{"id":39497,"date":"2025-01-24T12:35:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T20:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=39497"},"modified":"2026-03-13T13:15:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T20:15:57","slug":"035b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/035b\/","title":{"rendered":"Vintage Report 33: 1981, first quarter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2502icon\"<\/p>\n

After a banner year like 1980, it could only be expected that Yamato<\/em> activity would decline, and it certainly did. In this time period, the second half of Yamato III<\/em> was accompanied by a slew of publishing and two new albums, as the appearance of a new competitor inspired Yoshinobu Nishizaki to take action…<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

After a banner year like 1980, it could only be expected that Yamato<\/em> activity would decline, and it certainly did. In this time period, the second half of Yamato III<\/em> was accompanied by a slew of publishing and two new albums, and the appearance of a new competitor inspired Yoshinobu Nishizaki to take action…<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 3: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 13<\/h3>\n

Dreadful! The Bolar Federation!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em>‘s crew overcomes the slave hijackers, but learns that they are followers of Mother Shalbart. Bolar Prime Minister Bemlarze claims that Earth is under his jurisdiction, and the crew has to fight their way off Planet Berth before he destroys it.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 10: The Anime<\/em> Vol. 15, February issue<\/h3>\n

The Anime<\/em> had a de facto lock on Yamato III<\/em> coverage throughout both January and February of 1981. The TV episodes that accompanied this issue finally brought Dessler into the story, paying off all the speculative coverage in December. A 5-page article summarized episodes 12-17, examined the personality types of various crew members, and featured the only crew chart ever published for the series \u2013 which included characters never seen on TV. A poster of Kodai and Yuki was included as a bonus item.<\/p>\n

Read the article here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This poster, using the main image from the article, was included with the magazine.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 10: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 14<\/h3>\n

The Dimensional Submarine, Galman Wolf!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> sends another discouraging report to Earth while Admiral Gaidel confers with Frakken, commander of a fleet of dimensional submarines. Frakken launches a devastating attack against Yamato<\/em>, wounding Kodai.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 10: Farewell to Yamato<\/em> anime comics Vol. 1<\/h3>\n

All three Yamato<\/em> feature films were published as anime comics by Akita Shoten, but they actually came out in reverse order. Be Forever<\/em> was first, followed on this day by volume 1 of Farewell<\/em>. In 160 tightly-packed pages, volume 1 got all the way to the first look at Teresa in the Telezart underground.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 17: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 15<\/h3>\n

Yamato is Captured!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> is lured toward Admiral Gaidel\u2019s space fortress and captured. When Gaidel reports this to Dessler, he flies into a rage. He contacts Yamato<\/em> and invites them to visit the Galman homeworld as his personal guests.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 20: Farewell to Yamato<\/em> anime comics Vol. 2<\/h3>\n

Readers didn’t have to wait long to conclude the story; ten days after Volume 1, Akita Shoten’s followup brought Farewell<\/em> to its emotional ending (despite the cheery cover image).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 23: Be Forever Yamato<\/em> manga Vol. 2<\/h3>\n

Akira Hiyo brought his Be Forever<\/em> adaptation to a close in 190 pages, starting from the battle just prior to the galactic crossing. <\/p>\n

Read more about this manga here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 24: The Best One<\/em>, March issue<\/h3>\n

The year’s first issue of Gakken’s entertainment magazine covered Yamato III<\/em> in the Anime Channel<\/em> section, giving readers a preview of the next two episodes. They got the airdates wrong, but the rest of the information was accurate.<\/p>\n

Reunion with Dessler!!<\/span><\/h2>\n

Dessler, who lost Starsha and his homeland Gamilas, now wields power as leader of the new Galman-Gamilas Empire. The day when Dessler and Kodai reunite finally comes. Will it be friendship, or the beginning of a new battle?<\/span><\/p>\n

Dessler’s National Holiday<\/span><\/h3>\n

Kodai accepts Dessler’s invitation to the Galman-Gamilas Empire, overcoming the objections of Domon, Ageha, and others. The great empire is celebrating its founding anniversary. The crew of Yamato<\/em>, who land on the planet, are amazed by its ultra-modern cities and military power. Kodai and Dessler meet again for the first time in a long while. The two of them let the past go and confirm their friendship, but…Kodai’s heart is clouded by Dessler’s ambition to defeat the Bolar Federation with his enormous military power. (Airs January 31)<\/span><\/p>\n

