Military commentator Shigeyuki Ninomiya discusses the design of the Cosmo Tiger II and Cosmo Zero
Among the various aircraft aboard the Space Battleship Yamato, the Cosmo Zero and Cosmo Tiger II are equally popular. Comparing the designs of these two aircraft, we will unravel their sci-fi mecha appeal and well-known design concept.
Text by Shigeyuki Ninomiya
After a decade working for a company specializing in creating models for commercials and tokusatsu, Nimiya is now a freelancer. His involvement with anime began with creating reference models for Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise, and he has since gone on to provide supervision, concept design, 3D modeling, and other services for a number of anime productions.
What is Cosmo Zero?
It first appeared in the Space Battleship Yamato as TV series the vehicle of the main character, Susumu Kodai, and has appeared in several subsequent works as Kodai’s craft. Intricate details and mecha depictions that had not been seen in anime up until then captured the attention of fans.
What is Cosmo Tiger II
First appearing in Farewell to Yamato, it succeeded the original series’ “Black Tiger” as Yamato’s main fighter plane. It is known for its many variations, ranging from a single-seat fighter to a three-seat type with a rotating gun turret and a bomber type.
The Cosmo Zero and the Cosmo Tiger II are spacecraft familiar to all fans of Space Battleship Yamato, with the former introduced in the first TV series as the fighter plane of protagonist Susumu Kodai. The design of the modern jet fighter with retractable wings is simply cool, and details such as the cockpit, machine guns, and retractable legs, along with equipment such as fuel tanks suspended under the wings, are sure to tickle the fancy of military fans, who often ask, “Why does it have to be shaped like a plane to fly through space with no air?”
Some might question the necessity of air intakes in the vacuum of space, to which there is a logical explanation: “It’s equipped with a thermonuclear fusion engine, allowing it to also operate within a planet’s atmosphere.” While the Cosmo Zero’s power source remains unspecified, publications overseen by producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki at the time confirm the Cosmo Tiger II uses a thermonuclear fusion engine. It’s safe to assume the Cosmo Zero utilizes a similar system.
Given the throttle lever’s function of controlling propellant reaction rate outside of Earth’s atmosphere, it’s likely the engine works by directly injecting propellant into the core of a 100 million degree Celsius plasma contained within a magnetic field. The resulting rapid expansion of this superheated gas provides propulsion. Within the atmosphere, the Cosmo Zero draws in air through intakes at the base of its main wings and in front of the nozzles. The Cosmo Tiger II, on the other hand, has intakes located in the rear fuselage. For extended operations in space, both crafts carry additional tanks of liquefied propellant attached beneath the wings and fuselage.
The Cosmo Zero, designed for use outside an atmosphere, likely utilizes liquefied propellant stored in auxiliary tanks attached to its wings and fuselage. Its design, while seemingly airtight from a science-fiction perspective, is often said to resemble a reversed A6M Zero fighter plane. The slightly enlarged fuselage with its stepped design and single protruding nozzle certainly brings to mind the engine cowling, propeller, and spinner of the Zero fighter. In this interpretation, the flat sides of the nose would be the horizontal stabilizers. The stepped section at the base houses the vernier thrusters, essential for attitude control in space, further reinforcing this comparison.
Illustration by Junichiro Tamamori, 2013
The overall design is well-conceived. The nose features three elongated, spear-like protrusions, two on the sides and one underneath, all facing forward. While likely intended as sensors or antennas, they have been known to occasionally fire pulse lasers in the anime. These “spears,” despite not being classified as weapons in the official setting, contribute significantly to the fighter’s aggressive silhouette. It’s almost as if they reflect Susumu Kodai’s initial combative personality, driven by the need to annihilate the Gamilas.
Initially, all of the Yamato‘s carrier-based fighters were intended to be Cosmo Zeros. This concept is occasionally revisited, as evidenced by the occasional appearance of Cosmo Zero squadrons flying in close formation and sporting black and yellow color schemes reminiscent of the Black Tigers. However, the Cosmo Zero’s design, while intricate and aesthetically pleasing, proved too complex and time-consuming to draw consistently. A simpler design was needed, and thus the Black Tiger was born. Even then, its complexity remained a point of contention, with some criticizing its intricate linework.
The Cosmo Tiger II made its debut in Farewell to Yamato, the sequel to the first series. Sporting a sleek, modern fighter jet-inspired design, it represents a deliberate and thorough departure from its predecessor, the Cosmo Zero. The wide, flat nose of the Zero is replaced with a long and narrow one in the Tiger II. The single tall vertical stabilizer makes way for two short ones. The engine nozzle, with its central protrusion and twin booms extending rearward from the rectangular exhaust ports, further distinguishes the two. Even the number of “spears” is reduced, perhaps mirroring the slightly mellowed personality of Susumu Kodai at this point in the story.
Such design distinctions are crucial in visual media, enabling viewers to instantly recognize them as distinct entities, even within the same scene. In fact, the Cosmo Zero is entirely absent from Farewell. However, the strikingly different silhouettes of the new fighters instantly signaled a fresh chapter in the unfolding narrative.
The visual appeal of both the Cosmo Zero and Cosmo Tiger II, and indeed all the mecha designs throughout the series, lies in their ability to look impressive from any angle. This becomes particularly apparent when examining their three-dimensional representations. Throughout its run, Yamato has spawned a vast array of model kits and toys, offering fans tangible representations of their favorite mecha. I encourage you to experience this firsthand by picking up a model of your favorite craft.