Shameful Otaku Secret!

Or, how I learned to stop worrying and sort of like Macross 7

I have tried multiple times to watch Macross 7 in recent years — most recently at the onset of Frontier. I just couldn’t manage to get past the first few episodes. The dated-sounding music, the ceaseless dunderheadedness of protagonist Nekki Basara, the generally crappy animation quality. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized, if I want to throw my weight around as a True Macross Fan, I’d have to get down to business and finish this sucker. The insistence of its fans that it was actually good didn’t hurt either.

Anyway. Fortunately, these days it’s totally unneccessary to spend big bucks on an unlicensed series. That’s right, unlicensed. The issues with Harmony Gold, Macross, and Robotech are well-documented and I guess in M7’s case they really got the better of the licensers.

According to Manga, those OVA tit-merchants I love so much [quoted for truth from Wikipedia]:

“It would take all the anime companies working together to be able to afford to bring the series over to America”

And I’m pretty sure if representatives from any of those companies have watched the series, that idea becomes even more laughable.

What’s the big deal?

There were innumerable things wrong with Macross 7 from the start, though there are some great things too. But the more I watch, the more I’ve come to love those things I saw as flaws.

The things I liked from the start:

• Maximillian Jenius, Millia Fallynia Jenius, and Exedol are back from SDF-Macross, acting as the big shots that war heroes of their caliber tend to end up being.
• Valkyries are updated to look like Stealth Fighters. Pretty neat. Which makes me wonder why the old standard fighter plane style came back in Plus and Frontier. At any rate, it’s classic Shouji Kawamori mecha and ship design.

The things I warmed up to:

• I’m finally coming around to Nekki Basara. He’s a real dolt, but he gains depth as the series goes.
• Mylene Jenius, daughter of Millia and Max, also grows as a character after starting off kinda bratty. Plus, she’s good in a Valkyrie and shows far more spunk than emo Ranka — although she’s just as bafflingly short, being half-Zentradi.
• The comedic/goofy feel finally stopped confusing and pissing me off. This is most decidely not Macross Plus. The flower groupie is freaking hilarious, deadpan Meltran drummer Veffidas is used sparingly for laughs now and again, and don’t get me started on the whacked-out Dr. Chiba. Tonal change in the second half? It’s possible.

Things I still can’t get over:

• The music just isn’t up to snuff. Like most Macross series, M7 is all about the music. But the rock anthems (or “folk oldies,” as Alto called them) of Fire Bomber sound hopelessly dated and cheeseball even for the time. Remember 1994? Nirvana was on top of the charts, but the music writers behind Macross 7 were still jamming Twisted Sister and the Crüe on the tape decks in their Camaros — and watering the cock-rock down with anime-pop overtones. To make matters worse, there’s a shortage of tunes. Whereas Yoko Kanno writes a new song for Frontier every time a major character takes a shit, and then pads those with Mari Ijima’s Minmay classics, M7 constantly assaults its viewers with Fire Bomber’s signature hit, “Planet Dance.” I think “Totsugeki Love Heart” has a solid melody and is totally listenable, but after how many more times listening to it will I still think that? I have heard rumors that a couple Minmay hits will rear their heads, so here’s hoping.
• The animation and production values are right up there with the music. SDF Macross looks a little dated, sure, but was great for its time. Do You Remember Love? still looks good for any time. Macross Plus (also from ‘94) is a marvel of early computer-assisted work. Macross 7, however, is cheap-looking and cheap-sounding. Sound effects are of the cheap analog synth variety, recycling runs wild, Variable Fighter transformation scenes are often instant or skipped over entirely, and no one’s going to confuse Fire Bomber’s concerts with Haruhi’s any time soon. On the plus side, it’s consistently mediocre rather that alternatingly impressive/horrific, like some other Macross series I know.

Time (and just under 30 more episodes) will tell whether I consider Macross 7 as deserving of the name as the rest of the OVAs and TV series that bear the Macross name. I’m already tired of the songs and the awful VHS-rip files that are the only reasonable method of watching.

What a Wonderful Day

I hope I didn’t lose all of you to this new column by first off calling everyone a weaboo, and secondly featuring a raucous early hardcore band for my first installment. But I just wanted to show everyone that this is SERIOUS BUSINESS. There are way bigger anime nerds out there, but by the time I die I will be Music Nerd Ichiban! So… Shoukichi Kina.

Born June 10, 1948 and still going strong today, Shoukichi Kina (or, I suppose, more properly Kina Shoukichi) is a shamisen player, singer, and songwriter from Okinawa. As with many aspects of Okinawan culture, the music can be far different from the traditional tunes of the rest of Japan. Not to mention, Okinawa has spent most of its postwar life occupied by an American military force it doesn’t agree with. Combine these factors with the charged energy of the 1960s, when the entire world seemed to become aware of counter-opinions, and you get Kina-san’s band Champloose — the politically charged group of folk-rockers known as “Okinawa’s only garage rock band.”

Now, being led by a shamisen player, you won’t find a trace of American-style garage rock in here — in fact, it’s very much a pleasant folk-rock sound, but the punk energy and raw rocking feel make it a truly unique experience.

