Space Battleship Yamato Continues Its Saga with “Rebel 3199”
The saga of the iconic Space Battleship Yamato persists as the official website for Yamato yo Towa ni: Rebel 3199 (Be Forever Yamato: Rebel 3199) recently launched a captivating new teaser trailer and a visually stunning teaser poster on Wednesday. The teaser not only showcases the creative talent behind the project but also unveils that the anime will be released as a series of seven movies, with the premiere of the first film “Kuro no Shinryaku” (Dark Invasion) set for July 19.
In a nod to the series’ profound legacy, the teaser visual was masterfully illustrated by manga creator and mechanical designer Kia Asamiya, known for his impactful work on Silent Möbius and Nadesico. This new visual pays tribute to the promotional art for the 1980 movie Be Forever Yamato.
At the helm of this enthralling new anime is director Naomichi Yamato, recognized for his direction in works such as From the New World and Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans. Alongside him, the experienced Harutoshi Fukui serves not only as the supervising director but also continues his integral role as head writer and scriptwriter, as he has done in previous installments of the series. Hideki Oka, another familiar face, rejoins the team as a co-writer for the script. The animation team is bolstered further by the return of Nobuteru Yuki as character designer, with Junichirō Tamamori, Mika Akitaka, and Yasushi Ishizu bringing mechanical designs to life. Elevating the anime’s digital frontier, Hiroyuki Goto steps in as CG producer, and Shōsuek Uechi takes on the role of CG director. Ensuring that the auditory experience matches the visual feast, Tomohiro Yoshida joins as the sound director.
The legacy of the late producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki continues to be honored in this project, while his son, Shoji Nishizaki, safeguards his father’s vision as the chief production and copyright supervisor. The enchanting melodies that will accompany Space Battleship Yamato remain in the adept hands of Akira Miyagawa, complemented by the collaborative efforts of Shu Kanematsu. The musical heritage also includes the late Hiroshi Miyagawa, the original composer for the series, who is posthumously credited.
Harutoshi Fukui previously teased in an event that fans could anticipate the return of the Garmillas remnant empire, a nod to the adversaries featured in Space Battleship Yamato III and Final Yamato. He revealed that the latest project will span 26 episodes in total. As for the timeline, despite the futuristic title of the film, Fukui clarified that the odyssey will commence in the year 2207, stressing that the narrative won’t “immediately warp” to the year 3199.
Establishing continuity, the current project follows the trajectory set by Uchū Senkan Yamato 2205: Aratanaru Tabidachi – Kōshō -STASHA- (Space Battleship Yamato 2205: The New Voyage Part II: Stasha), which launched in February 2022. Interestingly, the 1980 film that also bore the title Yamato yo Towa ni (Be Forever Yamato) is not set in the year 3199. However, the year does form the setting for the 2004 original video anime series Dai Yamato Zero-go.
Sources: Yamato yo Towa ni: Rebel 3199 anime’s website, Comic Natalie
Final Thoughts
With a legacy that has inspired generations, the continuation of the Space Battleship Yamato series with Rebel 3199 is a testament to its enduring appeal and the ceaseless dedication of its creators. Uniting under the banners of nostalgia and innovation, the upcoming films promise to honor the past while charting a course into an exciting future. As we anticipate the journey ahead, this new chapter in the Yamato saga stands ready to propel us once again into the vast, starry cosmos of adventure and imagination.
