{"id":31203,"date":"2020-11-10T22:42:41","date_gmt":"2020-11-11T06:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=31203"},"modified":"2022-03-13T14:48:52","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T21:48:52","slug":"601a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/601a\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Forever<\/em> elements"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Earth invasion, Evacuation and Separation<\/h3>\n

The iconic opening act of Be Forever Yamato<\/em>. A powerful nation of humanoids blasts through the Milky Way galaxy, intent on crashing a giant superweapon onto Earth. Kodai recklessly tries to stop it, but is thwarted. He ultimately fails, but lands on Earth anyway to make sure the people he cares about are safe and sound. What proceeds is a full-scale invasion; air raids, alien tripods torching the harbor, and an ambush by jetpack-wearing Dark Nebula soldiers.<\/p>\n

After a quick reunion, Sanada calls: Yamato<\/em>\u2019s waiting for Kodai and co. It\u2019s been receiving a refit from him and Yamazaki on Asteroid base Icarus! The crew kick into high gear, infiltrating the abandoned president\u2019s bunker to steal his evacuation craft. But the steel dome is locked! Yuki offers to manually open it from outside, but not before Dark Nebula soldiers break inside and halt her advance. She reaches for Kodai, he grabs her hand and almost manages to reel her in, but he drops her. Attempting to jump after Yuki, he\u2019s pulled back by Aihara. <\/p>\n

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2202<\/em>\u2019s first Episode takes these building blocks and constructs something similar enough, but different in substance. After a devastating battle with Gatlantis, a giant super Calaklum manages to survive Andromeda<\/em>\u2019s split-WMG and heads toward Earth. It\u2019s intent on crashing into the capital, utilizing its deadly mass and impact. Kodai and his small ship Yunagi<\/em> fail to stop it. That\u2019s when Sanada calls to inform Kodai that he and Yamazaki have been refitting Yamato<\/em> since the voyage to Iscandar. They fire from inside its domed dock, destroying the giant battleship.<\/p>\n

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The bunker sequence was relegated to Ep 4, where Yamazaki, Kiryuu, Hoshina and Yuria fill Yuki\u2019s shoes. They stay behind to ensure Yamato<\/em>\u2019s able to depart, exchanging fire with EDF security personnel during a time of mutiny, then they get left behind. <\/p>\n

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The sequence where Kodai jumps after Yuki was retrofitted into a huge plot point in Ep 9 at Stravase. There, no one\u2019s able to stop Kodai from jumping after the falling Yuki, and he saves her.<\/p>\n

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Finally, in Ep 26, there\u2019s the hands sequence. Inside Teresa\u2019s dimension, Yuki tries to reach for Kodai, but he mentally brushes her aside. Eventually, their fingers connect after an emotional appeal to Kodai\u2019s heart. But he lets her go until the future connection that is their child brings them together again. <\/p>\n

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In Be Forever<\/em>, Mamoru observes their ship evacuating from Earth. He\u2019s pleased. This was carried over to Saito in 2202<\/em>, where he tried laying down his life to ensure Nagakura\u2019s departure was carried out from the 11th planet. <\/p>\n

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With all this laid out, we\u2019re left with two more elements: The sneaky jetpack ambush and the tripod devastation. 2199<\/em> Ep 25 took the jetpack sequence, merged it with the boarding party sequence from Yamato III<\/em> Ep 6, and justified its inclusion by visually paying homage to Dessler and Talan\u2019s deaths in Farewell<\/em>. Abelt even sports a one-time suit very similar to Lt. Alphon’s. The scary humanoid jetpack soldiers became scary artificial jetpack Garmilloid soldiers.<\/p>\n

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The tripod attack? For 2205<\/em>, the mining operation on Iscandar (originating from New Voyage)<\/em> was merged with this sequence. The new tripods were given impenetrable shields, as well as their devastating energy beams and destructive intent from Be Forever Yamato<\/em>. Ultimately, the invasion of Garmillas again results in the planet\u2019s complete and utter destruction. <\/p>\n

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Earth\u2019s Automated Fleet<\/h3>\n

