{"id":14257,"date":"2014-05-18T12:50:28","date_gmt":"2014-05-18T12:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=14257"},"modified":"2022-01-13T11:08:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-13T19:08:04","slug":"871","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/871\/","title":{"rendered":"<em>Yamato 2199<\/em> Episode 1 Commentary"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-880 alt=\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-content\/uploads\/1406icon.jpg\" width=\"216\" height=\"90\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"cosmo-teaser\"><em>Messenger of Iscandar<\/em><br \/>\nThe year is 2199 A.D. and Earth is on the verge of extinction. According to scientists, there is only one year left until the human race becomes extinct. This is the story of the Space Battleship <em>Yamato<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<p><!--more--><!--noteaser--><\/p>\n<p><em>by <span class=\"textBlue\">Luis Cotovio<\/span> and <span class=\"textLtYellow\">Daniel George<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/Episode_01_Quote_Banner.jpg\" width=\"800px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Episode 1: <em>Messenger of Iscandar<\/em><\/h2>\n<h3>(Japanese Name: <em>\u30a4\u30b9\u30ab\u30f3\u30c0\u30eb \u306e \u4f7f\u8005 \/ Isukandaru no Shisha<\/em>)<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Director:<\/strong> Akihiro Enomoto<br \/>\n<strong>Running time: <\/strong>24m36s (22m24s without credits)<br \/>\n<strong>Opening Theme:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>(Cinema\/Home Video): None<\/li>\n<li>(TV): None<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Ending Theme:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>(Cinema\/Home Video): <em>May the Light of the Stars Shine Forever<\/em> by Aira Yuuki<\/li>\n<li>(TV): <em>Uchuu Senkan Yamato<\/em> by Project 2199<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_001_Yukikaze.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/Detail_Up_Technique.jpg\" target=\"_blank&quot;\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_002_Yukikaze.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Crossing the void, the <em>UNCF<\/em>\u00a0destroyer <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/earth_sn03.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Yukikaze<\/em><\/a> approaches <em>Pluto<\/em>, serving as a scout for <em>Fleet 1<\/em>. Though initially the shores of Pluto seem calm, as she signals the fleet, spotters inform them of the approach of a large number of the enemy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]<\/strong>: <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> jumps right into the action, with no opening credits sequence. Instead, just a star field and the series logo along with the iconic sound of deep space used in the original, followed by the <em>Yukikaze<\/em> darting across the screen. Another big difference from the original is that the ships have crews. They had them back in &#8217;74 but aside a few glimpses, they were hardly noticeable. Here we get to meet these men, though briefly. This immediatelly makes the universe of <em>2199<\/em> feel more alive. Although the <em>Yukikaze<\/em> and <em>Kirishima&#8217;s<\/em> crewmen received only generic designations in the credits (such as <em>Navigator A<\/em> or <em>Gunner A<\/em>), <em>Yukikaze<\/em>&#8216;s XO is named <em>Eiji Ishizu<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">This opening scene gives us an immediate taste of the mecha visual feast that will reward viewers. There are two different takes on the mecha. For the action scenes, where ships are seen moving, 3D animation of the ships is used, providing perfect ship movement. Then comes the real feast. In scenes where mecha is static or movement is provided solely by the camera, plates of the 3D model are rendered in a 2D medium and layers of mechanical detail are drawn by hand, most notably by mechanical designer <em>Junichiro Tamamori<\/em> himself. This technique, which became known as <em>Detail-Up<\/em>, produced some trully outstanding eye candy throughout the entire series and became one of the defining marks of <em>Yamato 2199.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><em>(Click on the image above right for a full view of the <em>Yukikaze<\/em> and a view of the 4 steps of the Detail-Up technique.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_003_UNCN_Fleet.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_004_Kirishima.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Aboard the flagship <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/earth_sn02.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Kirishima<\/em><\/a>, in command of a 21-ship-strong task force, <em>Admiral Juuzo Okita<\/em> receives the message. <em>Captain Yamanami<\/em> orders a scan of the incoming fleet. The rapidly increasing number on the screen indicates the terrible odds they&#8217;re about to face. Still, Okita orders <em>Operation M<\/em> to start.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>After years of being simply called <em>Okita&#8217;s Battleship<\/em>, the iconic vessel is finaly christened\u00a0<em>Kirishima<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/2199_01_301.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_005_ShipCount.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>Also, the ship&#8217;s captain is <em>Osamu Yamanami<\/em>, with Okita serving as operational fleet commander. This is the first case of a character retcon in <em>Yamato 2199<\/em>, as the original Yamanami didn&#8217;t appear until <em>Be Forever Yamato<\/em>. I do point out that this version of the character looks a lot younger than his classic series counterpart.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/earth_sn04.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Murasame<\/em><\/a> class cruisers are new to <em>2199,<\/em> not appearing in the original series. The ship in which their design is based did make a brief appearence in one of the many manga dedicated to the original.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_006_FleetStarboard.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_008_Gaiderol.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>In <em>2199<\/em> all the ship classes were named and some particular ships gained proper designations. The command dreadnought, previously known simply as <em>Shultz&#8217;s Battleship<\/em>, is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/gamirasu_sn01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Gaiderol<\/em>-class Dreadnought<\/a>. Though never named on the show, official materials refer to it as <em>Le Chevalier<\/em>. The other ship classes in the Pluto fleet are called, in order of size, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/gamirasu_sn02.