Review of Macross Frontier Cinematic Version Sayonara no Tsubasa Macross Frontier Cinematic Version Sayonara no Tsubasa F is the second and final film of this eponymous version of F a sequel to Itsuwari no Utahime released in 2011. This film completely diverges from the events of the TV series telling an entirely new story from start to finish and shaping up as the realization of numerous themes and events that occurred in the previous film: Sayonara no Tsubasa which translates to The Wings of Goodbye is the final destination where everything comes to a close. There are no further introductory discussions to be made and since this is a completely new story and theres a lot to analyze Id say theres no point in wasting any more time this review will be a condensed analysis of Sayonara no Tsubasa and its major events so as with all the other reviews spoiler alert huge spoilers. 400https://i.ur.com/zEUBF8H.jpeg Key visual of the film The film begins inside a church where we can notice a statue almost identical to one of the totems present on the island of the Mayan which depicted the islands local deity the Birdman in Macross Zero. This detail seemingly secondary but actually important and by no means accidental appears significant because it introduces a component from Macross Zero practically from the first minute of the film in a movie that with hindsight shares many many elements with its predecessor well talk more about this concerning the ending of Sayonara. The church will also be the setting for the beginning of Sheryls new song performance which serves as the films opening Kindan no Elixir meaning forbidden which besides being very exciting continues some of the characteristic features of the singers persona that weve already discussed at length such as the spectacular nature and great ingenuity always in search of that artifice aimed at surprising and leaving the audience in awe. This time its done with alienating sequences involving floating test tubes bizarre mutations faces with presumed human features that actually take on plantlike traits creating grotesque images and much more. Moving a bit further along another important scene is the confrontation that takes place at the pier between Ranka and Alto: in this film Ranka similarly to the TV series is the only one who initially believes that the Vajra also have feelings and are sentient beings looking beyond mere appearances and breaking through the barrier represented by the ongoing conflict with them. Alto on the other hand is convinced that they have no soul referring to their nature as aggressors and the death and destruction that have followed. This is a perfectly understandable viewpoint given the context but undeniably blind clouded by the veil of war the common enemy to defeat and revenge for the fallen in battle. Notice also how the little Cinderella is depicted as the classic beloved maiden surrounded by nature: still during the pier scene we can see Ranka at the end of it surrounded by a group of seagulls as if communicating with them. This further strengthens her role and the ideology she embodies also bringing her closer to the figure that Sara held in Macross Zero that of a priestess imbued with a naturalistic aura and in some ways almost sacred. 400https://i.ur.com/NDB5r9g.png Continuing on far into the films progression Alto is injured following a battle and is consequently hospitalized. Sheryl worried about the boys health rushes to his hospital room and from here a very beautiful conversation unfolds where both of them discuss their passions: Alto who is actually not seriously injured cleans an apple and while cutting it leaves some protrusions on the skin that vaguely resemble two wings shortly after he picks up the apple and moves it as if it were a small airplane simulating its flight. At this point Sheryl asks him why he loves her so much but the question is turned back on her as the boy responds with another question asking her why she became a singer. Its at this point that we have in my humble opinion one of the best dialogues in all of Frontier just thinking about it it has stayed in my mind as if it were carved in stone with Sheryl replying: I started singing to live. But now I live to sing. I dont think theres any need for further explanation regarding the intrinsic meaning of this phrase except for one small note: in fact in a single sentence the entire character of Sheryl is summed up a testament to how deep and poetic she can be capable of leaving an impression on the audiences memory as it did for me. And to be able to condense a character into a single seemingly simple sentence well I find it simply extraordinary a dialogue that rightfully ranks among the most poetic and evocative Ive ever heard. And in the end it reflects a truth: Sheryl started singing out of necessity without any future expectations however after years and the rise of her career she realized that her true place is on stage which she will later compare to an illusion that shes a prisoner of along with the whirlwind of passions that inebriate her to madness and drag her to the ends of the galaxy. Hence the famous phrase mentioned earlier. After gifting us with this absolute gem Sheryl who in the meantime has moved with Alto to the hospital roof a setting enriched by the moment of sunset giving us a beautiful profile of the city with its reddish hues that manage to evoke a reflective mood expresses her fears regarding the boys profession: she pleads with him to give up his role as a pilot revealing her deepest terror which is the fear that he might not return alive from a battle. 400https://i.ur.com/voSLwfL.png At that very moment tender and somewhat pitiful Ranka barges into the scene as she too had come to the hospital to check on Altos condition. As usual the girls bad luck strikes and she arrives on the roof only to find Sheryl and Alto alone in what appears to her to be a relatively romantic moment developing the classic perception of being the third wheel. The triangle thus forms again and powerfully takes center stage even visually as a giant triangle appears on the hospital roof with Ranka positioned at its tip theoretically these lines are meant to mark the helicopter landing area since were on a rooftop but theyre drawn in the shape of a triangle and it almost mirrors the scene at the end of episode nineteen of the TV series where the trio reunites with Ranka climbing the stairs also set on a rooftop. Too bad however that the triangle is destined to break immediately: suddenly a military squad led by Leon Mishima storms onto the roof assisted by a helicopter coming from the opposite direction and they announce Sheryls arrest accusing her of numerous offenses the foremost being espionage. The singer obviously framed is then handcuffed and soon loaded onto the helicopter which will take her to the penitentiary for processing mocked by Mishima himself who just before taking her away calls her a False Songstress explicitly referencing the title of the first film thus explaining it. 400https://i.ur.com/3pvzrUA.png Meanwhile the operation to conquer Frontier devised by Grace and the other Galaxy masterminds is thwarted by the timely intervention of a wellcoordinated task force sent by Counselor Mishima. In this version unlike the TV series