Yamato Takeru (TV series)

Yamato Takeru (ヤマトタケル) is a 1994 Japanese anime television series loosely related to both the live-action film and legend about a young boy who goes on a great adventure that would grant him great powers and the understanding that his destiny is linked to the world. The series is followed up by the 1995 two-episode original video animation Yamato Takeru: After War.

Synopsis
In the 25th century, a spaceship carrying 300 scientists leaves the Earth in search of a new world in the Solar System, but an unexpected accident occurs. They encountered a black hole that is connected to another universe through space and time. The people on board abandoned their ship and ejected emergency capsules to a planet called Ismo. Upon the chaos a child was born and the first infant to be native Ismo, Yamato Takeru.

Ismo is a star of the Onam System, which corresponds to the Solar System. It is the only planet left in the Onam System. The Death Star called Yomi is a comet which regularly approaches the Onam System.

There were once 8 planets in the Onam System. Many years ago, in the "time of the gods", there was a war against the evil monster Yamata no Orochi (an 8-headed dragon). The gods won the battle. Yamata no Orochi was locked into 8 capsules, one of which is buried deep in the center of each planet. Nobody was supposed to have access to the core of the planets. However Tsukuyomi, an evil "god" who rules Yomi, succeeded in reaching the capsules one after another. Seven of the planets were destroyed using his powerful robots, the Evil Sky Warriors. However, when he tried to acquire the last capsule from the planet Ismo, the most powerful Sky Warrior, Susanoo, got out of control and was blown away.

A million years later, the Death Star Yomi is approaching the Onam System once again. Tsukuyomi, the master of Yomi, plans to take this opportunity to realize his dream of ruling the entire universe. He is desperate for the last stone containing Yamatano Orochi. If Tsukuyomi can get hold of this capsule, Yamata no Orochi will return to life and its power will become his. Tsukuyomi needs Sky Warrior Susanoo to abstract Orochi and dispatches Sky Soldiers to retrieve Susanoo. But it is too late. Susanoo no longer belongs to Tsukuyomi. It belongs to Takeru, a 12-year-old boy from Earth, who happened to discover the buried robot Susanoo and woke it from its million-year-long sleep. Takeru becomes involved in the battle against the Sky Soldiers and the fate of all in Ismo.

Voice cast

 * Chafurin as Ma Horoba
 * Ai Orikasa as Kushinada
 * Akira Ishida as Amatsumi
 * Atsuko Tanaka as Shaman
 * Ayumi Kida as Kiriomi
 * Hiromi Ishikawa as Manta Namuji
 * Kazuhiro Nakata as Yamato Yoshio
 * Kenichi Ono as Mark
 * Kenyuu Horiuchi as Tsukuyomi
 * Kumiko Takizawa as Asuka
 * Masahiro Anzai as Ouka
 * Megumi Ogata as Roka
 * Mika Kanai as Oto Tachibana
 * Run Sasaki as Yamato Kaoru
 * Satoko Kitô as Hayamika
 * Toshiyuki Morikawa as Mikazuchi
 * Yoshiko Kamei as Yamato Takeru

Japanese Production Staff
Chief Director:
 * Shuji Iuchi

Director:
 * Katsuyoshi Yatabe (credited as Futa Morita)

Series Composition:
 * Shuji Iuchi

Script:
 * Shuji Iuchi
 * Katsuyoshi Yatabe
 * Masaharu Amiya
 * Nobuaki Kishima
 * Nobuyuki Fujimoto
 * Ryo Saga

Episode Director:
 * Hiroyuki Ishido
 * Jiro Saito
 * Kazuyoshi Yokota
 * Nobuhiro Kondo
 * Shin-ichi Masaki
 * Shinji Sakai
 * Takeshi Yoshimoto
 * Toshiaki Kanbara
 * Yoshitaka Fujimoto
 * Yusuke Yamamoto

