Star Blazers 2199: Space Battleship Yamato – Part One [Blu-ray]

I remember watching the original U.S. broadcast edit of this show as Star Blazers when I was a child and loved it. When I tried to rewatch it as an adult, I couldn't. The science was bad, charters wooden, and it just didn't work for me anymore. This is clearly another U.S. edit of a Japanese remake of the original show, but it feels like it was done for the original audience, now grown up.TL;DR: If you enjoyed the original U.S. version as a kid and never bothered to learn Japanese to watch the original language version, you owe it to yourself to watch this one.

I have just completed watching the first 13 episodes of Space Battleship Yamato 2199 and I have to state that I was not disappointed. Much like the critically acclaimed Battlestar Galactica (2004), Space Battleship Yamato 2199 is darker than its 1974 original, but still hopeful in terms of the mission at hand. Of course anyone that has had the privilege of seeing the original Japanese versions of Space Battleship Yamato and Space Battleship Yamato II, knows that the original, unedited series was rife with dark undertones; the Japanese have little issue with children knowing just how messed up life can be.In its Star Blazers format, which was the only way we got to see it here in the US before the Japanese version was posted to, and eventually pulled from, YouTube, removed many of the real-life elements of the series. Just about any indication of humans or Gamilons dying was removed from Star Blazers or hand-waved, as if the middle school and older target audience was oblivious to the fact that such conflict would result in numerous deaths.I watched the series in Japanese with subtitles, but on some disc reloads where my Mac’s DVD Player software reverted to the English dub, it seems that the dubbed version avoided the Luke Nounverber renaming of characters. (This practice was common for dubbed Japanese imports in the 1960s, 1970s, and into the 1980s, but was fortunately abandoned as anime grew more popular in the States.) Funimation’s release respects the characters’ Japanese names for humans and the Gamilons names that are derivations of Nazi-era German political and military leaders. Thus, those of us that grew up with the Argo, Captain Avatar, Derek Wildstar, Mark Venture, Nova, General Lysis, and Leader Desslock will need to adjust to hearing Yamato, Captain Okita, Susumu Kodai, Daisuke Shima, Yuki Mori, General Domel, and Leader Dessler.Also new characters have been introduced to better flesh out not only the Yamato’s crew, but also Gamilon ranks. Where the original series followed the Star Trek formula—having the main characters performing a wide range of specialized duties that would be performed by other persons or teams—has been greatly diminished. In the original series Yuki was the worst case of this being the sole female on the Yamato serving as radar officer, nurse, laundress, and a number of other “traditional” female roles. (There were actually other women on the Yamato in the original series, albeit rarely seen and only in the background, but they were never seen again after Episode 10 and were completely excised from Star Blazers.)The remake also has much more character development for which General Domel is an excellent example. In the original, we are introduced to Domel when he arrives on Gamilas to much fanfare to receive a medal from Dessler. We are informed that he is a highly decorated and respected general in the Gamilon military, but not much more. In 2199 we are introduced to Domel as he is engaged against Galantis forces in the Small Magellanic Cloud, so the reason for the medal he receives is explained and we get some foreshadowing of what will later be the Comet Empire’s (Galantis) invasion of the Milky Way galaxy. In the few episodes in which he appears at the end of Part 1, we also get to see a more complex and, much like his namesake, General Rommel, conflicted Domel that is a far cry from the one-dimensional war hawk that appeared in the 1970s series.In fact, the series as a whole ups the ante in complexity. Humanity is not presented as a race of white knights and the Gamilons are anything but pure evil. The 2199 universe avoids being back and white, and instead offers a far more realistic vision of gray politics nearly on par with what is seen in J. M. Straczynski’s Babylon 5.Space Battleship Yamato 2199 also gives more credence to the technology used in the series. While not on the level of post-TOS/pre-Abrams Star Trek series—Paramount employed technical consultants and much of the “explanation” of 24th century tech was well-grounded in contemporary knowledge of physics—the remake goes beyond the “just accept it” notion that permeates many shows/movies that are set in the future. The concept of the single ship that saves the day against entire aggressor fleets is a fairly common sci-fi trope, but often nonsensical when given much thought. It is even more so the case when that sole vessel belongs to an underdog protagonist that is not only outnumbered, but also technologically inferior to their opposition. The revamped Yamato is presented as employing advanced technologies that the Earth was gifted that the Gamilons do not have or are still working on. Combined with Captain Okita’s strategic and tactical prowess, this is a more realistic explanation of why the Yamato survives numerous engagements with an aggressor that is the Earth’s technological superior.In all, I have to commend Funimation for their US release of this updated anime series. I look forward to the release of the second half of this reboot as well as the future release of Space Battleship Yamato 2202. Voyager Entertainment seriously dropped the ball on this one, but it is not surprising after all these years. I also recently purchased the Voyager DVD sets of Star Blazers: Quest for Iscandar and Star Blazers: The Comet Empire which I previously acquired on VHS. Voyager still does not offer the Japanese version of the original series, let alone a digital remaster.Lastly, unlike another commenter that complained about the DVDs included in this set, I also commend Funimation on this multi-format release. Not everyone has a Blu-ray player—I for one do not because of life circumstances that are directing my finances elsewhere—, but this release provides me an upgrade path once I can afford to get one. This was not the case when I purchased VHS tapes of the original series over 20 years ago which were very expensive; the discount price from Voyager Entertainment for buying all three Star Blazers series as a set was in excess of $500.00. If Part 2 is priced similarly to Part 1, then the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of the Iscandar saga will cost me less than the Voyager DVD set for the original Quest for Iscandar series, which itself is much less expensive than when Voyager first made Star Blazers available in that format.

