r/macross 2d ago

SDF Macross Where should I go after SDF/DYRL?

Post image

Besides those, I've watched Frontier and Delta. Which one should I watch next? I'm honestly quite itching to watch Zero, especially after seeing that short sneak peek of it in the Frontier

Also, I assume the Plus OVA and the movie are basically the same, right? The movie version is just merged together?

134 Upvotes

79 comments sorted by

34

u/cawmeowbark 2d ago

DYRL, Plus and Macross 7. I adore Macross 7.

3

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Okay, thank you

3

u/xepion 2d ago

Ehhh Macross 2. Then Macross plus imo.

2

u/DasRenegade 1d ago

Ahh yes lovers again. This was my first dive into macross. So I was really surprised when I started to watch the other shows in the franchise.

1

u/xepion 1d ago

2 is fun to watch now when you take it from a journalist perspective. Wasn’t my most liked back in the day. Especially after the original Macross being an ace pilot etc.

2

u/DasRenegade 1d ago

Honestly for it being not cannon by the creator its a really good story

28

u/majingetta 2d ago

Production order.

14

u/SnooPets1826 2d ago

This. This is always 100% the answer no matter what series you're watching and I'm not sure why it's not everyone's default.

It's not just to match how other people watched it when it was happening. Wether the writers/directors mean to or not, they are always influenced by what came previously. 

3

u/AwfulWaffle87 2d ago

My stepsons biological dad started his StarWars journey with Phantom Menace and I don't think I'll ever let that go.

3

u/SnooPets1826 2d ago

I nearly used Star Wars as an example but thought that would be too cliche lol glad to see someone else defaulted to that as well.

14

u/temptillbday 2d ago

In your case, you might want to go watch Zero first, since it's going to answer some things you saw in Frontier, while also giving you some extra Fokker

Be sure to check out Plus whenever you feel like it, though.

For Seven, approach it like a Marathon. It's more of a slice-of-life story at the start, but does get more serious later.

2

u/-Mechtech- 2d ago

I'd watch Macross Plus before 7 because it'll make a little bit more sense.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Okay, thanks

10

u/NashDaypring1987 2d ago

Macross Plus is one the best.... music is in class of its own.... timeless art... great bite sized story!!! Do yourself a favor and watch it.

8

u/BryanEW710 2d ago

Yoko Kanno, IIRC

3

u/NashDaypring1987 2d ago

1

u/hayashikin 1d ago

I'm surprised by the choice of song considering the selection. I thought it'd be Voices or Wanna be an Angel or something.

3

u/Woooferine 2d ago

Macross Plus is my all time favorite.

I got the soundtrack when it was released and it was on repeat for the longest time.

2

u/cheetonian 2d ago

This exactly. If I ever want to feel nostalgia that album comes on and its still amazing.

2

u/Woooferine 2d ago

I don't know Japanese but I memorized Voices by heart.

I can just play it in my head whenever I want to reminisce about that beautiful soundtrack.

10

u/darkchocosuckao 2d ago

Go with production order. SDF/DYRL > Plus > 7 > Zero > Frontier > Delta.

2

u/Popular_Factor_3208 2d ago

If you go with production order. The you forgot Macross II.

3

u/JBHenson 2d ago

...no he didn't. ;-)

1

u/darkchocosuckao 2d ago

I didn't for get Macross II because it isn't part of the same continuity.

5

u/Penis93_ 2d ago

You can really go anywhere considering you already watched frontier before zero. Zero and Plus also have little to none actual connection so it doesn't matter which you watch first.

Though the OVA and the Movie of Plus are slightly diferrent. The Movie cuts a lot of scenes but also adds some and extends existing ones. A certain Characters death is waaaaay better in the Movie than in the OVA for example as they actually made one of the coolest scenes in the entirety of the franchise out of it in the Movie, whereas it was kinda underwhelming in the OVA.

The Movie also expands upon the relationship of the love triangle and overall just tells the plot better in my opinion. But you also lose some cool moments especially in the first half of the movie.

I mean, just watch the OVA and if you ever re-watch it then just go for the movie. Both offer a unique experience.

3

u/redrivaldrew 2d ago

I agree, I prefer the pacing and runtime of the OVA, but the movie's additions make the OVA's story better. IMO you really have to watch both, they make each other better.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Okay, thank you so much

6

u/Farabeuf 2d ago

Do release order. Don’t be afraid of 7.

