Copyright © 1999 Matsumoto Leiji, Shinchosha/Bandai Visual, 81 Produce

When someone familiar with Matsumoto Leiji's work thinks of Captain Harlock (or anything else Matsumoto has done), what comes to mind are grand sagas, the death of planets, plots where everything is at stake. Matsumoto creates tragedies, sweeping destinies with heroes fighting against impossible odds, clashes of titans. When someone familiar with Wagner's work thinks about the Ring Cycle he or she recalls grand sweeping fates, love, the clash of titans, betrayal, redemption, destiny and the end of the world. Notice any similarities?
In some ways it is so obvious that one wonders why we never saw it before. In other ways it is a startling combination. What am I talking about? The most recent introduction to the Matsumoto universe: HARLOCK SAGA - DER DES NIBELUNGEN DAS RHEINGOLD. It is another in the new set of releases that Matsumoto has been working on in his Harlock/Esmeraldas/GE999 universe. It is a story that uses elements from the prologue of Wagner's Ring Cycle, dealing with the theft of the Rheingold, as the basis for the plot. (For a quick overview of "Der Ring Des Nibelungen", click here or here.)
A space patrol comes upon the destroyed planet of Akurushion. As they begin to investigate, a smaller ship, piloted by Esmeraldas and Tochiro, comes up to them. Looking out for traps, they guide the patrol vessel into the docking port of the planetoid. Tochiro and Esmeraldas then take their smaller ship into the heart of the planet and find an abandoned city. There they meet an apparition of the person they are seeking—Miime, Harlock's missing navigator. She is playing a huge pipe organ when she suddenly entreats Tochiro and Esmeraldas to hasten to the planet Rhein, and help her protect it. The apparition then bursts into light, and the rock that had been a planet begins its final death throes.
Esmeraldas and Tochiro hurry to Rhein. They find it to be a beautiful planet with a golden nimbus. When they approach the surface, they find the three Rhein maidens and Miime. However, Miime tells them that they were too late—the Rheingold has been stolen and the planet is now doomed. Soon, the universe itself may be doomed unless they can stop the thief from finding someone to forge a ring for him out of the Rheingold.
Anyone who knows Wagner's Ring Cycle will notice that this is not the same story. If you keep expecting this to be exactly the same, you may be disappointed, or perhaps relieved. This anime series does have all the trademarks of a Matsumoto story: we are confronted with a technology that is at once amazingly futuristic, yet harkens back to World War II warships. Throughout his works, there is a very strong holistic feel. People and their hearts are tied up in their actions, and their objects.
The animation quality itself is quite good. It might not be truly amazing, but there is significant detail and good frame rates. (About average for an OVA these days, though.) The story is engaging. As usual with Matsumoto, you get little hints here and there of what's to come. Even though you know what has to happen, you have little idea how you will get there. However, one of the somewhat disappointing things is the havoc that keeps getting wrought upon the history of the Matsumoto universe. We are not sure when this story occurs in the timeline. Furthermore, a set of webpage-based comics rather confuses the issue by telling a different story about the origins of the Arcadia, Harlock and Tochiro's father.
For those of us who want more stories in Matsumoto's universe, this is indeed a welcome addition. For those who are new to the whole concept, they are bound to be confused by the history and the capabilities of the various characters, but the story itself will remain quite accessible to them. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.

Price: Y5,000 (all media)
Format: LD, DVD, VHS - 6 30 minute episodes.
Availability: Volumes 1 & 2 released.
Release information: 6 volumes
Vol. 1 - LD: BELL-1321, DVD: BCBA-0054, VC: BES-2209
Vol. 2 - LD: BELL-1322, DVD: BCBA-0055, VC: BES-2210
Vol. 3 - LD: BELL-1323, DVD: BCBA-0056, VC: BES-2211
Vol. 4 - LD: BELL-1324, DVD: BCBA-0057, VC: BES-2212
Vol. 5 - LD: BELL-1325, DVD: BCBA-0058, VC: BES-2213
Vol. 6 - LD: BELL-1326, DVD: BCBA-0059, VC: BES-2214
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