Great to have this if only on digital! I'm a major Star Blazer fan from when it was new to the US, still am. Now I can watch where ever I am and whenever I'm in the mood

This is a rework of the old animated cartoon Star Blazers and creators did a good job recreating the story line and spirit of the show. I bought all the seasons and enjoyed watching it. Would I buy again? Yes. You have to pay attention to understand what’s going on as there is a lot going on. The Battle ship Yamato was destroyed in WW 2 and it represents a spirit of not giving up and the perseverance of what humans can do when inspired. The Musashi was the sister ship.

First this is NOT the American Star Blazers we all grew up with. This is Space Battleship Yamato 2199. Derek Wildstar is Kodai. It is the Yamato not the Argo. Nova is Yuki Mori (which is a really cool inside joke). If you came to watch Star Blazers be disappointed.That said, this is the cleanest version of Yamato I've ever seen. The effects have been heightened and I even wonder if there has been additional editing: I don't remember Kodai & Shima ever fistbumping when I was watching. As for the story, I think it is better than ever presented here. The villains are humanized and given backstory. The character development rivals TV today.Yamato dates from 1973 (according to IMDB) and the scifi concepts are better than Star Trek. The Wave Motion Engine is a black hole (Event Horizon) and they travel through dimensions when they jump. Reflecting laser weapons. A transwarp submarine. This is quantum physics and thinking scifi.The other thing that struck me was how much Yamato follows military protocol. It reminded me a lot of Babylon 5 in that respect. There is a clear hierarchy and they even take from modern naval practices "Crossing the Line" being a great example.I can't wait for part 2 to see what else I was too young to understand. Personally this blows me away NOW more than it did then.

I really don't write reviews but this remake is outstanding. I wish hollywood would take lessons by watching and seeing how a remake should be. I grew up watching Star Blazers in the late 70's and enjoyed it a lot. I think though if I watched the original today it would seem too kid like. But this remake brought it to a more adult sensibility. I finished part 1&2. The characters they added really helped the story imo. The animation reminded me of the first season of the animated flash gordon but in hd. A few things to note. All the characters names are Japanese but they all speak english.... No capt avatar. Think I like the name desslok better than desler, but the character is played so much better I can ignore that. The only thing that bothered me was the amount of damage the yamato takes should have destroyed it, but the space battles are great. If you want to rewatch the originals, watch this remake first. If you want to get a taste without spending too much, I think its like 3 bucks and episode purchase part 1, episode 11 "A World I Once Saw" and check it out. Got a little of everything.

Es una versión muy apegada a la original, con nuevos capítulos y con mejor calidad de imagen

Loved the original series as a kid and this new one is even better. It's nice that its not a direct retelling of the original story and has some different characters and storylines. I prefer the english dub because when reading subs, I feel I'm missing part of a show. Looking forward to the picking up the second set.

Awesome, takes you back, with the whole story over two box sets. Enjoy it for everything it has to offer and in many ways, seems to be a more thorough thinking of the original story with some great elements.

i love that its blu ray,and so many episodes are on the discs ,i cant wait to buy the 2nd part of the ongoing story

This is one of the better series of it's time. Still a masterpiece. Waiting for the second release.