Now is the time to watch it! Why even fans of the old series have to get up and watch Yamato 3199 Chapter 3
by Toshiharu Kagami
Published April 12 by Magmix. See the original article here
What is the difference between the old and new Space Battleship Yamato?
The long-awaited REBEL 3199 Chapter 3: Ultramarine Asteroid is a must-see for fans of the past. The 3199 series is a new story based on the feature film Be Forever Yamato (1980) and the TV anime Space Battleship Yamato III (1980).
I’ve described 2199 as a remake, but in reality it might be more appropriate to call it a reboot. There are many differences from the original version. Not only the development of the story, but also the personalities and placement of the characters.
This is likely because the original version was reconstructed with a modern interpretation, taking into account several inconsistencies in the original. For example, Yamato was not built from the remains of the Battleship Yamato but as disguised wreckage, and the Wave-Motion Engine appears to have been installed on Yamato within a few days of the arrival of the blueprints.
The biggest difference is that there was no rotation system for staff on board. In particular, since it would be difficult for Yuki Mori to hold multiple positions at the same time, several new characters were assigned to share those roles. This resulted in an increase in the number of female crew members, who were rarely seen except for Yuki in the original version.
This dramatic increase in female characters could be said to be a major difference between the original version and works after 2199. In recent anime, unless there is a major reason, the ratio of male to female characters is almost equal. This may have been interpreted in a modern way.
The reason I feel that it is more of a reboot than a remake is mainly because of these aspects. However, if everything in the original version was modernized, it would be meaningless to call it Yamato. Therefore, I think that the “core” parts that should not be changed were left as they were.
These aspects are likely to divide fans, with some disapproving of the changes and others accepting them. Even among those familiar with the original, there seem to be quite a few who have already formed opinions before watching the film. However, as mentioned above, there is a point in this movie that even old fans will be very interested in.
What will the future developments be like, with the expectations building up after the third chapter?
The biggest difference between 3199 and the works after 2199 is that it mixes two previous works, Be Forever and Yamato III. This is a method that has never been used before. However, while this part is well known to old fans, it may not make sense to younger fans.
The previous versions of Yamato, the first TV/movie version, and the second works, Farewell to Yamato and Yamato 2, were stories set in the same world, and although there were differences in details, the general progression of the story was the same. However, Be Forever and Yamato III were completely different stories, not mixed together. Due to that, 3199 is expected to develop the most differently from the old versions.
This is most evident in Chapter 3: Ultramarine Asteroid, which is currently being screened. This is because the entire story unfolds in ways that fans have never seen before.
For example, in Chapter 1, the enemy Dezarium (the Dark Nebula Empire in the original version) invades Earth. The crew escapes and tries to head to Yamato, but Yuki is separated from them right in front of Kodai’s eyes. All of these scenes are the same as in the original.
In Chapter 2, the Yamato crew arrives at the Icarus Observatory and boards the ship, which has been refurbished by the missing Shiro Sanada, and launches with Yamato‘s new captain, Osamu Yamanami, the same as in the original.
However, in Chapter 3, there are almost no developments that were in the original version, and it is a completely new story. In other words, it is a story in which previous knowledge does not apply.
For these reasons, this may be the last chance for fans of the original who have not seen the new series to catch up. In other words, it’s a good opportunity for fans of the originals to finally get on board.
Of course, it may be difficult to jump in halfway through, so you can take this opportunity to catch up and watch the works from 2199 onward. As I have said many times before, this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the generation that was once interested in Yamato.
It may also be a story that gives hope to fans of the original who have been watching every single one of the series since 2199. This is because if there are developments that were not in the previous versions, the story may change significantly from here on out.
The biggest attraction is the hope that there may be a survival route for characters who would normally die. For example, there is the possibility that Yamanami, who was killed in battle in Be Forever, and Ryusuke Domon, who was killed in battle in Yamato III, will survive. Both characters have been explored in depth since 2199, and they have captured the hearts of fans more than in the original versions. Of course, there are probably other characters besides these two that fans would like to see avoid tragedy.
Therefore, it can be said that expectations are building for 3199, which opens the door to a new story in Chapter 3. The trailer for Chapter 4 also contains many scenes that stir the imagination, and it seems that fans’ expectations are building.