Relying on one ship to always save Earth can\u2019t possibly be a sound strategy. Or so the EDF thought after Yamato<\/em>\u2019s miraculously successful journey to and from Iscandar. To cover this flaw in Yamato 2<\/em>, Earth invests in a fleet of warships, beginning with the almost completely automated technological masterpiece Andromeda<\/em>. Its lack of human spirit is what eventually brings it down. Nonetheless, Earth proceeds to fine-tune their automation strategy. They build a smaller fleet of remote-controlled warships in Be Forever<\/em> that likewise is effortlessly brought down. Then, in Final Yamato<\/em> they create a massive fleet of WMG-equipped warships. In the end, they all fail to measure up to Yamato<\/em>\u2019s brilliance. Most fall in wars with Gatlantis, the Dark Nebula Empire and Uruk.<\/p>\n

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In 2202<\/em>, the 1978 idea of a WMG-fleet was fully realized for the first time. Ship designs from Be Forever Yamato<\/em> helped inspire the creation of the more experimental ships from 2202<\/em>\u2019s Time Fault departure sequence. The sequence\u2019s direction, like the focus on the sun and a child witnessing their departure, came from Final Yamato<\/em>. Andromeda<\/em>\u2019s progressive automation, the introduction of A.I. controlled ships and the message that over-reliance on technology will bring about mankind\u2019s eventual doom was front and center. Shima even gets to be upset about the upcoming cyborgization of mankind, something briefly touched upon in Final Yamato<\/em>. <\/p>\n

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Hyperon Bomb<\/h3>\n

The Dark Nebula Empire\u2019s strongest weapon: its radiation, once released, kills all living humans on its preset brain wave frequency. This is demonstrated when the bomb travels across the Milky Way, terminating all humans outside Earth. Their bodies are left frozen in place. The DNE\u2019s Occupation Commander Kazan orders all Earthlings to obey his command, lest he activate it on Earth as well. Its activation switch doesn\u2019t reside in the bomb itself, but inside the Dark Nebula Empire\u2019s mother planet, the Dezarium. Yamato<\/em> decides to head there as a first priority. The resistance fighters on Earth have to be careful, however. If they decide to fight their captors, the bomb will activate. <\/p>\n

2202<\/em> decided to capitalize on the novel idea of a brainwave-focused mass extinction weapon. What the staff came up with was Golem, a huge throne-like pillar that releases a song when wounded; a song that terminates the brainwaves of all humanoid Gatlanteans across the entire universe, freezing their bodies in place. In contrast to Kodai\u2019s plan of destroying the Hyperon bomb in Be Forever<\/em>, he wants to stop Zordar from submitting to his own nihilism if at all possible. This new change in perspective on the enemy was borrowed from his negotiaton with Lugal of Uruk in Final Yamato<\/em>. Unlike Lord Skaldart and Kazan of Be Forever<\/em>, Zordar actually manages to activate Golem, killing his entire race.<\/p>\n

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Kodai and Yuki\u2019s Love Angst<\/h3>\n

After a long break from each other, Kodai and Yuki reunite. But it\u2019s short-lived. The Dark Nebula Empire\u2019s occupation of Earth separates the couple! Yuki\u2019s forced to live on Earth with DNE intelligence officer Lt. Alphon, who falls for her. Kodai, meanwhile, has to deal with a Yuki lookalike who vies for his attention: Mio Sanada, also known as Sasha. During the couple’s separation, their love is tested. They\u2019re both made to believe the other has died, worsening the situation. And even if they meet again, will their relationship be the same? What does it mean to truly love and trust in your partner?<\/p>\n

In 2199<\/em>, Kodai and Yurisha carried his and Sasha\u2019s part of Be Forever Yamato<\/em>. Sasha\u2019s telepathy, interest in the human concept of love, her intense desire to make Starsha proud and her helpful attitude toward Kodai informed Yurisha\u2019s character. Lt. Alphon has been discussed to death, so let\u2019s put a pin in him. How does 2202<\/em> delve deeper into this swamp of ideas? By separating Yuki from herself. <\/p>\n