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><em>Destria<\/em>-class Battleship<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/gamirasu_sn03.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Kelkapia<\/em>-class Cruiser<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/gamirasu_sn04.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><em>Kripitera<\/em>-class Destroyer<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">The <em>Garmillas<\/em> final onscreen count puts the number of ships at least 5 to 1, with 119 ships. Truth be told that even at 1 to 1 odds, the Garmillas ships would outclass the Earth&#8217;s in every way conceivable. <em>(Check the diagram below for a scale comparison):<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/Fleet-Comparison-FullSize.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/Fleet-Comparison-1024x303.JPG\" width=\"800px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> Note that the 89 destroyer count is just the last number we see here. There&#8217;s nothing to suggest that they&#8217;ve finished counting the Kripiteras when the camera returns focus to Okita. We know that there are <em>at least<\/em> 89 destroyers.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_007_Kirishima_Ayanami.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_009_KirishimaTurret.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>The UNCF Fleet 1 is comprised of 22 ships:<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><em>Kongo<\/em>-class Battleship (BBS) x1<br \/>\n<em><strong>555 &#8211; <em>Kirishima<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]: <\/strong><em>Kirishima<\/em> was one of the four <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kong%C5%8D-class_battlecruiser\">Kongo-class Battlecruisers<\/a><\/em> (later Fast Battleships) which were in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1913 and fought in World War II (<em>Kirishima<\/em> herself was sunk at Guadalcanal in 1942). Using this name provides an excellent analogy of the technological gap between <em>Kirishima<\/em> and <em>Yamato<\/em> (their IJN namesakes were designed and built over 20 years apart).<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><em>Murasame <\/em>-Class Cruisers (CCA) x9<br \/>\nRed+White+Yellow pattern: <strong>229 &#8211; <em>Abukuma<\/em>, 253 &#8211; <em>Yugiri<\/em>, 266 &#8211; <em>Atago<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\nGrey+Red+White pattern: <strong>702 &#8211; <em>Nachi<\/em>, 718 &#8211; <em>Harakumo<\/em>, 741 &#8211; <em>Ibuki<\/em>, 777 &#8211; <em>Tsurugi<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\nRed+White pattern: <strong>854 &#8211; <em>Kurama<\/em>, 890 &#8211; <em>Yakumo<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">The Murasame-class have no namesake class of ship in World War II. The WWII <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Japanese_destroyer_Murasame_%281937%29\"><em>Murasame<\/em><\/a> was a <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiratsuyu-class_destroyer\"><em>Shiratsuyu<\/em>-class Destroyer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><em>Isokaze <\/em>-Class Destroyers (DDS) x12<br \/>\nRed+Yellow+White pattern: <strong>117 &#8211; <em>Yukikaze<\/em>, 106 &#8211; <em>Shikinami<\/em>, 103 &#8211; <em>Ayanami<\/em>, 172 &#8211; <em>Shimakaze<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\nRed+White pattern: <strong>144 &#8211; <em>Shirauni<\/em>, 119 &#8211; <em>Ayase<\/em>, 149 &#8211; <em>Hatsushima<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\nRed+Grey pattern: <strong>101 &#8211; <em>Isokaze<\/em>, 148 &#8211; <em>Minatsuki<\/em>, 147 &#8211; <em>Fuyutsuki<\/em>, 216 &#8211; <em>Tachikaze<\/em>, 164 &#8211; <em>Kagurou<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">Likewise, there was no <em>Isokaze<\/em>-class destroyer in WWII, however there was the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kager%C5%8D-class_destroyer\"><em>Kagero<\/em>-class Destroyer<\/a>, which had numerous ship names that we see in the <em>Isokaze<\/em>-class here (including <em>Isokaze<\/em> itself). Notably, the sole surviving ship of the class at the end of World War II was <em>Yukikaze<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">It should also be noted that none of the ship names in either the <em>Murasame <\/em>class or the <em>Isokaze<\/em> class adhere to coming from a single class of warship or even a single type of warship.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_010_Bakame.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_122_GarmillasFiring.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As the two fleets align, weapons bearing on each other, Okita receives a message from the enemy, demanding unconditional surrender, to which he simply responds: &#8220;Tell them they&#8217;re nuts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>The iconic Garmillan ship&#8217;s &#8220;eyes&#8221; are seen changing color, from green to orange, as they prepare to engage the Earth fleet. According to reference materials this serves to show the enemy their intent. Guess honor in the battlefield is not a lost concept for the Garmillas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">Okita&#8217;s reply to the <em>Garmillas<\/em> demand for surrender, a laconic &#8220;<em>Nuts!<\/em>,&#8221; is probably a reference to <em>General Anthony Clement &#8220;Nuts&#8221; McAuliffe<\/em>, a WWII american general. On December 22nd, 1944, he was in command of the <em>101st Airborne Division<\/em>, at <em>Bastogne<\/em>, besieged by a far larger german force, under the command of <em>General Heinrich Freiherr von L\u00fcttwitz<\/em>. Under a flag of truce, an ultimatum demanding unconditional surrender was delivered to McAuliffe. To the German&#8217;s long note, McAuliffe muttered &#8220;Aw, nuts!.&#8221; Failing to come up with suitable language for an official reply, <em>Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard<\/em> suggested that McAuliffe&#8217;s first response summed up the situation pretty well. The official reply was typed and delivered by <em>Colonel Joseph Harper<\/em>. It read:<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><em><strong>&#8220;To the German Commander.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong>NUTS!<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong>The American Commander&#8221;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">The germans were confused by the meaning of the message, prompting Harper to tell them &#8220;<em>In plain English? Go to hell.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_125_FleetUnderAttack.