Yamato 2520



Distributor: None in the US

Genre: Space Opera

Format: Series

Length: Three episodes

Subbed/Dubbed: Neither

Audience Appropriateness:
Some swearing, no nudity - lots of Yamato brand of death. Oh, and Doctor Sane drinks - never mind, he's not in this (but if he were, he'd be drinking saki).

The Back of the Box:
After the destruction of the Yamato in the year 2105, the human race sets out towards space, beyond the Milky Way. Earth immigration fleets leave one after another looking for a new worlds to live. Towards the last half of the 23rd century, the young genius scientist, Blone, calls for abolition of sending elites on the frontier. In the year 2285, the suppressed group which agrees with him decided to leave Earth. They put together an immigration fleet and set out for space.

From planet to planet, they go through the harsh life of immigrating from one place to another, eventually to discover a planet filled with Monopole -an element thought of as a basic particle form created 15 billion years ago in the Big Bang. An element so rare, that one galaxy usually contains one particle of Monopole, and yet here was a vast concentration.

More importantly, Monopole was the direct counter, the antithesis of Wave Motion Energy. Using that power leads to the building of a whole society based on Monopole. A society where Blone and the others reject an alliance with the Earth Federation. The Seiren Federation was formed.

The conflict over this element was the start of the 100 year war.

Ultimately, both sides ran out of military resources and tactics. It was over the planet Rinbos a cease-fire agreement was signed - and yet peace is fleeting. Although under Seiren control, Earth maintains a close presence. Both sides were both keeping their eyes on each other for violations of the truce. If there were any military actions taken there would be immediate retaliation.

Seventeen years after the truce, thrust into this uncertain situation, a band of oppressed youth discover an ancient computer system. In it is the hope of tipping the balance of power in the Earth's favor - the blueprints to the Space Cruiser Yamato. . .

Review:
Comparisons, between the original series and it's spin off/sequels - such as Phantom Menace or the Next Generation of Star Trek, are extremely unfair but ultimately unavoidable. So anyone viewing this series expecting Star Blazers will be disappointed. Sadly, Yamato 2520 is largely unconnected to the classic Space Cruiser Yamato - a totally different look for the ship, completely different characters, no Gamalons, none of the extremely cool music - it's Yamato in name only.

What we are left with is a series that, although looks nice, doesn't have the same emotional quality of the original. The series is way too short to tell this much story. Instances like relating the whole 100 years war done in a brief pre-credit sequence, and could have easily been expanded up to several episodes. There's no time to sink our emotional hooks into the characters.

Technically, the series is passable. The animation is fluid and looks nice, although Leiji Matsumoto's art style and directoral touches are sadly missed on the project. The music doesn't contain the power and majesty that Yamato deserves - nay, requires. As a result, it ultimately fails to support the series.

Is Yamato 2520 bad? No - if allowed to stand on it's own, it might have been enjoyable. Does it live up to the original series? Not even close - the worst entry of the Yamato saga is still superior to 2520. In the end, it's all academic, however - the series was aborted before the final four episodes were completed, and the odds of it making it to US shores are slim at best. In the end, Yamato 2520 will remain a footnote in the Star Blazers story.


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