Music:
 * Osamu Tezuka
 * Vink

Character Design:
 * Takahiro Kishida

Mecha design:
 * Koichi Ohata

Yamato Takeru
He's the first human to be born and raised in Ismo. While living in the village, he was the star trouble maker of the group. He was respected amongst his peers as the leader and bring no end to mischief (for good or bad intentions). After he encounters Susanoo and used the destructive powers of the mech to defeat their enemies attacking the village, the villagers banished the mech and blame it for their misfortune. Yamato cannot deal with the superstitious nature of the villagers and opted to leave with his best friend to see the world. It was his journey not long that would allow him to meet Oto and new friends and enemies. After defeating Orochi, he leaves Susanoo where he once rested in the caves and visits him to talk. Because there's no epilogue, it is assumed that Yamato will still cause some trouble in the village as he used to. He'll also probably end up with Oto and start a life together in the village.

In After War, Yamato is called again to pilot Susanoo when a piece of the Dark Sky Carriage falls near the village and Shuranoo reveals itself. But when Yamato refuses to fight Shuranoo, who is possessed by Mikazuchi, Shuranoo mercilessly slashes at Susanoo and then sends it into the lake where it is rescued and healed by the Dragon Carrier. The renewed Susanoo flies off to find Oto who had been kidnapped by Shuranoo. In the end, Yamato was going to sacrifice himself and Oto (willingly) to defeat Tsukiyomi by flying into the sun. Before they get to the melting point, Mikazuchi appears and tells them that he would pilot Susanoo and that Yamato and Oto should live out their lives. Tears fall from Yamato's eyes as Susanoo looks back at him once more before flying into the sun destroying himself and Tsukiyomi.

Oto Tachibana
She's the sister to Mikazuchi and love interest of Yamato. She was sent as an undercover agent to win Yamato's trust and steal Susanoo away from Yamato and murder him. Things become complicated as Oto develops a real bond with the group and even falls for Yamato. Because she has been contaminated, she was also marked for death amongst her peers. She later finds out that she's actually not related to Mikazuchi, but a little girl taken away from her real mother. Mikazuchi however never knew about this and after being possessed by Orochi he used the dark energies of Orochi to corrupt Oto's soul. It was not until Orochi broken the psionic bind between Mikazuchi and his mech that her mind was free from dark influence. Towards the end of the series she now lives in the village along with Yamato. There was no epilogue to speak of her fate, but it is assumed that she will eventually have a real romantic relationship with Yamato and marry him.

In After War, Oto had because a member of the Yakumo Village along with Hayamika. When Shuranoo attacks the village, she is kidnapped and taken to Tsukiyomi who then reveals that it is a parasite that had latched on to her mum's body. She is then absorbed by Tsukiyomi while her mum is released. Yamato follows but is hesitant at attacking because Oto was a part of it. In the end Yamato realises that to defeat Tsukiyomi they need to fly her into the sun so he grabs her and heads towards the sun but before they reach the sun Mikazuchi appears and tells them to live their lives full and tells them that he approves of them causing tears to run down Oto's face. Mikazuchi frees them and sends them back towards the Dragon Carrier as Susanoo and Tsukiyomi meet their ends.

Roka
He's the best friend to Yamato and in many ways his second conscience. Roka was always afraid of the things Yamato would do because it tends to be dangerous or morally conflicting. When Yamato chose to leave their village, Roka tagged along for the journey. Through their adventures together between battling Sky Warriors and avoiding danger, he learned to become a stronger person. By the time they returned to their home village, Roka has become wiser and braver than he used to. He returns in After War as a scholar and wears glasses now.

