Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Herlock

"UNDER THIS FLAG WE SHALL LIVE IN ULTIMATE FREEDOM!"
"Only real men can understand stuff like this."
Ah yes, the reason why I tend to watch ANYTHING with the name Leiji Matsumoto attached. Let me first say that my five star rating is biased as I have happy childhood memories attached to this property and it was great to finish it after 30 years. What more could we want than the stoic badass known as Captain Harlock sailing the sea of stars fight evil and injustice with only his guts, moxie, and wits. For 36 years the space pirate has inspired hope and instilled fear in a ... universe corrupt with hedonism and sloth. And here is where you get to see the birth of it all, this is what inspired sequel and spinoff after sequel and spin off and rightly so! How could this series end, and not leave you wanting more? Has any show been more inspirational to anime than Harlock? When I watch this show, I'm five years old again watching my dream unfold. So much so I can barely write a coherent review. I want to put, "WATCH IT IT'S GREAT!!! WATCH IT IT'S GREAT!!!" a thousand times and call it a review. but for the benefit of those who've never encountered Harlock I'll try harder.
It's about fighting with honor and conviction, for what you believe in; about taking up the reins of destiny yourself, answering to no one. Yes, I love it so much because I dream of being Captain Harlock. I wish for such as his. Now excuse me while I sip some (beer) and stare longingly at the sea of stars. "The sea of stars shall be our home, our only home!"

To me, 1978 is a special year in anime. We got so many good anime; I just have to watch them all. Of course, when someone says there is an anime about space pirates and by Leiji Matsumoto (Yamato series), shut up and take my money. It was also directed by Rin Taro, whom has directed many shows from Astro Boy Brave in Space to the 1999 X Movie. Basically, his stuff is a coin flip. Luckily this anime did not disappoint.

Set in 2977, this is a world where technology does most of the work like in The Jetsons, and humans have become so lazy ... and relaxed like in Disney’s Wall-E. However, when a foreign “blue” alien invading race is bent on conquering Earth for their own reasons (sounds familiar), there stands only one man and his crew... Captain Harlock with his “strange” crew on the massive battleship Arcadia.

Much like in Yamato, the alien invader is incredibly interesting. However, unlike in Yamato, the characters are also fairly interesting with some development and decent enough back stories. However, when it came to deep explanations, deep back stories, deep anything, this is where the anime lacked the most. The viewer always felt like some episodes that became “destroy the alien ship of week” could have easily been replaced with more explanations towards almost anything or just left out completely. This was a real shame, but still manages to not take too much away from the action and story progression. One example of this is Harlock’s closest companion, the alien Miime. We are shown in one episode of Miime’s total backstory that tries to explain everything. It feels rushed and you want more. This is how the anime works. You will get answers, but they are extremely simplistic and are never touched on again.

The artwork, writing, story, and more are very similar to Yamato with some improvement, but there is no problem there and to be expected in Matsumoto’s work. Be prepared. This show has multiple side stories, a sequel that came out 20 years later, and a 2013 movie. This is a slower paced 42 episode anime. There are the occasional deep-gripping moments which were a real surprise, and had me fall in love with the show more. All-in-all, give the Space Pirate a try and if the first six or so episodes don’t convince you, then maybe it just isn’t for you.

The seemingly endless afternoon I spent reading an Anime encyclopedia a few months ago did not only provide me with more insight on glorified child pornography than I would have ever imagined: it also displayed a mysterious picture of a woman under the title "Queen Emeraldas." Somehow fascinated by a few passages describing the Leijiverse, I spent some time researching Leiji Matsumoto on the internet and eventually ended up seeing Captain Harlock. I approached this, by comparison to most other anime, antiquity with high expectations. It turned out to differ quite fundamentally from my personal vision of warfare and human drama, but by no means ... did it disappoint me. In this review I explain why.

Story: 8/10

After a quick narration that introduces earth, which has developed for 900 years from our time into a state of apathy and corruption, the story initiates with a form of episodic nature. The protagonist captain Harlock finds himself in trouble every time he visits Mayu, the daughter of one of his past comrades. As he is an outlaw, the prime minister on earth is determined to use Mayu in order to trap the infamous space pirate, but fails each time. Meanwhile we're introduced to other characters who eventually come to complement the crew on Arcadia; Harlock's space ship.


