Space Battleship Yamato (1974)

The groundbreaking Japanese anime that launched an era of mature sci-fi storytelling and inspired generations of creators worldwide.

Space Battleship Yamato - Series Information

  • Original Title: 宇宙戦艦ヤマト
  • First Air Year: 1974
  • Last Air Year: 1981
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Animation, Drama, Action, Adventure
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 3
  • Number of Episodes: 77
  • Status: Ended
  • Original Language: Japanese
  • Spoken Languages: Arabic, Japanese
  • First Air Date: October 6, 1974 (Australia - PG)
  • Networks: YTV
  • Production Countries: Japan
  • Alternative Titles: Patrulha Estelar (BR), Space Battleship Yamato (FR), I guerrieri delle stelle (IT), Uchuu Senkan Yamato (JP), Força Astral (PT), Space Cruiser Yamato (US), Космический линкор Ямато (RU)

Space Battleship Yamato - Plot

Space Battleship Yamato is a Japanese science fiction anime series featuring an eponymous spacecraft. It is also known to English-speaking audiences as Space Cruiser Yamato; an English-dubbed and heavily edited version of the series was broadcast on North American and Australian television as Star Blazers. The first two seasons of this version were broadcast in Greece in 1981-82 as Διαστημόπλοιο Αργώ. An Italian-language version was also broadcast under the name Star Blazers in Italy, and a Portuguese-language version was successfully shown in Brazil under the title Patrulha Estelar and Viaje a la Ultima Galaxia or Astronave Intrepido in Spain and Latin America.

It is a seminal series in the history of anime, marking a turn towards more complex serious works and influencing works such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion; Hideaki Anno has ranked Yamato his favorite anime and credited it with sparking his interest in anime.

Yamato was the first anime series or movie to win the Seiun Award, a feat not repeated until the 1985 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

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Space Battleship Yamato - Cast & Crew

Main Cast

  • Kei Tomiyama
  • Gorō Naya
  • Shūsei Nakamura
  • Yoko Asagami
  • Takeshi Aono
  • Ichiro Nagai
  • Kenichi Ogata
  • Yoshito Yasuhara
  • Taichiro Hirokawa
  • Sachiko Chijimatsu

Writers

  • Keisuke Fujikawa
  • Eiichi Yamamoto

Space Battleship Yamato - FAQs

How did Space Battleship Yamato influence modern anime?

Space Battleship Yamato is widely credited with pioneering mature, serialized storytelling in anime. It directly influenced Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Hideaki Anno, creator of Evangelion, has named Yamato his favorite anime and credited it with inspiring his entire career in animation.

Is Space Battleship Yamato the same as Star Blazers?

Yes. Star Blazers is the English-dubbed, heavily edited adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato broadcast across North America and Australia. The core story remains the same, though character names and some content were altered for Western audiences. The original Japanese version is known as Uchuu Senkan Yamato.

Where can you stream Space Battleship Yamato?

Streaming availability for Space Battleship Yamato varies by region. You can check current platforms, subscription services, and digital rental or purchase options for your country by visiting JustWatch, which aggregates all available viewing options in one place.

How many seasons and episodes does Space Battleship Yamato have?

Space Battleship Yamato comprises 3 main seasons and a collection of specials, totaling 77 episodes. Season 1 (The Quest for Iscandar) has 26 episodes, Season 2 (The Comet Empire) has 26 episodes, and Season 3 (The Bolar Wars) has 25 episodes, plus 15 special episodes.

When did Space Battleship Yamato first air?

Space Battleship Yamato first aired on October 6, 1974, on YTV in Japan. The series ran until 1981, spanning three seasons. Its English-dubbed counterpart, Star Blazers, reached North American and Australian audiences in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

What awards did Space Battleship Yamato win?

Space Battleship Yamato made history as the first anime series or film to win the prestigious Seiun Award, Japan's top science fiction honor. This achievement was not repeated by another anime until Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1985, underscoring Yamato's extraordinary cultural and artistic significance.

What is Space Battleship Yamato about?

Space Battleship Yamato follows the crew of a refitted World War II battleship launched into space on a desperate mission to save Earth. The series is celebrated for its complex characters, serialized drama, and serious themes, marking a pivotal shift toward mature storytelling in anime history.

Who are the main voice actors in Space Battleship Yamato?

The principal Japanese voice cast includes Kei Tomiyama as Susumu Kodai, Gorō Naya as Captain Juzo Okita, Shūsei Nakamura as Daisuke Shima, Yoko Asagami as Yuki Mori, Takeshi Aono as Shiro Sanada, and Ichiro Nagai as Hikozaemon Tokugawa, among others.

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