Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for your support, I never expected that a video I made would have reached so many people! I am glad you guys enjoyed it! I appreciate the feedback, and shout out to all the folks who talked about growing up with the original series, I liked reading those comments and stories a lot. And for the people who noticed me mixing up a few details or mispronouncing things, sorry, that's just going to happen with me occasionally! I will try to do better next time! Thanks again from your friendly 𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍.
It was Star Blazers when we watched it every day after school. The ship was the Argo, with Captain Avatar, Derek Wildstar, Mark Venture, Nova, Sandor, Dr Sane, IQ-9, Chief Orion, Homer, Eager and all the rest. There was no internet, you couldn’t even find toys or model kits for the show. All we had was the 30 minutes of amazing animation and storytelling, and not even a VCR to record it with, so if you missed an episode it was gone forever!
I cobbled one together out of two or three model kits, while I was watching it. I took a battleship model and spliced it with an aircraft carrier, that was a little bit bigger. Added a few other items from the model kits. Wished, I still kept it? Don't know whatever happened to it.
Thank you, you're from my Era of time. I remember waiting to see the next episode. Even drew and colored a 8 poster board on my wall. Mom and dad had a fit since I was using school supplies for that. Earned a week worth of chores to do. Still doing them now these 50 years later.
This was my childhood. I got up at 6 just so I was wide awake for this every day. I absolutely loved the Yamamoto/Argo I was amazed at the end of the first season when I saw the Andromeda and then sad when they ran it into the comet empire.
This is what I'm hoping they will do with the original SDF Macross series. As great as it is, the animation suffered in a lot of episodes so it would be great to see it done in a new, more consistent style and it would be great to see the story expanded by making the episodes longer or having more episodes.
I ran home after school every day to watch Star Blazers and it gave me an amazing childhood thinking about space battles and exploration. Thank you for this review, it brought back happy memories!
Your comments about it feeling like a Greek epic nailed it. Making it kind of appropriate that in the English version, “Starblazers”, the ship was named the Argo. (Of Jason and the Argonauts)
Star Blazers was my very first anime, yes all the way back in the 70's. I got sidetracked by life and Star Wars, and never saw the later shows and forgot the name of the series, but never forgot about the cool space battleship. That ship stuck in my head until I was able to find out the name of the show I watched all those years ago that it came from, thanks to the sweet invention of the internet. Also thanks to the internet, it was easy to watch the OVA. Wish they spent more time making more shows like this.
I grew up on Star Blazers in the early 80s. As much as I loved it, when I saw the original Space Battleship Yamato, I thought it was so much better than the Americanized version I grew up on. I love the remake also.
That's because, in 'America', the "broadcasting community", still regards 'Animation', as 'Kiddie-fare', to put a show like Star Blazers, which was rife with serious 'adult' subject matter, was totally UNTHINKABLE!
You did a wonderful job with this video, especially capturing just how influential it’s been to creative processes throughout the last 50 years. The reboot is how I discovered it. It’s got to be my favorite show of all time.
I loved 2199. I felt it was the best of any of the series from past and future. The subplots that surround the new series is great. Keeping much of the same sound effects and music that were used in the original series.
SBY 2199 feels like a Japanese version of Battlestar Galactica and I love it. If, by the end of the series and/or midway through Season 2 (SBY 2202), you DON’T see the ship itself as a character, you’re doing something wrong. I was heartbroken when Yamato was seemingly sunk for good in multiple episodes
I like your comment on the ship itself being virtually a "character". It was part of why I was saddened MORE seeing the Enterprise destroyed in Star Trek 3 The Search For Spock than I was seeing Kirk's son murdered.
The show was filmed in 1974 and Battlestar was filmed in 1978 so not sure how this can be a Japanese version of it, unless it happened by ACCIDENT since I doubt they knew that Battlestar would be filmed 4 years later? I read a different description of Star Blazers a while back that said it was Japan's attempt to do their own version of STAR TREK.
My dad introduced Space Battleship Yamato to me as a kid in the form of Starblazers. To this day, the opening theme activates a childlike excitement and admiration for this show. I never knew how influential it was until I got older, and it makes me proud to be a newer generation fella who also got to enjoy the anime as a child. Funny tidbit, but I was obsessed with Daft Punk as a kid. I watched the MVs for the Discovery album religiously, and only recently found out it was the same artist. I just think it's awesome that his work has captured my heart and imagination twice by pure coincidence.
Arguably the Best Theme Song ever made. The Yamato Song sticks in your head like no other song, and it begs you to sing along. Loved the original in 1974, and loved the reboot. Classic, and a Must Watch.
Shortly after I met the woman who was to become my wife and the mother of my child, I made a brief version of the Star Blazers Theme Song as her ring tone. Her text tone is the Blade Runner Love Theme BTW.
I watched the original broadcast run of Star Blazers when i was probably 4 years old. It was awesome. I told my mom I wanted to change my name to Wildstar.
Also known as "Star Blazers" in some regions. I gather that the American edit of the original series added the "descending wail" during the Wave Motion Gun discharge. It's become so iconic in my mind that I can still hear it in my head whenever I imagine the gun firing. It's one of the few American edits which I entirely agree added something to a Japanese anime. Most American edits stuffed things up. Editing to add, the Yamato has some interesting stories around it. One of the most interesting comes from its eventual demise in its final battle. The Japanese knew full well that there was no way they were going to win that battle, but they also felt that their mightiest battleship had to show up or they'd be dishonoured. Because fuel was extremely scarce, the Harbour Master (or equivalent) was told to give the Yamato an amount of fuel which was barely enough to get it to the battle, with little to none left over for maneuvering while in battle and certainly there would be none left for the return journey. Like Sam in LOTR, they didn't think there would be a return journey. Unlike Sam, they were right. Since the Harbour Master wanted to give the ship the best chance he could, he managed to both obey his orders and disobey them at the same time. He loaded the ship with the offically permitted amount of fuel, then used portable pumps which could reach the residue of fuel at the bottom of the nominally empty storage tanks to give the ship even more fuel, ending up with sufficient fuel for maneuvering upon reaching the battle and a little left over just in case it survived the battle and could be recovered. It was all in vain as we now know, but one has to admire the sheer cleverness of that Harbour Master.
My mom (RIP) took me to see Star Wars in 1977 and it was the BEST cinematic moment of my life. As the Rebel Pilots were preparing for the Death Star assault, my mom says to me "You wait....in two years this will be on TV" She was right, in a sense. Star Wars never made it to TV until 1987, but in 1979 Star Blazers showed up on WNYC TV, which was where re-runs and Battle Of The Planets played (along with game shows and other items that really were not ready for prime time) First time I saw Star Blazers (late summer 1979), I thought that someone was ripping off Star Wars. Little did I know that it PRECEDED Star Wars (and MAY have influenced it; speculation abounds but we will never know). It took 15 years for me to get the FULL seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and WOW was it worth the wait. (I was never able to catch the entire show on Broadcast TV as I got home too late from sixth grade; such was life in 1979) Then in the mid-1990's there were whispers that a live-action version was being developed in Hollywood. The studio executives lost interest and nothing happened. Years later, word on the street was that a Japanese studio is making a live action version. I caught it; to critique it here would be time consuming. Suffice to say, they had the right elements, but compressed too much. That gave way to the new animated version. I was out of work at the time; submitting resumes and getting persistent rejection positively sucked, but I WAS able to catch the new animated Yamato, I was absolutely SHOCKED at how good it was. I loved every minute (despite its flaws) and it made so much difference to me at that time that I will never forget. I am mostly in agreement with this review; but if I may I will add my own commentary which is submitted with respectful for all involved. ***** I despise the White-Hat-Wipeout trope. ***** The opening scene of the original Star Blazers, this version, Terminator: Salvation, The rebooted Battlestar Galactica (which Yamato influenced, ironically) Star Wars E4ANH itself, The JJ Abrams Star Trek, Brad Pitt's Fury (to a limited extent), as well as other TV and cinematic depictions of armed conflict often feature this trope. The villains, via superior numbers and capabilities, inflict near-total devastation on the heroes, creating a sense of despair and impossible odds, and reflects the intellectual laziness of screen writers. ***THERE I SAID IT*** I do NOT want to see the forces of the heroes lose nearly all their numbers in a major assault on the villains, only to have the hero score a one-in-a-trillion win. MY most fervent and delusional dream would be for Christopher Nolan to personally ask me for MY VIEWS on how to construct the script for a live-action Star Blazers. FIRST AND FOREMOST, the opening battle between the Gamilons and the EDF Fleet would be a KNOCK-DOWN-DRAG-OUT FIGHT TO THE FINISH with no holds barred and no prisoners taken. The casualties on both sides would be shocking; think of the book “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour” It would be in the context of a war conducted across the Solar System, with no margins for error and no place for intrepidity or cowardice. The Gamilons would not use planet bombs but biological warfare. The heroes would all have baggage and a sense of time running out. The Gamilons really could be plucked right from this series, as they are VERY well fleshed out. And I would insist on Gary Oldman as Desslok. That’s my take and you are more likely to locate a chapter of the Milton Friedman Libertarian Club in Pyongyang North Korea than for my dreams to play out…..then again, we can always hope.