The story takes its time to pick up, but by the time you grow attached to the characters and the real point of the narration reveals itself, watching the show turns into an addiction. As an extraterrestrial race attempts to invade earth, Harlock and his crew sets out to protect the very planet they've abandoned. Known as the Mazone, their enemies engage in psychological and biological warfare in the name of their beloved but merciless queen Rafflesia. Turbulent space battles are combined with a profound sense of melancholia in an epic adventure that reaches admirable heights of quality. It relies more heavily on characterization than plot progression, but with plenty of twists up its sleeve, the story of Captain Harlock quickly leaves behind its initially boring episodes and blasts off towards awesomeness.

Animation: 5/10

Though not below standard for its time, Captain Harlock is still unable to reach equal heights of splendor when it comes to animation that contemporary contestants like Rose of Versailles and Mobile Suit Gundam did. Movement tends to be awkward and the numbers of mistakes you find throughout the series are far too many to list. Admittedly though, the character designs of Leiji Matsumoto are what make the show stand out. Minor characters are usually subdued to a state of cartoonism but Harlock and other various noble characters we meet later on are somewhat detailed and well made. Women tend to have long beautiful hair and slender bodies and overall there's something unique over the proportions and the eyes of the characters that the otherwise poor animation benefits heavily from.

Unfortunately, the space battles are unable to reach compelling levels as the animation does not allow that to happen. This is not a particularly big loss as the primary focus on the show lies within the characters and dialogue. It might put some people off though.

Sound: 7/10

The soundtrack is equipped with a large variety of instruments and several songs designed specifically to fit the content of the story. As such, the opening theme is a direct reference to Harlock's dedication to protect earth despite its corrupted state.

A usual occurrence is that the characters themselves grab an instrument to play in a sudden state of melancholia. Whether it's Mayu playing on her ocarina or the mysterious extraterrestrial female Miime diligently using her harp, it's an interesting thing to see such a large portion of the soundtrack comprised of their melodies. Another memorable scene is when Harlock and his crew (SPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILER) face to face. Mysterious voices that reminded me of Suspiria dominated the soundtrack at that moment and truly emphasized what mysterious creatures the Mazone are.
Voice acting deserves some praise as well, in particular that of Captain Harlock.

Characters: 8/10

I realized it sooner than I thought, but during the 42 episodes I fell in love with the characters. Somewhat detailed characterization is a very big priority in the show, and most of the crewmembers aboard the Arcadia get their moments under the spotlight in the form of monologues or flashbacks. United by their inability to find their places in life on earth, as well as their common enemy, they all have harrowing stories of sorrow and agony to tell. Perhaps most memorable among the crewmembers is the mysterious and melancholic Miime. As the sole survivor of her kind she suffers from a grand feeling of alienation and loneliness. She swears to follow the man who saved her (Harlock) whether he chooses to roam the sea of space throughout the remainder of his life or venture deep into the pits of hell.

Even amongst the vicious Mazone there are several interesting characters to follow; Queen Rafflesia being the most prominent one. Bewildered over Harlock's dedication to protect the very earth he despises she tries hard to understand her enemy. We also get to witness her initially prideful and strong persona undergo a gruesome metamorphosis to the point of desperation and cruelty. The one thing that's for sure though is that Leiji Matsumoto remains somewhat neutral in his depiction of humans and the Mazone. He makes sure to emphasize both virtues and corruption on both opposing sides, and even though the Mazone in general are depicted as malicious, their actions and feelings succeed at generating sympathy.

Overall: 8/10

It only hints the grandeur within the Leijiverse, but Captain Harlock is a rewarding experience not only because of the excellent and loveable characters, but also thanks to its well applied soundtrack and narration. It also introduces a character whom I know little of, but who I find absolutely fascinating, a woman named Emeraldas who seems to be a female equivalent of Harlock. There's still a long way to go but I plan to continue exploring the Leijiverse, and hopefully I'll have the time and energy to review other titles as well.

