Queen Millennia
Encyclopedia
is a manga
series by Leiji Matsumoto
which was serialized from 28 January 1980
through 11 May 1983 in both the Sankei Shimbun
and Nishinippon Sports
newspapers. The manga series was adapted into a 42-episode anime
TV series by Toei Dōga
and broadcast on the Fuji TV network from 16 April 1981 through 25 March 1982. An anime film was released on 13 March 1982 shortly before the TV series ended.
The anime series was combined by Harmony Gold
and Carl Macek
with episodes from the 1978 Matsumoto series, Space Pirate Captain Harlock
, and shown from 1985 to 1986 in the United States
as the 65-episode Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years
. The series was broadcast in Germany
on Tele 5
during 1992 and on Mangas
in France
in 2004.
, which he names La-Metal, while at his observatory
in Tokyo
. Its diameter is 9 times that of Earth. Amamori notes the planet has a highly eccentric orbit
and, as it emerges behind the distant Pluto
, Amamori realizes that La-Metal is on a collision course with Earth. He calculates that the planet will impact Earth on 9 September 1999, at 9 o'clock, 9 minutes and 9 seconds.
It turns out that La-Metal orbits the Solar System every 1,000 years, but only this time it is fated to come dangerously close to Earth. While damage to the giant ice-covered La-Metal would be minimal, Earth would be destroyed by the planet's massive gravitational pull. La-Metal is inhabited by a subterranean humanoid species ruled by a mysterious Holy Queen, Larela. She plans to abduct a large number of humans before the destruction of Earth, and enslave them with the help of her operatives already on Earth. These operatives are led by Promethium II, a woman known as a Millennial Queen who goes by the Earth name, Yukino Yayoi. She has been living on Earth for almost 1,000 years, like many such Millennial Queens before her, with the intention of establishing a colony for her home planet.
Promethium, who comes to care for her Earthling foster parents and friends, begins to question the La-Metalians' plans. As Yayoi, she begins working for Professor Amamori and decides to offer her help when Amamori discovers that La-Metal heading for Earth. The professor's young nephew Hajime, whose parents are killed while designing a spaceship to help a small group of humans escape from Earth, also joins their fight to save the planet.
They are soon confronted by a sabotage campaign initiated by a group of La-Metal generals against Earth. As the two planets come closer to colliding, Yukino finds out that a black hole
is to blame for La-Metal's orbital deviation. A desperate plan is undertaken to destroy the black hole and save both their worlds.
Sources:
Sources:
and Nishinippon Sports newspapers. There have been multiple releases in book form. A planned ten volume B5-sized gekigaban set released under Sankei Shuppan's "Wakuwaku Comics" label had the first 10 pages of each volume in color, and an appendix with cel images from the TV series and interviews with Matsumoto and the creators of the TV series. The series was only published through volume 5, however.
A shinshoban series of five volumes was released by Sankei Shuppan. Each volume had approximately 200 pages. Shogakukan
released the series in both B6-sized hardcover and bunkoban formats under the shorter title. They also released the series in two volumes under their "My First Wideban" label, marketed to convenience stores.
Shogakukan bunkoban reprints
was released by Sankei Shuppan under their "Junior Shōsetsu" label., 181 pages, December 1980, 180 pages, August 1981
Light novel
adaptations were written by Keisuke Fujikawa, who also wrote many of the teleplay
s for the anime TV series as well as the screenplay
for the anime film adaptation. A film adaptation was also written. They were published by Shueisha
under their Cobalt
label.
Bunka Publishing Bureau
published a three volume "Pocket Mates" light novel series by Ken Wakasaki.
in that time slot, and was replaced by Patalliro!
at the end of its run. The series was animated by Toei Dōga
. The series was originally scheduled to have 52 episodes, but due to having lower ratings than the previous Galaxy Express 999, the series was completed with only 42 episodes.
, were composed by Ryudō Uzaki, and were arranged by Motoki Funayama.
Ishikawa was selected from 1898 applicants to work with Takanashi on the image song
. The song was performed by the Queen Millennia Grand Orchestra and arranged by Nozomi Aoki. A second image song, , was sung by Keiko Han
and Slapstick, and was arranged by Motoki Funayama. The lyrics for both image songs were written by Yōko Aki and composed by Ryudō Uzaki.
, while the end credits song was sung by Dara Sedaka.
serves as a prelude to Galaxy Express 999
. It is clearly established that Maetel is the daughter of Yayoi and that Yayoi becomes the Queen Promethium of the Mechanized Empire.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by Leiji Matsumoto
Leiji Matsumoto
is a well-known creator of several anime and manga series. His wife is also known as a manga artist.-Space opera:Matsumoto is famous for his space operas such as Space Battleship Yamato...
which was serialized from 28 January 1980
through 11 May 1983 in both the Sankei Shimbun
Sankei Shimbun
is a daily newspaper in Japan published by the . It has the sixth highest circulation for a newspaper in Japan, and is considered as one of the five "national" newspapers...
and Nishinippon Sports
Nishinippon Shimbun
The is a Japanese language daily newspaper published by . As of May 2006, it has the circulation of a million as a total of morning and evening editions. Headquartered in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, the newspaper cover reader is Kyūshū....
newspapers. The manga series was adapted into a 42-episode anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
TV series by Toei Dōga
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
and broadcast on the Fuji TV network from 16 April 1981 through 25 March 1982. An anime film was released on 13 March 1982 shortly before the TV series ended.