In fact that Garmillas aren't actually evil species, The Cosmo Navy are the ones who fired first. They all fight their lives to save their dying planet, not until it happened in 2205 The Whisper of the Witch episode in Space Battleship Yamato is the only episode that has a horror in it
Hands down my favorite anime. Ran home every day to watch Starblazers on TV in the 80's; found the live action movie and 2199 ~2 years ago and was amazed. Having rewatched the 1974 original Space Battleship Yamato again recently, I was amazed with how well it was adapted, modernized and streamlined for 2199. They clearly put a lot of thought into it and it definitely shows. Everything from plot beats to how things work on the Yamato itself was revisited and while I found the 1974 original engaging, 2199 was riveting. Oh, and the dub was amazing. Minor nitpicks I have with 2199 are the space physics for the capital ships. I'm not asking for Newtonian physics here, but the capital ships all maneuver too much like fighters. The fighters themselves are fine. It's so egregious I couldn't get my cousin to watch past the first episode. Also, I was a tiny bit disappointed with Beemilas. I really wanted to see the Beemilans but understand why they didn't go that route with it. 2202 was not as good in my opinion. I enjoyed it, but it felt like I lot less thought was put into it compared to what they did with 2199. It was still beautiful, but some of the battles were so far over the top that it really hurt my suspension of belief even within the confines of the show. On top of that, the story felt less coherently put together and there were massive plot holes everywhere in it. For example: OK, Earth can crank out all those vessels because of the anomaly but where are the crews for them coming from? I'm not sure there are actually enough people on Earth to crew the UNCF fleet at the end of 2202 :). Haven't seen 2205 yet - I really hope Funimation/Crunchy Roll bring this one over to America AND are able to get the relevant voice actors from 2199 - because they might not. Getting Odyssey of the Celestial Ark was a real pain in the @$$. The Japanese version of the BluRay with English subs is extremely expensive to import, and the more price-friendly Italian release has no English subs. I eventually bought the Italian one and hunted down downloadable subtitles for it from the internet.
To answer the crew issue they mentioned that ships were being more automated every time. At the end you can see at least 1 person in a ship just to make sure everything was ok
Yep - I was introduced to it with the compilation "Space Cruiser Yamato" compilation film on a local TV station in 1978 (I was 15); and while I had been watching other anime series before when I was even younger that had been English dubbed (like Gigantor, Speed Racer, Kimba The White Lion, The Amazing Three, et. al. -- I did not realize all there were anime series from Japan (and dubbed into English/re-edited to a degree) until I got heavily into Starblazers/Space battleship Yamato; and while I understand why some of the changes to the English dubbed version was made in the 70s; I have always preferred the original Japanese version of Space Battleship Yamato, and it's always been my favorite Anime even today. And the SBY 2199/2202/2205 remakes/reboots have all been very good (but yeah of the 3 SBY 2199 was the best example of how to modernize/reboot an old, beloved IP.)
I've been a fan of Space Battleship Yamato since the 70's. Fantastic science fiction and this modernized version really takes the series to a new level. The soundtrack is also awesome! I own various versions from the original and the new shows. Very nice video!
This is likely the best review I've seen for SBY2199. very well done For me, this show of one the the best gateway animes for someone just stepping into it. I've recommend it a number of times and more often then not its worked. It's got an overall engaging story that is for the most part grounded enough that its not insane. and the fanservice (thanks for pointing it out btw) is not as bad as in other anime and is not constant like some other shows. Still could have gone without it period though You've earned a subscriber.
I absolutely loved watching this version of the show i am a huge warship nerd and spaceship yamato fills that nerd in me and now. I'm a big fan of the show and I absolutely loved it was using gundam origin's animation and some badass battleship vs ship combat. Now I'm on 2202 which I'm currently still watching. Good video by the way.
this is the youtube I live for, find people talk about these things the really enjoy and trying to share it with everyone, and I love when it works. Guess who just ordered Star Blazers 2199 :)
One of the best things about the wonderful Space Battleship Yamato 2199 series is that for those of us who adored this series as children, there is now a version which holds up to nostalgic vision we remember from old school early TV. Obviously a classic, but not so great once blown up onto a modern big screen. With 2199 so much is retained, as you mentioned, with character and ship design, but also with the iconic soundscape of the series. Not merely the music, but also with acoustic details of ship engines, turrets, Planet Bombs, and the highly iconic sound of the Wave Motion Gun. However I somewhat disagree with you about the conclusion to the show, as I found the conclusion in 2199 to be a more satisfying than the more bloodthirsty original.
I bought the 2199 series. I first saw this back in 1977. It was being shown on local television at 0600 in the morning Monday through Friday. I couldn't wait to watch it before getting ready for school.
I saw the original on tv as a kid, and I always knew it as Star Blazers. I absolutely loved it, and it was like nothing I had ever seen or imagined. When I got older and it became available, I always wanted to buy the full set on video, but it was *very* expensive. And I haven't seen any of the later stuff, altho it looks really cool, too. Btw, OVA is what we used to call "straight to video." Great job, thanks for the kick of nostalgia.
I do love the amount of time spent with the Garmillans because it really humanises them which makes the whole thing far more shades of grey than just generic baddie empire to kill
I was born in 1969. In the 70's I used to race home from school to watch Star Blazers as it was branded in the US. Its was my favorite Anime until Attack on Titan blew me away a few years ago.
Great video. This show got me into anime. I watched it back when it first aired on tv in the US. Have been a fan ever since. This series is how you reboot a franchise. If I taught a writing class, I'd show the original & new episodes of the Pluto battle(5&6). A show for kids vs. a show more for adults. One thing I like is both versions of this show respected the wave motion gun. It wasn't used as an end of each episode gimmick. 2202 started good with an interesting concept on building things. It was too over the top with their space battles towards the end of it. I'm glad there are fans of this franchise out there and I think 2199 still holds up a decade later.
One of the most memorable things from the original series was that somber voice of the announcer at the end of each episode. "Only n days left until the total extinction of mankind!" It absolutely hammered it home just how much pressure was on that ship and his crew.
I grew up watching the original after school on the ABC in Australia. One of my all time favourites. We used to sing the (English version) theme song on the school bus lol
Hi there! Brazilian here. I've watched this show in the distant 1980's - it was and is my favourite show, no doubt. It's hard to call my dear Argo by Yamato...! Japanese animations are known for dealing with serious subjects as loyalty, duty, honour... it just enchanted me back then. Modern 2199 version is also mindblowing as a whole - specially in visuals. Nevertheless the plot is softened, and fan-service (as well pointed) seems unnecessary sometimes, e.g. the 'sensualisation' of the (larger) amount of girls in the ship's crew.
