MARCH 1
Chapter 5 Review (Part 3): The Earth Arc
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In Chapter 5, the people of Earth, swayed by Dezarium’s instigation, voluntarily began wearing “Com-Medals,” thereby accelerating their own transformation into Dezarium-like beings.
Furthermore, false information is circulated claiming that Yamato has massacred 20,000 Dezarian citizens at Digablas. Consequently, it appears Yamato is now poised to become an enemy of Earth. Yet, with the exception of children born after the Garmillas War, didn’t the vast majority of Earthlings survive precisely because of Yamato? How on earth can they have the audacity to accept Dezarium’s claims at face value and turn around to criticize Yamato?
While 3199 starkly highlights the folly of humanity, Dezarium’s various acts of deception, though occurring in an anime, depict a scenario that feels eerily plausible in the real world. It seems likely that Earthlings who have donned the Com-Medals will have their memories manipulated, much like the Dezarium citizens other than Alphon, and will become mere puppets, completely subservient to the will of “Mother Dezarium.”
Susumu Kodai
Compared to the original Be Forever Yamato, the expanded runtime in 3199 has naturally increased Kodai’s screen time, and a direct confrontation with Alphon has been added to the narrative. In Be Forever, Yuki learned that the Dezarians “desired human bodies.” However, Kodai himself seemed to fight and defeat Dezarium without ever truly grasping the underlying circumstances behind that revelation.
In contrast, the inclusion of the confrontation with Alphon in 3199 allows for a deeper understanding of the Dezarium people, thereby adding a palpable sense of depth to the overall story.
Yuki Mori
Thanks to the expanded runtime, Yuki’s interactions with Alphon have also increased significantly. In the original, the established backstory was that Alphon revealed the secret of the Hyperon Bomb to Yuki because he harbored romantic feelings for her. In 3199, however, the dynamic is different: Alphon is portrayed as the only Dezarian individual who possesses emotions akin to those of humans, and who, consequently, remains free from the control of Mother Dezarium’s will. Following that natural progression, it seems inevitable that he will end up revealing the secrets of Dezarium and the Grand Reverse to Yuki.
Shiro Sanada
Sanada was truly cool in this installment, taking on the role of the ship’s chief strategist. Among all the characters in the remake series, I feel that Houchu Otsuka, the voice actor for Sanada, is the most perfect fit. And yet again, he effortlessly unraveled the secrets of the Phase Energy. That’s Sanada for you!
Honestly, I’m convinced that as long as Sanada is around, he could probably build anything, even a Cosmo Reverse System or a genuine, Iscandar-made Wave Core!
Osamu Yamanami
In Be Forever, Captain Yamanami told his crew, veterans hardened by countless battles, that he would treat them “just like raw recruits.” If that happened in the real world, he would have surely alienated his crew, and his command would have been a total disaster.
However, the Yamanami in the remake series is portrayed as a highly competent officer with the approachable, big-brother-like demeanor of a natural leader. Personally, I vastly prefer the remake version of Captain Yamanami over his counterpart in the original series. I wonder, though, will Captain Yamanami end up dying in 3199 as well?
Speaking for myself, I really hope he makes it out alive.
Sasha
Sasha has been playing an active and vital role, utilizing her unique special abilities. Even the somewhat contrived plot point from Be Forever, where she was established as being only 17 years old, was given a clever and convincing justification in 3199, which I found quite impressive. My personal hope is that Sasha survives and eventually becomes Mrs. Dessler.
However, given Starsha’s line at the beginning of Chapter 5, “But… what about that child?” I worry that she might end up dying after all.
In the original series, after killing off so many characters in Farewell to Yamato, the creators seemed to acquire a taste for those “tear-jerker” plotlines. A pattern emerged where major characters would die off just to elicit an emotional response from the audience. But we aren’t in the Showa era anymore. I think that kind of storytelling feels rather outdated these days. I really hope Sasha makes it out alive this time around.
Ryusuke Domon
Speaking of which, Domon is technically supposed to die in the 3199 storyline as well. But somehow, I get the distinct feeling that Domon is actually going to survive. At this rate, it seems unlikely we’ll even get an episode featuring the Hydro-Cosmogen.
In 2205, the new recruits still had a bit of youthful greenness about them, but by 3199, they’ve really matured into full-fledged crew members. Among all the new crew members introduced since 2205, Domon is definitely my favorite.
Takeshi Ageha
In Yamato III, Ageha was killed in action. However, given the constraints on runtime, I don’t think Princess Ruda will be making an appearance anytime after Chapter 6. Consequently, it seems likely that Ageha will survive this time around.