Captain Harlock, to simply put it, is a hidden but not so hidden masterpiece. If you know anime or are into anime culture a lot then you have seen him before. Uchuu Kaichou Captain Harlock is a great space opera about pirates and if you're into stuff like Devilman,Star Wars,Gundam,Macross etc you will enjoy this plenty. It's considered one of the best anime of all time for a reason like one of the reviewers state. The characters are very unique and pretty well written. It takes a lot from sci-fi from it's time so it is to be expected to have a ton of references. ... It's a Leiji Matsumoto classic of course, so if you're into his stuff this is a must watch/read. Back to my first point, you can spot it in many shows/manga like Sailor moon,a-ko,cowboy bebop etc.

So for starters and clarity , I am both a fan & long time appreciator of Mr Matsumoto's work .
Now with that said I will be taking a mostly unbiased stance on this series and try to cover how it holds up by modern day standards and critique .

Story ~ 8/10

The base plot and narrative of Captain Herlock is akin to that of a classic spaghetti western.
filled to the brim with a rogues gallery of corrupt lawmen , deceptive military forces , villains from other galaxies and a society of downtrodden civilians looking for a savior up above .
And that savior comes in ... the form of a scarred and brooding space pirate who wants nothing more then to free earth from its plague of laziness and societal shackles that have weighed it down for far too long , all while a mysterious alien entity plans on a decisive and humanity destroying take over.
~~ And while all these aspects encapsulate the core and driving narrative of the series you can expect a fairly episodic drama in the vain of classic American westerns like Gunsmoke or Rawhide wrapped in a thick and shiny layer of Syfy pseudoscience and shanty time theatrics with the main plot often times taking a back seat to small 1 to 2 episode mini adventures. Think Cowboy bebop with more 50s style drama and theatrical flair in place of the 60s style jazzy coolness and frantic pacing.

Art ~ 8/10

The art direction for the show is at its peak shown in the astounding and breathtaking views of the future in the same imaginative breath as Rintaro's masterpiece adaptation of "Metropolis" mixed with a loving splash of Jean Giraud esque dreamscapes of space and far away planets , all being held together with the wonderfully bleak and looming designs of its gigantic battleship influenced Space crafts and towering obelisk like Japanese metropolitan earth setting , ~ and at its weakest you will be left with no less then the syfy standard black and white speckled space views and dreary metal corridors that blend into one another.

Animation ~ 5/10 , modern standard , 7/10 for the time of its creation

The animation for this series is its weakest point , not for being bad for the time of its creation
but because these limited budget late 70s animation productions simply don't hold up well in today's age. With most scenes looking more like a series of key frames with no in betweens in sight. but if your accustomed to watching this era of animation then you'll know its pacing well , and if you want to give an early series like this a try then I say try and focus on the plot and pretty character designs while you ease into its often jarring and stiff flow and movement .

Sound ~ 8/10

Very much one of the strong points of this series is its wonderfully fitting and on point soundtrack. Its made up of 40% Pirate shanty music done in an operatic fashion and 60% 70s style Enka jazz with love ballad style vocal accompaniment , Picture a Lupin III Yuji Ohno soundtrack with less funk but 3x more orchestral jazz . And as for the sound effects they are your standard "Zaps" "Pews" and "Booms" of any old fashion syfy anime , extremely cheesy in the most endearing of ways .

Characters ~ 6/10

I feel the characters have taken a bit of a beating by modern day critique standards
while they hold up well for their time of creation and even were quite ground breaking back then
they sadly are by today's standard incredibly trope heavy two dimensional characters who really exist to fit their needed roll and plot device. Now with that said they fit their role in a heart felt and loving way you can't help but enjoy it in the realm of the story itself , but when looked at on their own merit they stand quite short of true greatness , Captain Herlock was given the kind blessing of being brought back and made a reappearing character in Leiji's world and in doing so gets his much needed character development else where but sadly not as much as one would have hoped from his own granted series .

Enjoyment ~ 9/10

Even with the many short comings that come with a vintage space opera Like Captain Herlock
as long as you come in with an open mind and are looking to see a truly grand show of drama , love and adventure then I think most anybody can get a great deal of joy out of captain Herlock and his crew of misfit space pirates ~ tho I highly recommend pacing ones self with a few episodes at a time , cuz the cheese and drama will wear on ones nerves quick ~

all in all I give the show a rare but worthy ~ 8/10
If their are but two or three series that needed to be cherry picked from the 70s to represent the era and influence they had on anime and manga characters and writing to this day then
Captain Herlock is undeniably one of the few that will forever go down in Japanese animation history as a legendary work of pure genius and amazement .

