If the first episode of Star Blazers REBEL 3199 is any indication, anime fans can expect more of the same thrills, intrigue, and breathtaking animation when the second part of the series premieres in November. Even though REBEL 3199 stands well on its own within the groundbreaking Star Blazers franchise, fans would benefit greatly from revisiting the series’ roots by watching the original 1974 Star Blazers series.
Naomichi Yamato, Harutoshi Fukui, and Hideki Oka’s Star Blazers REBEL 3199 (Be Forever Yamato: REBEL 3199) is a modern interpretation of the two 1980 Star Blazers anime films, Be Forever Yamato and Space Battleship Yamato III.
Both those films were written by Yoshinobu Nishizaki, who, along with Leiji Matsumoto, created the franchise. As such, both the older films and their REBEL 3199 reboot are directly linked to the 1974 original series.
The series is released in chapters, each consisting of multiple episodes shown in theaters. The REBEL 3199 story continues the original series’ tale of humanity’s defense against alien invaders. The original alien invaders were the Gamilons, who wanted to rid the Earth of humans to take it over for themselves.
In REBEL 3199, which occurs about eight years after the original series, humanity is defending itself against the even more dangerous threat of the Black Nebula Empire.
Why Anime Fans Should Watch the Original Star Blazers Before REBEL 3199
There are several reasons why anime fans, especially those interested in seeing REBEL 3199, should watch the original Star Blazers series. First, Star Blazers provides crucial context to better understand and enjoy the upcoming movie series. Indeed, humanity has come a long way since 2199—the year of the original series.
They are now allies with the once-dreaded Gamilons. Accordingly, watching Star Blazers helps fans unpack much of the lore that permeates the new movies.
Outside those practical benefits, the original Star Blazers series is good storytelling. Naturally, there are aspects of the story—such as the animation, fashion, and some of the science—that have not aged well. But Star Blazers touched on some themes and plotlines that were well before its time. It set itself apart from other space operas that came out at that time.
One of the series’ deepest themes, for instance, was overcoming the legacy of war. The battleship Yamato, after which the series is named and where most of the action takes place, was not a fictional creation conjured up by the creators.
It was one of the largest battleships ever constructed and served as the flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Until it was sunk by the U.S. Navy, it was involved in many of Japan’s wartime naval operations. In the series, rather than a facilitator of war and carnage, the Yamato is transformed into a beacon of peace and a pillar of hope for humanity.
Why Star Blazers’ Character-Driven Action Makes It Essential Viewing Before REBEL 3199
Moreover, the series features an interesting mix of character-driven elements with pulsating action. All the main characters joined the Yamato’s crew without a guarantee that they would ever see Earth again or the people they were leaving behind.
They also had to adjust to dealing with their new crewmates, many of whom they had never met before. There was enough content for the creators to mix in some intriguing backstories and subplots. Being at war, there were also ample situations for action and adventure, inspiring space operas ever since.
Again, if one is willing to look past some of the aged, though non-important, aspects of the series, Star Blazers is well worth a look for anyone interested in classic anime. If you are a Star Blazers fan or plan to see the new Star Blazers REBEL 3199 movie series, you can’t go wrong with watching the original series.