Sky Warriors and Soldiers
In the anime, all the giant alien robots are called "Demon Air War Gods" or "Dark Sky Warriors" in Japanese. These robots are bio-mechanized with their own personalities, feelings, and unique powers. All the pilots of these fantastic machines are actually kidnapped children that were trained to be obedient, skillful, and murderous agents of their dark priestess. Though robotic in form, they are made through bio-mechanical incubation and have the ability to evolve over time to take even more powerful forms. All "Demon Air War Gods" recharge through special bacta-like pods which repairs and recharges their energies, but because they are also living machines they can eat as well. All their internal cockpits have crystal orbs which act as an interface with their pilot and also respond to human emotions to react accordingly to the pilots feelings. In After War, when Susanoo's arm is cut off it reveals a beating body of flesh underneath that further proves that the Sky Warriors are indeed alive. Because this series was never English subbed/dubbed, only their Japanese names remains:


 * Susanoo :
 * Susanoo once belonged to a merciless unnamed pilot that used Susanoo's powers to destroy seven worlds. Susanoo's pilot for unexplained reasons landed upon the green planet and died there leaving his sword behind along with his remains. Yamato would eventually stumble upon Susanoo and used its destructive powers for good, but never once realizing that inside Susanoo also lies the dark spirit of the one of eight-headed dragon. Through combat, Susanoo eventually evolved into a larger and more powerful form to defeat his enemies. The dark dragon spirit that once resided in Susanoo left when the very energies that bound him were used to revive Yamato. In time the dark energies that resided in Susanoo were cleansed through Yamato's journey. Susanoo would eventually develop a psychic link with Yamato and respond to his every thought and intention. In the After War OVA Susanoo is once again called upon against a revived Shuranoo but because of Yamato's unwillingness to destroy Mikazuchi, Susanoo is beaten and loses an arm in the process. Shuranoo pushes Susanoo into the Yakumo lake where it was healed by the Dragon Carrier and subsequently evolve into his 3rd form which is a red samurai-themed armor. In the end, Yamato takes Susanoo towards the sun taking Tsukiyomi and Oto with it, but Mikazuchi intervenes and takes control of Susanoo and sends Yamato and Oto back to Earth as he sacrifices himself to kill Tsukiyomi and approving Yamato and Oto being together.


 * Shuranoo :
 * Amon pilots "the strongest demon air war God." Shuranoo was coined the "most powerful." While under Amon's piloting skills Shuranoo was indeed formidable, but proven at best on par in battle strength with Gaiou and Susanoo. After Amon died, no one else was left to pilot Shuranoo and so Shuranoo was left behind in the "Dark Sky Carriage". Its fate was left an answered until After War where it is revealed that it had survived the "Dark Sky Carriage"'s destruction. It appears in Yakumo village in the dead of night where it starts to cause chaos forcing Yamato to pilot Susanoo again. It is revealed that in fact Mikazuchi was controlling it. It easily beats Susanoo and then kidnaps Oto who is inside Tamanoo to Tsukiyomi. Its next appearance is when Tsukiyomi creates an amalgamation of all the defeated Dark Air War Gods and the remains of the Yamata no Orochi into one horrific beast. Only through Susanoo using light from the sun powering his sword was the beast defeated.


 * Tamanoo :
 * Tamanoo is initially piloted by Amatsumi but after he is killed by Kiriomi, Yamato's new friend Kaon tries to pilot it. Even though Amatsumi was dead, Tamanoo is still shrouded in his evil presence. Only through Yamato playing his ocarina is the evil presence destroyed and Kaon is able to pilot it. In Susanoo's first stage Tamanoo towers over it but the difference is less apparent in its second stage. In After War, during Susanoo and Ashuranoo's battle, Oto pilots Tamanoo but after Shuranoo knocks Susanoo into the lake, it kidnaps Oto and takes her to Tsukiyomi. Its next appearance is when Tsukiyomi creates an amalgamation of all the defeated Dark Air War Gods and the remains of the YamatanoOrochi into one horrific beast. Only through Susanoo using light from the sun powering his sword was the beast defeated.


 * Tokinoo :
 * Kushinada pilots Tokinoo. Tokinoo and Shishinoo are both defeated by Gaioh. Its last appearance is when Tsukiyomi creates an amalgamation of all the defeated Dark Air War Gods and the remains of the Yamata no Orochi into one horrific beast. Only through Susanoo using light from the sun powering his sword was the beast defeated.


