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All Your Base Are Belong to Us -- Great Trailers Don't Need No Stinkin' English

By Steven Lloyd Wilson and TK | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (23)

yamato_style_concept.jpg

Space Battleship Yamato was one of the first anime that made it over to the United States back in the seventies, which makes it something fondly remembered by the same sorts of us who grew up on Robotech. After Earth is attacked and its atmosphere poisoned by the radioactive bombs of an alien invasion, the people of Earth build the titular space battleship in secret inside the ruins of the World War Two Japanese battleship Yamato. [blink, rereads that plot description] It’s funny the way that subtle-as-a-sledgehammer allusions go right over the heads of eight year olds whose jaws drop for space combat huh?

It was adapted, and of course bastardized, into English under the title Star Blazers, which is how many of us first discovered it. As with most American-adapted anime, one should basically ignore the Americanization and track down the original episodes — they’re goddamn great stuff. There were several one-shot anime movies as well, though I haven’t seen them all. Anyway, here’s the trailer. It fucking rocks.


This trailer serves as compelling evidence that space combat, not love, is the true universal language. I have absolutely no idea what was happening in that entire trailer but felt compelled to watch it four times. The only thing that really confused me was the random words here and there in English, especially in the title card itself. Anyone more in the know about Japanese productions have some insight into that?

The film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, is set for a December 1st release in Japan, though there are no plans yet for an American release of any kind.









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Comments

Was that George Takei doing the VO?

Posted by: Rykker at June 29, 2010 9:40 AM

meh

Posted by: splinter at June 29, 2010 9:41 AM

It's significant though possibly obvious that Yamato was itself a symbol of Japanese nationalism at a time when Japan was starting to re-assert itself on the global stage.

Perhaps the producer of this is trying to tap into the same ultra-nationalist spirit today, though this time Japan has no one but itself to blame for its current funk.

Ok, sure -- Japan might have itself to blame for WWII and the post-war Occupation. But that was still defeat and occupation by a foreign enemy. The current economic malaise there is due solely to internal corruption and ennui.

That and Toyota trying to kill random gaijin with sticky floor pedals.

Posted by: Neodiogenes at June 29, 2010 10:02 AM

Did we ever do a Casshern review? I loved that wacko movie.

Sometimes the fact that you can't tell just quite how bad the acting is in Japanese scifi/action/wtf movies, and it just allows you to concentrate on the good stuff.

Shit getting itself ruined.

Posted by: D-Day at June 29, 2010 10:06 AM

I went back and watched Robotech. Oh man. Five minutes of great space combat each episode interrupted by 20 minutes of horrible, horrible love story.

Posted by: Brenton at June 29, 2010 10:29 AM

Anyone more in the know about Japanese productions have some insight into that?

I would say that it is a case of some words, not having equivalents in the language, are simply copied over wholesale.

But a lot of times, they do it because it looks cool. Kinda like how folks get those Kanji tattoos, even without knowing what the hell they mean.

Also, that trailer was AWESOME.

Hmmm, a Casshern review.....

Posted by: Vermillion at June 29, 2010 10:40 AM

meh

Posted by: splinter at June 29, 2010 9:41 AM

_____________

Man, splinter hates EVERYTHING!

Actually, I'm intrigued. What do you enjoy, splinter? (I'll assume you hate movies, books, cartoons, adaptations, food, joyous celebrations, and rainbows that look like babies' laughter.) Go!

Posted by: Kballs at June 29, 2010 10:45 AM

WHEE!

Posted by: The Wanderer at June 29, 2010 11:01 AM

i'm flattered anyone is noticing but like everyone i like what i like; here's a few:

movies: the dark knight; red cliff (recently saw this one and really liked it); rushmore;

books: i've recently read anathem, the meaning of everything, woman at point zero, winkie, the kingdom of this world, the other city and i'm in the middle of yellow blue tibia which is excellent

cartoons: i do like the occasional simpsons episode and my brother made me watch the whale whores episode of south park last night which i thought was funny; have always had a soft spot for bugs bunny

adaptations: can't think of anything off the top of my head

food: love ben an jerry's cherry garcia and that dulce the leche from hd; red beans and rice (my cuban background showing here); lobster

joyous celebrations: hmm. why can't i think of anything for this one as well? damn

as for rainbows, you're just being mean. everyone loves rainbows. i've seen a few of those double ones and they are pretty fucking amazing

happy now?

Posted by: splinter at June 29, 2010 11:17 AM

meh

Posted by: Kballs at June 29, 2010 11:19 AM

Kballs ftw.

Posted by: The Other Agent Johnson at June 29, 2010 11:31 AM

I was going to comment on the trailer showing the entire movie or something along those lines.

Then I saw the banter back and forth between Kballs and splinter. THAT...was beautiful.

Even if splinter made my eye twitch with the no capitalization thing.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 29, 2010 11:54 AM

Well-played, Kballs; well-played.

Posted by: Rykker at June 29, 2010 12:24 PM

I second D-Day's request for a Casshern review.

btw. has anyone seen Goemon yet? Is it worth seeing?

Posted by: Vi at June 29, 2010 1:06 PM

ok, the gloves (as such) are off; you are going to pay for that kballs with....

more stuff i like: uh, give me a minute...uh, i'm thinking....uh, fuck. oh, here's something: NOT writing capitals!

happy?

as for making eyes twitch, i take what i can get these days

Posted by: splinter at June 29, 2010 1:42 PM

I don't know what I'm watching.
All I know is Japanese Captain Birdsye flying a submarine in space.
That is all I need to know.

Posted by: Nadine at June 29, 2010 3:39 PM

I so want that jacket Kimutaku is wearing.

Posted by: ruru at June 29, 2010 8:28 PM

Anyone more in the know about Japanese productions have some insight into that?

Vermillion is spot on about this. While there are words in Japanese for both Space and Battleship, the use of English equivalents is considered to be more dynamic and give extra weight to the words.

It doesn't come up here, but the other major reason to do this is to alter the rhyme or meter scheme of music. Even if it's only to draw attention to a word or concept.

Posted by: Lyrinoir at June 29, 2010 10:37 PM

Out of all the awesome cartoons I grew up with - Transformers, GI Joe, Voltron - Starblazers was the one that had a special place in my heart. I have literally dreamed of this being given a proper film adaptation for the last 20 years (they did have several full length animated films, and while quite good, it's just not the same as what we have in this trailer.)
So. Happy. Right. Now.

Posted by: Markus at June 29, 2010 11:51 PM

Noooooooo! Anyone but Kimutaku! D= The rest of it looks pretty cool, though. I hope the final product matches the quality of the trailer.

Posted by: Shibuyama at June 30, 2010 1:01 AM

Man I don't know, the Casshern trailer looked awesome too and that movie was fucking horrible.

Posted by: Ben at June 30, 2010 8:46 AM

Must. See. Film.

I see WildStar, I see Nova, I see Captain Abradar (or whatever) ... I am STOKED!

Posted by: Hybrid at June 30, 2010 9:56 AM

@splinter

No. No one knows what the hell you are babbling about.

Posted by: Court at July 1, 2010 3:59 AM