Impressions of Genesis Climber Mospeada

[Super Saiyajin Joshua]

I never watched Robotech so I had no perspective on this title I just picked it up because Rightstuf had it on sale for $25.

I just finished the third disk and I have to say that I'm less than dazzled. The overarching plot it vauge and some of the characters motivations are unclear to me.

Maybe I missed something but this just seems like a pretty boring show so far. I will finish it but I'm wondering if it gets better. No spoilers please but just some general impressions. Thanks.

[Kellory]

I never really noticed much difference between Mospeada and Robotech. There are a few changes and all in order to keep the timeline somewhat consistant, but to be honest those are pretty slim. The basic storyline is about the same. They probably made the fewest changes to Mospeada really.

You really didnt miss anything I think. It is just the story of a young man who is fighting to free an Earth he has never lived on and has only heard about. He lost everything in the initial battle except for his mission. Along the way he meets some new friends, gains some new enemies, and battles on. It is pretty cut and dry. Nothing extraordinary or anything.

I do think it gets better towards the last disc or so. The last 5 or 6 episodes has some good stuff as the climax approaches and things begin to make some sense. Although some of it never really will. Personally, I think Robotech did the show a big favor when it merged it into the whole Macross timeline. I'm sure some would disagree, but I think it kept the show from being forgotten in the mists of time.

Mospeada's greatest claim to fame in my opinion is that it is what made the third part of Robotech after all.

[Greywing]

Mospeada's greatest claim to fame in my opinion is that it is what made the third part of Robotech after all.

As much as I love Mospeada, I have to agree. If it weren't for Robotech, the show would be languishing in R2J-only Limbo along with other niche mecha titles like Xabungle or Jeeg.

[mcarocks2003]

Mospeada is defintly not in the same league as Macross TV or DYRL.

I found Mospeada to be quite a dull and predictable show and this is coming from a fan of 80's anime.

There are much better mech shows from this era like Aura Dunbine, Megazone 23 , Five Star Stories and Area 88 OVA to name a few.

[jojo_home]

Well, I'll be the ugly duckling here and say I enjoyed Mospeada--and I consider it even BETTER than Macross or Southern Cross.

It's really what kind of format you feel is best for entertainment. For some, if an anime does not have an overarching plot or serial drama, it's a dud. For others, they can enjoy a show for what it is.

It's tough to say WHY I like Mospeada better than Macross at this point in time. Maybe I liked the aimless, wandering aspect of the show. Maybe I enjoyed the Seven Samurai feel of the main cast. Maybe it's because the characters, like the show itself, are kind of looked on as outcasts and misfits-- people who can't quite fit into society, and they stay together not because of some ultimate goal, but just because they're COMFORTABLE being with other outcasts like themselves.

The music is a pleasure too. Honestly, even though Macross is a show largely based on its music, I THOUGHT THE ROBOTECH BGM KICKED MACROSS' BGM'S ASS. (Except for the vocals, which I will concede Macross is more impressive) But Mospeada had a rockin' 80s opening song, a jazzy end song that wouldn't be out of place in any modern anime, and some great, rousing BGM--something I felt that Macross disappointed in.

Yes, the show doesn't really give much of a damn about character motivations nor does it try to keep audiences coming back for more with cliffhanger after cliffhanger at the end of every episode. But I still liked it...

[Super Saiyajin Joshua]

I am really enjoying the music actually. Especially the ED song. I guess what I was really thrown off by was the all the characters (apparent) lack of motivation for this crusade except Stig. I guess I'm also having a hard time with watching the Inbit shooting rapid fire lasers and only even hitting someone once every 6 or so episodes. It's really forcing me to suspend my disbelief.

[jojo_home]

I am really enjoying the music actually. Especially the ED song. I guess what I was really thrown off by was the all the characters (apparent) lack of motivation for this crusade except Stig. I guess I'm also having a hard time with watching the Inbit shooting rapid fire lasers and only even hitting someone once every 6 or so episodes. It's really forcing me to suspend my disbelief.

I'm probably just making excuses here because I like the show...but I would venture to say that the characters aren't following Stig because they have any kind of "motivation" but because they have nowhere else to go. Think about it. Houquet was a loner even in her own biker gang. Mint has no parents, and is really just on a quest to find a home. Ray has been basically a bum for the past few years in his life. Jim is a disgraced soldier nobody has any use for. And Yellow is ummm...a crossdressing idol singer-cum-soldier who wanders around from town to town anyway.