1000 years later, with the word "Rebel" in the title. You never watched the original "Space Pirate Harlock". It took place 1000 years after "Space Battleship Yamato". Harlock turned "pirate" after Earth was taken over by aliens. So, Harlock et al were rebels. So, they seem to be melding together the continuity of the two franchises. Which, it you watched them, you realize they are in the same universe. Heck, one of Harlock's crew members actually builds a Yamato model -- not the WW 2 version, the Space Battleship Yamato version.
This series is a loveletter to the original and Star Blazers version. As many aspects of the Starblazers version was added in. For example the Argo name is used for the magnetic mine system, Gamilas using robotic crew and the Gamilas skin color being greenish are just a few. 11:50 oh yeah Akira got Starbucked.
I remember racing home after school to watch this 70’s animation, luved it… it was inspirational! I don't like anime, because I can't understand what I am looking at. But this animation is so well done and simplified “Yamamoto 2199” looks very enjoyable to binge watch!!! ;)
As a fellow child of the 70's and fondly remembering running home after school as well to watch "Starblazers", I am comforted to be around so many of my spirit animals 😃
Thanks for doing this, just had the wife add it to the Crunchy Roll list. And yes, the American A2 jackets are great, I have not been able to find a version that I liked AND fit in close to 30 years though.
I have been a huge fan of yamato since i was 4, so I got some stuff to add. Season 2 villains are called the Gatlantians. The Galmans are the original peoples that the gamilans come from. It does really take a second watching for 2202 to really get it in honesty, but its definitely some of the best yamato there is. ofc 2199 is my favorite, but 2202 is amazing as well. The phrasing of the second season can be confusing at times, but it ultimately lives up to it's name, "warriors of love". Also, no idea what is going on with 3199, next was supposed to be Bolar Wars given the chronology, but I'm very interested where they take it. The goal for gatlantians is to wipe out human life in the galaxy, there's a ton of backstory, but the main villain is butt hurt about his wife and child being killed by his creators because he was never supposed to be able to have children. He thinks then that love is a sickness, and is determined that humanity is flawed because of this. It gets more complicated, but that's the gist.
@@Brigand231 season 3 of original Space battleship Yamato, or star blazers, introduces the Galmans as the original people of gamilan. Desler goes to galman after the destruction of gamilas and creates a new empire that by the start of s3 is at war with the Bolar empire. I need to double check with the original, but Comet Empire enemies are the Gatlantians
I agree with you on pretty much every point, except one (the suggestion that season 1 of the original series was better than season 2… IMO they’re approximately equal, if not slightly better for the second season). Great video, though, thank you for posting it! I’m 49, and have been a Yamato fan since the Star Blazers translation first came out in the early ‘80s.
I adored this! It was a must watch and aired in my area along with Ultraman. Now 40+ years later I am desperately praying that Hollyweird keeps their slimy mitts off both.
I grew up watching Starblazers & loved it. Later I found out about the original Space battleship Yamato. But during WW2 Yamato was the largest battleship ever built but sunk by American aircraft carriers.
2199 is what a remake should be. I watched Starblazers and then later on a more faithful dub of Yamato in the 80's and 90's and it, along with SDF Macross, solidified my abiding love for anime. 2199 was everything I'd loved about Yamato way back then but improved and done thoughtfully and well. They didn't reimagine it or anything, they just did it again but better.
I watched 2199 on Japanese cable when I first moved to Kyoto in 2014. I grew up on the original series in the late 70s under the title of Star Blazers. The Comet Empire was my favorite story arc. I used to rush home from the bus stop to catch the beginning of the series. I've been seeing promotions of a new Yamato series every now and then during my commutes.
I grew up on the 70's version. I didn't know that they remade it, I can't wait to watch it. I had the whole collection on DVD, but no longer have a dvd player. Thank you for this. I can't wait to watch it.
Remember watching it in the 80s. I liked it as a kid and couldn't remember the name of the series when I was older. Only now when I'm 50, I'm reliving it again and will be watching it with my youngest son.
Something that wasn't mentioned is in the American version, "Star Blazers', the name of the ship was changed to the Argo. The name of the ship in Homer's epic, 'Jason and the Argonauts', which it's own way was somewhat fitting.
Thank you for this - I remember watching the first 2 seasons of Star Blazers when I was a kid, and I was super exited when I heard about the reboot series. I loved 2199, but was a little disappointed in 2202. I thought the original season 2 was better (love that Comet Empire theme!) I haven't seen 2205 yet, and your video is the first time I'm hearing about 3199!
Dude thanks for this video! I love this series!! growing up my brother and I watched it together, it's the greatest series! The soundtrack is amazing, especially the main title, been trying to find the sheet music for this, I play Trombone :)
The first time I watched Star Blazers it was the music that caught my attention, then the story, and then the characters. So much so that I bought a VCR (which were expensive back then along with the blank VHS tapes) just so I could record the episodes and watch them repeatedly. I have watched the reboot series, live action movie, and buy the DVD's, CD's, books, models, and what-have-you. I'm 65 years old and still enjoy watching Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers. It completely changed my life!
Hate to say I'm old enough to remember seeing a few episodes of the 70s version, but being from 'Murica it was of course the 'Star Blazers' rename. Haven't watched much of it since, although I did see the Live Action version at a convention a few years back. The one thing that sticks out in my (and probably most fans) mind is that stupidly Awesome 'Wave Motion Canon", probably the first time I ever saw that Trope (whatever its called) in Anime that I can remember 😁 Maybe I'll dig up this version and engage in some Nostalgia Binge Watching 😊
Star Blazers was the first sci-fi I was exposed to and made the biggest impression on me and helped to mold the life I would lead. It was must see TV and every day I couldn't wait to get home from school to tune in at 330 PM to watch the next episode. Even though there were only 52 episodes, I watched it religiously for 2 years when it was on the air. When I heard about the reboot, I was excited to see it and was not disappointed. I agree with all of the good points made here and it was done right. This version seemed more "grown up" which was perfect. The show has a strong maritime/naval feel to it and I liked seeing the crew dynamics and its relationship with the ship itself. Perhaps the best improvement is how battles were handled. This time around they crafted them in a way that removed the impossible amounts of damage the Yamato received in the first go around. The concept of the wave motion shield was a good plot device to use when the ship had a real big fight on its hands. And it maneuvered in ways to dodge enemy fire.
I grew up watching these cartoons about Space Battleship Yamato during the early 1970's. It would come on at 6 am EST just before I had to go school so me and my brother would sit in front of the TV every weekday morning eating our fruit loops and watching this anime cartoon before heading off to school. In fact the Speed Racer cartoons would also come on either before or after Space Battleship Yamato each weekday. Because I was a young child at the time I had no idea of the history of the Yamato Battleship during World War II. I just wanted to see space battles and watch how Nova and Wildstar (I think that was his name) would meet the challenges of each mission. I thoroughly enjoyed the series.
A couple things I wanted to point out...not only does the soundtrack sound like it's from the 70's, but it actually has re recordings of the original soundtrack from the original series. You played a lot of the themes in the video. They also recycled the sound effects from the original. And your guess about the Garmillas representing the Americans was pretty spot on. That's why you see the scene of Dessler where he's not blue...the blue color if I remember correctly was an afterthought because they didn't want it to be too on the nose. I was able to have seen Star Blazers when it first hit the US in syndication back in the early 80's. It was my favorite cartoon at the time. At the end of each episode, they would tell you how many days the Yamato (called the Argo - another touch on what you had said about it being a Greek odyssey) had left. This left me as a kid thinking there were 365 episodes, and that I kept missing a ton of them. For us Americans, they cut out a lot of the violence, and all of the deaths. Some characters just didn't appear anymore, and were given a line like "He's hurt, but he'll be ok" or something of that sort. Rewatching the Japanese versions as an adult, I got to see the true scenes that were edited out. Awesome job on the video! I enjoyed your perspective on it. If you're interested in more Yamato stuff, your best bet is (ugh) the Facebook groups. There used to be a really good repository online, but there was some sort of kerfuffle between the knowledgeable people and the people behind the new merchandise and they had a falling out.
