Review of Macross F: The Movie Version Itsuwari no Utahime Itsuwari no Utahime is the first cinematic film of Macross Frontier released in 2009 and its title can be translated as The False Songstress. The first necessary clarification I would say is that the two Frontier films are not simply compilations of scenes seen in the TV series but as Macross has accustomed us to since the immortal Ai oboete imasu ka? they represent an alternative version of the TV series. Although they feature the same characters and story they follow a different evolution and have their own distinct narrative. This doesnt mean that there arent points of contact with their twin version: the first film in particular this one during its first hour retraces albeit with differences and different traits roughly the first quarter of the series only to then take completely different paths in the second half of the film. On the other hand the second movie Sayonara no Tsubasa has no connection to the TV series and presents two completely new hours of footage and of course with its own conclusion different from the TV series. Now some might be confused by this duplication and particularly ask themselves why the TV and cinematic versions always diverge and present different stories often with contrasting endings to those of their counterpart. Well the answer lies in statements directly from Kawamori released at the time where he said: If I tell the story in the length of a TV series it looks one way and if I tell it as a movielength story its organized another way And I agree with this philosophy: after all TV and film are two very different mediums especially in terms of time constraints so it makes perfect sense that the narrative methods change from one to the other. And to conclude this introductory section in light of the above statements others might ask: which of these two versions follows the continuity? The answer I love seeing people go crazy: both. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that in Macross there is no concept of continuity given the frequent dual versions. Since I couldnt care less about the concept of continuity the probably correct way to approach it would be to consider the two versions as competitors to each othertwo parallel tracks both existing and distinct each following its own course. https://i.ur.com/MzeRs3o.jpeg Special BluRay cover for the film drew by Ebata Risa the official character designer for the series First Part of the Film As mentioned the first hour of the film roughly presents the greatest points of contact with the TV series aided by the fact that it serves as the introductory part and as such is marked by calmness. A noteworthy addition and one of my absolute favorites is that Sheryl has finally been given a cellphone with the same properties as Rankas creating a clear contrast between the two. This phone takes the shape of a taiyaki literally baked sea bream its a Japanese sweet shaped like a fish with the most common filling being anko sweet red bean paste in a pink color and represents the perfect embodiment of Japanese kawaii. 450https://i.ur.com/hmuzGI8.png 450https://i.ur.com/YmPv9TZ.png Another quite significant change is that in this version Sheryl like Ranka also knows Aimo a song that in the TV series was sung only by Ranka narratively speaking this makes perfect sense given that Sheryls grandmother worked with Ranshe and its entirely plausible that Sheryls mother Sally visited the planet where Mao conducted her research and that she just like Ranshe passed down the song to little Sheryl. One of the cutest moments in the first part of the film is definitely the date between Alto and Sheryl significantly enriched compared to the TV series during which the two first visit the city of Frontier then move to the countryside exploring its diverse flora including forests and lakes. These scenes set in natural environments not only offer beautiful moments of interaction between the two characters but right by the lake Sheryl will reveal to Alto some information about the song Aimo and share some childhood memories. 400https://i.ur.com/usmSWQT.png One of the reasons the cinematic version is always well received is because it provides the ideal opportunity to introduce new songs one of Macrosss standout features along with new costumes and choreography. And regarding the first hour of this film what can we say about the new songs introduced? Id say a lot. First of all the first song Sheryl performs in her opening concert in the film is a brandnew track so there is no Dont be late as her debut song: and here comes Universal Bunny. Sung by Mayn and composed by Yoko Kanno this song is another incredible piece that reclaims its place among the best songs ever performed by Sheryl. Theres so much to say about this track so Ill focus on the most significant details. As for the setting the arena where Sheryl performs is of course specially designed consisting of a multitude of golden gears arranged both vertically and horizontally with some stacked upon one another. So the theme at first glance seems to be time: however if we look at the lyrics of the song there are no direct references to time itself so in relation to the song the element of time serves more as a context as the backdrop to the song. Nevertheless due to the presence of the gears a clear symbol of time the references to it are undeniable. So where