![]() Though it is based on the 39-episode draft of the series, it takes many detours of its own, ultimately becoming a significantly different story in which the Yamato crew is torn by inner strife and Iscandar turns out not to be the benefactor everyone expected. The first Space Battleship Yamato novelization, written by Arashi Ishizu and published in two volumes during the first broadcast of Series 1, is a strangely pessimistic version of the Quest for Iscandar. Had history gone a different way, there’s no telling how many more there might have been.īut there was no shortage of Harlock in the print-media adaptations, as we’re about to see. At right is a sticker image from Marusan, and at far right is a page out of a coloring book by Showa Note. Other than the Lotte candies, there were two more Harlocks to be found among the first wave of Yamato products, which were marketed to children (see the entire lineup here). The art style was consistent across the product line, almost certainly done by a single artist. Lotte Candy Company lured kids with bonus items in candy packages, mainly stickers and collectible image papers. As a result, it was drawn differently every time it appeared, as will be seen below. Like all the other mecha in the series, it wasn’t scheduled to be designed until it was needed…and it was never needed. ![]() Thus, Harlock’s character design remained pretty consistent in the merchandising that followed. This book became a defacto style guide for licensors who generated their own artwork for various products. Harlock was there right alongside all the other characters, most of whom were still being refined in pre-production. Yamato‘s first “public” appearance was in a 16-page full-color large-format publicity book that was circulated among TV stations and prospective licensors. Read about the Series 1 character design process here. ![]() As indicated above, Leiji Matsumoto’s rough designs were cleaned up by character designer and chief director Nobuhiro Okaseko for use in Series 1. Thus, his backstory was wide open to be shaped as necessary. He had made a few manga appearances prior to 1974, but never as the same person twice. By his very nature, Harlock was a concept more than a character. Series Developmentįirst created by Matsumoto in his high school years (and originally named Captain Kingston), Harlock was offered up as an addition to the cast when Matsumoto joined the production staff. Looking back at this unique timeframe, we can fully examine the passing of these two great ships on their way toward separate destinations. Thus, he was strongly represented in the first wave of merchandising and all of the print-media adaptations. As the show moved into production and spinoff products were being conceived, he was as important to the story as any other character. What is less well-known is that Captain Harlock still played his part in every aspect of the first Yamato series except the anime. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Leiji Matsumoto he was able to retain full rights to his character and take him to far more places than would otherwise have been possible. Of course, all this went out the window when low initial ratings infamously moved the Yomiuri TV network to cut back on their commitment and reduce Yamato from 39 episodes to 26. Rather than reappearing alive and well on Iscandar, he would remain in hiding until critical moments and his true identity would be revealed in the final episode when he arrived to stop Desslok’s final attack. Captain Harlock is indisputibly the most famous anime character who almost appeared in Space Battleship Yamato.īy now, the story is old hat for longtime fans: the original concept, as written by Leiji Matsumoto, was for Mamoru Kodai to come “back from the dead” as Space Pirate Captain Harlock, and surreptitiously aid Yamato against the Gamilas.
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