Fans from across the globe made the trek to Anime Expo to be a part of the festivities celebrating 20 years of Robotech! Below you will find our full coverage of Robotech panels, parties and special events!

PHOTO GALLERIES:
AX2005 Photo Gallery Part 1 (June 30, July 1)
AX2005 Photo Gallery Part 2 (July 2)
AX2005 Photo Gallery Part 2 (July 3)

THURSDAY, JUNE 30th

Taking advantage of discounted room rates open only to Robotech.com members, fans from as far away as Europe and South America arrived at the Days Inn on Thursday to settle in and relax. The Days Inn location provided easy access for Robotech fans to pick up their Anime Expo badges, visit Disneyland and relax by the pool. Later that evening the entire group was joined by Tom Bateman, Steve Yun and Kevin McKeever and drove to the Block in Orange for a welcome dinner. Fans could eat and chat in a relaxed setting while meeting the Harmony Gold staff before the convention began.

FRIDAY, JULY 1st

TOYNAMI BOOTH
The first day of Anime Expo the Toynami and Robotech booths showcasing the latest Robotech merchandise greeted fans. At the Toynami booth fans could have their picture taken with the six foot tall super-scale Alpha fighter statue. Also on display was Toynami new prototype Masterpiece Beta Fighter! The Beta Fighter is designed to link up with the Masterpiece Alpha Fighters already available in stores.

ROBOTECH BOOTH
Fans could then easily head to the Robotech booth right next door to check out the latest in Robotech merchandise. Visitors were given the new buttons for Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. Fans were also able to buy Robotech mugs, sweatshirts, Masterpiece Veritechs along with new T-Shirts and polo shirts not even available in the Robotech.com store. Fans could also buy the life size Lynn Minmei posters for the incredible price of $1.00 USD! This created a buying frenzy so strong on the first day Tom Bateman and Andre Alas had to make a emergency run to the Robotech.com store warehouse to replenish the booth’s inventory!

BATTLECRY TOURNAMENT / PIZZA PARTY
After a hectic first day at the Anime Expo, Robotech fans headed back to the Days Inn for a Robotech Battlecry Tournament and pizza party! As a special surprise Robotech voice actor Dan Woren and Shadow Chronicles writer Ford Riley made a special appearance at the event to meet with the fans present. The tournament lasted for several hours as Robotech fans played against in each other in a death-match style event for special Robotech prizes. Around 10 PM the final two contestants squared off in a final match. Each of the finalists put their video game skills to the ultimate test until one emerged victorious! The second place winner received a Max & Miriya MPC’s while the first place winner received a Roy Fokker Masterpiece Veritech, a Masterpiece Shadow Fighter and a cel of the Skull Squadron drawn by Tommy Yune!

SATURDAY, JULY 2nd

THE LOST ROBOTECH PANEL
Robotech programming was kicked off on Saturday morning with the Lost Robotech Panel hosted by Tom Bateman, Steve Yun and Harmony Gold Executive VP Alan Letz. This panel was an in depth look at what happened to such incomplete projects as Robotech: The Untold Story, Robotech II: The Sentinels, and Robotech 3000. Fans were able to get a glimpse of the production process and find out why these projects never reached their full conclusion. Attendees were also treated to a display of several rare and unreleased Robotech merchandise from the 80's, including Minmei fashion dolls and Robotech socks.

ROBOTECH BOOTH: AUTOGRAPHS AND INTERVIEWS
After the panel, fans that visited the Robotech Booth received a special surprise; Robotech voice actors Chase Masterson and Dan Woren were at the booth signing autographs. Fans could also purchase special 20th Anniversary Programs for $1 with spaces for over a dozen of the voice actors to sign. All throughout the day Robotech fans lined up to get autographs and purchase merchandise from the booth. Afterwards, our Robotech documentary crew interviewed fans so they could share about their experiences watching the show that introduced a whole generation to the world of anime.

SHADOW CHRONICLES PANEL
At 4 PM the event Robotech fans have been waiting 20 years for began, The Robotech Shadow Chronicles panel! The panel had Creative Director Tommy Yune, Music Composer Scott Glasgow, Writer Ford Riley, Vice President Alan Letz, voice actor Chase Masterson, voice actor Dan Woren, voice actor Tony Oliver and was moderated by Kevin McKeever. Attendees at the panel were treated to the following:

- Tony Oliver will return as Admiral Rick Hunter, who will appear in Shadow Chronicles.

- A new comic series, written by the Waltrip Brothers and released by Wildstorm, is planned as a bridge story to the Shadow Chronicles

- An inside look at the collaboration between the original Japanese Mospeada creators and Harmony Gold.

- New production art and graphics were shown, including 3D models

- New 3D animatics of action sequences

- Footage that demonstrated for the first time how the 2D and 3D animation will be merged

- Mecha designs with size comparisons of new vessels

- Actual test footage of General Reinhardt (Dan Woren) and Captain Vince Grant (Richard Epcar) synchronized to recorded audio

- Harmony Gold has secured a distributor for The Shadow Chronicles, but fans were told that the distributor would be announced at San Diego ComicCon

To thank our fans for their 20 years of support each fan that answered a trivia question correctly received an actual cel from Tatsunoko Studios from Robotech The Sentinels series. At the end of the panel, attendees witnessed the first official teaser trailer for The Shadow Chronicles. Fan reaction was so positive that it was run again to the delight of those in attendance.

