Macross celebrates 45th anniversary with colossal SDF-1 figure

Super Dimension Fortress Macross is preparing to celebrate its 45th anniversary in a big way, unveiling a massive SDF-1 transformable die-cast toy set to hit shelves later this year. Although the name may not sound too familiar to all anime fans, many will remember Robotechwhich aired in the US in the mid-80s. The first season of the popular sci-fi anime consisted of animations from the original in 1982 Macross series, although heavily edited and rewritten for Western audiences. The titular SDF-1 remains a familiar mascot for the franchise as a whole, and fans will soon be able to bring it home, but only in one region.

Packed with epic space battles and heartfelt romance Macross franchise started with the first televised anime series in 1982, which led to several spin-offs, films, OVAs, manga series, video games and more. One of the mainstays of the mecha genre, the franchise eventually popularized the concept of transforming mechs, with series creator Shoji Kawamori later going on to design the majority of the many memorable characters in Transformers.

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As revealed by Bandai Spirits, SDF-1 from the 1982s Super Dimension Fortress Macross getting an awesome new transformable diecast figure later this yearcomplete with LED light functions. Set for release in November, with pre-orders going live on June 1st, the SDF-1 will highlight many of the mech's features, including the city it houses within its hull and its vast collection of formidable weapons. Notably, this physical iteration of the SDF-1 was designed in part by Kazutaka Miyatake, known for contributing mechanical designs to Macross series. The figure itself will stand at a hefty 65cm (2.13ft) and cost fans ¥99,000 (about $620). Unfortunately, this legendary collectible will be sold exclusively in Japan.

While the original 1982 series remains a fan favorite, Macross 7released in 1994, joined a slew of other popular space operas from the decade, including Turn A Gundam, Crest of the Starsand Infinite Ryvius. The series has only recently found popularity in the United States, as it remained unlicensed until July 2022. Oddly enough, it is best known for its soundtrack, with over a dozen albums released by Macross 7s fictional band Fire Bomber in the decades following its premiere. Macross Frontier aired in 2007, followed by Macross Delta 2016, with a new anime series in the works.

As for its legacy, Macross is not only well regarded for its concept of transformable mechs, but also for the characters it chooses to highlight. Other mecha series during that time focused, perhaps understandably, on pilots and combatants, putting the conflict front and center. IN Macrosscivilians take center stage instead, with the franchise highlighting how war affects normal people. Additionally, fictional idol character Lynn Minmay, who appeared in the series in 1982, managed to find real-life success with her music, a trend that has continued with other Macross series.

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Currently, Robotech available to stream on Crunchyroll, while many really Macross entries have been added to the Hulu and Disney+ catalogs, including Macross Plus, Macross Delta, Macross 7and Macross Frontier. An intense legal battle between BIG WEST and Harmony Gold prevented Macross from being readily available in the US for quite some time, but a solution was found in 2025, where fans could finally access the legendary mecha franchise.