Anime: It looks like we will end the year with Yamato and Yamato!
Everyone cried at Yamato
Looking back at the anime world in 1978, the one that shone most brightly in the end was Farewell to Yamato.
Last summer (1977), Space Battleship Yamato suddenly surfaced and became a hot topic of conversation, but it was not until August (1978) that it once again made its grand entrance when it was broadcast on TV. The viewer rating at that time was an astounding 31.9%, also surprising those at the TV station.
However, it was only adults who were surprised at the popularity of Yamato. It has been popular among young people since long before that. Yamato fan clubs had formed all over the country, and Part II was released soon after the TV broadcast.
The opening day of the film was amazing, as if to confirm the “boom.” More than 1,000 fans were already lined up on the night before. The next day’s newspapers carried pictures of people waiting all night to be the first in line. Did you line up too?
This work has been unprecedentedly popular, far surpassing its predecessor. What is the secret of its popularity? What does the producer say?
“This time, I put ‘love’ at the forefront. The theme is even clearer than in the previous work.”
Really, that last scene made you cry too, didn’t it? I could hear sobbing all over the place amidst the applause.
The secret of the popularity is fan’s word of mouth
There is a lot of talk about the popularity of Yamato. I think this popularity was not created by any single person, but by the fans little by little. Fans saying, “This is good” led to the reruns on TV, then a movie for the theater…that’s how it gradually developed. That’s right! If the content is good, it will be popular.
Kei Tomiyama, the voice actor who played the role of Susumu Kodai, has long been involved in the anime boom. He said, “At first, the anime boom was character-centered, but recently, people seem to be paying more attention to themes and contents.”
After seeing Yamato, some of our readers are asking, “What is cosmic love?” Many of you must have discussed or thought about it after watching Yamato.
The “Anime boom” has led to some unusual incidents this year, such as the “Cel art theft case.” But in general, this boom is going in the right direction,
If we only talk about Yamato, we’re missing the point. Of course, there were other excellent works as well. According to a survey, the top four most popular anime among high school students are Yamato, Lupin III, Dokaben, and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. In addition, Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, Future Boy Conan, and many other atmospheric TV programs are anime.
Aside from Lupin III and Dokaben, which are popular with both men and women alike, a lot of attention is being paid to Gatchaman, which at first glance seems to be made for children but has an irresistible psychological portrayal. The audience is very discerning, isn’t it?