Forum - View topicLeiji Matsumoto anime.Where to start?
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Mr Mania
 Posts: 581 Location: UK |
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I have been interested in watching some of Matsumoto's work for some time and after reading ANNs recent Captain Harlock review I have decided to get around to it. Problem is I don't know where to start. There are so many different characters in the Lejiverse and so many different incarnations of his various shows that I'm completly lost. I was considering watching one of the incarnations of Galaxy Express 999 as I believe that was the show that started it all off but I often hear good things about Harlock as well.Also I'm not sure how it all connects together eg are the 999 movies a retelling of the TV series or are they sequals.Also I know of 'Galaxy Express 999' but what is 'Galaxy Railways'.Anyone got any idea's on where to start.Should I look out some stuff from the 70's or watch one of the more modern takes on his characters. If anyone could give me a short guide I'd be grateful.
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CorneredAngel
 Posts: 854 Location: New York, NY |
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The problem with the "Leiji-verse" is that only a relatively small portion has even been released in English. I think the best place to start would be the Arcadia of My Youth feature movie, available on VHS and DVD from I believe Animeigo. It's a very good introduction to the general storyline, the presentation, the sort of ideas Matsumoto throws around, and the way he consistently tries to connect the future with Japan's WWII past.
From then on, you can take a look at the Galaxy Express 999 movie (and manga), a few of the Queen Emeraldas OVA series, and the recent/current Captain Harlock and Galaxy Railways series. To the best of my knowledge Matsumoto is *not* working off a "future history" (i.e., there is no overarching timeline that all the stories fit into, unlike say Robert Heinlein or Cordwainer Smith). Really, each individual series exists in of itself and there is little to no effect the events of any given one have on the others. Oh, and while we're at it, Star Blazers/Space Cruiser Yamato is in a universe of its own. The Yamato appears a couple of times in GE999, but I don't think Captain Harlock or the GE's ever appear in a Yamato series or feature. |
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eva05
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OK, a post I can sink my teeth into
Being a total Matsumoto otaku during my younger years (and even these days on occasion) I want to preface my recommendations with two things... Most of what is classic Matsumoto anime, Leiji himself actually did not have a huge role in. The most famous stuff created based on his works are by far the Uchu Senchun Yamato aka Space Crusier Yamato pieces. Specifically: TV series 1 (first series against Gamilon) Arrividerci Yamato (2nd Yamato movie) Final Yamato (last movie -- Matsumoto had the most direct influence over this project according to interviews I've read, convention chats I've attended and people who worked on the show that I've met) These are considered to be among the greatest/most influential works of anime ever produced in Japan. Unfortunately the Japanese version of the first Yamato series has never been released in English. StarBlazers is a very good dub and pretty faithful to the original, they did exclude some of the kamikaze sequences...basically the original Yamato series is a romanticized retelling of WW2 with Japan(EDF) fighting Germany(Gamilons). Now the next Matsumoto related pieces I would recommend are the original 2 Galaxy Express 999 movies. These have not been made available on DVD to the ebst of my knowledge, but are fantastic. Some of Rin Taro's best work IMHO. They both feature Harlock and company... Next up is Harlock SSX tv series. A classic, also the formula on which ever other Harlock piece has been modeled. Never brought to the US. My Youth In Arcadia, is good, but it's an acquired taste. A lot of people I know found it to be quite dated, as you will probably find a lot of Matsumoto's stuff. Now Leiji has had a revival of late (the past 5-6 years has seen his stuff explode with popularity in Japan) and has had a lot of his more medicore manga suddenly turned into series and video games. I actually can't endorse anything produced by him post 1989, though the Galaxy Railways series was off to a good start (the characters just don't ring true for me anymore). Matsumoto also suffers from "I can draw 5 characters" syndrome. All his women look alike. All his shows feature Harlock (except Yamato) in some form or another. There's always a drunk doctor. There's almost always some sort of R2D2 style robot. And there's always a godess of some sort floating around who basically looks like all his other female characters. This is coming from an admitted Matsumoto junkie. I have hundreds of cels from the various Yamato, Harlock and Galaxy 999 movies/series. All the roman albums, perfect manuals, manga, etc. from throughout the 70's and 80's. Hell I've even bought all the PSX, PS2 Yamato strategy games 
Yamato is thee pinnacle of his work IMHO. Start there. j |
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Sword of Whedon
Posts: 683 |
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Harlock was originally Mamoru Kodai, Susumu(Wildstar)'s brother. When Yamato was cut to 26, this part was cut out. The Yamato has made cameos in several recent Matsumoto projects, and it seems like Great Yamato is in some way tied to GE999's machine empire. |
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sun007
 Posts: 102 Location: No further than 3 feet from a computer. |
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Hmm...I remembered that I started with Star Blazers. Then I watched a lot of Galaxy Express 999. If you are really hardcore, you can import some of Matsumoto's anime and manga from Japan, which some I like better than some of the ones in English.
