Opening day stage greeting


L to R: MC/voice actor Eriko Nakamura, Scriptwriter Hideki Oka, Director Naomichi Yamato, General Director Harutoshi Fukui

Official Report: Opening Day Stage Greeting for REBEL 3199

Published at the official website; see original post here.

Date and Time: July 19th (Friday), after the evening screening

Location: Shinjuku Piccadilly Theater

Participants: Harutoshi Fukui (general director), Naomichi Yamato (director), Hideki Oka (screenwriter)

Moderator: Eriko Nakamura (role of Mikage Kiryu)

After the screening, Harutoshi Fukui (general director), Naomichi Yamato (director), and Hideki Oka (screenwriter) appeared on stage in matching outfits. Mr. Fukui said, “It was a long time,” and Director Yamato said, “I wasn’t sure if it would be completed.”

Oka continued, “I’m sure the audience felt the same way. There have been a lot of things going on, but I’m glad we were able to make it to the opening day. It’s amazing that so many people have been following and watching Yamato for the past 12 years. Even today, all the seats are sold out, even though it’s just three old guys in a stage greeting.” He looked deeply moved.

This film is the first chapter of a remake series of seven chapters (26 episodes in total), which gives a new interpretation to the third theatrical film, Be Forever Yamato, released in 1980. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the TV broadcast of Space Battleship Yamato.

Oka said, “I never dreamed that 3199 would start on the 50th anniversary. It was originally scheduled to start earlier, but in a sense, it could be said that it started with the best timing.”

The MC was Eriko Nakamura, the voice actress for Mikage Kiryu. Referring to the release of the 4K remastered versions of the Yamato movie and Farewell to Yamato in December 2023 and January 2024, she said, “I’ve been saving them up (without watching) for a long time. Daisuke Ono (who plays Susumu Kodai) said that he didn’t want to see the original until the recording was over, and that he chose his own time, so I followed his example and held back. When I actually watched it, I felt that there was a different universe spreading out there.”

Oka responded, “The story and theme depicted in the original series are important. The lines and thoughts of the characters cannot be ignored in the remake series, but of course they will be completely different. But there’s no doubt that the genes, ideas, and experiences of the characters in the original series have been inherited by the remake series at a cellular level. It would happen that way whether we wanted it to or not.”

He continued, “First, Mr. Fukui writes the story structure, then it’s my role to turn it into a script. As you’ve all seen, the shot in which the main title appears in this work is a perfect copy of the original Be Forever Yamato. The first sentence in Mr. Fukui’s script said should be a perfect copy.” The audience applauded Oka’s words.

Director Yamato said, “Throughout the production of this series, Mr. Fukui as the general director basically takes the lead and orders up the storyboards. I drew the storyboards for the first and second episodes, and he checked them one by one. I recreated the title shot myself by checking the length of the original and matching the timing.”

The second chapter, Burning Sun Sortie, is scheduled to premiere November 22nd.

“There are a lot of surprises this time,” said Mr. Fukui. “The original work is like a surprise box, so there are a lot of surprising points. To be honest, if we were to open the box again with the same timing, it would just be a confirmation of the original work. There’s no point in doing that. This time, we’ve prepared a 3199 surprise box. So, early in the second chapter, we’re going to open all the boxes set up in the original work.”

Hearing this, Director Yamato smiled and said, “Every time we do that, we have to create a setting for each one and make a lot of shot materials. If we keep opening them one after the other, the amount will increase.”

Fukui also said enthusiastically, “The first chapter is idling, so we’ll step up the gear with the second chapter.”

Regarding the second chapter, Nakamura said, “I’m sure all Yamato fans who want to experience the second chapter as soon as possible can’t wait for November 22nd…”

However, Director Yamato said there is still a huge amount of work to be done, and he replied, “It’s almost here,” which drew laughter from the audience.

General Director Fukui said, “In Chapter 1, Yamato doesn’t sortie in every episode. It would be great if we could have her launch, but it’s not that easy…”

Mr. Oka hinted at Chapter 2, saying, “It’s going to be amazing. Not just when she takes off, but right after she takes off…”

Mr. Fukui said, “It was the same with 2202. Yamato doesn’t take off in Chapter 1. The scene is still under construction, but we’ll show you footage of Yamato banging around in Chapter 2 at the stage greeting the day after tomorrow (21st). I think you’ll be impressed with the speed this time!”

Finally, Oka gave some hints in the form of keywords for the second chapter, such as “wave cartridge bullets, Alphon, light blue, Grodez…things like that have come up.”

Director Yamato continued, “The production structure has changed with 3199. As a result, the staff has been replaced. The finished film demonstrates this in a good way. Since Yamato appears in the second chapter, the CG production period for the second chapter was longer, and the movements have been created through repeated efforts during that time. I hope you’ll enjoy each and every moment and character.”

Finally, Fukui expressed his determination by saying, “These days, there are fewer anime with mecha that are made by hand. It’s really difficult to make anime about space with hand-drawn animation. There are few people who can do it. Even in such a situation, if we don’t somehow manage to produce a certain level of quality, this genre will be destroyed. This is also a REBEL (resistance) against that. A long voyage has begun, but please continue to support us.”


Backstage; photo posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee


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