Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap opera". Perhaps the most significant trait of space opera is that settings, characters, battles, powers, and themes tend to be very large-scale.
In anime some of the best and well known titles are <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/820/Legend_of_the_Galactic_Heroes">Legend of the Galactic Heroes</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1088/Macross">Macross</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1000/Space_Pirate_Captain_Harlock">Captain Harlock</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1650/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato">Space Battleship Yamato</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1491/Galaxy_Express_999">Galaxy Express 999</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1548/Shin_Taketori_Monogatari:_1000_Nen_Joou">Queen Millennia</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/2158/Terra_e.../pics">Terra e...</a>, <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/2451/Space_Adventure_Cobra">Cobra</a> and <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/290/Seikai_no_Monshou">Crest/Banner of the Stars</a>. You can't actually define easily what's a space opera and what's not since there are many series that are not "pure" space operas but they do have some elements from the species. Some of the titles mentioned before are genuine space operas and were used in order to "judge" what must be in the club's relation list. Therefore you'll find titles as <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1462/Memories">Memories</a> in which only the 1st story <span style="color:red">"Magnetic Rose"<!--color--></span> is a really nice mix of sci-fi/thriller/space opera or <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1371/Hi_no_Tori">Hi No Tori</a> which has some great space stories in it but none like the 1987 <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/2998/Hi_no_Tori:_Uchuu_Hen">Hi no Tori: Uchuu Hen</a>! Also <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime.php?q=ideon">Ideon</a> and <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime.php?q=baldios">Baldios</a> are examples where the super robot genre blends well with psychological elements and space opera feeling!
We get to see many inconsistencies or exaggerations in space operas like people walking outside without suits or getting right next to a wormhole and escaping in the nick of time for example. Many times they use conventional techonogies that we currently have and it makes you wonder is this possible? Aren't we in the future? It should have been more developed you say or something like that. In <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/3907/Ginga_Sengoku_Yuuden_Rai/">Ginga Sengoku Yuuden Rai (a.k.a Galaxy Warring State Chronicle Rai or Thunder Jet)</a> there are swords and bows like in the Chinese 3 Kingdoms war or in the Japanese civil war but they do have spaceships! So what is going on? Well you have to accept those kind of things and not be picky about them because you lose the point and you're spoiling the fun that you would have! After all you're watching fantasy! When someone watches Lord of the Rings is he wondering about stuff like that! I don't think so! He just sits back and enjoys the ride! That's what I'm suggesting to all of you my friends!
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/people/2597/Leiji_Matsumoto">Leiji Matsumoto</a> is one of the best space opera creators and he has given to us many great titles (After all he started it all with <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/anime/1650/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato">Space Battleship Yamato</a> in 1974!) and <!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/people/5095/Noboru_Ishiguro">Noburo Ishiguro</a> one of the best directors in the genre with participation in many of these great titles!
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/466/logha.png" />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:red"><span style="font-size: 150%;">Similar clubs to join<!--size--></span><!--color--></span>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=18611">Old School Anime Club</a>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=422">Leijiverse</a>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=5114">Legend of the Galactic Heroes</a>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=18957">Sieg Kaiser Reinhard von Lohengramm!!!</a>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=773">Macross Series Fans</a>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=28603">Gallant Angels-Gall Force FC</a>
<!--link--><a href="
http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=7169">Retro Mecha Club</a><!--center--></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:orange">And below a funny picture for the club!<!--color--></span> :p
<img src="
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/7636/spaceopera.gif" /><!--center--></div>
<span style="color:blue">Here is our beautiful flag counter! (Added on 4/7/2012)<!--color--></span>
<!--link--><a href="
http://flgc.info/MJDVks"><img src="
http://s06.flagcounter.com/count/hn/bg_FFFF14/txt_000000/border_262626/columns_6/maxflags_30/viewers_0/labels_1/pageviews_1/flags_0/" /></a><!--center--></div>