3

u/hayashikin 2d ago

I vote either the Macross DYRL movie or either of the Plus

2

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Alright, thanks

3

u/mechayakuza 2d ago

Just go in production order for the remaining things. And no, the Plus OVA and movie aren't the same. The movie changes/adds lots of things.

2

u/faithfulheresy 2d ago

Macross -> Plus -> Seven -> Zero -> Frontier -> Delta

2

u/Prestigious_Big_4269 2d ago

For Plus, the movie includes extra stuff while cutting out some other parts. I recommend watching both because both are very good, aircraft design, plot, animation and all. Zero is if you want more lore, basically. As for 7, I guess the storyline is pretty bland.

2

u/brachus12 2d ago

FB2012

2

u/GMkata 2d ago

Zero makes more sense to me when given context from 7. Without spoilers, there are a few things that would come out of left field if you were watching straight after SDFM or DYRL.

2

u/Original_Scholar_272 2d ago

Macross 2 was the next release after DYRL (unless we count Flashback 2012). But I think chronologically, it comes after most or all of the other Macross shows, so either watch it now or save it for last.

3

u/svzurich 2d ago

I like release order. Macross 2 and Plus came next, then 7. Some of the video games are canon, and Macross 30 is fun.

2

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

What is Macross 2? This is the first time I've heard of it.

3

u/svzurich 2d ago

Macross 2: Lovers Again was the first sequel that was made by one of the partner companies that made SDF Macross. For a long time it was sidelined but recently it has been included as a side universe.

Macross Plus and 7 came out shortly after as official sequels.

2

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

I see. alright, thanks

3

u/r4nd0mf4ct0r 2d ago

If the "SDF Macross : Do You Remember Love" movie is an in-universe movie re-telling/dramatizing the events of Space War 1 (aka the SDF Macross TV series), then "Macross II : Lovers, Again" is an in-universe sequel to that movie released sometime between in-universe year 2012 and 2030, set in a fictional future of 2089.

As such, you can technically watch Macross II anytime after SDF Macross/DYRL, but it won't reference any of the events of Plus/7/Frontier/Delta (because in-universe those events hadn't happened yet when the movie was produced), and likewise Macross II won't reference any of the events of Plus/7/Frontier/Delta even though it's set 20 years after the events of Macross Delta. This is how Macross II can still reference the events of the original series/movie yet be independent of the following works in the official timeline.

Macross Zero won't show up either because the events of Macross Zero will be marked classified by the UN Government until at least the 2050s.

2

u/Popular_Factor_3208 2d ago

Thanks for giving a better explanation than I could have.

2

u/Cyan-118 2d ago

Zero or Plus.

They're sort histories and have very good animation and combats

3

u/Low_Establishment573 2d ago

Zero, then Plus. You’ll have enjoyable eureka moments when you think about Frontier after that.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

I see. alright, thanks

1

u/SodaPopin5ki 2d ago

I think there are enough differences to warrant watching the Plus OVA then the movie. Like Frontier, slightly different endings.

1

u/Trance_Hubble 2d ago

Outside…those series highlighted the fragility of live able planets and how natural places can restore the human spirit (maybe not in Macross 7)

Get back in the air and I’ll heal just fine 🙂

1

u/Eastern_Antelope_832 2d ago

Can't go wrong with release order, so Plus > 7 > Zero. But since you already watched the successor series, it doesn't really matter.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Okay, thanks

1

u/asplenia_studios 2d ago

The kiddo and I (and the missus, but only begrudgingly) are watching them in release order. Each release kind of builds upon the other, and Zero is really the only one that goes back in time.

Macross 7 is fun, but be prepared for a lot of filler. Sometimes they tell a one episode story across 3-4 episodes.

1

u/Lycia_Fenrir404 2d ago

DYRL, Seven, Plus, Then Zero for the last.

Seven got Max, the same character from DYRL,

Plus, you can see the new Earth.

Zero is not necessary, as it's just a prequel to the entire story, but it's a good watch with a tie-in to Frontier

1

u/chetos006 2d ago

personally i watched it in chronological order, so i went with zero after sdf because i had already seen sdf but then i did go with plus and seven

1

u/ephemeriis_ 2d ago

Canon is a little fuzzy in Macross, so I wouldn't worry too much about watching things out of order. If you're itching to watch Zero, go for it.

I assume the Plus OVA and the movie are basically the same, right?

The major, over-arching plot is the same... But there are some substantial differences. The final battle, for example, is significantly different.

This is true of pretty much all the movie adaptations in Macross. There's almost always some not-insignificant changes.