he plays his cards shrewdly: he had already been keeping an eye on Grace and her men for a while intercepting their communications and thus managed to completely outmaneuver them preventing the Galaxy conspiracy from taking off. This difference from the TV series is due to the fact that in this version there is a new component that changes the game the struggle for resources which leads to a growing distrust toward the Galaxy faction and the further consequence that while in the TV version the plot was joint Mishima for personal aspirations worked in cahoots with Colonel Grace here on the contrary each man looks out for his own interests with Leon only thinking about his own personal gain positioning himself with Graces departure as the primary antagonist in this version. All of Galaxys infiltrators are unmasked and brutally massacred and the same fate befalls poor Grace who despite showing signs of surrender hands raised is ruthlessly shot by the agents left at the end of the operation hanging upside down in a state that could only be described as pitiful. The scene besides being relatively cruel is also quite moving as Grace is neutralized while Diamond Crevasse a Sheryl advertisement song plays in the background. The song itself is already quite touching and moreover we know of the almost maternal role that Grace played with regard to Sheryl as she was the one who took her in picking her up from the streets so hearing one of Sheryls songs in the background feels like the swan song for Grace though she survives the arrest she doesnt die on the spot. With these two plot twists and turning points the second part of the film takes shape. As I mentioned earlier the subplot regarding Sheryls espionage which was already explored in the first film finds its definitive realization here with her imprisonment. As for this subplot the situation is far from rosy: the singer treated as a wartime spy is directly sentenced to death without the right to a trial. 400https://i.ur.com/5coSgwA.png The penitentiary where Sheryl is imprisoned while awaiting her death sentence is none other than Alcatraz. Yes exactly that one unchanged and even with the same name. Consistent with this the portrayal of the prison is the most classic of stereotypes with the typical hard prison far from welcoming and a gloomy atmosphere not by chance the first time we see it its submerged by a storm accompanied by the loud rumble of thunder and of course situated on an island in the middle of the ocean completely isolated from the mainland. Despite this the place still manages to leave a certain impression acquiring a certain allure. 380https://i.ur.com/tFlaYh7.png Before examining how Sheryls imprisonment has affected her psychology and mind there is an undoubtedly important scene that we must first focus on: Rankas visit to the maximumsecurity prison with the specific intent of meeting her friend. The confrontation between the two girls is really very interesting because many details come to light but above all it allows us to form albeit roughly a picture of Sheryls condition: Ranka first accuses her of betraying all of her fans and Alto who apparently is now very hurt by what has happened followed by a realization in which she expresses the impression shes always had of Sheryl that of a strong person. Which in reality she is not: Sheryl is a girl like any other with her own fears and weaknesses and deeply alone The theme of loneliness which seemed resolved at the end of the first film returns here with great force being highlighted repeatedly by Ranka during their conversation. From my point of view its an impactful sequence with Ranka not even being entirely sure of where shes going with her words: at first it seems like shes blaming her for whats happened but in reality she just wanted to bring her respects and show her support despite the paradoxical situation that has arisen she simply cant express herself in the most appropriate way. This I believe is also due to her confusion: Ranka seems confused disoriented and this disorientation is in my opinion due to the fall of the idol. Sheryl has always been her idol and naturally from an entirely external perspective one has a certain impression of her but now after meeting her in person Sheryl has slowly come out of this idealized vision that Ranka had of her. And now in a moment of great fragility for Sheryl this wall this facade whatever you want to call it falls once and for all. Throughout this scene I can feel Rankas intense disappointment and especially disillusionment in seeing the discrepancy between what would Sheryl to be like and what instead she is and has recently become since the early moments of her imprisonment. Let it be clear this is not a criticism of Sheryl Im simply reminding that behind the mask of even the greatest celebrities theres always a human being and a human being by definition and by nature is a fragile creature endowed with great vulnerability. This is exactly the condition Sheryl now finds herself in: even from this scene we can see how she has started to devalue herself more and more Im just a person without value a sign of a gradual loss of selfesteem. As time passes Sheryls condition worsens visibly: even in this version she is deeply ill and in this regard imprisonment does nothing to help her. In a scene we can see a weak and miserable Sheryl in her cell wearing her prison outfit recalling the sweet words of her best friend and regaining thanks to these words the determination that seemed to have been lost in recent times. The girl stands up and despite her terrible condition stumbling and spitting blood not a good sign she reaches the cold wall of her cell and starts to scribble something on it using tools and even her own blood. In this scene all the pain that afflicts her character literally explodes: Sheryl is destined alas to be a tragic figure however in this version its a thousand times worse than in the TV series because we have the added element of detention and thus the deprivation of personal freedom. A girl who is already gravely ill destined for a gradual decline constantly losing her strength and consequently unaware of how much time she has left to live. And now she finds herself in a small dark room overwhelmed by total darkness cold walls unwelcoming in a completely hostile place where a miserable pathetic death awaits her in the middle of nowhere and in total indifference. No matter how it goes shes condemned to die whether by starvation illness or beheading the method is not specified but since its 2059 I like to think of execution by firing squad since the others would seem outdated although perhaps Sheryl would prefer the second over the first rather than being consumed by her worst monster. And destined to be separated from the person she loves: this in my opinion is one of the greatest if not the greatest pain for the girl: being deprived of the time she could have spent with Alto is far worse than losing her freedom. In the TV series the portrayal of her despair is excellent but here its depicted to the nth degree being further amplified. 