Dessler’s Empire on the brink of disaster<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dessler proposes to use all of his nation’s scientific power to save Earth. He plans to send a ship to restore the abnormal sun. The success rate is estimated at 99%. After getting the Earth Defense Force’s approval, Kodai asks Dessler to carry out the plan. However, the Bolar Federation’s new warp missile is heading for the Galman-Gamilas home planet! The home planet is in great jeopardy due to a malfunction of the defense system. Yamato<\/em>‘s counterattack begins! (Airs February 7th)<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 24: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 16<\/h3>\n

The Day of Dessler!<\/em><\/p>\n

Kodai remembers his encounters with Dessler as Yamato<\/em> travels to Galman. There, Dessler greets the crew and explains how he built the Galman Empire while waging war against the Bolar Federation. Kodai wonders how far Dessler can be trusted.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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January 25: Space Battleship Yamato BGM Collection<\/em> Part 1<\/h3>\n

At last, after six years of waiting, the actual music heard on TV could be heard on your record player. Why did it take this long to respond to constant requests from fans? Strange as it sounds, it was the recorded quality of the original score. Back in 1974, recording sessions were not budgeted for stereo since no Japanese TV set could reproduce it that way. <\/p>\n

To Hiroshi Miyagawa\u2019s credit, he skillfully worked around this to write simple melodies that could break through such technical limitations. In short, he made sure that his tunes would still sound good on a miniature TV speaker. That meant the LP could only be monaural, but that didn’t stop anyone from buying it after all.<\/p>\n

Read more about this album here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This two-sided poster was included with the album. The side you chose to display on your wall would have instantly revealed your allegiance.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

January 31: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 17<\/h3>\n

Critical Moment of Dessler\u2019s Empire!<\/em><\/p>\n

Dessler learns of Earth\u2019s plight and offers the help of his scientists. As the units are made ready, a phalanx of Bolar warp missiles attacks the Galman homeworld.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

Also spotted in January<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

SF Magazine No. 270, February issue<\/em><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> had a tenuous connection to this monthly literary magazine published by Hayakawa; each issue contained illustrated contributions from Studio Nue, which handled Yamato<\/em> mecha design from 1974 through 1978. This issue contained another connection in the form of a monthly column by writer Masahiro Noda. He was, in fact, the producer of the Leiji Matsumoto TV special Super Anime of the Century<\/em>, which was broadcast in November 1980 (see Vintage Report 31<\/a>).<\/p>\n

What did he have to say about the experience? Read it for yourself here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Anime magazines published in January<\/em><\/p>\n

Animec<\/em> Vol. 15 (Rapport), Animage<\/em> Vol. 32 (Tokuma Shoten), The Anime<\/em> Vol. 15 (Kindaieigasha), OUT<\/em> March issue (Minori Shobo)<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

February 3: Bouken Oh [Adventure King]<\/em>, March issue<\/h3>\n

Now lagging significantly behind the TV series, the Yamato III<\/em> manga adaptation by Hiroshi Aizawa covered the final battle against Galman General Dagon (Episode 11) in 14 pages.<\/p>\n

Read it here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 10: Yamato III<\/em> Complete Works novel Vol. 1<\/h3>\n

The number of Yamato<\/em> novelizations continued to grow when the tenth volume of Asahi Sonorama’s Yamato<\/em> Complete Works series began a 3-part Yamato III<\/em> adaptation. Yoshinobu Nishizaki was credited as the author (though it was probably ghostwritten), and the first 9 episodes were covered in 192 pages with color stills throughout.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 10: The Anime<\/em> Vol. 16, March issue<\/h3>\n

February was a dramatic month for the TV series, in which episodes 18-20 took Yamato<\/em> from Planet Galman to Planet Phantom where nothing was as it seemed. The Anime<\/em>\u2018s 6-page article for February was the first to examine Mother Shalbart as the mysterious new figure looming over everything, asking the big question: is she god or devil? As a followup to the previous issue, another character study examined the villains of the saga.<\/p>\n

Read the article here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 14: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 18<\/h3>\n

The Angry Sun!<\/em><\/p>\n

Galman commander Frausky leads a unit to the solar system to deal with the runaway nuclear fusion on the sun. Despite elaborate procedures, the effort fails and the sun rages on. Yamato<\/em> sets sail for a planet called Phantom, which Dessler describes as similar to Earth.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 16: The New Voyage<\/em> SF Novel<\/h3>\n