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_011_BeamDeflection.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Garmillas response is swift and brutal, with the first barrage taking out several ships. Okita has the fleet hold its fire until the enemy is within optimum firing range, but when they finally fire their beams seem to just bounce off the enemy ships, with no effect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>The Garmillas ship&#8217;s armor plating is covered in what they call <em>Migobueza Coating<\/em>. The name comes from <em>Migobuia<\/em>, the Garmillas term for the reflection satellites.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_401_Kirishima_Sliced.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_404_Yukikaze_Turn.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The UNCF fleet is quickly overrun by the numerically and technologically superior enemy fleet, sinking one ship after another, the <em>Kirishima<\/em> itself taking heavy damage. The <em>Yukikaze<\/em>, still at the vanguard, listens to the radio chatter and Mamoru orders the ship to turn around and engage the enemy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> The <em>Kirishima<\/em>&#8216;s resilience is explained in production matterial as being the result of successive repairs done to the ship utilizing salvaged Garmillas technology, ever since it and her 2 sister ships, the <em>Kongo<\/em> and the <em>Haruna<\/em>, fought at the <em>Second Battle of Mars (Operation K2)<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_402_Tokugawa.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_403_Yabu.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Aboard the <em>Kirishima<\/em>, chief engineer <em>Hikozaemon Tokugawa<\/em> does his best to keep the engines running. When his assistant, <em>Yabu,<\/em> questions how long they&#8217;ll manage to keep up, Tokugawa tells him to have faith in the admiral.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_012_Sheherazade.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_013_AmanoHiwatoHiraku.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While his fleet is destroyed around him, Okita waits for news of their primary objective. Several minutes into the battle, it\u2019s confirmed <em>Amaterasu<\/em> has appeared and is on course for its destination, passing <em>Neptune<\/em> heading for Mars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> Although not named in the episode, <em>Sasha<\/em>&#8216;s ship is called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/iskander_sn01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Sheherazade<\/em><\/a>, after the Persian queen who narrated the <em>Arabian Nights. <\/em>Operation M is used as a distraction to keep the Garmillas forces busy and allow the <em>Sheherazade<\/em> to enter the solar system; a more plausible explanation than just having the last remaining Earth forces attack an enemy they have no chance of beating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> In the original, this made me wonder why they were doing it, too. Why they would send their fleet out all the way to Pluto to challenge the Garmillas to a fight they couldn&#8217;t hope to win. Now with the altered storyline, it makes sense.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/2199_01_305.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_014_MarsMap.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A coded message is sent to <em>UNCF Far East HQ<\/em>. <em>Yuki Mori<\/em>\u00a0relays it to <em>Chief Administrator Todo<\/em> and <em>Admiral Ryu Hijikata<\/em>, who order the deployment of their assets stationed on Mars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> Another retconned character is Admiral Hijikata, the captain of <em>Yamato<\/em> in <em>Farewell to Yamato ~ Soldiers of Love<\/em>, later recast as captain of the battleship <em>Andromeda<\/em>, flagship of the <em>Earth Fleet<\/em> in <em>Yamato 2<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_120_KodaiMars.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_416_Sheherazade_Fire.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the ruins of <em>Port Arcadia,<\/em>\u00a0pilots <em>Susumu Kodai<\/em> and <em>Daisuke Shima<\/em>, receive the go ahead to proceed. They launch in a reconnaissance plane to rendezvous with the ship. As the <em>Sheherazade<\/em> approaches, fire erupts from the rear starboard section.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> Shima says in this scene they&#8217;ve been on Mars for three weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> Earth terraformed and colonized Mars at one point. Port Arcadia was the main hub of the colonizing effort. Some time before the Garmillas arrived, a conflict erupted between Earth and Mars, leading to the abandoning of the planet. More in this in future episodes.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_427_T100.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_121_Sheherazade_Type100.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As Kodai and Shima make visual contact, it breaks up and explodes, but not before an escape pod is ejected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> The plane Kodai and Shima use is a <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/earth_air04.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Type 100 Scout Plane<\/a><\/em>, an updated version of the same plane used in the original.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">Code names in Operation M are related to the legend of Amaterasu, the sun goddess in the Shintoist pantheon. The <em>Sheherazade<\/em> herself is code named <em>Amaterasu<\/em>, Kodai and Shima receive the code name <em>Uzume<\/em>, and Okita&#8217;s message to Earth reads &#8220;<em>The cave of the Sun Goddess has opened<\/em>.&#8221; &#8220;<em>Ama-no-Iwato<\/em>,&#8221; which literally translates to &#8220;<em>heavenly rock cave<\/em>,&#8221; is where a depressed Amaterasu hid, bringing a long darness to the world, until Uzume, the goddess of mirth, tricked her out of her cave.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_110_Amaterasu.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_110_Amaterasu.JPG\" width=\"800px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Painting portraying the legend of Amaterasu. Click to open a larger version in a new window.<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_124_KodaiShimaType100.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_015_Sasha.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Shima and Kodai land and find the occupant of the pod, a beautiful blonde woman, to have died in the crash. They retrieve the device she was clutching.