Space Battleship Yamato (1974–1975) User Reviews

Not to be confused with the movie

[davedegeer · 7/10 · 12 March 2006]

I've been a fan of Matsumoto Leiji ever since I saw Dangard Ace many years ago, as well as Galaxy Express on Sci-Fi channel when they showed anime on Saturday mornings. I don't know why it took me so long to watch this show, but I highly recommend it.

This right here, the entry for Space Battleship Yamato, is the original series from which the '77 movie was derived. It fully chronicles the adventures of the crew of the Yamato, born from the wreckage of the WWII battleship, the last hope of Japan, or so it comes across that way in the series. I'm not sure how that was adapted when the show was made into Star Blazers, but I'd like to find out.

All the names I use here are the ones from the subtitles in the version I watched.

By the year 2199, Earth has been under constant bombardment from the planet Galimus for several decades. From their front line base on Pluto, they launch meteor bombs daily at the surface of the Earth, which has destroyed the surface, driving the entire populous into underground cities. But this does little to save the human race, as the meteors also spread a radioactive poison, which is slowly but inexorably seeping down into the crust. Their last hope (perhaps reflecting the feelings of Japan at the end of the war, or maybe not) is the first earth ship capable of faster-than-light travel, the Yamato. Launched in response to a message from Starsha of Iscandar, sister planet of Galimus, their mission is to retrieve an item called the Cosmo Cleaner, which can eliminate the poisons spread by the meteors. But, at the time of Yamato's departure, the amount of time mankind can survive is exactly one year. With out any help, can the crew of the Yamato travel the 148,000 light-years to Iscandar and back in one year, all the while being attacked by the space forces of Galimus?

The Grand Daddy of Space Adventure Anime

[kdavies-69347 · 7/10 · 8 April 2016]

Space Battleship Yamato, or Starblazers as it was known in the U.S and most of Europe, is in many ways the precursor for a number of Japanese Animation Series that followed space adventure themes. Gundam, Macross, Evangelion all owe this late 70's series homage in terms of theme and design.

In the year 2199, the Earth has been under a devastating attack from an ancient and distant race of humanoids known as the Gamilas. They have bombarded earth with radioactive meteorites that has devastated the surface of our planet, and the only remaining people left live in underground cities. Soon, Russia, England, and North America cities collapse and the Earth has less than a year to survive. The Earth Defense Fleet have one last shot. Contacted by a distant race, on a planet known as Iscandar, the human race's last chance at survival lies in alien hands. Soon the inhabitants of Earth focus all their energy on re-purposing the former WWII battleship Yamato with the blueprints given to us in that distant and alien message. We develop the Wave Motion Gun, capable of destroying entire fleets, and the Wave Motion Engine which allows the Yamato to travel faster than the speed of light using tachyon energy. 114 men depart, and they must travel further than any known ship in history, to save the Earth before it is too late.

As far as Anime Goes, it's a wild story without any doubt, but it holds a certain level of nostalgia for the Japanese. While I was living there, most of my friends (and even their parents) could recite word for word the opening title sequence. It's an excellent example of Japanese pride and nationalism throughout this fun series. Families that I spoke to about the series, often told me stories of watching Yamato with their parents and then showing the series to their own children as adults, bridging generations with the same story line. Of course, the level of animation can leave something to be desired in comparison to the more fluid animations of the 90's and CGI that seems to have taken over this generation in the last decade, but it is without a doubt one of the seminal series you need to watch if you consider yourself a fan of the genre.

Personally, I thought the last two episodes of the first season were rushed, and there is so much more story after the first 26 episodes are over. The mission these men and women (well... one anyway), is a bold one. Suicidal almost. It is lighthearted, but also has it's very dark moments as well. The mission is a very serious one, but every episode has its own plot line leading up to a major Anime event, making the Yamato a ship to be feared by its enemies, when they have had the upper hand for so long. The theme remains the same throughout the series, and it has a lot of heart. Work hard, listen to those with more experience than you, trust your instincts, there are a number of messages to learn throughout the series.

It's an excellent place to begin if you're a new fan, even in this generation. If you've never seen it, give it a watch, it is a long series if you delve into it, but well worth it by the end.

7/10

Starblazers

[maxillofacial · 10/10 · 28 December 2019]

This anime defined my childhood for many years. The journey was entertaining, interesting and enthralling. Star blazers was ahead of its time

STAR BLAZERS is born

[Pro Jury · 19 August 2000]

Recently the original two hour SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO movie was shown at a local university. Watching it offered more questions than answers in pondering how the 120 minute movie was edited into the first STAR BLAZERS series. What stands to memory is that STAR BLAZERS had its storyline given more detail and enrichment. However, either version is fun to watch.

The story, the music, the space battles, the animation... the two words to describe it is PURE FUN!

Enthralled, simply enthralled watching the STAR BLAZERS TV series for the first time 20 years ago. I have seen a fair number of Japanese cartoon series and no characters remain as vivid and real as the crew of the Argo.

Starblazers Theme

[hudsoo-1 · 10/10 · 20 October 2006]

Lyrics for Starblazers Opening Theme (1st Season)

We're off to outer space We're leaving Mother Earth To save the human race Our Star Blazers

Searching for a distant star Heading off to Iscandar Leaving all we love behind Who knows what danger we'll find?

We must be strong and brave Our home we've got to save If we don't in just one year Mother Earth will disappear

Fighting with the Gamilons We won't stop until we've won Then we'll return and when we arrive The Earth will survive With our Star Blazers

Opeming Theme for Second Season

We're off to outer space We're leaving mother Earth To save the human race Our Star Blazers

A cry for help, a desperate plight Makes our Star Force reunite As we rush to meet our fate The Comet Empire awaits

We must be strong and brave To stop its evil ways If Zordar's plot should work He'll destroy the universe

We'll fight the Comet Empire Battle through the raining fire Filled with the hope that Earth will survive We'll keep peace alive with Our Star Blazers

Sorry, I could not enjoy this

[megoobee · 1/10 · 29 March 2009]

I recently borrowed the 26 episodes and was pretty disappointed after watching all of them. I am well familiar with the fact that anime is is written by and for Japanese fans and their tastes (which differs from ours in the United States). Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against anime, there have been quite a few anime series and movies I've seen and enjoyed. However, what turned me off about this series is the utter lack of logic in the story. Let me sum up some of the major issues I had with the story:

All of Earth's defenses are destroyed yet the closest the enemy comes into our solar system is Pluto. There's nothing to stop the aliens from invading and taking Earth. All they do is sit around and boast about how superior they are to Earth.

Two young cadets are picked for important assignments aboard the Yamato. However, they lack self discipline and respect for authority. They constantly challenge orders and one of them even insults the Captain in his presence. What does the Captain do? Nothing. Just asinine.

One Space Battleship against an alien armada of ships and weapons. Sure, the Yamato has a powerful cannon but it can only fire once without extended recharging. As the Germans found out in World War II with the Battleship Bismarck, one powerful ship cannot stand toe-to-toe against a fleet of lesser ships.

Was there a repair facility following them? I ask because no matter how much damaged the ship sustained, it's repaired in a matter of days. At one point, the bad guy self destructs his ship and the entire bottom of the Yamato is destroyed. I don't mean a few holes, I mean the entire bottom of the ship is GONE! By next episode, the ship is completely repaired. Completely unbelievable and unrealistic.

Yes I understand it's a cartoon but this is anime which is suppose to be more intelligent and cerebral than average children's cartoons.

Oh, I have to add, the dead brother thing gets pretty tedious after a while.