After a long period of silence, new information about Yamato 3199 finally trickled out during the months of October and November 2023. Thanks to a live talkshow, the fan club magazine, and a treasure trove of design art, we finally have enough to fill up another report! (And apparently less of a wait until the next one.)
BTW, if you missed Report 1, click here to get up to date!
Also, don’t miss these from April 2023: Writer interview | Mecha designer interview
Photo posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee
October 21: Be Forever Yamato screening at Fukuyanime 6
Big screen revival of Be Forever Yamato, complete with the Warp Dimension effect? Yes, please!
That’s what awaited fans at the 6th annual Fukuyanime convention in Fukuya Japan. The film was screened exactly as audiences saw it in 1980, hosted by remake writers Harutoshi Fukui and Hideki Oka. The screening was followed by a talkshow in which the audience was treated to a fresh Yamato 3199 promo video and given a few new tidbits of information.
A fan going by the Twitter handle Ayaka19790825 was in the audience, and kindly published a complete transcript of the talkshow at their blog. A few highlights:
• No specific release date was given, but there was a placeholder that read X/XX/2024. Fukui implied that it will premiere in the summer.
• All the major announcements are being held back until January, including the name of the director.
• Akira Miyagawa is confirmed to be continuing as the composer.
• Seiya Kitano, the older brother of Tetsuya, will appear as a new character, an academy instructor.
Read the complete transcript here!
October 31: Star Blazers/Yamato Premium Fan Club magazine Vol. 17
The cover art for this issue came from manga artist Michio Murakawa, who said it was purely speculative; it may or may not appear in the forthcoming Yamato 3199. But from that you can correctly deduce that 3199 was the hot topic. New character and mecha designs were presented, and an interview with Writer Harutoshi Fukui delivered the latest info.
Series Composer/Screenwriter Harutoshi Fukui reveals: what is “Operation DAD”?
What is the “countermeasure” that mankind has chosen against the “threat” of Dezarium?
In the Yamato 3199 promotion video released in March of this year, “Operation DAD” was a particularly interesting keyword. Although we could guess that it was the name of some kind of operation, we thought that the contents would not be revealed until the release of the main story. However, Mr. Fukui informed us that he was willing to disclose the information specifically for this issue of the magazine! What exactly is “Operation DAD”? Pay attention to what Mr. Fukui has to say!
All design drawings are under development
“DAD” is the common denominator of the group of vessels introduced in the “Latest News”
Interviewer: A lot of visuals related to 3199 have been released this time. Of particular interest are the ships of Earth. Some of them appeared before 2205. What is the reason for announcing this as “new information”?
Fukui: The reason is that all of the vessels allowed to be revealed are participating in a single operation. In short, the biggest information release this time is, “What is Operation DAD?”
Interviewer: Operation DAD! This is the name of the operation that appeared in the promotion video introduced in the previous issue (Vol. 16). What kind of strategy is Operation DAD?
Fukui: “DAD” stands for “Defense Agasint Dezarium.” As you can see from this, it’s a defensive operation against the invasion of Dezarium. This is Operation DAD.
Interviewer: In other words, when Dezarium attacks Earth.
Fukui: In the ending of 2205 you saw Sanada, who was shocked by the image from inside Goruba. I’m sure many of you remember that. There was an Andromeda-class ship that was assigned an “impossible” serial number. With that in mind, Sanada and his team have come to believe that Dezarium is planning an invasion of Earth. I can’t reveal the details, but there are some “strange events” that also leads them to this conclusion. Several of them. Therefore, a strategy was devised as a countermeasure…
Interviewer: Operation DAD. This is going to be a very large scale operation.
Did the Dezarium “threat” not reach Earth?
Fukui: However, what is it? Actually, Operation DAD relies on a “limited” range of personnel and forces. It is an unofficial operation, so to speak.
