A spaceship from an unknown origin collides with Earth, causing humanity to realize that they are not alone in the universe. Fearing a potential threat, nations put aside their differences and unite under the banner of the United Nations. The UN decides to repurpose the alien spacecraft, naming it SDF-1 Macross. On its maiden voyage, the ship shoots down an incoming fleet belonging to the Zentradi aliens, sparking a war between Earth and these extraterrestrial beings. In an attempt to escape, the Macross attempts to launch itself into orbit around the moon, but is teleported instead to a distant location in space. Along with Hikaru Ichijou, Minmay Lynn, and Misa Hayase, the crew embarks on a perilous journey back to Earth, facing the harsh realities of war along the way.
Choujikuu Yousai Macross: The First is an adaptation of studio Tatsunoko Pros original TV anime series Choujikuu Yousai Macross. It is an alternate re-telling of the events drawn by Haruhiko Mikimoto, the character designer of the original series.