Swashbuckling schlock at its very finest, Captain Harlock is fucking badass.

It’s a type of anime that overcomes its dated animation and production quality with heaps of stylistic flair.

I found myself shocked at all the mile-a-minute editing techniques, flashy 70sesque shots, the ballsy scene compositions, the dazzling colors.

Sure, the frame rates are pretty bad and the art doesn’t compare to the gloss of the modern industry, but again, it’s an example of direction trumping production quality, and that flashiness is enough to be visually engaging throughout its 42 episode run.

The funky and symphonic score really bolsters that eclectic style of the show, injecting ... a layer of adventure and epicness that makes all the space battles, duels, and moments of peril that much accentuated.

But as much as I can harp on about the audio/visual style of Harlock, I have to take a moment to commend this show’s writing.

In stark contrast to Galaxy Express 999, this show is ANYTHING but formulaic. Schlocky, sure, but every episode, hell, the entire show, is unpredictable.

That fact lends itself from the character of the enigmatic titular character, Harlock, who is the crux of this entire journey from beginning to end. We never know truly who he is, why he’s willing to die for people who hate him, why he fights with all his show. We eventually see peeks into that shell of his, but even at the end of the show, the dude is still as unreadable as he is badass.

Of course, the side characters were also really great too, albeit not being too fleshed out (though you could blame this on the short runtime of the show).

Most interestingly tho, what impressed me most about the writing was just...the vibe I got, going from episode to episode.

There’s an air of maturity to these characters that I can’t really put a finger on. Most member of the crew feels like an actual adult onstead of a walking bundle of tropes. Everyone in the series has a past with regrets, all of them have pain that they’ve experienced, but no matter what it is, they all move forward and fight forward for the sake of their freedom, and freedom of others.

Death happens, sadness takes over for a bit, but they move on. They remember, internalize the loss, but they don’t dwell on it, and rarely even seek revenge.

When there’s a choice to be made between a personal love and “the greater good” it’s usually always the personal choice, because your own good IS the greater good.

I know it was just a kid’s show, but it’s such a refreshing thing to see characters like this when nowadays, all these shonens have characters that are just so...I don’t know man, vapid?

Always about friendship triumphing, always about how war is bad and killing is evil, always about trying to gain something that was lost in the past, blahblah.

Again, I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s just different and really mature, something I never expected from a show about a space pirate fighting screaming plant girls.

In thhe end, I got way more out of Harlock than I ever could have expected, and I can totally see why it’s regarded as one of the best anime ever made.

"I fight for no one's sake, only for something deep in my heart." —Captain Harlock

"Uchū Kaizoku Captain Harlock" is less of a fantastical space adventure like "Galaxy Express 999" — and more of a grounded, political space drama that holds no bars with its direct message of fighting corruption. Captain Harlock and his motley team of disenfranchised space denizens take on Earth's oppressors! This series is very shrewdly written and wise — it is a romanticist's view on how to make the world right again after a liberation movement, and it is an ever-applicable statement to our current times!

⚠️ This review will contain light ... spoilers ⚠️

—Story/Characters

According to Leiji Matsumoto, he "was never a stickler for continuity" — so, the 1978 anime adaptation of Captain Harlock takes place within the same reality as the "Mystery of Arcadia" film. I find the invasion and incumbent oppression forced upon the earthlings by the Mazone to be eerily similar to a future that all of us might be gravitating towards, you see, the people of earth in the "Captain Harlock" anime are lackadaisical and have robots doing all of their work for them, so when a totalitarian regime sets in, there is no human will to stop it from happening... isn't that what social media and technological advancements have become for many of us?

All of the crew of the Arcadia gather together under their collective strengths: Kei Yuki, Tadashi Daiba, Tochiro Oyama, Doctor Zero, ※Mayu Ōyama, Yatteran, and Chief Engineer Maji — live against the system and are able to cohabitate in their own little, utopian microcosm. They live under the flag of righteousness and don't have allegiance to anyone, other than to each other and the outcasts of society. It's difficult to imagine a rebel faction like theirs working so harmonically in real life, but quixotic legion of do-gooder pirates is part of Leiji Matsumoto's dream of something that could only ever exist in fiction. But, a beautiful dream to have, nonetheless.