This was the last appearance of The New Voyage<\/em> in novel form from Asahi Sonorama. It started as a 2-volume hardcover edition (Sept 1979), then was reprinted as a 2-volume paperback edition (Aug 1980), and got its third shot as this 320-page single. Two different adaptations had also been published in 1979 by Shueisha, which gave you three ways to relive the movie in the days before home video.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 21: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 19<\/h3>\n

On the Way to Planet Phantom!<\/em><\/p>\n

Cruising toward Phantom, Yamato<\/em> picks up a distress call. Domon and Ageha investigate it to find a marooned ship full of pilgrims trying to find Planet Shalbart.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 24: The Best One<\/em>, April issue<\/h3>\n

If you were anxious to know what would happen next in Yamato III<\/em>, the Anime Channel<\/em> section of The Best One<\/em> would have been irresistible. This issue described two more forthcoming episodes in detail, and they finally got the airdates right.<\/p>\n

Is Yamato<\/em> facing a new crisis…?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The time limit for the destruction of the Earth is finally approaching for Yamato<\/em>! In the three-way battle between the Bolar Federation, the planet Shalbart, and the Galman-Gamilas Empire, what path will Yamato<\/em> take to survive…?<\/span><\/p>\n

Shattered hope<\/span><\/h3>\n

After landing on planet Phantom, which Dessler had told them about, Kodai and his friends are hit by hallucinations one after another. Even though they find nothing abnormal about the planet when they examine it with machines, the hallucinations do not stop. When Dessler finds out about this, he sends his geology veteran, Major Helmeyer, to investigate. Meanwhile, Ageha and Domon, sunbathing on the grassland, witness a mysterious girl. Analyzer’s analysis reveals that Phantom is a giant life form. It is a planet that changes its appearance depending on who looks at it. But Helmeyer fires a probe drill into the lifeform. In an instant, Phantom turns into a world covered in tentacles and begins to go wild! (Airs March 7th)<\/span><\/p>\n

Farewell, Planet of Dreams<\/span><\/h3>\n

At the invitation of the beautiful girl, Domon and Ageha disappear beyond the tentacles and wonder where they’re going. They are led to a mysterious underground space. There, a huge brain, the central lifeform of Phantom, awaits! The lifeform tells them, “This girl is Princess Ruda, who will inherit the planet Shalbart. Please take care of her.” Princess Ruda had been exiled to Phantom by Bemlin [Bemlarze] several years ago. <\/p>\n

Ageha and Domon return to the ship with Princess Ruda. Soon, when Yamato<\/em> departs, a missile ship dispatched by Dessler destroys Planet Phantom! Angered by this method, Kodai once again cuts ties with Dessler. With Princess Ruda aboard, Yamato<\/em> is pursued and targeted by both Bolar and Galman-Gamilas! (Airs March 14th)<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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February 25: Symphonic Suite Yamato III<\/em><\/h3>\n

Since Yamato III<\/em> was first conceived as a 52-episode TV series, a huge music library was created for a wide range of possible uses. The need for new pieces inspired Hiroshi Miyagawa to bring his young son Akira into the fray, and his first-ever composition for Yamato<\/em> made it all the way to this album in a track titled The 18th Armored Division.<\/em><\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to learn more<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Poster given away in stores with the purchase of Symphonic Suite Yamato III<\/em>, Nippon Columbia<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 25: Fan club magazine #21<\/h3>\n

The club magazine for February\/March devoted 9 pages to Yamato III<\/em>. They offered a story digest through Episode 22, memorable scenes, an unusual voice actor interview, and \u201cresearch\u201d on Mother Shalbart and Gaidel\u2019s space fortress. Interestingly, even as the series was about to enter its final month on the air, there was still no talk of its imminent conclusion.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the back cover featured a very rare ad buy from an outside client. Publisher Akita Shoten was about to launch a new magazine titled My Anime<\/em> that would feature substantial Yamato<\/em> content. (Keep reading…)<\/p>\n

See the Yamato III<\/em> coverage here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Also of note was this insert containing a message directly from Yoshinobu Nishizaki. Click here<\/a> to read an annotated version.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 26: Space Battleship Yamato Toy Book<\/em><\/h3>\n

This children\u2019s panel book (printed on thick card stock) from Kodansha reviewed the mecha of Yamato<\/em> through photo montages of Bandai model kits and box art, up to and including Be Forever Yamato<\/em>. <\/p>\n

See it from cover to cover here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

February 28: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 20<\/h3>\n

Phantom Planet!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> arrives at Phantom and the crew is amazed to see that it looks exactly like Earth. Dessler warns Bemlarze to keep his hands off Yamato<\/em>. On Phantom, everyone begins to witness illusions of their loved ones and places from Earth.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

