I'm going to start this review with a confession. Much to my chagrin it has been an awfully long time since I have seen anything Robotech. My recollection regarding the details involved with the series are spotty at best though my sense of nostalgia runs high with the franchise. It is this feeling that brought me back to other series like Gatchaman, Voltron, and Thundercats so needless to say Robotech is on my list of series to revisit. As part of this endeavor I decided to check out Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.

Shadow Chronicles is a sequel feature that was produced in 2006 by Harmony Gold USA. The movie made its way around the anime and film circuit with varying degrees of praise and also found its way to theaters for limited showings. Fans I have spoken with were skeptical about the movie though there was a noticeable twinkle lingering in their eye. Does The Shadow Chronicles live up to the myriad of expectations? Unfortunately in this reviewer's opinion it doesn't even come close.

In so many ways this latest incarnation of Robotech is for diehard fans only. Newcomers and those of us who haven't seen the show for well over a decade will be lost right from the get-go. This is mainly due to the fact that Shadow Chronicles takes place right at the end of the original series; the final episode to be exact. Another facet of this films exclusivity involves how deeply steeped in the Robotech mythos it truly is.

While Admiral Rick Hunter is away playing in another part of the universe the forces poised near Earth are preparing for a final assault. The Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) launches from their base on the moon as they attempt to rid their home planet of the vile Invid. Armed with technology on loan from another alien race known as the Haydonites, or Children of the Shadows, humanity offers the Invid a resistance to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile on Earth, Scott Bernard is working to do what he can to help the REF but for the most part he's chilling with Ariel. Those familiar with the series will remember her as the humanoid Invid and here she plays the part of Scott's love interest. Due to her corrupt ways she tries to convince the Invid Regess that the two races can live together in harmony. Of course that's not going to happen because if it did The Shadow Chronicles would be over too easily.

As the conflict heats up humanity launches Neutron-S missiles towards the planet because gosh darn it all, if we can't have it nobody can. The Invid avoid the attack and in the process many plot twists come about; a few too many in fact. In so many ways Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles becomes a sloppily handled mess of plot holes and references to the original series. As I watched I became more confused as the story progressed and yet another twist towards the end helped to keep my interest at bay.

Maybe it was my lack of fluentness with the Robotech franchise or maybe it was a byproduct of poor scripting but I found myself lost while watching this film. There are so many references to the original series and other Robotech projects which really isn't a good thing. Unless you have watched the franchise in its entirety recently you're bound to be lost somewhere along the way. That fact makes Shadow Chronicles exclusive to diehard fans that will probably be able to get by with renting it. Everyone else can pretty much pass on this.

Fans craving an updated presentation for their beloved Robotech may or may not be disappointed with this release. Like most anime in this day and age, Harmony Gold attempted to blend CGI and animation to create a fresh looking show. The end result is really a mixed bag of quality.

I'm generally not a fan of this style of animation and for the most part the design of the show clashes. An Americanized anime shell accompanies somewhat limited animation range though there are times when the effect can be pleasing to the eyes. There was certainly an attempt made to give Shadow Chronicles the appearance of Robotech and I must say that it's appreciated. Aside from the sometimes sub-par animation the overall quality of this DVD is acceptable. I encountered a slight amount of aliasing from time to time but other than that it's pretty smooth sailing.

Since this was an American production there is no Japanese track to be found on this disc. English 5.1 and 2.0 are the only selections available and both are decent given their technical range. The stereo track is fairly lackluster with little presentation on the soundstage. The surround track offers a more immersive experience with some nice sound direction during action sequences but little else.

As far as the quality of the dubbing is concerned I have to say that I was less than impressed. Mark Hamill and Chase Masterson do a fine job though the rest of the voice cast doesn't cut the mustard. I think it had more to do with the direction because the dialogue is fine though the emotional range and interacting between characters it noticeably lacking. It's also worth mentioning that the talking animation in no way matches the dubbing.

It's a shame that the bonus material for Shadow Chronicles is as light as it is. A feature taking a deep, comprehensive look at the history of the franchise or background story to bring viewers up to speed would have gone a long way to improving the enjoyment of the film. As is the only stuff you'll find here are a trailer and featurette about the making of the movie. Clocking in at 45 minutes the feature is actually very extensive with a lot of background into the project and commentary from fans. Nothing groundbreaking is revealed here but if you found the film entertaining you'll definitely want to check it out.

I was truly hoping that Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles would be the flagship to bring me back to the franchise. I used to adore this show and though I haven't seen it in ages I carry many fond memories. As a film Shadow Chronicles is exclusive to diehard fans with a lot of "in" commentary and side stories. Many twists and plotlines in the movie feel like bits of fan service rather than an attempt to make something cohesive and widely enjoyable. If you're a fan of Robotech and you are fully versed in all aspects of the show you'll want to rent it. Otherwise you can basically not bother and move on with your life.

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