Hey everyone! We at ADVANCED are super excited to share something cool we've been working on. We’ve teamed up with the folks at Robotech – the iconic, groundbreaking anime property – to bring you an exhilarating new universe of drinks and merch.
We've partnered with all kinds of properties before, but this is special. We’re seriously geeking out on this one! As massive fans of the Robotech universe ourselves, this is our way of giving a high-five to childhood memories while adding our spin to entertainment history.
ADVANCED’s Marketing Director Richard Ng, says this Robotech teamup is something he’s wanted to do for a while. "I grew up watching this show," he says. “In my particular case, it was sent on unmarked Betamax tapes from my family in Japan.”
Taking inspiration from the styles and sentiment of the Y2K era “it was a hopeful, optimistic time for the world and our relationship with our tech,” says Richard — the idea is to bridge cultural gaps and make things relevant for today’s movers and (ice) shakers.
If you’re not familiar with the Robotech saga, it’s worth checking out. A fan favorite since before hashtags, it redefined the mecha anime genre and was one of the first to reach mainstream popularity in the US.
True-school anime aficionados will remember how it set the stage in so many ways. The storytelling. The love triangles. The iconic characters who would occasionally get (spoiler alert!) killed off. And yes, it also had one of the first “waifus” in Minmay. Or Lisa, or Claudia or…well, it depends who you ask.
So, what does this cosmic collab entail?
Our Robotech x ADVANCED lineup includes exclusive new flavors and collectibles featuring limited-edition artwork from the legendary Tommy Lee Edwards, whose portfolio spans Marvel, DC, Lucasfilm, Planet Atmos and more. We’ve teamed up to bring you some unique accessories and merch direct from Tommy Lee’s pen, including an intricately designed keycap set, a stylish deskpad and a Minmei concert t-shirt. As a Robotech superfan himself, it was a natural team-up: “Getting to draw and paint that stuff — I mean, you knew I would flip out at the opportunity,” he says. (Stay tuned for our exclusive interview coming soon!)
We've also got new ice shakers, plastic shakers, sticker sets, and an individually numbered challenge coin set for die-hard fans on the way. And expect some seriously ultra-limited run apparel giveaways, like a Minmay-themed concert tee and a bomber jacket inspired by the Skull Squadron.
But the highlight of this alliance is Yuzu Protoculture ENERGY, also featuring original jar art by Tommy Lee. Named after the life-force that fuels the Robotech universe, it’s tangy and bold, perfect for a mid-day reboot or a pre-workout amp-up. It tastes great on its own (and actually captures the flavor of yuzu fruit, which hasn't been done before), but it's meant to encourage creativity and personalization. We know our fans love mixing and matching flavors — this one’s built for it!
We asked Richard how he’d make the perfect, authentic Yuzu Protoculture concoction. What would he mix it with? “Original Ramune, a hundred percent,” he says. “Or I’d add a scoop to a homemade fizzy blackberry soda. That’d be a badass drink.”
But this won’t be a one-and-done partnership, so keep your eyes peeled for more mixable Protoculture releases that will open up galaxies of taste and excitement.
And stay tuned for some other cool exclusives — but don’t wait too long, because this edition is around for a limited time only. Go grab some and get in the mix! TO THE STARS! 🚀🌌🤩
