Hours ago today, ANN has piece of sad news. You see, U.S. T.V. producer Carl Macek, the creator of "Robotech" (which inspired a generation of North American-based Otaku) and co-founder of Streamline Pictures (which started the uncut Anime VHS/DVD movement that has been going on in North America for years), kicked the bucket as a result of a heart attack, and the sad incident was said to have happened Saturday.

Yes, it's a moment of tragedy as the U.S. media lost a legendary producer who's efforts in the Anime dubbing business are part of what led to where Japanese Animation is in North American culture today. I mean without Macek, there wouldn't be as much North Americans knowing about "Macross" as there are today, and it's "Robotech" that helped the popularity of 1982's "Super Dimension Fortress Macross" in North America. And if you ask me, it would be more depressing if those "Macross" purists who have been hating "Robotech" and Harmony Gold (owner of "Robotech" and North American merchandiser of "Macross") for a long time still fail to understand how Macek's efforts helped Japanese Animation make it to where it is in the North American markets today.

Anyway, rest in peace, Carl Macek. You'll be forever missed.

2:41 PM Canada EST