Ageha’s cool, aloof demeanor reminds me a bit of Rukawa from Slam Dunk, and don’t you think his voice bears a resemblance to his as well? Furthermore, given that he’s portrayed as a genius pilot, much like Max from Macross, he inevitably brings that character to mind. Though, admittedly, he doesn’t quite have that same “playboy” vibe Max did!
Seiya Kitano
Kitano’s actions, such as deliberately running Hyuga aground at the Third Baleras base on the moon (which enjoys diplomatic immunity under Gamillas law), suggest a classic double-cross scenario. He’s pretending to defect, but in reality, he hasn’t switched sides at all.
I suspect Kitano is going to make a decisive move that ultimately liberates the Earthlings from the clutches of Dezarium. That said, I get the distinct impression that he’ll end up sacrificing his life shortly after successfully completing that mission.
Shino Todo
Shino is absolutely insufferable, utterly detestable. Yet, I fully expect that, sooner or later, we’ll be treated to some sort of tear-jerking redemption episode centered around her. I can easily envision a scenario where she finally realizes the error of her ways and ends up sacrificing her life to save the Earthlings. Personally, however, I’d much rather see a storyline where she remains loyal to Dezarium right to the end, only to be arrested after the war and executed for the crime of aiding a foreign aggressor.
To be honest, speaking realistically, if Earth manages to drive out Dezarium and reclaim its independence, I imagine the post-war era would resemble a “witch hunt,” with anyone who sided with Dezarium facing severe persecution. Isn’t it highly probable that government officials aligned with the Dezarium faction, starting with Shino, as well as those who voluntarily joined their vigilante groups, will be slaughtered en masse during the chaotic period before the Earth Government is fully restored? Furthermore, wouldn’t the surviving Dezarium sympathizers likely be rounded up, thrown into places resembling internment camps, and subjected to mass executions?
Kozo Nanbu
Kozo Nanbu, too, will probably just end up siding with Earth later on anyway. Even if Dezarium were to spew propaganda claiming that Yamato massacred the 20,000 troops stationed on Digablas, couldn’t the same accusation be leveled right back at Dezarium? After all, when they invaded Earth, their Gabaria ships were firing beams indiscriminately. Surely they must have massacred around 20,000 Earthlings themselves.
Since both Shino and Kozo have effectively merged themselves with this very Dezarium faction, hearing them say, “Oh, we’re on your side now!” at this late stage just doesn’t cut it. Honestly, my only thought regarding Shino and Kozo is that they deserve to meet the same fate as Colonel Gaddafi, captured by civilians, lynched, and beaten to death.
And now, Chapter 6 has taken an unexpected turn with Yamato traveling back in time to Earth as it existed 200 years ago. They will likely attempt to prevent the Garmillas invasion and save Earth. however, won’t they eventually realize that doing so makes them no different from Dezarium? I have a feeling the story will unfold in such a way that they have a change of heart, deciding that the past cannot be undone and that they must instead live fully in the present, and subsequently set course for the Dezarium homeworld.
In any case, I’m truly looking forward to it!
MARCH 8
Chapter 5 Review (Part 4): The Dezarium Arc
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Up through Chapter 4, we had to sit back and watch while Dezarium did whatever they pleased, and my frustration reached its absolute peak. But now that we’ve finally destroyed Digablas, I feel a profound sense of relief and satisfaction! Even when you include the original series, there has never been an enemy as utterly infuriating as Mother Dezarium. Being able to finally strike back and land a blow against them made me truly, genuinely happy.
Mother Dezarium
Let’s begin by looking at the battle to take down Digablas.
It was revealed that Dezarium had been channeling Phase Energy through subspace, and that this energy was the root cause of the universe’s rapid cooling. The joint fleet, combining vessels from Earth and the Garmillas Empire, executed a plan to force the Wave Engines of their Shalbart-class battleships into an uncontrolled overdrive while inside subspace. By doing so, they successfully severed the Phase Energy transmission lines, aiming to finish off both Digablas and its Gorubas once their energy supply had been cut off.
Although there were a few unexpected complications along the way, the Bolar Federation fleet arrived as reinforcements, allowing us to ultimately destroy both Digablas and the Gorubas in the most decisive and satisfying manner possible.
Even after that defeat, Mother Dezarium remained utterly unperturbed, arrogantly boasting that they could fully restore their Phase Energy capabilities within a mere month. Furthermore, they began spreading malicious rumors, claiming that Yamato had committed a massacre, slaughtering 20,000 people during the Digablas operation, in a calculated attempt to turn the people of Earth against Yamato and frame it as an enemy of humanity.
