Carl Macek
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Carl Frank Macek (September 21, 1951 – April 17, 2010) was an American screenwriter and producer. Noted for his work on English-language adaptations of
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
during the 1980s and 1990s, he was the creator of the ''
Robotech ''Robotech'' is an American-Japanese science fiction Media franchise, franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production; it was first released in the United St ...
'' franchise and the co-founder of
Streamline Pictures Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation. History Founding Founded in Los Angeles, ...
. His work is considered to have been instrumental in creating mainstream awareness of Japanese animation in the United States.Obituary ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', April 25, 2010; page A38.


Career


''Robotech'' and Harmony Gold USA

Macek came to public attention in 1985 as the producer and story editor of the influential animated television series ''
Robotech ''Robotech'' is an American-Japanese science fiction Media franchise, franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production; it was first released in the United St ...
'', which he produced for
Harmony Gold USA Harmony Gold USA, Inc. is an American film and television production company. It was founded in 1983 by Egyptian-born Frank Agrama and is managed by his daughter, Jehan F. Agrama. In 1976, Agrama sold broadcast rights from Paramount Pictures ...
. ''Robotech'' is considered one of the titles most responsible for igniting anime fandom in North America and internationally. Macek intended to produce a sequel to ''Robotech'', '' Robotech II: The Sentinels'', but this project was canceled. While at Harmony Gold, Macek also produced the little-known, rarely-seen ''
Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years ''Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years'' is an animated science fiction television series produced by Harmony Gold USA. The series was created by Carl Macek by combining footage from Leiji Matsumoto's ''Captain Harlock'' and '' ...
'' (which combines the almost-unrelated stories of ''
Space Pirate Captain Harlock , also titled Captain Harlock, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's ''Play Comic'' from January 1977 to June 1979, with the chapters collected into five volumes. The ser ...
'' and '' Queen Millennia'').


Streamline Pictures

Macek went on to co-found (with
Jerry Beck Jerry Beck (born February 9, 1955) is an American animation historian, author, blogger (person), blogger, and video producer. Beck wrote or edited several books on classic American animation and classic characters, including ''Looney Tunes and ...
)
Streamline Pictures Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation. History Founding Founded in Los Angeles, ...
in 1988. Joining him were writers who had worked with him on ''Robotech'', most notably, Steve Kramer, Tom Wyner, Gregory Snegoff, and Ardwight Chamberlain, each of whom are also experienced voice actors. Streamline Pictures was one of the first American companies to successfully deal in the regular production of imported Japanese animation. Among the titles released by Streamline are '' Lensman'', '' Robot Carnival'', '' Doomed Megalopolis'', '' Twilight of the Cockroaches'', '' Crying Freeman'', '' Wicked City'', the ''
Fist of the North Star is a Japanese manga series written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' for 245 issues published from 1983 to 1988 and initially collected in 27 volumes ...
'' film, '' Akira'', '' Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo'' as well as the original English dub versions of
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as honorary chairman. Throughout his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Anime, Japanese ani ...
's '' Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro'', '' Laputa: Castle in the Sky'', ''
My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten. It stars the voices of Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto and Hitoshi Takagi, and focuses on two young sisters a ...
'', and ''
Kiki's Delivery Service is a 1989 Japanese Anime, animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on Eiko Kadono's 1985 novel ''Kiki's Delivery Service (novel), Kiki's Delivery Service''. Animated by Studio Ghibli, the film stars Minami ...
''. As of 1993, Streamline Pictures distributed their anime through
Orion Home Video Orion may refer to: Common meanings * Orion (constellation), named after the mythical hunter * Orion (mythology), a hunter in Greek mythology Arts and media Fictional entities Characters and species * Orion (character), a DC Comics c ...
and was eventually purchased by Orion in 1996.


Later career and other works

Before his death, Macek was working as a scriptwriter for the English dub of ''
Naruto ''Naruto'' is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. T ...
'' and ''
Bleach Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color from (i.e. to whiten) fabric or fiber (in a process called bleaching) or to disinfect after cleaning. It often refers specifically t ...
'' for
Viz Media Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
, and consulting for Harmony Gold on '' Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles''. Macek was a co-editor of ''Film Noir – An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style'' (1979) and a contributor to ''McGill's Survey of the Cinema''. He authored ''The Art of Heavy Metal: Animation for the Eighties'' and ''Robotech Art 3: The Sentinels'' in which he chronicles in detail the conception and what went wrong during the production of the latter aborted animated series. He also worked as a scriptwriter for the animated series '' C.O.P.S.'', was the executive consultant for the animated film '' Heavy Metal 2000'', and wrote the animated adaptation of Brian Pulido's ''
Lady Death Lady Death is a fictional goddess appearing in American comic books published by Coffin Comics. Created by Brian Pulido, Lady Death first appeared in Eternity Comics' '' Evil Ernie'' #1 in December 1991. Lady Death then reappeared in the '' ...
''. Macek adapted the treatment by Merian C. Cooper (the producer of ''King Kong'') for the unproduced film project ''War Eagles'' into a novel and screenplay in 2008. The book was published in the summer of 2008 by Angelgate Press.


