In the year 2040 on the colonial planet Eden, the UN Spacy is developing a new variable fighter to replace the aging VF-11. Two rival pilots—the hot-headed, impulsive Isamu Dyson and the stoic, calculating Guld Bowman—are selected to test the competing YF-19 and YF-21 prototypes. Their professional rivalry is fueled by a dark, shared past involving Myung Fang Lone, who has returned to Eden as the manager for the galaxy’s most popular virtual idol, Sharon Apple. As the "Super Nova" flight tests push the limits of human endurance, a rogue artificial intelligence begins to manifest its own dangerous desires, threatening to seize control of the military’s most advanced weaponry. Macross Plus is a landmark achievement in science fiction animation, serving as the directorial debut of Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) alongside series creator Shoji Kawamori. Celebrated for its breathtaking aerial dogfights and pioneering integration of early CGI with traditional hand-drawn cel animation, the series redefined the mecha genre for a global audience. Featuring a legendary, genre-bending soundtrack by Yoko Kanno, this release offers a high-stakes blend of military drama, philosophical inquiry into AI, and a poignant exploration of fractured friendships. It remains a definitive masterpiece of the 90s OVA era, delivering a visceral cinematic experience that continues to soar above its peers. Notable Staff & Voice Talent Directors: Shoji Kawamori (Escaflowne) & Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) Mechanical Design: Shoji Kawamori Studio: Triangle Staff Music: Yoko Kanno (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) Cast: • Takumi Yamazaki / Bryan Cranston as Isamu Alva Dyson • Unsho Ishizuka / Richard Epcar as Guld Goa Bowman • Rica Fukami / Debra Rogers as Myung Fang Lone • Mako Hyodo / Bridget Hoffman as Sharon Apple DVD Features • Macross Plus: The Movie International Version • Behind-the-Scenes "Making of Macross Plus" Featurette • Interview with Director Shoji Kawamori • Original Japanese Promotional Trailers and TV Spots • Multi-Angle Flight Sequences•Digitally Re-mastered•Motion Menus•Macross Plus Musical Photo Gallery•Manga 2000 Commercial•Web Link•Manga Fan Club Commercial•Manga Video Commercial Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English subtitles Edition Details Japanese Title: マクロスプラス (Makurosu Purasu) Runtime: ~160 Minutes (OVA Collection) Director: Shoji Kawamori & Shinichiro Watanabe DVD Release Year: 1999–2001 (Manga Entertainment Release) Original Release Date (Japan): 1994–1995 Publisher: Manga Entertainment Rating: 15+ (Contains Language & Violence) Region: Region 1 (U.S. / Canada) Genre: Sci-Fi, Mecha, Drama Themes: AI, Rivalry, Military Aviation, Love Triangle Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.
