Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark

Lore & Background

The film is set during the events of the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 series, primarily as the spaceship Yamato makes its way back to Earth after a long voyage to the planet Iscandar. Prior to the home video release, writers used the English translations Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Star-Voyaging Ark and Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Ark of the Stars. Home video packaging announced in April 2015 revealed Xebec's choice of Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark as the official English title.

Reader's Guide

The film's significance lies in its expansion of the Yamato 2199 narrative during the return journey. According to the source article, reviewer Richard Eisenbeis of the Kotaku blog generally praised the movie, particularly the debut of Gatlantis as a potent threat, the portrayal of the Garmillon characters, the focus on two Yamato crew members who had received only minimal attention in the series, and Kodai's growth as a leader. However, the reviewer was less impressed with what felt 'more like the first arc of a new series' rather than a completely self-contained story. The film grossed ¥68.8 million in its first week and ¥269 million total at the Japanese box office, indicating moderate commercial performance. Its legacy is tied to its role as a bridge within the Yamato 2199 continuity, introducing new elements while relying on the series' established context.

Did You Know?

• The film is known in Japan as .
• The official English title was revealed via home video packaging announced in April 2015.
• The film grossed ¥269 million in total at the Japanese box office.
• Reviewer Richard Eisenbeis noted the film felt 'more like the first arc of a new series' than a self-contained story.