Give it a chance and enjoy.... With every new chapter created for a successful classic franchise, you'll get the nay-sayers. "I like the original better"; "watch the old series and forget this", "the CGI is terrible", "what happened to the old director/producer/writer?"
Well, you get some comments like these if you go into the forums for: - Battlestar Galactic 2003-2007 - Star Wars Prequels - Star Trek TNG to ENT (to some degree)
Problem is, neither you nor the creators of the new shows are in the 70's or early 80s anymore. After 20 years, movies/animation are not made the same way. You the audience are no longer in your childhood or adolescence. So to enjoy a new twist on an old idea, you really have to keep an open mind.
*********Some Spoilers*******
So back to Shadow Chronicles. I think this production was done with a lot of heart. Although the animation has been updated, the returning characters are instantly recognizable. Love the fact that they used the same voice actors again. I found the story intriguing and engaging. Picking up the story from Reflex Point was a good idea for those of us who don't own all the DVDs and Videos. But at the same time new characters are introduced.
Some complained that this is more like a continuation of Mospeada rather than the whole of the Robotech Saga. I suppose that's true to some degree. Well, we definitely couldn't have those "F-14" veritechs flying around anymore since this is a continuation in the chronological sense. I mean, Macross was really appropriate for the 1st generation because they mix real life fighters (F-14) with sci-fi (guardian and battloid modes). But as time goes on, you get less recognizable fighters like the Alphas and Betas, so Mospeada made perfect sense as the newer generation. That was the genius in Macek's concept. In any case, I think some are disappointed that we don't have more on Rick, Max, Myria, Minmei, Lisa. But the SDF-3 was purposely kept at a distance for this movie. And Mya Sterling did say her family and love ones are on the SDF-3. So, I'm pretty sure these characters will be explored more in future chapters of this franchise. But not to be all "flowers and sunshine" I have to agree that I would've like to see more on Rick's SDF-3 during THIS movie. At least Rick is not lost indefinitely like the old series suggested.
I liked the animation. Like I said, things have changed. You look at all contemporary anime, the women always look "amazing". And eyes are more expressive rather than the "big round eyes" of the 70s style animation from the east.
Lastly, I like all that's new about the movie. The Haydonite seems like a worthwhile adversary for the new Robotech defenders. They're one alien race that does not desire Protoculture in some way, but despises the use of it by anyone else. That is an interesting twist. And although we did not see any new transforming mechas (yet), the new capital ships like SDF-3, Icarus, and ArcAngel all look way cool. But they still retain the same basic architecture of the SDF-1. And the front of the ships split open to fire the Synchro-Cannons, that's another "tip of hat" to the Macross generation as well.
So, there are many elements from all three generations if you look for them. But on its own, I think its a fine addition to a well loved series.