The Facts

• Genre: Folk/Pop
• Location: Okinawa
• Active: 1967-current
• Album to get: Peppermint Tea House (Luaka Bop)

The tunes

The songs are really what make Kina a legend. He wrote one of his best known songs, “Hasai Oji-san” (in which an upstart youth gets schooled by an elder in the ways of getting women) when he was only 16 and locked up on pot charges. Here’s one of Champloose’s classic singles, Shimaguwa Song.

Kina kept trucking through the 1970s and 80s, and by far his best-known (and possibly best) recording hit in 1989. It’s called Blood Line, and it’s probably best known to Westerners because of the inclusion of guitarist Ry Cooder. One of my favorite tunes off here is this combo, “Mimichiri Bozu/Danju Kariyushi” (”Ear Cutting Samurai Monks/ What a Wonderful Day”).

Get together, y’all

There are a few threads that run throughout his music. One is of course, the shamisen, his instrument of choice. Another is the chorus of squeaky-voiced girls who trade vocals with him. Along with his amazing gift for melody, they add a lot to the main trait of his tunes: A sense of overwhelming joy and love. He’s often compared to Bob Marley, probably because the two were friends later in Marley’s life, but also because of the power of each’s music to inspire people. Rather than force politics angrily into his music, Kina choose instead to fill listeners’ hearts with a sense of togetherness and happiness.

The rock continues

Kina is now a member of Japan’s House of Councillors, and it’s been a while since he released a record of all-new material.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to come across a best-of compilation on this side of the Pacific, thanks to Talking Heads’ David Byrne, whose record label Luaka Bop released the mouthful Asia Classics 2: Peppermint Tea House — The Best of Shoukichi Kina. It’s available in stores and as downloads from Emusic, Amazon (higher quality cheaper, and DRM-free) and music overlord iTunes. Note: That’s not an affiliate link, just convenience. I urge everyone to try this stuff out; I feel like such a cheeseball that it makes me so happy, but that’s its power.

There’s a lot more to read at Champloose’s official site, that is if you can read Japanese.

Ask Sheryl

Diru Sheryru,
All my friends have breast implants and cybernetic vibro-tron vaginas. Then I see these monstrous Zentradi women with their blue hair and easy upskirt potential. How can I compete?
-Sadly My Assets a Little Liliputian, Tiny In the Torso

Dear Small Tits,
Don’t worry! I don’t know if you’ve heard this, but I’m alllll natural. In this day and age, especially on Galaxy, that’s really the exotic thing. By not sticking out, you’re standing out. By the way, have you heard the term “loli?”
♥Sheryl

Dear Sheryl,
I recently started dating a really sweet guy. He’s smart, a little bit of a bad boy, and he races cars! Problem is, I’m worried that he might be prettier than me. I’m no slouch, but his hair is just lustrous, and his skin is like soft porcelain.
-Worried, Hesitant About Trap

Dear What,
Oh, honey, if this is the least of your problems, then let it go! Don’t you know that men that pretty are all self-absorbed and wouldn’t dare be seen with a scrub? That must mean there’s at least something hot about you, even if it’s just your fashion sense. Take it as a compliment, but don’t let it go to your head. You’ll keep him around as arm candy a lot longer if you make him think he’s still the fanciest frog on the lily pad.
♥Sheryl

Oh Sherry,
I recently got dumped by my boyfriend. He was a pilot. You know, like the song? This is a little embarrassing to ask, but frankly I’ve been… frisky lately, and unable to shall we say vent the tension? I know you spend long periods of time on tour, and I thought maybe you might have some advice.
-Holding Out for Really Nice Yeoman

Dear Horny,
First, don’t invoke Steve Perry, you know those are old wounds! Second, do you have a cell phone?
♥Sheryl

Dear Sheryl,
How do you keep inspired? I’d like to become a singer too! I am small, but I have big dreams! I do have a muse, though. He’s very pretty.
-Hopeful Optimist On Frontier

Dear Hoof (?),
There seems to be a theme today. Well, at any rate, what you need to remember is that inspiration can strike you at any moment, so be prepared for it! I carry a pen and paper all the time in case I need to write lyrics, and if my stupid date has used all the paper to make paper airplanes, I’ll improvise if I have to. Also, rest assured: there will always be a backup band when you really need one.
♥Sheryl

Editor’s Note

Well, it’s a good Macross post if I spent entirely too much time on it. With Ranka’s surprised and disappointed glimpse at Alto and Sheryl on their “star date,” as the episode is titled, trace the exact moment that the Macross Triangle Effect began in earnest. The internet is ablaze this week with people absolutely loving Sheryl, in spite of the internet’s tendency toward rampant pedophilia (was that overly mean?), and I’m with them! Her Bitch Quotient is way down, but that might be because nothing’s standing in her way right now. She says (quite sexfully) that she likes Alto because he doesn’t treat her like a star, so what happens when the Kabuki Novelty is over?

Animation quality, on the other hand is sinking almost as fast as Leon’s rep. I hope they’re not running out of cash already. No bother, though — it’s still good, and hopefully they’re just saving for the next space battle. Either way, Macross is still my jam for this season. Also, have some ice cream.