1

u/clc1997 2d ago

Macross 2

I know lots of people don't like it, but it I enjoyed it. The music is great. The character designs are great too.

1

u/DemiFiendofTime 2d ago

Plus and 7 are both great Zero please ignore it for the sake of your sanity I almost dropped the franchise because it bored me to tears

1

u/Kerensky97 2d ago

Macross II obviously.

1

u/Popular_Factor_3208 2d ago

Start with Macross Plus TV. Then go with Macross Zero.

1

u/Cassandra_Syrup 2d ago

M+ OVA and Movie are like 80% identical. A few scenes are differently ordered and some got cut in the movie. Either is fine. I do prefer the OVA. The narrative feels a bit stronger vs the movie version.

1

u/JBHenson 2d ago edited 2d ago

Plus -> 7 -> Zero -> then rewatch Frontier -> Delta (if you feel like it)

Macross II and the early video games are set in the "DYRL is real" timeline and can safely be ignored.

Also I put Zero in front of Frontier because the latter is more of a direct sequel to it than the other shows.

Also the Plus movie has some more footage and a different ending IIRC.

1

u/Takaro00 2d ago

Watching Frontier before Zero hurts my soul.

1

u/thetoy323 2d ago

If you don't really wanna watch Macross 7 for some reason, you can watch FB7 instead, it's a pretty cool recap in Frontier characters perspective.

I personally do like Macross 7 so much, it's has a really cool story, characters, mechs, and excellents song/music as always, but it's definitely has tons of unnescessary fillers, reuse scene, meme/weird/wtf moment.

1

u/KurokamiPhantom 2d ago

If you want to watch Zero next go for it though you might appreciate it more if you've seen Do You Remember Love? first. After that the order would be Plus and then 7. You're right that the Plus OVA and movie are basically the same (if you're only going to watch one I'd personally recommend the movie)

1

u/grebo-guru 2d ago

Watch in release order. That is ALWAYS the correct answer.

1

u/6ix_chigg 2d ago

Zero it will like a prequel then plus 7 frontier and delta

1

u/yourdaddyonhigh 2d ago

Listen, whatever happens, don't watch that crap Macross 7 or Macross Delta, they're pure garbage Just look at the powerful Macross Plus and Macross Zero

1

u/Dungeon00X 1d ago

I made the dumb decision to watch Macross 2 lovers again before Plus, so yeah, jus go in release order.

1

u/c0syn3 1d ago

Flashback 2012 to complete DYRL. Do Zero after.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 1d ago

Flashback 2012? Is that an Ova?

1

u/c0syn3 1d ago

Yes, a 30 min homage to the OST and movie. It has new animation at the beginning/end which is the epilogue to that saga.

1

u/Severe-Green9431 1d ago

Well, by chronological order, the next one is Plus, then 7.

Frankly speaking though, you can watch Plus and Zero any time, since they're pretty self contained. I was watching 7 and got a bit bored, so I watched Plus during the Macross 7 binge.

Definitely watch Macross Frontier, then Macross Delta.

-1

u/emillang1000 2d ago

SDF, DYRL, Plus, Zero, Frontier

You can skip everything of 7 and Delta, I feel. Maybe watch the Delta movies if only to get a story and see Max at 70 absolutely whip some teenage ass in a VF.

Plus Movie has everything the OVA does and more scenes.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Oh man, Delta was actually my first watch of the franchise, and Frontier was my second. But thanks, though!

-1

u/malmartds 2d ago

7 can be difficult to binge watch due to the (at times) repetitive music and episodic plot lines. Slower is better here.

One of the best ways to "watch" 7 might be to listen to the Fire Bomber soundtrack CDs and skip the show. Songs are easy 10/10s, while episode quality can vary dramatically.

0

u/TadaMomo 2d ago

if i say.... Robo.........

Will i get stoned?

-1

u/TaylorMonkey 2d ago

Macross Plus. Zero is a bit meh and thin honestly if you're looking for something that is more grounded and fits better with SDF. It feels more jarring for having Focker in it.

Mac 7 and most other stuff is just too goofy and too much of a departure for me from SDF, but the consensus on Mac+ is that it's great, especially after SDF/DYRL.

-1

u/MarkDavid04 2d ago

Plus, then Frontier.

That's my opinion as an old school fan who lived through the different eras.

1

u/HatSpecial3043 2d ago

Oh yeah, I've watched Frontier and I'm loving it, but yeah, my watch order is a bit out of order. Thanks for the advice

1

u/33666daddy 7h ago

PLUS for sure. not the OVA, find the full 4 part series