So yeah, basically they aren't with Stig because they want to save the world, but because they have nothing else better to do. It may not be the greatest motivational reason in the world, but it's oddly endearing.

The journey is more important than the destination for them. It was fun watching them celebrate Mint's birthday, goof around in an abandoned city, get a tan on the beach, and raise hell in New York. I think those "filler stops" were the REAL spiritual victories for these characters.


As for the Inbit not being able to hit the broadside of a barn, that's the same cliche every action anime and Hollywood movie seems to use anyway.

[HitokiriShadow]

I haven't seen Robotech, but I decided to watch all of the series that comprised Robotech in their original form. I've seen Mospeada and Southern Cross (in that order) but I haven't seen Macross yet.

I enjoyed Mospeada but it was bit too episodic for my tastes, considering the storyline and genre. I don't mind episodic shows that are that way because they are slice-of-life or simply don't have a plot, but in this case, it was awkward to see them completely ignore everything from previous episodes besides new characters and vehicles.

And I enjoyed it far more than Southern Cross. At least I liked the characters in Mospeada, which is what kept me watching for the most part. I absolutely hated Southern Cross's main character and the rest weren't much better. The only decent character (the MP girl) had very little screen time.

[jojo_home]

I enjoyed Mospeada but it was bit too episodic for my tastes, considering the storyline and genre. I don't mind episodic shows that are that way because they are slice-of-life or simply don't have a plot, but in this case, it was awkward to see them completely ignore everything from previous episodes besides new characters and vehicles.

.

Oh c'mon. Now you're exaggerating a teeny bit. :P

It's not like they conveniently forgot everything that happened previously, it's just that the story-of-the-day tended to be completely and utterly wrapped up in one episode. Stig still yearned for Marlene, the weird girl continually had strange reactions to the inbit, and Jim was still bothered by his demons for a number of episodes. Plus, the romance between Houquet and Ray had a subtle progression.

I'm really surprised I like Mospeada better now than Macross actually. Back when I was 8, the Mospeada arc was my least-favourite arc of Robotech--in fact, I didn't even watch the whole thing. I guess I like Mospeada now because the PEOPLE get most of the screen time, whereas Macross could spent half an episode on space shots and robot battles (which don't interest me as much anymore at my age). And I simply cannot take Minmei seriously anymore. She's become a caricature over the years. Unfortunately she seemed to play an even bigger role in Macross than she did in Robotech.

[Super Saiyajin Joshua]

I still need to find Macross volumes 4-7 cheap somewhere so I haven't see all of it yet. I'm on disk 4 of Mospeada and episode 4 of Southern Cross. The last episode of Mospeada I watched was pretty good actually where we get to see an Inbit pilot, and she has a crush on Yellow.

[Rhodes]

the show by itself doesnt do much... the fighters are nice and that they combine together and the bikes are cool... but the main male lead is a robot and the storyline very predictable.

however i found this to be my 2nd favorite in the robotech storyline... simply becasue i didnt like southern cross at all. more of a fan of nova and the muses than dana and the 15th.

the show by itself just doesnt have enough impact on me compared to macross.

[Thanatos]

I disagree. I really enjoyed Mospeada. The opening animation is extremely impressive, the ending theme is the very first anime to use a blues song, and I found all the characters wonderful and interacted with each other in amusing ways. Definitely, the plot is not the strength of the series, but the wandering journey did interest me, as well as the cool motorcycles that transformed into robots. I think the show is a lot better than Southern Cross, which had a great plot but I hated every character except for David and Musica.

I also disagree with the idea that Mospeada is only remembered because of Robotech. It was popular enough to get an OVA, a LD-BOX release, and two DVD issues. While it wasn't the most groundbreaking mecha program, it is remembered.

[mcarocks2003]

I guess what I was really thrown off by was the all the characters (apparent) lack of motivation for this crusade except Stig.

All the characters seem like cardboard cut outs to me and thats including Stig. I would have expected Marlene's death to have a bigger impact on him but after the first 2 episodes he just brushes it off and we rarely see it mentioned again.

I just want intellgent story writing with emotional depth and Mospeada lacked this in abundance.

Mospeada just felt like a vastly inferior Macross wannabe.