can we gather more information about this song that ties it more directly to the element of time? The Nyan Kuri music video comes to our aid here: Universal Bunny is the first song we see featured in this video and it is preceded by a speech from Sheryl where she talks about time in response to the interviewers question on the subject. The Diva expresses the following about time: Time? I hate it. I hate the passing of time. I dont like being constrained by anything. But I love the moment. The moment has no past every day slips away. Reminds you of a very energetic little rabbit right? This last phrase is said as she looks at a pocket watch and then through a superb transition the scene shifts to her performance of Universal Bunny featuring the rotating golden gears. This dialogue is quite significant as it gives us a pretty complete picture of Sheryls philosophy about time a philosophy that seems to align perfectly with that of Horace who despised the general flow of time aets and instead valued its smaller portions hence the famous carpe diem or seize the day furthermore it seems to explain the origin of the title of the song since Sheryl explicitly compares it to an energetic little rabbit thus providing a logical thread to the entire conversation. Returning to the music video it also stands out for another feature typical of Sheryls performances as weve already seen: its visual beauty and immense spectacle. Universal Bunny is the epitome of this: a song where the singer performs on gearshaped platforms supported by clockwork men as background dancers amid light shows stunning visuals and overwhelming choreography with the two Bunny Sheryls White and Black towering on the screen. As for the other main theme of the song we have the figure of the rabbit: throughout the song and this can easily be deduced from the lyrics there is a continuous play on the contrast between the White Rabbit and the Black Rabbit as will later be the case similarly in the Idol music video by Yoasobi representing the classic opposition between two opposite and antithetical forces like yin and yang. Im your invincible bunny with a soul made of black Im a trap you get caught in and youll never get out I attract rogues and I crush them down Ill capture your eyes willingly or not Im your fragile bunny with a soul made of white Im looking upwards Im desperate to fly Im overflowing with sweet melting love And sick of the same old strawberry stars And the typical alternation between the two extremes is also referenced toward the end of the song: Black or white confusion and ecstasy Dark or light fighting and embracing me Truth or doubt a lie that deludes you Im already always so good around you Mocking being almost moved by the love of one or two Heaven or hell karma has nowhere to go But still you try to guide me through this troubled rendezvous The music video however finds one of its moments of glory in the appearance of the Black Bunnythis is another story. Beyond its great sensuality and sexiness other aspects of undeniable appreciation include the flawless synchronization between the songs lyrics and the corresponding visuals on screen as well as the excellent transitions which make the viewers experience much more immersive. In short while there is no Dont Be Late Universal Bunny has literally everything it needs to enchant the viewer once again and take them to a state of pure ecstasy being just as impactful and epic on screen as Iteza was in the TV series. https://i.ur.com/3eCnCA5.mp4 400https://i.ur.com/pWtEnVq.jpeg Official key visual of the film notice how the gear element is present here as well and how Sheryl is tangled in them Continuing on the sound aspect there are two other songs in the first part that deserve mention: the first is Welcome To My Fanclubs Night the song that Sheryl sings after Universal Bunny during her debut live performance on Frontier at the beginning of the film. This song is not as new as the latter since its already heard a few times in the TV series particularly during episode fifteen but what is new and fresh is its lively choreography. We dont see much of it but the little we do see is more than enough to make us smile and enjoy ourselves. For this performance Sheryl wears a typical cowgirl outfit which is really cute and with it she carries a pink revolver yes Sheryl is always characterized by her femininity just like her cellphone which is also the same color and this revolver literally shoots hearts we appreciate the creativity. The sequence in which she performs is quite amusing because Sheryl starts teasing Alto who is performing his flight choreography as usual by shooting gunshots at him. This annoys the guy and he essentially engages in a distant quarrel with the singer which is quite funny. Sheryl the notorious prankster couldnt care less and keeps provoking him: after skillfully twirling the gun she starts running on the platform where shes standing prompting Alto to follow her with a gesture of his hand and she jumps off the platform with the explicit intent of having him catch her midair as a sort of challenge. So with this trick even in this version just like in the TV series Sheryl falls during her performance with the difference that while in the series her fall is actually a mistake made by Alto who gets too cocky here its all planned and Sheryl throws herself intentionally adding that extra thrill