{"id":21908,"date":"2016-09-11T18:37:40","date_gmt":"2016-09-12T01:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=21908"},"modified":"2018-11-01T12:36:58","modified_gmt":"2018-11-01T19:36:58","slug":"122a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/122a\/","title":{"rendered":"<em>Space Battleship Yamato 2202<\/em>, Report 3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-880 alt=\"1609icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-content\/uploads\/1609icon.JPG\" width=\"216\" height=\"90\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"cosmo-teaser\">A full-throated trumpeting in early September 2016 finally brought <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> out of the shadows and into public view with the first in what we can expect to be a long line of live events. That historic day is covered here in full. (2 pages)<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<p><!--more--><!--noteaser--><\/p>\n<p>After a completely silent month of August, a full-throated trumpeting in early September finally brought <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> out of the shadows and into public view with the first in what we can expect to be a long line of live events. These were always a highlight of the <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> experience, so we can expect many more. There\u2019s a little bit of backlog to cover first, and then we\u2019ll dive into every detail.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/aug16\/114a18.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>July 22: <em>Hyperweapon 2016<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>Artist\/modeler\/designer Makoto Kobayashi graced us with his annual art book again this summer. <em>Yamato<\/em> content was minimal in this edition, but still significant. Two pages apiece were devoted to <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> and <em>Yamato 2202<\/em>, containing concept sketches seen nowhere else.<\/p>\n<p>See the <em>2199<\/em> art <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/hw20162199'>here<\/a>. The <em>2202<\/em> content can be found <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/hw20162202'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Order your copy of <em>Hyperweapon 2016<\/em> (always highly recommended) <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/gp\/product\/4499231892\/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&#038;psc=1'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a01.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>August 12-14: First doujinshi at Comiket<\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s nothing official about doujinshis (fanzines), but this is officially the first known doujinshi to focus entirely on <em>Yamato 2202<\/em>. It looks like something you\u2019d find in a Japanese bookstore, but instead it was found at Comiket 90. It\u2019s 32 pages of fan speculation, and will make for interesting comparisons down the road. (Photos found in an online auction.)<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a02.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>August 30: Event announcement<\/h3>\n<p>We were told in the <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/112a'>producer interview<\/a> from <em>Ship\u2019s Log<\/em> #14 to expect major news in September, and the first word of it arrived at the end of August. On Monday, September 5, a Production Presentation event would be held with live streaming to Nicovideo and Bandai Channel. As it turned out, this also started a countdown to a major update for the official <em>2202<\/em> website, so this was our final glimpse at the teaser version.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a03.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Fan art<\/h3>\n<p>The amount of fan art posted to Twitter since our last check-in has grown at a steady pace, and will probably become a regular addition to these reports. Catch up on the newest discoveries <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/2202art916'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bookmark the Twitter pages <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/\u5b87\u5b99\u6226\u8266\u30e4\u30de\u30c82202?src=hash'>here<\/a> and <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Yamato2202?src=hash'>here<\/a> so you can keep up with them in the meantime.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class='clear'>\n<p>The rest of this report is entirely devoted to September 5. As you\u2019ll see, this 5th of September was one to remember\u2026<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a04.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Official site updated<\/h2>\n<p><a href='http:\/\/Yamato2202.net'>Yamato 2202.net<\/a> got a complete makeover with lots of new features and the first teaser trailer of the series. Handsome new key art graced the left side and a foreboding new slogan ran down the right:<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<h2>This \u201cLove\u201d Will Shatter the Cosmos\u2026<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>The 1-minute teaser trailer was right on top, so let\u2019s start there. (Or on Youtube <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iwLfcUEnQKs'>here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a05.