410https://i.ur.com/r9Fp61g.png Naturally such a death does not suit her character at all: this is where the SMS begins to devise a plan to free the Galactic Fairy leading to her escape. On the other hand as Captain Jeffrey Wilder of the Macross Quarter will remind everyone Sheryl Nome is still their client so they still have something to repay. The plan itself is simple but as we know simple ideas are often the most effective: a live concert will be organized at the prison where Ranka Lee will perform now even more in the spotlight after Sheryls departure which I see as the typical moraleboosting event for the prisoners certainly its a form of entertainment for them though important given the context. Taking advantage of the confusion and the diversion a team will infiltrate the cells to free Sheryl while simultaneously hacking the prisons computer systems that regulate the prison mechanisms. Just before the rescue operation begins we get to see what Sheryl has been doing all this time in her cell: she has basically continued to write songs covering the entire walls of the cell with them unleashing her creative genius typical of a great artist and continuing to churn out new ideas for potential future tracks. It might seem paradoxical given her tragic condition but in reality its a very good sign: the fact that shes continued almost uninterruptedly to write songs throughout her time there means that despite her weaknesses she has rediscovered that calling for singing that seemed lost since her arrest and consequently has remained fully true to herself until the end no matter what happens. In fact when Grace learns of this detail she is pleased after all it was Grace who raised her and knows her better than anyone else. Thus begins the entire sequence of Sheryls rescue which is by far my favorite part of the first half of the film quite simply because it is complete in all aspects: graphically beautiful engaging fastpaced and even fun. The song with which Ranka presents herself to the prisoners of Alcatraz is probably her most iconic and distinctive: Seikan Hikou also sung in her classic idol outfit which is equally iconic. The atmosphere is electrifying the crowd is in a frenzy and cheers for the rising new star of singing shes even formally introduced under the nickname Super Dimensional Cinderella and the dance scenes with the choreography are animated superbly appearing incredibly fluid and effortless. Before proceeding with what happens next I think its necessary to focus on who is on stage as its here that the excellent comedy of the moment begins to emerge: besides Ranka at the forefront theres another figure on stage who acts as a background dancer synchronizing her movements with Rankas choreography. What seems at first like a she and a normal dancer like many others is actually the good Alto who has disguised himself as a girl to avoid suspicion. Ive always found this disguise brilliant: Alto was and still is a kabuki actor who has portrayed all kinds of roles and hes always been very graceful and poised even as a guy. Therefore emulating a girl dancing gracefully is a skill thats well within his abilities and fits perfectly into his repertoire. As for the band: on the sides of the stage we see Klan and Michel respectively on bass while further back we have Canaria on drums. Whats strange you might ask? Well in fact the three of them are emulating the legendary Fire Bomber in fact theyre almost becoming them the band from Macross 7 which I think is still extremely appreciated in Japan today its also true that Basara and Mylene had their charm which they still maintain. The scene is hilarious because its a huge tribute to the iconic characters from Macross 7: the resemblances are easy to identify with Klan playing the sexy Mylene and Michel being the handsome Basara theyre practically cosplaying as them wearing the same iconic outfits. In fact Mylene and Basara despite the fact that their romantic relationship in Macross 7 doesnt really reach a resolution were involved in a love triangle which unlike in other series except Macross Plus was flipped with two guys and one girl similarly theres some tenderness between Klan and Michel though with a greater degree of awareness. Coincidence? I dont think so. And finally Canaria takes on the role of Veffidas the Fire Bombers legendary drummer and here too theres a resemblance particularly in their strong build as both are very solidly built. In fact if you look closely at the scenes you can even spot how their bands name Ranka Lee Lovely Bomber is a direct reference to this. My goodness the satisfaction one feels from catching these references There are many Macross 7 tributes throughout the movie and even in the TV series theyre scattered around even in the names of military operations showing how many characters from Macross Frontier especially the older ones are passionate about the group and big fans of them. https://i.ur.com/8Z9MQlW.mp4 https://i.ur.com/aVwXg4J.mp4 But lets return to the main story: Alto taking advantage of the chaos and with Michels help who puts the guards to sleep with stun darts fired from his guitar infiltrates the prison facilities and reaches the cell area to free Sheryl blowing up the bars with some sort of C4. The girl who had been alone just moments before is of course surprised by Altos arrival and with elegance he reiterates the message: she is no longer alone. Moved the two share a tender embrace before escaping together. Meanwhile in the courtyard a fullblown prison riot has started coinciding with Rankas new unreleased song Get It On which serves as the perfect musical backdrop for the scenes on screen. Shortly after Klan encourages the crowd to revolt even more Alto and Sheryl arrive flying onto the stage where Ranka is performing and where at last the trio has the chance to reunite. Here Sheryl thanks Ranka and after Ranka hands her the microphone the two divas continue to sing the beautiful song dueting in pleasant harmony with the scenes flowing smoothly and making for an enjoyable viewing experience. Finally with the help of their companions on stage the three of them exit using the circular platform at the center of the stage which turns out to be retractable allowing them to escape once and for all. https://i.ur.com/DO1ZWZf.mp4 Later on we are shown a scene of great significance also useful for subsequent sequences which completely reshuffles the cards as we knew them: we see a kabuki performance on stage with a very young Alto and so far nothing unusual but in the middle of the audience we see a small Sheryl sitting next to Grace who therefore are attending the live performance. The performance deeply captivates the young girl especially enchanted by the grace and lightness with which the lead actor Alto whom she believes to be a girl due to his appearance moves on stage. Now before continuing and seeing what happens backstage someone might ask a preliminary question: why would a young Sheryl be sitting in a theater watching a kabuki show? After all as far as we know she had no connection to that world nor was there any particular reason for Grace to take her to see one again based on what we know. Well these gaps are addressed in the manga Sheryl Kiss in the Galaxy which I already mentioned when reviewing the TV version: in the first chapter of the manga which serves as a prologue we learn how after picking Sheryl up from the street Grace later enrolled her in Erato Academy a prestigious