to her performance. https://i.ur.com/eMyKct6.mp4 400https://i.ur.com/TEjr3tE.png Heres the outfit The last song I absolutely have to talk about although unfortunately it doesnt get much screen time is Pink Monsoon: an entirely new track it is used as an insert song for the first scenes of the date between Alto and Sheryl in the first quarter of the film and we only hear the first verse. Beyond the fact that the song perfectly and impeccably accompanies these scenes its really a waste that we only get to hear the first verse. In my opinion its one of Sheryls best songs by far and perhaps one of her fans favorites too and not so much because of its narrative significance it doesnt have any in fact or the beauty of the lyrics which however are nothing short of brilliant and extremely sensual Pink Monsoon plays heavily on indulgence but for the brilliance and intrinsic wonder of the songs composition and melodies which I find absolutely extraordinary. After all when two geniuses like Yoko Kanno and Mayn who has a phenomenal vocal range come together its not hard to imagine that a masterpiece of this kind could come out of it. Baby pink monsoon Baby pink monsoon Lady sings LOVE hum... A scandal to the point of fogging up the glass window Baby pink monsoon Baby pink monsoon Lady sings LOVE hum... I want you to do as you please dont stop However there is another verse of this song that is worth focusing on and this is because Pink Monsoon is indeed a song with the classic diva style but it contains some important clues about the status of its singer. The verse in question is as follows: I wont forgive you If you make me realize that it wouldve been better if Id stayed alone This verse is extremely relevant to the discomfort of its singer and it will be a theme well address later in the analysis. But its particularly fitting. To be completely honest this addition Im writing now is retrospective as I never noticed there was such a meaningful verse about Sheryl in this song I only paid attention to it after reading an interview with Mayn and Nakajima Megumi and as soon as I read that snippet I couldnt help but agree with what was being said. For the sake of completeness I think its important to highlight this aspect as well especially since its always connected to one of the themes of this analysis. In fact not only that: this is exactly a phrase Sheryl would say. Im sure of it. In short Pink Monsoon you are truly an amazing song from every point of view. https://youtu.be/UxBqxXtD9Lc?si=AzRe5seDn9iCvp8 Pink Monsoon live version by Mayn such a beautiful and captivating song that once youve heard it it just wont leave your head Second Part of the Film Having briefly covered the first part of the film highlighting the necessary points Id say its time to move on to the next part which definitely adds much more complexity. The premise is as follows: in both versions Ive always found it difficult to choose one over the other as Ive always liked them both. But after my recent rewatches and without taking anything away from the TV series I think Ive started to prefer the cinematic versions just a little bit more. The main reason I think is that in these versions some themes are in my opinion better explored or represented. And there are quite a few clear examples of this which I will explain here one by one. Lets start then with the male protagonist of the story Alto Saotome: the son of an exceptional and illustrious kabuki actor a form of traditional Japanese theater Saotome Ranz Alto followed in his fathers footsteps and was trained as such from a very young age being recognized by everyone as a prodigy. We know from the TV series that the boy had a particularly conflicted and tense relationship with his father which persists throughout the story. His father is a very strict stoic man now nearing old age. Probably in the long run Alto struggled to stay in the spotlight likely due to the pressure and the high expectations from his father also because the boy is set to be the next heir of the family which led to bitter conflicts with him. Another reason was the apparent lack of affection from his father Alto lost his mother whom he was very close to at a young age his father has never been particularly inclined to give him much attention probably because he plays more of a mentor role than that of a traditional parent. But most of all the boy saw that world as a cage preventing him from dedicating himself to what he considered his true passion: flying. In the TV series however the reasons for Altos rejection of the kabuki stage and his calling as an actor are not particularly explored. His distance from them is almost always treated as a mere escape simply because the boy apparently hates his father and no longer wants anything to do with him in order to focus solely on his passion for flying. But by presenting it this way his escape ends up seeming more like a mere whim on Altos part who selfishly and immaturely refuses to return to his home. His adopted brother often reproaches him saying and in part wrongly that his passion for flying is just an excuse to stay away from home and that hes just playing the role of a rebellious student who has fallen in love with something else. This is something Alto is good at as his brother reminds him hes still a great actor at heart even if he wont admit it. And while his passion for flying is real all of