is a
science fiction
Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
third-person shooter video game
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
released by
Taito
is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, Toy, toys, arcade cabinets, and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, Vending machine, vending machines, and Juk ...
. It was adapted into an
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series in 2001.
Plot
The long war between the planet Earth and the machine men is finally over, resulting in a peace that is more a victory for the machine men than the Earth. Warius Zero lost his family in the war to the machinemen but despite this he still is a member of the Earth fleet that is now working in concert with the machine men. His ship, made up of both humans and machine men, has been given a near impossible task: capture the space pirate Captain Harlock. While Zero struggles to accomplish this task, evidence begins to surface that the peace between machine men and Earth may not be as it seems.
Characters
;Captain Warius Zero:
After having his wife and child disappear in the battle between the humans and Machine men, Zero has no choice but to serve Earth's government as a Captain of second rate ships. After a run-in with the legendary Captain Harlock, Zero is given the new task of hunting down the space pirate. With his new controversial crew of machine men and humans and his old ship, the , Zero sets out to complete his mission and to keep his crew from fighting. After meeting Harlock, Zero has more of an appreciation towards him and stills believes in him even after he sees him attack civilians. Later on in the series, Zero and his first officer Marina Oki grow feelings for each other and end up falling in love.
;Harlock:
;Marina Oki:
;Lady Emeraldas:
;Tochiro:
;Grenadier:
;Silviana:
;Nohara:
;Umihara:
;Ishikura:
;Rai:
;Dr. Machine:
;Battlizer:
;Yattaran:
;Axelater:
;Phase Breaker:
;Helmatier:
;Zess Voder:
References to other works
Leiji Matsumoto
was a Japanese manga artist, and creator of several anime and manga series. His widow Miyako Maki is also a manga artist.
Matsumoto was famous for his works such as ''Space Battleship Yamato'' and ''Galaxy Express 999''. His style was chara ...
's other older works were referenced in this series:
* First Officer Marina Oki's home has
marine snow, a direct reference to Leiji's 1980
television special ''The Legend of Marine Snow''.
* The main weapon of the Karyū is the "Saint Elmo", a reference to the 1987 ''
Saint Elmo – Hikari no Raihousha''.
Reception
Helen McCarthy in ''500 Essential Anime Movies'' praised the screenplay and commented that "very few writers handle doomed heroism as well as Matsumoto".
[ McCarthy, Helen. ''500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide''. — Harper Design, 2009. — P. 50. — 528 p. — ]
References
External links
Leiji Matsumoto page*
*
{{Leiji Matsumoto
2001 anime television series debuts
Adventure anime and manga
Leiji Matsumoto
Science fiction anime and manga
Transhumanism in anime and manga