After the big announcements on January 3, everything went quiet again until March 2024 when we got the first news of official merch and a reveal of new characters and voice actors. Here’s a roundup of all the latest news…

Back up to Report 3

February 14: Next Gimmick Model announced

It took Hachette a while to tip us off to their next 1/350 model, but they finally got around to it as the final Hyuga volumes rolled out. Coming up next is the UNCF Patrol Ship, which is expected to play a role in REBEL 3199.

Supervised by Mecha Designer Junichiro Tamamori and engineered by respected toy designer Tsuyoshi Nonaka, the finished model will stretch to 54cm (just over 21 inches) with as many light and sound gimmicks as it can hold. A hangar bay in its belly will accommodate a Cosmo Seagull.

Sporting the name Pacific, the patrol ship will add 50 more volumes to the series with the first scheduled to appear on April 3. The accompanying Yamato magazine will continue with all of its exclusive features (visit the 2202 Mechanic Encyclopedia for a sample).

Since it will take about a year to release all the volumes for this ship, and REBEL 3199 is likely to take two years to come out, there’s plenty of room for another Hachette model to follow this one. We’ll just have to keep watch until then.

Visit Hachette’s product page here

See more coverage here

A promo video was released on March 1; see it here

February 19: Daisuke Ono interview video

Today, Bandai Emotion offered a nugget from the REBEL 3199 treasure vault in the form of a 5-minute interview with Daisuke Ono, the voice of Susumu Kodai. Thanks to friend-of-the-website Minoru Itgaki, we have the following partial transcript:

How did you feel when you first read the 3199 script?

I was still confronted with the fact that Kodai and Yuki are not easily going to be happy. There’s a scene where he proposes to her. He thinks he should just move on, but he doesn’t. He’s being thoughtful about everything around him, and I thought it was both bittersweet and cute to play him.

Which character in 3199 is most interesting to you?

It would have to be Alphon. I don’t think there has ever been a character who has been a clearer love interest. Nanbu doesn’t cut it! Sorry Nanbu! (Laughs) I think Alphon will bring out feelings for Yuki that Kodai has never had the courage to show before. I’m looking forward to it in my performance.

What was a memorable moment in the recording?

I was lucky enough to be with Kenichi Suzumura (Shima), Houchou Otsuka (Sanada), and Masashi Ebara (Yamanami). I was very happy. A veteran’s voice is reassuring. Otsuka is usually aloof and relaxed, but when it comes to recording, he concentrates and gives a very convincing performance. Ebara, too. I like his style, and wish I could be like him. Kenichi Suzumura’s voice is like a tranquilizer. I think with Shima, this ship can go forward and I feel very reassured.

What do you think about the previous series, 2205?

I could say that it is the story of Kodai, Yuki and Yamato, but I think 2205 is the one where the great harmony between Dessler and Starsha was settled. I think the main characters of 2205 were Dessler and Starsha. 2205 was an epic story and a story of great love, and I am sobered to continue it. I’ll rewatch it again on the Blu-ray box.

See the interview on Youtube here

March 18: 1/1000 Asuka DX model announced

In REBEL 3199, the supply carrier Asuka will expand into a whole new fleet. We learned this thanks to Bandai’s announcement that the first 3199 model kit will be an Asuka expansion set.

It will come with color-variant parts and hull markings to give builders the option to create one of seven different vessels. Release is scheduled for July.

See more photos at Bandai Hobby Net here

March 23: V-Storage Plus

V-Storage is the name of the official website for video products from Bandai Namco. V-Storage Plus is the name of a free promotional pamphlet available in stores and live events. A new issue was released as a tie in to Anime Japan 2024, which contained a 2-page feature on 3199 Chapter 1.

The latest work in the remake series is based on the original Be Forever Yamato (released in 1980) with new interpretations!

Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199 finally starts with Dark Invasion, the first of seven chapters. Witness Yamato‘s new voyage with your own eyes as we once again set out on a quest for the fate of mankind!

Yamato has entered an unprecedented realm! A story of “resistance” filled with mystery

The remake series started with Yamato 2199, based on the first TV series, with a new depiction for the modern age. The sequel Yamato 2202, based on the second theatrical film Farewell to Yamato, was a new interpretation of a past masterpiece. In the third remake, Yamato 2205, elements from The New Voyage were reconstructed into a new story.

In 2024, the 50th anniversary of the first Yamato TV broadcast, the latest work Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199 will finally be released in seven chapters (26 episodes) based on the third theatrical film Be Forever Yamato! Harutoshi Fukui, who has been in charge of series composition and scriptwriting since the 2202 series, also serves as general director for this work. Naomichi Yamato, who directed Mobile Suit Gundam/Iron-Blooded Orphans, will direct the series.

Two years after the shocking ending of the previous work, Yuki Mori is captured by enemy officers. Susumu Kodai, suffering from remorse, faces another ordeal. Keep watching for the new Yamato story that has been scaled up!

STAFF COMMENT

Harutoshi Fukui (General Director)

Yamato is a story of resistance. Resistance against others who unilaterally violate boundaries and force obedience. Resistance against unreasonable natural disasters that cruelly ravage people and society. As we face and fight against them, we sacrifice our freedom and humanity, and we lose sight of what we were trying to protect. Resistance against human folly is inextricably linked to kindness.

Half a century has passed since the ship first set sail, and the story of that resistance has become a reality that will determine our future. In the 50th year of Space Battleship Yamato, the entire staff has been weaving the story with all their heart and soul. Please look forward to it.

See the digital edition of the magazine here

Photo posted on Twitter by minegi4k

March 23/24: Anime Japan 2024

The first big anime event of the year took place at Tokyo Big Sight, bringing 3199‘s first stage presentation to the world. It was billed as a “New Cast and Character Announcement,” and it did not disappoint.

