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Toei Animation, Inc., the original studio behind Leiji Matsumoto’s revered anime of the late 70s/early 8os, will FINALLY be releasing its brand-new film version of Captain Harlock this fall.
According to Anime News Network, Toei made the announcement at a small convention this week, where it officially unveiled its fall lineup.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Harlock saga, suffice it to say it’s simply about a bad-ass space pirate aboard the ship Arcadia, who travels around interstellar space, stealing from ships to get by, dueling Queen Esmerelda, and fighting all kinds of bizarre enemies. The comic grew to be so popular that it inspired an anime series, which debuted on Japanese television in 1979.
Anyways, Harlock enjoyed a resurgence on Japanese and American television, which then led to some Harlock-based movies in the 80′s — the hugely popular Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX among them. This new Harlock movie, meanwhile, has pretty much been stuck in development hell since 2010. After officially turning into the most expensive anime production ever, it’s finally almost ready for release.
Writer Harutoshi Fuku of Mobile Suit Gundam fame has handled the writing duties on this one, which will be handled in the similar CGI-heavy fashion as the last 2010 trailer suggested. Estimated budget, in U.S. dollars? $30 Million (eclipsing former ‘most expensive anime ever’ title holder, Otomo’s Steamboy). With the cap’s devoted, 35 year-old fanbase, however, they will hopefully have no trouble making it back.
Jeff Nau – who has written 1264 posts on The Jace Hall Show.
Jeff Nau is a main contributor to the Jace Hall Show covering pop culture and music trends in the nerd community. He has contributed to San Diego City Beat, 944, and Ill Literature, amongst others, and spends his spare time working as an artist and photographer.

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