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Eerie music. Major production credits. Our first look at Teresa \u2013 the <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> version, sending her prayer for peace out into the universe. Then a shadowy image of Okita with the words \u201cKodai\u2026board <em>Yamato<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a06.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Quick flashes of Kodai and Yuki in their current costumes (Kodai wearing a hat for the first time in this continuity AND the first time since <em>Yamato Resurrection<\/em>)\u2026<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a07.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The full-up title image (<em>Space Battleship Yamato\/Star Blazers 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em>) followed by a release date: February 25, 2017. Blu-ray and digital sales to begin simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a08.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Clicking on the navigation menu opens up several options, the first being <em>News.<\/em> As of day one, it offered a link to stream <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> from <a href='http:\/\/www.b-ch.com\/ttl\/index.php?ttl_c=3279&#038;mvc=3_33556_0_0_0_0'>Bandai Channel<\/a> (within Japan only), and on September 6 new info was added about home video.<\/p>\n<p>The first actual <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> Blu-ray box set will be released January 27; all the original discs with their respective bonus features for 35000Y, or about $350US \u2013 basically the same as the seven volumes cost on their own. Amazon.co.jp brings that down to a little over $280US, which is the best price you can expect, so get your preorder in <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/\u5b87\u5b99\u6226\u8266\u30e4\u30de\u30c82199-Blu-ray-BOX-\u7279\u88c5\u9650\u5b9a\u7248-\u83c5\u751f\u9686\u4e4b\/dp\/B01LKSEPA6\/ref=pd_bxgy_74_img_2?ie=UTF8&#038;psc=1&#038;refRID=PTZK90EM39GG0KM70M8W'>here<\/a>. The actual box art has yet to be revealed.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a09.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Introduction<\/em> page is where we start to get some real meat. The upper portion is all basic info about the theatrical, video, and digital releases for Chapter 1. February 25 will see it premiere at 15 theaters (with special-edition Blu-rays available to ticket holders) and on multiple streaming services. For the first time, the limited-edition Blu-ray will also be sold online through Bandai Video Club (to Japan only) while supplies last and ship a week after the movie opens. Digital rental begins March 11 and the regular Blu-ray and DVD editions will be released March 24. As with <em>2199<\/em>, Chapter 1 will consist of the first two of 26 episodes.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the first question on everyone\u2019s lips is \u201cwhat about English subtitles\u201d? The specs don\u2019t mention them yet, but the same was true when Chapter 1 of <em>2199<\/em> was first announced. Subtitles were added to the specs only a few weeks before the premiere, and the same could be true this time. For now, it\u2019s a good idea to get your Chapter 1 preorder in at either <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/gp\/product\/B01LKSEOUC\/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&#038;psc=1&#038;smid=AN1VRQENFRJN5'>Amazon.co.jp<\/a> or <a href='http:\/\/www.cdjapan.co.jp\/product\/BCXA-1204'>CD Japan<\/a> and stand by for further developments.<\/p>\n<p>On a related note, you may be wondering if the arrival of <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> means a revival of <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> and the <em>Yamato 2<\/em> series. The movie arrived on Blu-ray April 2013, so that\u2019s about as far as it can go short of a theatrical appearance (which would be pretty epic). <em>Yamato 2<\/em>\u2019s last release was a 2001 DVD box with nothing but occasional satellite TV reruns since then. When Series 1 came to Blu-ray in July 2012 it was natural to expect a followup, and while it could still happen we should keep in mind that since <em>Yamato 2<\/em> was shot on 16mm film there won\u2019t be a great deal of improvement in HD. Still, let\u2019s hope for the best.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, back to the <em>Introduction<\/em> page. Below the release information is some new text worth your attention\u2026<\/p>\n<p>The timeless masterpiece of animation <em>Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> was remade as <em>Yamato 2199<\/em>, which unfolded through theater screenings and TV broadcasts across the country from 2012 to 2014.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, the latest series <em>Yamato 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em> becomes the sequel fans have anticipated, showing in theaters! Nobuyoshi Habara, animation director of the <em>Yamato Resurrection<\/em> Director\u2019s Cut is the series director and Harutoshi Fukui of <em>Mobile Suit Gundam UC<\/em> has been appointed as the head scriptwriter. Akira Miyagawa, who inherited the <em>Yamato<\/em> genes, is in charge of the music.