Also spotted in February<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Star Blazers fan club newsletter begins<\/em><\/p>\n

Star Blazers<\/em> fan clubs in America didn\u2019t have the same numbers as Yamato<\/em> clubs in Japan, but they were absolutely equal in terms of passion, dedication, and motivation. The first issue of the quarterly newsletter proved it from word one.<\/p>\n

See it (and all the issues that followed) here<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read about the founding of the fan club in Michael’s own words.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Anime Land 74 > 75 LP<\/em><\/p>\n

TV anime was still less than 18 years old at the beginning of 1981, but Nippon Columbia was already making great strides in documenting its music history. One method for this was the Anime Land<\/em> LP series, of which this was Volume 13. As you can see from the title, the series was chronological, so this volume gave the opening and closing titles of Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> yet another home on vinyl.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Anime magazines published in February<\/em><\/p>\n

Fanroad<\/em> No. 4 (Rapport), Animage<\/em> Vol. 33 (Tokuma Shoten), The Anime<\/em> Vol. 16 (Kindaieigasha), OUT<\/em> April issue (Minori Shobo)<\/p>\n

Mobile Suit Gundam<\/em> landed on two covers this month in preparation for the first Gundam<\/em> compilation movie, which would premiere on March 14.<\/p>\n

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\nFan Club headquarters circa 1982<\/em><\/p>\n

March 1: Fan Club HQ relocates<\/h3>\n

From the date of its founding in late 1977, the headquarters of the official Yamato<\/em> Fan Club had been a hotbed of activity, serving fandom with the bimonthly (occasionally monthly) club magazine, coordinating live events, and handling mail-order products such as movie merch and the hardcover books from Office Academy.<\/p>\n

The staff got new digs at the beginning of March when the home office moved across Tokyo from the Chiyoda ward to Asakusa. The move was most likely part of the shift of assets away from Office Academy over to West Cape Corporation, the background of which is described here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 3: Bouken Oh [Adventure King]<\/em>, April issue<\/h3>\n

The sixth chapter of Hiroshi Aizawa’s Yamato III<\/em> serialization added 14 more pages, taking Yamato<\/em> to the planet Berth and the first encounter with Bolar Prime Minister Bemlarze. By the end of the chapter, the planet is in flames (a compression of TV episodes 12 and 13).<\/p>\n

Read it here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 7: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 21<\/h3>\n

Shattered Hope!<\/em><\/p>\n

Dessler sends a Galman investigation unit to Phantom, and Analyzer’s warnings are confirmed when the planet turns out to be a living being! What secret lies within? The crew must escape with their lives to find out!<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 10: The Anime<\/em> Vol. 17, April issue<\/h3>\n

Most of The Anime<\/em>‘s 8-page article in this issue was spent on the character of Ryusuke Domon, charting his growth from a rookie to a true soldier of Yamato<\/em>. One page was devoted to Princess Ruda, but at the time the article was written, there was still little to go on. Also, finally, a tiny blurb indicated that the series was to end in April, much earlier than expected \u2013 the first mention in print anywhere.<\/p>\n

Read the article here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 10: My Anime<\/em> debut issue<\/h3>\n

Endings are also beginnings, and this was a perfect example. As Yamato III<\/em> was headed for its conclusion and The Anime<\/em> was preparing its final coverage, a completely new magazine entered the scene. My Anime<\/em>‘s publisher Akita Shoten already had a long relationship with Yamato<\/em> as the publisher of Bouken Oh<\/em> and Leiji Matsumoto’s works. More recently, Akita Shoten had invented anime comics, and My Anime<\/em> made the most of this when it started serializing Yamato III<\/em> in that format. See the entire serial in English here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The magazine had plenty more to offer Yamato<\/em> fans in the premiere issue as well. Yoshinobu Nishizaki was the first subject of a monthly feature called My Anime Life<\/em>, in which industry VIP\u2019s wrote their own life story. Read this 5-page article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also included was a 7-page article on Yamato III<\/em> as an intro to the anime comics. It was a treasure trove of never-before-seen character and mecha designs, a collection of rejected story ideas, and short columns by three key personnel: character designer Kenzo Koizumi, mecha designer Katsumi Itabashi, and art designer Yutaka Izubuchi (future director of Yamato 2199)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Read about the rejected story ideas here<\/a><\/p>\n

See the article and read the designers\u2019 columns here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 13: Star Blazers<\/em> in the news<\/h3>\n

