MACROSS PLUS OAV 1
The first volume of the Macross Plus OAV serves as introduction the characters of the series and the world it is set in. We meet each of the main characters under circumstances that give you an idea of what their characters are like. Isamu Dyson, the reckless pilot searching for a challenge. Guld Goa Bowmann, the rough pilot who's very driven with his work pushing himself to his limits. Finally Myung Fan Lone, a quiet somber woman serving as a manager for the galaxy's top idol singer, the computer generated Sharon Apple. Three people who grew up as the best of friends, now completely distant from each other. The setting, Planet Eden where the three grew up together, is now the place where Isamu and Guld and must go head-to-head in a test piloting exercise to choose between two competing models of Valkyries.
MACROSS PLUS OAV 2
In the second volume, the underlying relationships between the chracters is explored a lot more. How truly bitter Guld's feeling are towards Isamu and how Isamu uses his casual indifference to avoid having to deal with the emotional conflicts between him, Guld and Myung. Strange events begin to hint towards the growing story-line and we finally see Sharon Apple in concert. Finally, the test flights head into a dangerous level.
MACROSS PLUS OAV 3
Here everything begins to fall apart for the characters of the story, Isamu is hospitilised from the events of the previous OAV. The three friends are unable to resolve the conflicts between themselves and Myung heads her seperate way from the two men and finally the test flight project that means everything to Guld and Isamu is cancelled.
MACROSS PLUS OAV 4
The finale to the story is truly the most fantastic part of the series. Isamu heads back to Earth for Sharon's big Anniversary concert over the Macross to finally admit to Myung how he feels. But the secrets of the series begin to unfold and he finds a lot more waiting for him on Earth than he expects. I wont say any more here, not to spoil the end of the series for anyone who hasn't seen it. Suffice to say the last part features some the best scenes, best battles and best music of the entire series.
DUBBING INFORMATION
Personal Opinion on Dub:
The English dubbed version of Macross Plus produced by Manga Entertainment is generally considered by Anime fans to be one of the better produced Anime dubs out there. Personally I think it is quite a good dub, for the most part the voice acting is not over the top and it does put across the feel and the emotions of the original version quite well. Characters do not sound the same, and rarely do in dubbed Anime, so watching the dub straight after the original can be a bit off putting. Only a few of the minor characters have voices that don't sit well with me. Overall If you don't like dubs already, I don't think this is going to change your opinion, however if you can enjoy watching dubbed Anime then this is a good production.
Whatever happened to OAV 4?
I've never actually sat down and compared the dubbed and original OAVs but from what I have read, I understand that for some reason the Anime studio was unable to provide Manga Entertainment with a production quality background track for the episode without the voices. I'm not sure why exactly but I'm sure it's down to technical difficulties. Because of this they were forced to re-score the music for the entire OAV, which obviouslly led to background music of inferior quality than the original had.
International Version, what's the deal?
One of the strangest things to the happen to Macross Plus was when the English dubbed versions were commerically released in Japan with Japanese subtitles. This was named the International Version of the OAV series. The actual marketing mentality behind doing this escapes me, but I do think the Japanese have a certain fascination with the English versions of series. This can be seem from the fact that the dubbed versions of Pokemon have been shown on Japanese TV, again with Japanese subtitles and more related to Macross, Fire Bomber American (described in more detail on the 77077 page) was a Japanese production of English versions of Japanese songs. (Ya got that?)
"The first word in my dreams, I could cleary see..." - Voices (English)