<\/p>\n<p>The motif is the 1978 feature film <em>Farewell to Yamato, Soldiers of Love<\/em>, which entranced all of Japan. Its sublime story is being revived with a new interpretation and modern day trappings. With the appearance of \u201clove\u201d for this day and age, <em>Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> goes off on a journey again!!<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\">Message from Executive Producer Shoji Nishizaki<\/span><\/p>\n<p>After such a long time has passed, we rely on the spirited writer Harutoshi Fukui to write a story with a new interpretation of the message in <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em>. With his intense love of <em>Yamato<\/em>, Nobuyoshi Habara brings life to the characters and directs with \u201clove\u201d and strength.<\/p>\n<p>That person of first love that you want to meet again\u2026how will they be changed after a long absence? What will you think when you meet your first love again? <\/p>\n<p>Do not worry! Because <em>Yamato<\/em> is being remade with love by people who it impressed, you will not be disappointed. Making the continuation of <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> is a serious thing.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\">Message from Composer Akira Miyagawa<\/span><\/p>\n<p>(The same message that was previously published on the website; see it in <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/109a'>Report 2<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\">Message from Anime Commentator Ryusuke Hikawa<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Once upon a time, a single movie changed the status of animation<\/h3>\n<p>On Earth, three years after <em>Yamato 2199<\/em>\u2026the human race faces its greatest crisis!<\/p>\n<p>One movie changed everything at once. It can be said that the rise of anime in Japan began with one turning point, the premiere of <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> in 1978. It drew an audience of four million and more than doubled the box office figure of the previous year\u2019s hit, the <em>Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> feature film. It was the biggest hit of the entire <em>Yamato<\/em> series, and the fresh air it breathed hasn\u2019t stopped since then.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a49.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>It was the second most popular Japanese movie of the year (with <em>Wild Proof<\/em> being the first), and achieved the magnificent ranking of fourth place in Japanese film history. It was widely reported in newspapers and magazines, and completely changed the social recognition of anime, pioneering new business development.<\/p>\n<p>It was the cover and main feature in the first issue of <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/490'><em>Animage<\/em><\/a> (from Tokuma Shoten). It worked to change the term \u201cTV manga\u201d into \u201canime\u201d and established junior high and senior high students as the main audience. It was a hot topic that the film was not merely re-edited from a TV version, but a completely new sequel.<\/p>\n<p><em>Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew fell one by one in a pitched battle against a new enemy, the White Comet Empire. The climax depicted Susumu Kodai sacrificing himself by flying <em>Yamato<\/em> directly into the enemy\u2019s gigantic battleship, a secret that was protected until the premiere. Combined with this impact, it was a work that made new <em>Yamato<\/em> fans.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the recognition of anime expanded with works appearing one by one for all-new audiences. Above all, the original SF works <em>Mobile Suit Gundam<\/em> (1979), <em>Super Dimensional Space Fortress Macross<\/em> (1982) and <em>New Century Evangelion<\/em> (1995) were direct descendants of the passion for <em>Yamato<\/em> and formed the core of anime culture over the long term.<\/p>\n<p>It was <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> that lead to such prosperity. Afterward, Kodai was depicted as surviving in <em>Space Battleship Yamato 2<\/em>, the TV series version which went on to create a parallel <em>Yamato<\/em> world.<\/p>\n<p><em>Space Battleship Yamato 2199<\/em> went back to the starting point to modernize its world and visuals, and by comprehensively re-arranging it to include Gatlantis, it went beyond the limits of a remake with a successful freshness. Based on <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> and the role that <em>Yamato<\/em> achieved in the 1970s, <em>Yamato 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em> meets hit-maker Harutoshi Fukui and launches again. How will it face up to modern times and what kind of story will be shown? And how will the ending be depicted? Anticipation only increases.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a10.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Next, a fresh description on the <em>Story<\/em> page:<\/p>\n<h3>This \u201cLove\u201d Will Shatter the Cosmos\u2026<\/h3>\n<p>It is the year 2202.<\/p>\n<p>Space Battleship <em>Yamato<\/em> has returned from its magnificent journey of 168,000 light years to Iscandar, and three years have already passed\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Earth has regained its former blue figure thanks to the Cosmo Reverse System and a peace treaty has been signed with the Garmillas Empire.