What is Star Blazers?#
Star Blazers (known in Japan as Uchū Senkan Yamato or Space Battleship Yamato) is a legendary pillar of science fiction anime. The story is set in a desperate future where Earth has been devastated by the Gamilon, who have bombarded the planet with radioactive asteroids. With the atmosphere becoming uninhabitable, humanity’s last hope rests on a daring mission: the space battleship Yamato, built from the ruins of a World War II ancestor, must travel 148,000 light-years to the planet Iscandar to retrieve a device capable of neutralizing the radiation. The catch? The crew has only one Earth year to complete the journey and return, or the human race will perish.
If you love epic space operas with high stakes, you can find Star Blazers merchandise here to start your collection.
Is the Anime Finished?#
Whether Star Blazers is “finished” depends entirely on which timeline you are following, but as a franchise, it is very much alive.
While the original series had various conclusions (including the aptly named Final Yamato in 1983), the franchise has undergone several re-imaginings and sequels over the decades. Most notably, the modern retelling sequence that began with Space Battleship Yamato 2199 is still expanding.
Recent news confirms that the saga is continuing with the Yamato yo Towa ni: Rebel 3199 project. With films scheduled for release and trailers dropping throughout 2025 and 2026—including a premiere announced for October 30, 2026—new viewers should expect more content to come. You won’t need to rely on the manga for a conclusion, as the anime continues to drive the narrative forward.
If you find this guide helpful in navigating the complex history of the Yamato, consider supporting the site on Ko-fi!
Audience and Appeal#
Star Blazers is best suited for fans of military science fiction and grand adventures. It blends intense action and space navy tactics with heavy drama and touches of romance. The core appeal lies in its “race against time” premise and the exploration of the vast, dangerous cosmos.
If you enjoy stories about duty, sacrifice, and the struggle for survival against overwhelming alien odds, this is a must-watch. You can watch the anime on Prime Video to experience the voyage for yourself.
Recommended Watch Orders#
Because Star Blazers has multiple timelines, alternate retellings, and sequels, the watch order can be confusing. Please refer to the relationship tree provided on this page for a visual map of these connections.
The Classic Release Order#
For those who want to experience the franchise as it evolved from the 1970s:
- Star Blazers (1974)
- Space Battleship Yamato (1977 retelling)
- Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato (1978)
- Star Blazers: The Comet Empire / The New Voyage / Be Forever Yamato / The Bolar Wars
- Final Yamato (1983)
- Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection (2009)
The Modern Reboot Order (Recommended for Newcomers)#
If you prefer modern animation and a streamlined narrative, start with the 2199 continuity:
- Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (including Chapters 2 through 7)
- Star Blazers 2202
- Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2205
- Yamato yo Towa ni: Rebel 3199
The Completionist Order#
If you want every single piece of media, you should integrate the following into the orders above:
- Side Stories: Watch Uchū Senkan Yamato 2199: Hoshi-Meguru Hakobune during the 2199 era.
- Compilations: Include Tsuioku no Kōkai and Seireki 2202-nen no Sentaku for a condensed look at the events.
- Related Works: Explore Yamato 2520 for a related take on the universe.
- Written Material: To truly see every angle, buy the manga, including adaptations of Final Yamato and Be Forever Yamato.
For Those Who Read the Source Material#
If you don’t mind switching between formats, you can read the Space Battleship Yamato manga (1974) and its sequel Space Battleship Great Yamato (2000) alongside the original anime run to get a deeper perspective on the world-building.
Star Blazers • anime • 1974-10-06 to 1975-03-30
└─(alternate retelling)→ Space Battleship Yamato • anime • 1977-08-06
└─(sequel)→ Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato • anime • 1978-08-05
└─(alternate ending)→ Star Blazers: The Comet Empire • anime • 1978-10-14 to 1979-04-07
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage • anime • 1979-07-31 (broadcasted on Fuji TV as TV movie)
└─(sequel)→ Be Forever Yamato • anime • 1980-08-02
└─(sequel)→ Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars • anime • 1980-10-11 to 1981-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Final Yamato • anime • 1983-03-19
└─(adaptation)→ Final Yamato • manga • 1983-02-28
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection • anime • 2009-11-28
└─(adaptation)→ Space Battleship Yamato III • manga • 1981-03-30
└─(adaptation)→ Be Forever Yamato • manga • 1980
└─(adaptation)→ Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage • manga • 1979-09-29
└─(adaptation)→ Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato • manga • 1978
└─(related)→ Yamato 2520 • anime • 1994
└─(related)→ Space Battleship Yamato • manga • 1974-10-01 to 1975-04-01 (serialized in Adventure King for chapters based on "Star Blazers: The Quest for Iscandar")
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Great Yamato • manga • 2000-04 to 2001-07
└─(related)→ Dai Yamato Zero-go • anime • 2004-03-31 to 2007-06-15
└─(related)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 • anime • 2012-04-07
└─(related)→ Star Blazers 2199 • anime • 2012-04-06 (Episode 1 preview broadcast on Family Gekijo)
└─(compilation)→ Uchū Senkan Yamato 2199: Tsuioku no Kōkai • anime • 2014-10-11
└─(compilation)→ Uchū Senkan Yamato" to Iu Jidai: Seireki 2202-nen no Sentaku • anime • 2021-06-11
└─(side story)→ Uchū Senkan Yamato 2199: Hoshi-Meguru Hakobune • anime • 2014-12-06
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Chapter 2: Taiyōken no Shitō • anime • 2012-06-30
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Chapter 3: Hateshinaki Kōkai • anime • 2012-10-13
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Chapter 4: Ginga Henkyō no Kōbō • anime • 2013-01-12
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Chapter 5: Bōkyō no Gingakan Kūkan • anime • 2013-04-13
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Chapter 6: Tōtatsu! Dai Magellan • anime • 2013-06-15
└─(sequel)→ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Chapter 7: Soshite Kan wa Iku • anime • 2013-08-24
└─(sequel)→ Star Blazers 2202 • anime • 2017-02-25
└─(sequel)→ Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2205 • anime • 2021-10-08
└─(sequel)→ Yamato yo Towa ni: Rebel 3199 • anime • 2024-07-19
└─(related)→ Uchū Senkan Yamato • manga • 1974-11-20 to 1975-02-20
└─(related)→ Space Battleship Yamato Pilot Film • anime • 1974-08 (shown to networks)
└─(adaptation)→ Uchū Senkan Yamato • manga • 1974-11 to 1975-03 (serialized in Televi Land)
