The Robotech universe is vast, complex and varied. The franchise encompasses cartoons, toys, comic books, novels and video games, all based on a series of Japanese anime cartoons. Three different series--Macross, Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada--were re-edited and dubbed for consumption by American audiences.

The story began when a giant, advanced spaceship crashlanded on a South Pacific island. The governments of Earth decided to retrofit the Superdimensional Fortress (SDF-1) and adapt its technology to defend the planet against alien invasions. That turned out to be a good plan because the original owners of SDF-1 came looking for their ship which contained a rare and precious energy source called "protoculture." The first series shown on American TV  detailed the war between Earth's elite Robotech Expeditionary Force and the Zentraedi, who come to Earth to retrieve SDF-1.

The second series jumped 20 years into the future, introducing Dana Sterling, a new protagonist, who must face off against the Masters, the Zentraedi's leaders who stop at nothing to regain the rare protoculture.

The third series skipped ahead a few years as well and this time Earth had been invaded and conquered by the Invid aliens who were attracted by the protoculture as well. Earth rebels and the remains of the Robotech expeditionary force had a tough battle to fight against these alien invaders.

Robotech dazzled audiences with a plethora of main characters, who always found time in between alien invasions to have active, convoluted private lives. The cartoon was often reminiscent of a soap opera with characters jumping in and out of beds (not in any graphic way) and being more concerned with their love lives than Earth's impending doom. Of course, the whole franchise achieved massive cult status and spawned a huge toy line that is still coveted today. The 85 episodes of the overall arch aired in syndication in the spring of 1985 and American cartoons haven't been the same since.