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{{Short description|American screenwriter}}
{{refimproveBLP|date=January 2010}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox Person
{{Infobox person
| name = Carl Macek
| name = Carl Macek
| image = File:Carl Macek (1951-2010) - Producer of Robotech.jpg
| image =
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = October 12, 1951
| birth_name = Carl Frank Macek
| birth_date = {{birth date|1951|9|21}}
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh, USA]]
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|4|17|1951|10|12}}
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Writer]]
| death_place = [[Topanga, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[California State University, Fullerton]]
| spouse =
| parents =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Screenwriter
| children =
* Producer
* Voice actor
}}
}}
| years_active = 1979–2006

| notable_works = {{flatlist|
'''Carl Macek''' (born 1951 in [[Pittsburgh]]) is an [[United States|American]] writer and controversial [[anime]] pioneer and producer of the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite web
* ''[[Robotech]]''<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-24-la-me-passings-20100423-story.html|title=PASSINGS: Carl Macek|access-date=April 20, 2010 |work= Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
* ''[[Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years]]''
* ''[[Lensman (1984 film)|Lensman: Secret of the Lens]]''
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Svea Macek|1981}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.carlmacek.com/}}
}}
'''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]] during the 1980s and 1990s, he was the creator of the ''[[Robotech]]'' franchise and the co-founder of [[Streamline Pictures]]. His work is considered to have been instrumental in creating mainstream awareness of Japanese animation in the United States.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14
|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14
|title=Macek Training|accessdate=2010-01-25 |work= Anime News Network |publisher= |date= }}</ref>
|title=Macek Training|access-date=January 25, 2010 |work= Anime News Network}}</ref><ref name="LAT">Obituary ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', April 25, 2010; page A38.</ref>


==Career==
==Career==

===''Robotech'' and Harmony Gold USA===
===''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 (TV series)|Robotech]]'', which he produced for [[Harmony Gold USA]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Yune |first=Tommy |title=Robotech's original producer Carl Macek passes away on Saturday, April 17th |url=http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=418 |access-date=April 20, 2010 |work=Robotech.com}}</ref> ''Robotech'' is considered one of the titles most responsible for igniting anime fandom in North America and internationally.<ref>{{cite news | title= The 'Robotech' master | work= [[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date=August 10, 2010 | url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/05/06/apop050610.DTL | access-date=September 16, 2010 | first=Jeff | last=Yang}}</ref> 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]]'' (which combines the almost-unrelated stories of ''[[Space Pirate Captain Harlock]]'' and ''[[Queen Millennia]]'').<ref>{{cite web|url= https://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=17|title= Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 2)|access-date= July 16, 2008|work= Robotech.com|archive-date= July 18, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718023342/https://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=17|url-status= bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=22|title= Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 3)|access-date= July 16, 2008|work= Robotech.com|archive-date= July 18, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718023436/http://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=22|url-status= bot: unknown}}</ref>


