Rating: 
Summary: Pic & sound quality not the greatest; OK extra features
Review: Y'know, there's one thing I really love bout getting a new DVD box set to replace its old VHS counterpart, and it's not just the superior picture & sound quality, or relatively superior durability. What I really love is the fact that the digital disc box set takes up only half the shelf space of its VHS predecessor! A good example of this wonderful freeing-up of my video shelf is the first series of 'Star Blazers', now on the coveted digital format. I can now fit it and the upcoming 'Comet Empire' set in the same space that used to be occupied by my old Series 1 VHS set! Boy, if this trend keeps up, my video shelf will eventually be completely empty! Waitaminit-- that doesn't make any sense, does it...? I mean, The new set's gotta take up some shelf space, right? So how can my video shelf get emptier? Man, do I hate these weird paradoxes...Anyway, on with the relevant info. I was somewhat disappointed that the picture quality hadn't improved much over that of the VHS format, but at least I don't have to worry about it wearing out after endless playings! The sound quality is somewhat better, but like the video quality, it's not too much of an improvement. Each disc includes a special feature, most of which aren't half-bad. Platter One features an exterior tour of the Argo (Yamato), and backstory text regarding the beginnings of the Earth-Gamilon conflict. Disc 2 features one of the longest sequences excised from the US release of the show: the sinking of the original World War II Yamato. Sadly, it's not really all that new to those who've seen the original 'Space Battleship Yamato' movie, where it's featured along with a few other moments that were cut from the US adaptation of the series. Speaking of bonus scenes, I was rather disappointed that Voyager didn't release this as a 'Perfect Collection', where both the original, uncut & unaltered Japanese 'Yamato' eppies, and 'SB' shows are available in the same presentation. You know, a little something for both the anime purist and the average 'Blaze-head. Also, the series could use a great deal of restoration, much like what has been done for the original 'Macross' series (known state-side and elsewhere as the first part of 'Robotech') in an upcoming DVD release. Perhaps some day... Platter three includes another Argo tour, this time a deck-by-deck look at the interior. Number four gives the viewer a more in-depth look at the Gamilon Empire, including their history, the main antagonists (along with their Japanese 'alias' names), warships, bases of operations, weaponry, etc. Number 5 depicts the fighter craft & equipment used by the Star Force, as well as the various supporting characters seen in the show. Finally, platter six includes a step-by-step map of our heroes' voyage. Another neat little extra is the viewer's guide booklet that's exclusive to the box set. Included here are the lyrics to both the opening & closing English-language themes, as well the story of the development and evolution of 'Yamato' into the present show we know & love. Also present is an interview with show designer Leiji Matsumoto (or Matsumoto Leiji to all you surname-first Nipponophile purists out there). His dialogue includes an amazing revelation that involves a certain space pirate captain who would've made his first appearance in this series, but eventually found his way to anime stardom playing in other Matsumoto-created projects. Then there's the postscript, which gives you a bit of a tease regarding the next 'Yamato' mo-pic! Finally, there's a few weird quasi-errors I discovered that you probably could care less about, but I'm gonna tell you anyway, because I just plain feel like it. The cover art on disc 1 isn't from 'Quest For Iscandar', but from the fourth Yamato movie, 'Be Forever Yamato'. Also, the background art on each volume comes from the second series, 'The Comet Empire'. I guess releasing the first series on digital disc with the proper corresponding illustrations was not a primary concern to the distributors. Actually, I couldn't care less myself; I just felt like ending this review with a gripe. So there! 'Late
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