Let’s be real. If you’ve spent any time in the Macross fandom, you’ve probably heard people treat Macross II Lovers Again like the black sheep of the family. It’s the "non-canon" mistake. The one that got pushed aside when the original creator, Shoji Kawamori, came back to do Macross Plus. But honestly? A lot of that hate is just inherited baggage.
If you actually sit down and watch it today, without the 1990s fan-war goggles on, you’ll find a series that is weirdly prophetic, visually stunning, and surprisingly gutsy. It’s a 1992 OVA that tried to do something different. It failed in some ways, sure, but it succeeded in others that the "official" timeline still struggles with.
The Messy History of a "Parallel World"
When Macross II Lovers Again was in production, it wasn't supposed to be an alternate reality. It was just Macross. The original Do You Remember Love? movie had been a massive hit, and Big West—the rights holder—wanted more. Kawamori was busy with other things, so they handed the keys to Studio 810, AIC, and Oniro.
What they built was a sequel set 80 years after the original war with the Zentradi. Earth has basically become a military-industrial pop-culture machine. They use "Minmay Dolls"—idols who sing songs to jam enemy communications—as a standard military tactic. It’s cynical. It’s a bit dark. And then, the Mardook show up. These aren't just more giant warriors; they have their own singers, the Emulators, who use song to drive their pilots into a frenzy.
The central conflict follows Hibiki Kanzaki, a scummy tabloid journalist who is honestly more interesting than the typical "accidental pilot" trope. He’s not a hero. He’s looking for a scoop. When he rescues an Emulator named Ishtar, the whole "culture as a weapon" concept gets turned on its head.
The animation quality? Phenomenal. We’re talking peak OVA-era budget. The line work on the Valkyrie II (the VF-2SS) is crisp, and the mechanical designs by Kazumi Fujita—who worked on Zeta Gundam—are sleek and distinct. It doesn't look like Macross 7 or Frontier. It has this specific early-90s sheen that feels expensive and weighty.
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Why the Canon Wars Happened
You can't talk about Macross II Lovers Again without talking about the canon. For years, Western fans who bought the VHS tapes from Manga Entertainment or watched it on the Sci-Fi Channel thought this was the definitive future of the franchise. Then Macross Plus and Macross 7 happened.
Suddenly, the timeline split.
Kawamori’s return meant that the events of Macross II—the Mardook invasion, the specific evolution of the Valkyries—were sidelined into a "parallel world" status. For a long time, being a fan of this OVA was like admitting you liked the "wrong" version of the story. But who cares?
In 2026, the concept of a multiverse is everywhere. We’re used to different timelines. Looking back at Macross II now, its "non-canon" status is actually a strength. It allowed the creators to imagine a version of Earth that had grown complacent and a bit corrupt by its own legend. It’s a meta-commentary on the franchise itself. The UN Spacy in this show is overconfident. They think they’ve solved war with J-Pop. They’re wrong.
The Music and the Melancholy
Haruhiko Mikimoto returned for character designs, and it shows. Ishtar is one of the most hauntingly beautiful characters in the entire franchise. There’s a scene where she sees the ruins of the original Macross, and the way Mikimoto captures her realization that "culture" isn't a weapon, but a way of life, is genuinely moving.
The soundtrack by Shiro Sagisu (who you might know from Evangelion) is underrated. "Voices" from Macross Plus usually gets all the glory, but "2-oku-nen mae no Kuni e" is a sweeping, orchestral masterpiece. It feels grander and more operatic than the pop-heavy soundtracks of later entries.
It’s short. Six episodes.
Because it’s so brief, it doesn't have time for the filler that bogged down Macross 7. It hits the ground running. You get the introduction of the enemy, the moral dilemma of the protagonist, a massive space battle, and a resolution that feels earned. Does it have the psychological depth of Plus? No. But it has a classic, romantic adventure vibe that feels like a warm blanket for old-school anime fans.
What Most People Get Wrong About the VF-2SS
People often complain that the mecha in Macross II feels "weak" compared to the YF-19 or the VF-25. That’s missing the point of the setting. The VF-2SS Valkyrie II was designed for atmospheric and space defense in a time of relative peace. It’s an interceptor.
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The "Squire" drones it uses are a cool precursor to the "Ghost" drones we see in later series. It’s a design that prioritizes sleekness and mass production over the experimental "hero" suits of later shows. If you look at the line art, the detail in the transformation sequence—specifically the way the legs and engine blocks rotate—is some of the most mechanically plausible in the series.
Re-evaluating Ishtar and Hibiki
Hibiki is a jerk for at least three episodes. He’s opportunistic. He treats Ishtar like a story rather than a person. In a world of "shonen" protagonists who are inherently good, Hibiki is a breath of fresh air because he actually has to grow a soul.
Ishtar, on the other hand, is the heart of the show. She isn't just a "singing girl" trophy. She is a bridge between two cultures that have both weaponized music. Her journey to understand that song is for love, not for war, is the most "Macross" thing about this entire production. It’s the core theme of the 1982 original, stripped down and polished.
The Mardook are also a more nuanced threat than people give them credit for. They aren't just mindless monsters like the early Zentradi. They have a hierarchy, a religion, and a tragic flaw. Their reliance on the Emulators mirrors Earth's reliance on the Minmay Dolls. It’s a mirror match.
How to Watch Macross II Today
For the longest time, finding a good version of this was hard. You were stuck with grainy DVDs or ancient VHS rips. Thankfully, with the recent resolution of the decades-long legal battle between Big West and Harmony Gold, Macross media is finally flowing again.
The Blu-ray remasters are the way to go. The colors pop, and the grain is preserved without looking muddy. If you're a newcomer, don't worry about where it fits in the timeline. Just watch it as a standalone movie experience split into six parts.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Viewer
If you’re diving back into Macross II Lovers Again, keep these things in mind to get the most out of it:
- Ignore the "Canon" Label: Treat it as a "What If?" story. It’s much more enjoyable when you aren't trying to force it to fit with Macross Frontier.
- Watch the Mechanical Details: Pay attention to the background art and the way the ships move. This was the era of hand-drawn cels, and it’s a masterclass in scale.
- Listen to the Lyrics: The songs like "Renshou (Innocent Song)" aren't just background noise; they directly reflect Ishtar's changing worldview.
- Compare the "Minmay Dolls" to Modern Idols: The show’s cynical take on manufactured pop stars as a military tool feels incredibly relevant in the age of AI and hyper-commercialized idol culture.
Macross II Lovers Again isn't a masterpiece on the level of the original TV series, but it’s a high-quality, high-effort piece of anime history. It’s a visual feast that dared to ask what happens when the "magic" of the first war becomes a mundane military tactic. It deserves a second look.
Stop listening to the forums. Go watch the Valkyries fly against a backdrop of 90s hand-painted nebulae. It’s worth the trip.
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Next Steps for Your Macross Journey
- Check out the Blu-ray Remaster: Look for the 2024/2025 re-releases that feature cleaned-up audio and higher bitrates for those massive space battles.
- Listen to the "Anniversary" Soundtrack: Many streaming services now carry the Shiro Sagisu scores.
- Compare with Macross Plus: Watch them back-to-back to see the two different directions the franchise almost took in the early 90s.