Word has it that a 6-image Ukiyo-e series focusing on three of Leiji Matsumoto's most major works is currently in the works, and Anime News Network has shown all the six images. apparently, each of the Matsumoto trinity (Space Battleship Yamato, Captain Harlock, and Galaxy Express 999) is the focus of two images in the Ukiyo-e series. Here's an example from the illustration series below, and visit Anime News Network to see the rest. Note that the black ship with the numbskull insignia in the example image shown here is Harlock's Deathshadow from Cosmoship Yamato, Matsumoto's manga adaptation of the first Space Battleship Yamato television series (the other ship in the picture is of course the Yamato), but I'm sure some may notice that black ship from watching Galaxy Express 999: The Movie.
Image source: Anime News Network
11:04 PM Canada ET
It's official! Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage (alternately known as "Captain Harlock - Space Pirate: Dimension Voyage"), the first Harlockverse manga not illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto (but it's written by him of course), finally got licensed for an English language edition treatment. The edition itself will be published by Seven Seas Entertainment for distribution in North America, which means those residing in the Quebec province of Canada will have two language versions to choose from to read with one of them being the still-running French language version that's available in print in Canada and France under the title "Capitaine Albator: Dimension Voyage". The Seven Seas Entertainment-published English version begins its run on 10/03/2017.
11:00 PM Canada ET
I don't know how many users at theOtaku.com are fans of Leiji Matsumoto's anime and/or manga works (such as Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, Interstellar 5555 - 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, and the original Space Battleship Yamato), but for today's topic, I want to take time to get to know you, the readers. Therefore, the topic for this forum post is where you discuss what anime by Leiji Matsumoto or based on his creations you saw that made you a fan of the great master's art and storytelling, even to the pont of watching anime not by Harlock's creator himself but are based on his work (like Space Pirate Captain Herlock: Endless Odyssey and Space Battleship Yamato 2199). Basically, you are to say what is it about the anime that made you hungry for more of the great master's art.
For those of you new to getting know Leiji Matsumoto, anime works he worked on so far (to the best of my knowledge at least) are all the Space Battleship Yamato anime (not counting Space Battleship Yamato: The Movie, Yamato 2520, Space Battleship Yamato: Resurrection, and Space Battleship Yamato 2199), Danguard Ace, SF Saiyuki Starzinger (aka "Spaceketeers"), Maeterlinck's Blue Bird: Tyltyl and Mytyl's Adventurous Journey (Matsumoto only did character designs for this one), 1979's Galaxy Express 999 (better known as "Galaxy Express 999: The Movie" and "Galaxy Express 999" The Signature Edition"), Adieu Galaxy Express 999, Arcadia of my Youth, Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX, Way to the Virgin's Space, Saint Elmo – Apostle of Light, The Cockpit, Harlock Saga - Ring of the Nibelung, Interstellar 5555 - 5tory of the 5ecret 5ystem, Cosmowarrior Zero, Maetel Legend, Space Symphony Maetel: Galaxy Express 999 Side Story, Submarine Super 99, all Galaxy Railways anime, and Ozuma
1:02 AM Canada EST
So far, I managed to establish a forum post series for DC and Marvel Assemble 1 month ago. Now today, I establish a forum post series for Leijiverse 999, and I call it "Forum Arcadia" after of course Captain Harlock's spaceship Arcadia. In this forum post series, I will be presenting per post, a topic that has to do a with an anime or manga work of Leiji Matsumoto's (like Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999) or an anime or manga that's not by Matsumoto himself but based on his work (like say for instance Space Battleship Yamato 2199, which retells the plot of the 1974 Space Battleship Yamato anime without Matsumoto's involvement in making the recent anime itself), while you the raders, post your responses in the post's comment box. Like in the case of the DC and Marvel Heroes Forum, adding topic posts for Forum Arcadia will not be daily as they will show up when new ideas on what to discuss will pop up in mind.
For the opening post of this forum series, given that this year is the 60th anniversary of Leiji Matsumoto's career, I am curious about how you, the fans of his work, plan to celebrate (that is, if you know what to do)? Maybe it's doing a fan art series focusing on his fictional characters (such as Captain Harlock, Tochiro Oyama, Tadashi Daiba, Tetsuro Hoshino, Emeraldas, Kei Yuki, Maetel, etc.) and/or mecha (such as the Train 999 from Galaxy Express 999, the Arcadia from Space Pirate Captain Herlock: Endless Odyssey, the Big One from Galaxy Railways, the Yamato from Space Battleship Yamato, the Mahoroba from the upcoming film Cosmo Super Dreadnought Mahoroba, etc.). Maybe it's trying to buy all the Star Blazers episode DVD volumes or watch all the episodes themselves at Manga Entertainment's YouTube channel (note that "Star Blazers" refers to the North American dubbings of the 1st three SBY anime series), collecting all three Galaxy Express 999 films on DVD from Discotek, looking out for the English sub DVD set of 1978's Space Pirate Captain Harlock, or even starting your collection of Leiji Matsumoto anime mecha model kits. Or maybe it's doing a fan-made comic series for online viewing. Or maybe you are planning a Leiji Matsumoto anime cosplay group for appearance at an upcoming anime convention from within this year. Any ideas in mind?
6:09 PM Canada EST
Not much say today at Leijiverse 999 on Jan 25, but today is the 75th birthday of legendary manga writer and illustrator Leiji Matsumoto, the director and conceptual artist of the original Space Battleship Yamato series as well the writer and illustrator of a number of manga titles, including Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, and Queen Millenia. Yes, 75 years old and still going on in the manga and anime industry.
Happy birthday, Matsumoto-sensei, and happy 60th anniverary to your visual career as well
11:57 PM Canada EST
