How to Watch Macross in English

Mecha anime predates the global phenomenon that is Mobile Suit Gundam. Tetsujin 28 and Astro Boy are some of the first mecha anime ever made, preceding Mobile Suit Gundam. Mobile Suit Gundam, however, was the inspiration for a plethora of anime that supervene it. Macross is one of those anime that came to fruition due to Mobile Suit Gundam. Similar to other Japanese media released in the U.S. during the 1980s, Macross is dubbed in English. However, Macross is a unique case among those other titles.

What Are the Differences in the Macross English Version?

Macross is a mecha anime first released in Japan from October 1982 – June 1983. The story begins with Hikaru Ichijyo, a young pilot flaunting his piloting skills in front of a cheering crowd. During his spectacular showcase at the Macross first voyage ceremony, an alien race known as the Zentradi invades Earth. The Macross overrides the commander’s controls, sending everyone aboard to the outer reaches of space. The crew and the green Hikaru must face the horrors of war across 36 episodes. The story is where the similarities end between the Japanese and English versions of Macross.

Macross in English was rebranded as Robotech. Similar to 4Kids TV anime releases, Robotech saw countless edits to fit an American audience such as character names. In addition to modifications to the source material, Robotech was composed of three different mecha anime. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeada combine to make Robotech an 85 episode anime.

Where Can I Watch Macross in English?

Although Robotech consists of three unrelated anime, each anime is divided into three separate seasons. To specifically view Macross, you must watch Robotech: The Macross Saga. Robotech: The Macross Saga is the first season of Robotech, containing 36 episodes similar to the Japanese version. However, all 85 episodes are available to watch on Crunchyroll. In addition to the Robotech anime series, Robotech II: The Sentinels and Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles are available for viewing as well.

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross along with several movies and anime series from the Macross franchise will be available for streaming on Disney+ beginning August 21, 2024.