I cut my anime teeth on the original US "Starblazers" adaptation. It may not have been the first Anime I ever watched, but I'm certain it was either the fourth or fifth. I was 5 at the time. What impressed me about 2199 is how they took so many of the rough spots of the original, from both sides of the Pacific, and decided to springboard off of them into worldbuilding. The animators didn't settle on blue skin for the Gamilas until well into the first season? 2199 explains that away with the empire having conquered other, more human toned species and made second class citizens out of them. US translators cut the series death toll with judicious editing and added dialog that suggested that tanks and fighters were robot driven? Well, why wouldn't a technologically advanced space empire employ android troops? The lead character designer clearly has a thing for willowy blondes who all kind of look alike no matter what series he draws them in? They even get playful with that, but I won't spoil it.
My introduction to anime, 1979 watching the english dubbed Star Blazers as an 8-9 year old kid I was absolutely enthralled in the animation and story, not even close to being able to understand any of the nuance or context. I watched it every afternoon, without fail. Appointment TV back then, as VCRs were in their earliest infancy and we wouldn't have one for several years yet. Only the first two seasons were being shown at the time. I wouldn't find out there was a 3rd season until the early 90s, but by then I didn't have the money to buy a whole season of VHS tapes. I would come to learn about the 2199 Yamato reboot series and looked into the live action but decided to keep my memories of the old anime instead of replacing it. I have the first season of the 70s original on DVD now for when I like to reminisce. Simpler times for me.
I remember as a kid counting down the days of Yamato's mission. Suffice to say, i always emptied my plate, brush my teeth and finished my homework so i can watch an episode 😊
We who lived the first who watched the first release of the Americanized releases appreciated it for how good this show really was and have kept the faith all these years. how the story line was much deeper and engaging than what we had at the time "Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer space", "Space Ghost", "herculiods"to name a few although I do recall this shows fondly they paled in comparison" It has been noted that Calling it "Star Blazers" or " Space Battelship Yamato" is now synonymous with each other. You mentioned this had a real Greek mythology feel to it. The English translation referred to the Yamato as the Argo whic hwas the ship that Jason and the argonauts travelled on. The other gems that we have watched through the American censorship translation at the time another pivotal classic was "Battle of the Planets" which we later found out (again no internet or any real manga in the bookstores in the 70's when it was released) was called Gatchaman. I may speak for some may also remember the Black and white release of Astroboy and Prince Planet. Even the live action for runner to Mighty Morphin Power Ranges, called Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot.
The original SBY (Star Blazers) was a masterpiece, and I still love it to this day. This was my introduction to anime, and this series still has a place in my heart along with Akira, Gundam, etc.
This was my first anime I saw I was in Tokyo Airport as teenager A TV showing this "cartoon"...it battleship in space...huh? I would like to watch it now...thanks for this!
It was a video similar to yours that alerted me to the existence of this show, and I hope yours will do the same for others. Thank you for shining a light on this. Starblazers was one of the first anime I saw as a kid back in 79. Of course, back then no one in America new what anime was. The other being Battle of the Planets. Needless to say, they set an impossible bar for animation, and changed the way I viewed cartoons as a kid. Sadly, I find it hard to watch the original shows these days, so I was pleasantly surprised by this re-make. I wish I could say the same for the attempts at re-making Gatchaman. I felt this remake kept faithful to the original, and the "modern" stuff that was added enhanced, rather than replaced, the original content, as is so often the case with "re-makes" these days.
It's funny, you mention the for the Japanese market. thing about Star Blazers and how people in the US of the 70's might have an issue with a WW2 Japanese battleship being the name of the show...and while I agree with that I have noticed that Japan seems to have embraced that Star Blazers name, unlike Macross with the American Robotech name. I found a lot of Yamato items branded as Yamato and Star Blazers together.
11:40 regarding new female characters. In the original, Yuki Mori/Nova Forrester(starblazer) was radar op, medic, and some. In making the organization of reboot ship more structured military form, they had to "create" Makoto (medic), Miki Saijo (rader op in different shift, since the ship now runs 24/7) Yuria (etc, but also as means to create "radio host" for promotional internet radio show both on the show and in real life)
Star Blazers was my 1st anime. It's also the last Japanese cartoon on my local tv for many years after. Hollywood wasn't making money and they didn't want to compete in the quality department. It took Dragonball and Sailor Moon to really bring back anime. I can't read Spanish, but I watched most of Dragonbal on the Spanish Channel. Then our local San Diego California English channel started playing anime again.
For me, Space Battleship Yamato is the best anime of all time, I repeat, for me, I simply love it, and largely because of the music, I simply have no words to describe how much I love its music, heck, SBY's intro is the only intro I completely memorized in Japanese, then the story for me, except for a few very specific moments, its wonderful, and the designs of the ships, and the personalities of the characters, it truly captivated me completely, i honestly hope it never ends 😅
Yamato was the greatest Anime that I've ever seen and I've seen some real classics like Grendizer, Speed Racer, GaiKing, Astroboy, Macross, GoLion and Dairugger XV.
Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for your support, I never expected that a video I made would have reached so many people! I am glad you guys enjoyed it! I appreciate the feedback, and shout out to all the folks who talked about growing up with the original series, I liked reading those comments and stories a lot.
And for the people who noticed me mixing up a few details or mispronouncing things, sorry, that's just going to happen with me occasionally! I will try to do better next time!
Thanks again from your friendly 𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍.
This is also a movie, with real people in it... in Japanese!
Im 49.
This is the only thing I love that hasn't been corrupted.
It was Star Blazers when we watched it every day after school. The ship was the Argo, with Captain Avatar, Derek Wildstar, Mark Venture, Nova, Sandor, Dr Sane, IQ-9, Chief Orion, Homer, Eager and all the rest. There was no internet, you couldn’t even find toys or model kits for the show. All we had was the 30 minutes of amazing animation and storytelling, and not even a VCR to record it with, so if you missed an episode it was gone forever!
I found a comic book/hobby shop that carried the models but finding an Argo model specifically was impossible.
I also loved "the countdown" : "Hurry Starblazers! Only 236 days to save the Earth!"
Exactly. I couldn't remember all the characters names. They had a Jason and the Argonauts, kinda feel to it.
I cobbled one together out of two or three model kits, while I was watching it. I took a battleship model and spliced it with an aircraft carrier, that was a little bit bigger. Added a few other items from the model kits. Wished, I still kept it? Don't know whatever happened to it.
Was probably the first show I really fell in love with 40 years ago.
I grew up in the 70's and woke up at 7 am to see Star Blazers and the theme song. It was everything
Same.
The best part of our lives.
Thank you, you're from my Era of time. I remember waiting to see the next episode. Even drew and colored a 8 poster board on my wall. Mom and dad had a fit since I was using school supplies for that. Earned a week worth of chores to do. Still doing them now these 50 years later.
This was my childhood. I got up at 6 just so I was wide awake for this every day. I absolutely loved the Yamamoto/Argo
I was amazed at the end of the first season when I saw the Andromeda and then sad when they ran it into the comet empire.
2199 really did give the original a reboot a perfectly done reboot
This is what I'm hoping they will do with the original SDF Macross series. As great as it is, the animation suffered in a lot of episodes so it would be great to see it done in a new, more consistent style and it would be great to see the story expanded by making the episodes longer or having more episodes.
I ran home after school every day to watch Star Blazers and it gave me an amazing childhood thinking about space battles and exploration. Thank you for this review, it brought back happy memories!
Same here when I was a kid in the 70's. It was the neighborhood boys' soap opera!