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Nagisa
Moderator
 Posts: 6128 Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh |
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Basically, the anime that got me into this whole mess was the Galaxy Express 999 movie (followed the next week by Adieu, Galaxy Express 999), so I hold Matsumoto in very high regard. Sadly, my exposure to his work since has been extremely scant, but I would more than jump at the chance to delve deeper into it.
Unfortunately...*turns pockets inside-out, a moth flutters out screaming something about 'horrible, horrible freedom'*...yeah... |
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Craeyst Raygal
 Posts: 1383 Location: In the garage, beneath a 1970 MGB GT. |
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I'm also going to go a bit against the grain and suggest picking up Harlock Saga. It's a very good primer on what to expect from a Harlock series, having a very sweeping story (an adaptation of the Wagner opera Der Ring Des Nibelungen ) and showing the Matsumoto mainstay characters (Tochiro, Emeraldas, and of course Harlock) in the roles they play best.
A very good aside to Matsumoto anime is, of course, INTERSTELLA 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. It's an incredibly cool collaboration between the dance/techno/whatever it's called band Daft Punk and Leiji Matsumoto to create a very cool story of kidnapped space musicians who're brainwashed to play as Earthicans. It's told through music videos directed by Matsumoto. Very good stuff. |
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king_micah
 Posts: 994 Location: OSU |
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Heh, I just watched that last night. I have one more time stuck in my head. My opinion on Interstella 5555 is that it is a group movie, watch with friends because the jokes you crack make it a pretty good time.
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Steve Berry
Posts: 522 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA |
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I've also wanted to dig into Yamato myself, but I have a question--
What are people's takes on watching the 2nd and 3rd Yamato movies, versus watching the 2nd and 3rd TV seasons? I know there are differences, particulalry between the 2nd movie and 2nd season, regarding deaths and what not-- but are the movies really that much better (which is what I read somewhere)? Obviously Starblazers is using all three of the TV seasons.... but perhaps only the first season is worth watching? Basically, I'm trying to get a read on the Yamato movies versus the Yamoto TV seasons-- not only re: the differences between the two, but also re: which ones I should watch and why..... |
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Sword of Whedon
Posts: 683 |
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Only the first 2 movies are also in TV form. Movie 1 is a synopsys of the first series. Arrevederci was later expanded into series 2.
Yamato: The New Voyage was a TV movie leading into.... Be Forever Yamato- One of the few examples of Cinemascope (2.35:1) anime(second half only) Final Yamato is completely standalone in terms of tie-ins to other series. |
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eva05
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Well I originally saw the 2nd season on TV before I saw the movie. While the second season is moving, the movie still makes me get choked up and even cry. The impact and apin of what the crew goes through and the selflessness and sacrifice that they exhibit...it is definitely toned down for the show. The Final Yamato also has this incredible feeling of honor and selflessness that comes from it...I can say that when I saw those movies in 6th or 7th grade, they changed my life. The only other anime movie I can say that about was Evangelion Death: Evangelion Rebirth (the original uncut version). j |
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