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>Unlike the original, the first contact with<em> Iscandar<\/em> was made in early 2198. Construction of <em>Yamato<\/em> began soon after. Sasha arrives one year later with a capsule containing further information. The capsule itself is a core component of the <em>Wave-Motion Engine.<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_419_Fleet_Destroyed.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_422_Torpedo_Hit.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At Pluto, the UNCF fleet is in shambles, despite their efforts. After receiving confirmation that the objective has been accomplished, Okita orders the fleet to retreat, only to learn that only two ships are left, <em>Kirishima<\/em> and <em>Yukikaze<\/em>. As he prepares to issue the order to retreat, a Kripitera attacks from above. The <em>Yukikaze<\/em> arrives in the nick of time to destroy the enemy ship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]: <\/strong>The <em>Yukikaze<\/em> scores the only confirmed kill shot in the entire Operation M. According to official materials this is due to the fact <em>Yukikaze<\/em> was carrying a still experimental new type of torpedo that analyzes the armor plates of Garmillas ships, armed with a double warhead that scatters across the reflective material on the surface. This technology will be used to arm <em>Yamato<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_016_Salute.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_017_Retreat.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Kirishima <\/em>signals the destroyer to retreat but the <em>Yukikaze <\/em>doesn\u2019t follow them. Okita breaks radio silence and orders them to follow, but the <em>Yukikaze\u2019s<\/em> captain, <em>Mamoru Kodai<\/em>, refuses to retreat, saying Okita is needed back on Earth and that the damaged <em>Kirishima<\/em> and its larger crew won\u2019t be able to escape unless the <em>Yukikaze<\/em> draws the enemy away. Heartbroken, Okita accepts his decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> <em>2199<\/em>&#8216;s approach to Mamoru Kodai&#8217;s decision to have the <em>Yukikaze <\/em>stay behind closely mirrors the one used in <em>Star Blazers<\/em> as opposed to the &#8220;death before dishonor&#8221; used in the original <em>Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_018_Salute.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_019_YukikazeCrew.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Even though he knows he made the right call, Mamoru apologizes to his crew. In response, his men sing the UNCF anthem, showing their support of his decision, as the <em>Yukikaze<\/em> flies bravely into the heart of the enemy fleet and faces her fate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> The song is called &#8220;<em>The Galactic Pilot<\/em>&#8221; and is revealed in later episodes to be the UNCF&#8217;s anthem. The anthem version, both with and without vocals, was released on soundtrack CD 1. I have to admit that, to this day, having watched it dozens of times, this scene and this rendition of the theme still pack one hell of a punch.<\/p>\n<p>Translated lyrics (translator unknown):<\/p>\n<div style='width:390px; margin-right: 0px; float: left'>\nO\u2019er the gelid waves of galactic streams,<br \/>\nSet course for the fixed star of Centuri<br \/>\nOur glorious cosmoship crosses o\u2019er the void far,<br \/>\nBeyond those twinkling stars<br \/>\nSet Sail! We\u2019re casting off, anchors aweigh<br \/>\nStand on your bearing, steady as she goes<br \/>\n(Steady as she goes)<br \/>\nWeather your helm towards the stars<br \/>\nWe are Pilots<br \/>\nWe are Pilots of the Cosmos\n<\/div>\n<div style='width:390px; margin-right: 0px; float: right'>\nOh, now as we sail o\u2019er the Kuiper Belt,<br \/>\nwe\u2019ve left the blue Earth behind us<br \/>\nFar beyond the trails of cosmic wakes,<br \/>\nWe can see the event horizon, our heading<br \/>\nSet Sail! We\u2019re casting off, anchors aweigh<br \/>\nStand on your bearing, steady as she goes<br \/>\n(Steady as she goes)<br \/>\nThe sea of stars is this ship\u2019s destination<br \/>\nWe are Pilots<br \/>\nWe are Pilots of the Cosmos\n<\/div>\n<div style='clear:both' \/><\/br><\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> Tactically, <em>Yukikaze<\/em>&#8216;s valiant effort was all for naught. After all, there are well over a hundred Garmillas ships capable of faster-than-light travel and easily capable of chasing <em>Kirishima<\/em> down if they saw fit to do so; they could have left a handful of ships to deal with <em>Yukikaze<\/em> and sent one or two to finish off <em>Kirishima<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">Why didn&#8217;t they? Potentially, a number of reasons. First and foremost, they didn&#8217;t see any threat in the Earth ships. Their primary weapons couldn&#8217;t cause any damage to their ships and they weren&#8217;t capable of leaving the solar system. There&#8217;s another reason we will examine in future episodes when <em>Yamato<\/em> reaches Pluto. In the end, it&#8217;s likely that had <em>Yukikaze<\/em> chosen to retreat with <em>Kirishima<\/em> without engaging the rest of the fleet, they too would have survived.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_021_YukikazeBoom.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_022_Sasha_Grave.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]: <\/strong>In <em>Yamato 2199<\/em>, a number of explicit dates are seen, or timeframes mentioned. Three of them are mentioned in this episode:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"textLtYellow\">\n<li><span class=\"textLtYellow\">Shima&#8217;s comment that he and Kodai have been on Mars for three weeks;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"textLtYellow\">The date &#8220;2199-01-17&#8221; on the makeshift gravestone on Mars; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"textLtYellow\">The subtitle &#8220;Three weeks later,&#8221; as the explosion of <em>Yukikaze<\/em> segues to <em>Kirishima<\/em> arriving at Mars.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">The date of January 17, 2199 can be considered to be the same day as the commencement of Operation M, as <em>Sheherezade<\/em> was hurtling through space at a speed that would see it arrive at Mars in ten minutes. This, combined with the fact that we see realtime communication from as far as the edge of the solar system in early episodes, we can assume Operation M commences on January 17, 2199.