===Streamline Pictures===
Carl Macek came to public attention in 1985 as the producer and story editor of the influential animated television series ''[[Robotech]]'', which he produced for [[Harmony Gold USA]]. ''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 cancelled due to a number of circumstances. While at Harmony Gold, Macek also produced the little-known, rarely seen ''[[Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years]]'' (which combines the stories of ''[[Space Pirate Captain Harlock]]'' and ''[[Queen Millennia]]'').<ref>[http://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=22 Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 3)]</ref><ref>[http://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=17 Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 2)]</ref>
Macek went on to co-found (with [[Jerry Beck]]) [[Streamline Pictures]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|title= The 'Robotech' master|work= San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 6, 2010|url= https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/The-Robotech-master-2480888.php|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511061930/http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-05-06/entertainment/20888023_1_carl-macek-animation-stop-motion|url-status= live|archive-date= May 11, 2010|access-date=October 25, 2010|first=Jeff|last=Yang}}</ref><ref name="Carl Macek 1951-2010">{{cite web |url= http://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/carl-macek-1951-2010.html|title= Carl Macek (1951-2010)|access-date=April 19, 2010 |work= [[Cartoon Brew]] |date= July 24, 2006}}</ref> Joining him were writers who had worked with him on ''Robotech'', most notably, [[Steve Kramer (actor)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/animeToday/individual/?ForumThreadName=FT0000000051&ReturnTo=Summaries|title=Right Stuf's Anime Today interviews Carl Macek!|access-date=April 20, 2010|work=Right Stuf!|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809062109/http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/animeToday/individual/?ForumThreadName=FT0000000051&ReturnTo=Summaries|archive-date=August 9, 2010}}</ref> Among the titles released by Streamline are ''[[Lensman (1984 film)|Lensman]]'', ''[[Robot Carnival]]'', ''[[Doomed Megalopolis]]'', ''[[Twilight of the Cockroaches]]'', ''[[Crying Freeman]]'', ''[[Wicked City (1987 film)|Wicked City]]'', the ''[[Fist of the North Star (1986 film)|Fist of the North Star]]'' film, ''[[Akira (1988 film)|Akira]]'', ''[[Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo]]'' as well as the original English dub versions of [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro]]'', ''[[Laputa: Castle in the Sky]]'', ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'', and ''[[Kiki's Delivery Service]]''. As of 1993, Streamline Pictures distributed their anime through [[Orion Pictures|Orion Home Video]] and was eventually purchased by Orion in 1996.


===Later career===
===Later career and other works===
Before his death, Macek was working as a scriptwriter for the English dub of ''[[Naruto]]'' and ''[[Bleach (manga)|Bleach]]'' for [[Viz Media]], and consulting for Harmony Gold on ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/main/news/individual/?ForumThreadName=FT0000001581&Offset=0&ReturnTo=Main|title=In Memory of Anime Producer Carl Macek (1951-2010)|access-date=April 20, 2010|work=Right Stuf!|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423065056/http://www.rightstuf.com/rssite/main/news/individual/?ForumThreadName=FT0000001581&Offset=0&ReturnTo=Main|archive-date=April 23, 2010}}</ref>


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 (film)|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]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14
Macek went on to co-found (with [[Jerry Beck]]) [[Streamline Pictures]] in 1988. Joining him were writers who had worked with him on ''Robotech'', most notably, [[Steve Kramer (actor)|Steve Kramer]], [[Tom Wyner]], Greg Snegoff and [[Ardwight Chamberlain]], each of whom are also experienced voice actors. Streamline Pictures is 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 (film)|Wicked City]]'', and the original English dub versions of [[Hayao Miyazaki]]’s ''[[Laputa: Castle in the Sky]]'', ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'', ''[[Akira (film)|Akira]]'', ''[[Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro]]'', and ''[[Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo]]''. As of 1993, Streamline Pictures distributed their anime through [[Orion Pictures]] and was eventually purchased by Orion in 1996. Both companies are now defunct.
|title=Macek Training|access-date=January 25, 2010 |work= Anime News Network}}</ref>


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.
He is currently working as a scriptwriter for the English dub of ''[[Bleach (manga)|Bleach]]'' for [[Viz Media]], and consulting for Harmony Gold on ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles]]''.


===Other works===
==Legacy in anime==
Macek became one of the most controversial figures amongst English anime [[fandom]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/467855/to_the_stars_and_beyond_a_tribute_to_carl_macek.html|title= To the stars and beyond: a tribute to Carl Macek|access-date= April 20, 2010|work= Den of Geek|archive-date= May 26, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100526025731/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/467855/to_the_stars_and_beyond_a_tribute_to_carl_macek.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> Streamline Pictures-[[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] anime were among the first to be available on home video as well as broadcast on cable.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/american-anime-pioneer-carl-macek-passes-away/|title= American anime pioneer Carl Macek passes away|access-date= April 20, 2010|work= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-date= April 21, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100421023638/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/american-anime-pioneer-carl-macek-passes-away/|url-status= dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.mania.com/carl-macek-passes-away_article_122006.html|title= Carl Macek Passes Away|access-date= April 20, 2010|work= Mania.com|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100423020557/http://www.mania.com/carl-macek-passes-away_article_122006.html|archive-date= April 23, 2010}}</ref>