Interviewer: Wow! The threat of Dezarium is obvious from 2205, isn’t it? Shouldn’t the whole planet stand up against it?
Fukui: Anyone who has witnessed the existence of Dezarium would think so. But if you rewatch the story of 2205, you will understand. At that time, it was Garmillas who was fighting Dezarium. Their goal was Iscandar, right? And Yamato‘s group was involved in that battle. It was never the consensus of the Earth side, was it? So, 2205 did not depict the citizens of Earth watching “Yamato‘s fight,” right?
Interviewer: I see. It’s possible that ordinary Earthlings aren’t even aware of Dezarium’s existence.
Fukui: There may have been some media coverage in the early days. At least, there were some reports of the war between Dezarium and Garmillas. For the people of Earth, it must have been nothing more than a “fire on the other side of the river.” The situation may be similar to the war between Russia and Ukraine, which we in the real world have come to regard as someone else’s problem.
Why did Operation DAD become “unofficial”?
Interviewer: It’s different from the case of Garmillas and Gatlantis, which caused direct damage and threats to Earth. So the situation is different. However, I’m sure the threat of Dezarium has been communicated to the leaders of the Earth, thanks to the knowledge of Sanada and his team. It would not be surprising for them to take a policy of “Let’s all stand together!”
Fukui: But it is true that Operation DAD is an unofficial operation of limited scale. Why do you think that is?
Interviewer: That’s what I want to know! (Laughs) I’m guessing from our conversation so far that it’s because they don’t want to cause unnecessary anxiety to the people of Earth, who are exhausted from the wars with Garmillas and Gatlantis. But if they’re sure Dezarium is going to invade Earth, I don’t think it’s a good idea to hide it…
Fukui: It’s not a bad guess that the reason for not announcing the existence of the “threat” of Dezarium is concern for the people. They’ve lost most of the human race in two major wars, and they’ve also lost the Time Fault. The economic situation on the planet has deteriorated badly. It may be hard to say what other tragedies, if any, are likely to come. But do you think the politicians would act on such an emotional basis?
Interviewer: Well, that’s true. There could be multiple reasons for Operation DAD to be an unofficial operation.
Fukui: Yes. Unfortunately, I can’t reveal the reason for this. Sanada and his team are convinced that Dezarium will invade Earth. Operation DAD is being planned for that purpose. This is information I can tell you as fact. And the entity that symbolizes the “threat” that Sanada and his team believe in is…I’ll tell you specifically about the “Grand Reverse.”
Garmillas habitat “Third Baleras” under construction on the Moon
The latest information, first released in this magazine!
The city-like structure seen in the promotional video is revealed to be a residential facility for Garmillas! According to Mr. Fukui, its name is “Third Baleras.” It was constructed using a part of the lunar surface that was destroyed during the Battle of Gatlantis.
This is the “threat” of Dezarium, also known as “Grand Reverse”!
First time visual in this magazine!
In the promotion video, the visual of “Grand Reverse,” which had only appeared as a name, was revealed. At first glance, it reminds us of the Hyperon Bomb from Be Forever Yamato. However, the name and its role are said to be different. The size of the bomb is unknown at this point, but will it still pierce the Earth? If so, what is its purpose…????
Here comes “Grand Reverse”! Is there a deeper meaning behind the name?
Interviewer: Whoah! Could this be the “Hyperon Bomb” that appeared in Be Forever?
Fukui: Yes, you can think of it as the equivalent of the Hyperon Bomb. However, what appears in 3199 is the “Grand Reverse.”
Interviewer: You mean it looks like the Hyperon Bomb, but it isn’t one?
Fukui: I can’t give you any details on that either…but I guess you can infer a lot from the name “Grand Reverse.”
Interviewer: It reminds me of the “Cosmo Reverse” in 2199. Assuming there is some connection with the Cosmo Reverse, it’s not just a bomb. Could it be a device with a different purpose?
Fukui: I really can’t tell you that. (Laughs)
Interviewer: That’s right. (Sigh) However, if this Grand Reverse is equivalent to the Hyperon Bomb, then there’s no doubt that it’s closely related to Operation DAD, right?
Fukui: Yes, you can think that.
Interviewer: If that’s the case, will the Grand Reverse still reach Earth as in Be Forever? If so, does that mean Operation DAD will fail?
Fukui: I can’t give you a clear answer to that question, either. If I dare to answer it, all I will say is, “It looks like the Hyperon Bomb, but it isn’t one.” I think there might be a hint hidden in that. As I’ve mentioned before, 3199 is based on Be Forever and Yamato III. The main framework of the story is the same as the original. However, the events depicted in it will give you a completely different impression from 2202 and 2205.
Interviewer: From what you’ve said, I think I can understand your intention in disclosing information about Operation DAD. It seems to be a very important element that connects the similar yet different worlds of Be Forever and 3199.
Fukui: (smiles)
“Big news” at the end of the year! What is the progress of the production?
Interviewer: From here on, I would like to ask you about the “latest news” other than Operation DAD. How far along is the production of 3199?
Fukui: To be honest, I’d say that we’re about 80% through the scripts and 50% through the storyboards. Despite all the things that have happened, I think we’re progressing at a pretty good pace. If production progresses as planned, I think we’ll be able to deliver “big news” by the end of this year.
Interviewer: That’s exciting! I heard that the production studio was changed. How much of an impact did that have?
Fukui: The production system in the new studio is almost finalized. Now we’ve reached the point where all we have to do is make it.
Interviewer: You say that the scripts are 80% written. What was particularly difficult for you in composing the story up to this point?
Fukui: I don’t think there was anything particularly difficult about the axis of the story, including Operation DAD, which is the key. The difficult part is what comes after that. For example, in order to realize Operation DAD realistically, there are a lot of things that need to be worked out. I think 3199 is the best of the series in terms of the number and complexity of concepts and research. In my opinion, the number of calories per episode is 3-4 times more than in the previous series.
Interviewer: Moreover, unlike 2205, which was a “short battle,” 3199 is planned to be seven chapters long. In addition to the conflict structure of Be Forever (Dezarium vs. Earth), the power structure of Yamato III (Galman-Garmillas and Bolar) is also involved…
Fukui: If you try to depict everything as one story that matches modern sensibilities, the number of gears needed to move together is a big deal. (Laughs) I had expected it, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be…
I want people to again feel the “pain” we received 50 years ago
Interviewer: Speaking of which, how much of the war between Galman-Garmillas and Bolar will be depicted in 3199?
Fukui: In terms of distribution, the story is still centered on the battle between Dezarium and Earth. However, the war between Galman-Garmillas and Bolar is not unrelated to Dezarium,
Interviewer: As long as Earth and Garmillas are allies, I don’t think we can abandon them.
Fukui: As can be seen from “Third Baleras,” they are building a facility to protect Garmillan civilians from the ravages of war.
Interviewer: This is a good story considering the tragic situation of Garmillas in 2205.
Fukui: The Garmillas workforce has become a valuable resource for Earth, which has lost most of its population. So there are economic reasons, too. In any case, can you imagine how interesting this situation would be for Dezarium and Bolar?
Interviewer: Yes. These power relationships seem to be similar to the structure of the real world we’re facing.
Fukui: Yes, they are. The story of Yamato will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The world around us has changed a lot since then. Therefore, even if the story is the same, I think it’s only natural for us to perceive it differently 50 years later. However, I’m sure you’re well aware that the “essence” conveyed in Yamato‘s stories is unchanging.
I’ve placed great importance on the following point: the “pain” that pierced Kodai and Yuki’s hearts in the first film is what I am trying to reconstruct in the story of Yamato. Through the fight against Gamilas, you realize the importance of loving each other. That came after the destruction of Gamilas. It was a time when memories of the war were still very much alive. The “pain” was something that touched our hearts regardless of our age.