school designed to nurture and shape new future talents and the girl ends up in the same class as Lylith Amagi who is essentially the prodigy of the entire academy. After an adjustment period during which Sheryl remains somewhat isolated the two start talking more often eventually becoming great friends as well as mentor and student: we learn that Lylith is the daughter of a renowned kabuki actor at the head of one of the most important families in the industry and the main rival to the Saotome family. Therefore Sheryl is introduced to kabuki performances by her friend Lylith who despite being disowned from her father after various misfortunes continued to frequent the scene because she found it enlightening. And from the very first performance Sheryl is greatly impressed by the expressive abilities of the actors and a genuine interest in that world that her senpai introduced her to begins to grow. Thus the reason she is sitting in the middle of the audience is explained. Having closed this small digression and returned to the film the girl is taken backstage by Grace where she congratulates Alto practically her age handing him a bouquet of flowers and praising his extraordinary abilities. The boy seems flattered by the sincere compliments of the girl whom he perhaps didnt expect and I can say that in that moment when the two children meet facetoface for the first time accompanied by their respective guardians Grace for the girl and Yasaburo his older brother for the boy I felt a shiver down my spine. Most likely fate began to turn its gears right here at this very moment: from the instant they met Sheryl and Alto have been bound by fate with great things in store for them. Their meeting ends with an ambitious promise: a very cute Sheryl with a relatively determined voice proclaims that one day she too will perform on a stage and shake the galaxy with her songs just as Alto does with dance. Now it can finally be understood why I mentioned reshuffling the cards: a previous meeting between the two characters which took place in their childhood is a huge change for the story and as such it can only have significant implications and acquire deep meaning in itself in my view in fact this scene represents the predestination of their relationship as mentioned earlier from now on the two will be bound to each other forever. 400https://i.ur.com/E4F1We7.png 400https://i.ur.com/ukn6x7M.png After this beautiful scene another one unfolds immediately probably even more touching than the previous one: in a desolate Island One reduced to a pile of rubble Sheryl who had lost consciousness regains it thanks to the presence of Ozma suddenly a surviving soldier loyal to Mishima bursts onto the scene but is killed by a still surprisingly alive Grace just before he manages to shoot Sheryl thus saving her life. Having completed her final task she collapses badly injured and exhausted and leaning her back against a piece of debris nearby: Sheryl a little further away reaches her in tears and devastated gazes at her torn body. The adoptive mother says her farewells to her beloved daughter first handing her the iconic microphone and then her precious family earring the other remains with Alto two items of vital importance for Sheryl probably the two most representative for her and both have been kept with extreme care by Grace demonstrating the immense love she feels for the girl. Now she gives them back to her so that her last wish may come true: she wants to hear her sing one last time before she fades away forever to this end she has already activated the stage amplifiers at the church having prepared everything necessary for the diva to sing and finally shake the galaxy with her song. The two exchange one last emotional embrace and once its over Sheryl lovingly and gently places the woman back where she had previously lain wrapping her body with a warm jacket. Having watched the film several times I have experienced this scene with a growing progression of emotions: initially I hated the character of Grace mainly due to the portrayal in the TV series at the end of which she was indeed the main antagonist. Machiavellian calculating despicable and cruel: she picked up Sheryl not to take care of her but with the sole purpose of using her for her own plans exploiting her innocence and unfortunate circumstances and for years she deceived her into thinking she would cure her illness only to abandon her like a piece of trash in her final moments also betraying her on a professional level by becoming Rankas manager. How could I not hate her? Then after watching this film I started to realize I needed to separate the two figures as a very different in fact diametrically opposite portrait is made of her: the Grace in the films is not the same as the Grace seen in the TV series. Then in the midst of my rewatch of this film I began to question myself more deeply: Sheryl was picked up at the age of eight at the beginning of the Frontier story she is seventeen according to official sources this means she and Grace spent nine years together. Nine years during which Grace truly took care of Sheryl looking after her giving her the warmth she had lost giving her a roof over her head and a home to call family she was a maternal figure for her and like all mothers she gave her love. So the question that arose spontaneously was: is it really possible to erase nine long years of life spent together with each other? Is it possible to cancel all those memories even sweet ones spent together during these years pretend nothing ever happened and act so despicably and coldly as if you were perfect strangers? In my opinion no: I believe that love is the most indissoluble feeling on earth and I am therefore certain that those feelings those sweet moments spent together could not be erased suddenly as if nothing had ever happened and even if forgotten I am equally sure that somehow they would resurface. I have concluded therefore that the true Grace can only be the one seen in the film versions: loving kind and supportive towards the girl she raised always ready to encourage her much like during their last encounter. And consequently I cannot help but consider the Grace from the TV version a bad accident characterized as such because from the beginning she was meant to be the main antagonist of the story. Thanks to the renewed light in which she is portrayed the relationship between mother and daughter is finally shown with all the maternal love Grace feels for the girl: which finds its greatest expression precisely in that scene I just described where the mother shakes the daughter so that she fulfills her duty/fate and thus definitively achieves her ambitions. Let it be clear given that she is still involved in the plot she is by no means a completely positive character but compared to the TV series we are light years away: seeing their relationship portrayed in a positive light as it should be fills my heart with joy and not by chance when I watch that scene again there is a good chance I might be moved. And this is why I absolutely prefer this version: once again love triumphs and proves to be the indissoluble feeling I believe it is. 400https://i.ur.com/Pizt1LR.png At this point in the story Sheryls health has already worsened but the script