※ Note: I won't give anything away about what happens, but Mayu's backstory is a real tearjerker. Think Chroniko ("Kaiba") levels of sadness!

Harlock and Miime's relationship is something that I heavily ship, even though all they do is drink and Harlock listens to her play her harp. I'm pretty sure that Edmund Dantes and Haydée in ※"Gankutsuō" were loosely based off of these two! Miime and Haydée even have the similar backstory of being saved by their aforementioned male counterpart, and therefore, dedicating their life to them!

※ Note: Yes, I have read the original novel for "The Count of Monte Cristo" so, I know that Haydée has a similar role in the classic, book version, too! Though, it wasn't conveyed as being to the level of "Harlockian" as it is in the anime adaptation.

Matsumoto's construction of "Captain Harlock" was said in an interview to be a rebuilding of valor that was lost during the second World War. Harlock is chivalrous to all woman, fair to all of his enemies, and a safe haven to those who have been abused and forgotten by their venal society. As Panglossian as such a person may be, something that is far from mortal capability — like the immutable kindness of Kenzō Tenma in Naoki Urasawa's "Monster" — we can all ascribe to be more like Harlock: a flowering ideal, inconceivably honorable, and a companion to the weak of heart.

—Technical

Luna's Favorite Works by Each Respective Creator = ✅

Rintaro (director), notable works:
* 48x61
* Deimos no Hanayome: Ran no Kumikyoku ("Bride of Deimos") ✅
* Down Load: Namu Amida Butsu wa Ai no Uta ("Download: Devil's Circuit")
* Final Fantasy
* Ganbare Genki
* Genma Taisen
* Ginga Tetsudō 999 (Movie)
* Hi no Tori: Hōō-hen ("Phoenix: Karma Chapter") ✅
* Hi no Tori: Uchū-hen ("Phoenix: Space Chapter") ✅
* Hi no Tori: Yamato-hen ("Phoenix: Yamato Chapter") ✅
* Hoshi no Ko Chobin
* Jetter Mars
* Jungle Taitei
* Jungle Taitei (1989)
* Jungle Taitei (Movie)
* Kamui no Ken
* Kaze no Matasaburō
* Kujakuō
* Lupin VIII
* Manie-Manie: Meikyū Monogatari ("Neo Tokyo")
* Metropolis ✅
* Mūmin
* Osamu to Musashi
* Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae
* Sayonara Ginga Tetsudō 999: Andromeda Shūchakueki
* Shin Kujakuō ("Spirit Warrior")
* Teito Mongatari ("Doomed Megalopolis")
* Tetsuwan Atom: Uchū no Yūsha ("Astro Boy: The Brave in Space")
* Tezuka Osamu Monogatari: Boku wa Son Gokū ("The Tale of Osamu Tezuka: I'm Son Goku")
* Uchū Kaizoku Captain Herlock: Arcadia-gō no Nazo ("Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Riddle of the Arcadia Episode")
* Wagahai wa Neko de Aru ("I Am a Cat")
* Wanpaku Ōmukashi Kum Kum
* Wanpaku Tanteidan ("Boy's Detective Team")
* X Densha de Ikō ("Take the X Train") ✅
* X/1999 ✅
* X² Double X
* Yona Yona Penguin

Commentary: Rintaro's discography is very hit-or-miss for me, I thought works like X Densha de Ikō ("Take the X Train") and Deimos no Hanayome: Ran no Kumikyoku ("Bride of Deimos"), and there were productions of his that I didn't like so much, like, Teito Mongatari ("Doomed Megalopolis") and Down Load: Namu Amida Butsu wa Ai no Uta ("Download: Devil's Circuit"). Though, out of the assortment of mixed bag hits, the "Uchū Kaizoku Captain Harlock" anime adaptation takes the cake! Slow-paced meditative scenes, thoughtful character moments, and intense action sequences; Rintaro is a visionary director that deserves all of the accolades and praise that he gets, even if some of his works exist — just for the sake of existing!

Extra: The swelling operatic score in the anime was performed by non other than the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra!

