Sheryl Nome’s 2011 Macross Frontier SP Card, Explained

Sheryl Nome Macross Frontier Character Card MF136 SP — Bandai 2011

An SP-Rarity Bandai Trading Card From 2011 Japan

This is an official Bandai character trading card from the Macross Frontier franchise, numbered MF136. The MF prefix is understood to stand for Macross Frontier; 136 is the card’s sequential number within the series; and SP — taken to indicate Special — appears to mark an upper rarity tier. That designation comes with a visible distinction: the card carries a hologram or glitter (kira) finish that sets it apart from standard-tier cards in the same set. The face of the card includes an illustrator credit reading “Illus. Akiko Asaki,” confirming this is a formally commissioned illustration rather than repurposed promotional art. The reverse is stamped “BANDAI 2011 MADE IN JAPAN.”

The specific product line this card belongs to — whether Bandai’s long-running Carddass label or a separate branded series — cannot be determined from the card’s information alone. The MF-prefixed numbering points to a Macross Frontier-dedicated set, and the SP tier suggests this is among the higher-rarity cards within it, though whether they were distributed in random-insertion packs or sold individually is not confirmed.

Sheryl Nome and the Story of Macross Frontier

Macross Frontier aired as a 25-episode television anime from April to September 2008, produced as the 25th anniversary entry in a franchise that began with the 1982 original Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Two theatrical films followed: the first in 2009, and the second — The Wings of Goodbye — in 2011. That second film’s release year matches this card’s manufacture date, placing it within Bandai’s merchandise output for that theatrical period. BIG WEST holds the rights to the Macross franchise, with Bandai handling much of the merchandise manufacturing.

Sheryl Nome is one of the series’ two lead heroines. Within the story she is the reigning superstar of the colonization fleet, given the title “Galaxy’s Fairy,” and performs multiple original songs across both the TV series and the films. Her counterpart, Ranka Lee, is a younger and rising singer, and the interplay between the two — in music, personality, and their relationships with the protagonist — forms a structural backbone of Macross Frontier. Sheryl’s voice casting used an unusual split: May’n performed her singing parts while Endo Aya voiced the spoken dialogue and acting. Tracks like “Diamond Crevasse” and “Lion” became strongly associated with the show. The illustration on this card reflects her established stage image: pale pink long hair, a red jacket, black fingerless gloves, a blue rose, and what appears to be a golden microphone — all consistent with her performer persona across the series and films.

The Tradition of Japanese Anime Trading Cards

Anime character trading cards have been a part of Japanese pop culture since the 1990s, produced by Bandai and others through vending machine dispensers, food-toy inserts, and sealed packs. Tiered rarities — with SP, hologram, and foil finishes occupying the upper levels — are a consistent feature of the format, creating differentiation within a set. Bandai is among Japan’s largest toy and goods manufacturers and has produced anime trading cards across many franchises over several decades. The Carddass brand is among its most recognized card labels, though the specific line this card belongs to remains unconfirmed.

Macross Frontier has maintained active fan communities across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America, sustained largely by the show’s music-driven narrative and its two contrasting heroines. Official Bandai goods bearing clear manufacturer markings and a production year connect a collector’s piece to a specific and verifiable point in the franchise’s history.