Macross watch order
Transforming fighter jets, alien wars and pop singers whose songs change the course of battle. Each series jumps years or decades ahead with a new cast, as humanity's colony fleets spread across the galaxy.
First time? Start with The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, then go in release order. Short on time? Macross, Macross Plus and Macross Frontier cover the essentials.
Story order
In-world order, from 2008 to 2068. The films retell their TV series in different ways, so for each era you can pick the show, the films, or both. Macross II is left out because it's set in a parallel future.
- Macross Zero
Prequel set one year before the original series, in the last days of Earth's Unification War.
- The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
The original. A crashed alien battleship is rebuilt by humans, and Earth is pulled into a war with the giant Zentradi.
- Do You Remember Love?
A film version of the TV story with its own take on events. Later series treat it as a famous movie inside the Macross world.
- Flash Back 2012 (optional)
Minmay's farewell concert set to clips from the series and film, with a short new ending scene. Optional.
- Macross Plus
Two rival test pilots and an AI pop idol, in 2040.
- Macross 7
35 years after the original. Rock singer Basara Nekki believes his music is stronger than weapons, and aliens are attacking his colony fleet.
- Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me! (optional)
A 33-minute side story about Basara on a snowy planet. Optional.
- Macross 7 Encore (optional)
Three episodes of Macross 7 that weren't broadcast on TV. Optional.
- Macross Dynamite 7
Basara's solo trip, less than a year after Macross 7.
- Macross Frontier
In 2059 the Frontier colony fleet is attacked by alien creatures called the Vajra, and pilot Alto gets caught up with two singers, Sheryl and Ranka.
- Macross Frontier: The False Songstress
First of two Frontier films. Part retelling, part new story.
- Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell
Rewrites Frontier's final act so heavily that the two films form their own continuity.
- Macross Frontier: Labyrinth of Time
A 13-minute short following Ranka years after the Frontier films. It was shown in theaters with Zettai Live.
- Macross Delta
Eight years after Frontier. The idol unit Walküre and its pilot squadron fight the Var Syndrome, a mysterious outbreak spreading through the galaxy.
- Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre
A compilation film of Delta with new scenes that tell the story differently.
- Macross Delta: Zettai Live!!!!!!
A new story set in 2068, after the Delta series and film.
Release order
The usual advice for a first watch: later series build on earlier ones, not the other way round. Macross Zero lands well here, right before Frontier.
- The Super Dimension Fortress Macross
The original. A crashed alien battleship is rebuilt by humans, and Earth is pulled into a war with the giant Zentradi.
- Do You Remember Love?
A film version of the TV story with its own take on events. Later series treat it as a famous movie inside the Macross world.
- Flash Back 2012 (optional)
Minmay's farewell concert set to clips from the series and film, with a short new ending scene. Optional.
- Macross II: Lovers Again (optional)
Set in 2089 and made without the original creators. Many fans treat it as a parallel universe. Optional.
- Macross Plus
Two rival test pilots and an AI pop idol, in 2040.
- Macross 7
35 years after the original. Rock singer Basara Nekki believes his music is stronger than weapons, and aliens are attacking his colony fleet.
- Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me! (optional)
A 33-minute side story about Basara on a snowy planet. Optional.
- Macross Plus Movie Edition (optional)
A feature-length edit of the Macross Plus OVA. Watch one or the other.
- Macross 7 Encore (optional)
Three episodes of Macross 7 that weren't broadcast on TV. Optional.
- Macross Dynamite 7
Basara's solo trip, less than a year after Macross 7.
- Macross Zero
Prequel set one year before the original series, in the last days of Earth's Unification War.
- Macross Frontier
In 2059 the Frontier colony fleet is attacked by alien creatures called the Vajra, and pilot Alto gets caught up with two singers, Sheryl and Ranka.
- Macross Frontier: The False Songstress
First of two Frontier films. Part retelling, part new story.
- Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell
Rewrites Frontier's final act so heavily that the two films form their own continuity.
- Macross FB7: Listen to My Song! (optional)
Mostly re-edited Macross 7 footage, framed by new scenes of the Frontier cast. Optional.
- Macross Delta
Eight years after Frontier. The idol unit Walküre and its pilot squadron fight the Var Syndrome, a mysterious outbreak spreading through the galaxy.
- Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre
A compilation film of Delta with new scenes that tell the story differently.
- Macross Frontier: Labyrinth of Time
A 13-minute short following Ranka years after the Frontier films. It was shown in theaters with Zettai Live.
- Macross Delta: Zettai Live!!!!!!
A new story set in 2068, after the Delta series and film.
Explained
Why do the movies tell a different story?
Macross often retells a TV series as a film with changes, sometimes big ones. Do You Remember Love? began as an alternate version of the original and is now treated as a movie that exists inside the Macross world. The Frontier films rewrite the series' last act into their own continuity, and Passionate Walküre retells Delta with new scenes. Zettai Live continues on from Delta.
Where does Macross Zero go?
It's a prequel, set a year before the original series, but it came out in 2002, twenty years after the original. Its story also ties into Frontier, so many fans watch it just before Frontier, which is where release order puts it.
Is Macross II canon?
No. It was made in 1992 without Shoji Kawamori and Studio Nue, the original creators. Many fans treat it as a parallel universe rather than part of the main timeline.
Do I have to watch everything?
No. Each series has a new cast and works on its own. If you only want a few, Macross, Macross Plus and Macross Frontier are a common short list.