From the January 1979 issue of Kodansha’s manga magazine Mimi comes this six-page exploration of the Yamato 2 production office at Academy Studio, filled with insider details and step-by-step instructions for how anime is made.
The spring months of 1979 saw the epic conclusion of Yamato 2 and the first word about the next adventure. A continuing flood of media still gave everyone plenty to talk about. Here we see everything that happened in March and April. [2 pages]
As Yamato 2 moved into its post-Telezart phase with four very compelling episodes, development continued on The New Voyage, media coverage intensified, and new books kept the world expanding. Pile on more model kits, an unusual LP, and more, and it added up to a very rich month.
At the dawn of 1979, Yoshinobu Nishizaki’s Office Academy studio was on the highest trajectory ever seen in the TV anime industry. He took Office Academy into expansion mode, organized around merchandising and new anime productions. The first of these began in January, a little thing we now call The New Voyage.
The announcement of Farewell to Yamato for the summer of 1978 galvanized a whole new media culture into existence. When Academy opened its new production studio in September to make Yamato 2, reporters were there, ready to give everyone a chance to see where the magic happened.
As 1978 drew to a close, Yamato fever showed no signs of abating. Farewell would soon be back for revival screenings, Yamato 2 approached its halfway point on TV, and new merch continued to appear, especially on the music side. It all made December a month to remember.
Though Farewell to Yamato was no longer in theaters in November 1978, it continued to dominate the discourse, both in media and merchandising. But it was no longer the entire story, as demonstrated by the increasingly divergent episodes of Yamato 2 on TV. Here’s everything the month had to offer…
Imagine that it’s July 1977, two months after Star Wars exploded into the world. Now, without buying a movie ticket, you’ll get to watch an expanded version play out over 26 episodes on TV. That mind-blowing scenario was pretty much what fans were getting when Yamato 2 took to the airwaves. And you bet it sparked a lot of activity…
World-reknown confectionary company Ezaki Glico had a huge impact in the mid-70s with inexpensive tie-in products for Japanese idol stars, and they made the jump into anime licensing in October 1978 with Yamato 2 as one of its first properties.
From its 1978 debut onward, mecha design for the EDF fleet in Farewell to Yamato and Yamato 2 represented the pinnacle for the Yamato saga. These ships were revisited over and over, making this the single largest body of merchandising for any fleet in the series.
Presented here is a comprehensive collection of all the Comet Empire mecha that has been released in 3-D form from a host of different companies, mainstream plamo and DIY garage kits alike.
One of the things that made Space Battleship Yamato unique was a fan base so dedicated that they obtained copies of production materials to share in fanzines. It is thanks to them that a presentation like this one is now possible: a complete scene-by-scene examination of a single TV episode. [4 pages]
With the approach of Yamato 2202 and the explosion of new design work that will accompany it, we revisit the original designs from 1978 for comparison. This collection reviews the characters of Gatlantis, the Comet Empire.
With the approach of Yamato 2202 and the explosion of new design work that will accompany it, we revisit the original designs from 1978 for comparison. This collection reviews the mecha of Gatlantis, the Comet Empire.
A complete overview of Series 2 via the galleries created as bonus features for the Comet Empire DVD series released by Voyager Entertainment in 2002. All the characters, ships, weapons, locations, maps, and more!
2201: The Argo returns!
After a year of patrol duty, the Argo sets course for Earth…just as an enemy intruder appears and a blast of energy rips across the solar system. Meanwhile, the Comet Empire makes its plans to conquer Earth. The days of peace are numbered…
The comet appears; remodeling the Argo!
Reunited with the rest of the Star Force, Derek Wildstar talks about his suspicions of approaching danger…and another attack from space proves him right. But who–or what–now threatens the Earth?
Earth’s crisis awakens the Argo!
The appearance of the White Comet and a scrambled message for help is enough to convince Wildstar that the Star Force must respond–with or without the permission of Earth’s government!
Blast off to the unknown!
Against orders and even their own personal doubts, the Star Force blasts off in the Space Battleship Argo. To do this could end their careers and turn heroes into fools…but at all crucial moments, fortune favors the bold.
Open main guns! Target: Argo!
The Argo has blasted free of Earth on its private mission to answer the cry for help. Now only one obstacle stands in their path, but it is the deadliest of all: Earth’s might flagship Andromeda!
Heavy fighting! The space marines!
At the outer Planet Brumus, the new enemy finally shows its face when it launches an assault on Sergeant Knox and the space marines. The Star Force heads for Brumus at full speed…but can they arrive in time?
Counterattack! The invisible space submarine!
Two battles rage: one inside the Argo and one outside. As the space marines clash with the Star Force, the Comet Empire launches a surprise stealth attack. Both battles must be fought, and either one could end a mission that has barely begun.
Space storm! Escape is impossible!
The Argo accidentally warps into the deadly jaws of a space cyclone–and even if they can escape the deadly time trap at its core, the Comet Empire waits to attack the second they break free!
Charge! Sink the Argo!
The Star Force captures an enemy pilot, the first Comet Empire soldier ever seen by Earthlings. At last, they have a chance to find out who is moving against the Earth…but nothing is ever so simple in the vastness of deep space.
Crisis relief! The roar of the Wave-Motion Gun!
As the Star Force presses onward toward Planet Telezart, they clash with the fleet of General Torbuk. It comes down to the Argo‘s Wave Motion Gun versus the Comet Empire’s deadly antimatter missiles–who will win?
Leader Desslok, the vengeful demon!
At long last, Desslok of Gamilon has revealed himself as a player in the new game of galactic conquest. But this time his only ambition is to destroy the Star Force…and with the aid of seemingly innocent star flies, he might just do it!
Will the Argo perish in the hollow planetoid?
The Star Force breaks free of Desslok’s initial assault to take refuge in a huge tunnel satellite, but they are unaware that they have fallen into their arch enemy’s deathtrap…and he is closing in for the kill!
Fierce attack! The Telezart landing operation!
Having broken through Desslok’s deadly traps, the Star Force reaches Planet Telezart and descends to look for Trelaina…but a wave of Comet Empire missiles and a battalion of tanks are determined that they will go no further.