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In 2202<\/em> Ep 19, Yuki experiences a reverse amnesia, where the memories she\u2019d lost in the car crash of 2198 return – at the cost of the three years since then. Kodai isn\u2019t sure if the person he loves is the same Yuki he once fell for, and he\u2019s worried she will feel the same. He misses the Yuki he fell for, and knows he\u2019ll probably never see her again. Nevertheless, he still loves her, and that love is rewarded at the end in Teresa\u2019s dimension, where they spiritually reunite. Exactly what happens at the end of Be Forever Yamato<\/em>. <\/p>\n

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Instead of the story itself testing Kodai and Yuki\u2019s love, Zordar takes an active role in doing so, beginning at planet Stravaze in Ep 9. Yuki takes Sasha\u2019s place as the one who (attempts to) give her life to avert calamity. Why not follow Be Forever<\/em>\u2019s way of telling this story in 2202<\/em>? Because 2199<\/em> already separated the couple, pairing Yuki with Norran and Kodai with Yurisha. What little remained was paid homage through clever story implementation. This is elaborated upon in the \u201cEarth invasion\u201d segment.<\/p>\n

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Entering the Dark Nebula<\/h3>\n

After a tricky warp, Yamato<\/em> enters a newly-discovered dark nebula. Its space is filled with a thick, sticky fog that disrupts Yamato<\/em>\u2019s radar. Sanada remarks that they’ll have to resort to using their eyes. Enemies lie in ambush. Yamato<\/em> almost falls prey to the trickery. But they escape, pushing onward toward their goal: A planetary object at the heart of the nebula. A planet that looks like Earth. <\/p>\n

For brevity\u2019s sake, I\u2019ll save the ambush portion for the battles section. The rest? Adapted 1:1 in Ark of the Stars<\/em>. After encountering Dagarm\u2019s expeditionary forces, Yamato<\/em> makes a risky warp (Final Yamato<\/em> inspiration) from inside a planet. They end up in a strange space, with sticky thick fog that messes with the radar. Left with only their eyes to trust – this time pointed out by Captain Okita – they see a planetary object far off. Once they penetrate its lower layer, a small expedition led by Kodai is led to believe they\u2019ve landed on another Earth. From that point on, inspiration is taken from Planet Phantom.<\/p>\n

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Encounter, Confrontation and Reveal of the Dezarium\u2019s True Nature<\/h3>\n

Arriving at the Dark Nebula Empire\u2019s home planet, Kodai and friends are confronted by its leader, Lord Skaldart. From his throne, he reveals the supposedly true nature of his people, their origins and Yamato<\/em>\u2019s eventual fate if they choose to leave and reject their destiny. What\u2019s their destiny? To become the Dark Nebula Empire. Events from past, present and future are depicted in oval shapes, flashed through a futuristic film reel.<\/p>\n

Even so, Kodai refuses to comply. Yamato<\/em> will fight their fate. But Sasha chooses to stay behind. Torn and conflicted, she waves the ship goodbye. Her mother tells her to smile as she does, for no separation is eternal. What proceeds is a grim skirmish with Skaldart\u2019s forces. Yamato<\/em> manages to break the Dezarium\u2019s illusory outer shell, revealing its true form. The image of a screaming woman – uncannily similar in appearance to Yuki – ushers it in. It\u2019s a cold, metallic rib cage construct.<\/p>\n

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2199<\/em> paid homage to Sasha\u2019s farewell. After giving Yuki a heartfelt goodbye, Yurisha sees the ship off, smiling. Ark<\/em> would paid visual homage to the reveal of the Dezarium, as discussed in the “Locations” segment.<\/p>\n

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2202<\/em> adapted Skaldart\u2019s parts. The throne room confrontation where the DNE\u2019s origins and fatalistic philosophy is imparted? Where Kodai refuses to accept his proposition? Eps 8 & 9, Zordar\u2019s throne room projection talk with Kodai; his devil\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

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Dezarium\u2019s true form and the screaming woman? Episode 20: The discovery of the Ark of Destruction and original Sabera\u2019s despair. This is later referenced in Episode 24, when Zordar activates Golem. The new White Sabera recalls the pain of her predecessor, ushering in the Ark of Destruction’s true form with the same pained screech and face. <\/p>\n

