Animation historian Jerry Beck reported on his blog on Sunday that American producer Carl Macek passed away due to a heart attack on Saturday. Macek and Beck had co-founded the anime importing company Streamline Pictures in 1988.
Macek is best known for producing Robotech, the 1985 redubbed and edited adaptation of three different anime series — Macross, Southern Cross, and Mospeada. He also worked on the dubbing of many anime projects from Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years (redubbed and edited adaptation of Captain Harlock and Queen Millennia) to more recently, Bleach and Naruto.
Outside anime, Macek wrote The Art of Heavy Metal (Animation for the Eighties), the 1981 book about the Canadian animated film Heavy Metal. That led to his co-writing credit on the Heavy Metal 2000 spinoff. He also developed the Lady Death film at ADV Films and wrote War Eagles, a novel based on an unproduced film treatment by Merian C. Cooper.
Update: More background information added.
"Flandre, no Molotov cocktails indoors, please." - Hime from Princess Resurrection
Saw the news on the Robotech fan page on Facebook this morning. Rest in peace Carl. Comfort to your family and friends. Although you left us much too early, you have left a legacy that will live on for many New Generations to follow.
"In America the President reigns for four years and journalism governs forever and ever. " — Oscar Wilde "I reject your reality and substitue my own!" — Adam Savage, Mythbusters
Rest In Peace, Mr. Macek. You brought us great anime that entertained & captivated whole generations. You've earned your rest.
"Yes, I know I'm going to hell; I'm bringing marshmallows." BookWyrm aka The Horn'd One Str-8 male Dom/Top; Honourable but not gullible; a Hero of the Megaverse.
Even though I was captivated by Speed Racer, Battle of the Planets, Star Blazers and various Shogun Warriors before...if it wasn't for Carl and his Robotech saga, I know it wouldn't have given me the passion for anime I have today.
I am a great big fan of Robotech, but when I met Mr. Macek as a youngin', he shattered my belief in him. He was shilling Akira (which is good, just not my cup of tea), and basically told me that instead of buying Macross Do You Remember Love, buy Akira. To this day - I have mixed feelings over that encounter. I should not have bought that bad copy of DYRL, and wish I had saved 10 dollars more so I could have purchased the full series of Robotech on VHS. Instead I bought a Graphic novel that sent me into the world of Marvel Comic Book buying hell!
I can't agree with everything he did, but Robotech opened my eyes to anime, and so I salute him for that. Rest In Peace, C.M.
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"Trouble rather the Tiger in his Lair,
Than the Sage among his Books,
For all the Empires and Kingdoms,
The Armies and Works that you hold Dear,
Are to him but the Playthings of the Moment,
To be turned over with the Flick of a Finger,
And the Turning of a Page"
we lost a good guy man ..( even though i didn't agree either with all chooses still . it a sad day for anyone to die , still he let get my hands on robotech it help me have and help others with basic reading , writhing , and basic math for other person who had a hard time doing any of the three i mention as well the video tapes that i had back then. i can say thank you for showing robotech and other animation
let your YES be YES and your NO be NO but plz no maybe
For the most part, I find myself indifferent to his passing. Not a fan at all, but I will give Macek due credit for his involvement in the early years of anime distribution, however rough those years were.
He will be missed. Thank you Carl for all you have done. It was Robotech that got me into gaming 1n 1989.
Skilled Warriors of old
Their wariness was as that of one crossing a river in winter;
Their caution was as that of one in fear of all around;
Their gravity was as that of a guest
Their relaxation was as that of ice at the melting point
Carl may have 'Macekered' anime that he brought into North-America, but if not for him, we wouldn't have wanted to see the real thing. So even if his methods were flawed, his heart was in the right place. For that I give thanks, and wish his spirit "God-speed" and safe journey.
Bind the body to the opened mind Bind the body to the opened mind
I dream of towers in a world consumed A void in the sentient sky I dream of fissures across the moon Leaves of the lotus rise
My skin is not a sin - Carlos Wallace A man's rights rest in three boxes. The ballot box, jury box and the cartridge box - Frederick Douglass I am a firm believer that men with guns can solve any problem - Inscriptus Any system in which the most populated areas have the most political power, creates an incentive for areas that want power to increase their population - Killer Cyborg
Found out on Monday when I got an email alert from Tom Bateman. Came completely out of left field. Tom said Macek was a careful eater and such, so I'm guessing it was something congenital. While I didn't like everything Mr. Macek did, he certainly made it possible for Southern Cross fans to exist outside Japan, and he supposedly really liked the show. He will be missed.
Rest in Peace, Carl. Say 'Hi' to Gary G., Dave A. and Erick W. for us.
R.I.P. Carl Macek. I played and won the Robotech game at the Open House in honor of Carl. There was a gentleman in a Robotech uniform playing in our game. It was epic. Many thanks go to Carl Macek for bringing Robotech to so many people. Big Respect.
Customer Service Director for Northern Gun
"The Devil's among us! Stay back boy!...This calls for Divine Intervention! I kick arse for the Lord!" -Father McGruder- Braindead (a.k.a. Dead Alive)
While I loved Starblazers (Yamato) and Battle of the Planets (Gatchaman) and even later on with Force Five (Starvengers/Getter Robo G, Dangaurd Ace, Grandizer, Gaiking and Spaceketeers) and Voltron (Go Lion and the other one), it wasn;t until Robotech I even knew these shows were Japanese in origin in any way shape or form. Thank you Carl Macek for opening my eyes amongst others to a whole new world of animated entertainment that wasn't just talking and walking animals, though anime versions are very kewl
I am very opinionated. Yes I rub people the wrong way but at the end of the day I just enjoy good hard discussion and will gladly walk away agreeing to not agree
