Movie
Description
Messer Ihlefeld is a twenty-one-year-old ace pilot serving as the second-in-command of Delta Flight, the elite variable fighter unit attached to the tactical sound unit Walküre. His call sign is Delta 2, and he pilots a custom VF-31F Siegfried fighter that bears a Grim Reaper personal marking, earning him the nickname the Grim Reaper. He stands over 190 centimeters tall with a distinctive mohawk hairstyle.
He was originally a resident of the town of Marienburg on the planet Alfheim. When a severe outbreak of the Var Syndrome swept through the area, he was infected with the condition. Arad Mölders, the leader of Delta Flight, rescued him from that crisis, but the infection never fully left him. He manages the symptoms using a special bracelet that plays the song AXIA, which was performed by Kaname Buccaneer. Her singing saved his life during that outbreak and remains a crucial anchor for his mental stability.
Messer is known for his composed, coolheaded, and highly professional demeanor. He keeps his emotions tightly controlled and approaches every situation with a serious, no-nonsense attitude. As the most experienced pilot in the squadron, he serves as a strict instructor to the other members, including the rookie Hayate Immelman, Mirage Farina Jenius, and Chuck Mustang. His harsh criticisms and demanding training come from a place of genuine concern for their survival and effectiveness in battle. He values discipline, duty, and protocol above personal expression, which often puts him at odds with Hayate’s more carefree and instinctive flying style.
Despite his outward coldness, Messer harbors deep personal feelings for Kaname Buccaneer. His gratitude and devotion to her are absolute; her music is not only a lifeline against the Var Syndrome but also a source of quiet emotional attachment. He keeps these feelings to himself, aware that Kaname’s affections lie elsewhere. This unspoken bond motivates him to protect Walküre at all costs.
In the story’s progression, Messer acts as a pillar of strength and reliability within Delta Flight. He is a mentor figure who pushes his comrades to improve while also confronting his own deteriorating condition. As the conflict with the Windermere Kingdom intensifies, his Var Syndrome recurs more frequently, leading to his reassignment from active combat duty to a training role. However, when his teammates face a desperate situation on the planet Al Shahal, he chooses to sortie regardless of the risk. During a climactic duel with his rival, Keith Aero Windermere, the White Knight of the Aerial Knights, Messer fights with everything he has. In the television version, he is shot through the heart and killed. In the film Macross Delta the Movie: Passionate Walkūre, he manages to evade the fatal cockpit shot, but his internal injuries from the prolonged dogfight prove fatal.
His rivalry with Keith is a defining conflict. Both are elite pilots who respect each other’s skill, and their encounters push Messer to his limits as a warrior. His death marks a turning point for Delta Flight, especially for Hayate, who initially clashed with Messer but later grows to admire his flying style and discipline. After Messer’s death, his VF-31F Siegfried is passed to Hayate, who adapts the personal mark from a Grim Reaper into a knight design to honor his fallen mentor.
Messer’s notable abilities include exceptional piloting skill that places him among the best in the Brísingr cluster, capable of going toe-to-toe with Keith. He is also a skilled tactician and instructor, able to analyze battle situations quickly and guide his team under pressure. His ability to suppress the Var Syndrome through the power of Kaname’s song demonstrates his strong mental fortitude and the deep connection between his will and Walküre’s music.
He was originally a resident of the town of Marienburg on the planet Alfheim. When a severe outbreak of the Var Syndrome swept through the area, he was infected with the condition. Arad Mölders, the leader of Delta Flight, rescued him from that crisis, but the infection never fully left him. He manages the symptoms using a special bracelet that plays the song AXIA, which was performed by Kaname Buccaneer. Her singing saved his life during that outbreak and remains a crucial anchor for his mental stability.
Messer is known for his composed, coolheaded, and highly professional demeanor. He keeps his emotions tightly controlled and approaches every situation with a serious, no-nonsense attitude. As the most experienced pilot in the squadron, he serves as a strict instructor to the other members, including the rookie Hayate Immelman, Mirage Farina Jenius, and Chuck Mustang. His harsh criticisms and demanding training come from a place of genuine concern for their survival and effectiveness in battle. He values discipline, duty, and protocol above personal expression, which often puts him at odds with Hayate’s more carefree and instinctive flying style.
Despite his outward coldness, Messer harbors deep personal feelings for Kaname Buccaneer. His gratitude and devotion to her are absolute; her music is not only a lifeline against the Var Syndrome but also a source of quiet emotional attachment. He keeps these feelings to himself, aware that Kaname’s affections lie elsewhere. This unspoken bond motivates him to protect Walküre at all costs.
In the story’s progression, Messer acts as a pillar of strength and reliability within Delta Flight. He is a mentor figure who pushes his comrades to improve while also confronting his own deteriorating condition. As the conflict with the Windermere Kingdom intensifies, his Var Syndrome recurs more frequently, leading to his reassignment from active combat duty to a training role. However, when his teammates face a desperate situation on the planet Al Shahal, he chooses to sortie regardless of the risk. During a climactic duel with his rival, Keith Aero Windermere, the White Knight of the Aerial Knights, Messer fights with everything he has. In the television version, he is shot through the heart and killed. In the film Macross Delta the Movie: Passionate Walkūre, he manages to evade the fatal cockpit shot, but his internal injuries from the prolonged dogfight prove fatal.
His rivalry with Keith is a defining conflict. Both are elite pilots who respect each other’s skill, and their encounters push Messer to his limits as a warrior. His death marks a turning point for Delta Flight, especially for Hayate, who initially clashed with Messer but later grows to admire his flying style and discipline. After Messer’s death, his VF-31F Siegfried is passed to Hayate, who adapts the personal mark from a Grim Reaper into a knight design to honor his fallen mentor.
Messer’s notable abilities include exceptional piloting skill that places him among the best in the Brísingr cluster, capable of going toe-to-toe with Keith. He is also a skilled tactician and instructor, able to analyze battle situations quickly and guide his team under pressure. His ability to suppress the Var Syndrome through the power of Kaname’s song demonstrates his strong mental fortitude and the deep connection between his will and Walküre’s music.