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The reveal of the Dezarium\u2019s dark, twisted inner shell after a frontal blast from the WMG? Episode 23. This scene even paid lip service to Be Forever<\/em> by letting Hijikata inherit the original Yamanami\u2019s line: \u201cWill you do, or will you die? Our only option is to push through.\u201d Yamanami and Hijikata musing on whether or not this turn of events is destiny also came from Be Forever<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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The futuristic film reel? Ep 26: Teresa\u2019s dimension and her timeline talk with Kodai.<\/p>\n

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The End of Sasha and Lt. Alphon’s Journeys<\/h3>\n

Sasha calls to inform Kodai of her intention to scuttle Dezarium, but she needs his help. Using a combination of technical skills and her powers, she activates the gates leading into the heart of Dezarium. Yamato<\/em> pushes onward toward the crystal city at Dezarium’s core.<\/p>\n

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Lord Skaldart edges closer to the Hyperon Bomb\u2019s activation switch in a panic, causing him to exchange gunshots with Sasha. They both begin to bleed out. Kodai\u2019s forced to make the difficult decision of firing the WMG at Sasha or lose all of mankind. He pulls the trigger with Sanada\u2019s help. Yamato<\/em> then limps home. Kodai clenches his fist, asking himself why so many lives were lost, and what for? But Sasha\u2019s spirit imparts some beautiful words of encouragement, praise and wisdom. Weep not for the Dark Nebula Empires of the world, but march onward toward new glories. Live life forever. Let the bonds you make guide you. Peace will come one day.<\/p>\n

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How about the details behind Sasha\u2019s death? After putting her life on the line to guide Yamato<\/em> safely into the ancient gates leading to the Dezarium\u2019s heart, she\u2019s shot by Lord Skaldart. To ensure her sacrifice isn\u2019t in vain – and to ensure the Hyperon bomb isn\u2019t activated – Kodai makes the difficult decision to fire the WMG at Sasha. Dezarium is destroyed.<\/p>\n

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In 2202<\/em>, Toko Katsuragi filled this role. Using her telepathic abilities, she opens the ancient gates of Lerte and guides Yamato<\/em>. Zordar takes note of her efforts and promptly puts her to death, and when pressed by Kodai as to why she had to die, he says it\u2019s because she was influenced by the false love espoused by Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew. In Final Yamato<\/em>, this was Lugal\u2019s position when it came to his sons, De Zahl and the Dengil Boy.<\/p>\n

And Alphon? Three characters have borrowed his death in particular. Miru borrowed the setting, Miru and Ito received a surprise karma attack, and Dessler was spared in spite of the position he was put in. More details in Lt. Alphon\u2019s character portion. <\/p>\n

Yurisha saw the beauty of Yamato<\/em>\u2019s heart. It\u2019s what ultimately made her decide to guide the ship to Iscandar. Norran realized that even he – a second class citizen – deserves to love a woman of a different race. Keyman came to this same realization, that he can find happiness and love; someone to show affection (this someone being Akira Yamamoto). Sasha\u2019s final words of comfort? Given by Teresa at the end of 2202<\/em>. Even if life is seemingly an endless struggle, it has an inherent beauty to it that only the human soul can recognize. What Kodai did is what inspired his peers to save him. <\/p>\n

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Kodai\u2019s clenched fist and dejection at being faced with the death he caused by firing the WMG gun at the end of Be Forever<\/em>? Shifted to Yamanami in 2202<\/em>, after the destruction of the WMG fleet in Ep 18. The dialogue portion and tragic WMG sequence was shifted to his reckless charge at the White Comet’s gravity well in Ep 21, where he directly cites Kodai as he almost drives himself to suicide via WMG-immolation. <\/p>\n

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Yamanami\u2019s Tenure as Captain<\/h3>\n

When Kodai is first introduced to his new Captain, he\u2019s told Yamanami\u2019s an old academy friend of Okita and Hijikata. They quickly go over their goal: to find the Hyperon Bomb\u2019s transmitter inside the Dark Nebulan Empire\u2019s homeworld and break it. Yamanami also makes it clear that Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew won\u2019t receive any special treatment from him, \u201cas had been the norm before,\u201d whether they be new recruits or veterans.<\/p>\n

After a series of successive warp tests, he orders Sanada to expedite repairs with no delay. DNE Admiral Kazan witnesses this warp, confounding and angering him. Later, in their first encounter with him in battle, Yamanami remarks that Yamato<\/em>\u2019s here to prove that its superior technology is its greatest source of power. <\/p>\n

