March 2021 was a month of milestones and surprises. Age of Yamato‘s new release date was announced, the Hachette Yamato gave way to the Hachette Andromeda and we even got the first 2205 teaser. Other news nuggets flew in from multiple directions to give us a nice uptick in activity.
The 10th issue of the Star Blazers/Yamato Fan Club Magazine was published in February 2021, and its lead story was called The “Green Power” That Supports Yamato. This was a collection of interviews with artists who worked on various aspects of Age of Yamato, starting with veteran animator and designer Kia Asamiya.
Yamato action held steady throughout February, matching January despite the continued delay of the Age of Yamato premiere. While news of a revised date remained out of reach, continuity saved the day and set the table for some nice surprises.
Despite the efforts of the combined fleet, the Comet Empire is about to break through the final defense zone at Mars. While Yamanami is convinced that Yamato is trapped in its gravity sphere, the AI issues the “G Plan” for the survival of humanity. Captain Saki Todo is forced to choose between the machine’s orders or rescuing Yamato.
Here you will find the most comprehensive look into Yamato 2202 in the English language. Compiled by Kathy Clarkson and Anton Mei Brandt, each episode is thoroughly examined in a synopsis combined with images, insights, background, and trivia. Episode 21 added March 2021
We didn’t get the burst of activity we were hoping for due to Age of Yamato being postponed, but January still pulled up equal to December anyway. The arrival of the new Symphonic Suite was definitely the highlight of the month, but there was plenty more to keep the fires lit.
In early January, the promotional engine was rolling toward Age of Yamato’s January 15 premiere. Within that brief window, Mantan Web published three interviews and the Yamato 2202 Symphonic Suite CD delivered a new conversation with Composer Akira Miyagawa. All four interviews are collected here.
After a head injury, Yuki has lost four years of memories and her feelings for Kodai – even her love. Yamato, heavily damaged, has crash-landed in the home of the Zemulians who once created Gatlantis. The history of Gatlantis and Zordar’s “love” and “despair” is told on a planet trapped in the city empire.
There was a slight uptick in Yamato activity as 2020 drew to a welcome close and a year of new productions approached. Most of it came from outside the official channels, but there were some rumblings from within as well, including the return of what now seems like an old friend.
From issue 9 of the Star Blazers/Yamato fan club magazine: 2202 writer Harutoshi Fukui discusses the process of constructing the Age of Yamato compilation film and looks forward to the arrival of Yamato 2205
Its Wave Engine shut down, Yamato sinks into the gravity sphere. Sanada and others transfer to the experimental Wave-Motion ship Ginga. Even the Cosmo Reverse System, which has lost its ability to regenerate planets, is thrown into the line of fire. As they reinforce the Time Fault fleet, they learn that the human race is trapped.
November saw a steady pace of activity as the Age of Yamato movie promotion got fully underway and energized online activity seemingly from all corners. It was also a particularly creative month for the fan community, as you’ll see here.
A White Comet the size of Jupiter. Now, the full picture of the city empire sleeping within is finally revealed. Zordar strikes with another “devil’s choice.” And finally, Yamato is hit with an unprecedented shock…
Star Blazers/Yamato Premium Fan Club magazine Vol. 8 featured a new conversation with Hirofumi Kishiyama, Yamato’s product developer at Bandai. He focused on fightercraft and gave us some more insight into the process of creating the products Yamato fans want.
October 2020 brought several unexpected treats including the first teaser for the Age of Yamato movie, another 40th anniversary, the return of Yamaket, and (of all things) an unofficial endorsement from a legendary starship captain. That and more made it a month where you had to wonder what was coming next.
The invasion of Earth by Gatlantis finally begins. In the solar system, a Wave-Motion Gun fleet centered on the flagship Andromeda clashes with a large Gatlantis fleet led by Baruze. Could this battle determine the fate of Earth and the universe?
September saw a steady patter of activity leading up to the long-awaited announcement of the Yamato 2202 compilation movie premiere in 2021. Here’s everything that made it a continuous delight.
Yamato is shut down by the activation of the anti-Wave-Motion lattice. With Telezart in the palm of his hand, what is Dessler’s purpose? Meanwhile, Keyman is forced to make a choice. Keyman consults with Teresa. Should he stay with his predetermined task, or…
Volume 8 of the Star Blazers/Yamato fan club magazine turned the spotlight on fightercraft and the pilots who fly them. Among the many features under this heading was a fresh interview with Mecha Designer Junichiro Tamamori, who now turns his formidable talents toward Yamato 2205.
August was another month without major Yamato news, but general activity actually ticked up slightly with continuing installments, lots of fan activity, and unexpected surprises lurking in the corners. Here’s how August 2020 kept Yamato fans on their toes…
The truth of the war between Earth and Garmillas, thoughts of Iscandar…Teresa sees it all in Dessler. Keyman rushes into Terezarium, and finally reveals his true identity before Dessler. And then Kodai… [2 pages]
The lead feature of Star Blazers/Yamato fan club magazine Vol. 7 (May 2020) was a pair of interviews with the SF and scientific research staff, which brought insight into their contributions to the series. The first interview is presented here.
The lead feature of Star Blazers/Yamato fan club magazine Vol. 7 (May 2020) was a pair of interviews with the SF and scientific research staff, which brought insight into their contributions to the series. The second interview is presented here.
Yamato activity in June 2020 pulled roughly even with May, highlighted by the debut of the all-new Star Blazers Lambda manga and another banner month for fan activity. Here’s what went down during lockdown…
With the full strength of Yamato, the air corps, and the Space Cavalry, the Telezart landing operation begins. It seems to proceed smoothly, but reverses when missiles are fired by the Goland fleet. To overcome this, there is no choice but to fire the Wave-Motion Gun directly at the enemy fleet. Kodai is forced to decide…
May 2020 was the lightest Yamato month since the ramp-up began in December 2016, at least in terms of official activity. But fans came to the rescue again, mounting a new radio show and maintaining a prodigious online presence. Let’s dive in.
After the last battle, there is widespread suspicion of spy on board. Akira Yamamoto, suspicious about the behavior of Keyman and Touko, places her bet. At that moment, the White Comet suddenly warps and its huge figure appears in front of Yamato to swallow the ship in its raging white vortex.
The combination of COVID-19 and related malaise slowed Yamato activity to a trickle in April. But just as everyone’s legs are long enough to reach the ground, there is always enough news to fill up a monthly report. Here’s everything that kept fans going through the mounting crisis…
Suddenly, Yamato is surrounded by a wave of missiles sent by an instant teleportation machine. It is the start of a rematch with Dessler, who was revived by Gatlantis. With no time to realize this, Yamato escapes by warping, but loses its way in a dimensional fault.
