Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles

This article is about 2006 animated film. For the 2008 book sharing this title produced by Palladium Books, see Shadow Chronicles RPG.
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles
Film Poster
Directed byTommy Yune
Dong-Wook Lee
Yeun-Sook Seo (co-director)
Screenplay byFord Riley
Frank Agrama
Story byThomas J. Bateman
Steve Yun
Tommy Yune
Based onRobotech
by Carl Macek
Produced byFrank Agrama
Alan Letz
Jason Netter
Ippei Kuri
Kouki Narushima
StarringRichard Epcar
Eddie Frierson
Mark Hamill
Alexandra Kenworthy
Yuri Lowenthal
Melanie MacQueen
Chase Masterson
Edie Mirman
Iona Morris
Tony Oliver
Arthur Santiago
Gregory Snegoff
Michael Sorich
Kari Wahlgren
Dan Woren
Edited byDavid W. Foster
Music byScott Glasgow
Ulpio Minucci (main theme)
Production
companies
Distributed byFunimation
Release dates
  • August 25, 2006 (2006-08-25) (New York City)
  • January 5, 2007 (2007-01-05)
Running time
88 minutes
CountriesUnited States
South Korea
LanguageEnglish

Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles is the 2006 animated sequel to the 1985 Robotech television series. It was released on DVD on February 6, 2007.

Originally announced at Anime Expo 2002 by Harmony Gold USA as an unnamed new series with negotiations under way at major network[1] with a target date of 2004. Prior to this announcement in 1998, Harmony Gold USA had relinquished their rights to create a sequel based on the original Japanese series of which Robotech was based on. However, rights to produce a sequel based on the series Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA were restored shortly before this announcement.[2]

it was revealed at Anime Expo 2004 that this project would instead be a feature-length film titled Robotech: Shadow Force due out in 2005. Due to the term "Shadow Force Megazord" having been trademarked by Saban for use in its Power Rangers series in 2001,[3] the title of the film was changed to Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles shortly thereafter.

The screenplay went through numerous writers, including noted science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer in 2003,[4] before landing its final screenwriter, Ford Riley, in July 2004. Due to Harmony Gold USA's agreement with Tatsunoko Production, the film was not allowed to reference characters or designs from Super Dimension Fortress Macross. As a result, only one character from that series used in Robotech was included, with another appearing in a deleted scene, both with drastically altered appearances from how they originally appeared.

The cast recorded the script initially in the fall of 2004[5] with later pick-ups done in 2005, including the addition of cast member Yuri Lownenthal, as well as re-casting Alexandra Kenworthy back in her original role as The Regis.[6]

Animation was primarily handled by the South Korean studio DR Movie, with Harmony Gold USA first showing pre-renders in January 2005.[7] The film was completed on January 27, 2006.[8]

  1. ^ "Robotech.com". 2002-08-06. Archived from the original on 2002-08-06. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  2. ^ "Harmony Gold, USA, Inc., Petitioner, v. Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd., Respondent. Case No. 2:17-cv-06034-PA-MRW Amended Judgment Confirming Arbitration Award. United States District Court Central District of California" (PDF). August 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "Trademark Status & Document Retrieval". tsdr.uspto.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  4. ^ "Robert J. Sawyer » Blog Archive » Robotech and me". Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  5. ^ "Robotech.com - The Official Robotech Web Site!". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  6. ^ "Robotech.com - The Official Robotech Web Site!". 2006-03-16. Archived from the original on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  7. ^ "Robotech.com - The Official Robotech Web Site!". 2005-04-04. Archived from the original on 2005-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  8. ^ "Release dates for Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles". IMDb. Retrieved 2007-11-28.