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After having been confronted with the supposedly destined end of mankind by Lord Skaldart if Yamato<\/em> leaves the Dezarium, Kodai shares his thoughts with Yamanami: he intends to fight regardless of what fate awaits them. Yamanami says they can\u2019t be expected to fight against fate – or rather history – itself. Kodai\u2019s response is simple: \u201cWhat is history? We’re alive right now! I\u2019m asking for an opportunity to bet on the 1 in 10,000 chance to survive this!\u201d Impressed with his fervor, Yamanami agrees, saying that this is precisely the kind of talk he\u2019s been waiting to hear from Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew. He dons his cap and issues orders for takeoff.<\/p>\n

Near the movie\u2019s climax, Hijikata orders the firing of the WMG at the Dezarium, revealing its true artificial form. He\u2019s also present for the reveal of the Dark Nebulans’ true essence as humanoids. After a difficult battle against Dezarium\u2019s crystal core city, Yamanami is felled by a steel panel, loosened after heavy hits to Yamato<\/em>\u2019s bridge. Kodai rushes to embrace the Captain, refusing to accept this turn of events. <\/p>\n

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Throughout their short journey together, Yamanami fulfilled Hijikata\u2019s role from Farewell<\/em>, with some scenes – like his death – clearly taking heavy inspiration from his predecessor. In that movie, Hijikata\u2019s death came as a result of Yamato<\/em>\u2019s sustained internal damage. It came down to rotten luck. <\/p>\n

These scenes (among many others) would all come to inspire Hijikata\u2019s inclusion in both 2199<\/em> and 2202<\/em>, also letting the new Yamanami take Hijikata\u2019s Yamato 2<\/em> role as Andromeda<\/em>\u2019s captain. Traits that remained constant for both the original Hijikata and Yamanami until their final moments, such as their (almost) unwavering stoicism and cold rationalism, remain imbued in the new Yamanami\u2019s personality. With all this out of the way, how and when does the reboot utilize this assortment of scenes and character traits?<\/p>\n

In 2202<\/em>, Yamanami\u2019s feigned cold disregard for Yamato\u2019s<\/em> previous status as heroes, his complete faith in technology, his position as a junior for Okita and Hijikata, his might-makes-right mentality, and his reveal as a mushy idealist at heart was given to the reboot\u2019s Yamanami. All scenes regarding the Dark Nebulans’ true form (Gatlantis), the Hyperon Bomb (Golem) and Yamato<\/em> firing at Dezarium (White Comet) were laid out for Hijikata, sometimes word-for-word. <\/p>\n

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The successive warp tests followed by expedited repairs? This became a failed and successively more risky and harmful series of warps, with the aim to arrive at Saturn before the White Comet. Just like with Kazan, Admiral Mazer witnesses their warp, infuriated. The repairs were carried out by an exhausted Tokugawa under Hijikata\u2019s orders.<\/p>\n

The 1 in 10,000 chance Kodai was talking about? And Hijikata asking about fate? This instead became a one in a million<\/em> chance to settle for peace with Zordar and his kind, pushed by Kodai. Following Miru\u2019s unfortunate demise, however, Hijikata would come to refer to this as a wasted \u201cGod-given opportunity,\u201d all while adjusting his cap.<\/p>\n

Come the final confrontation with Zordar, both Hijikata and the emperor of Gatlantis would ask this question within minutes of one another: \u201cthis must be the power of bonds\u2026\u201d Bonds are said to shape history and fate itself in 2202<\/em>, making this term a stand-in for Be Forever<\/em>‘s \u201cfate\u201d. <\/p>\n

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Yamato<\/em>\u2019s supposedly fated demise became a historical probability espoused by Zordar as love-riddled causality, much to Kodai\u2019s dismay and disagreement. The reboot Yamanami is given the chance to escape his Yamato 2<\/em>-style Hijikata death, whilst 2202<\/em>\u2019s Hijikata gets to experience that aforementioned mixture of Farewell<\/em> Hijikata and Be Forever<\/em> Yamanami\u2019s deaths. <\/p>\n

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Two fathers, different species<\/h3>\n