ROBOTECH BARBEQUE
After the Shadow Chronicles panel, fans gathered at the rooftop terrace of the Desert Palms Inn for the Robotech BBQ. As the grills were fired up fans were able to feast on hamburgers, hot dogs and Robotech.com member MEMO1DOMINION’s famous carne asada while enjoying a spectacular view of Anaheim and Disneyland. Robotech fans also received a special treat when voice actors Chase Masterson and Dan Woren, musician Scott Glasgow and writer Ford Riley arrived to mingle with the Robotech fans. As the sun went down fans could watch the fireworks and relax with the cast and crew of Robotech.

SUNDAY, JULY 3rd

ROBOTECH MUSEUM PANEL
Members from RobotechMuseum.com held a special fan panel on Robotech merchandise early on Sunday morning. Fans could get a comprehensive look at the merchandise created by Harmony Gold’s various licenses over the years. Robotech.com members Khyronian, Zor Master and VF-1Jason showed off slides of their very impressive collections of rare Robotech memorabilia.

ROBOTECH BOOTH: AUTOGRAPHS
Robotech fans that visited the booth on Sunday were greeted by the Robotech cast members Melanie McQueen, Alexandra Kenworthy, Paul St. Peter, Michael Bradley, Reba West, Steve Kramer, Eddie Frierson and Greg Finely. Fans could line up to get autographs and meet the cast as well. Throughout the after noon the line grew in size and a Tony Oliver decided to go the back of the line and sign autographs for those waiting patiently so no one would be left out. After fans got their autographs they had a chance to be interviewed by our film crew for our Robotech documentary.

ROBOTECH RETROSPECTIVE PANEL
On Sunday afternoon, Harmony Gold's Tom Bateman hosted a 20th anniversary reunion of the cast of Robotech. The all-too-brief 90-minute panel allowed the actors to share their experiences working on Robotech and in the voice-over business during the last 20 years. Many of the actors have since gone on to many projects, but Robotech still remains the project they are most known for. The guests of honor at this event were:
- Alexandra Kenworthy (The Regess)
- Mike Reynolds (Dolza)
- Paul St. Peter (Zor Prime)
- Dan Woren (Roy Fokker)
- Steve Kramer (Angelo Dante)
- Iona Morris (Claudia Grant)
- Greg Finley (Captain Gloval)
- Reba West (Lynn Minmei)
- Tony Oliver (Rick Hunter)
- Melanie MacQueen (Lisa Hayes)
- Eddie Frierson (Lynn Kyle) and
- Frank Catalano (Rand)

The Retrospective also included a special tribute to two people who had made very large contributions to Robotech 's continuing legacy, Music Composer/Orchestrator Arlon Ober and Supervising Director Robert V. Barron. Both gentlemen recently passed away, so this panel gave the cast a chance to remember both men and recognize their importance to the popularity of the Robotech Saga. Arlon Ober's tireless work as a music partner of Ulpio Minucci resulted in the sweeping orchestral score that became a trademark of the show, despite only utilizing a dozen or less musicians. Bob Barron was remembered as the elder statesman of the cast and served as a mentor and father figure to them, as an actor, writer and director. The actors fondly remembered his calming demeanor, which was a welcome respite from the fast paced Robotech production schedule. Bob did several voices in Robotech, most notably as Admiral Hayes. Melanie MacQueen said it was an honor to have him play Lisa Hayes' father, because she felt very much that he had been a father figure to her.

The panel also afforded the chance to show the first advance teaser trailer again to the audience and to the cast, who had not yet seen this glimpse of the new project. A question and answer session happened next, as well as a Hollywood Squares like trivia portion. With time expiring, the cast was mobbed by hundreds of fans inside and outside the convention hall for autographs, and the actors signed as many as they could before heading to the special banquet dinner being held in their honor.

VOICE ACTOR BANQUET
At the Jolly Roger restaurant, fans and celebrities gathered for a homestyle buffet. After dinner, fans got a chance to hang out with all the voice actors from the original Robotech, with many opportunities to get autographs and photos with them. At the end of the evening, all the original voice actors got together for a "class photo" together, which was the first time most of them had been together since Robocon10, which was 10 years ago. In fact, this gathering was the single largest gathering of Robotech voice actors since Robotech first came out in 1985.

YELLOW DANCER CONCERT
Anime Expo’s Robocon events concluded with a live concert by Michael Bradley, Khristy Moser and the RK Project Band! Michael and Khristy sang all of the classic Yellow Dancer Robotech songs to over 500 fans in attendance. At the end of the concert the fans demanded more and Michael obliged with an encore performance. However, after that set ended fans still wanted more so Michael sang a stunning rendition of Robotech's "We Will Win" and “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin! Fans began a massive conga line around the dance floor as Michael played and Tom Bateman was lifted on the shoulders of fans.

Click here to read a special message from Michael Bradley to Robotech fans that attended Anime Expo!

*****

SPECIAL THANKS
Harmony Gold would like to thank the following people for all their efforts in making our Robocon 20 events at Anime Expo such a success: Marie Enriquez of Days Inn, Alieen Crisostomo of The Jolly Roger Inn, John Krall, Rik Wall, Sean Larson of Sakura-Con. Our talent wrangler Radioactivemouse. AlaphaBetaAce and David Kline for assistance with the BBQ, Cast members Melanie McQueen, Alexandra Kenworthy, Dan Woren Paul St. Peter, Michael Bradley and the RK Project, Reba West, Steve Kramer, Eddie Frierson, Khristy Moser, and Greg Finely. Finally we would like to thank our fans for their 20 years of support. We look forward to another 20 years of Robotech with you!

Click here for our previous coverage of Anime Expo/Robocon

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Click here for more information on Michael Bradley

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