Same. Hearing those musical themes again puts a lump in this grown-ass man’s throat. I have to grab a copy of that remake.
Those 70’s/80’s shows had the best soundtracks
I ran home too. I literally ran home. What a great show!
Glad, I wasn't the only one, who liked it? I thought, it might have only been just me?
Your comments about it feeling like a Greek epic nailed it. Making it kind of appropriate that in the English version, “Starblazers”, the ship was named the Argo. (Of Jason and the Argonauts)
Fun fact in SBY 2199 the original plan before the Yamato was made to its final first voyage configuration was the Argo plan. Nice homage.
Star Blazers was my very first anime, yes all the way back in the 70's. I got sidetracked by life and Star Wars, and never saw the later shows and forgot the name of the series, but never forgot about the cool space battleship. That ship stuck in my head until I was able to find out the name of the show I watched all those years ago that it came from, thanks to the sweet invention of the internet. Also thanks to the internet, it was easy to watch the OVA. Wish they spent more time making more shows like this.
I’m with you. Me and my friends would build the Yamato out of legos and stage big space battles. 😂.
Ditto!
I grew up on Star Blazers in the early 80s. As much as I loved it, when I saw the original Space Battleship Yamato, I thought it was so much better than the Americanized version I grew up on. I love the remake also.
+1
That's because, in 'America', the "broadcasting community", still regards 'Animation', as 'Kiddie-fare', to put a show like Star Blazers, which was rife with serious 'adult' subject matter, was totally UNTHINKABLE!
You did a wonderful job with this video, especially capturing just how influential it’s been to creative processes throughout the last 50 years. The reboot is how I discovered it. It’s got to be my favorite show of all time.
Thanks! Glad you like the video and the show! Great to hear from other Yamato fans!
It's heartwarming to see this masterpiece of a remake getting more attention, thank you!
Remember, before Star Wars & Battlestar Galactica, there was Space Battleship Yamato.
But don't forget, Before Space Battleship Yamato, There was Doctor Who, And Star Trek.
StarBlazers was one of my favorite shows as a kid. I still love it. 😊
I loved 2199. I felt it was the best of any of the series from past and future. The subplots that surround the new series is great. Keeping much of the same sound effects and music that were used in the original series.
SBY 2199 feels like a Japanese version of Battlestar Galactica and I love it. If, by the end of the series and/or midway through Season 2 (SBY 2202), you DON’T see the ship itself as a character, you’re doing something wrong. I was heartbroken when Yamato was seemingly sunk for good in multiple episodes
you should definitely read the webcomic then. NGL I bawled.
This came way before Battlestar Galactica.
I'm certain the Yamato is definitely a character in it's own way.
I like your comment on the ship itself being virtually a "character". It was part of why I was saddened MORE seeing the Enterprise destroyed in Star Trek 3 The Search For Spock than I was seeing Kirk's son murdered.
The show was filmed in 1974 and Battlestar was filmed in 1978 so not sure how this can be a Japanese version of it, unless it happened by ACCIDENT since I doubt they knew that Battlestar would be filmed 4 years later? I read a different description of Star Blazers a while back that said it was Japan's attempt to do their own version of STAR TREK.
My dad introduced Space Battleship Yamato to me as a kid in the form of Starblazers. To this day, the opening theme activates a childlike excitement and admiration for this show. I never knew how influential it was until I got older, and it makes me proud to be a newer generation fella who also got to enjoy the anime as a child.
Funny tidbit, but I was obsessed with Daft Punk as a kid. I watched the MVs for the Discovery album religiously, and only recently found out it was the same artist. I just think it's awesome that his work has captured my heart and imagination twice by pure coincidence.
I loved Star Blazers. That and Battle of the Planets were my favorites when I was a kid. Also, nice touch with the Mass Effect music in your vid.
Thank you for covering his legacy. Rest in peace, Leiji Matsumoto!
Arguably the Best Theme Song ever made.
The Yamato Song sticks in your head like no other song, and it begs you to sing along.
Loved the original in 1974, and loved the reboot.
Classic, and a Must Watch.
Shortly after I met the woman who was to become my wife and the mother of my child, I made a brief version of the Star Blazers Theme Song as her ring tone. Her text tone is the Blade Runner Love Theme BTW.
“Star Blazers” is the show that got me hooked on Anime. Great show! Watched it everyday after school in the 80s. Still love it!
i still remamber rhis owsome Manga from my childhood thanks for this
I watched the original broadcast run of Star Blazers when i was probably 4 years old. It was awesome. I told my mom I wanted to change my name to Wildstar.
Also known as "Star Blazers" in some regions.
I gather that the American edit of the original series added the "descending wail" during the Wave Motion Gun discharge. It's become so iconic in my mind that I can still hear it in my head whenever I imagine the gun firing. It's one of the few American edits which I entirely agree added something to a Japanese anime. Most American edits stuffed things up.
Editing to add, the Yamato has some interesting stories around it. One of the most interesting comes from its eventual demise in its final battle.
The Japanese knew full well that there was no way they were going to win that battle, but they also felt that their mightiest battleship had to show up or they'd be dishonoured. Because fuel was extremely scarce, the Harbour Master (or equivalent) was told to give the Yamato an amount of fuel which was barely enough to get it to the battle, with little to none left over for maneuvering while in battle and certainly there would be none left for the return journey. Like Sam in LOTR, they didn't think there would be a return journey. Unlike Sam, they were right.
Since the Harbour Master wanted to give the ship the best chance he could, he managed to both obey his orders and disobey them at the same time. He loaded the ship with the offically permitted amount of fuel, then used portable pumps which could reach the residue of fuel at the bottom of the nominally empty storage tanks to give the ship even more fuel, ending up with sufficient fuel for maneuvering upon reaching the battle and a little left over just in case it survived the battle and could be recovered.
It was all in vain as we now know, but one has to admire the sheer cleverness of that Harbour Master.
The greatest space anime of all time!
My mom (RIP) took me to see Star Wars in 1977 and it was the BEST cinematic moment of my life.
As the Rebel Pilots were preparing for the Death Star assault, my mom says to me
"You wait....in two years this will be on TV"
She was right, in a sense. Star Wars never made it to TV until 1987, but in 1979
Star Blazers showed up on WNYC TV, which was where re-runs and Battle Of The Planets
played (along with game shows and other items that really were not ready for prime time)
First time I saw Star Blazers (late summer 1979), I thought that someone was ripping off Star Wars.
Little did I know that it PRECEDED Star Wars (and MAY have influenced it; speculation abounds but
we will never know).
It took 15 years for me to get the FULL seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and WOW was it
worth the wait. (I was never able to catch the entire show on Broadcast TV
as I got home too late from sixth grade; such was life in 1979)
Then in the mid-1990's there were whispers that a live-action version was being
developed in Hollywood.
The studio executives lost interest and nothing happened.
Years later, word on the street was that a Japanese studio is making a live action version.
I caught it; to critique it here would be time consuming.
Suffice to say, they had the right elements, but compressed too much.
That gave way to the new animated version.
I was out of work at the time; submitting resumes and getting persistent rejection
positively sucked, but I WAS able to catch the new animated Yamato, I was absolutely
SHOCKED at how good it was. I loved every minute (despite its flaws) and it made so much
difference to me at that time that I will never forget.
I am mostly in agreement with this review; but if I may I will add my own commentary
which is submitted with respectful for all involved.
*****
I despise the White-Hat-Wipeout trope.
*****
The opening scene of the original Star Blazers, this version, Terminator: Salvation,
The rebooted Battlestar Galactica (which Yamato influenced, ironically) Star Wars E4ANH itself,
The JJ Abrams Star Trek, Brad Pitt's Fury (to a limited extent), as well as other
TV and cinematic depictions of armed conflict often feature this trope.
The villains, via superior numbers and capabilities, inflict near-total devastation on
the heroes, creating a sense of despair and impossible odds, and reflects the intellectual
laziness of screen writers.