this still affects his character who in the TV series doesnt receive much depth. Alto is portrayed as a childish stubborn brat and when you think about it he doesnt undergo much of a growth arc remaining a bit flat from the beginning to the end of the story. In the film however the reasons behind Altos departure from the kabuki world are explored more deeply giving a muchwelcome and particularly interesting development. In one scene of the film during a conversation with Ranka on the subway Alto reveals the truth behind his escape from the stage: he was afraid. He was afraid of himself and his own kabuki acting abilities. He says that whenever he played a roleno matter which one as he has done countless roleshe felt as if he were possessed by a terrifying power to the point that it was as if the fictional character he portrayed suddenly took control of his body. Alto was so flawless in his acting that he felt confused about who the real person was in that moment or conversely he felt that every time he took on a different character his own existence as Saotome Alto slowly faded away from the world. A real identity crisis which led to a great fear and ultimately drove him to run away and distance himself from that world. A rational straightforward explanation that ties perfectly with the theme of acting and is particularly fascinating as a discourse which finally gives the muchneeded introspection to his character something lacking in the TV series. With this alone the films earn a solid point in their favor. 350https://i.ur.com/hgJRPUL.png 350https://i.ur.com/R5NUDNO.png And not long after we get a perfect demonstration of all this: following a certain event which I will discuss shortly Alto who still has the other earring of Sheryl that she lost just like in the TV series and which we know has the ability to transmit feelings and emotions decides to wear it. As expected Sheryls emotions suddenly pour into him causing the two to become perfectly in tune with one another. Well in this moment Alto is literally portraying Sheryl he behaves exactly like her and in fact even their movements and voices overlap further accentuating this impersonation. Certainly the quartz play a decisive role here as most of the work is done by them with Alto delving deep into the girls soul. But precisely because of this by behaving exactly as though he himself were Sheryl the film gives the audience a perfect practical demonstration of what the boy meant earlier in his conversation with Ranka. And all of this takes place in his private quarters wrapped in total darkness partially illuminated by the glow of a candlean object of undeniable suggestive charmthat creates an intimate almost poetic atmosphere in one of my absolute favorite scenes of the entire film. 350https://i.ur.com/KC8i4uW.png An additional theme in the cinematic versions which was absent in the TV series is the struggle for resources between Frontier and Galaxy more from the former than the latter. The two twin fleets would be in competition with each other to acquire the primary and most valuable resources essentially represented by the Vajras home planet as it is a habitable place for humans in the classic first come first served fashion. This theme which is not present in the TV series brings with it a second one: Im referring to the subplot of potential espionage by Galaxy. And up until now you might say: well whats different from the other version? Actually we know that its really trueGalaxy is indeed plotting something behind everyones back concerning Grace and the other socalled computer gurus. Yes except this time the suspicion of espionage also involves the completely innocentSheryl who is believed to be a spy sent by her native fleet to gather information on Frontier or sabotage it in some way. This added component which includes Sheryls possible involvement is what gives the story of this version an entirely different twist compared to the TV series. This neverbeforeseen subplot starts planting its seeds right here in Itsuwari which in its second part takes an entirely different direction from what we knew until it explodes and finds its resolution in the second film of the duology with a precise narrative twist that we will address in due time. But the point is it starts to take root right here in this first film. 420https://i.ur.com/NOGbgZq.png 420https://i.ur.com/WJXxoRD.png 420https://i.ur.com/mIBl3Rh.png A sexy Sheryl with eyes clearly in love with someone before the misdeed And just as the seed of doubt begins to be planted which will also affect Alto and which will cause him to begin doubting poor Sheryl the turning point of the film will also occur which will serve as a gateway to a completely different narrative evolution from the TV series: believing that Sheryl has malevolent intentions toward Ranka after noticing them chasing each other across the fields the boy throws himself into their pursuit and once he catches up with them he shoves the singer throwing her to the ground. She obviously doesnt take it well at all and immediately makes it clear how disappointed she is by his behavior stating that she evidently had a different idea about him. The disillusionment and darkness of her heart are further accentuated and reflected by the imminent storm that is about to hit Frontier bringing with it a gray and dark atmosphere. Sheryl due to Altos sudden cold and distant behavior has suffered a severe blow a deep wound to her soul from the boy she had fallen in love with precisely at the moment when perhaps she had achieved the highest level of intimacy with him during their date in short she suffers a true emotional damage as it is called by Galaxys gurus during a conversation with Colonel Grace who however assures them that Sheryl doesnt necessarily need to be happy to complete their plan as she is the type of person who uses anger and sadness as energy to infuse into her songs. 