Kikô sôseiki Mospeada (1983-84)(TV)

Written By: Ken Hulsey

In 1984 Carl Mecek wanted to import a Japanese Anime TV series to the United States for syndication. The series that he had first purchased was the famous Chôjikû yôsai Macross. The problem was the series was only 36 episodes long and a standard American syndicated show 65 episodes. This forced Macek to obtain two other unrelated series Chôjikû kidan Southern Cross and Kikô sôseiki Mospeada. He then hired a team of writers to join the three series into one grand epic that featured three generations living under the umbrella of a mass alien invasion.

The storyline for the third, and final, arch would revolve around Robotech pilot Scott Bernard who was sent back to Earth to organize a resistance against the Invid. This time the aliens wouldn't be after a missing warship. They intended to harvest Earth's bioengy in the form of protoculture (Derived from the Macross term for a "Prototype Culture") and enslave the remaining humans.

Bernard would have a personal quest of his own. The search for his childhood sweetheart Marlene who he had left behind when he joined Admiral Hunter's forces in their search of the Robotech Master's home world. This quest sadly would lead to the news that she had perished in the invasion.

Scott Bernard would slowly assemble the group of rebels he would need for an assault on the Invid base of operations known as Reflex Point. The group would consist of a couple of cyclone armored renegades, an ex-military mechanic, a orphaned young girl who desperately wanted a husband, and interestingly enough an ex-soldier, Lancer, who hid his true identity by posing as the female pop star "Yellow Dancer".

Every new episode would present new problems for the group as the forged their way across what was left of the United States towards Reflex Point which was located just outside the ruins of New York City. Attacks from the Invid, angry humans, and a spy who looked and sounded like Scott's old flame did little to detour the group from their objective. In the end the strength of the human spirit would prevail and the Invid would be overcome.

Robotech would open up a whole new market for Japanese Anime in the United States. The series was leaps ahead of its competition on weekday afternoons. Shows like Gobots, Inspector Gadget, and GI Joe had little to offer in the shadow of Robotech's complex character driven episodes. Fans of Cowboy Beebop, Gundam Wing and Inuyasha ow a great deal to this pioneer from the mid 1980's. Had it never hit the air waves Anime may have taken much longer to "catch on" here in the United States.

Kikô sôseiki Mospeada (1983-84)(TV)
AKA: Genesis Climber Mospeada, Robotech 3: The Invid Invasion

Directed By: Katsuhisa Yamada
Written By: Satoshi Namiki, Kenji Terada, Sukehiro Tomita & Ryô Yasumura

Cast:
Bin Shimada as Stig Bernard
Mika Doi as Houquet
Hisao Ôyama as Ray
Waka Kanda as Soldie
Mio Matsumoto as Yellow Belmont
Sanae Miyuki as Mint Rubble
Tomomichi Nishimura as Jim
Noriko Ohara as The Refles
Hôchû Ôtsuka as Battler
Hirotaka Suzuoki as Yellow Belmont (male)
Miki Takahashi as Aisha / Marlene

American Credits:

Directed By: Robert V. Barron
Written By: Gregory Snegoff & Robert V. Barron

Cast:
Cam Clarke as Lancer
Mary Cobb as Annie
Richard Epcar as Lunk
Aline Leslie as Marlene
Gregory Snegoff as Scott Bernard

Runtime: 25 -30 Minute Episodes
Country: USA / Japan
Language: Japanese / English
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Mono
Air Date: October 2, 1983 (Japan) / September 10, 1985 (USA)

EPISODE GUIDE (Robotech)

61. The Invid Invasion
62. The Lost City
63. Lonely Soldier Boy
64. Survival
65. Curtain Call
66. Hard Times67. Paper Hero
68. Eulogy
69. The Genesis Pit
70. Enter Marlene
71. The Secret Route
72. The Fortress73. Sandstorms
74. Annie's Wedding
75. Separate Ways
76. Metamorphosis
77. The Midnight Sun
78. Ghost Town
79. Frostbite
80. Birthday Blues
81. Hired Gun
82. The Big Apple
83. Reflex Point
84. Dark Finale
85. Symphony of Light

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