follows the same identical tracks as the other version: we now understand that she is by nature not yielding and that her determination is steadfast if she wants to die she intends to do so on stage even though her legacy will live on as she herself says Perhaps I might die but not my songs and now especially given Graces last request she cannot afford not to sing nor is there any room for hesitation considering that the resolution of the conflict with the Vajra depends on it. Ozma reminds her of her fragile health but of course the girl already knows what to do: though she has just regained consciousness after fainting though she is exhausted though she is devastated by the condition of her adoptive mother Sheryl despite some unsteadiness gets back up. And the portrait that unfolds before the viewer is simply magnificent: we see Sheryl standing at the center of the screen completely owning the scene depicted in profile with a proud and determined smile on her face behind her we see the ruined and destroyed profile of what was Island One with a large gaping hole at the center of its protective dome and in the sky above it we can distinctly see the flashes from the ongoing battle while below on the screen some gusts of an anonymous wind blow gently moving the girls ponytail. An extraordinary painting is thus created of a woman who though resigned to her fate once again stands dignified ready to follow her destiny to the end whatever the outcome of the path she has chosen an emotional scene with an incredibly strong expressive power and without a doubt one of the most beautiful and iconic in the entire film. https://i.ur.com/EojWBAQ.png Thanks to Northern Cross Sheryl manages to revive Alto who was still unconscious from the attack he suffered. In Sayonara Northern Cross it can also be seen as the song of reunion between Alto and Sheryl since he had believed her to be dead and as soon as he tracks her down by following her song he rushes to help her with his Valkyrie. Of course the good news is communicated to the Quarter and in a kind of telephone game even Ranka learns of it regaining the vitality she had lost after Altos presumed defeat. The protagonists are all connected and are all gears of the same engine an engine that Sheryl has just restarted with her sweet singing. Alto hurriedly leads her to the church stage as arranged by Grace and during the journey the girl sitting in the palm of his Valkyrie reiterates her greatest ambition to shake the galaxy with her songs: at this moment Alto has a kind of dj vu and with the image of young Sheryl from their flashback overlapping her adult face it confirms to the viewer that Alto has finally remembered that presumptuous girl who had reproached him with those very same words realizing that she was none other than Sheryl here present. The girl amusingly scolds him for not having remembered earlier and encourages him to show her once again his true self just like he did during that performance she watched on the other hand if for Alto the sky can be considered his true stage then he will surely have to dance upon it just as he did back then showing what the singer calls his true dance. And with this wonderful exhortation from Sheryl the film heads toward its concluding portion. Ranka now in her new costume reaches Sheryl at the church stage where they reunite again ready once more to sing together in duet: the staggering and exhausted Galactic Fairy is supported by her friend but after being hugged she reassures her about her condition and the two resume singing producing and alternating various songs. I would like to open a quick parenthesis about yet another new costume Sheryl wears during these scenes alas all her outfits are fabulous undoubtedly beautiful but also quite peculiar: the girl wears this uniform because it is a military uniform entirely white with long kneehigh boots and a little cap on her head with her hair tied up. This version seems to have several names but the one I found most fitting is Orlans Sheryl: this is a confirmation as is obvious from the aesthetic details that this costume is clearly inspired by the old French military uniforms specifically the white uniforms of the Arme royale franaise in the 18th century but above all how this Sheryl is inspired or rather a carbon copy of the historical figure of Joan of Arc Orlans in fact is the city where Joan led the French troops to victory over the English in 1429 a decisive outcome for the Hundred Years War but also for the representation made of Sheryl in this version. The diva wearing this costume is almost always depicted in a graceful pose while proudly holding and raising a flag with white edges and a blue color in the center with a crest effectively assuming the classic and iconic pose we all associate with Joan of Arc in our collective imagination. It must be that Ive always found her character extremely fascinating for her name and spirit but the visual impact this Sheryl creates wearing this costume is amazing: the fresco created of her just like the figure of Joan embodies the ultimate expression of freedom and independence resulting in a highly evocative and suggestive image. And values that in fact Sheryl herself reflects very well: a proud determined free and independent woman in a way there couldnt have been a better character than her to embody Joan. 350https://i.ur.com/5mLEGtu.jpeg To return to our topic the songs sung rapidly by the two girls however have no effect: the influence exerted on the Vajra is too strong and the feelings of the two friends cannot reach them. Therefore in the face of this hindrance it is the good Alto who as a pilot takes it upon himself to transmit the message to them so that it reaches the receiver thus offering himself as a bridge between the two species humans and Vajra. How does he do it? Obviously by relying on the properties of the quartz contained in Sheryls earring which she still possesses and has hanging in the cockpit the particularity of which as we know is that it transmits feelings. The boy immediately launches with his fighter to complete the mission assigned to him but is intercepted and hindered by Brera who is also under the control of the Gurus through the implant installed on his forehead the final battle between Altos VF25F Super Messiah and Breras VF27 Lucifer then begins with no holds barred and amidst many swirling Itano Circus musically accompanied by the films main theme . Among those who steal the scene is none other than the protagonist: Alto zooms with his Valkyrie dancing gracefully through the skies until he removes the helmet of his uniform and wears the earring thus transcending. He becomes capable of predicting enemy attacks and perfects all his characteristics becoming incredibly fast: the Valkyrie Dance characterized by this beautiful golden wake leaves everyone in awe as it repeatedly flies around the Frontier leaving them utterly confused. The dance of the boy is accompanied and merged with the songs of Sheryl and Ranka and to reinforce this concept the two singers are materialized there as if somehow their spirits were present alongside Alto ready to follow him during the final attack with their bodies ascending with him towards the Frontier. The scene that unfolds afterwards is epic: the Frontier is