Context Is Fun

I really mean that in this case because this film is full of weird little inside things that make it special and yet not at the same time. Especially when it comes to the relationship of it in the Space Battleship Yamato franchise. The first film, Space Battleship Yamato: The Movie outsold the original Star Wars in Japan. That means the production of this film. A film that came out a year later in June 1878. The crazy thing behind that is the Space Battleship Yamato II tv series is based on this film, but expands a lot of its plots and came out in October the same year. What I am saying is that this isn’t a recap film.

The crazy thing is that this film was meant as the finale of Space Battleship Yamato based on its ending. After all, this is a war film and the end of war films are pretty definitive in my opinion. The Space Battleship Yamato II tv series changed the ending which led to more films and more seasons. So it’s like a rock band going on the first retirement tour before the other retirement tours. I don’t know about you all reading this and possibly just skimming it, but I find that so interesting because of how huge Yamato fever was. Just like now, companies back then couldn’t get rid of their cash cows. How times don’t actually change.

The Story of Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato

Three years after Yamato’s trip to Iscandar to save it from the Gamalin threat in 2199, the Earth of 2202 is slowly recovering. As a whole, the human solar empire has returned and resources from those planets are really putting the Earth into another golden age. Humanities economy has been stronger than it has been in years. In this time of peace, members of the Yamato crew, like Kodai and Shima, are running resource fleets between the planets. Also, Kodai and Yuki are meant to be married soon, but of course that isn’t going to be happening

Out there somewhere else in the Galaxy, the comet empire is taking over and enslaving planets. Their comet makes a unique orbit around the galaxy through their unstoppable domination of all that exists and the Earth is up next. The mysterious entity Teresa sends a message out to the universe and of course, Kodai does get it and presents it to the Earth Federation’s council. Of course, no one on Earth wants to respond to it besides the Yamato crew. It’s really gotten to the point that the Yamato crew committed mutiny to see the message and save the universe.

So there is that huge plot of the anime. The Space Battleship Yamato is attempting to stop the shredder of planets and civilizations. There are some little things like the Yamato being let go eventually despite that huge, dramatic opening. It’s very simple, but to the point as well which is why the film is as great as it is. So many things can come out of such excellent simplicity to make the whole experience so complicated.

Battling Complacency

If there is a message for this film, it’s about fighting against complacency. The Earth has returned to a more positive state and the economy has boomed again. Humans don’t have to fight to survive and can buy things for houses that they couldn’t dream about years ago. A lot of that is seen in the scene where Yuki and Kodai go shopping for their house and while Yuki was excited about everything. Kodai just mentioned how the Earth has changed and he just zoned out. The Earth Federation didn’t want to upset that balance. 

I don’t think there is anything surprising that the Yamato crew are the ones that represent the best of the Earth. They already risked their lives to save the Earth once and would gladly do it again. The universe in the balance only pushes them further. Though humanity itself has decided it has gone past the need for a Yamato because it was going to be put into a museum. Who needs it when you have the newer, sleeker Andromeda class, but the heart isn’t there for them. In the end, the Yamato crew’s battle to end complacency was the right thing to do. A new class of ship alone is not going to stop the end of the world. There needs to be a soul as well.. 

The Comet Empire Blender

If I had a major complaint about this film, the Comet Empire isn’t characterized that much. You don’t get a feeling for them as a culture besides they have a king named Sword and a queen. They are the unstoppable sci fi blender that the Yamato and its crew face off against and that’s about it. The only ship able to stop their fleets was the Yamato as they found Teresa and that required breaking through the Comet Empire’s defenses. As I already mentioned, the Earth Fleet with the Andromeda was useless. Then the Yamato broke one layer after another on the Comet Empire when there was always one more.

I think that is fine in the film because this is more about the crew of the Yamato facing an impossible task and rising up to challenge. The cost was so high. The Yamato itself kept going, but more and more crew members died facing it. Some characters we’ve really gotten to know from the films and tv series die the most horrific deaths and keep pushing the Yamato crew to go and complete their mission. It’s beautiful and soul crushing as the best war films should be. In the end, the Earth is saved by so many sacrifices made to make the Earth and the galaxy feel safe to live with at least a bit less selfishness and a bit more awareness. 

Conclusive Thoughts

This anime film looks great. Especially compared to the first film that took the original footage of the television series and edited around it a lot. Some of that footage does get used in this film like the shot of the bridge and the Yamato turning. There were also a lot of corners turned because the Yamato just left the earth sphere without facing any resistance at all. But after Yamato left Earth, there was some amazing science fiction art. So many cool planets and space battles all over the place. The final battle sequence itself was where everything was given to the crew’s final sacrifice. Absolutely wonderful stuff used in the peak moments that sells so much of this sad affair.

I really loved this movie. It’s very Scott material though, so I am biased. It is a space opera show that had a message it wanted to share other than look at the cool sci fi battle stuff. That stuff was there, but this is a pretty sad war anime film too. Great characters, wonderful music, and absolutely stellar stuff. Never get complacent with where you are and always try to help your neighbors. That’s what it is trying to say with the biggest blender of an anime empire that has always existed. Yamato 2 had some great material to make another great series.