Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross

Lore & Background

In the year 2120, humanity has left the Solar System and begun colonizing other planets. One of the farthest colonies is on the terraformed planet Glorie, protected by the Southern Cross army. Unbeknownst to humans, Glorie is the ancestral home of the Zor, a highly advanced race of nomadic humanoid aliens who have returned to reclaim their world. The story follows Jeanne Françaix, a 17-year-old leader of the 15th Squad in the Alpha Tactics Armored Corps, who often disregards protocol and is considered an embarrassment by her superiors. Other central characters include Marie Angel, a model soldier and ace pilot, and Lana Isavia, a strict military police officer. The Zor are led by three figures named Dess, Dera, and Demi, and are inspired by triplet sirens named Musica, Musiere, and Muselle.

Reader's Guide

Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross is significant as the third installment of the Super Dimension series, a franchise that influenced the mecha anime genre. Its adaptation into Robotech as 'The Masters Saga' introduced the story to a Western audience, where character names were changed (e.g., Jeanne Françaix became Dana Sterling). The series explores themes of colonization, alien conflict, and personal duty versus emotion. The detailed military structure of the Southern Cross Army, including units like ATAC and TASC, and specialized robotic vehicles such as the ATAC-01-SCA Spartas, reflects the era's interest in complex mecha designs. The show's legacy lies in its integration into the larger Robotech narrative, which combined multiple anime series into one storyline, and its contribution to the mecha and space opera genres of the 1980s.

Did You Know?

• Jeanne Françaix's name was changed to Dana Sterling in Robotech.
• The planet Glorie has an elliptical orbit with a 73-year cycle and 60% land surface.
• The Zor leaders are named Dess, Dera, and Demi.
• Musica, one of the triplet sirens, defects to Glorie after meeting Bowie Emerson.