Be Forever<\/em> reintroduced Sasha, the daughter of Starsha and Mamoru from The New Voyage<\/em>, this time all grown up. Apparently, the people of Iscandar have a speedy growth cycle, but due to her father being from Earth, her growth was stunted at around age 16. Realizing that her strange existence would be shunned on Earth, Mamoru Kodai\u2019s best friend Sanada was entrusted with raising her on the Asteroid Base Icarus. Mamoru didn\u2019t want his child to be treated poorly for being of a different race. When told of her father\u2019s death, she cries her heart out. At the end of the movie, Sasha makes a tear jerking speech to her father-in-law Sanada, telling him that she was happy to be raised by such a fine man. <\/p>\n

2205<\/em> was created in a different age, at a different time. An adoption storyline was already featured in 2199<\/em> with Yuki and Hijikata, but there was apparently more inspiration than we believed. After a long buildup, Hilde Shulz, a character that\u2019s remained mostly dormant since her introduction in 2199<\/em>, returned in 2205<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Hilde was born and raised on the planet Zaltz by an unknown loving mother, alongside military man and father Vuelke Shulz. 2205<\/em> reveals the planet\u2019s tragic fate: It was obliterated by Garmillas during its imperialistic expansion, ensuring that its remaining peoples would fall in line. Following this, the Shulz family moved to Garmillas and Vuelke became a veteran in the army alongside Domel. Sadly, he\u2019d later die for honor and glory, leaving Hilde an orphan. The likewise shunned and oppressed Jirel space witch Celestella hires her as a maid, providing for Hilde until her own death at the end of 2199<\/em>. <\/p>\n

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In the final days of Garmillas\u2019 war with Earth, Vice President Redof Hyss would take Hilde under his wing, raising her until his own demise in 2205<\/em>. When Garmillas became the target for obliteration. While she couldn\u2019t call him a father to his face, something Hyss laments, she cried out \u201cfather!\u201d as the planet implodes, beset by sorrow. <\/p>\n

By the midpoint of 2205<\/em> Chapter 2, many of the escaping refugees are left stranded on Iscandar\u2019s surface. Hilde ends up in a heated argument with Vance Baren, the drill missile pilot from 2199<\/em> who also served under General Domel. She tells him that even though she had two different homes – both of which are now gone – and two different fathers of very different racial origin, it doesn\u2019t make her any less grateful to either of them. They were both great fathers, so right now she\u2019ll keep doing her best to protect and save as many Garmillan refugees as possible. <\/p>\n

Another Sasha nugget adapted.<\/p>\n

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You\u2019re my Uncle\/Sister; Sasha\u2019s farewell<\/h3>\n

In Be Forever<\/em>\u2019s climax, Sasha begs Kodai to leave her behind on what she believes to be the future Earth that cares little for race, appearance, or love. This decrepit, broken and desolate landscape is all she needs, not to become a wrench between Yuki and Kodai\u2019s love. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re my Uncle, too. From the beginning, you understood me. I\u2026 Farewell!\u201d Kodai fails to stop her. As Yamato<\/em> leaves Dezarium, Starsha\u2019s spirit appears to give Sasha some cold hard truths: it is her destiny to die on this planet. Even so, she shouldn\u2019t worry, cry, or be sad, for her mother will stay with her until the end. Sasha holds out her arms to embrace Starsha, but without a physical body it\u2019s not possible. <\/p>\n

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In the movie\u2019s epilogue, Sarsha\u2019s spirit manifests in the breadth of the universe. She expresses joy and contentment at having lived her short life alongside family like Kodai and Sanada. To die for the splendor of mankind to keep shining was her duty; she was happy to do it. She gives Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew her heart, then returns to her mother\u2019s spiritual embrace, departing with these words: \u201cFarewell Yamato<\/em>\u2019s crew. Farewell\u2026 my excellent young Uncle.\u201d <\/p>\n

This scene became a focal point of one of Yamato III<\/em>\u2019s ending songs, Parting<\/em> (sung by Mitsuko Horie). Its composition used the leitmotif from Starsha\u2019s parting in The New Voyage<\/em> and Sasha\u2019s in Be Forever<\/em>. These elements are all present in 2205<\/em> Chapter 2.<\/p>\n

