Originally released on TV in Japan in 1974, Space Battleship Yamato was a major leap forward for anime. This 26-episode series set the standard for epic battles, complex characters, and a striking science fiction style, later seen in series such as Gundam and Macross. It also inspired future anime creators, including Hideaki Anno, the mind behind Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Now, Anno is repaying his debt to this seminal anime by planning and producing the Space Battleship Yamato Complete Record Exhibition, set to run in Tokyo from March 15 to 31. Attendees will be able to view rare Yamato production art, such as animation cels and mechanical designs, as well as special exhibits chronicling the timeline of the Yamato saga, which continues today with the ongoing Be Forever Yamato: Rebel 3199 series.
Anno's Personal Reflection on the Progenitor of Japanese Anime
A Tribute to Yamato from the Creator of Evangelion
Hideaki Anno shared his thoughts on the exhibition in a personal statement:
"Japanese anime began with Space Battleship Yamato, which aired on October 6, 1974, half a century ago. I don't think I would be who I am today if I hadn't encountered this epoch-making work at that time.
As an expression of gratitude, respect, and repayment for the tremendous debt of gratitude and influence Yamato had on my life, I would like to bequeath as much as possible of the existing materials of Space Battleship Yamato to posterity. Through this exhibition of all records, I hope that as many people as possible will see, know, remember, and share the excitement in their hearts with the world at large."
Anno is very concerned with the material legacy of the Japanese entertainment industry. Recently, during a meeting of the bipartisan Manga, Anime, and Game Parliamentary Association (MANGA) within Japan’s National Diet, Anno advocated for the establishment of a museum dedicated to archiving anime and storing the props used in tokusatsu shows such as Godzilla and Super Sentai.
Yamato’s Lasting Impact on Anime
A Legacy That Lives On
A collaboration between independent producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki and manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, Space Battleship Yamato was Japan’s first attempt at a serious science fiction story in anime. Previous shows like Astro Boy and Speed Racer had been aimed at young children. Yamato aired on American TV in the 1980s under the title Star Blazers, helping ignite early anime fandom and laying the groundwork for anime’s eventual mainstream success.
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Even if you’ve never seen Space Battleship Yamato, you’ve certainly felt its influence—particularly in Anno’s own works, such as Evangelion and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. Here’s hoping that Anno’s Yamato exhibition will eventually be seen overseas, ensuring that new generations remember the series that helped shape anime into what it is today.
Source: Comic Natalie
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