***THERE I SAID IT***
I do NOT want to see the forces of the heroes lose nearly all their numbers in a major assault
on the villains, only to have the hero score a one-in-a-trillion win.
MY most fervent and delusional dream would be for Christopher Nolan to personally ask me for
MY VIEWS on how to construct the script for a live-action Star Blazers.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, the opening battle between the Gamilons and the EDF Fleet would be a
KNOCK-DOWN-DRAG-OUT FIGHT TO THE FINISH with no holds barred and no prisoners taken.
The casualties on both sides would be shocking; think of the book “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour”
It would be in the context of a war conducted across the Solar System, with no margins for error and no place for intrepidity or cowardice.
The Gamilons would not use planet bombs but biological warfare.
The heroes would all have baggage and a sense of time running out.
The Gamilons really could be plucked right from this series, as they are VERY well fleshed out.
And I would insist on Gary Oldman as Desslok.
That’s my take and you are more likely to locate a chapter of the Milton Friedman Libertarian Club in Pyongyang North Korea than for my dreams to play out…..then again, we can always hope.
In fact that Garmillas aren't actually evil species, The Cosmo Navy are the ones who fired first. They all fight their lives to save their dying planet, not until it happened in 2205
The Whisper of the Witch episode in Space Battleship Yamato is the only episode that has a horror in it
The best theme song. Period. Paragraph. Chapter. Book.
Hands down my favorite anime. Ran home every day to watch Starblazers on TV in the 80's; found the live action movie and 2199 ~2 years ago and was amazed. Having rewatched the 1974 original Space Battleship Yamato again recently, I was amazed with how well it was adapted, modernized and streamlined for 2199. They clearly put a lot of thought into it and it definitely shows. Everything from plot beats to how things work on the Yamato itself was revisited and while I found the 1974 original engaging, 2199 was riveting. Oh, and the dub was amazing.
Minor nitpicks I have with 2199 are the space physics for the capital ships. I'm not asking for Newtonian physics here, but the capital ships all maneuver too much like fighters. The fighters themselves are fine. It's so egregious I couldn't get my cousin to watch past the first episode. Also, I was a tiny bit disappointed with Beemilas. I really wanted to see the Beemilans but understand why they didn't go that route with it.
2202 was not as good in my opinion. I enjoyed it, but it felt like I lot less thought was put into it compared to what they did with 2199. It was still beautiful, but some of the battles were so far over the top that it really hurt my suspension of belief even within the confines of the show. On top of that, the story felt less coherently put together and there were massive plot holes everywhere in it. For example: OK, Earth can crank out all those vessels because of the anomaly but where are the crews for them coming from? I'm not sure there are actually enough people on Earth to crew the UNCF fleet at the end of 2202 :).
Haven't seen 2205 yet - I really hope Funimation/Crunchy Roll bring this one over to America AND are able to get the relevant voice actors from 2199 - because they might not. Getting Odyssey of the Celestial Ark was a real pain in the @$$. The Japanese version of the BluRay with English subs is extremely expensive to import, and the more price-friendly Italian release has no English subs. I eventually bought the Italian one and hunted down downloadable subtitles for it from the internet.
To answer the crew issue they mentioned that ships were being more automated every time. At the end you can see at least 1 person in a ship just to make sure everything was ok
Yep - I was introduced to it with the compilation "Space Cruiser Yamato" compilation film on a local TV station in 1978 (I was 15); and while I had been watching other anime series before when I was even younger that had been English dubbed (like Gigantor, Speed Racer, Kimba The White Lion, The Amazing Three, et. al. -- I did not realize all there were anime series from Japan (and dubbed into English/re-edited to a degree) until I got heavily into Starblazers/Space battleship Yamato; and while I understand why some of the changes to the English dubbed version was made in the 70s; I have always preferred the original Japanese version of Space Battleship Yamato, and it's always been my favorite Anime even today. And the SBY 2199/2202/2205 remakes/reboots have all been very good (but yeah of the 3 SBY 2199 was the best example of how to modernize/reboot an old, beloved IP.)
The “plot hole” you mentioned is literally one of the major themes of 2202 and how machines/AI are replacing the need for humans.
@@unshiftedcobra7439 still loved it when the female captain of the Ginga shot that Analyzer look alike.
I used to run home to watch every episode.
Thank you for the memories.
Hands down the only video that tells the best explaination of Space Battleship Yamato old vs new
I was born in the late 60's and LOVED these shows! I think I still have a model in the basement somewhere. Star Blazers!
I've been a fan of Space Battleship Yamato since the 70's. Fantastic science fiction and this modernized version really takes the series to a new level. The soundtrack is also awesome! I own various versions from the original and the new shows. Very nice video!
Loved Starblazers when I was a kid. It was my first exposure to anime.
This is likely the best review I've seen for SBY2199. very well done
For me, this show of one the the best gateway animes for someone just stepping into it. I've recommend it a number of times and more often then not its worked.
It's got an overall engaging story that is for the most part grounded enough that its not insane. and the fanservice (thanks for pointing it out btw) is not as bad as in other anime and is not constant like some other shows. Still could have gone without it period though
You've earned a subscriber.
Thank you kindly
I absolutely loved watching this version of the show i am a huge warship nerd and spaceship yamato fills that nerd in me and now. I'm a big fan of the show and I absolutely loved it was using gundam origin's animation and some badass battleship vs ship combat. Now I'm on 2202 which I'm currently still watching. Good video by the way.
I wonder what SBY would've been had it had it's 39 episodes?
this is the youtube I live for, find people talk about these things the really enjoy and trying to share it with everyone, and I love when it works. Guess who just ordered Star Blazers 2199 :)
And these are the comments I really like!
One of the best things about the wonderful Space Battleship Yamato 2199 series is that for those of us who adored this series as children, there is now a version which holds up to nostalgic vision we remember from old school early TV. Obviously a classic, but not so great once blown up onto a modern big screen. With 2199 so much is retained, as you mentioned, with character and ship design, but also with the iconic soundscape of the series. Not merely the music, but also with acoustic details of ship engines, turrets, Planet Bombs, and the highly iconic sound of the Wave Motion Gun. However I somewhat disagree with you about the conclusion to the show, as I found the conclusion in 2199 to be a more satisfying than the more bloodthirsty original.
I bought the 2199 series. I first saw this back in 1977. It was being shown on local television at 0600 in the morning Monday through Friday. I couldn't wait to watch it before getting ready for school.
I did the same. Got up extra early before school just to be able to watch it. 👍
@@swirvinbirds1971 same with me!
I saw the original on tv as a kid, and I always knew it as Star Blazers. I absolutely loved it, and it was like nothing I had ever seen or imagined. When I got older and it became available, I always wanted to buy the full set on video, but it was *very* expensive. And I haven't seen any of the later stuff, altho it looks really cool, too. Btw, OVA is what we used to call "straight to video." Great job, thanks for the kick of nostalgia.
I do love the amount of time spent with the Garmillans because it really humanises them which makes the whole thing far more shades of grey than just generic baddie empire to kill
Original and remake, all are perfect. It’s the story that makes it special.
I was born in 1969. In the 70's I used to race home from school to watch Star Blazers as it was branded in the US. Its was my favorite Anime until Attack on Titan blew me away a few years ago.
Great video. This show got me into anime. I watched it back when it first aired on tv in the US. Have been a fan ever since. This series is how you reboot a franchise. If I taught a writing class, I'd show the original & new episodes of the Pluto battle(5&6). A show for kids vs. a show more for adults. One thing I like is both versions of this show respected the wave motion gun. It wasn't used as an end of each episode gimmick. 2202 started good with an interesting concept on building things. It was too over the top with their space battles towards the end of it. I'm glad there are fans of this franchise out there and I think 2199 still holds up a decade later.
One of the most memorable things from the original series was that somber voice of the announcer at the end of each episode. "Only n days left until the total extinction of mankind!" It absolutely hammered it home just how much pressure was on that ship and his crew.
