(L+CR) Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (movie & TV)

[macdawson]

They're still ahead of the original series where the Yamato only got to Balun in episode 20. The main differences are that there is a lot more going on in all the fronts this time and the story is a lot different by now from the original. Hope they pull it off as this show deserves a good ending. It would suck to have it be so good throughout only to have such a good run ruined by a rushed or mediocre ending. A lot of shows have suffered from those in recent history...

[Ithekro]

One thing that has made it easier for them to show and tell more story is the complete dropping of the narrator. Aside from the previews I think their has been only two instances of backstory narration in this series and that was worked in as Yuki giving a presentation of the War and State of the Earth to school children. The other being the "War Against the Aliens" propaganda/newreel film Shima and Okita were watching in the theater. Without the minute or two long "Story so far" narration from every episode, they have time to tell the story. We don't need a reminder every week anymore.

In addition they've gotten rid of the rest of the narration. Half the time they came to a new planet the narrator would spout out some lore on the place to pan shots or stills without moving the plot much. In the narrator's place we get the crew telling someone else in the crew about it, or they just show it instead of telling it, which is better cinema and storytelling. Also gone it the "There are X days left" speech the narrator would give the the end of the episode. That's placed in the preview instead, again giving more time for the story.

On thing that amuses me since episode 7 in Yamato 2199 has been that they've decide to put some of the music directly into the ship. Instead of it all being just scene music, they've actually tied some of it into the series. The navy's song that the crew of the Yukikaze sang has been heard or hummed several times since then. Then you get Yamato Radio playing music from time to time. And finally the one I enjoy most...Kodai playing the harmonica. The harmonica version of the Scarlet Scarf song had been done in the original, but to have it start in one scene and then change scene to show Kodai playing the song was quite amusing.

Presently they are actually ahead of the original series in terms of storyline. At least in some places. The old episode 14 fits in a way with episode 10 and 12 of Yamato 2199. However Episode 15 of the original seems to fit in with Episodes 10, 13, 14 and 15 in Yamato 2199 (this was the episode where Dommel's fleet arrived at Balan (episode 12), Yamato got caught in a weird region of space (episode 10), Dommel attacked them with his fleet (episode 15), but Yamato got help from Iscandar(episode 14?)). Old Episode 16 and Yamato 2199 Episode 16 seem to matchup in terms of the ship arriving at Beeland, but also looks like it will contain element of later original series episodes as well. They should arrive at Balun by Episode 18 in Yamato 2199 were they didn't reach that planet until Episode 20 in the original. (Means no Balanosaurus or a random attempt to float home to Earth in a space suit episodes?)

They should have at least two more new episodes to work with for their new plots without messing up the story at all. Plus probably a third episode's worth of time just from cut narrations in those episodes.

[YF19EX]

Still waiting to see if they will implement the asteroid ring shield and how Kodai will get the back story on Sanada and in this case Nimii's familiarity with the older Mamoru.

I do like how they are writing the Garmilas forces. Even though I have the original Quest for Iscandar on DVD, I have not watched it in so long. I do remember much of the Garmilas generals were portrayed to be quite arrogant and overconfident in there ability to destroy Yamato. In this one Dommel seems quite honorable if not sympathetic to the plight of his people and to his duty as a soldier. How he will be defeated (or will he?) will be interesting to see.

[Ithekro]

I've still not sure if they will even do the asteroid ring now. It could have been seen as goofy science and replaced with the shields instead. I don't recall seeing that subject even come up in the interviews. They mentioned the Drill Missile and get questions about the Queen of Beeland from time to time, but not the asteroid ring.

Though the recently translated interview with Anno and Izubuchi suggests that Anno would probably have put it in. Anno is more Earth side while Izubichi is more Gamilas side (and it shows). I'm happy seeing more Gamilas storylines, though I doubt we'll see the Dessler from later on's personality (I don't quite understand what they were talking about but he didn't understand why Dessler's personality changed after Farewell). Which makes me wonder how they would do a theoretical Yamato 2201-like series.

As for Sanada's backstory and the rest, I get the feeling they will do a version of the Satellite Fortress episode, just using one of those warp gate things we see Dommel's fleet using. A friend suggested that it might be the case where if things happened differently, Niimi might have been Kodai's sister-in-law. Perhaps a love-triangle at the Academy, University, or even High School with Sanada, Niimi, and Mamoru (they are all around the same age and would have entered higher education before the war started in 2191).

