Watch Macross Plus

Macross Plus is a Japanese anime television series produced by Studio Nue and Triangle Staff, and directed by Shoji Kawamori. It originally aired on NHK in 1994 and consists of four episodes, each approximately 40 minutes long. The series is a part of the Macross franchise, which has been a popular mainstay in the mecha anime genre since the 1980s.

Set thirty years after the events of the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross series, Macross Plus tells the story of three test pilots - Isamu Dyson, Guld Goa Bowman, and Myung Fang Lone - who are all caught up in a web of complicated relationships, rivalries, and political intrigue.

At the center of the story is the development and testing of two new Variable Fighters - the YF-19 and the YF-21 - which are being developed by competing corporations, Shinsei Industries and General Galaxy, respectively. Isamu Dyson, a hot-blooded and impulsive pilot with a rivalry with Guld Goa Bowman dating back to their time in flight school, is chosen to test pilot the YF-19 for Shinsei. Meanwhile, Guld Goa Bowman, a more reserved and calculating personality, is chosen to pilot the YF-21 for General Galaxy. Both pilots are driven to succeed and to prove that their fighter is the superior machine.

Myung Fang Lone, the third member of this love triangle, is a former singer and ex-lover of both Isamu and Guld. She has returned to the planet Eden, where the story takes place, to run a concert that will showcase the talent of Sharon Apple, a virtual idol created by the rival corporations. Sharon Apple is an AI-controlled singer who has become incredibly popular and influential, and her performances are the main attraction of the show.

As the story unfolds, the personal and professional rivalries between the pilots and their respective corporations come to a head, with Sharon Apple playing a significant role in the outcome. Along the way, we learn more about the various characters' motivations, pasts, and relationships, as well as the world they inhabit - a technologically advanced future where humanity has expanded beyond Earth and into the stars.

The animation in Macross Plus is top-notch, with detailed and fluid mecha action sequences that are a hallmark of the Macross franchise. The characters themselves are well-designed, with consistent and expressive animation that brings out their personalities and emotions. The music, composed by legendary anime composer Yoko Kanno, is also a standout feature of the series, with a diverse range of styles and genres that complement the action and drama perfectly.

Overall, Macross Plus is a compelling and entertaining anime series that explores themes of love, rivalry, and the ethics of AI development. It has a strong cast of characters and a complex, multi-layered plot that keeps the viewer engaged and invested from start to finish. Even over 25 years after its initial release, it is still considered one of the best mecha anime series ever made, and a must-watch for fans of the genre.