<\/p>\n<p>Besides the reconstruction, the development of a new fleet including the state-of-the-art battleship <em>Andromeda<\/em> has been promoted for defense. The wishes of Starsha of Iscandar were in vain, since Earth has embarked on the road to military expansion.<\/p>\n<p>As expected, <em>Yamato<\/em> accomplished its goal in the end through many irreplaceable sacrifices, but is it a true peace? A prayer of the goddess Teresa, who wishes for peace in the universe, calls <em>Yamato<\/em> to a new voyage.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the menace of Gatlantis, which sweeps across space like a storm, is approaching the Earth\u2026<\/p>\n<p>(Translator\u2019s note: the text keeps the original spelling for \u201cGamilas.\u201d We\u2019ll continue to use \u201cGarmillas\u201d based on the consistency of that spelling in <em>Yamato 2199<\/em>. If it officially shifts back, we\u2019ll follow suit.)<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a11.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Character &#038; Mechanic<\/em> page gives us some artwork to feast on. The <em>Mechanic<\/em> section repeats artwork we saw before, but the <em>Character<\/em> section gives us something new, namely text descriptions! Here\u2019s what they tell us, as translated by Neil Nadelman:<\/p>\n<p>SUSUMU KODAI (CV: Daisuke Ono)<\/p>\n<p>Former <em>Yamato<\/em> tactical officer, head of the tactical section. After returning from the great voyage to Iscandar, he is currently serving as captain of the destroyer <em>Yuunagi<\/em> in the Earth Defense Forces &#8211; Frontier Defense Task Force 38, a mixed Earth-Garmillas fleet. Leery of Earth&#8217;s dash towards rearmament, he carries out his duties while bearing almost unbearable feelings.<\/p>\n<p>YUKI MORI (CV: Houko Kuwashima)<\/p>\n<p>Former <em>Yamato<\/em> operations chief, now serving as navigation chief in Earth headquarters, central command. Grew to love Kodai during the voyage to Iscandar and became publicly engaged to him after their return to Earth. Currently awaiting their marriage.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a12.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s not all! There are these three other character entries that are currently in text form only:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a13.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>HAJIME SAITO<\/p>\n<p>Space Marines (lit. Space Cavalry) 5th regiment, commanding officer. Rank: space master sergeant. Assigned to Far East sector underground city security, lunar garrison, he is currently stationed on planet 11. He thought he was doomed to spend his days free from battle, but\u2026<\/p>\n<p>ZORDAR<\/p>\n<p>Based on his personal belief that he must be the supreme ruler of space, he is the great emperor of the battle nation known as the Imperial Planet Gatlantis. He has captured the planet Telezart in order to gain Teresa&#8217;s power. In addition, he has dispatched soldiers to Earth, the world to which Teresa has sent a cosmo wave.<\/p>\n<p>TERESA<\/p>\n<p>A goddess who continues to pray for universal peace. Releasing a powerful &#8220;prayer&#8221; in the form of a psychic energy wave (a &#8220;cosmo wave&#8221;) from the planet Telezart, she warns the former <em>Yamato<\/em> crew of the danger to space. It is said that whosoever should gain this power may have any desire granted.<\/p>\n<p>We now have new images for Saito and Teresa, but the closest we\u2019ve come to a new Zordar is the sketch above right, posted to Twitter by character designer Nobuteru Yuuki on May 27, 2015. His caption read: <\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Yamato 2199 Ark of the Stars<\/em> was released today [on video]. It\u2019s allowed to show these people. Please be kind to me. (The drawing of Sabera is a rough sketch.)\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Does that mean the Zordar image is NOT a rough? We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a14.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Staff &#038; Cast<\/em> page provides a resting place for the previous key art image by Makoto Kobayashi. The staff names are those we\u2019re already aware of, but this was the first confirmation that the principle voice actors would return to their roles: Daisuke Ono as Kodai and Houko Kawashima as Yuki. Both would have something to say about it later on September 5.<\/p>\n<p><\/br><\/br><\/br><\/br><\/br><\/br><\/br><\/br><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a15.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>On the official <em>Yamato 2199<\/em> website, the <em>Special<\/em> section was usually a place to find text features. This one leads off with a conversation between <em>Yamato 2202<\/em>\u2019s primary creators.<\/p>\n<h3>SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Screenwriter Harutoshi Fukui X Series director Nobuyoshi Habara<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> When <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> was released, Mr. Fukui was 10 years old. Were you 15, Mr. Habara?<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> I went on the first day. Everyone was crying at the end of the movie, and I didn\u2019t even try to stand up. That was my first experience.