The appeal and reviews of Space Battleship Blue Noah: a grand adventure and a moving story

Space Battleship Blue Noah - Space Battleship Blue Noah

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

October 13, 1979 - March 29, 1980
October 13, 1979 - March 29, 1980 Every Saturday 19:00-19:30
There are 24 episodes in total, each 30 minutes long. *Only the first episode will be aired as a 2-hour special.

■Broadcasting station

Yomiuri TV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 24

■Original Story

・Original idea: Yoshinobu Nishizaki

■ Director

・Director: Katsumata Guji

■ Production

Produced by Yomiuri Television and Academy Productions

■ Story

In the year 2052, 90% of humanity is wiped out by an all-out attack by the alien Godom, and the Earth is placed under Godom's control. The surviving humans form an organization called "Mars" to rescue the Earth, and secretly build the strategic aircraft carrier Blue Noah. Blue Noah destroys Godom's bases scattered across the Pacific Ocean, and then launches into space equipped with an anti-gravity engine to attack Godom's artificial planet floating in Earth's orbit.

■Explanation

This is a maritime science fiction adventure set in the near future on Earth, which has been devastated by an invasion by the alien Godom. Although the title of the work is "Space Aircraft Carrier," the main mecha, the aircraft carrier Blue Noa, does not take off into space until the end of the story, and most of the story takes place in the oceans of Earth. The production also focused on the mechanical settings and depictions of the strategic aircraft carrier Blue Noa built by the Earth side, and the combat helicopters and small submarines installed on it.

■Cast

・Makoto Kusaka/Toru Furuya/Kei Domon/Chiyoko Kawashima/Eiji Domon/Hidekatsu Shibata

■ Main staff

・Planning, concept, and production: Yoshinobu Nishizaki ・Producer: Kei Iijima ・Director: Guji Katsumata ・Chief animation director: Kenzo Koizumi ・Character design and animation director: Akiyoshi Hane ・Mechanical design: Gin-eisha (Yuji Kaida, Takayuki Masuo)
・SF Supervision / Ryuichi Kaneko ・Music (composition) / Masaaki Hirao, Yasushi Miyagawa ・Music (arrangement) / Motoki Funayama ・Sound / Katsumi Ota ・Sound recording / Koichi Iwata, Eikō Sound and effects / Katsumi Ito ・Producer in charge / Motoo Fukuo (YTV), Yoshihiro Nozaki ・Developing / Toei Chemicals ・Production / Yomiuri Television, Academy Production

■ Main Characters

・Kusaka Shin
The protagonist is a young Earthling. He boards the Blue Noah, which his scientist father helped to build, and grows up under the strict guidance of Captain Domon and others. He initially serves as a crew member of the small submarine Dolphin, but later becomes the Blue Noah's chief of operations.
・Kei Domon
Daughter of Captain Domon. Although she was a civilian, she served on the Blue Noir and was in charge of torpedoes as a crew member of the small submarine Dolphinfish.
・Domon Ei
Captain of the Blue Noah. Later also serves as commander of the space fleet. Kei's father.

■ Main robot items

・Blue Noah A super-large combat aircraft carrier built by Earth, with a total length of 360 meters. In addition to moving on the surface of the sea, it can also dive underwater by closing the huge flight decks on both sides. Later, it is equipped with an anti-gravity engine, which allows it to fly outside the atmosphere. The antiproton cannon on the bow is a powerful weapon that can destroy the Godom Fortress with one hit, but all functions of the ship will stop for about 10 minutes after firing. It is also equipped with various missiles, torpedoes, Gatling guns, anti-aircraft laser cannons, ultrasonic guns called phonon masers, and neutron beam cannons. The onboard mechas are the small submarine Dolphinfish at the bow and the large combat helicopter Bison at the stern. It also carries many carrier-based aircraft.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Birth of the Young Lions (1979/10/13)
Episode 2: Brunoa Heads South (1979/10/20)
Episode 3: Coral Reef Rescue Mission (1979/11/03)
Episode 4: The Secret of Godom Base (1979/11/10)
Episode 5: Godom's Plan to Remodel the Earth (1979/11/17)
Episode 6: Adam and Eve of the South Seas (1979/11/24)
Episode 7: Burning Southern Cross (1979/12/01)
Episode 8: Shoot That Tower! (1979/12/08)
Episode 9: Hurricane of Love and Anger (1979/12/15)
Episode 10: The Roundabout Decision (1979/12/22)
Episode 11: Promise to Tomorrow (1979/12/29)
Episode 12: Farah, That Love (1980/01/5)
Episode 13: The Terrifying Red Tide Hell (1980/01/12)
Episode 14: Dummy Operation (1980/01/19)
Episode 15: First Report from Bermuda (1980/01/26)
・Episode 16/Fierce! Entering the Arctic Ocean (1980/02/02)
Episode 17: Duel in the Deep Sea (February 9, 1980)
Episode 18: The American Straits Breakthrough Operation (1980/02/16)
Episode 19: Amazon Surprise Attack (1980/02/23)
Episode 20: 48 Hours in Bermuda (1980/03/01)
Episode 21: Let's go to space (1980/03/08)
Episode 22: Godom's True Identity (1980/03/15)
Episode 23: Where's Godom Going?! (1980/03/22)
Episode 24: Earth Forever! (1980/03/29)
*The first episode was aired as a two-hour special, but a version split into four 30-minute segments was also made for local broadcasts and reruns. The title of the first split episode is as follows:
1. Wanderer of the Universe
2/This is the hope of the Earth!!
3/ Great Crisis! Blue Noah
4/ Antiproton cannon fire!

