Many Macross Series Now Available on Hulu and Disney+ in the US

Macross enthusiasts can now enjoy a variety of series on Hulu and Disney+! Following the resolution of the legal issues surrounding the series’ international rights in 2021, fans have eagerly anticipated this moment.

Currently, there are 16 titles available for streaming on Disney services in the US. Among these is the newest addition, the Macross Delta the Movie: Absolute Live!!!!!! (Zettai Live), which premiered in 2021.

Sadly, these series aren’t accessible globally on Disney+, though they may be offered in select countries and regions, particularly those where English is spoken.

The official announcement from BIGWEST only references Hulu, but some users on social media have noted that the series can also be found on Disney+. However, locating them on that platform may be a bit more challenging.

The series now available are as follows:

  • The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012
  • The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again
  • Macross Plus
  • Macross Plus Movie Edition
  • Macross Delta
  • Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre (Macross Delta the Movie: Passionate Walkyuure)
  • Macross Delta: Zettai LIVE!!!!!!
  • Macross Zero
  • Macross 7
  • Macross Dynamite 7
  • Macross 7: The Galaxy is Calling Me!
  • Macross Fb7 Listen to My Song!
  • Macross Frontier
  • Macross Frontier: The False Songstress
  • Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell
  • Macross Frontier: Labyrinth of Time

BIGWEST had announced that all 18 series created since 1987 would be available on Disney+ globally in 2024, but this announcement has since been removed. The reasons behind this change could be diverse.

There hasn’t been any official update since that time, leaving open the possibility that the series could eventually be released worldwide on Disney+.

Macross vs Robotech

For many years, the distribution rights of Macross in the US and other areas were caught up in a heated legal battle between the Japanese firm BIGWEST and the American company Harmony Gold.

In the 1980s, Harmony Gold obtained the rights to several anime series, including Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA from Tatsunoko. They creatively merged the footage from these shows to produce the Robotech series. However, the franchise’s rights were also held by BIGWEST, an advertising firm, which added complexity to the situation.

BIGWEST has known about the agreement between Tatsunoko and Harmony Gold since the 1990s. This awareness led them to support the creation of Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again in 1992, even though Tatsunoko was not part of the project.

The disagreement has been resolved, at least to our knowledge. In 2021, BIGWEST and Harmony Gold came to a consensus about the distribution of the majority of Macross sequels and films. As part of this agreement, BIGWEST secured the rights to distribute all Macross titles created from 1987 onward on an international scale.

BIGWEST has consented to not challenge the release of a Robotech live-action film by Harmony Gold in Japanese cinemas. Additionally, Harmony Gold has received official permission to incorporate 41 Macross characters into Robotech, which includes the ability to create and market merchandise featuring those characters, with the exception of Japan.

Both companies have announced plans to collaborate on the global distribution of the franchise. However, the ownership of the rights to the original series and the film “Do You Remember Love?”, created in 1982 and 1984, remains uncertain. It seems unlikely that BIGWEST would have easily transferred the rights to Harmony Gold, suggesting that they may share ownership of these productions.

Robotech can be streamed on Crunchyroll in the United States, indicating that Harmony Gold probably holds the distribution rights for the series in that region. In 2021, Funimation, which is now part of Crunchyroll, revealed that Robotech would also be accessible in various other regions, including Latin America.

Note:- Hulu and Disney+ stream many Macross titles in the US. Crunchyroll streams Robotech.