I grew up watching the original after school on the ABC in Australia. One of my all time favourites. We used to sing the (English version) theme song on the school bus lol
Hi there! Brazilian here. I've watched this show in the distant 1980's - it was and is my favourite show, no doubt. It's hard to call my dear Argo by Yamato...! Japanese animations are known for dealing with serious subjects as loyalty, duty, honour... it just enchanted me back then. Modern 2199 version is also mindblowing as a whole - specially in visuals. Nevertheless the plot is softened, and fan-service (as well pointed) seems unnecessary sometimes, e.g. the 'sensualisation' of the (larger) amount of girls in the ship's crew.
1000 years later, with the word "Rebel" in the title. You never watched the original "Space Pirate Harlock". It took place 1000 years after "Space Battleship Yamato". Harlock turned "pirate" after Earth was taken over by aliens. So, Harlock et al were rebels. So, they seem to be melding together the continuity of the two franchises. Which, it you watched them, you realize they are in the same universe. Heck, one of Harlock's crew members actually builds a Yamato model -- not the WW 2 version, the Space Battleship Yamato version.
Excellent work highlighting a classic reboot of the best anime/sci-fi/tv series of the 20th century.
I might not be born during the star blazer era but my heart goes to this anime.
This series is a loveletter to the original and Star Blazers version. As many aspects of the Starblazers version was added in. For example the Argo name is used for the magnetic mine system, Gamilas using robotic crew and the Gamilas skin color being greenish are just a few. 11:50 oh yeah Akira got Starbucked.
I remember racing home after school to watch this 70’s animation, luved it… it was inspirational! I don't like anime, because I can't understand what I am looking at. But this animation is so well done and simplified “Yamamoto 2199” looks very enjoyable to binge watch!!! ;)
Loved the Original as a kid, loved the remake as an adult.
As a fellow child of the 70's and fondly remembering running home after school as well to watch "Starblazers", I am comforted to be around so many of my spirit animals 😃
Thanks for doing this, just had the wife add it to the Crunchy Roll list.
And yes, the American A2 jackets are great, I have not been able to find a version that I liked AND fit in close to 30 years though.
I have been a huge fan of yamato since i was 4, so I got some stuff to add. Season 2 villains are called the Gatlantians. The Galmans are the original peoples that the gamilans come from. It does really take a second watching for 2202 to really get it in honesty, but its definitely some of the best yamato there is. ofc 2199 is my favorite, but 2202 is amazing as well. The phrasing of the second season can be confusing at times, but it ultimately lives up to it's name, "warriors of love". Also, no idea what is going on with 3199, next was supposed to be Bolar Wars given the chronology, but I'm very interested where they take it.
The goal for gatlantians is to wipe out human life in the galaxy, there's a ton of backstory, but the main villain is butt hurt about his wife and child being killed by his creators because he was never supposed to be able to have children. He thinks then that love is a sickness, and is determined that humanity is flawed because of this. It gets more complicated, but that's the gist.
Nice! My first memories of getting up to watch TV was to watch Starblazers, I was four also. The Galmans were the Comet Empire?
@@Brigand231 season 3 of original Space battleship Yamato, or star blazers, introduces the Galmans as the original people of gamilan. Desler goes to galman after the destruction of gamilas and creates a new empire that by the start of s3 is at war with the Bolar empire. I need to double check with the original, but Comet Empire enemies are the Gatlantians
Glad to see someone talking about this show.
I agree with you on pretty much every point, except one (the suggestion that season 1 of the original series was better than season 2… IMO they’re approximately equal, if not slightly better for the second season). Great video, though, thank you for posting it! I’m 49, and have been a Yamato fan since the Star Blazers translation first came out in the early ‘80s.
I remember watching Star Blazers in the morning before going to school. This is a master class on how to do a remake.
I adored this! It was a must watch and aired in my area along with Ultraman.
Now 40+ years later I am desperately praying that Hollyweird keeps their slimy mitts off both.
I remember and loved this anime when I was a child, never knew there was a live action on this, I'd love to see this in a video game
I'm actually shocked there isn't one now that you mention it...
I grew up watching Starblazers & loved it. Later I found out about the original Space battleship Yamato. But during WW2 Yamato was the largest battleship ever built but sunk by American aircraft carriers.
2199 is what a remake should be. I watched Starblazers and then later on a more faithful dub of Yamato in the 80's and 90's and it, along with SDF Macross, solidified my abiding love for anime. 2199 was everything I'd loved about Yamato way back then but improved and done thoughtfully and well. They didn't reimagine it or anything, they just did it again but better.
Thank you for this video. The original series is still one of my favorite childhood memories.
I watched 2199 on Japanese cable when I first moved to Kyoto in 2014. I grew up on the original series in the late 70s under the title of Star Blazers. The Comet Empire was my favorite story arc. I used to rush home from the bus stop to catch the beginning of the series. I've been seeing promotions of a new Yamato series every now and then during my commutes.
I grew up on the 70's version. I didn't know that they remade it, I can't wait to watch it. I had the whole collection on DVD, but no longer have a dvd player. Thank you for this. I can't wait to watch it.
Remember watching it in the 80s. I liked it as a kid and couldn't remember the name of the series when I was older. Only now when I'm 50, I'm reliving it again and will be watching it with my youngest son.
Something that wasn't mentioned is in the American version, "Star Blazers', the name of the ship was changed to the Argo. The name of the ship in Homer's epic, 'Jason and the Argonauts', which it's own way was somewhat fitting.
This show introduced me to anime in the 1970;s my friends and I would watch the show before we went to school every week day morning lucky us.
Thank you for this - I remember watching the first 2 seasons of Star Blazers when I was a kid, and I was super exited when I heard about the reboot series. I loved 2199, but was a little disappointed in 2202. I thought the original season 2 was better (love that Comet Empire theme!) I haven't seen 2205 yet, and your video is the first time I'm hearing about 3199!
Dude thanks for this video! I love this series!! growing up my brother and I watched it together, it's the greatest series! The soundtrack is amazing, especially the main title, been trying to find the sheet music for this, I play Trombone :)
Ty, didnt know this was out. I've been rewatching starblazers over last year. I'll have to check this out
I, thanks to my older brother, got hooked on the 1970s comics and the series. This love was instrumental in my desire for all things anime.
The first time I watched Star Blazers it was the music that caught my attention, then the story, and then the characters. So much so that I bought a VCR (which were expensive back then along with the blank VHS tapes) just so I could record the episodes and watch them repeatedly. I have watched the reboot series, live action movie, and buy the DVD's, CD's, books, models, and what-have-you. I'm 65 years old and still enjoy watching Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers. It completely changed my life!
Hate to say I'm old enough to remember seeing a few episodes of the 70s version, but being from 'Murica it was of course the 'Star Blazers' rename.
Haven't watched much of it since, although I did see the Live Action version at a convention a few years back.
The one thing that sticks out in my (and probably most fans) mind is that stupidly Awesome 'Wave Motion Canon", probably the first time I ever saw that Trope (whatever its called) in Anime that I can remember 😁
Maybe I'll dig up this version and engage in some Nostalgia Binge Watching 😊
Star Blazers was the first sci-fi I was exposed to and made the biggest impression on me and helped to mold the life I would lead. It was must see TV and every day I couldn't wait to get home from school to tune in at 330 PM to watch the next episode. Even though there were only 52 episodes, I watched it religiously for 2 years when it was on the air.
When I heard about the reboot, I was excited to see it and was not disappointed. I agree with all of the good points made here and it was done right. This version seemed more "grown up" which was perfect. The show has a strong maritime/naval feel to it and I liked seeing the crew dynamics and its relationship with the ship itself. Perhaps the best improvement is how battles were handled. This time around they crafted them in a way that removed the impossible amounts of damage the Yamato received in the first go around. The concept of the wave motion shield was a good plot device to use when the ship had a real big fight on its hands. And it maneuvered in ways to dodge enemy fire.