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> I was not able to see it in real time. I saw the original <em>Yamato<\/em> movie on TV just before <em>Farewell<\/em> opened, and that was my first <em>Yamato<\/em> experience.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> Then Mr. Fukui and I both experienced it in different years. I saw the first TV series in real time when I was 10 years old.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> I saw <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> on TV in 1980, and I remember shedding a lot of tears on that first viewing. I had already seen <em>Yamato 2<\/em> and <em>The New Voyage<\/em> earlier. (Laughs)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> How do you think about a remake of <em>Farewell<\/em> now?<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> My impression of <em>Farewell<\/em> changes whenever I see it. I watched it again on Blu-ray in advance of this project and saw things I hadn\u2019t noticed before. If it was simply about defending the Earth, it would just be a movie that glorifies suicide, but that\u2019s not it. The theme of this work is represented by the word \u201clove,\u201d so I see it as a problem of humanism.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d previously thought of it as a message of its time, corresponding to when humanism faced the crisis of a mass-consumption society (at the end of the 1970s). How do you resist a loss of diversity? Gatlantis was there as a symbol of the irresistible power of the time. If I were to fight against it as a human being, it might just be worth staking my life on it. Humans can resist. That\u2019s what it depicted. How is this to be done now?<\/p>\n<p>I thought that there would be a significance in making <em>Farewell to Yamato<\/em> now precisely because what we were warned about at that time has become a reality.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> What impressed me about the movie was the feeling one person could have for another, and the relationship of mutual trust that goes beyond male and female. That was the point that made me cry. Particularly the scene where Kodai sits next to the body of Yuki and faces the enemy. The look from his friends was very gentle, and it really touched my heart. The famous theme <em>Great Love<\/em> was very good and got me crying intensely.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> Only <em>Yamato<\/em> could popularize the word \u201clove\u201d and cause so many tears to be shed. Therefore, if I were to bring back <em>Yamato<\/em>, I thought we would have to step into that.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> \u201cLove\u201d is listed as a \u201csubject\u201d in Mr. Fukui\u2019s proposal. When I read this guy\u2019s pitch, I was surprised.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Mr. Habara, in your comment that was published on the web, you said you would \u201cput your soul\u201d into it. Is that your true intention?<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> Not only that, it\u2019s all I can do. If I don\u2019t put my soul into it, <em>Farewell<\/em> won\u2019t be pure and the characters will not live. I\u2019m a man of pictures, so my thought is that I want to put my feelings into the words of Mr. Fukui with pictures. It\u2019s a wonderful script. It\u2019s strongly founded in this day and age.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> The content has evolved from something like a \u201cliquid diet\u201d into what you could call \u201cporridge.\u201d I\u2019ve always wanted to make a proper work with solid bone and muscle. In that sense, this <em>Yamato<\/em> is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> Reading the script, there are lots of places where you think about how this links to that. It&#8217;s nothing but surprises. Now, when fans watch this to the end, they will all feel as though they&#8217;ve been shoved down to the very bottom&#8230; (Laughs)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> No, no. Because it pushes them down and then brings them back up. (Laughs)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Habara:<\/em><\/span> When making the visuals, I want to surprise Mr. Fukui. If I can\u2019t surprise the person who built the story and earn his enthusiasm, I don\u2019t think it will convince any of the <em>Yamato<\/em> fans.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Fukui:<\/em><\/span> I think of <em>Soldiers of Love<\/em> as a bewildering subtitle. But when you see the end of it, you\u2019ll definitely think of it as a story about Soldiers of Love. I think the word \u201clove\u201d represents humanity, and there is a pride in depicting humans as properly as in any live-action film. I think you can look at it like that.<\/p>\n<p><em>Nobuyoshi Habara was born in 1963 in Hiroshima. He is a director and animator. He participated in <\/em>Yamato Resurrection<em> as a mechanic director and became an animation director on the Director\u2019s Cut version. He participated in <\/em>Yamato 2199<em> by directing and creating the storyboards for Episodes 9 and 19. He also directed <\/em>Fafner<em> and <\/em>Fafner Exodus.<\/p>\n<p><em>Harutoshi Fukui was born in 1968 in Tokyo. He is a novelist. In recent years, many of his works have been adapted in both animation and live-action, and his activities have focused on writing original stories and screenplays for animation. His works include<\/em> Twelve Y.O., Another Country\u2019s Aegis, Lorelai at the End of the War, Mobile Suit Gundam UC(Unicorn)<em> and <\/em>Human Capital.