Presented here is a comprehensive collection of all the Galman and Bolar mecha that has been released in 3-D form from a host of different companies, mainstream plamo and DIY garage kits alike.
It is a little-known fact that Yamato 2199 Director Yutaka Izubuchi got his start very early when he participated in both Yamato III and Final Yamato as a fresh-faced newcomer. Here, he discusses his earliest experiences as both a fan and a staff member.
A complete overview of Series 3 via the galleries created as bonus features for the Comet Empire DVD series released by Voyager Entertainment in 2003. All the characters, ships, weapons, locations, maps, and more!
After assisting Leiji Matsumoto on the Farewell to Yamato manga, artist Hiroshi Aizawa brought his steady hand to Yamato III. It was serialized in Adventure King, but destined never to be reprinted. Here, for the first time since its initial publication, Hiroshi Aizawa’s “lost” manga lives again!
The initial 52-episode plan for Yamato III meant a lot of music would have to be written to emphasize the newness. This lead to an embarrassment of musical riches when the series was cut down to 25, and it took decades for it all to be released. See the complete record here.
Like Yamato 2 before it, Yamato III took many years to finally appear in full on home video, preceded only by a 90-minutes compilation movie edited as a TV special. But as the series moved from one video release to another, it was continually enriched by new package art. See it all here.
Despite the early ending of Yamato III, interest remained high and there was still plenty of creativity in the mix. The series concluded in early 1981, but the promise of another movie loomed large in the future, so books published throughout ’81 and ’82 still had plenty to talk about. Here is the complete record.
When the TV series began in October 1980, Akira Hio was hard at work on his Be Forever adaptation. With his time already spoken for, publisher Asahi Sonorama had to look elsewhere and awarded the Yamato III manga assignment to one of Hio’s contemporaries, Takayuki Masuo. Here we examine the odd results.
Part 7: Fresh Faces
After its huge wave of reissues in 1980, Bandai focused entirely on all-new kits to tie in with Yamato III in 1981. But when the network prematurely ended the program it meant Bandai’s next wave would hit after the series was over. Nevertheless, the high standard was well-maintained.
Here we present the little-known story of Yamato III‘s creation from the assembly of an all-star dream team in the summer of 1980 to the division of labor between multiple studios to the revolutionary concept of giving each episode its own individual style.
The story continues with new art and mecha design, the first contributions to the saga by Yutaka Izubuchi (later the director of Yamato 2199), and the rigors of voice acting without any animation to go by. We conclude with the making of the compilation movie and a look back at the casting for Series 1.
This archive covers three months of magazine articles (September to November 1980) that focus on the beginning of the TV series, which made its debut in October. It presents the full flush of excitement for the most ambitious Yamato story of them all.
Yamato III was pretty light in terms of products that actually had a Yamato III label on them, but its sponsors were at the top of their game. Popy (a division of the mighty Bandai), and Ezaki Glico were on board again to turn out another colorful campaign.
The depth of Bandai’s involvement in Yamato goes farther than is immediately apparent, due in most part to their pantheon of sub-groups that have names and specialties of their own. During the golden age of the Yamato production years, the most visible of these was Popy. This article covers their output as a sponsor of Yamato III.
Compared to Popy’s hyper-complex Be Forever Yamato board game, this one was (literally) child’s play, a simple set-up and knock-down exercise with frighteningly huge plastic missiles against helpless rubber enemies. Here’s a detailed look…
It’s an unfortunate truth that Yamato III has gotten less attention than the other parts of the saga, so it’s refreshing to occasionally see proof that it hasn’t been forgotten. When this game arrived in 2010, its stunning CG sequences gave us a taste of what should have been.
Here we present every page of the Yamato III anime comics in English, originally published in My Anime magazine from 1981-82. Character names have been changed to match Star Blazers continuity, but the story itself is unaltered. Settle in for The Bolar Wars as you’ve never seen it before!
This archive picks up with December 1980 and follows all magazine coverage to the end in April 1981. The reduction in episodes was not yet known to magazine editors. They were entirely focused on what was to come, most especially the reunion with Dessler.
by Arthur Painter
Many fans who watch Star Blazers series 3 wonder, “what happened to the original voices?” I’ll do my best to piece this together, starting with the impetus behind the creation of the original Star Blazers series.
The Solar System Faces Destruction!
Wildstar is promoted to Captain of the Argo, and his first job is to take a new crew of freshly-trained cadets into the Star Force. Their mission: find a new home for humankind.
Great Battle in the Milky Way!
A battle between the Bolar and the Galman fleets moves from Planet Berth to an Earth outpost on Alpha Centauri. The Star Force is in the midst of planning its mission when more solar radiation bathes the Earth and disrupts electrical systems all over the planet.
Argo Sets Sail at Dawn!
Homer has arrived after meeting and falling in love with a girl he met back home. He almost leaves the ship the night before launch, but changes his mind when the same girl arrives and lays his fears to rest. The next morning, Argo launches on its mission.
SOS! Spaceship Legendra!
The Argo reaches Neptune and makes contact with Captain Ram’s damaged Legendra, flagship of Planet Berth and the only Bolar ship left in the fight with Dagon’s fleet. They escort Ram back into space, and Dagon launches an attack on them both.
Great Battle Near Planet 11!
Captain Ram is killed and the Legendra destroyed by Dagon’s fleet. The Star Force turns the tide, but the last enemy ship desperately rams the Argo and boards her, kicking off a hand-to-hand struggle.