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">Three weeks to the day after this would have <em>Kirishima<\/em> arriving at Mars on February 7, 2199. Whether the &#8220;three weeks&#8221; is literal or approximate (as being in &#8220;more than three weeks, but less than four&#8221;) is something that depends on the date <em>Yamato<\/em> leaves Earth. This will be elaborated upon further in commentary for Episode 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">Given the concrete date of January 17, 2199 for Operation M&#8217;s commencement, Shima&#8217;s quote that they&#8217;ve been on Mars for three weeks would put their arrival date on or around December 27, 2198.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_023_HadoCore.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/2199_01_308.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">Three weeks later,\u00a0<em>Kirishima<\/em>\u00a0retrieves Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima\u00a0and secures the alien device. As <em>Kirishima<\/em> departs, we see a makeshift gravestone, with the inscription &#8220;Here lies a messenger from a distant star,&#8221; and a date, January 17th, 2199. Kodai learns of his brother\u2019s demise in battle from his friend, <em>Hirata<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> Third retconned character, <em>Hajime Hirata<\/em>, former classmate of Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima, who originally appeared in <em>Yamato III.<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_101_KirishimaRoute.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_024_GarmillasDebris.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">Back at HQ, news of\u00a0<em>Kirishima&#8217;s<\/em>\u00a0return is met with ambivalence. Though the \u201c<em>Yamato Plan<\/em>\u201d is now in full swing, Admiral Hijikata is cautious, given how little is known of the enemy aside from their name: Garmillas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> The spelling of Garmillas in the english subtitles for this episode (and all the way up to episode 10) is still the classic <em>GAMILAS<\/em>. This would be altered in volume 4 and all subsequent promotional materials have used the new spelling. The new spelling seems to reflect Leiji Matsumoto&#8217;s original riff on the name <a href='http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carmilla'>Carmilla<\/a> (from an 1872 vampire novel by J. Sheridan LeFanu), but could also reflect the name &#8220;Garuman&#8221; from <em>Yamato III<\/em> (rendered as &#8220;Galman&#8221; in <em>Star Blazers<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_801_Celestia_Mars.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_801_Celestia_Mars.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_802_Celestia_Earth.JPG\" target=\"_blank&quot;\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_802_Celestia_Earth.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><em>The positions of Mars (left) and Earth (right) as projected by Celestia on February 7, 2199.<br \/>Click either image to open a full-size image in a new tab\/window<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> While the positioning of the planets in <em>2199<\/em> is not necessarily the same as what they will be in reality for sake of story continuity, there are a number of planets that actually <em>will<\/em> be in early 2199. Thanks to the excellent freeware planetarium software <a href=\"http:\/\/www.shatters.net\/celestia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Celestia<\/a>, we are able to look at what the layout of the Solar System will be in early 2199. Looking at the images above, we see where Mars and Earth will be respectively on February 7, 2199, which is exactly three weeks after Operation M on January 17. Note that in this case, their position more or less matches the map that Todo, Hijikata, and Yuki examine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_803_Celestia_Jupiter.JPG\" target=\"_blank&quot;\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_803_Celestia_Jupiter.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_800_Celestia_Pluto.JPG\" target=\"_blank&quot;\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_800_Celestia_Pluto.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>&gt;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textLtYellow\">Above are two more images from Celestia, focusing on Pluto and Jupiter; Jupiter (and Saturn, which can be seen to the right of Jupiter) are on the same side of the sun as Mars. With Pluto, it&#8217;s on the same side as Earth, which would logically cause problems later in the series. Likewise, Neptune is not in a convenient location for the story, so its projected position will also have to be disregarded for the sake of the story. That said, it&#8217;s impressive how cooperative so many of the planets&#8217; alignments are for the purposes of the story.<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_025_RedEarth.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_026_BombImpact.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\"><em>Kirishima<\/em> continues on to Earth. The Earth is now a red, barren planet, a pale shadow of its once blue magnificience. Okita laments that they can no longer do anything to stop two passing planet bombs, vowing to fight the enemy as long as life exists within him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As the <em>Kirishima<\/em> arrives home, Yuki is seen telling a class of kindergarten children about the state of the Earth, nearing extinction in 2199.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_999_Mars_Collage.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_999_Mars_Collage.JPG\" width=\"800px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After an initial attempt at direct attack was met with massive resistance at Mars, the Garmillans initiated long-range attacks with planet bombs, which have devastated the planet&#8217;s surface, killing all animal and plant life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> This battle became known as the Second Battle of Mars or Operation K2. From the imagery we realize the cost was great, though at this point no further details are disclosed. But it was enough to make the Garmillans rethink their strategy and initiate long-range attacks using <em>Planet Bombs<\/em>. Also, one is left to wonder about the <em>First Battle of Mars<\/em>. More on that in following episodes.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_027_PlanetBombPacificRim.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_028_KirishmaLanding.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Radiation and biological agents have driven mankind into underground cities. But time is running out, as scientists predict that in one year&#8217;s time, the advancing radioactivity will reach their haven and mankind will become extinct.