Good Seiyū Work = ✅

Really Enjoyed the Seiyū's Performance = ✅ ✅

One of Luna's Favorite Performances OF ALL TIME = ✅ ✅ ✅

Makio Inōe as Captain Harlock (or Herlock), notable roles:
* William Albert Adley, Candy Candy ✅
* Hideki Horiguchi, Ganbare Genki
* Ryū, Genshi Shōnen Ryū
* Phoenix, Honey Honey no Suteki na Bōken
* Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Lupin III (series) — in all of the older "Lupin III" series, save for season one; Mr. Inōe passed away in 2019 and the role has been reprised by Daisuke Namikawa ✅ ✅ ✅
* Slegger Law, Mobile Suit Gundam — Tessyo Genda was the original voice in the TV version ✅

Commentary: Mr. Inōe is more predominantly known for being the most famous iteration of Goemon Ishikawa XIII in the "Lupin III" franchise, and his performance as Harlock isn't much different. A powerful presence with a strong, stoic sense of righteousness — this enigma rings clearly, like the peal of bell. Unfortunately, Mr. Inōe passed away in 2019, but his strong timber still echos the voices of the oppressed lower caste, that his characters respectively sought to defend. Incredible job with the character, rest in peace!

Noriko Ohara as Miime ("Mimay"), notable roles:
* Sindbad, Arabian Nights: Sindbad no Bōken (TV)
* Hiyoshi Gō, Chō Denji Machine Voltes V
* Nobita Nobi, Doraemon (1979) — voiced Nobita until Doraemon (2005), the role was reprised by Megumi Ōhara ✅ ✅ ✅
* Serge Battour, Kaze to Ki no Uta Sanctus: Sei Naru Kana ✅ ✅ ✅
* Emmanuelle Poirot, Lupin III: Part II ✅ ✅ ✅
* Claudia La Salle, Macross ✅ ✅ ✅
* Sebastian, Meiken Jolie
* Conan, Mirai Shōnen Conan
* Majo, Time Bokan
* Doronjo, Majo, Atasha, Mirenjo, Mun-Mun, and Mūjo — Time Bokan: Revival
* Shira Etō, Tokimeki Tonight ✅ ✅ ✅
* Oyuki, Urusei Yatsura ✅ ✅ ✅
* Wansa, Wansa-kun

Commentary: Noriko Ohara has an absolutely lovely voice; it's weird because I originally heard her as Nobita in "Doraemon" (who is a little boy, if you haven't watched it), but all of her female roles exude an aura of utter pulchritudinous-ness! For example, Emmanuelle Poirot ("Lupin III: Part II") plays a very minor role, but my image of her is very crisp and clear — I watched the series in its entirety a few years back, but I still have fond memories of watching that character interact with Lupin! Her presence is a very subtle, but beautiful one! Ms. Ohara is a one-of-a-kind performer! And that is why Miime is best girl, among other various reasons!

Chiyoko Kawashima as Kei Yuki and Mayu Ōyama, notable roles:
* Jimsa, Andromeda Stories
* Setsuna Meiō ("Sailor Pluto"), Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon (series) — Ai Maeda has reprised the role ✅ ✅ ✅
* Tony, Tera e...
* Hikaru Makiba, UFO Robo Grendizer

Commentary: I have only seen Ms. Kawashima as Setsuna Meiō in "Sailor Moon" — while I'm writing this, I have seen the Terra e... TV series, but not the original OVA, so I cannot comment on any of her other performances. As Kei Yuki, she's a side character, but when she is shown, she's very likable and sweet. Great job!