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After some hefty revelations about Garmillas and Iscandar\u2019s true origins are revealed by Starsha, all refugee ships depart along with the Yamato<\/em> fleet. Starsha muses on the idea of partings; how a short, limited lifespan that ends in death is ultimately a more satisfying existence than an eternal one spent in a cage. Living one life to the fullest is all you need. A perishable existence is meant to perish, and that\u2019s why she never brought her departed sister Sasha back to the mortal world. But if she were to be brought back\u2026 she would be an entirely different person.<\/p>\n

Starsha is about to push the symbolic button that will destroy Iscandar, then turns to Yurisha. She apologizes for things turning out this way; for forcing her to go along with her incoming martyrdom that will cost the lives of not only herself, Sasha and Starsha, but also Iscandar\u2019s people sleeping beneath the royal palace. <\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m sorry Yurisha. As someone brought out for the sole task of visiting Earth, you don\u2019t understand what I\u2019m talking about, do you?\u201d It appears that Yurisha\u2019s body is not nearly as old as Starsha\u2019s. In fact, by my estimations, she should be\u2026 around 8-10 years old.<\/p>\n

Yurisha turns to Starsha as the music swells. \u201cI don\u2019t understand\u2026 I don\u2019t understand\u2026 but\u2026 right now\u2026 I\u2019m lonely and it hurts.\u201d They embrace as the song comes to a close. But they are interrupted before the button can be pushed.<\/p>\n

Kodai and the new crew aboard Yamato<\/em> depart to pick them up. Kodai expresses his own discontent with \u201chaving to lose another family member,\u201d referring to Starsha as his sister. To support Kodai\u2019s emotional appeal, Yurisha directly confronts Starsha, saying that even if it\u2019s for just another minute\u2026 she wants to live! But it wasn\u2019t to last. Since their souls are bound to the fate of Iscandar, their bodies being mere projections out of ceremonial duty, the planet\u2019s demise will take them with it.<\/p>\n

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Later, when saying her final goodbye to Dessler, Starsha says these words: \u201cI always wanted to see those eyes of yours. I\u2019ll never forget them. Thank you\u2026\u201d Dessler, like Sasha in Be Forever<\/em>, is unable to hold Starsha as she fades away. Yurisha then fulfills her role as Sasha in the story, saying she is destined to die (when her homeworld perishes). But since the new Sasha was conceived with Mamoru\u2019s help, an Earthling, she\u2019s not bound to that same fate. At the end, Yurisha was happy to have lived her short life.<\/p>\n

The story ends and Sasha is born, mirroring the original The New Voyage<\/em>. Yurisha\u2019s existence, fate and role mirrored Be Forever<\/em>\u2019s Sasha. The new Sasha exists outside the confines of the original stories. Perhaps this time, she won\u2019t suffer the same fate as her mother and aunts.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

End Credits<\/h3>\n

After a parting spiritual conversation between Sasha and Kodai, Be Forever<\/em>‘s first end credits song begins to roll. We\u2019re treated to Yamato\u2019s<\/em> return journey to Earth. Shots of each bridge crew member are carefully spread out in rhythm with the song Love, Until that Day,<\/em> finishing up with a montage of the galaxy\u2019s heroes and Yamato<\/em> entering Earth\u2019s atmosphere from afar. What precedes this is the spiritual reunion of Yuki and Kodai\u2019s hearts, visual metaphors ending with a stunning depiction of the Milky Way galaxy.<\/p>\n

Ark of the Stars<\/em> depicted the emotional farewell between Sasha and Kodai, but reframed it, this time with the Jirel witch Lerelai, the Garmillan soldier Berger, and the Earthlings aboard Yamato.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2202<\/em> decided to depict Yamato<\/em>\u2019s return to Earth in much the same manner as Be Forever<\/em>, this time with Kenji Sawada’s From Yamato with Love<\/em> playing, all while paying special care to the bridge members’ closeup shots. This element of its return was not present in Farewell<\/em> (since Yamato<\/em> sacrifices itself) or in Yamato 2<\/em> (since most of the crew was not on the bridge). The spiritual reunion happens prior to this scene however, inside Teresa\u2019s dimension. The galaxy scene caps off 2202<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

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