 * Shishinoo :
 * Kiriyuu pilots Shishinoo. Kiriyuu has the ability to predict his enemie's movements which gives him an advantage though it is useless when there are thunderstorms. Shishinoo and Tokinoo are both defeated by Gaioh. Its last appearance is when Tsukiyomi creates an amalgamation of all the defeated Dark Air War Gods and the remains of the Yamata no Orochi into one horrific beast. Only through Susanoo using light from the sun powering his sword was the beast defeated.


 * Kazenoo :
 * Kiriomi pilots Kazenoo, a blue and green schemed "Dark Sky Warrior." Though not the most powerful, it was a high speed combatant able to fly and move swifter than any of the mechs. It was the fourth mech to pursue and destroy Susanoo and Yamato. After several failed attempts to kill Yamato and procure Susanoo, Kazenii and Kiriomi were presumed destroyed as the mech was destroyed in battle and Kiriomi falling into molten rock. However in a later episode it is revealed that Kazenoo was discarded into space. While a little banged up, it wasn't blown into pieces as last scene. It was left as floating space debris above a blue planet where Kiriomi was actually held imprisoned in a crystal casing. After Kiriomi was revived and reformed, Kazenoo was part of the Golden Dragon Carriage's complement and protected Yamato's village when it was attacked during the final stages of the battle. Kazenoo is one of the few mechs in this series that endured the most beatings and managed to survive throughout the whole series. It is presumed Kiriomi has either taken Kazenoo with him to another place or left to "sleep" in a cave like Susanoo as such machines are no longer needed in time of peace. In After War, when Tsukiyomi creates a horrific creature formed from the remains of the YamatanoOrochi and the defeated Dark Air War Gods, Susanoo repeatedly slashes at the beast but its regeneration meant he was only using up his energy. At this time, Kazenoo piloted by Kiriomi appears to help him. After the beast is slain, Tsukiyomi tries to escape into outer space and Kazenoo follows only to be hit by an attack that disintegrates his shoulder armour and sends him flying back towards the Dragon Carrier.


 * Aranoo :
 * Ouka pilots Amanoo and the least violent one of the group. He always had feelings for Oto, but never once told her of his feelings for her. He initially tries to approach Yamato to give Oto a message from Mikazuchi. Later it fights with Susanoo but Oto climbs into Susanoo and thrusts the Sword of Kusanagi into Aranoo's chest and injures Ouka. Mikazuchi takes Aranoo after knocking out Ouka to fight a renewed Susanoo who blocks his fatal attack on an unconscious Yamato. Yamato climbs onto Susanoo and renews his fight with Mikazuchi. Aranoo loses because of the previous damage to its body and a piece of shrapnel flies towards Oto who is watching the fight on a cliff. When Aranoo was defeated and exploded, the arm was still intact and fell on top of Oto. Ouka uses all his strength to hold up the weight of the mech arm to have Yamato save Oto. Because he was severely injured the weight of the arm fell on him and as he was dying he gave a small white flower to Oto and died. They later removed his body and gave him a proper burial. Its last appearance is when Tsukiyomi creates an amalgamation of all the defeated Dark Air War Gods and the remains of the Yamata no Orochi into one horrific beast. Only through Susanoo using light from the sun powering his sword was the beast defeated.


 * Tsukinoo :
 * Hayamika pilots Tsukinoo. Tsukinoo resembles a female samurai-like Sky Warrior with violet coloring scheme. Tsukinoo appeared to kill Takeru after she was tricked in rage to kill him. After she calmed down, Tsukinoo suffered a conflict between Tsukinoo when her emotions caused a backlash in the system and caused her Sky Warrior to go berserk and explode. Its last appearance is when Tsukiyomi creates an amalgamation of all the defeated Dark Air War Gods and the remains of the Yamata no Orochi into one horrific beast. Only through Susanoo using light from the sun powering his sword was the beast defeated.