Considering the point-blank shock cannon fire to Dommel's forward turrets, if Yamato doesn't destroy that ship in that battle, it will be messed up for a while. Dommel will definately have respect for Okita at that point as Yamato would have done its best. Without the wave motion gun I assume, since they are quite surrounded and being without power in that instance would be fatal...even for Yamato.

[Roger Rambo]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Oh that is quite clear. The question is, who's side is Shima on (as I can't make out what he says due to limited knowledge of the language). I would say it has to do with issues between the Yamato Plan (get to Iscandar and back in one Earth year) verses Izumo Plan (Find a new planet for the human race to live).

I never liked Ito from the moment I say his smug looking face. He has the trope "smug snake" look. Also we will see if Roger Rambo is right about Hoshina

I'm touched that people remember a post I made over a year ago!


But yes. I still maintain Shiima gonna die.



Also, is it just me, or did the someone let rapper Maurice Richards take over the animation at several points this chapter?

Spoiler for Dat Ass:

[macdawson]

Originally Posted by Roger Rambo

I'm touched that people remember a post I made over a year ago!


But yes. I still maintain Shiima gonna die.

I believe you mean Hoshina...

Spoiler for Mamoru, Sanada and Niimi:

They hint at the relation between Sanada, Niimi and Mamoru a lot during episode 13. Niimi's remark on Kodai's intuition, "It runs in the family, huh?", (though the reference escapes Kodai) and later she remarks "He's every bit as reckless, too.". Also, in the final scene the exchance between Sanada and Niimi:

Sanada: "What do you think HE would've done?"
Niimi: "Probably the same thing as Kodai..."

They could be talking about Okita but i believe it's actually about Mamoru and how Susumu's actions mirror what they believe his brother would have done.

I found it touching that Sanada went along with Niimi's pinger plan because he was unwilling to risk Kodai's life by having him fly the Seagul through such a dangerous debris field (even though Kodai seems to do it quite easily, later). Sanada made an emotional decision there, guess he's more human than people think.

About Sanada's cyborg reveal, if they do that at all, it might come in handy during the mutiny story.

The Garmillas coup d'etat story will probably take place and resolved during episodes 16 and 17, in tandem with the Yamato's mutiny and its resolution. From the available data i speculate chapter 5 will be roughly like this:

Spoiler for Highly speculative plot point based on available data and personal theories---take with a huge grain of salt :D:

Episode 15: The mutiny arc starts to take form as the crew realises that they might not have enough time to make the trip to Iscandar and back in the 298 day they have left and the recent events of episode 13 reveal Okita's illness and possible incapability to lead them. Domel lures the Yamato into a trap leading to a massive battle. The Yamato escapes but badly damaged. The realisation that the bulk of the Garmillas forces are still ahead of them increases the doubts about the Yamato plan. The mutineers prepare.

Episodes 16 and 17: Yamato arrives at Beemera and makes a pit stop for much needed repairs. Beemera can support a human colony. Seeing this as a chance to implement their agenda (under Serizawa's orders to put the Izumo plan into effect) Ito and Niimi, along with other's they have gathered to their cause (including Yabu and, apparently, Shima) take over the ship and relieve Okita and Sanada from command. Kodai and his team, which had landed in Beemera, are cut off. They discover the Akerian ruins and the blue Wave Core. It contains data about the Warp Gate Network and how to access it. (There is speculation that the core may be used to replace the original one in the WME, wether it is an upgrade or because the original was damaged in the previous battle). With this new information the travel time to Iscandar is cut, making the Yamato Plan possible again. Along with the realisation that the animal life on Beemera is highly hostile to humans, the mutineers surrender, scraping the Izumo Plan for good. (Surely the story will be much more convoluted than this, possibly people will die and/or be left behind)

All these events happen in tandem with scenes on Garmillas, with the usurpers, led by Hiss and Zoellick making their move (i'm not sure wether Gimleh is loyal to Desler or on the usurpers side), and destroying Desler's Domelus class ship. They believe they've been successful but once they've revealed themselves, Desler ressurfaces unscathed and strikes the traitors down. (As with the Yamato storyline, i'm sure a lot more will happen).