[Vicserr]

I found Genesis Climber Mospeada very good, this is basically a quest show within the trimmings of the mecha genre, and I didn't find it episodic, the episode problems got solved right there but the main drive, the quest toward Reflex Point and to uproot the Inbit from the face of the Earth was always there.

The characters, even with their squables and various origins trusted each other with their lives and kept things lively even with the doom and gloom that surrounded them.

The mecha design is very sleek with the Mospeada ride armor, the Legioss Fighters and the Tlead booster.

And just in case, almost everthing is better than Southern Cross :sd: , good thing it had plenty of mecha and space battles to keep me watching but except for the Spartas and the Auroran, the mecha design was pretty Blah (and don't get me started about how lame the Logan is). :roll:

[Mazinkaizer]

I also didn't watch Robotech, but if i should compare the 3 series then i would say it comes after Macross,for me i gave it a B :)

I am hoping that Tatsunoko will use or base Robotech: SOC to make a Mospeada 2 someday :sd:

[Vicserr]

I also didn't watch Robotech, but if i should compare the 3 series then i would say it comes after Macross,for me i gave it a B :)

I did watch Robotech, and Invid Invasion was my second favorite saga, after Macross.

I am hoping that Tatsunoko will use or base Robotech: SOC to make a Mospeada 2 someday :sd:

Well, creating a storyline that walks around the Robotech bits and brings the story closer to Mospeada shouldn't be that difficult.

[Bods]

I will finish it but I'm wondering if it gets better. No spoilers please but just some general impressions. Thanks.

I really liked it from the outset but I particularly enjoyed the last few episodes (just as I did with Southern Cross, despite the rushed feeling of the finale) Quite like that series as a whole though I do believe I'm in a minority.

Anyway, what I really wanted to say was that Mospeada actually gets even better after the series is finished. LOVE LIVE ALIVE, the wonderful music video-style OVA, is well worth checking out if you can get your hands on it (available on the final disc of the r2j releases, at least the one from a few years ago, not sure if the forthcoming, cheaper re-release collection will have it but logically you'd think it would be there) Shame it wasn't included in any release outside the r2j as it really is a terrific little compilation/extension of the show, all backed by fantastic music (one of the series' greatest assets, which you mention you enjoy, hence my little post)

Just as worthy as Macross Flashback 2012, which also deserves to be easier to get hold of.

[Falcon_73]

I've always had a fondness for Mospeada. As I recall, I saw this portion of Robotech before I saw any of Macross, so my perspective is a bit different. Macross over-took Mospeada eventually, but it may not have been until I saw DYRL.

The mecha designs in Mospeada are still among my favorites. While the Alpha (Legioss) and Beta (Tlead) were good designs, the Cyclone/Mospeada was just awesome. I think this was my first sighting of personal/transformable body armor, and it seemed to be so effective. Who wouldn't want one?

I also enjoyed the story line throughout, as well as how the characters changed. e.g the evolution of the relationship between Rand/Rey & Rook/Houquet.

Though I didn't hear the original Mospeada music until relatively recently, I liked it right away... "Do you remember, that 'ol lullaby?" I felt like I had...

Maybe my glasses are just too rose colored, but I still had Mospeada on my Top 10 list as of last year. Still, for me, the journey to "Reflex Point" will always be among my most memorable.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

All the characters seem like cardboard cut outs to me and thats including Stig. I would have expected Marlene's death to have a bigger impact on him but after the first 2 episodes he just brushes it off and we rarely see it mentioned again.

I just want intellgent story writing with emotional depth and Mospeada lacked this in abundance.

Mospeada just felt like a vastly inferior Macross wannabe.

Stig was a military man on a mission. He had to bury/supress/etc. his emotions in order to get on with his mission to Reflex Point. I think that's why you don't see him sitting in his fighter, listening to "How could this happen to me?" as a solitary tear rolls down his face. Military = not emo. :D

As for emotional depth, etc., I think there is more depth than meets the eye, but you have to look for it. ::shrugs:: Just my opinion.

Mospeada was popular enough for the afore mentioned releases, but it was not a wildly successful show like Macross when it was on TV. The main problem was that it was originally aired early on Sunday mornings, not exactly a "primetime" slot. Despite this, it had a decent following and enough fans to justify the releases mentioned above. That's more than could be said for Southern Cross, which didn't even survive its entire planned run, hence the rushed-feeling toward the end of the series.

I'm not saying that because of this you should bow before Mospeada or something crazy like that, I'm just elaborating a bit. ;)