This is the first of your videos i caught and now I'm hooked!!!
Great storytelling on your part of a great story! ❤
I grew up watching these cartoons about Space Battleship Yamato during the early 1970's. It would come on at 6 am EST just before I had to go school so me and my brother would sit in front of the TV every weekday morning eating our fruit loops and watching this anime cartoon before heading off to school. In fact the Speed Racer cartoons would also come on either before or after Space Battleship Yamato each weekday. Because I was a young child at the time I had no idea of the history of the Yamato Battleship during World War II. I just wanted to see space battles and watch how Nova and Wildstar (I think that was his name) would meet the challenges of each mission. I thoroughly enjoyed the series.
When I was a kid, this show was called "Starbllazers"! And the main weapon was called the "Wave Motion Gun"!!!
A couple things I wanted to point out...not only does the soundtrack sound like it's from the 70's, but it actually has re recordings of the original soundtrack from the original series. You played a lot of the themes in the video. They also recycled the sound effects from the original. And your guess about the Garmillas representing the Americans was pretty spot on. That's why you see the scene of Dessler where he's not blue...the blue color if I remember correctly was an afterthought because they didn't want it to be too on the nose.
I was able to have seen Star Blazers when it first hit the US in syndication back in the early 80's. It was my favorite cartoon at the time. At the end of each episode, they would tell you how many days the Yamato (called the Argo - another touch on what you had said about it being a Greek odyssey) had left. This left me as a kid thinking there were 365 episodes, and that I kept missing a ton of them.
For us Americans, they cut out a lot of the violence, and all of the deaths. Some characters just didn't appear anymore, and were given a line like "He's hurt, but he'll be ok" or something of that sort. Rewatching the Japanese versions as an adult, I got to see the true scenes that were edited out.
Awesome job on the video! I enjoyed your perspective on it. If you're interested in more Yamato stuff, your best bet is (ugh) the Facebook groups. There used to be a really good repository online, but there was some sort of kerfuffle between the knowledgeable people and the people behind the new merchandise and they had a falling out.
Great coverage on this, it definitely makes me look forward to seeing this.
I cut my anime teeth on the original US "Starblazers" adaptation. It may not have been the first Anime I ever watched, but I'm certain it was either the fourth or fifth. I was 5 at the time. What impressed me about 2199 is how they took so many of the rough spots of the original, from both sides of the Pacific, and decided to springboard off of them into worldbuilding.
The animators didn't settle on blue skin for the Gamilas until well into the first season? 2199 explains that away with the empire having conquered other, more human toned species and made second class citizens out of them.
US translators cut the series death toll with judicious editing and added dialog that suggested that tanks and fighters were robot driven? Well, why wouldn't a technologically advanced space empire employ android troops?
The lead character designer clearly has a thing for willowy blondes who all kind of look alike no matter what series he draws them in? They even get playful with that, but I won't spoil it.
Got up every morning in elementary and middle school, late '70's and early '80's, to watch Starblazers. Great cartoon.
space battleship Yamato is one my battleship and the show itself
Yeah this is awesome anime just like Space Captain Harlock I wish they did had a crossover between the two it would have been epic
This channel deserves way more attention. I've watched all of your videos and they're so well presented.
Thank you so much!
My introduction to anime, 1979 watching the english dubbed Star Blazers as an 8-9 year old kid I was absolutely enthralled in the animation and story, not even close to being able to understand any of the nuance or context. I watched it every afternoon, without fail. Appointment TV back then, as VCRs were in their earliest infancy and we wouldn't have one for several years yet. Only the first two seasons were being shown at the time. I wouldn't find out there was a 3rd season until the early 90s, but by then I didn't have the money to buy a whole season of VHS tapes. I would come to learn about the 2199 Yamato reboot series and looked into the live action but decided to keep my memories of the old anime instead of replacing it. I have the first season of the 70s original on DVD now for when I like to reminisce. Simpler times for me.
I remember as a kid counting down the days of Yamato's mission. Suffice to say, i always emptied my plate, brush my teeth and finished my homework so i can watch an episode 😊
We who lived the first who watched the first release of the Americanized releases appreciated it for how good this show really was and have kept the faith all these years. how the story line was much deeper and engaging than what we had at the time "Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer space", "Space Ghost", "herculiods"to name a few although I do recall this shows fondly they paled in comparison" It has been noted that Calling it "Star Blazers" or " Space Battelship Yamato" is now synonymous with each other. You mentioned this had a real Greek mythology feel to it. The English translation referred to the Yamato as the Argo whic hwas the ship that Jason and the argonauts travelled on.
The other gems that we have watched through the American censorship translation at the time another pivotal classic was "Battle of the Planets" which we later found out (again no internet or any real manga in the bookstores in the 70's when it was released) was called Gatchaman. I may speak for some may also remember the Black and white release of Astroboy and Prince Planet. Even the live action for runner to Mighty Morphin Power Ranges, called Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot.
The original SBY (Star Blazers) was a masterpiece, and I still love it to this day. This was my introduction to anime, and this series still has a place in my heart along with Akira, Gundam, etc.
used to watch this in french in canada in the 70s when i was a child. loved it.
This was my first anime I saw
I was in Tokyo Airport as teenager
A TV showing this "cartoon"...it battleship in space...huh?
I would like to watch it now...thanks for this!
It was a video similar to yours that alerted me to the existence of this show, and I hope yours will do the same for others. Thank you for shining a light on this.
Starblazers was one of the first anime I saw as a kid back in 79. Of course, back then no one in America new what anime was. The other being Battle of the Planets. Needless to say, they set an impossible bar for animation, and changed the way I viewed cartoons as a kid. Sadly, I find it hard to watch the original shows these days, so I was pleasantly surprised by this re-make. I wish I could say the same for the attempts at re-making Gatchaman. I felt this remake kept faithful to the original, and the "modern" stuff that was added enhanced, rather than replaced, the original content, as is so often the case with "re-makes" these days.
Me and 5 of my friends raced to my house from elementary school every day to watch star blazers. I own every box set and my son's love them. 👍
I used to watch this in the 80's when I was a kid. It was so cool.
It's funny, you mention the for the Japanese market. thing about Star Blazers and how people in the US of the 70's might have an issue with a WW2 Japanese battleship being the name of the show...and while I agree with that I have noticed that Japan seems to have embraced that Star Blazers name, unlike Macross with the American Robotech name. I found a lot of Yamato items branded as Yamato and Star Blazers together.
11:40 regarding new female characters. In the original, Yuki Mori/Nova Forrester(starblazer) was radar op, medic, and some. In making the organization of reboot ship more structured military form, they had to "create" Makoto (medic), Miki Saijo (rader op in different shift, since the ship now runs 24/7) Yuria (etc, but also as means to create "radio host" for promotional internet radio show both on the show and in real life)
Star Blazers was my 1st anime. It's also the last Japanese cartoon on my local tv for many years after. Hollywood wasn't making money and they didn't want to compete in the quality department. It took Dragonball and Sailor Moon to really bring back anime. I can't read Spanish, but I watched most of Dragonbal on the Spanish Channel. Then our local San Diego California English channel started playing anime again.
Great video! I will watch this anime now.
Nice video! 2199 is pretty much the perfect reboot IMO.
For me, Space Battleship Yamato is the best anime of all time, I repeat, for me, I simply love it, and largely because of the music, I simply have no words to describe how much I love its music, heck, SBY's intro is the only intro I completely memorized in Japanese, then the story for me, except for a few very specific moments, its wonderful, and the designs of the ships, and the personalities of the characters, it truly captivated me completely, i honestly hope it never ends 😅
Yamato was the greatest Anime that I've ever seen and I've seen some real classics like Grendizer, Speed Racer, GaiKing, Astroboy, Macross, GoLion and Dairugger XV.