Yamato 2520

Comparisons, between the original Space Battleship Yamato (be it the original 1975 version or the modern Yamato 2199 version), are extremely unfair but ultimately unavoidable. In short, anyone viewing this series expecting a remake of Yamato/Star Blazers will be disappointed. Sadly, Yamato 2520 is largely unconnected to the classic series - a totally different look for the ship, completely different characters, no Gamalons, none of the extremely cool music - it's Yamato in name only.

What we are left with is a series that, although looks nice, doesn't have the same emotional quality of the original. The series is way too short to tell this much ... story. Instances like relating the whole 100 years war done in a brief pre-credit sequence, and could have easily been expanded up to several episodes. There's no time to sink our emotional hooks into the characters.

Technically, the series is passable. The animation is fluid and looks nice, although Leiji Matsumoto's art style and directorial touches are sadly missed on the project. The music doesn't contain the power and majesty that Yamato deserves - nay, requires. As a result, it ultimately fails to support the series. The voice acting isnt bad, but not outstanding.

Is Yamato 2520 bad? No - if allowed to stand on it's own, it might have been enjoyable. Does it live up to the original series? Not even close - the worst entry of the Yamato saga is still superior to 2520. In the end, it's all academic, however - the series was aborted before the final four episodes were completed, and the odds of it making it to US shores are slim at best. In the end, Yamato 2520 will remain a footnote in the Star Blazers story.

Go watch Yamato 2199 instead.