==Death==
Carl Macek is a co-editor of ''McGill’s Survey of the Cinema'' and ''Film Noir—An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style'' (1979).
[[Jerry Beck]], one of Macek's former business partners, revealed that Macek died of a heart attack on Saturday, April 17, 2010.<ref name="Carl Macek 1951-2010"/><ref>[http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=418 Carl Macek (1951-2010)] by Tommy Yune, Robotech News, Robotech.com.</ref> Barely three months before his sudden death, Macek recorded a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour podcast interview with [[Anime News Network]], offering an extensive retrospective on his entire career.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anncast/2010-01-14|title=Macek Training|access-date=January 25, 2010 |work= Anime News Network}}</ref>


His obituary in the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported the place of death as [[Topanga Canyon]].<ref name="LAT"/> The obituary shows a picture of him surrounded by several ''Robotech'' characters from all three series.
Carl Macek is also the author of ''The Art of [[Heavy Metal (film)|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.


After Macek's death, a short documentary, ''Carl Macek's Robotech Universe'', was produced.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2007934 | title = Carl Macek's Robotech Universe (Video 2011) - IMDb | work = [[The Internet Movie Database]] | access-date = November 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | last = McKeever | first = Kevin | year = 2011 | url = http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=450 | title = Harmony Gold announces special theatrical screening of Carl Macek's Robotech Universe | work = Robotech.com | publisher = Harmony Gold USA | access-date = November 16, 2011}}</ref>
Carl Macek has also worked as a script writer for the animated series ''[[C.O.P.S.]]'' and was the executive consultant for the animated film ''[[Heavy Metal 2000]]''. He recently wrote the animated adaptation of [[Brian Pulido]]’s ''[[Lady Death]]''.


==Writer==
Carl 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.
* series head writer denoted in bold


===Anime television series dubs===
==Legacy in Anime==
* '''''[[Robotech (TV series)|Robotech]]''''' (1985)
{{originalresearch-section|date=January 2010}}
* '''''[[Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years]]''''' (1985)
* ''[[Zillion (TV series)|Zillion]]'' (1990): eps 1-5
* ''[[Lupin the Third Part II]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Divergence Eve]]'' (2003)


===Original television scripts===
Carl Macek became one of the most controversial figures during the second and third waves of English anime [[fandom]]. Many consider him one of the early pioneers of the medium outside of [[Japan]]. Streamline Pictures [[dubbing (filmmaking)|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.
* ''[[COPS (animated TV series)|COPS]]'' (1988-1989)


===Arguments against Macek===
===Anime film dubs===
* ''[[Robotech: The Movie]]'' (1986)


===OVA dubs===
There is a significantly large portion of the anime fandom that still regards Carl Macek negatively for heavily altering the original Japanese versions of many of these titles. In particular, ''Robotech'', which consists of three originally unrelated anime rewritten to tell a continuous storyline (''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross|Macross]]'', ''[[Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross|Southern Cross]]'', ''[[Genesis Climber Mospeada|Mospeada]]''). In many of the titles he produced, Macek changed dialogue to remove what he called “ethnic gestures.”
* ''Zillion: Burning Night'' (1988)
* ''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]'' (1995)


===Live action dubs===
Compared to earlier years, anime’s ethnicity has become more accepted and even trendy among North American fans. For these reasons, some in anime fandom called him [http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=Carl+Macek+antichrist the Antichrist]. Carl Macek was also criticized heavily for the major, and some fans argue, pointless changes to the dubbing of ''[[Aura Battler Dunbine]]''.
* ''[[2009: Lost Memories]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Yesterday (2002 film)|Yesterday]]'' (2002)