Fifty years have passed since we responded to that “pain.” How should we face it now? We’re not only exhausted by the earthquake and the pandemic, we’re beginning to feel the threat of war again. It may be hard for us to accept that “pain” again. But with Yamato and Kodai’s crew, I’m sure we can overcome it. Of course, we’re fully aware of the entertainment aspect that was the appeal of the original. But I would like to warn you in advance that 3199 is a work that conveys the greatest “pain” to the viewer.
Production designs published November 2023
Alphon
Seiya Kitano (based on a character created for the Be Forever Playstation games)
Yuki Mori
Earth Defense Force, Unmanned Air Force Defense Fleet Gladiator
Earth Defense Force, Unmanned Air Force Defense Fleet Ajax
Supply Carrier Aska class
Dreadnought Class (Mars camouflage)
Andromeda-class Battleship Aldebaran
Andromeda-class Battleship Alpharatz
Patrol Ship
Escort ship
Grand Reverse
Animation layout (Yuki)
Animation layout (Kodai)
Third Baleras (under construction on Earth’s Moon)
Lovely, not too many ships and they look like they’ll branch off the Andromeda and E-Class, or perhaps replace the Super Dreadnought and Andromeda.
Good thing I’ve been saving up Ship EXP for the E class. Since the weapons are a tad diminished, wonder if the armor or speed will be better, or if they’ll add armor zones.
Project Stardust is truly impressive, twice so for being made on the poor man’s steam, also known as Roblox.
(please, Please ignore the Ark Of Destruction, it *may* be bad but it’s too big for much detail without complex 3-D modeling riggings, which always look wrong.) 3’rd battle of pluto’s great, go look at that. And don’t forget the literal wave-motion Sniper Rifle called Sagittaurus and the other fanmades like the entire nelson tree, the Ark Royal, and really half of the tier V ships for SBY.
(The Vesuvio should be canon, it would be great as a plot device because it can’t safely fire all 4 WMG’s at once. The operative word here being Safely. Cue Time Of Fate, technobabble about McGuffins, and of course
Kadou-Hou Shi, TEI (I refuse to believe just being four instead of six as a homage to the original’s final form is unintentional or for balancing purposes, that would be silly. No, it designates intent.))
Once again, I do something I immediately regret. I don’t understand how I broke into rambling from trying to get a game featured and thus possibly having attention drawn from the copyright holders, hopefully causing them to try and make an SBY-only version… and again, rambling. Hah. I might as well accept how my personality flickers like a flame when online.
And Our Lord is’nt likely to notice these comments anyways, unless it’s pointed out to Lord Eldred by the mods.
FYI: there are no lords or mods. Just me.
S/Understood, my holy and gracious lord/S
In all seriousness though, most of that was written in a weird state of… being miserable physically while disassociating into a euphoric state. (If that doesn’t sound like a paradox) Not great for my standard writing style of stream-of-thought, and even worse for me trying to convey something without misdescription. Anyways, without digressing further, Project Stardust. World Of Warships, basically, although it lacks an equipment system and is 3d. Why it stands out other than being the only game in town is that it radically transforms as you crank the sliders up. It seems like Star Wars graphics at low particle count, but once you start turning particle count and laser visualizers up, you get distinctively anime-esque visuals. And the ships… Oh man, the ships. One of the only things lacking in that department is decals, and even then there are still plenty. I mean, it does lack some of the weirder and more unbalanced/erratic things like the Gatlantis torpedo bits, or the homing wave-motion shotgun and graviton spread of the Andromeda, but it even has honest to god panel lines on some of the ships. Negatives: Wave motion barrier missile’s terrible graphics. The thing could have been done by having the curved lines generate particles but ah well. The aforementioned Ark Of Destruction problem, a distinct lack of Desula III and 2205 content in general, and of course… the grind.