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> This episode is the one that most closely resembles its 1974 counterpart, not just in terms of story but also in that many shots copy the original.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_029_PlanetBomb_Plants.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_030_YukiPlutoScreen.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">Yuki explains how, over the course of the 8 years of conflict, the Garmillans altered Pluto&#8217;s environment to use it as a base. When one of the kids asks her why the enemy is doing all this, Yuki conjectures that, just like mankind terraformed Mars, the aliens may be doing the same to make Earth suit their needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:\u00a0<\/strong>Pluto&#8217;s environmental change explains the existence of the large sea that will play a big part in future episodes. This is also a bit of a departure from the original, where apparently mankind didn&#8217;t even know the Garmillas had a base there, which would be hard to conceal given the planetary alteration. That does raise the question, If they didn&#8217;t know the enemy had a base on Pluto, why did they even go there to fight them?<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">In this new version, besides the radiation, the Planet Bombs have seeded alien plants which release toxic spores. This is believed to serve as an initial stage of the <em>garmillaformatio<\/em>n of Earth.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_031_Jiro.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_104_Kodai_Nanbu.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> The kid who questions Yuki in class is <em>Jiro Shima<\/em>, Daisuke&#8217;s younger brother.<\/p>\n<p>After the class, she returns to HQ with <em>Yasuo\u00a0<\/em><em>Nanbu<\/em> who tries to impress with news about the <em>Kirishima<\/em>&#8216;s return, and the rumor that Operation M was a decoy to distract the enemy.\u00a0Unfortunately for him, he does so as Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima\u00a0exit an access elevator, prompting an outburst from Kodai.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_103_Kodai_Yuki_Shima.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_102_Kodai_Yuki_Nanbu.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Yuki steps in to break them up, making Kodai stand down. She tells him Okita is at the hospital block and leaves with Nanbu. After they leave, Shima mentions that Yuki looked just like the woman they buried on Mars, which a disgruntled Kodai verbally downplays despite his own initial thought being the same.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]: <\/strong>While Yuki and Nanbu are riding the escalator downward, in the background we hear a news bulletin that reports on a riot which took place at 16:30, so it&#8217;s safe to assume that this exchange takes place sometime after 16:30 (4:30pm) the day\u00a0<em>Kirishima<\/em>\u00a0returns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> Kodai&#8217;s reaction to Yuki can be seen in two ways. First and most obvious, his flashback to Sasha on Mars, playing on how much the two of them look alike. Second, and something of a inside joke along the series, the fact that Kodai is a noob when dealing with women. More on this in future installments.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_423_Hospital.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_424_Sado.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">The two of them head to the central hospital. Despite Shima&#8217;s protests, Kodai wants to learn the truth from Okita himself. At the hospital, Okita is checked out by <em>Doctor Sado<\/em>, who Okita claims to be the best doctor in the cosmos.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> The underground cities weren&#8217;t built to escape the planet bomb effects. They were constructed during the <em>Inner Planet War<\/em>, between Earth and Mars, in order to shelter the population. Though it&#8217;s only conjecture, one can only assume how bad that war got, to require such measures. But it does serve as a much better explanation for the cities than something built in a hurry over 8 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">This scene serves as an introduction to nurse <em>Makoto Harada<\/em>, the first of the amply publicized <em>Yamato Girls<\/em>, in effect the first fully new main character to appear in <em>Yamato 2199<\/em>. As we all know, in the original Yuki was the nurse and&#8230;just about anything else. Makoto and the other new female characters fixed that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\">Also, it should be noted that Okita has his hat off at the start of this scene. This is\u00a0somewhat of a gag on the original where, even when wearing an helmet or in surgery, he never took it off. In <em>2199<\/em> they made sure to correct this.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_032_OkitaKodai1.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_033_OkitaKodai2.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, Kodai barges in, despite Makoto&#8217;s best efforts. He adresses Okita, demanding to know the truth about Operation M. Again, Kodai&#8217;s outburst is interrupted, this time by Hijikata, prompting a near facepalm by Shima. Hijikata apologizes for his pupil&#8217;s behavior. Upon learning that he is Mamoru Kodai&#8217;s younger brother, Okita reveals the truth and apologizes for his role in his brother&#8217;s death. Kodai accepts this and leaves with Shima.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> Hijikata&#8217;s role as Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima&#8217;s teacher was established in the original saga.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_034_Birthdays.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_035_HadoCore2.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Later, Okita is at his office, reviewing some staff files, when he&#8217;s\u00a0informed that testing of the core brought back from Mars is about to start. He closes the folder marked <em>Top Secret<\/em>, titled <em>Yamato Plan Crew Manifest<\/em>. Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima&#8217;s files are seen inside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> From the brief glimpse of their files we learn that Kodai&#8217;s birthdate is July 7th, 2178, and Shima&#8217;s is August 15th, 2178.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_036_MysteryBox.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_431_Core_Analysis.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At the lab, <em>Major Shiro Sanada<\/em>, Admiral Hijikata and the top brass are confirming the <em>Wave-Motion Core<\/em> retrieved from Mars is the real article, and that the crew to enact the <em>Yamato<\/em> Plan are on standby. As Sanada looks at a strange capsule being serviced by lab technicians, Hijikata says how unfortunate it is they lost Kodai.