Summary
- Macross series are now on Hulu and Disney+ in the US, with the latest installment available.
- Not all Macross series are available worldwide on Disney+, but certain English-speaking regions may have access.
- Legal disputes regarding Macross vs Robotech have been settled, leading to distribution agreements between BIGWEST and Harmony Gold.
Quick Links
Macross fans can now watch many series on Hulu and Disney+! After the legal dispute regarding the series’ international rights was finally settled in 2021, everyone has been waiting for this.
At least in the US, 16 titles are now available to stream on Disney services, including the latest installment, the Macross Delta the Movie: Absolute Live!!!!!! (Zettai Live) movie, released in 2021.
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Unfortunately, these series are not available worldwide on Disney+, but might be available in a few other countries and territories, especially English-speaking ones.
While BIGWEST official announcement only mentions Hulu, a few people posted on social media that the series are also available on Disney+, but they might be harder to find there:
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 previously revealed that all 18 series produced from 1987 on would be added to Disney+ worldwide in 2024, but the original announcement was taken down. But the reasons for it might vary: it may be only due to the series not being available worldwide, or negotiations with Disney might have gone another way.
As no official information has been shared since then, there is still a chance the series might drop globally on Disney+ at some point.
The Long-Lasting Legal Battle
Macross vs Robotech
Macross‘ distribution rights in the US and other regions were, for a long time, amid an intense legal dispute between the Japanese company BIGWEST and the American company Harmony Gold.
In the 1980s, Harmony Gold acquired the rights to Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA from Tatsunoko, and combined their footage in order to create the Robotech series. However, BIGWEST, an advertising company, also owned rights to the franchise. The Macross project had several drawbacks before and during broadcasting in Japan.
BIGWEST has been aware of the deal between Tatsunoko and Harmony Gold at least since the 1990s, as it backed the production of Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again in 1992 in response to it (and without Tatsunoko’s involvement).
Anyway, the dispute is now settled, as far as we know. In 2021, BIGWEST and Harmony Gold reached an agreement regarding the distribution of most Macross sequels and movies, with BIGWEST holding the right to distribute internationally every Macross title produced from 1987 on.
In exchange, BIGWEST agreed not to oppose the release of a Robotech live-action movie produced by Harmony Gold in Japanese theaters. Not only that, but Harmony Gold is now officially authorized to use 41 Macross characters in Robotech, including the right to produce and sell merchandise for those characters (except in Japan).
It was also stated that both companies would work together to distribute the franchise globally, but it is not clear who owns the rights to the original series and the movie Do You Remember Love?, produced in 1982 and 1984, respectively. It’s hard to imagine BIGWEST would have simply given the rights to Harmony Gold, so it seems likely they jointly own these two productions and anything regarding distributing them internationally would require approval from both companies.
Robotech is available on Crunchyroll in the US, so Harmony Gold likely retained the rights to distribute the series in the country. However, in 2021, Funimation (today Crunchyroll) announced Robotech would be available in other territories, like Latin America. It is indeed on Crunchyroll, but only in English and with English subs, which it’s impossible to know if it’s related to the deal between Harmony Gold and BIGWEST or with the licensing contract between Harmony Gold and Crunchyroll.
Hulu and Disney+ stream many Macross titles in the US. Crunchyroll streams Robotech.