460https://i.ur.com/COOMg9l.png 460https://i.ur.com/hbep4ao.png Turning point Towards the last half hour more or less the issues come to light: in reality its not so much Galaxy that wants to seize the resourcessetting aside the conspiracy of its gurusbut rather Frontier which seems to be more interested in this goal. The recent rumors of mistrustincluding the one about Sheryl being a possible spywere actually spread to cover up these intentions. Meanwhile Galaxys fleet undergoes a massive attack from the Vajra who in this version are also strengthened with new classes and species and suffers significant losses ultimately being abandoned by Frontier to its grim fate. When Sheryl learns of the attack and the damage done to her home fleet she immediately takes action to ensure someone does something about it. In the end using the power of money she buys the entire SMS fleet which I remind you is a paramilitary organization so even though wellpaid it is more than willing to accept such transactions and asks them to carry out a desperate rescue mission to her Galaxy. 420https://i.ur.com/PC60imd.png During the battle to save her Sheryl will also hold her Revenge Live on Frontier renamed because her first concert had been interrupted by the first Vajra attack on the fleet right at the beginning of the film which takes place in the port area and has been specially set up with an incredibly cool pirate ship as a stage for her performance. This impressive and suggestive setting undeniably adds extra flair to the concert which indeed turns out to be amazing: the diva performs all the best songs from her repertoire starting with Iteza Dont Be Late and then moving on to Diamond Crevasse which is introduced in a similar way to Infinity in the TV series as a celebratory song dedicated to all the soldiers on the front lines fighting risking their lives and possibly never returning home to their loved ones including of course her beloved Alto. As extraordinary as it is it never fails to impress always fitting perfectly and always managing to move you especially with the dedication Sheryl makes before she starts singing. Additionally with it Sheryl presents a new outfit very cute and in a skyblue color which I found out by pure coincidence is called Ondine dAmour. However Sheryl will not manage to finish singing it because the Vajra manage to break through the defenses and penetrate Island One starting to lay it to waste thus interrupting her performance. 400https://i.ur.com/USs0NE6.png The situation appears dramatic with the city under siege by the enemies and the number of innocent civilians steadily increasing. Even Sheryl amid the crossfire is tossed around putting her safety at risk. In the face of these horrors Ranka decides to take control of the situation and realizing that the Vajra are specifically after her chooses to lure them away to act as bait inevitably ending up captured by them. But just when all seems lost here comes the winning lifeline: Sheryl refuses to give up and remembering that like Ranka she can influence the Vajra with her song and recalling the moments spent with Alto she begins to sing with determination and conviction. The song in question also unreleased is Obelisk which as expected is performed as the third song in her Revenge Live. Its another extraordinary songcredited to Kanno Yoko and Maynand one of the films key highlights. The entire sequence in which Sheryl performs Obelisk is beautiful in every aspect: from the animation the environment and the costume she wears to the significance the song takes on in this crucial moment of the film. This scene unfolds shortly after Rankas abduction by the Vajra and the apparent impending defeat of Frontier which is under siege by the Vajra. Right from the start the scene strikes the audience as impactful partly because Sheryl quickly changes her costume and leaps onto the pirate ships bowsprit running to the elevated stage on the ship from where she will perform and partly because the beginning of the song is extremely beautiful and quite poetic. Like a small bird finding the light of dawn I begin to realise To the faint omens of my beating heart The sleeping world has yet to know... Because I loved I knew despair The strength to grasp in this hand Even if I lose it even if I lose it Swear upon those tears Possessed by miracles Flying over the rubble In a rising curve... Why am I distancing myself from who I want to be? Airplanes sully the sky Rather than freezing in true loneliness People can become this cruel In the darkness that protected me My eyes swell with tears and I pray Even if I lose it even if I lose it... The previous sequences in which we see the girl walking across the scaffolding of the ship and climbing the staircase while she has already started singing and running imperiously are very beautiful. Once she reaches the top her performance with