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> This is the first glimpse we get of this mysterious capsule, and I believe we can say with confidence that it was the biggest source of fan conjecture early in the series.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]: <\/strong> This is also our first glimpse of General Kotetsu Serizawa, another character brought back from the classic saga. Known in <em>Star Blazers<\/em> as General Stone, he was the hardnosed offsider to the Commander (Todo) who was attempting to prevent <em>Yamato<\/em> from launching in response to Teresa&#8217;s S.O.S.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_037_Kato.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_038_CosmoZero.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As they stand by at the local hangar, Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima\u00a0are looking at a beautiful plane, which seems to be a new model. From behind them, a man Kodai recognizes as top ace <em>Saburo Kato<\/em>, identifies it as the new <em>Type-zero Space Model 52<\/em>, aka <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/earth_air01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Cosmo Zero<\/em><\/a>. Kato is also on standby and is adamant that the two don&#8217;t touch his plane. This prompts a mischievous grin from Shima and Kodai, implying that the more he tells them <em>not<\/em> to do something&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> The Cosmo Zero remains unchanged in name and in spirit from the original, of course named for the famed <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mitsubishi A6M Zero<\/a><\/em> carrier-based naval fighter that was the mainstay of the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> According to an interview with mecha concept coordinator <em>Satoru Koizumi<\/em>, the engine model in this Zero makes it a Type 51. Since it looks the same as the new and improved production type, Kato mistakenly identifies it as a 52. This scene also provides us the first look at what will be the\u00a0<em>Yamato<\/em>&#8216;s new fighter aircraft, the\u00a0<em>Type 99 Space Fighter Attack Craft<\/em>, aka <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/earth_air02.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Cosmo Falcon<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_071_Zero_T100.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_428_Sabu_Hangar.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, an air raid siren sounds. At HQ, an enemy squadron is detected, prompting Admiral Hijikata to wonder if they have been discovered. In the hangar, the comm system blares order for launch, indicating the enemy target area. Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima\u00a0end up \u201cborrowing\u201d Kato&#8217;s Zero to get in on the action. An irate Kato tries to stop them and warns them of something, but it&#8217;s too late.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> In this version, Kodai\u00a0and\u00a0Shima\u00a0borrow the\u00a0Cosmo Zero (belonging to Saburo Kato) instead of a Type-100 scout plane, to give chase to the Garmillas spy plane. Unfortunately for them, it ends up in pretty much the same way. As a probable homage to that, you can see the Type-100 in the hangar&#8217;s background.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_429_Spy_Plane.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_405_Zero_HUD.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">They eventually intercept a recon plane, with Kodai proving himself quite the pilot. He manages to lock on to the enemy, only to press the trigger and realize that the Zero is unarmed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]: <\/strong>This time around, at least Kodai and Shima save some face for their misadventure in pursuing the intruder; in the original, they chased after them in an unarmed recon plane (the Type 100 in <em>2199<\/em>). At least they <em>thought<\/em> the Zero was armed and loaded when they took off this time around&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">A notification broadcast while Kodai and Shima are preparing to launch the Zero mentions that the enemy is sighted off <em>Bonomisaki<\/em>, which is a cape on the southwestern corner of Kyushu. (The subtitle for <em>Bo no misaki<\/em> &#8211; \u574a\u30ce\u5cac in Japanese &#8211; includes the term &#8220;Cape&#8221; for clarification; &#8220;no Misaki&#8221; in Japanese means &#8220;Cape of&#8221;) Bonomisaki is a significant name in <em>Yamato<\/em> history; Operation Ten-Go is referred to by the Japanese as &#8220;Naval Battle off Bonomisaki,&#8221; as it is possibly the closest point on Kyushu to where <em>Yamato<\/em> was sunk on April 7, 1945. Prior to the wreck&#8217;s discovery in 1984, it was considered the closest point of land to where the great ship sank.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textLtYellow\"> The mecha designers went to a considerable amount of effort to draw parallels between not only the <em>UNCN<\/em> mecha and their namesakes in World War II, but also those of the Garmillans; their fighters all resemble in appearance, designation, and\/or name to those of Nazi Germany. The first example is right here, with this Garmillas reconnaissance plane. Its tribute is a bit unique, since its designation and design stem from two very different Luftwaffe aircraft. The designation is the <em>FG-156 Sumaruhi<\/em> (\u30b9\u30de\u30eb\u30d2) in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamato2199.net\/mecha\/gamirasu_air02.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official materials<\/a>. The Luftwaffe employed a scout plane designated the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fieseler_Fi_156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fieseler Fi-156 Storch<\/a> (Stork) during World War II, and the model number and purpose of this ship meets the criteria of that aircraft. The design, on the other hand, bears a more than fleeting resemblance to the rocket-propelled <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Me_163\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Messerschmitt Me163 Komet<\/a> interceptor, which was intended to intercept high-flying allied bombers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_430_Spy_Plane_Thrust.jpg\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_040_Crash2.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The recon plane escapes into space, and though Kodai tries to follow, the Zero suffers engine failure, and they crash-land on the surface.