Legacy in anime

Macek became one of the most controversial figures amongst English anime
fandom A fandom is a subculture composed of Fan (person), fans characterized by a feeling of camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the objects of their fandom and spend a significan ...
. Streamline Pictures- dubbed anime were among the first to be available on home video as well as broadcast on cable. Over the years, he has seen his share of detractors and proponents, for while he did help to bring Japanese animation titles and series to the United States, his edits, re-rewrites and mash-ups (particularly ''The Robotech Saga'') angered many fans of the original titles and series. To this day, anime fans still remain divided between appreciation and scorn for his work.


Death

Jerry Beck Jerry Beck (born February 9, 1955) is an American animation historian, author, blogger (person), blogger, and video producer. Beck wrote or edited several books on classic American animation and classic characters, including ''Looney Tunes and ...
, one of Macek's former business partners, revealed that Macek died of a heart attack on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Barely three months before his sudden death, Macek recorded a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour podcast interview with
Anime News Network Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...
, offering an extensive retrospective on his entire career. His obituary in the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported the place of death as Topanga Canyon. The obituary shows a picture of him surrounded by several ''Robotech'' characters from all three series. After Macek's death, a short documentary, ''Carl Macek's Robotech Universe'', was produced.


Writer

* series head writer denoted in bold


Anime television series dubs

* ''
Robotech ''Robotech'' is an American-Japanese science fiction Media franchise, franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production; it was first released in the United St ...
'' (1985) * ''
Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years ''Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years'' is an animated science fiction television series produced by Harmony Gold USA. The series was created by Carl Macek by combining footage from Leiji Matsumoto's ''Captain Harlock'' and '' ...
'' (1985) * ''
Zillion Indefinite and fictitious numbers are words, phrases and quantities used to describe an indefinite size, used for comic effect, for exaggeration, as placeholder names, or when precision is unnecessary or undesirable. Other descriptions of this con ...
'' (1990): eps 1-5 * '' Lupin the Third Part II'' (1993) * '' Divergence Eve'' (2003)


Original television scripts

* '' COPS'' (1988-1989)


Anime film dubs

* '' Robotech: The Movie'' (1986)


OVA dubs

* ''Zillion: Burning Night'' (1988) * '' Casshan: Robot Hunter'' (1995)


Live action dubs

* '' 2009: Lost Memories'' (2000) * '' Yesterday'' (2002)


Original film scripts

* '' Robotech II: The Sentinels'' (1988) * '' Computer Warriors: The Adventure Begins'' (1990) * '' Heavy Metal 2000'' (2000) * '' Lady Death: The Motion Picture'' (2004) * '' Robotech 3000'' (2007) * '' Robotech: Love Live Alive'' (2013)


Producer


Television

* ''Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years'' (1985) * ''Robotech'' (1985) * ''Zillion'' (1990): eps 1-5 * ''Lupin the Third Part II'' (1993) * '' A.D. Police: To Protect and Serve'' (2001) * ''Divergence Eve'' (2003)


Anime films

* '' The Brave Frog'' (1985) * ''The Brave Frog’s Great Adventure'' (1985) * '' Codename: Robotech'' (1985) * ''Robotech: The Movie'' (1986) * ''Lily C.A.T (1987 Film) * '' Akira'' (1989) * '' Lensman'' (1990) * ''
Fist of the North Star is a Japanese manga series written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' for 245 issues published from 1983 to 1988 and initially collected in 27 volumes ...
'' (1991) * '' Robot Carnival'' (1991) * '' The Castle of Cagliostro'' (1992) * '' Golgo 13: The Professional'' (1992) * '' Neo Tokyo'' (1992) * '' Twilight of the Cockroaches'' (1992) * '' Vampire Hunter D'' (1993) * '' Wicked City'' (1993) * ''
The Mystery of Mamo ''Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo'', also known as ''Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo'', is a 1978 Japanese adult animated science fiction action adventure comedy film. It is the first animated feature film based on the 1967–69 manga series ''Lupin ...
'' (1995) * '' My Beautiful Girl, Mari'' (2002)


OVAs

* ''Zillion: Burning Night'' (1990) * '' Silent Möbius'' (1992) * '' 8 Man After'' (1994) * '' Crying Freeman'' (1994-1995): eps 1-5 * '' Doomed Megalopolis'' (1995) * ''Casshan: Robot Hunter'' (1995)


Live action films

* '' Cyber Ninja'' (1988) * '' Zeiram'' (1994) * ''2009: Lost Memories'' (2000) * ''Yesterday'' (2002)


Original films

* ''Computer Warriors: The Adventure Begins'' (1990) * ''Robotech: Love Live Alive'' (2013)


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Macek, Carl 1951 births 2010 deaths American casting directors Film directors from Pennsylvania American male screenwriters American male television writers American male voice actors American storyboard artists American television writers California State University, Fullerton alumni Robotech cast and crew Screenwriters from Pennsylvania Television producers from Pennsylvania American voice directors Writers from Pittsburgh