But considering how extensively and spectacularly the Dezarium laid waste to Earth during their occupation, surely a significant number of Earthlings, perhaps around 20,000, must have perished? For that matter, the Earthlings wouldn’t have survived at all if Yamato hadn’t come to their rescue. so why do they view Yamato as an enemy?
Mother Dezarium is infuriating enough, but the Earthlings who blindly do her bidding are even more aggravating.
Lieutenant Alphon 001
In Chapter 5, every single Dezarium, with the sole exception of Alphon, had their memories rewritten and were brainwashed by Mother Dezarium.
As the only one privy to Mother Dezarium’s true treachery, Alphon will likely adopt a stance increasingly sympathetic toward the Earthlings from this point forward. In Be Forever Yamato, due to the film’s limited runtime, it wasn’t entirely clear why Alphon chose to reveal the secret of the Hyperon Bomb to the Earthlings. however, in 3199, it seems his motivations are being established much more solidly.
After watching Chapter 5, I’ve really grown to like Alphon as a character.
While it’s true that there were no Dezarium personnel aboard the Digablas, even if their warships and tanks were unmanned during the occupation of Earth, surely the soldiers who actually landed on the surface must have been Dezarians themselves? Furthermore, we know there were Dezarian individuals who actually immigrated to Earth. Therefore, there must still be a certain number of Dezarian survivors remaining somewhere.
Could it be that they intend to eliminate the physical bodies of the Dezarian people, preserve only their minds, and then implant those minds into the bodies of Earthlings? Bodies that have been “reset” via the Hyperon Bomb? If that were the case, they could simply proceed to reset the brains of any Earthlings already wearing Com-Medals right away. So they must surely have some other, deeper objective in mind.
The trailer for Chapter 6 shows characters like Domon wearing Com-Medals. this suggests that Mother Dezarium is attempting to ensnare even Yamato‘s crew with a seductive proposition, something along the lines of, “Let us intervene in the past together and forge a better future.”
Viewed through that lens, it stands to reason that Dezarium must have a critically important reason for needing to capture Yamato and seize its genuine, Iscandarian-made Wave-Motion Core. Since 3199 ends on a note that leaves plenty of mysteries unsolved, it really makes you look forward to Chapter 6, doesn’t it?
Chapter 6 takes an unexpected turn, with Yamato traveling back in time to Earth as it existed 200 years ago.
I suspect the crew will come to a realization: “We’re trying to prevent the Garmillas invasion and save Earth, but in doing so, aren’t we acting exactly like Dezarium?”
Consequently, I have a feeling the story will pivot toward a new mindset: “The past is gone forever. Let’s live fully in the present,” leading them to set course for the Dezarium homeworld instead.
In any case, it’s going to be truly exciting!! I hope you all check out 3199 as well!!
MARCH 15
Chapter 5 Review (Part 5): On Vilke Boroze
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When I first saw Boroze in 2205, his arrogant demeanor made my blood boil. I remember thinking, “Why don’t they just execute him instead of sending him back to the Bolar Federation?”
Subsequently, Boroze was demoted and effectively exiled, reassigned to a fleet stationed near Earth. In the year 3199, the Garmillas Empire suffered a catastrophic blow when Dezarium destroyed their home planet, resulting in the massacre of 70% of their population. Meanwhile, the Bolar Federation saw its fleet annihilated in Earth’s vicinity and bore the brunt of the devastating global cooling effects.
Consequently, I argued in my blog that the Garmillas Empire and the Bolar Federation ought to form an alliance and join forces to fight against Deslerium.
However, since the tyrannical rule imposed by Boroze on the Galman homeworld was utterly unforgivable, I thought the best solution would be to frame that oppression as an unauthorized, rogue operation conducted by Boroze without Bemlarze’s permission. We could then simply hand Boroze over to the Garmillas Empire for execution.
Of course, it’s highly unlikely that Boroze could have imposed such tyranny without Bemlarze’s explicit approval. but, true to the style of a communist state, they could simply pin the blame on a subordinate, effectively “cutting off the lizard’s tail” to save the body (lol).
Yet, in a completely unexpected turn of events in 3199, Boroze actually heeded Ram’s persuasion and began advocating for a joint struggle alongside the Garmillas Empire.