essentially crushed between Altos dance and the turmoil of the galaxy. This phenomenon is symbolically represented by showing and illustrating numerous elliptical spirals in the background and therefore behind the Frontier in the colors characteristic of our Milky Way in a scene that gives you chills due to its infinite beauty. So why are these moments so significant? Well because this is the exact moment when the dual promise between Alto and Sheryl is finally fulfilled: Sheryl has managed to shake the galaxy with her songs thus fulfilling Graces last request which she witnesses with her heart full of joy and excitement while Alto has once again shown her his graceful dance fulfilling the invitation she gave him both therefore have kept their word. https://i.ur.com/q2mYglr.mp4 Thanks to these wonders Brera finally manages to break free from the control of the implant and having penetrated the command room of the Battle Frontier fires his Lucifer at close range annihilating the Gurus of Galaxy once and for all inevitably sacrificing himself in the process this results in the dissolution of the fusion between the Frontier and the Queen of the Vajra who returns to her original form. Meanwhile reinforcements previously called by the Quarter arrive: a fleet from the U.N. Spacy folds near the Vajras home planet supported by a host of Macrossclass ships all preparing to fire simultaneously with their respective cannons. 380https://i.ur.com/D8heRw8.png At this point one might ask where the problem lies: well given that their intervention albeit delayed is no longer necessary since the Gurus have been eliminated by Brera the orders present two problems: the first is related to the Queen of the Vajra who has done nothing and is now designated as the main target for the Macross cannons and I add that she holds no hostility towards humans after what has happened especially since they have liberated her the second somewhat more serious is that Alto is precisely in their line of fire meaning that should they open fire the boy would inevitably be involved. Alto however cannot know any of this as he is still focused on completing the task he set for himself no matter the cost: reaching the Queen with his fighter the boy even ejects from his cockpit and absolutely determined to convey the message and above all to make himself understood by the Vajra species with one final effort he manages to reach her. In a perhaps slightly surreal scene the Queen extends her limb towards the boy welcoming him onto her palm: the two are now face to face and judging by the sounds in the background there seems to be a hint of communication between them. Saying what went through Altos mind at this precise moment is impossible for example I could say that the boy understood or somehow managed to comprehend what the Queen told him through the quartz as a communication channel and that he somehow accepted his fate bearing the weight of being the first bridge in history between the two species but I prefer not to digress too much so as not to force the interpretation of what we see on screen. However I find it significant to note how the scene in which we see the Queen extend her hand seems to appear as a true invitation directed at him and how her palm is irradiated on the other hand what we see is a man Alto to be precise framed standing with his back on the palm illuminated by the sunlight in a scene full of mysticism almost as if indicating the beginning of something a new era or a new journey specifically concerning the boy. At the same time what was previously foreseen happens: the Macrossclass ships begin to fire simultaneously Altos fate now seems sealed. But will it really go that way? The protagonist realizing the situation understands that he can no longer afford to delay: he turns and faces the girls so he can finally give them his answer in terms of feelings. While at the end of the TV series Alto hadnt made a definite decision regarding whom to correspond to emotionally opting for a more poetic response considering them both his wings here in this final he finds the determination and maturity to finally make this choice and this is definitely an added value to this version: with extreme gentleness he first declines Rankas feelings telling her that he cannot reciprocate them but thanking her for loving him and then much to my delight he confesses his feelings to Sheryl apologizing for taking too long to understand it and telling her he loves her in one of the most touching and emotional scenes of the entire film. However the boys last words ironically his confession in the strict sense gradually fade away dispersing: this is because twist not really for those familiar with the franchises conventions the Queen of the Vajra has begun to perform a super fold that is a super dimensional fold. In front of a desperate Sheryl who would die to embrace her beloved especially now that he has reciprocated her the Queen vanishes into nothingness folding away with her Alto heading who knows where saving both herself and him. The Macross cannons then strike the air crashing into the planets surface and disintegrating mountains in a deafening roar while the psychological backlash of losing her beloved delivers the final blow to Sheryl causing her to collapse to the ground in a scene that grips your heart tightly especially because just before losing consciousness she screams Altos name at the top of her lungs yes its a terribly tearjerking scene. Even the ships that arrived to support the U.N. Spacy once their duty is done fold away leaving the area just as the Vajra leave their home planet allowing the humans to colonize it and completing the fleets mission. Alto has danced he has shown everyone his superb dance and in the end he has flown away with his Valkyrie wings which in the end were also revealed to be the Wings of Farewell Sayonara no Tsubasa. https://i.ur.com/kDwhHnN.mp4 Altos departure Before proceeding with the aftermath of the film I would like to address further considerations that I believe deserve mention. First among them is the one regarding the films main theme: its actual title is Sayonara no Tsubasa the end of triangle composed by Yoko Kanno and performed in duet by Nakajima and Mayn. It is used as an insert song in the final of the film excellently accompanying all the sequences of the decisive battle between the protagonists and the corrupted Battle Frontier from the beginning to its exact end concluding synchronously shortly after the fold performed by the Queen with Altos subsequent vanishing. Moreover the scene with which it is introduced is truly beautiful: shortly after the protagonist has taken charge of his mission the girls swear their allegiance to his side and he aboard his Messiah reciprocates by saluting them citing the iconic protagonist of the franchise Ichijo Hikaru who did the same in that timeless film Ai oboete imasu ka? before departing for his sortie within the Zentradi flagship. This is followed by the costume change with Ranka and Sheryl acquiring their new outfits the ones symbolizing the film: the transformation sequence in the style of magical girl shows is very cute and particularly welldone the outfits themselves which I honestly wouldnt know how to describe are elegant but above all glittering and perhaps its this aspect that makes me like them so much I certainly rank them among my absolute favorites. 