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a16.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a17.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Goods<\/em> page gives us our first glimpse of products currently in development, all three coming from Bandai.<\/p>\n<p>1\/1000 <em>Andromeda 2202<\/em> model kit from Bandai Hobby Division, due in Spring 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Yuki Mori poseable figure from S.H.Figuarts\/Bandai Collectors Division\/Tamashi Nations, due in 2017<\/p>\n<p>Yamato Girls Collection figure, Yuki Mori in ship\u2019s uniform from Megahouse, due in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Good to know Bandai has some more Yuki figures on the way. We don\u2019t have nearly enough yet.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a18.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The last two pages are devoted to <em>Theaters<\/em> and <em>License<\/em>. The theater page is simply a list of venues, but the licensing page is a bit more interesting; an open call to any company wishing to hop on board the <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> bandwagon. It\u2019s self-evident that the <em>2202<\/em> Production Committee is big enough to get the show on the road, but additional partners are always needed.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a19.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Speaking of which, there\u2019s already an elephant in the room that opens up a new road in terms of anime merchandising. <em>Yamato 2202<\/em>\u2019s first major sponsor is Under Armour, the globally-known maker of sports apparel. A link to the company\u2019s Japanese website was provided at the bottom of the <em>2202<\/em> home page, and an <a href='http:\/\/www.underarmour.co.jp\/news\/information\/20160905-2.php'>announcement<\/a> could be found there that gave us what amounted to another new character description.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a20.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Advisory contract concluded with Akira Yamamoto of <em>Space Battleship Yamato 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>As part of a collaboration plan with the anime movie <em>Space Battleship Yamato 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em> which will premiere February 25, 2017, Under Armour has concluded an advisory contract with Akira Yamamoto, a character in the story. We will work as partners to enlighten lifestyles with training in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Akira Yamamoto is an officer in the tactical division of <em>Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>. After playing an active role in the flying corps with an outstanding operation technique, she is depicted in <em>2202<\/em> as training a younger generation in the air corps. To become a leader, she prepares for emergencies every day with harsh personal training. She has a high awareness of physical fitness that influences many of her comrades.<\/p>\n<p>Along with the strong and intelligent Akira Yamamoto, Under Armour works to enlighten and educate lifestyles with sports activities.<\/p>\n<p><em>Message from Akira Yamamoto:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Today I\u2019m thankful to have signed this advisory contract with Under Armour. Throughout the voyage to Iscandar in 2199, I felt that \u201cyou can better protect when you become stronger,\u201d and I worked on training afterward. I prepare for the day when Earth is threatened anew, and with innovative Under Armour wear, I\u2019ll strive toward further training and discipline every day.<\/p>\n<p><em>Akira Yamamoto Profile:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Born on Mars, Arcadia City. Air corps ace with outstanding operation technique. In the voyage to Iscandar and the battle with Garmillas in 2199, she saved <em>Yamato<\/em> from countless crises. Though she is now occupied in a mission to raise the next generation, she imposes strict training on herself every day to prepare for emergencies.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class='clear'>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep16\/122a21.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That takes care of all the online activity from September 5, but it\u2019s just the beginning of what the day had in store. The first physical presence of a new production comes in the humble form of flyers in movie theaters. The first <em>2202<\/em> teaser flyer extracted key information from website content and took up a position that will probably be held for at least the next two years as chapters come and go.<\/p>\n<p><\/br><br \/>\n<a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/123a'>Continue to page 2: the Production Presentation event<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[123,132],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-yamato-2202","category-yamato-2202-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21908","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21908"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22238,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21908\/revisions\/22238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}