For starters, it was streamed live to Bandai Namco’s Youtube channel, which meant fans around the world could see it as it was happening. A recording of the 45-minute show was released immediately afterward, which can be seen here.

The host, Nippon Broadcasting’s Naoki Yoshida, was joined on stage by Tasuku Hatanaka, the voice of Ryusuke Domon.

After an overview of “the story so far,” the conversation shifted to REBEL 3199 and the main part of the event. The following description is condensed from various online reports…

Mr. Hatanaka commented about Domon, “The history of the series is so heavy that I felt nervous about whether it was appropriate for a newcomer like me to step in. As for Domon, at first he was strange. He doesn’t listen to what people say, and he does a lot of things that test the captain. I was like, ‘Is this guy gonna get kicked off Yamato?’ Anyway, you can remember him as someone who stirs things up.”

Mr. Yoshida asked, “Didn’t it take courage to play the role of a character who stirs things up in the presence of Daisuke Ono and other famous voice actors?”

Hatanaka answered, “When recording 2205, the recordings were dispersed because of the Corona virus, but I’m really glad we did it that way. I couldn’t have said those lines in front of my seniors.” (Laughs)

Hatanaka introduced cast members playing two new characters on the Dezarium side, and they took the stage with lively music: Makoto Furukawa, who plays the antagonist Alphon, and Shun Horie, who plays Isidore.

Mr. Furukawa commented about Alphon, “In Be Forever Yamato, he was voiced by Nachi Nozawa, and he’s a very cool character with a good combination of masculinity and manliness. I was so happy that they chose me to audition, and I thought, ‘Really?’ When we actually started recording, he was more human than I thought he would be. In the original, he gets along well with Yuki and becomes sort of a romantic rival for Kodai, but I can’t say anything yet about what will happen in this work,” he said mischievously to keep fans guessing.

Shun Horie plays the role of Isidore, a subordinate who is loyal to Alphon. “I had previously participated in reading a play written by Harutoshi Fukui, the general director, and the role was very particular to me. After that, I was chosen to play this role, so on the first day of recording, Mr. Fukui said, ‘I thought you would make this role interesting, so I chose you.’ At this stage, I can say that although Isidore looks cute, he seems to have many quirks, so I hope you’ll look forward to it.”

As for Lambell of the Dezarium Army (played by Takuya Eguchi) Furukawa said, “I saw his scene in the script and said, ‘Whoah! He’s playing an important role’.”

At this point, a video message was shown from Daisuke Ono, who plays Susumu Kodai, mainly directed at Furukawa. “Alphon! Hey, Furukawa-kun! Why are you messing with someone else’s woman? I’m going to fire the main gun! FIRE!!”

In response, Mr. Furukawa declared in a loud voice, “Alphon does this sort of thing. Mr. Ono is showing his hostility toward me, but I will do my best not to be outdone by Kodai. I’m fired up!” Apparently, the two had a similar confrontation when they bumped into each other at the recording studio. “I’m not allowed to say more, but that’s what he said. She’s a nice girl, and…” with that, he desperately excused himself.

In the midst of all this, Yuto Uemura took the stage to introduce a new character on the ally side, Takeshi Ageha. Mr. Uemura said, “The character is not straightforward. When you think he’s about to touch your heart, he instead shuts you down. Mr. Fukui asked me to play him with an emphasis on the subtleties of his heart. He asked me to play the character with great care.”

He also introduced a new character, Seiya Kitano, who will be played by Kosuke Toriumi. Hatanaka said, “(Domon) is rigid in many ways! Rigid! He’s the one who taught me the most, so I’m very proud of him. I can’t tell you more yet, but he appears in quite important places.”

Toward the end of the show, when the host tried to ask for more details about the Queen of Iscandar and her niece Sasha, Hatanaka said, “I can’t tell you! I’m sure there’s a lot of speculation, and I’m sure some things have been decided by the staff, but I want you all to be a little more patient.”

In the closing remarks, Mr. Horie said, “I’d like to play the role of Isidore with my soul on fire until the end.”

Mr. Furukawa said, “I think Alphon is a kind of catalyst, so I want to push my performance to the limit so I can play that role, and I want to enjoy Yamato with my body and soul. I’m very happy to be involved in a work that has so many senior actors, and I hope to contribute by creating my own unique role.”

Finally, Hatanaka said, “We’ve just started recording, but a lot of wild things have already happened. It’s going to be a hard development, but we hope to give it our all and perform with all our souls. I expect there’ll be a moment ahead where everything in Yamato will come together, so I hope you’ll follow 3199 to the end. Thank you very much for your time today!”

Backstage after the show; photos posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee and Yuto Uemura.

Follow the actors on Twitter: Makoto Furukawa | Shun Horie | Yuto Uemura | Tasuku Hatanaka

March 24: Official website update

As soon as the live presentation ended, someone at Yamato HQ hit the “post” button on their computer, and the official website was updated with all-new character and mecha guides. The lineup includes the newly-announced characters, and the accompanying text gives us a solid picture of where everyone will be situated at the beginning of the story.

See the character page here and the mecha page here

What’s that? You want it in English? Well, you came to the right place.

See our translated character guide here and translated mecha guide here

March 28: Chapter 1 advance tickets

One more announcement found in the official site update was that advance tickets for Chapter 1 would go on sale March 28. These are commemorative ticket vouchers with the same key art as the flyer, and a poster was added as an incentive item.

Photos posted on Twitter by tskmst_au04 and michal38yamato

What’s next

With just three months left until the premiere, all regular news updates will shift over from the 2205 reports to this series starting with the next one. It’s just one of the many traditions we are privileged to observe as Yamato fans of past, present, and future. Until next time, follow our Facebook page for daily posts and breaking news!

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