Yamato‘s 50th year on planet Earth got off to a great start with the long-awaited reveal for REBEL 3199 Chapter 1, the arrival of 4K Farewell to Yamato in theaters, various live events, and well-wishing for the eventful year to come. Here’s everything that launched us into 2024…

January 1: New Year’s greetings

Happy new year messages rolled out on social media from the home office on the first day of the year. Yamato Crew posted a stern looking Captain Okita (saying “Happy New Year”) and manga artist Michio Murakawa marked year 50 on Instagram.

Murakawa’s art was also used for the annual Yamato Fan Club postcard (photo posted on Twitter by Paorin), and Character Designer Nobuteru Yuuki gave a nod to the year of the dragon. Though he was careful to point out that this image of Sasha is NOT from REBEL 3199. Follow him on Twitter here.

Photo posted on Twitter by Koromo

January 1: Asahi Shimbun article

Readers of this newspaper were treated to a full-page article titled Why 50 Year Masterpieces Never Fade Away, written by anime commentator and original Yamato superfan Ryusuke Hikawa. It was almost exactly the 50th anniversary of Heidi Girl of the Alps (Jan 6) with Yamato to follow in October. The ratings rivalry between the two is well-documented, with Yamato decidedly on the losing end, but history wrote a different story afterward.

At the bottom of the page was, naturally, an ad for Farewell to Yamato in 4k, just four days away from its premiere.

January 3: REBEL 3199 Chapter 1 announced

That bang you heard on January 3, 2024 was the sound of REBEL 3199‘s promo campaign bursting out of Asteroid Icarus and raining new information down on an eager public. We got a release date, poster art, a teaser trailer and more, all of which is dissected here.

January 3: Magmix article #1

Obviously, Yamato isn’t the only classic anime series to hit 50 in 2024. We’ve already been reminded that it’s a golden year for Heidi as well, but there are others to consider. A writer for the Magmix website gave us an entertaining rundown of five titles to be aware of.

Read it here

January 3: Yamato movie in 4K on Star Channel

It was a big month for viewers of Japan’s Star Channel with the premiere of the first Yamato movie in 4K only a week after it closed in theaters. Both the 1977 edition and the 1978 recut edition were shown multiple times throughout the month on Star Channel’s affiliates.

It was accompanied by the HD remaster of Series 1, which ran from Monday through Friday starting January 8 and Saturday night marathons starting on the 13th. Farewell 4K and Series 2 would follow in February.

January 4: Magmix article #2

The second Yamato article in as many days popped up on Magmix, this one asking (for about the millionth time) why a spaceship would keep the shape of a seagoing ship. This time, however, it also provided some thoughtful answers.

Read it here

Photo posted on Twitter by marrobru15

January 5: Farewell to Yamato 4K remaster in theaters

As it happens, this wasn’t the world premiere of Farewell in 4K; the initial remastering was completed and given a very limited screening in 2019 (read about it here). However, there were some differences; Imagica, the studio that did the work, put it back into the mill and ran it through an upgraded process after they handled the first movie. This gave the film a further boost, as described in an in-depth interview here.

The program book and theater merch carried over from December, so the rest of the story is told by the fans in these comments, collected from Twitter…

I remember all the scenes and lines. Still, I cried. – bashiyan2012

The seats were almost full! On the first day at the Shinjuku Piccadilly, there was applause after every screening. – aoi2199

I rented the video many times and used to watch it often. I never thought I would see it on the big screen! – Yanroncha

As expected of longtime Yamato fans, they didn’t make a single sound during important scenes. Trustworthy. – cityhunterAA

I’ve seen it many times, but it’s especially powerful and moving when you see it on a big screen in a theater. (I feel like I said that last time…) – SORAI

It’s been more than ten years since I actually watched Farewell. In my opinion, the unfolding story in the first half is quite interesting, even from today’s perspective. – merumeru1701

Photos posted on Twitter by Morisawa and Inrin

I’ve seen it many times, but it’s been a long time since I last saw it on the big screen. I don’t think there are many works that receive a lot of applause at the end. I was once again impressed by the detailed portrayals of the characters. – KIYO

I watched it for the first time in my life. I thought the work would convey to future generations the precious memories of Yamato, who fought to the death for family, loved ones, and country. That’s why we realize we have to live and fight together with Yamato. – rukatakko

I have mixed opinions about the ending, but the direction, animation, and music were all top notch. Of all Yamato content, including the original, remake, and live-action version, I personally think Farewell is the best. – marrobru15

I think I shed more tears than at any other movie I’ve ever seen in the theater. Toward the end, I could hear the sound of tears being shed in various places in the theater, and I was filled with emotion thinking that it must have been like that back then. – S Meijin

