Macross Plus

Macross Plus is set in the year 2040, a period in which humanity has colonized multiple planets and advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, are widely developed. The story revolves around the near-complete AI pop idol Sharon Apple, whose emotions are provided by Myung Fang Lone. Sharon’s debut concert takes place on the planet Eden, coinciding with aerial combat exercises as fighter pilots Isamu Dyson and Guld Bowman compete for supremacy in the “Supernova Project.”

Isamu, Guld, and Myung were childhood friends, but a tragic accident seven years prior caused a rift between them. The return of Myung rekindles old rivalries and emotional tensions, especially as the pilots confront their past conflicts while engaging in high-stakes missions. The situation escalates when an unstable and illegal AI enhancement is installed in Sharon Apple, creating unforeseen consequences for all involved.

The series explores themes such as rivalry, human emotion versus artificial intelligence, ambition, and the ethical implications of technology in both entertainment and military applications.

If you’re tired of the endless "chosen one" tropes and want an anime that feels like a high-budget, cinematic fever dream, Macross Plus is an absolute essential. It is a gritty, adult-oriented masterpiece that feels like Top Gun collided with a cyberpunk psychological thriller. What makes it uniquely worth your time, even if you aren't a fan of the broader Macross franchise, is the sheer quality of the craftsmanship. You get some of the most fluid, visceral hand-drawn dogfights in history, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (before he made Cowboy Bebop) and set to an otherworldly, experimental score by Yoko Kanno. It’s a tight, four-episode explosion of jealousy, artificial intelligence, and the price of progress. It manages to be a technical marvel of 90s animation while telling a surprisingly intimate story about a broken trio of friends. If you have any interest in aviation, high-concept sci-fi, or the "Golden Age" of OVAs, this is a short, sharp shock of excellence that you cannot afford to skip.