Episode 18: Using the Beemera Warp Gate the Yamato travels all the way to the Balun sector (from the way the gates seem to work, they probably surface at the Balun gate itself. Another possibility is that they use the new core and make a long range warp to Balun to access the gate network there), finding themselves surrounded by a massive enemy fleet. The fleet is caught by surprise by the enemy presence (notice the green "eyed" ships around the yamato as it fires those torpedoes) and Okita takes advantage of that to make a run for the Balun Gate. Domel snaps into action leading to another battle, probably the one where the Domelus III and the Yamato come into close quarters combat. The Yamato fires a salvo at point blanc range, destroying the Domelus III. Domel escapes the destruction by detaching the command tower ship but in the confusion (i'd even speculate that Goer, believing Domel is dead, takes command of the fleet and, as usual, fracks up) Yamato activates the Gate and warps out. There has been speculation that in order to make its escape the Yamato might fire its WM Gun at Balun's core (which looks like some sort of protostar, standing in for the original's artificial sun) and blows the whole planet up, taking down the whole fleet with it. The Yamato gates out before the Gate is destroyed, of course.

Note:A possible consequence of Desler's temporary fall from power might be Goer's reinstatement as Balun Guard HQ commander by Zoellick. Domel refuses to obbey the "new government" and battles Goer's forces.

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

(Means no Balanosaurus or a random attempt to float home to Earth in a space suit episodes?)

I wouldn't mind if that side story was dropped. I always thought it was a strange story that didn't fit in.

[Roger Rambo]

Originally Posted by LKK

I wouldn't mind if that side story was dropped. I always thought it was a strange story that didn't fit in.

Uhhh, what happened in that story?

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Roger Rambo

Uhhh, what happened in that story?

Opening disclaimer: I've only seen the Starblazers version & it's been a couple of years since I last watched the series. But here's what I remember.

Spoiler for Starblazers' Homer story:

Homer has secretly found a way to contact Earth even though the Argo is supposed to be long out of communication range at this point. (That fact doesn't raise any warning bells in the communication officer's mind.) One of Homer's family members is seriously ill. (His father, IIRC.) Homer is desperately worried about him. His despair worsens as he secretly communicates with him. Meanwhile, another family (his mother, IIRC) begs Homer to come home. Finally, the despair becomes too great for him. Homer puts on a space suit and leaves the Argo intending to float home. Eventually he drifts into a Gamilon communications satellite. Bumping into the satellite wakes him and frees him from his despair. (No, I'm not kidding.) Realizing that the satellite is Gamilon and has been placed there as a trap (according to the Gamilon officer in charge of the satellite), Homer decides to return to the Argo. Fortunately, Homer's absence has been noted. Wildstar who was worried about the recent changes in Homer's personality has been sent to look for him. He finds Homer, rescues him, and they destroy satellite.

All in all, it's a horribly lame episode, IMO, and stretched my suspension of belief to its breaking point. Without a doubt, it's my least favorite episode of the Starblazers saga.

[Ithekro]

They might have elements of that plot in the new stories, but I think that will be taken over by the mutiny instead. The idea of using psychological warfare against Yamato is sort of sound, but the method wasn't since it really only effected one crew member.

Plus literally jumping ship in a space suit to float to Earth when you are nearly half way to Iscandar is stupid in the extreme. One will not make a 74,000 light year trip doing a free floating space walk.

The depression that calling home might cause was suggested by Ito when talking to Niimi about the crew calling home before leaving the Solar System.

And there are better ways to show the crew is homesick for Earth.

The other sort of silly episode idea was the Balanosuarus. We likely won't see that again either. They seem to have replaced it with the dimentional submarine...as it was the Balanosuarus episode's B Plot that had Okita go into surgery. It was also an episode that used the wave motion gun to solve all problems.

Speaking of the Wave Motion Gun. In Yamato 2199 they have now used that weapon a total of three times. One at Jupiter to devastating effect (episode 3), next to escape a solar flare (episode 8) and then to escape the dimentional rift (episode 10). In each instance there was loss of Gamilas life. (floating continent, Repair Bases, and a Gamilas destroyer. A Gamilas battleship to the solar flare. And a large part of the Balun Base Fleet to the Rift). Yamato did not fire the Wave Motion Gun in Chapter 4 at all.

[denshousha]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

The idea of using psychological warfare against Yamato is sort of sound, but the method wasn't since it really only effected one crew member.
Plus literally jumping ship in a space suit to float to Earth when you are nearly half way to Iscandar is stupid in the extreme. One will not make a 74,000 light year trip doing a free floating space walk.

It might have worked had the entire crew been communicating with Earth. Aihara was the only one, IIRC, because he was using his position for personal use against orders. The stress of knowing the Earth was in chaos and watching helplessly as his father died on the monitor caused a psychotic break, hence the "space walk".
When he discovered that the Gamilans had built that relay satellite in order to lower the ship's morale, he realized he'd been used and snapped back to reality.

