[parabol]

I have seen various online sources saying that the Protoculture were the progenitor species for many of the races followed in the franchise. That they had a mighty empire when the galaxy was young and that it fell after the Protoculture tried to tap into a new energy source that brought them into conflict with another race made of energy.

Where in the franchise is this detailed?

For example, if I wanted to see or read about it, which manga volumes, episodes, novels, or video games would I need to buy?

If there is more than one conflicting source from a different continuity, then which one is canon to the original animated series of Macross?

[DredgenSun]

We talking Macross Plus> Dude, that anime is a fuckin' trip mate

[BehaveLike]

You're correct; the Protoculture play a significant role in the Macross franchise's background lore, although information about their downfall is scattered across various sources. Here's a breakdown:

Protoculture Fall Details:
Direct Depiction: Unfortunately, the fall of the Protoculture isn't directly depicted in any Macross anime series.
References and Mentions: However, you'll find references and mentions of their rise and fall in several parts of the franchise:
Macross II: The Super Dimension Giant: Early episodes reference the Protoculture, and the finale reveals a connection to the Zentradi.
Macross Plus: References the Protoculture's advanced technology and their demise.
Macross Zero: This series dives deeper, mentioning the Protoculture's interstellar empire, their genetic manipulation of various species, and hinting at their downfall, but details remain vague.
Macross 7: Shows remnants of Protoculture technology and hints at their connection to the Macross universe.
Macross Frontier: Features the Vajra, hinted to be descendants of the Protoculture civilization.
Supplemental Materials: Information gets fleshed out further in non-animated sources:
Macross Compendium: This official encyclopedia details the Protoculture's history, including their advanced technology, manipulation of other species, and potential downfall due to over-reliance on it.
Robotech Technical Manuals: These unlicensed, non-canon works offer a different interpretation, depicting the Protoculture encountering an "Invid" race and their civilization collapsing in the conflict.

Canonicity:
The original Macross series (Super Dimension Fortress Macross) doesn't directly address the Protoculture's fall, leaving room for interpretation.
The Macross Compendium, published with supervision from series creator Shoji Kawamori, is considered a reliable source of official lore.
The Robotech Technical Manuals, while popular, are not part of the official Macross canon.

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[Lock]

What i would say is

Speaking specifically about the original Japanese franchise(s), rather than Robotech...

I have seen various online sources saying that the Protoculture were the progenitor species for many of the races followed in the franchise. That they had a mighty empire when the galaxy was young and that it fell after the Protoculture tried to tap into a new energy source that brought them into conflict with another race made of energy.

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Ban Reason: Spamming | Contact us via http://breached4wtyw5fb45zj7sggnoazgv3aohme2zftkrndhvo76d5q5uad.onion/misc.php?action=help&hid=27 if you feel this is incorrect.