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> In reference materials, it is said that this is what Kato tried to warn them about in the hangar. The Zero was undergoing maintenance due to engine problems.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_041_KodaiShimaWreck.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep01\/01_043_IconicAndTitle.JPG\" width=\"395px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Climbing out of the wreckage, they go to the top of a nearby cliff and see what looks to be the wreck of an ancient ocean-going battleship, lying half-buried in the dry seabed. They wonder whether this was what the enemy was looking for, but dismiss it as being an ancient wreck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textBlue\"><strong>[LC]:<\/strong> One of the most iconic images of the entire saga is the wrecked <em>Yamato<\/em>, lying in the Earth&#8217;s dried up sea bed at sunset. Since the original series, the real-life wreckage of the <em>Yamato<\/em> was discovered; its condition is inconsistent with this image, since the ship is broken into several pieces and the superstructure is lying on its side. In an effort to preserve the iconic imagery, a slight change was made in which the ship in the sunset is in fact the <strong>Space Battleship<\/strong> <em>Yamato<\/em>, camouflaged to avoid detection, not the actual <em>Yamato <\/em>and never identified as such.<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]: <\/strong> Aside from the historical facts regarding the IJN <em>Yamato<\/em>&#8216;s state at the bottom of the East China Sea, one other thing cements that this <em>Yamato<\/em> can&#8217;t possibly be the risen ancient super battleship: its size. This <em>Yamato<\/em> is 333m long, 20% longer than its 1974 counterpart, which was said to match the length of the IJN original.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><strong><em>PREVIEW:<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">The year is 2199.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>The Earth is on the verge of destruction.\u00a0Now, humanity&#8217;s last hope slips past the\u00a0fangs of the enemy and takes flight.\u00a0The name of the ship is the <\/em>Yamato<em>.\u00a0They leave Earth behind, and set\u00a0a course for unexplored space.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">Next time: <strong><em>Toward a Sea of Stars<\/em><\/strong>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">There are <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\">365<\/span> days left\u00a0before humanity becomes extinct.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\"><strong>[DG]:<\/strong> <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> has modern-style previews for the next episode following the ending credits, unlike the original series which did not even mention the next episode&#8217;s title (a practice that started with <em>Yamato 2<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"textLtYellow\">Instead of the famous &#8220;Days left to complete their mission&#8221; counter appearing at the end of each episode, <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> closes its next episode preview with Captain Okita saying, &#8220;There are XX days left.&#8221; Given that this is said in context of discussing the next episode, for the purposes of establishing timeframes and dates in which each episode takes place, the assumption will be that this is the number of days left <em>at the beginning of the next episode<\/em>. In other words, the &#8220;365 days left&#8221; according to the preview is the time remaining at the start of Episode 2.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep_Guide_Button_LBlanc.jpg\" width=\"222px\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/976\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep_Guide_Button_Center.JPG\" width=\"222px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/875\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/2199_EpisodeGuide\/Ep_Guide_Button_Right.JPG\" width=\"222px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>RELATED LINKS:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/yamato2199.net\/\">Official website of <em>Yamato 2199<\/em><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.yamatocrew.jp\/\"><em>Yamato Crew<\/em> website<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FwUlpqD_NH4\">Teaser Trailer<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2SdtTw-efCE\">Chapter 1 Trailer<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Episode 1 credits<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Screenplay &#038; storyboard: Yutaka Izubuchi<br \/>\nDirector: Akihiro Enomoto<br \/>\nCharacter animation director: Akio Takami<br \/>\nMecha Animation Director: Mitsuru Ishihara, Akihisa Maeda, Koji Ito<\/p>\n<p><em>Series credits<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Original Story: Yoshinobu Nishizaki<br \/>\nPlanning: Shoji Nishizaki, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Satoshi Kono<br \/>\nOriginal Character Design: Nobuteru Yuuki<br \/>\nGuest Character\/Prop Design: Shinichi Yamaoka<br \/>\nMecha Design: Junichiro Tamamori, Yasushi Ishizu, Kiminori Yamane, Yutaka Izubuchi<br \/>\nSet Design: Takeshi Takakura, Makoto Kobayashi, Takashi Watanabe<br \/>\nConcept Design Support: Kazutaka Miyatake<br \/>\nChief Director: Akihiro Enomoto<br \/>\nDirector of Photography: Takashi Aoki<br \/>\nArt Director: Minoru Maeda<br \/>\nVideo Editing: Emi Onodera<br \/>\nColor Correction: Rumiko Suzushiro<br \/>\nMusic: Akira Miyagawa, Hiroshi Miyagawa<br \/>\nSound Director: Tomohiro Yoshida<br \/>\nSound Effects: Mitsuru Kashiwabara<br \/>\nChief Mecha Animation Director: Masanori Nishii<br \/>\nCG Director: Takashi Imanishi<br \/>\nGeneral Director: Yutaka Izubuchi<\/p>\n<p>Production: Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee<br \/>\nProduction IG, Bandai Visual, Xebec, Bandai, Bandai Namco Games, Voyager Entertainment,<br \/>\nTohoku Shinsha Film Corporation, Shochiku Co. Ltd., OLM, Lantis Co. Ltd.<\/p>\n<p>CG Production Support: Sunrise D.I.D.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Messenger of Iscandar The year is 2199 A.D. and Earth is on the verge of extinction. According to scientists, there is only one year left until the human race becomes extinct. This is the story of the Space Battleship Yamato.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-yamato-2199-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14257"}],"version-history":[{"count":235,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31651,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14257\/revisions\/31651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}