The entertainment magazine Backstage<\/em> occasionally published tidbits on Star Blazers<\/em>, and this is the last known mention (until further notice), 18 months after the debut in September ’79. Bob Marcella, then president of Westchester Films, was quoted as saying, “Star Blazers<\/em> was launched in the wrong orbit. It missed its target audience by light years.” He was referring to the obstacles of early-morning TV time slots in many markets.<\/p>\n

It was also reported that “another 52 episodes are on order.” This referred to Yamato III<\/em>, but the number was way off as we already know.<\/p>\n

Read the full article here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 14: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 22<\/h3>\n

Farewell, Planet of Dreams!<\/em><\/p>\n

Domon and Ageha arrive at the core of Phantom, where the planet has been keeping Princess Ruda, and it turns her over to Yamato<\/em> for protection. Both Bemlarze and Dessler learn that they have Ruda, and both send fleets to capture her.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 14: Movie fight!<\/h3>\n

Starting today and running through April 3, fans could get the big screen experience again with the return of Be Forever<\/em> and the theatrical debut of The New Voyage<\/em> in a double feature called the Space Roadshow<\/em>. It played in at least three Tokyo theaters as indicated in these newspaper ads. And the timing of this event was anything but arbitrary.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you noticed an uptick in the appearance of Mobile Suit Gundam<\/em> on the various anime magazine covers, you were not mistaken. They were all talking about another anime film that was set to premiere on March 14, the first Gundam<\/em> movie with footage compiled from the 1979-80 TV series. This was to become the next big stride forward for anime after Yamato<\/em>‘s 1977 premiere.<\/p>\n

When you remember that Yamato<\/em> producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Gundam<\/em> producer Yoshiyuki Tomino had a bitter rivalry going on, you can see that their simultaneous premiere was not a coincidence. The most likely scenario is that Tomino’s date was announced first and Nishizaki stepped in to steal some thunder. Right or wrong, some thunder was indeed stolen, since the Space Roadshow<\/em> sold over 1.5 million tickets in three weeks.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 20: Yamato<\/em> Fair opens<\/h3>\n

The traveling exhibitions of previous years made a comeback when a Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> Fair was held in Matsuyama City from March 20 through May 10 to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Ehime Shimbun<\/em> [newspaper]. A Yamato<\/em> Pavilion was part of the Ehime Children\u2019s Expo, which now included production art from Be Forever<\/em> along with the life-size Analyzer, the Yamato<\/em> \u201cCut Model\u201d and the bridge panorama. Highlight scenes from the Yamato<\/em> saga were screened in the \u201cYamato<\/em> Multi Theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 21: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 23<\/h3>\n

Fierce battle! Skalagek star cluster!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> enters the Skalagek strait. Galman Admiral Gustav arrives and demands that they turn over Ruda. They gear up for a fight, but then the Bolar fleet launches an attack of its own.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 24: The Best One<\/em>, May issue<\/h3>\n

This was the last issue to offer Yamato III<\/em> coverage, and it was spoileriffic; complete descriptions of everything that would happen in the final two episodes. Incidentally, there was another Yamato<\/em> connection on the cover; the man shown at the bottom was actor Toshiyuki Nishida, who would go on to play Tokugawa in the 2010 live-action movie.<\/p>\n

Can Yamato<\/em> save Earth…?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yamato III<\/em> is finally reaching its climax. Earth is only a few weeks away from destruction! But the Bolar fleet stands in Yamato<\/em>‘s way!<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mystery of Cosmic Energy<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cut off from its path to discovering a second Earth, Yamato<\/em> lands on the legendary planet Shalbart, guided by Princess Ruda. It is a beautiful planet just like Earth. The Dessler fleet follows Yamato<\/em> and arrives at Shalbart. But the Bolar fleet launches an attack from behind!!<\/span><\/p>\n

Yamato<\/em> fights back desperately in cooperation with Dessler. However, the inhabitants of Shalbart make no attempt to resist. “This planet has given up fighting,” Princess Ruda says, and shows Kodai and the others a number of super-scientific weapons hidden in the Valley of the Kings. Kodai is then given a cosmic energy cannon.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Goodbye, my Ageha.” Princess Ruda says goodbye to Ageha and combines with Mother Shalbart to become the new Shalbart, shining brightly. Meanwhile, the defeated Bolar fleet… (Airs March 28th) <\/span><\/p>\n

