Star Blazers

I'm really suprised this anime doesn't have a stronger following, this is one the first animes that was brought to the US that had an actual ongoing storyline. It also is the anime that upped my expectations of cartoons, after this series I was much more skeptical and demanding of how cartoons where done. Unlike Superfriends, characters ability's didn't change with the demand of the situation in each episode of Starblazers, I really recommend anybody who wants to see a good ongoing anime series to go out and try to rent this series, you won't regret it.

I've got to say that this is a spectacular show. The animation may seem trite now, but 20 years ago, it was incredible. I do have to say that it absolutely kills today's Dragonball Z... (what a waste). What really sets this show apart is the realism. During the first movie/series, the original Captain dies, but the series goes on AND references their dead leader throughout the show. Well done. This happens throughout the series, causing the viewers to feel the remorse of what is happening on screen.

Being young and impressionable, I suppose I was sucked in by the glamour of being in outer space, fighting aliens and saving the day. But, as I look back, the drama was good enough that I would want to see it all again, nearly 20 years later. And, in the spirit of that, I've found that you can currently watch the 2nd season of Star Blazers on Cartoon Network under the Toonami/Reactor section.

It's just as good as I remembered...

The show was a refreshing break from all cartoons about critters dropping pounds of TNT on one another and assorted silliness. It rode the heels of the popularity of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, despite the fact that, in Japan, it preceded them.

The greatest flaw was that it was not properly marketed, and has been confined to a niche category.

Disney made an attempt a few years ago to resurrect and modernize the property, but it seems to be stuck in dev-hell. From what I understand about the script, it should stay there until a better script makes its way through the bowels of Hollywood.

The animation is a bit crude by today's standards, but only on the surface. Its style and heart are still unique and compelling, and clearly each frame is lovingly crafted. The music is phenomenal and moving, especially given that it was probably taken from the original 1974 film. The SF ideas presented (e.g. holography room, space/time warps, etc.) are borrowed by many films and series that have followed. The plots, though overly dramatic sometimes, are poignant and epic nonetheless. Overall, the series is rough on the edges, with many minor flaws such as character inconsistencies and scientific factual blunders, not to mention the gross inefficiency of using a seagoing battleship design for a space cruiser. However, the core of it is pure genius and I'm held in rapt admiration of it.

The references to World War II are obvious: fighting an almost hopeless war against an evil, corrupt empire. The enemy leader, Desslok, even looks like a Nazi with the uniform he wears. The story is emotionally driven: fraught with patriotism, sacrifice, and the desperation to save Earth. The writers employ healthy doses of characterization and detail, something sadly lacking in most other series. Lots of morality and spiritualism are brandished effectively such as (paraphrased) "don't destroy other worlds in desperation, even though Earth will die in less than a year", "with great power comes great responsibility", "take pains not to harm indigenous life on other worlds", "take the blame for your actions and move on", "in spite of all the Capt has lost, he goes on, indomitable", and "your brother survives in you."

Part of the series' attraction is the epic space battles. The see the animators craft the ships and their weaponry, and put them into action, is a sight to behold. "Space planes" soar in formation around the enemy and bristle with missiles and torpedoes. Weapons of mass destruction are brought into play to save the day. And the battleship Argo itself is such a work of art. Its splendor is shown off in a vast array of combat attitudes. They couldn't resist having the ship land in on an ocean, so that its seagoing superstructure and profile could be admired (powerfully reminiscent of the sea battles in our history). Overall, the heroic spirit personified by ship and her crew is exploited to the hilt, and it's hard to resist cheering for them in spite of the melodrama.

If they follow through and really do make a live-action version as planned, it could well be one of the greatest movies of all time. I'd rather a TV series, though, because there's too much for just one movie. (Let's pray they don't get Power Rangers actors for the roles.)

As a child (3 or 4 when it premiered in English), I couldn't fully appreciate the plot, character development and music. "One so young" can't perceive how Desslok is insane, not merely cruel, and how his evil has been seen in many Earth tyrants. There are further historical implications, like about radiation bombing, that you won't notice until after learning some world history. In one of the most dramatic episodes, Derek Wildstar's family discusses the Gamilon's radiation bombing (nuking). As Derek is just out of range while on the train, his parents along with their city are destroyed in another attack.

Voice acting is actually good for a "kids" show. There are scenes of pure human drama, and the voice cast pulled through so well. Certainly it's not Olivier, but it beats the pants off most movies and TV today. The characters actually grew, especially Derek Wildstar in his friendship with Venture and his coming to love Nova.

A lot of their technology was already present in science fiction. I'm not sure about a hologram room, though, which they had 13 *years* before Star Trek TNG. The parallels between the two space operas is uncanny, and I say this as a big Trek fan. The second Star Blazers season's mutinous escape is very similar to Star Trek III. And dare I point this out: Derek blamed the Captain for his brother's death, and Wesley blamed Picard for his father's death. The angry young men grow up to realize the captain is not such a bad guy, and that their loved ones died to save others.

I have a friend who dislikes anime, but he had to admit the music is superb. WHO is the woman singing the Argo cruising theme, and the male chorus for the theme song? One of my favorite clips is when Derek and the Captain shout to the Earth, "We will return!" The male chorus hums and sings "We will return, we WILL return" like something from Henry Mancini.

Voyager Entertainment didn't remaster (or minimally did) the video and sound, but the nostalgia is worth it (Amazon.com has a good price for the first season DVD box set). There are some bonus features, including a cut scene detailing the Argo's WWII history, when it was the Yamato. History repeats itself in the first season's largest battle, the denoument of Gamilon, where their entire fleet pounds the Argo.

If you enjoyed it as a child, you'll feel 20 years younger to watch it again. I know I do. I must be sappy, but I don't mind: three times I watched the penultimate episode, where one of the crew reunites with someone from the past (I don't want to spoil it too much), and three times I cried. How the tough guy's face softens as he starts to cry, and later when the person asks him, "Forgive me!" and runs off.