===Original film scripts===
Macek and Streamline initially released only dubbed anime and remains the only major anime distributor ever to do so. He believed that in order for anime to reach a general audience, it had to be dubbed. A significant portion of the hardcore anime fandom watches exclusively subtitled anime, and many actively boycotted Streamline. Streamline Pictures later released a subtitled home video version of ''Akira'' and episodes of the three original series ''Robotech'' was based on. These videos became Streamline Pictures’ only subtitled home video releases as an independent company. They, did, however, subtitle a theatrical print of ''[[Castle of Cagliostro]]'' which is still screened in certain theaters to this day. The process of heavily revising translated anime scripts to appeal to a Western audience has been derisively nicknamed the “Macekre” (by analogy to [[Wiktionary:massacre|massacre]]).
* ''[[Robotech II: The Sentinels]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Computer Warriors|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==
===Arguments in favor of Macek===
===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===
Other anime fans have noted that many Macek-related titles introduced them to anime. Market conditions for anime were different in the 1980s and early 1990s. The issue of releasing dubbed vs. subtitled anime has become increasingly irrelevant with the introduction of multi-lingual anime DVDs, which quickly supplanted [[VHS]] in the anime market. [[DVD]] technology only became available in the last years of Streamline’s operations. Today, dubbed anime is more widely accepted throughout anime fandom, with the voice actors being very well-known and the center of attention at anime conventions, as well as many anime sites online. In regard to the deletion of ethnic references, many of Carl Macek’s earlier adaptations were in science fiction or other genres where the setting was ethnically neutral, and these changes did not significantly affect the integrity of the script. More importantly, there were a number of dub-only titles released under the company which were otherwise unedited. And in a market dependent on toy-sales, rather than home video sales, these anime titles would not have had the opportunity to get a release in the U.S. without Macek’s backing, since they were clearly not as merchandise-oriented as ''Robotech''.
* ''[[Demetan Croaker, The Boy Frog|The Brave Frog]]'' (1985)
* ''The Brave Frog’s Great Adventure'' (1985)
* ''[[Robotech (TV series)#Codename: Robotech|Codename: Robotech]]'' (1985)
* ''Robotech: The Movie'' (1986)
* ''Lily C.A.T (1987 Film)
* ''[[Akira (1988 film)|Akira]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Lensman (1984 film)|Lensman]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Fist of the North Star (1986 film)|Fist of the North Star]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Robot Carnival]]'' (1991)
* ''[[The Castle of Cagliostro]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Golgo 13: The Professional]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Neo Tokyo (film)|Neo Tokyo]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Twilight of the Cockroaches]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Vampire Hunter D (1985 film)|Vampire Hunter D]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Wicked City (1987 film)|Wicked City]]'' (1993)
* ''[[The Mystery of Mamo]]'' (1995)
* ''[[My Beautiful Girl, Mari]]'' (2002)


===OVAs===
''Robotech'' combined three unrelated anime series to meet the contemporary 65+ episode guideline for daily TV syndication, a goal desired to promote [[Revell]]’s ''[[Robotech Defenders]]'' line. <ref>[http://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=15 Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 1)]</ref> (Weekly syndication requires fewer episodes, and the three original anime series had aired weekly in Japan.)
* ''Zillion: Burning Night'' (1990)
* ''[[Silent Möbius]]'' (1992)
* ''[[8 Man#8 Man After|8 Man After]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Crying Freeman]]'' (1994-1995): eps 1-5
* ''[[Doomed Megalopolis]]'' (1995)
* ''Casshan: Robot Hunter'' (1995)


===Live action films===
==References==
* ''[[Mirai Ninja (film)|Cyber Ninja]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Zeiram]]'' (1994)
* ''2009: Lost Memories'' (2000)
* ''Yesterday'' (2002)


===Original films===
<references/>
* ''Computer Warriors: The Adventure Begins'' (1990)
* ''Robotech: Love Live Alive'' (2013)

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0532146}}
* {{anime News Network|people|3952}}

{{Inkpot Award 1970s}}


{{Authority control}}
*{{imdb name|id=0532146|name=Carl Macek}}
*[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3952 Carl Macek] at the [[Anime News Network]] Encyclopedia
*[http://www.carlmacek.com/ CarlMacek.com]
*[http://www.ladydeaththemovie.com/ LadyDeathTheMovie.com]
*[http://www.angelgatepress.com/NEW%20INDEX%20WAR%20EAGLES.html War Eagles]