I was left utterly dumbfounded by such a drastic transformation. Furthermore, when he evolved into a delightfully eccentric character, quipping things like, “Even a withered tree adds to the scenery,” while firing his main cannons instead of his signature “Bolar Cannon,” his popularity and likability went through the roof! (Laugh)
(In the voice of the “Osako is Insane!” guy): “Boroze is insane! That guy is absolutely insane! In Chapter 5, he goes all out defending Supreme Leader Dessler! Who does that? That’s just not normal! Could you do that? Go ahead, tell me, could you actually pull that off?”
Even this guy is shocked by Boroze’s sudden about-face! (lol)
It’s not just Boroze, either! Ram, who served as the bridge between the Garmillas Empire and the Bolar Federation, and Bemlarze, who heeded Ram’s counsel and authorized the joint operation, have all seen their appeal as characters skyrocket! The Bolar Federation cast has become incredibly compelling! To be honest, the characters from the Bolar Federation in Yamato III had absolutely no appeal whatsoever. however, don’t the Bolar Federation characters in 3199 have an almost overwhelming amount of charm? It makes perfect sense that the acrylic stands featuring Bemlarze and Darya sold out instantly!!
3199 is truly fascinating, isn’t it?! Even when including the original works, it boasts the most engaging storyline of the entire Yamato franchise. It is a masterpiece among masterpieces, featuring characters with an unparalleled level of appeal, and I’ve begun to think of it as the greatest anime of my life.
I really hope it maintains this level of charm and races all the way to a spectacular finish!! I highly encourage everyone to give 3199 a watch!!
MARCH 22
Chapter 5 Review, Part 6:
On Belm von Bemlarze and Ludomi Darya
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Bemlarze
Few people, if any, likely found the Bemlarze from Yamato III to be particularly appealing. He was rather repulsive in appearance, his costume looked completely thrown-together, and he came across as nothing more than a generic villain, utterly lacking in individuality.
However, in 3199, while his basic character design remains the same, he now exudes a commanding presence, radiating the unmistakable aura of a dictator of a major world power. Even the way he smokes his cigar is reminiscent of Al Capone, giving him a truly imposing air. The Bemlarze of 3199 is captivating to behold, simply by virtue of his visual presence.
Given the caliber of this character, someone capable of declaring, “I’ll be the one holding your funeral,” it felt unthinkable that he would simply meet his end. Moreover, since Dezarium serves as a common enemy, I had fervently hoped that he would forge an alliance with the Galman-Garmillas Empire and join forces with them.
Ultimately, Bemlarze heeds Ram’s persuasion and agrees to a joint operation with the Galman-Garmillas Empire. At this point, Bemlarze is the dictator of a major power, whereas Ram, though a comrade from their revolutionary days, is merely a general from a vassal state. Under normal circumstances, one might expect a dictator to reject such counsel out of concern that it would diminish his own dignity. yet, the fact that Bemlarze was willing to accept the suggestion simply because he recognized its validity speaks volumes about his exceptional competence and the true magnitude of his character.
Subsequently, Bemlarze dispatches Ram to meet with Dessler and even engages in a direct conversation with Dessler via video link. it appears that a friendly relationship has indeed been established with the Galman-Garmillas Empire.
For Bemlarze, too, this outcome makes perfect sense: with the opportunity to develop the core regions of the galaxy now open to him, there is no longer any need to pursue a reckless policy of territorial expansion. Even so, a typical dictator would likely persist in a policy of expansion. yet, Bemlarze seems to possess the competence to prioritize practical gain over mere pride.
Compared to the original series, Bemlarze has emerged as the character whose stock has risen the most. While I felt that Ram was the protagonist of Chapter 4, I believe Bemlarze took center stage in Chapter 5. I truly hope the Galman-Garmillas Empire continues to maintain friendly relations with them going forward, and that they join forces to thoroughly crush the detestable Dezarium.
Darya
One aspect of 3199 that I found particularly brilliant was the creation of the character Darya. To preserve Bemlarze’s aura of dignity, his dialogue is drastically pared down. all the unpleasant orders are issued by Darya instead. Naturally, this would lead the viewers’ animosity to be directed squarely at her.
However, given that Darya’s skin tone matches that of Earthlings, she is likely not a pure-blooded Bolarian. The fact that she personally offers Bemlarze a cigar, after having tested it for poison, suggests she may be his mistress. Yet, her position as First Secretary, effectively Bemlarze’s second-in-command, is undoubtedly a testament to her actual competence.
Viewers can surmise that, from Darya’s perspective, she feels a deep sense of gratitude toward Bemlarze for elevating her, a member of a minority group, to such a prominent position. Thus, she willingly embraces the role of the villain to repay that debt. Moreover, given her stunning beauty and impeccable figure, it becomes difficult for viewers to truly harbor hatred toward her.