I really liked that episode. It was nice to see the Yamato crew were fallible sometimes, and it was great to see a secondary character like Aihara have something to do. (Poor Nanbu and Ohta never got an episode to shine in.)

The other sort of silly episode idea was the Balanosuarus. We likely won't see that again either.

I agree with you there. I never really understood the concept. Goer was apparently using some sort of mental/psychic harness to make them form a certain shape... for some reason? Why did it have to be in that shape?

[August138]

Simply put, when the original YAMATO was produced, there was a plan to feature all kinds of space creatures, because at the time there was a huge presence and popularity of giant monsters on Japanese television — hence the Balanodon/Balanosaurus (and we should throw in the Ecto-gas into this category as well). With that being said, it seems we will get a huge mucking beastie in the Beemera episode of Y2199.

[Aqua Knight]

Can someone remind me why Earth has only 1 year to live?

btw I am a new comer to the show - didn't watch the original, but damn Yamato is just so good!
Do I have to watch originals?

Because, for example, when I started watching Gundam Unicorn, I watched ep1 of Unicorn , then MSG old film, then Zeta, then Char's Counterattack and only then continued with Unicorn.

Also episodes come in packs by chapters or they come out weekly?

[Roger Rambo]

Originally Posted by Aqua Knight

Can someone remind me why Earth has only 1 year to live?

Earth has spent about the last decade being bombarded by planet bombs. Basically gigantic radioactive asteroids. The radiation, and biological agents on them that are causing earth to be terraformed, rendered the earth's surface uninhabitable, so people had to live in underground cities. But the radiation from all those years of bombardment is starting to creep further downward, nessecitating the humans to dig downwards even deeper.

Even though the Yamato destroyed the source of the planet bomb attacks, presumably the attacks have caused too much damage already. In a year, the existing radiation will creep down to the lowest levels where the humans live,and all terrestrial human life on earth will be wiped out. The only chance of survival is for the Yamato to get to Iscandar and back in under a year, and use the technologicla macguffin to repair the damage on earth.

Originally Posted by Aqua Knight

Do I have to watch originals?

Because, for example, when I started watching Gundam Unicorn, I watched ep1 of Unicorn , then MSG old film, then Zeta, then Char's Counterattack and only then continued with Unicorn.

No. You don't need to. Those gundam series were canonical parts of the same Universal Century series. They are chronological extensions of the same universe in continuity.

Yamato 2199 is a remake/reboot. It's taking the events of the original Yamato season 1, and remaking them. They've kept allot of things the same, but also changed allot of things. I wouldn't suggest watching it, since stuff in that could possibly spoil things for Yamato 2199 (even though there's still a chance things could be done differently). I'd suggest to only watch the original series after 2199 is finished, and only if you're interested. It's not required to understand anything.

Originally Posted by Aqua Knight

Also episodes come in packs by chapters or they come out weekly?

Episodes are coming out by chapter. They way it works is that a chapter of episodes gets released in theaters, then DVD's/Blu ray disks are sold for it either at the theaters, or shortly there after. Some of the older episodes are being broadcast weekly as reruns.


Hope that helps.

[Aqua Knight]

Thanks a bunch!

Pity that there aren't such great space shows like Yamato in the recent years.

[GundamFan0083]

Just finished watching episodes 12-14 last night.
Excellent, is how I'll describe them.

Spoiler for Just some of my opinions/thoughts.:

Some thoughts about the 4th OVA:
The backstory on Shima's father being the unwilling pawn in the UN's desire to "strike first" and talk to Garmillas later was an excellent way of both developing Shima's character further and making Garmillas look like less of the proverbial "bad guys." The gray-line is a hard one to walk when writing any story, but in Yamato 2199, they are doing an amazing job of it. I like that not all the "good guys" are good, and not all the "bad guys" are bad.
I am happy that Melda made it back safely to Garmillas, since her father tells us that in the car with Domel. I like Domel's character much better in 2199 than in the original. He is more believable, and has greater depth to him with the loss of his children and having a wife. The Duel between Melda and Yamamoto went by fast. The director handled that situation between them very nicely and hopefully we'll see more of Melda in the future developing the relationship between Yamato and Garmillas (assuming they follow that line). The "Wolf" episode in the proto-solar system was well done. I like that they introduced Captain Flaken now with the UX01 as a prototype spacesub. It will make for a nice technology continuity should they get to making Yamato III in the future. Episode 14 seemed to me to be the replacement for the Balanosaurus episode of the original. I say this because in the Balanosaurus episode Goer used a mental device to project his will out to the substance that comprised the monster. I remember him having to focus his mind on a screen that represented the creature in order for it to form. In Episode 14 of 2199, Mirenel Linke does a similar mind trick, only she projects her "Ghost" (yeah we know Production I.G, you guys should have just named her Motoko. ) into Yamato and attempts to seduce the crew. It was also a nice shout out to Greek legend of the sirens of ancient lore.
My take on Yuki Mori is that she is the sister of Starsha and Sasha, and that it is Sasha that is in the Navigational Core of the Yamato. I don't think she was totally dead on Mars (only MOSTLY DEAD! To quote the Princess Bride), and the nav system is probably keeping her alive. It would also make a lot more sense to have Sasha be alive later on (a la Be Forever Yamato) than for the Sasha charcter to be a rapidly growing child of Mamoru and Starsha that falls in love with her Uncle. Besides, one thing I'd like to see is a reduction in the whole "Blond Haired Goddess" from outer space thing in the original. I don't know why, but for me it rings of Monty Python: "strange women, lying in ponds, destributing swords, is no basis for a form of government..." Honestly by Yamato III, I was half expecting to see Maetel pop up somewhere. I trust that this anime production team will fix/change that. Besides, instead of torturing poor Shima with an anti-matter chick (not sure how his relationship with Trelena of Telizart would work out. Talk about an explosive sex life! ). Sasha could make a nice pairing with Shima, since he's the navigator and she might be the navigation unit...just saying.
Overall, I like the development between Kodai and Yuki much better this time around. It is more organic and feels natural rather than forced. They did an amazing job.

[ars89]

Spoiler for chapter 4:

So Earth did fire first. No wonder there was a gag order to keep it a secret. Shima being pissed off about it is understandable. Seems like Yamamoto came to terms with it as well. It did show that Gamilas wasn't as bad as rumored, but there still the enemy.

Liked them showing more of the Gamilas territory. Seems they have their own smaller problems as noted by Domel. The scene with his wife was touching in a way. Lol how he took Goer's positon.

That sub has pretty awesome technology. Like how Kodai used Okita's advice right away and used the seagull. So Enomoto was Kodai's teacher? Interesting how Sanada and Niimi thought that Kodai was more and more like his brother.

Itou and Hoshina really rub me the wrong way. Maybe that's why form the chapter 5 preview they're rebelling?

Glad Melda was able to go back. Also glad she didn't tell her father anything.

That was a pretty crazy way of trying to take over the ship. Though it was funny how the ship was flipping over like that before it stabilized.

The whole sisters thing has me confused. So one of them is in Mori and the other one is in the nav control, which took over Misaki. Though is the goddess that the others see the one in mori or the nav control?

Favorite thing about this chapter was Yuki and Kodai and Mori' interactions.

Well from the preview chapter 5 looks to be very eventful. The battle looks good, but Yamato doesn't seam to be fairing well. Also did they finally reach Iscandar or is that a different planet.

[Ithekro]

Different planet. Iscandar has a lot more water to landmass ratio.

[ars89]

Is the planet that Dessler is always looking at Iscandar?

[August138]

Spoiler for Episode 14: "Mirenel vs. Balanodon":

Episode 14 is not a substitute for the original Balanodon episode in the 1974 series. It is actually a combination of two unfilmed concepts, one planned for the original series, and another conceived by Matsumoto and while it was never filmed, it made it into a manga — and worked into one of the PS games.

The first — originally slated for the series (and ended up in Akira Hio's manga adaptation) — was the story of Iroze, a female Gamilas assassin (basically a Kunoichi or female ninja), who sneaks aboard the Yamato and begins to kill members of the crew, which causes a ruckus since those aboard the ship believe that one of their own is a killer, until she is ferreted out and disposed of.

The second — which was a rejected concept of Matsumoto's was "The Eternal Story of Jura", which was published as a stand-alone manga in Play Comic magazine. The story concerns a pointy-eared alien — romantically linked to Dessler — who's daughter is used to exert mind-control over the Yamato and drive the crew mad (like the Sirens of Greek myth). The story ends on a very tragic note.


Sample page (translated for the now-defunct starblazers.com)

You can watch the entire sidestory manga, here:
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v20521869Eeq3Gm2r