Shoot that Sun!<\/span><\/h3>\n

The sun’s expansion is faster than expected, and the people of Earth are weakened. If they don’t gain control the sun with the energy cannon as soon as possible, it will be too late. Yamato<\/em> enters the solar system and immediately begins preparations to fire. There is only one shot of energy, and they can’t afford to fail. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kodai orders Domon to fire. Five, four, three… But at that moment, a Bolar ship appears from warp and launches an all-out attack on Yamato<\/em>. An enemy beam cannon forms a black hole near Yamato<\/em>, and the ship tries desperately to avoid being absorbed. It is a desperate situation…but then Dessler’s ships come to support them.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Here you are, Dessler. I’ve been waiting for you.” Bemlarze of the Bolar fleet laughs fearlessly and fires his black hole gun at Dessler’s ship! Dessler is in danger too!! Ageha jumps into his Cosmo Tiger and rams into the enemy’s black hole gun.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Ruda Shalbart, protect us!” Kaboom! Ageha is scattered into space. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Dessler counterattacks. “Destroy Bemlarze’s fortress now!” The fortress explodes in response to the Hyper Dessler gun… (Airs April 4th)<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 25: Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> anime comics Vol. 1<\/h3>\n

Publisher Akita Shoten continued its journey backward in time to release the first of two volumes reproducing the 1977 Yamato<\/em> movie. Part 1 made it the WMG firing at the Orion star in 160 pages. Part 2 would follow in May.<\/p>\n

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March 25: Yamato 2<\/em> SF novel<\/h3>\n

Yamato 2<\/em> stands out (sort of) as the only production that got just one novelization. It debuted in August 1980 as a 2-volume set in Asahi Sonorama’s Complete Works series. This edition reprinted the same text in a smaller paperback with 32 pages of color stills.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 28: Yamato III<\/em> Episode 24<\/h3>\n

The secret of Planet Shalbart!<\/em><\/p>\n

Ruda directs Yamato<\/em> to the Planet Shalbart. Unknown to them, Dessler\u2019s fleet follows, and a Bolar fleet sneaks in behind them. While the crew fights off Bolar troops on the planet, Dessler takes on the fleet.<\/p>\n

Read our commentary on this episode here<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

March 30: Yamato III<\/em> manga Vol. 1<\/h3>\n

When the TV series began in October 1980, Akira Hio was hard at work on his Be Forever<\/em> adaptation, the first volume of which was still three weeks away from publication. With his time already spoken for, Asahi Sonorama had to look elsewhere and awarded the Yamato III<\/em> manga assignment to one of Hio\u2019s contemporaries, Takayuki Masuo. <\/p>\n

Masuo specialized in tokusatsu properties such as Kamen Rider Super, Electric Troops Denjiman<\/em>, and Science Combat Force Dynaman<\/em>. His longtime love of American superhero comic books made him an odd choice for a Yamato<\/em> manga, but availability is everything in the publishing world.<\/p>\n

Volume 1 roughly covered the first nine episodes in 188 pages. Read more about it here<\/a><\/p>\n

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Also spotted in March<\/h3>\n

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Questar magazine No. 12, June 1981 issue<\/em><\/p>\n

Exactly a year after the famed article in Starlog<\/em> that served as a beacon for Star Blazers<\/em> fans, the SF magazine Questar<\/em> followed up with an article of its own to reinforce the troops. The writer managed to misspell “Yamoto<\/em>,” but made up for it with words like this:<\/p>\n

In a time of sickeningly sweet and vapid children’s programming, a show has emerged which is realistic, humorous, dramatic, and exciting. It is intelligent enough for adults, action-oriented enough for children, and spell-binding enough for both.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read the article here<\/a><\/p>\n

March context<\/h3>\n

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Two new super robot TV series debuted almost on top of each other: Golden Warrior Gold Lightan<\/em> on March 1 and Beast King Golion<\/em> on March 4. Golion<\/em> would go on to earn international recognition as a component of the Voltron<\/em> series.<\/p>\n

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Anime magazines published in March<\/em><\/p>\n

Animec<\/em> Vol. 16 (Rapport), Animage<\/em> Vol. 34 (Tokuma Shoten), The Anime<\/em> Vol. 17 (Kindaiegasha)<\/p>\n

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My Anime<\/em> debut issue (Akita Shoten), OUT<\/em> May issue (Minori Shobo)<\/p>\n

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What’s next<\/h3>\n

In the second quarter of 1981, Yamato III<\/em> comes to an end. More publishing, more music, and more model kits arrive to stoke the flames and the first steps are taken toward Final Yamato<\/em>. See it take shape in Vintage Report 34 here<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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