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Space Carrier Blue Noah -To the Great Sea-
Lyrics: Michio Yamagami; Composition: Masaaki Hirao; Arrangement: Motoki Funayama; Singer: Mayo Kawasaki

・ED1
・Night Cruise
Lyrics: Michio Yamagami; Composition: Masaaki Hirao; Arrangement: Motoki Funayama; Singer: Mayo Kawasaki

■ Review

"Space Battleship Blue Noah," which aired from 1979 to 1980, is a maritime science fiction adventure anime that depicts the battle to protect the Earth from the invasion of the alien Godom. This work made a strong impression on viewers at the time and created many fans. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and characteristics of the work, as well as its background.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Space Carrier Blue Noah" is set on Earth in the year 2052. After an all-out attack by the aliens Godom, 90% of humanity is wiped out and the Earth comes under Godom's control. However, the surviving humans form an Earth rescue organization called "Mars" and build the strategic aircraft carrier Blue Noah. This is the epic story of how Blue Noah destroys Godom's base and ultimately launches into space to attack Godom's artificial planet.

The appeal of the story lies in the growth of the characters, including the protagonist Kusaka Makoto, and how they overcome the difficulties they face. In particular, the process in which Kusaka Makoto follows the will of his father, a scientist, and grows as the chief of operations at Brunoa is moving. In addition, the deep bonds with characters such as Domon Kei and Domon Eiji are also depicted, evoking strong empathy from viewers.

The appeal of mechanical design

Another attraction of "Space Carrier Blue Noah" is its mechanical design. Blue Noah, the main mecha, is a super-large combat aircraft carrier with a total length of 360 meters, and can not only move on the sea, but also dive underwater and fly outside the atmosphere. It is equipped with a variety of weapons, including antiproton cannons, various missiles, torpedoes, Gatling guns, and anti-aircraft laser cannons, and the depiction is very realistic and powerful.

In addition, the small submarine Dolphin and the large combat helicopter Bison installed on the Blue Noah are also designed with attention to detail, drawing viewers in. In particular, the scene where the Blue Noah fires its antiproton cannon is remembered by many fans as a famous scene that marks the climax of the work.

The appeal of music

The music of "Space Battleship Blue Noah" is also an important element that enhances the appeal of the work. Both the opening theme "Space Battleship Blue Noah -To the Great Sea-" and the ending theme "Night Voyage (Night Cruise)" are sung by Mayo Kawasaki, and her powerful voice and magnificent melodies capture the hearts of viewers. The team of Masaaki Hirao, who composed the music, and Motoki Funayama, who arranged it, also plays a part in livening up the atmosphere of the work.

Background and influences

"Space Battleship Yamato" was produced as an original anime work. Yoshinobu Nishizaki, who was in charge of the original story, pioneered a new genre of marine sci-fi adventure against the backdrop of the sci-fi boom at the time. In addition, a luxurious team of staff members, including director Guji Katsumata, character designer Akiyoshi Hane, and mechanic designers Yuji Kaida and Takayuki Masuo of Gin-eisha, gathered together to raise the quality of the work.

This work was highly praised when it was first broadcast, and gained many fans. In particular, the realism of the mechanic design and the grandeur of the story had a major influence on later science fiction anime. The Brunoa mechanic also became popular as a model and toy, successfully spreading the worldview of the work widely.

■Recommendation

"Space Battleship Bruenor" is recommended not only for sci-fi anime fans, but also for viewers who enjoy mechanical design and a grand storyline. It is a must-see for those who want to be moved by the growth of the main character, Kusaka Makoto, and the exploits of Bruenor. The strength of the music and the bond between the characters are also part of the appeal, and you will feel the afterglow for a long time after watching it.

Furthermore, this work is important for understanding the trends in science fiction anime from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. By learning about the science fiction boom of the time and the background of anime production, you can enjoy the work more deeply. Please watch "Space Battleship Yamato" and experience its charm for yourself.