Akira Kamiya as Tadashi Daiba, notable roles:
* Lane Tadatos, 11-nin Iru! ✅
* Athos, Anime Sanjūshi ("The Three Musketeers")
* Kō'ichi Yamano, Babel Nisei
* Kyusaku Natsume, Bannō Bunka Neko-Musume (series)
* Sō'ichi Tomoe, Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon S ✅✅
* Mamoru Daichi, Chikyū Bōei Kazoku
* Chirin, Chirin no Suzu ✅✅
* Ryō Saeba, City Hunter (series) ✅✅
* Sanshirō Tsuwabuki, Daikū Maryū Gaiking
* Kogorō Mōri, Detective Conan — Rikiya Koyama has reprised the role ✅✅✅
* Doctor Chichibuyama, Doctor Chichibuyama
* John Kyosuke Hiba, Dog Solider
* Garlic Junior, Dragon Ball Z Movie 01: Ora no Gohan wo Kaese!! — stand-in for Shigeru Chiba
* Muscat Tyler, Elf 17
* King Arthur, Entaku no Kishi Monogatari: Moero Arthur
* Jimmy Orion, Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo
* Ryōma Nagare, Getter Robo (series) — Hideo Ishikawa has reprised the role for the newer series, i.e. Shin Getter Robo and Change!! Getter Robo: Sekai Saigo no Hi
* Gai Daido, Getter Robo Go
* Elizabeth, Gintama Movie 2: Kanketsu-hen (Yorozuya yo Eien Nare) — stand-in for Shinji Takamatsu
* Roi Kuran, Haja Taisei Dangaiō
* Makimura, Hi no Tori: Uchū-hen ("Phoenix: Space Chapter") ✅✅
* Kenshirō, Hokuto no Ken — the role has been reprised by Hiro Shimono, Takehito Koyasu, and Katsuyuki Konishi ✅✅✅
* Shizune Mejiro, Igano Kabamaru
* Zorori, Kaiketsu Zorori: Mahōtsukai no Deshi
* Suguru Kinniku, Kinnikuman (series) — Toshio Furukawa has reprised the role
* Isamu, Kōya no Shōnen Isamu
* Akira Tosaka, Kyūkyoku Chōjin R
* Ashram, Legend of Crystania and Lodoss-tō Senki ✅✅
* Roy Focker, Macross ✅✅
* Shun Mitaka, Maison Ikkoku ✅✅
* Claude, Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman
* King Arthur, Moero Arthur: Hakuba no Ōji
* Nyarome, Mōretsu Atarō (1990)
* Que, Mujigen Hunter Fandora ✅
* Kiro, Nayuta ✅✅
* Indra, Otaku no Seiza
* Nao, Outlanders ✅
* Siegfried Dubhe and Algol Perseus, Saint Seiya ✅✅
* Lord Calvert, Slayers Gorgeous
* Kyōichirō Jin, Sukeban Deka ✅✅
* Seki Ray Shiroe, Terra e...
* Dandan, Time Travel Tondekeman!
* Kazuya Ryuzaki, Tōshō Daimos
* Shutarō Mendō, Urusei Yatsura ✅✅✅
* Takuma Ichimonji, Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace
* Shinnosuke Kazamatsuri, Yawara
* Akira Hibiki, Yūsha Raideen
* Shin Fubuki, Zero Tester

Commentary: Akira Kamiya is a very iconic voice in the industry, from his role of Kenshirō in the original "Fist of the North Star" to his defining role as the original voice of Detective Conan's alcoholic, womanizing Dad ("Kogorō Mōri")! Personally, my favorite role of his has been Shutarō Mendō ("Urusei Yatsura"), that character had a lot of flaws and issues, but Mr. Kamiya was able to convey them naturally and with a comedic cadence, that fit in with the show's milieu. In "Uchū Kaizoku Captain Harlock" — his character stands out less than some of the rest, but is able to come across as believable teenage boy, that is suffering through trials of war and hardship! Very talented seiyū, wonderful work in this series!

Rihoko Yoshida as Emeraldes, notable roles:
* Queen Badiane, Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS: Sailor 9 Senshi Shūketsu! Black Dream Hole no Kiseki ("Sailor Moon SuperS the Movie: Black Dream Hole") ✅✅
* Teto, Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä ✅✅✅
* Miwa Uzuki, Kōtetsu Jeeg
* Machiko Mai, Maicching Machiko-sensei ("Miss Machiko") ✅
* Megu Kanzaki, Majokko Megu-chan ("Little Meg the Witch Girl")
* Tickle Komori, Majokko Tickle
* Mirai, Mama wa Shōgaku 4 Nensei
* Monsley, Mirai Shōnen Conan
* Maria Grace Fleed, UFO Robo Grendizer
* Kurama, Urusei Yatsura ✅✅✅
* Rosalie Lamorlière, Rose of Versailles ✅✅
* Lisa, Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace

Commentary: Ms. Yoshida has a very husky, mature woman type of voice — this type of casting choice is exemplified best in her roles as Queen Badian ("Sailor Moon SuperS the Movie: Black Dream Hole") and as Kurama ("Urusei Yatsura"). Queen Emeraldas is a tough, ice queen like some of Ms. Yoshida's other prolific roles! She has a very commanding presence and has a very distinct voice, to the point, that when I first watched "Maetel Legend" — Atsuko Enomoto's portrayal of the character didn't originally register with me! Talented seiyū, it's a shame that she choose to retire in 1998!