the help of her manager Grace begins to be broadcast across all of Frontier and as additional amplifiers all the sails of the ship are used as giant screens: the divas voice thus reaches the ears of all the citizens who begin to rejoice cheering and regaining a hope that given the situation seemed like a distant mirage. In addition to being a source of reassurance for all the civilians the setting undeniably adds further value: the pirate ship besides being very enticing truly gives the song an extra aura of solemnity through which its impact on the audience becomes increasingly intense. https://i.ur.com/wTUwEcc.mp4 Obelisks beginning sequence As for the artwork well throughout the entire Obelisk sequence its truly excellent with that classic fine light and clean line work that always drives me crazy: 370https://i.ur.com/1BkHqZV.png 370https://i.ur.com/7T7sl2S.png And as for the costume I must say the Obelisk version is one of my absolute favorites: it gives Sheryl great elegance pride and power and I also find the outfit itself particularly beautiful and sensual. My absolute favorite part is the footwear in a deep red equipped with both heels and crossed laces that wrap around her ankles. The song finally serves as the perfect accompaniment for the subsequent action scenes related to the battle shown on screen which can only be described as space battlesand even that is an understatement some of them are truly a visual delight especially the ones where Alto aboard his Messiah chases the mantislike Vajra that has kidnapped poor Ranka. 500https://i.ur.com/m1ipGrF.jpeg Well... Finally as the last song Lion will be sung once again by Sheryl wearing her Obelisk costume which effectively closes her Revenge Live. The situation ultimately turns in favor of our protagonists who manage to repel the final attack of the Vajra with Alto simultaneously saving Ranka from the one who had captured her. The ending of Itsuwari in my opinion comes across as particularly poetic: after the battle ends the reunited trio of protagonists finds themselves on the platform from which Sheryl had continued to perform until just before located on the pirate ship. Here Alto first informs Sheryl of the good newsthat some Galaxy ships have survivedand then thanks both her and Ranka for magnificently fulfilling their roles namely singing beautifully. He then tries to return the earring with the quartz still in his possession to Sheryl but she refuses its return telling the boy that he can keep it as a good luck charm. In all of this pure snow begins to fall from the sky enveloping all of Frontier and bringing with it peace and silence in perfect contrast to the recent conflict almost as if to honor the fallen soldiers with deep respecthence Ozma will describe it as funeral snow. In this particularly evocative and atmospheric momentthe film is almost overSheryl suddenly thanks Alto and Ranka. The reason for these sincere thanks becomes clear immediately after when the girl says: You made me realize Im not alone .... Thus here is the final theme touched upon by the film: from this firm statement by Sheryl we can deduce in contrast what had beenmore accurately what had always beenthe main source of her torment: the inner turmoil called loneliness. And this is a disturbance perfectly in line with the sad past that characterized her childhood: always alone abandoned to herself with no warmth around her forced to fight for her survival. Its entirely understandable that she would have developed this existential condition a condition that in fact continued to trouble her until now despite her rise as a singer and growing fame. Well it is precisely now that she has come to realize that she is no longer alone thanks to the proximity and warmth of the two people closest to her now: her best friend Ranka and the man she loves Alto. And it was exactly this that the boy interpreting her had seen: during these moments the earring showed him memories of Sherylduring which we see the girl alone curled up on herselfand with them all her deepest fears thats why I said Alto scans her soul because he can see all of her concerns in depth. Im not saying that the theme of loneliness concerning Sheryls character wasnt present in the other version but from my point of view here it is not only more thoroughly explored but also made much more explicit compared to how it was before and as such its further accentuated. So we score two more points for the cinematic versions the deeper exploration of Altos fears and his distance from the Kabuki world as well as this clearer articulation of Sheryls emotional pain are particularly pleasing to me and from a content perspective I consider them some of the best aspects of the film. The movie ends with a beautiful closeup of the girl still drawn with extreme tenderness as she remains on the ships platform watching the sky together with Ranka and Alto who are positioned slightly behind herand with their arrangement they form a triangle could it be a coincidence?under the thick snowfall with some snowflakes landing on her face and shortly thereafter starting to melt gently sliding down her face. 440https://i.ur.com/2lm3aOn.png 440https://i.ur.com/I0MweeG.png Beautiful it almost seems like this relaxed expression reflects in a way the inner peace of the soul that Sheryl might have found at the end of the film ultimately realizing that she is not alone.