The Macross Tomahawk has more guns and missiles than should be allowed.

There was one show that meant more to my childhood than any other.  This "cartoon" was a revolution for many of us here in the United States.  Never had we seen anything quite like it.  The fact that it was a continuing story from one episode to the next was enough to set it apart from other kids' shows of the time.  Additionally, this show incorporated decidedly adult themes surrounding love, death, and the toll of war.  In the U.S., we knew this show as Robotech.

Robotech was adapted from three different Japanese animated series.  The first chapter brought Super Dimensional Fortress Macross to American audiences.  In the Robotech universe, it was simply called "The Macross Saga."  The story creator of Macross, Shoji Kawamori, succinctly describes the plot as "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles."  This series shines for the spectacular mechanical designs done by Mr. Kawamori, along with Kazutaka Miyatake.  The story rationalized the use of giant humanoid robots, or "mecha", as the most practical means of fighting a race of hostile giant aliens.

I fell in love with this show when I was 11 years old.  It was 1986, and I was in the sixth grade.  At that point, kids were determining who was "cool" and who wasn't.  Let's just say, for me, being openly obsessed with an animated Sci Fi series didn't exactly increase my social standing.  Quite honestly, I didn't give two shits that people would make fun of me for liking Robotech.  I knew it was not only bad ass, but it was also great animation art.  I also like to think that I had some intuition that I was destined for a creative career.  Appreciating great art and great mechanical design definitely contributed to where I am today as a designer and builder of mechanical interactive science exhibits.

Perhaps some of the social torment I endured, because of loving Robotech, created a particularly poignant form of nostalgia for me.  I now recognize some of the flaws in Macross, but I still love it.  And if pressed, I will argue that these mecha designs are still some of the greatest ever created.  The fact that these designs resonate with people is difficult to dispute because new toys are still being based on them.  As a young artist, I could recognize this, and I spent much time analyzing the designs and drawing them myself. 

The centerpiece of Macross Mecha designs were the elegant transforming jet fighters known as "Veritech Fighters." (In Japan they called them Valkeries.)  However, there were some non-transforming mecha designs that were just as great. 

Looking not unlike bipedal armored military tanks, the "Destroids" had a more brutish and utilitarian design.  There were five distinct Destroid designs and subtle variations of each of them.  As story devices, the Destroids were sort of like the "red shirt guy" in Star Trek.  Indeed, in the show, we would only catch small glimpses of them just before being blown up by the bad guys.

Despite the secondary role of the Destroids in the show, and the often disappointing fate they suffered, they are still a cornerstone of the Macross mecha designs.  In 2008, toy manufacturer Yamato recognized this by giving Macross fans the Destroid toy they always wanted.  It was a highly detailed and posable representation of "Tomahawk," known as "Excaliber MK VI" by American audiences.  Tomahawk is sort of a humanoid Howitzer: a legged platform for cannons and missiles.  In fact, you could say that the design is a bit overboard on guns and missiles but that is part of the charm I suppose.

This toy is spectacular in it's detail and finish, It has excellent articulation, opening missile hatches and cockpit, and that is why it is The Toy of the Week.  As the feature toy for September, you can enjoy more pictures of it in the gallery.