The narrative device of creating a character like Darya, thereby deflecting the animosity that would otherwise have been directed at Bemlarze, while simultaneously endowing him with an air of dignity, was truly a stroke of genius.
While not a single character from the Bolar Federation in the original Yamato III possessed any real charisma, the depth of characterization given to the Bolar Federation members in 3199 can only be described as magnificent. Every single character is portrayed in a truly captivating manner.
In my opinion, this is precisely what makes 3199 so exceptional.
MARCH 29
Chapter 5 Review, Part 7:
On Mother Dezarium
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After watching the scene in Chapter 5 where Mother Dezarium rewrites the memories of all Dezarium people, with the sole exception of Alphon, I formulated several hypotheses. Today, I intend to share them.
First, could the very claim that the Dezarium people are descendants of Earthlings actually be a product of Mother Dezarium’s memory manipulation?
My personal theory is that, sometime in the past, Mother Dezarium committed a grave error that resulted in the contamination of the universe, creating an environment in which human bodies could no longer survive. That’s why the Dezarium people became androids. To rectify this failure, Mother Dezarium likely traveled to Iscandar to seize the Cosmo Reverse System, intending to restore the environment in the vicinity of Dezarium.
However, after Iscandar exploded and the attempt to seize the Cosmo Reverse System failed, she likely shifted strategies.
Instead, she decided to appropriate human bodies, overwrite them with the memories of the Dezarium people, and thereby regenerate them as new life forms. Yet, while they possess the technology to upload Dezarium memories into android bodies, it seems the Dezarium people lacked the technology to upload those memories into living, flesh-and-blood human bodies. The Iscandarians, on the other hand, likely possessed the capability to do just that.
Thus, the story that Sasha was abducted at the age of two and raised on Dezarium for fifteen years is likely a fabricated memory. instead, false information was likely implanted into her seventeen-year-old body before she was sent to Earth.
After all, the very idea that such a pivotal figure could simply escape so easily in the first place is highly suspicious. There are likely reasons, such as the requirement for a genuine Wave-Motion Core of Iscandarian manufacture, to imprint memories onto organic humans who are not native Iscandarians. It seems plausible that they deliberately orchestrated the escape of certain individuals specifically to seize that genuine Wave-Motion Core from Yamato.
Furthermore, the claim that a 50-year-old Kaoru Niimi is currently in Dezarium undergoing harsh interrogation is likely false. it is far more probable that the Kaoru present in Dezarium is actually 35 years old. I suspect this is all part of a stratagem: placing Sasha aboard Yamato as a means to ultimately hijack the ship’s genuine Wave-Motion Core.
Could it be that Mother Dezarium intends to seize the technology for imprinting memories onto organic Iscandarians, subsequently hijack human bodies, and thereby resurrect organic Dezarians, all in an attempt to redeem her past failures?
In all likelihood, the android bodies currently inhabited by the Dezarians did not prove to be the panacea they had hoped for. upon discovering some critical flaw, they were forced to hastily invade Earth out of an urgent need to acquire organic bodies.
The revelation that Digablas was actually an unmanned fortress may stem from a dire circumstance: as time passed, the Dezarians’ lifespans were dwindling, creating a situation where they faced total extinction unless they hijacked human bodies with extreme haste. Mother Dezarium likely had compelling reasons to accelerate the conquest of Earth, even if it meant resorting to underhanded tactics, such as disseminating the false narrative that the Dezarians were “future humans” to both the Dezarians themselves and the people of Earth.
The decision to create a facade of Earth as it existed 200 years in the past was likely intended to manipulate Yamato‘s crew into believing that “intervening to prevent the repetition of past mistakes is the right course of action.”
By thus placating Yamato and securing the genuine Wave-Motion Core of Iscandarian origin, they likely intend to proceed with their plan to hijack human bodies.
However, I anticipate a narrative turn where Yamato‘s crew realizes that “intervening in the past is a mistake,” leading them to launch an assault on the Dezarium homeworld in an effort to reclaim Earth. While I cannot say for certain how the actual story will unfold, I am at least convinced of this much: the Dezarians are most certainly not “future humans.” There are still three whole months until Chapter 6 is released, but I really can’t wait!
Next time, I plan to write about Ram La-Jendora, so please look forward to it!
And everyone, you definitely have to check out 3199!
Personally, I would also like Sasha to survive. I want her to become the flower girl in Kodai and Yuki’s wedding.