I was the only one there in my 30s, the others were all in their 50s and 60s. I finally got to see the giant battleship on the big screen. I recommend watching from the front seat, even if you have to look up. – konakanaCRZ

In the minds of Farewell supporters, Yamato2, New Voyage, Be Forever, Final, and Resurrection have all disappeared. Be careful if you talk about them in a cheerful manner, as you may be targeted with murderous intent. – KEI-mk1

Yoko Asagami’s happy voice makes me laugh. I was moved by the bravery of Kodai and his friends as they stood up against an overwhelming enemy and died. I couldn’t watch Captain Okita’s words at the climax without crying. The best page from my youth! – otoyanNARA

I haven’t seen it in a movie theater since 1978!! I know everything about the development, dialogue, music, and I memorized it, but I don’t care how many times I watch it! I cried! Thank you for the 4K remaster! – NABEchan

Photos posted on Twitter by S Meijin and Nonnon

The clear picture is based on the original, so Yamamoto’s elbow sticks out, and the message at the end is from the first-release version. The music is also a restoration of a monaural sound source, which really shines in theaters. – fa_tachibana

I was 7 years old at the time of release. When I went to see it with my parents, I think all I thought was, “Yamato is so cool.” But when I watched it again on the big screen at this age, I found that the story touched a lot of heartstrings. I almost burst into tears. – masatoshi-sagami

Although I’ve said that I love Yamato, I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve only seen the remakes, so this was my first time watching Farewell. Yep, I cried. Kodai and Yuki, I wish you happiness in space. – pkmn1997

HDR 4K is great after all. In the area where the orange ghosts appear, only the area around the captain’s seat is brightly lit, and the surrounding area is dark as if it blends [into the theater itself]. A flash of light and the sound of an explosion followed. I can’t stand it. You have to see this in the theater. – TOM2199

Before watching it, I didn’t think there would be much to it, since I knew how it would unfold, but I enjoyed it. It was really amazing…the atmosphere inside the theater was more unified than I’ve ever felt before, and it was the first time I’d ever seen a movie where no one tried to leave during the end credits. – pincet_no_3410

I followed the example of a proper old man and watched the 4K remaster of Farewell. I’m not from the real-time generation, so this was actually my first time. It’s hard to see these days, and it’s an irresistible performance. The music that I can enjoy thoroughly is truly amazing. The White Comet theme that rumbles is the best! – MAJIKONOV

Many people in my age group were there. It’s amazing that it was made decades ago by painting cels in anime colors. It’s still incredibly hot. Hiroshi Miyagawa’s musical accompaniment is the best. When I was in elementary school, I was stunned, but now I’m crying all over the place. – ShiuichiTsuzure

Photos posted on Twitter by Amachi Papa and Sorai JS

The colors were so beautiful that it looked exactly like a cel image. You can clearly see the reverse thrust of the main battleships during the Earth fleet’s multi-formation. The sound is also clear and impressive. A clear screen that makes you feel like you’re there, and a sound that combines power and silence. Wonderful. I can’t believe I get to see this again in a theater for the first time in 45 years. I am overwhelmed with emotion. – kanaeyokosuka

When the film was released in 1978, it was 33 years since the end of the war, and there were still memories of the war and folklore about it from elders, so for people at the time, I think that ending must have resonated more deeply in their hearts than it does for us 45 years after its release.

It changed Japanese film history. Among the Yamato series, this is the masterpiece among masterpieces. As expected, I failed the “I won’t cry” challenge. I cried three times, even though I must have watched it many times. Once again, the synergy between production and music is amazing. – sumikojo

Yuki is just so cute and energetic. In the early department store scene, I started crying thinking about the fate that would happen after that.

Overwhelming visuals of the city empire. The impact on the big screen is incredible. The images are of course amazing, but the sound is also amazing. I’ve watched it dozens of times, but I was surprised to hear sounds I’d never noticed before. The music sounds good and gives me a new impression. – Amachi Papa

There was a time when I couldn’t cry even when I saw this movie, but this time I watched it in a theater for the first time in about 46 years, and I shed a lot of tears. The beauty of the picture is as expected from the trailer! It truly felt like a “moving cel image.” The shot where Teresa’s praying figure appeared for the first time in front of Telezart took my breath away at how beautiful it was!

The clarity of the sound is also noteworthy! The sound has become much denser, and scenes such as the ignition of the Wave Engine are even more powerful. The lines are clear enough to highlight the actors’ performances, especially in the scene with “Here we go!” The sound pressure itself seemed to increase, and my heart was shaken! – M.T

The 4K release of Farewell brought an interesting tidbit out of the trivia vault. It fully restored the 1978 version of the film for the first time. Up until now, only the 1979 re-release version has been available on video. What’s the difference? A caption screen after the end credits.

Both of the caption screens are shown here, 78 on the left and 79 on the right. Here’s what they say: