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Macross Zero is a great entry in the Macross Franchise, a thorough summation of the core themes present in most entries. On the surface, Zero stands out as it primarily takes place on Earth, with most battles much smaller in scale compared to SDF Macross or Frontier. Along with this, the music present is very different than other entries - the j-pop soundtrack is replaced with tribal hymns as well as singular ballads. However, at the end of the day, a young pilot finds himself in a troubling situation that uncovers the very nature of humanity and its origins, reminding the viewer of the commonality ... between the different Macross entries.

The art direction for Macross Zero is great, as it provides a good contrast between the bright tones of the island and metallic sheen of the VFs and UN technology. The animation itself is not bad either, with characters rarely going off-model. The series truly shines in its CG, as it looks great for an early 2000s production, even rivaling CG sequences in recent anime.

The sound is great, from the primarily tribal soundtrack to the harsh noises of the dogfights. The stripped back nature of the soundtrack is very pleasant and a neat contrast to the poppier elements usually present in the franchise.

There are some things I do wish were explored in further length, however. Taking place some time before the events of SDF Macross, the series covers the war between the UN and Anti-UN forces. However, the conflict takes the background almost immediately, with the motivations of the Anti-UN unclear as well as the nature of the war other than the few fights in the beginning and the end. This is somewhat an issue, as the protagonist, Shin Kudo, has very personal motivations for fighting for the UN, something shared in common with his Anti-UN counterpart. I understand that this may have been for worldbuilding purposes, but I do wish that their commonality was acknowledged and discussed, to flesh out their motivations. Roy Focker, a character from SDF Macross is prominent in Macross Zero, and his appearance does a great job explaining as to why acts a certain way during the events of SDF Macross.

Overall, I enjoyed Macross Zero a lot, appreciating its relatively more realistic nature compared to other entries in the Macross franchise. I highly recommend it if you find other entries, such as Delta or Frontier, too "anime" and prefer something more grounded yet still want something that embodies the overall spirit of Macross. A solid 8/10.