Sentinels''}}
This aborted American-produced series would have followed the continuing adventures of Rick and Lisa Hunter and the Robotech Expedition during the events of ''The Masters'' and ''The New Generation''. The feature-length pilot is composed of the first three (and only) episodes that were produced. ''The Sentinels'' featured characters from all three ''Robotech'' sagas and introduced the [[SDF-3 Pioneer|SDF-3]] along with an overview of their new mission. The series was planned to have a total of 65 episodes.<ref name="Macek Training">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14|title=Macek Training|access-date=2010-01-25|work=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118061342/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14|archive-date=2010-01-18}}</ref>

In ''Robotech Art 3: The Sentinels'', Carl Macek blamed the cancellation of the series on the crash of the Yen/Dollar [[exchange rate]],<ref>In June 1985, the Yen/US dollar exchange rate was 250-1. By early 1986, the rate had dropped to 200-1. By the end of 1986, the rate had dropped to 160-1. By the end of 1987, the rate had further dropped to 120-1{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}</ref> which caused toy partner [[Matchbox (brand)|Matchbox]] to withdraw from the project. [[Harmony Gold USA|Harmony Gold]] lacked the funds to produce the series on its own, and production ceased after only three episodes.

''Robotech II: The Sentinels'' was released on VHS by [[Palladium Books]].<ref>''Robotech II: The Sentinels''. Paldium, 1988. Videocassette.</ref> In 2011, a "remastered" version was released on the A&E DVD set, ''Robotech: The Complete Original Series'' [[DVD-Video|DVD]]. This version has opening titles resembling those found on the "Robotech Remastered" DVDs, as well as a new ending with text explaining the fate of the SDF-3. Also, all of the flashback footage used from "The Macross Saga" has been removed, including the re-used footage from the episode "Wedding Bells".<ref>''Robotech: The Complete Original Series'' DVD. A&E, 2011.</ref>

===''Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles''===
{{Main|Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles{{!}}''Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles''}}
In 2002, [[Tommy Yune]] announced development of a new animated sequel. Originally announced as a television series with a planned 2004 release date, the project was revealed at [[Anime Expo]] 2004 as a feature-length film titled ''Robotech: Shadow Force''. The storyline overlaps with and continues from the unresolved ending of the original series. The title of the [[story arc]] was soon changed to ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles]]''. The first trailers with finished animation were shown at Anime Expo and [[San Diego Comic-Con|Comic-Con International]] in 2005. It was not until February 2006, when Kevin McKeever, operations coordinator at Harmony Gold, [https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=8344 was able to confirm] that the pilot movie had been completed. After a series of delays, [[Funimation|FUNimation Entertainment]] was finally announced as the home video, broadcast, and theatrical distributor at the 2006 Comic-Con International in San Diego with the possibility of producing further sequels. Harmony Gold premiered the movie at various film festivals in 2006, and it was first seen by a public audience at [[MechaCon]] on August 9, 2006, where it was showcased as a charity screening to help raise funds for the ongoing [[Hurricane Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita]] recovery effort. A limited theatrical run followed in January 2007, and the film was released on DVD on February 6, 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.robotech.com/community/forum/read.php?id=1656430&forumid=31 | title = The Shadow Chronicles DVD in stores from Funimation on Feb. 6, 2007 | access-date = 2007-02-17 | date = 2006-11-20 | work = Robotech.com Forum | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071108092453/http://www.robotech.com/community/forum/read.php?id=1656430&forumid=31 | archive-date = 2007-11-08 }}</ref> A two-disc collector's edition was released in November 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2007/anime-expo/funimation | title = Anime Expo 2007: Funimation Entertainment | access-date = 2007-07-06 | date = 2007-07-01 | work = Anime News Network | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070704162200/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2007/anime-expo/funimation | archive-date = 2007-07-04 }}</ref>

===''Robotech: Love Live Alive''===
{{Main|Robotech: Love Live Alive{{!}}''Robotech: Love Live Alive''}}
First revealed in late 2011 in the final minutes of ''Carl Macek's Robotech Universe'', a documentary on the making of ''Robotech'' dedicated to the then-recent passing of Macek, ''Love Live Alive'' is an adaptation of the 1985 ''Genesis Climber Mospeada'' OVA, ''[[Genesis Climber MOSPEADA#Love Live Alive|Love Live Alive]]'', incorporating some brand-new animation. The film was released on DVD on July 23, 2013, by [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]] in North America.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lionsgate|url=http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=488|title=Press Release: Robotech 2-Movie Collection|publisher=Robotech.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430044440/http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=488|archive-date=2013-04-30}}</ref>