Some time away

You may have noticed I haven't been updating for a while.  I haven't permanently abandoned my anime-critique-marathon, but I've got some professional certifications I'm cramming for, one I'll be done with before the end of December, and one I plan on taking the test for in February or so.  So, at least for most of December, I'm not going to count on having a half-hour where I can glue myself to the screen and type'n'watch.  But I will be back, and pick up Star Blazers where I left off.

A couple thoughts I've had while I've been away, though.  First, I may also do the original Mobile Suit Gundam, comparing the series and the three movies, before I move on to Robotech.  I want to do this for much the same reason I'm watching Star Blazers now.  Macross and Southern Cross have very strong debts to Gundam (hell, members of the Macross production staff were behind a Gundam fanzine called "Gunsite 1" which lent its name to the Macross air controller callsign, and compare the Gundam color scheme with the Spartas hovertanks--and the Zakus and Gelgoogs with the Bioroids, just for some surface elements that were borrowed).

I also may watch Captain Harlock.  For one thing, I looove Leiji Matsumoto.  I love how he'll give somewhat well-reasoned scientific concepts that explain why a pious race is able to transmit the ringing of their church bells through space, and then immediately have a character stick his head out the window to get a better listen.  I love that sort of zaniness, especially when it's so low-key.  However, I also have reasons other than that I just love the show.  Look at the uniforms of the Earth military--and even the Arcadia's crew.  Double-breasted, high-collared jackets with a contrasting stripe on one lapel over zippered turtlenecks. The UN Spacy must have commissioned the same tailors.  Look at the non-galley parts of the Arcadia.  Tochiro must have lent some of his shipbuilding genius out to the Galveston Empire.  Look at the character designs and general cloniness of the Mazones--I see an echo of them in the Zor lords.  So, I might watch it for the same reasons I'm watching Star Blazers and probably Gundam.  I don't just want to celebrate the stuff I loved as a child, I want to look at their development (even if superficially) and see how it works in the greater context of 70s and 80s animation, both Western and Japanese.