June 2012: Chapter 2 approaches and magazine coverage heats up in Hyper Hobby, Animage, CG World, Voice Actors Animedia, New Type, Hobby Japan, Dengeki Hobby, and Great Mechanics DX. A TV special, the first CD single, manga chapter 4, and a report from the premiere of Chapter 2. [2 pages]
April to May 2012: translated articles from the Chapter 1 movie program book, magazine coverage from Hobby Japan, Dengeki Hobby, Good Press, Figure King, Weekly Ascii, and extensive interviews in TV Bros with the lead actors, Yutaka Izubuchi, and singer Isao Sasaki. [2 pages]
The first trickle of promotion on January 1, 2010 ignites interest around the world. We review the credits of the entire cast and present the earliest newspaper interviews with star Takuya Kimura, along with a complete translation of a tabloid newspaper dedicated to the film.
The first full trailer is released in June 2010 and live promotion begins at the World Hobby Fair. Then we meet the filmmakers: Director Takashi Yamazaki, writer Shimako Sato, and composer Naoki Sato. We then review each of Yamazaki’s previous films and recommend related viewing.
Fall 2010: the second trailer, the Sanrio tie-in, the prop exhibit, early products appear, and Steven Tyler is announced as the performer of the ending theme. We then review the trailer and the novelization for hints about the finished film.
Covering October and November, 2010: promotion explodes in the final run-up to the premiere. Magazine coverage, the preview screening, Yamato Earth goes live, the Famima prize campaign, the English-language screening, multiple promo tie-ins, the giant model, the “Countdown Event” and much more! [2 pages]
Covering December, 2010: The movie sets box office records during its first month, and numerous products are sold in theaters. Magazine coverage continues, fans get the chance to buy replica props, and more!
March to May 2012: magazine coverage from all corners, manga chapters 2 and 3, Yamatalk Night 1, Chapter 1 secrets revealed in Hyper Hobby, the model kit line is announced, Koichi Yamadera is chosen as the voice of Dessler, Chapter 1 home video release, the trailer for Chapter 2, and new mecha appears. [2 pages]
The film makes its first international appearance in Montreal, arrives on DVD and blu-ray, products roll out from Yamato Crew, Yamato-themed health insurance(!) is offered, garage kits are announced, and the massive Resurrection Complete Box appears in October.
Resurrection is resurrected when the Director’s Cut is announced in early 2011. Product releases continue, including new garage kits and the Resurrection Fever pachinko game. The Director’s Cut itself is released for one week only, in late June 2012.
During the run-up to Resurrection in December 2009, a unique event was held in Tokyo: a gallery exhibition featuring artifacts from the production years and some teasers for the film. See extensive photos and read an eyewitness report here.
The Director’s Cut arrived on home video March, 2012 and Enagio Studio announced their intention to expand it into a trilogy. To help encourage everyone to lend their support, here is a comprehensive look at what the Director’s Cut actually is.
The rest of the story: the movie closes, prize campaign winners are awarded, and multiple video releases finally provide worldwide access in June 2011. See extensive reviews of each one here.
An eyewitness report by Gwyn Campbell. The guests on the evening of April 23, 2013 were director Yutaka Izubuchi, audio director Tomohiro Yashida, and the saga’s original sound effects creator Mitsuru Kashiwabara. Read a complete transcript of their conversation here.
Just before 2199‘s TV premiere, hobby shop AmiAmi published this four-part interview with Hirofumi Kishiyama of Bandai’s hobby division, team leader in charge of development for the 2199 model kits. He spoke at length about the decision making and the pitfalls of reviving a legend in three dimensions. [2 pages]
Published July 2012, this magazine included a six-page article on Yamato 2199 featuring a lively interview with general director Yutaka Izubuchi and chief mechanical director Masanori Nishii. At the time, Chapter 2 had just finished its theatrical run, but the sheer fanboy exuberance displayed here is timeless.
Published March 2013, this magazine included a 12-page article on Yamato 2199 that reviews the basics of the story and includes an interview with mecha designer Junichiro Tamamori.
Great Mechanics DX was the first magazine to make Yamato 2199 coverage a regular feature, and still stands above all others in the quality of its in-depth mecha design interviews. This issue was published March 2013, and interviewed Garmillas mecha designer Yasushi Ishizu.
March and April 2012: Extended interviews in Hobby Japan and Dengeki Hobby, the three-man media blitz before Chapter 1 (Yutaka Izubuchi, Ryusuke Hikawa, and Akira Miyagawa), the April 7 premiere day with an on-stage talk show, and the first blu-ray release. [2 pages]
March 2012: The manga debuts in New Type Ace and magazine coverage explodes in Hobby Japan, Dengeki Hobby, Great Mechanics DX, Nikkei Entertainment, New Type, 2nd Magazine, and Megami. The premiere of YRA Radio Yamato and the first product tie-in. Also: early model sheets for Garmillas and Iscandar mecha!
An overview of the changes made to the Director’s Cut highlighting its heavily-revised ending, and the backstory of Resurrection translated from story notes written in 1993. [2 pages]
We examine the unusual genesis of the Director’s Cut and lead staff members talk about the creation of the film, including Executive Producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki, Co-director Makoto Kobayashi, and others.
Mr. Kobayashi has also enjoyed a unique Yamato career, having been a major participant in the new projects of the late 80s/early 90s. He then returned to get Resurrection over the finish line and take the lead on the 2012 Director’s Cut. This interview took place the week of its premiere in February 2012.
An eyewitness report by Gwyn Campbell. On January 22, 2013, series director Yutaka Izubuchi sat down with his friend and fellow Yamato fan Hideaki Anno, director of the legendary Neon Genesis Evangelion. Read a complete transcript of their conversation here.
February 2012: Analysis of the new Earth mecha, character design updates, the manga is announced, plans for special home video releases, and the exciting Yamato 2199 launch event.
From the official Yamato 2199 website, published January, 2013. Series director Yutaka Izubuchi and mechanical director Masanori Nishii talk about various aspects of the mecha scenes in Chapter 4. Accompanied by a mecha gallery of the Garmillas fleet.
From the 2199 Chapter 4 program book. Composer Akira Miyagawa talks about growing up in the shadow of his famous father as a fan of Yamato, the beginning of his own musical career, and the requirements of reviving the original score for a new era.
From Hyper Hobby magazine, October & November, 2012. Series Director Yutaka Izubuchi spoke at length with fellow fan-turned-pro Masato Hayase, an artist/writer at the forefront of another multi-generational franchise, The legendary Cyborg 009. The result is an otaku tag-team of championship quality.
An important facet of creating Yamato 2199 was finding a real-world justification for as many elements as possible, including what it would actually take to build and launch a massive space battleship. That brought Maeda Construction Co. into the fray, and it lead to this previously-unimagined prologue to the entire story. [2 pages]
An eyewitness report by Gwyn Campbell. On October 23, 2012, series director Yutaka Izubuchi spoke with composer Akira Miyagawa. They kept the audience entertained for 45 minutes with plenty of insights and anecdotes. Read a complete transcript of their conversation here.