There are not long-running television anime series that can pull off such a tight ending. I personally preferred "Galaxy Express 999" to the "Uchū Kaizoku Captain Harlock" series, but the latter had a much more satisfying conclusion. Leiji Matsumoto's "Harlock" saga will continue to have an important place in the annals of Japanese animation's history, because its brave and unabashed take on standing up to tyranny! "Uchū Kaizoku Captain Harlock" earns a 7/10 ranking and a place among the must-see anime classics!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Herlock. An interesting take on the space opera genre combing elements of Uchuu Senkan Yamato (both of these are by the same Leiji Matsumoto) and the traditional western pirate. The story is set with a united Earth government and Space Pirate Herlock being an outlaw forced to live out his days in space, but he doesn't let this stop him from making many trips back home...
Story~8
The story was very good. Essentially, an alien race calling themselves the Mazone have lost their home planet and set their eyes on the Earth for refuge. Without giving too much away, interestingly, this is already a ... second home for the Mazone. The strategies of Herlock and his crew show great story planning by the directors and will draw the audience in. The downfalls of the story was its overall pace, since it took a few episodes to get started. This was mainly things dealing with on Earth, rather than the usual character-crew exposé which occurs later. Herlock, being a notorious space pirate is on his own with no help from the Earth, which makes the anime all the more interesting to see how this one ship deals with an entire race of alien beings.
Art~9
The art is amazing for it's age. Excellent use of colors and their various palettes. Remember the anime occurs in space where their are many different environments for the artists to conjure up. This opens up many doors for the production team to experiment with many art styles without making the anime look too overdone. What's more is that the anime is consistent with its animation style for better immersion. The art is really one of the strong points of the series and the finished product gave me an appreciation for older anime and reminded me I was making a smart move by not passing it up because of its age.
Sound~8
Very good and memorable themes for the music aspect. Very catchy too :] The seiyuu's really matched their characters well which helped in the immersion process. There are elements of standard space battle sounds which make certain weapons or sounds in general more recognizable. The anime just sounded great. Suspense scenes, action scenes, comical scenes, sad scenes, happy scenes; it is very easy to believe what the animators were trying to portray since the sound backed them up so much.
Character~6
This is a very controversial and very critical aspect of the show. Basically, many of the characters from this anime are just rips from Uchuu Senkan Yamato. Both have a drunken doctor with a pet cat, both have similar looking younger "hotheads", both have almost identical blonde captain's assistants, the main enemies for Yamato are a blue race of primarily men while Herlock's enemies are a blue race of primarily women; the anime was obviously inspired by Yamato, but this is where the similarities end. Leiji Matsumoto, the creator of both of these franchises, uses very similar artwork and designs for all of his works, even including Ginga Tetsudo 999 and all the cross-overs between these characters (can we even call it a rip off if they are by the exact same person?) Many of the characters have their own backstories explaining why they are pirates which makes their character seem more authentic in a way since they are not just fighting for the sake of fighting. Character motives are very different, given the lively crew a new dimension of likability, as the stoic Herlock has to deal with various mishaps aboard his ship.
Enjoyment-9
If we get past the lackadaisical character design and let them by as mere "stock character options" for the naysayers and "Matsumoto's specific style" for the yay-sayers, the anime is really enjoyable throwing it's audience into a world where the pirates are the ones who have the Earth's best interest in mind fighting dangerous battles and defending the land. A lot can get done in 42 episodes and I enjoyed this series as a unique space opera option. Again, I would have preferred if the beginning was a bit faster but once an episode started, I would be surprised at how fast it seemed to finish. Herlock showcases the importance of being calm and collected in the midst of any situation, since it helps him think clearly and his actions are very easy to understand and relate to.
Overall-8
This anime is very good. It draws you in and let's you form attachments to the various characters since they are each very different from one another. The animation was very good for its time, and the story was superb. The production staff really presented a well written anime Herlock fit's the profile of the quiet but very intelligent MC's which is always a fan favorite in many series. It's easy to imagine yourself apart of Herlock's crew sailing away on the vast expanses of the universe. It's worth at least checking out for a classic 70's space-age drama. How Herlock acts may even surprise you...