OVA
Description
Basara Nekki is the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band Fire Bomber. He is an enigmatic figure with a largely unknown past, though it is known he grew up as an orphan in the mountains of Japan, owning little more than the clothes he wore and an acoustic guitar that was almost as large as he was. During this solitary youth, he would roam the wilderness playing and singing, developing an extraordinary and unwavering faith in the power of music. So strong was this conviction that he believed his singing could move a mountain and would even perform during typhoons. His life changed upon meeting Ray Lovelock, an alcoholic former U.N. Spacy pilot who was impressed by Basara's raw talent and sheer determination. Together they formed Fire Bomber, with Basara as the frontman and guitarist, Ray on keyboards, the young Mylene Flare Jenius on bass, and the quiet Zentradi woman Veffidas Feaze on drums.
Basara is an emotionally driven pacifist who fanatically believes in the ability of music and emotion to overcome any obstacle, including physical conflict. He cares little for anything outside of his music, often appearing oblivious to the world around him. He maintains a nonchalant, almost aloof demeanor, addressing everyone in casual language, and seems completely unaware of the romantic feelings others, such as Mylene or a biker named Rex, have for him. The only strong emotions he readily expresses are wild enthusiasm for his concerts and angry frustration toward anyone who fails to understand his songs. A true free spirit, he goes wherever he pleases and is frequently late for Fire Bomber's performances, often making a dramatic entrance by parachute because he believes the show cannot truly start without him. When alone, he uses singing as his primary way to process and express his inner moods.
His core motivation is not to defeat his enemies but to reach them. He is driven by a singular desire to make others understand his music, believing that a song can touch anyone's heart and end any battle without violence. This philosophy extends even to the alien beings known as the Protodeviln, whom he wishes to win over rather than destroy. He is eventually revealed to possess an exceptionally rare power, being identified as an Anima Spiritia, a being whose songs generate the spiritual energy known as Spiritia, which can counter the Protodeviln and even allow them to evolve into a self-sustaining race.
In the story, Basara's actions initially place him at odds with the military forces of the Macross 7 fleet. Whenever an enemy attack occurs, he launches in his customized variable fighter to sing in the middle of the battlefield, an act that many, especially the disciplined pilot Gamlin Kizaki, view as reckless and disruptive. However, it is eventually discovered that his music can restore the Spiritia drained from victims by the enemy, making him a crucial asset. As a result, he is invited to join a special civilian tactical unit called Sound Force, though his complete disregard for military rules and hierarchy continues to frustrate those who try to command him. A significant part of his journey involves his intense focus on the female Protodeviln Sivil, whose wild nature he recognizes as akin to his own, and his persistence eventually inspires another Protodeviln, Gigile, to become an unlikely ally.
Basara is defined by his unwavering commitment to his beliefs, showing little conventional character development in terms of changing his worldview. Instead, his journey is one of vindication as his seemingly foolish methods are proven effective. The most notable shift is perhaps in how others perceive him, transforming from a nuisance to a hero. His past is explored in the Macross 7 Encore episode "On Stage," which details how he first met Ray Lovelock and the formation of Fire Bomber, showing even more of the depth of their relationship.
Beyond his musical talents, Basara possesses exceptional and unexplained piloting skills. He flies a customized red VF-19 Excalibur known as the Fire Valkyrie, which features a control system modified to resemble an electric guitar. Disdaining weapons, his fighter is equipped with speaker pods that project his singing directly to his targets, though he has occasionally used missiles in moments of blind anger. His ability to pilot with such skill, often while playing guitar, is recognized even by legendary ace pilots like Maximilian Jenius. In later adventures, he has also demonstrated the ability to pilot a standard variable fighter by manipulating an acoustic guitar to control the interface. His physical abilities are not limited to piloting; he is also capable of handling himself in a fight and riding a motorcycle with great skill, though the origins of these diverse talents remain a mystery.
Basara is an emotionally driven pacifist who fanatically believes in the ability of music and emotion to overcome any obstacle, including physical conflict. He cares little for anything outside of his music, often appearing oblivious to the world around him. He maintains a nonchalant, almost aloof demeanor, addressing everyone in casual language, and seems completely unaware of the romantic feelings others, such as Mylene or a biker named Rex, have for him. The only strong emotions he readily expresses are wild enthusiasm for his concerts and angry frustration toward anyone who fails to understand his songs. A true free spirit, he goes wherever he pleases and is frequently late for Fire Bomber's performances, often making a dramatic entrance by parachute because he believes the show cannot truly start without him. When alone, he uses singing as his primary way to process and express his inner moods.
His core motivation is not to defeat his enemies but to reach them. He is driven by a singular desire to make others understand his music, believing that a song can touch anyone's heart and end any battle without violence. This philosophy extends even to the alien beings known as the Protodeviln, whom he wishes to win over rather than destroy. He is eventually revealed to possess an exceptionally rare power, being identified as an Anima Spiritia, a being whose songs generate the spiritual energy known as Spiritia, which can counter the Protodeviln and even allow them to evolve into a self-sustaining race.
In the story, Basara's actions initially place him at odds with the military forces of the Macross 7 fleet. Whenever an enemy attack occurs, he launches in his customized variable fighter to sing in the middle of the battlefield, an act that many, especially the disciplined pilot Gamlin Kizaki, view as reckless and disruptive. However, it is eventually discovered that his music can restore the Spiritia drained from victims by the enemy, making him a crucial asset. As a result, he is invited to join a special civilian tactical unit called Sound Force, though his complete disregard for military rules and hierarchy continues to frustrate those who try to command him. A significant part of his journey involves his intense focus on the female Protodeviln Sivil, whose wild nature he recognizes as akin to his own, and his persistence eventually inspires another Protodeviln, Gigile, to become an unlikely ally.
Basara is defined by his unwavering commitment to his beliefs, showing little conventional character development in terms of changing his worldview. Instead, his journey is one of vindication as his seemingly foolish methods are proven effective. The most notable shift is perhaps in how others perceive him, transforming from a nuisance to a hero. His past is explored in the Macross 7 Encore episode "On Stage," which details how he first met Ray Lovelock and the formation of Fire Bomber, showing even more of the depth of their relationship.
Beyond his musical talents, Basara possesses exceptional and unexplained piloting skills. He flies a customized red VF-19 Excalibur known as the Fire Valkyrie, which features a control system modified to resemble an electric guitar. Disdaining weapons, his fighter is equipped with speaker pods that project his singing directly to his targets, though he has occasionally used missiles in moments of blind anger. His ability to pilot with such skill, often while playing guitar, is recognized even by legendary ace pilots like Maximilian Jenius. In later adventures, he has also demonstrated the ability to pilot a standard variable fighter by manipulating an acoustic guitar to control the interface. His physical abilities are not limited to piloting; he is also capable of handling himself in a fight and riding a motorcycle with great skill, though the origins of these diverse talents remain a mystery.