the Yamato 2199 thread

[greg]

I haven't seen the show yet, but from just the printed promotional materials I have seen, I am not liking what I am seeing. Unlike 999 and other Leijiverse shows that continue to have modern incarnations, it looks like they have abandoned Matsumoto's character designs. They are at least recognizeable, but they look like modern anime style (Kodai looks like a puss, Yuki's bust is too big, etc). The bell bottom uniforms are gone, too. It just isn't sitting well with me.

So is this basically a remake of the original TV show, or is this somehow based off of the recent live-action movie (which I have yet to see)? Has anyone seen it yet?

[Heibi]

Just watched it for the first time. It was awesome. Yuki's bust isn't too big, Kodai is a badass. They updated everything to modern times - uniforms, technology of the day, and the like, much like what Star Trek Enterprise did. A lot of the tech wasn't thought of and they matched it up with today's style. They changed the story to give it a new twist(Well done).

[greg]

I guess I will give it a watch and see how it goes. I am more interested in renting the live-action movie, but I'll check out this new one too.

I just don't like the updated character designs. I really love Matsumoto's character, and this departure is unsettling. I was a purist about the original Bubblegum Crisis character designs by Sonoda too. Sure, make the technology up-to-date. Make the fighters launch from the carriers as they would in space, not based off WWII footage (ie gravity pulling the fighters downwards as soon as they leave the runway, etc). But as for the character designs, I'd rather them keep them intact. Don't change their faces, make their boobs bigger, etc etc.

Speaking of Yamato, I recently discovered a Yamato pachinko machine. Very cool experience. I suck at pachinko, but it's fun to see these anime-themed pachinko games.

[davemerrill]

I was there watching Starblazers on TV in 1979 and I think Yamato 2199 is about fifty kinds of awesome. Can't wait for part 2. Not too concerned about the Leiji getting edged out, but that's been happening since, well, since forever. He had his shot at doing his own Yamato and what we got was "Dai-Yamato Zero Go", which was dreck.

[Heero]

I just don't like the updated character designs. I really love Matsumoto's character, and this departure is unsettling. I was a purist about the original Bubblegum Crisis character designs by Sonoda too.

I'm not as big a Matsumoto fan admittedly, but I LOVED Sonoda's designs. And I just HATED the updated BGC. But that was a combination of the revamp of the character designs AND the fact that they changed all the music! IMO, if you're gonna do that to a show like BGC, just make a NEW SHOW. As much as I liked it, it's not like BGC had an AMAZING background/setup, that show was like 90% character designs+music. (and so quintessentially 80s)

[greg]

Well, the premise to BGC was Blade Runner meets Terminator, so that was pretty badass in itself (and definitely '80s).

I feel the same way mostly about the Fate/Stay Night franchise. The premise is basically just a bloodier version of Pokemon in a way. The main attraction to that series is the really cool character designs.

To me, seeing Leiji Matsumoto's character designs (and his characteristic eye stylings) abandoned just was a shock to me. I suppose once I watch the new show, I will get the hang of it and learn to accept it.

[greg]

Alright, so I finally got around to renting the first DVD of 2199. I've often complained about the lack of solid SF anime for the past decade or more, and that 2199 is just a remake of an already great anime. But, I decided to give it a try.

I loved it.

It was only 2 episodes, but I'm hooked. It remains, so far, very faithful to the original. Character designs, while not Matsumoto's, are still recognizable (unlike the updated Bubblegum Crisis we discussed in this thread last year). The uniforms, ship designs, and even the theme song all remain faithful to the original. It's actually a good thing that the character designs are updated, now that I think about it. It keeps the charm of the original show unique.

The show seems pretty much the same as the original, with a few changes. Obviously the Gamilus aren't some weird taco spiders or the crystalline entity that killed Dr. Noonien Soong. Starrsha seems to be who she is supposed to be. The space ship sequences are phenomenal and gripping.

I want to go rent more of this show! I've been stopping by Tsutaya every so often just so I can find volume 1 of this show, and I finally got it. Now I want to go find volume 2!

So yeah, it is a remake and not the next new SF space saga. But, it is pretty awesome. There needs to be more anime like this. Boring schoolgirl shows can only keep my interest for so long.

[Animusubi]

I've never been a huge SF fan in anime until recently, but hearing you guys saying you all liked it makes me want to give it a try.

[greg]

I'd recommend watching the original Yamato if you can find fansubs for it. It's a classic and I'd say it's highly recommended viewing as a result. It helped me to appreciate this new series even more because the technical beauty of the animation in this is superb. Sure, it's all computer assisted animation and therefore won't be as impressive as if it was done by hand, but there's also the aspect of the show making you forget you're watching anime and it feels more like an action movie. The remake of Area 88 was like that, too. Both it and the original Area 88 are both great on their own merits.

I sure see a lot of merchandising for Yamato 2199, particularly at plastic model shops. I thought perhaps this was an OVA, but it was aired on TV in Japan (most likely late at night).

[davemerrill]

Glad to hear you gave 2199 a try, Greg. I am literally loving every minute of it, and when it's over I just want there to be more of it. The new characters are great, the way they have expanded and fleshed out both the storyline and the greater Yamato universe is terrific, and you can really tell the people behind it are people who love Yamato and have been dreaming of the day they were allowed to work with the property all their lives.

There's a later sequence where Fraken and his space submarines appear - in the original show he didn't appear until the third TV series - and they stretch the whole nautical submarine Das Boot In Space motif to ridiculous degrees. The space submarine crew is all raggedy and colorfully nautical. One of them is even missing teeth. Domel shows up, he's been out in space fighting the... well, I don't want to give away any spoilers.

It's a great show that has appeal for the old timers and the new kids. The difficult part is how to categorize it; the episodes are being premiered in theaters, then sold on DVD and BD, and now they're being shown on television. It's a cross-platform media experience, is what it is.