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

[[ja:カール・メイセック]]
[[sr:Карл Мацек]]

Latest revision as of 06:20, 17 December 2024

Carl Macek
Born
Carl Frank Macek

(1951-09-21)September 21, 1951
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 17, 2010(2010-04-17) (aged 58)
Topanga, California, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia State University, Fullerton
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • Producer
  • Voice actor
Years active1979–2006
Notable work
Spouse
Svea Macek
​
(m. 1981)​
Websitewww.carlmacek.com

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 during the 1980s and 1990s, he was the creator of the Robotech franchise and the co-founder of Streamline Pictures. His work is considered to have been instrumental in creating mainstream awareness of Japanese animation in the United States.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Robotech and Harmony Gold USA

[edit]

Macek came to public attention in 1985 as the producer and story editor of the influential animated television series Robotech, which he produced for Harmony Gold USA.[4] Robotech is considered one of the titles most responsible for igniting anime fandom in North America and internationally.[5] 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 (which combines the almost-unrelated stories of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Queen Millennia).[6][7]

Streamline Pictures

[edit]

Macek went on to co-found (with Jerry Beck) Streamline Pictures in 1988.[8][9] 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.[10] 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 film, Akira, Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo as well as the original English dub versions of Hayao Miyazaki's Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service. As of 1993, Streamline Pictures distributed their anime through Orion Home Video and was eventually purchased by Orion in 1996.

Later career and other works

[edit]

Before his death, Macek was working as a scriptwriter for the English dub of Naruto and Bleach for Viz Media, and consulting for Harmony Gold on Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.[11]

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.[12]

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

[edit]

Macek became one of the most controversial figures amongst English anime fandom.[13] Streamline Pictures-dubbed anime were among the first to be available on home video as well as broadcast on cable.[14] 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.[15]

Death

[edit]

Jerry Beck, one of Macek's former business partners, revealed that Macek died of a heart attack on Saturday, April 17, 2010.[9][16] Barely three months before his sudden death, Macek recorded a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour podcast interview with Anime News Network, offering an extensive retrospective on his entire career.[17]

His obituary in the Los Angeles Times reported the place of death as Topanga Canyon.[3] 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.[18][19]

Writer

[edit]
  • series head writer denoted in bold

Anime television series dubs

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Original television scripts

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Anime film dubs

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OVA dubs

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Live action dubs

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Original film scripts

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Producer

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Television

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  • 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

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OVAs

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Live action films

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Original films

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

References

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  1. ^ "PASSINGS: Carl Macek". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  2. ^ "Macek Training". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Obituary Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2010; page A38.
  4. ^ Yune, Tommy. "Robotech's original producer Carl Macek passes away on Saturday, April 17th". Robotech.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  5. ^ Yang, Jeff (August 10, 2010). "The 'Robotech' master". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  6. ^ "Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 2)". Robotech.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ "Carl Macek Fan Interview (Part 3)". Robotech.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ Yang, Jeff (May 6, 2010). "The 'Robotech' master". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Carl Macek (1951-2010)". Cartoon Brew. July 24, 2006. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  10. ^ "Right Stuf's Anime Today interviews Carl Macek!". Right Stuf!. Archived from the original on August 9, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  11. ^ "In Memory of Anime Producer Carl Macek (1951-2010)". Right Stuf!. Archived from the original on April 23, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  12. ^ "Macek Training". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  13. ^ "To the stars and beyond: a tribute to Carl Macek". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  14. ^ "American anime pioneer Carl Macek passes away". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  15. ^ "Carl Macek Passes Away". Mania.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  16. ^ Carl Macek (1951-2010) by Tommy Yune, Robotech News, Robotech.com.
  17. ^ "Macek Training". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  18. ^ "Carl Macek's Robotech Universe (Video 2011) - IMDb". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  19. ^ McKeever, Kevin (2011). "Harmony Gold announces special theatrical screening of Carl Macek's Robotech Universe". Robotech.com. Harmony Gold USA. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
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