400https://i.ur.com/ZvDQwVv.gif And as for the lyrics themselves well they are simply extraordinary and the summary of everything weve said so far: as the subtitle suggests the end of triangle this song has the connotation of finality as it is placed at the closure of the entire story and sounds like a grand tribute to Alto who is firmly equated to a Valkyrie and of course as a love song reiterating for the last time the feelings that both singers hold for him I believe in the end more from Sheryls point of view since she will emerge victorious from the love dispute. Needless to say every single time I rewatch the final sequences of Sayonara I end up crying thanks to the aforementioned song which is both moving and touching. Those wings are VALKYRIA Before the wounded soldier VALKYRIA Lover of swooping illusions Crossing over the rainbow bridge to guide that spirit VALKYRIA Even if I disobey fate VALKYRIA Even if torn away from tears VALKYRIA Before daybreak there is no life that wont glitter I love you Wearing armor of light on this body soaring towards the sky VALKYRIA: wings of goodbye Take a breath lets go to the future and make our choice... VALKYRIA I rendezvous with the wind VALKYRIA Someday Ill bid it farewell VALKYRIA Before daybreak there is no life that wont glitter Im alive Wearing armor of light on this body soaring towards the sky VALKYRIA: wings of goodbye I love you... https://youtu.be/fcFXU5yAauI?si=pcKkn2Bu8aHhHhpP Sayonara Main Theme full version Another thing I think is worth pointing out: this ending of Sayonara is practically identical to that of Macross Zero except for one aspect that we will discuss shortly: Alto follows the same fate as Shin in Zero folding to who knows where in deep space and disappearing Shin had become a Tori no Hito while Alto has become a Valkyrie . But this is just the main similarity between the two series: aside from the narrative references such as the Nome dynasty Frontier borrows a lot from Zero even from a thematic point of view but this is obviously because it follows the path laid out by Zero with the theme of communication between different species becoming a primary focus and the roles of Ranka and Alto clearly resembling those of Sara and Shin the role of the nature diva for the girls even though Sara was a fullfledged priestess and personal growth for the boys Alto just like Shin reconsiders everything he thought coming to a position diametrically opposed to the one he held at the beginning of the story. But I will go further: Alto through his actions manages to prevent the failure of humanity once again. Remember the good Tori no Hito in Zero? Whose true identity was a sentient device tasked with exterminating humanity in case the Kadun of the Conflict had not been eradicated well Sara and Shin in the ending represent a beacon of hope for humanity showing the being that humans are not only capable of hating each other but also still loving each other. Alto plays exactly the same role: the fleet of Macrossclass ships that was ready to fire on the Vajra Queen is another expression of the shallowness if you will and the mental closure typical of humans. They were ready to kill her when in reality the danger wasnt her based on a flawed and hasty judgment perhaps due to her presumed danger to the human race. Almost as if not wanting to trouble themselves too much: well shoot first and then well see what happens. Had it gone this way it would have been a defeat for humankind instead Alto breaks this viewpoint voluntarily and freely choosing the path of dialogue of communication thus turning that defeat into a victory. And in my opinion this theme is portrayed really well throughout the film especially in its ending becoming even more accentuated perhaps compared to the other version another point in favor of the films?: the main bearer of this concept is Alto who if initially doubtful is now fascinated by the possibility of establishing peaceful communication with the Vajra after numerous bloody battles between the two species. As we see in the ending the young man does everything of his own volition: he takes on the task of delivering the message to the recipient without being obligated to in the final moments of the battle despite the presence of other Macross ships he stubbornly insists on completing his mission no matter what there is a clear search for communication on his part. Alto is clearly seeking a deeper understanding of these entities: at the core there is a deeper desire to explore their behavior and their being and the only way to do that is through dialogue. So yes: Alto wanted to communicate with the Vajra at the end of Sayonara not only as a pilot in war since he had always fought against them but also as a human being lets remember that the Vajra are completely different from humans with characteristics that are diametrically opposed to theirs in order to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 430https://i.ur.com/vYyX4k8.jpeg Sheryls Shine of Valkyria costume As for the aftermath: in the finale the one who narrates is Ranka explaining what has happened. Alto as mentioned is missing while we can see that the Vajra home planet after the swarms departure is already being colonized and revived by human artifacts. And with great sadness the girl informs us that Sheryl in order to shake the galaxy with her song has exhausted all her life energy and has consequently fallen into a coma. We see the Galactic Fairy inside a capsule lying down just like a sleeping princess waiting for the return of her beloved prince to wake her from her eternal sleep. 450https://i.ur.com/G8gizOH.png Attempts are made to revive her through transfusions with Rankas blood since she is immune to the infection but they turn out to be in vain Sheryl does not wake up and it seems that the only way to try to wake her is the return of Alto who however is currently lost in deep space. In the final moments of the film we see Ranka heading to the crash site of Altos Valkyrie still buried in the earths crust and in the presence of all of the boys friends in fact the entire series cast is present she pays tribute by placing a paper airplane near the cockpit entrance of the fighter praying that one day he will return and wake Sheryl from her coma. But she is sure it will happen because she has deep faith in the man she loves. Gusts of wind blow and the airplane takes flight heading toward the vast blue sky above them shortly after the films ending song Hoshi Kira begins to play gently closing this dramatic finale. But is it really just a tragic ending? It certainly seems absolutely tragic but in reality it leaves a small glimmer of hope with better prospects for what could come in the future. But lets take it step by step: as Ranka herself confirms the only way for Sheryl to wake up from the coma is for Alto to return one day. This is important because it means that the only factor that can concretely affect her awakening is the return of the protagonist effectively weaving an invisible thread that connects the two. However the film does not provide any particular connections between Alto and Sheryl other than the emotional one for which