 * Gaiou :
 * The "demon air war god" which takes in the "Spirit of the Eight Headed Dragon" from Susanoo. Gaiou was the latest "Dark Sky Warrior" to be made by the Dark Priestess and rewarded to Mikazuchi if he completed his mission of recovering Susanoo and killing Yamato. During the battle between Susanoo, Yamato died and was revived by the same powers that bound the "Spirit of the Eight Headed Dragon" and went wild. After several failed attacks on Yamato, the "Spirit of the Eight Headed Dragon" spirited into space where it sensed Gaiou. Overriding Gaiou's systems, it possessed the mech and "rescued" Mikazuchi to use him as a vessel to achieve its goals. Because the "Spirit of the Eight Headed Dragon" resides within Gaiou, he can act on his own with intent. After "Spirit of the Eight Headed Dragon" made it to its incubating body within the "Dark Sky Carriage", Gaiou was vaporized as the Eight Headed Dragon was revived. Gaiou may not be the most powerful, but Mikazuchi proved he can go head to head with anyone who fights him including Susanoo and Shuranoo. Nearing the final stages of the anime he is able to acquire the power of Amanoshiratori and combines gaioh with it, giving Gaiou and additional layer of armor. In this state he is able to defeat both Shishinoo and Tokinoo at the same time. Gaiou was never defeated in battle, but the power of Orochi's rebirth destroyed Gaiou, Shuranoo, and the entire floating fortress Death Star Yomi. It does not appear in After War.


 * Amano Shiratori :
 * The Amanoshiratori is a legendary bird that Yamato tries to acquire the power of to stop Tsukiyomi. The Amanoshiratori gives Yamato a test. Whether he values its power more or his friend's lives. Mikazuchi is also present but Yamato could not give up his friends for the power of Amanoshiratori and so Mikazuchi takes its power to make Gaiou even stronger. When Oto's body is taken over by the "Spirit of the Eight Headed Dragon", she pilots it. When Gaiou is vaporized in the "Dark Sky Carriage", so is Amanoshiratori's body. But when Susanoo falls from the "Dark Sky Carriage", Amanoshirotori's spirit flies down to protect Susanoo and Yamato. It does not appear in After War.

Episodes

 * 1 Revival of the Giant
 * 2 Great disaster
 * 3 Journey to the world of the unknown
 * 4 Girl of the oasis
 * 5 Human of legend Mahoroba
 * 6 Silence of Susanoo
 * 7 Lion of the desert
 * 8 The Space ship Amenoukihune
 * 9 Strange rival
 * 10 Stolen Susanoo!
 * 11 Susanoo Retrieval
 * 12 The Legendary Sword Kusanagi
 * 13 Shivering of Demon God Aranoo
 * 14 Soldier of Mystery Ouka
 * 15 Susanoo crosses the sea
 * 16 Sorrowful decision of Oto
 * 17 Birth of the new Susannoo
 * 18 Ouka's love filled sacrifice
 * 19 Grapple machine death ring
 * 20 Rule of Mizuho
 * 21 Battle for Reputation and Glory
 * 22 Amatsumi's trap
 * 23 Last day of Mizuho
 * 24 The sleeping people of the Moon
 * 25 The Shaking Dragon Carrier
 * 26 Earth citizens of the Moon World
 * 27 Imprisonment of Kiriomi
 * 28 Oto's secret
 * 29 Boy of Mystery Kaon
 * 30 Divine Bird Amanoshiratori
 * 31 Discarded Shell of Orochi
 * 32 Susano of the Yellow Spring Kingdom
 * 33 Last ordeal
 * 34 Battle of Yakumo
 * 35 Intrusion! Dark Sky Carriage
 * 36 Shining Wind Yamato Takeru
 * 37 Everyone's Courage

After War (OVA)

 * 1
 * 2

Music

 * Osamu Tezuka (OST)

Theme Song Performances By:

Opening Theme: Ending Theme:
 * "真夏の扉 (Manatsu no Tobira; Door to Midsummer)" by Glay (eps 1–18)
 * "Flower of Desert" by Naoko Hamasaki (eps 19–37)
 * "Rain" by Glay (eps 1–18)
 * "Twilight Songs" by Naoko Hamasaki (eps 19–37)