her awakening should solely depend on the return of her beloved nothing is said about this and there are no actual narrative reasons why these two events should be linked. Therefore we can only fall back on the most obvious connection between them: namely their love. When I earlier used the metaphor of the sleeping princess waiting for her prince to awaken her from her eternal slumber I wasnt just using it as such but because it concretely applies to the ending of Sayonara this is the actual scenario presented to us at the end of the film. Rankas transfusions have no effect on Sheryls comatose state because evidently her awakening does not depend on that: its a matter of heart. And as such only the return of her beloved Alto can wake her up. Its quite difficult to explain in words but I will still try: between Alto and Sheryl a deep connection has been established over the course of the story and this can already be sensed. Note that by connection I dont just mean the deep love that binds them but something much much deeper in the sense of an intrinsic resonance between them as people. And its enough to think very simply about when the boy impersonates Sheryl thanks to the power of the crystals or the promise they exchanged which will be fulfilled in the final battle. Its as if this bond between Alto and Sheryl also serves as an emotional catalyst Ranka tells us that Sheryl exhausted all her life energy to perform the feat she accomplished it could be in line with what I just said that Altos return is conceived as a sort of restoration of Sheryls emotional balance or in other words a compensatio that is a kind of vital energy that drives her to wake up compensating for what she lost earlier. And the role Ranka plays at this point becomes quite interesting: the girl is deeply friends with Sheryl and as such she could also play an emotional role in Sheryls awakening in the future. Her presence and support could prepare the ground for this to happen serving as a figure to remove emotional obstacles thus preparing her friend to reignite when Alto returns. In short the relationship between Alto and Sheryl is more of a symbolic resolution which rather than being explained rationally or narratively roots its foundation in pure poetics and the infinite strength of love the quintessential emotion. With this clarified and we are now at the end of this long review we only have to address the last issue: how can we infer that glimmer of hope we mentioned earlier? First pay attention to this detail: if in the television version Altos earring is lost in battle in this version both earrings remain perfectly intact because Alto wears one at a certain point and it isnt destroyed in battle since when he folds with the Queen he can still be seen wearing it. And knowing the crucial significance they hold catalysts for emotions and vehicles for their transmission I find this a considerable difference: since both exist it is reasonable to think that one day they will reunite which would happen if Alto ever returned. The crystals therefore would represent both the material reunion of the two lovers since they would meet in the same place but also the spiritual reunion of their feelings. Simply wonderful. Oh by the way its also amusing to note how the earrings are worn on opposite ears: Sheryl wears hers on the right while Alto wears his on the left Id say this is deliberate and in fact it strengthens the connection between the two that I mentioned earlier. Then there are clear visual clues that suggest to the viewer that Sheryl will wake up one day or that she is close to awakening: indeed in the very last image of the Hoshi Kira ending Sheryl is shown in profile in closeup still lying down but we can distinctly see her mouth moving shes probably whispering something perhaps the lyrics of the song sung by Ranka and finally we also see the earrings quartz sparkle for an extended period which by itself is already a good sign but could also mean that Alto is not that far away or that hes already on his way back with his quartz possibly resonating with hers who knows. https://i.ur.com/CUTDkgA.mp4 And to conclude the film also includes a postcredits scene however its important to make a clarification here: in the original version of the film the screen stays black with the credits rolling over it meaning we can only hear the voices in the background because Sheryl and Ranka have some lines and the song itself. In one of the posthumous Bluray special editions this postcredits scene was given images allowing the audience to finally see Sheryl and Ranka performing as they dance to the song. The song being sung is called d Shootin Star b perhaps a bit overlooked compared to the others but for me its always a beautiful song with joyful tones and in some ways almost festive resulting in an overall reassuring vibe. It starts with the audience loudly calling for Sheryl who eventually appears and thanks everyone present saying that if they are there calling for her then miracles happen. Shortly after Sheryl and Ranka get ready to start the live performance and with Sheryls catchphrase shouted by both the two officially begin singing the song. Quite a detail right? Well my personal interpretation considering both the audiences initial call and Sheryls references to miracles is that this song is performed during a live concert held at an unspecified time to commemorate Sheryls recovery and thus her official return to the stage placing it after her awakening. And therefore implying that Alto somehow managed to go back and consequently Sheryl woke up from her coma. In the song there are indeed references to miracles which seem to be associated with the falling star event in the choruses . This outlines the bittersweet ending I describe because while there is a touch of drama in the end everything is well that ends well the festive atmosphere is also easily perceived from the girls live performance marked by cheerful tones and bright warm colors. Lastly I find the probable setting for this concert quite brilliant: toward the end of the music video Sheryl and Ranka are shown side by side greeting the audience and the camera gradually zooms out revealing the complete rest of the scene. What we see on screen essentially is a bluish streak of a bright glow which could should be the tail of the meteor. And so implying that most likely the concert was taking place inside it And it also makes sense considering that the song is titled identically Shootin Star these are still my speculations as I couldnt find much online. And also here Sheryls outfit which takes the name of Cardinal Red Stella is another very cute one quite elegant i must say. Raise the space flights speed Jet coaster spin intertwined Getting messed up The two of us fly away HARERUYA Yeah lets change the world Like a magic? Cloak the mantle Momentary miracle shooting star Casually approaching Im going to cry getting touched Getting messed of properly said I love you When you said that smile and getting stance of me Please escort me to the produced charm please guy... https://youtu.be/SG5DRSxmNHA?si=4cH8TMphTpAEbh4 The postcredits scene with her music video for the song d Shootin Star b included in the limited Bluray edition. https://i.ur.com/ODZPHeD.png Thank you. And forever grateful