The anime series was combined by Harmony Gold
Harmony Gold USA
Harmony Gold is a television production and distribution company established in 1983. It is best known as the “creator” and main distributor of the anime series Robotech. It also partially dubbed the Dragon Ball series in the late 1980s....
and Carl Macek
Carl Macek
Carl F. Macek was an American writer and controversial anime pioneer and producer of the 1980s and 1990s.-Robotech and Harmony Gold USA:...
with episodes from the 1978 Matsumoto series, Space Pirate Captain Harlock
Space Pirate Captain Harlock
is a manga series written and illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto, serialized Akita Shoten's Play Comic from 1977 to 1979. The series was adapted into an animated television series in 1978 directed by Rintaro and produced by Toei Animation....
, and shown from 1985 to 1986 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as the 65-episode Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years
Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years
Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years is an animated science fiction television series produced by Harmony Gold USA. The series was created by Carl Macek by combining footage from Leiji Matsumoto’s Captain Harlock and Queen Millennia anime series.This is the second time the 1978 Captain...
. The series was broadcast in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on Tele 5
Tele 5
Tele 5 is a commercial television channel in Germany. The channel is largely known for showing classic American films and series, Japanese Anime and Shows.Tele 5 broadcasts from the Astra 1H, 1M, and 3A satellites and is uplinked by ASTRA Platform Services....
during 1992 and on Mangas
Mangas
Manges is the name of a social group in the Belle Époque era's counterculture of Greece . The nearest English equivalent to the term mangas is wide boy, or spiv...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 2004.
Plot
The series takes place in the (then) futuristic year 1999. Professor Amamori discovers a 10th planet in the Earth's solar systemPlanets beyond Neptune
Following the discovery of the planet Neptune in 1846, there was considerable speculation that another planet might exist beyond its orbit. The search began in the mid-19th century but culminated at the start of the 20th with Percival Lowell's quest for Planet X...
, which he names La-Metal, while at his observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Its diameter is 9 times that of Earth. Amamori notes the planet has a highly eccentric orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
and, as it emerges behind the distant Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
, Amamori realizes that La-Metal is on a collision course with Earth. He calculates that the planet will impact Earth on 9 September 1999, at 9 o'clock, 9 minutes and 9 seconds.
It turns out that La-Metal orbits the Solar System every 1,000 years, but only this time it is fated to come dangerously close to Earth. While damage to the giant ice-covered La-Metal would be minimal, Earth would be destroyed by the planet's massive gravitational pull. La-Metal is inhabited by a subterranean humanoid species ruled by a mysterious Holy Queen, Larela. She plans to abduct a large number of humans before the destruction of Earth, and enslave them with the help of her operatives already on Earth. These operatives are led by Promethium II, a woman known as a Millennial Queen who goes by the Earth name, Yukino Yayoi. She has been living on Earth for almost 1,000 years, like many such Millennial Queens before her, with the intention of establishing a colony for her home planet.
Promethium, who comes to care for her Earthling foster parents and friends, begins to question the La-Metalians' plans. As Yayoi, she begins working for Professor Amamori and decides to offer her help when Amamori discovers that La-Metal heading for Earth. The professor's young nephew Hajime, whose parents are killed while designing a spaceship to help a small group of humans escape from Earth, also joins their fight to save the planet.
They are soon confronted by a sabotage campaign initiated by a group of La-Metal generals against Earth. As the two planets come closer to colliding, Yukino finds out that a black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
is to blame for La-Metal's orbital deviation. A desperate plan is undertaken to destroy the black hole and save both their worlds.
Sources:
Characters
- Every 1000 years, a woman called a Millennial Queen is sent from the planet La-Metal to secretly rule over the Earth and lead an underground organization that secretly controls the entire planet. Promethium, known to Earthlings as Yukino Yayoi, is the current Millennial Queen. Some early movie promotional material identified her as Promethium II, and indicated that she was the daughter of the Queen Promethium of the Machine Empire of Galaxy Express 999Galaxy Express 999is a manga written and drawn by Leiji Matsumoto, as well as various anime films and TV series based on it. It is set in a space-faring, high-tech future in which humans have learned how to transfer their minds into mechanical bodies, thus achieving practical immortality.The manga won the...
(another of Matsumoto's works). This idea (and the suffix, II) was later dropped, however, and Millenial Queen Promethium/Yayoi was considered to be the person who would eventually become the Machine Queen (see Maetel LegendMaetel Legendis a 2000 anime OVA based on characters created by Leiji Matsumoto, about how the planet La Maetelle becomes the planet Andromeda, or "Planet Maetel," the mechanized world....
). - While shown with rounder eyes in the anime TV series, she is shown with almond-shaped eyes in both the manga and the anime film and looks just like Maetel from Galaxy Express 999Galaxy Express 999is a manga written and drawn by Leiji Matsumoto, as well as various anime films and TV series based on it. It is set in a space-faring, high-tech future in which humans have learned how to transfer their minds into mechanical bodies, thus achieving practical immortality.The manga won the...
. - While Yayoi is Professor Amamori's private secretary in all three versions of the story, there are the following differences:
- In the anime TV and manga, Yayoi lives on the second floor of a ramen shop run by an older couple who have adopted her as their daughter. She has a tiger-striped cat.
- In the anime film, in addition to being Professor Amamori's private secretary, she also teaches at a school and lives in a high-class apartment.
- Hajime is the main character in the manga and is in junior high school. He looks just like the character Tetsurō Hoshino from Galaxy Express 999, only wearing a gakuran. He has a keen interest in spaceOuter spaceOuter space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
, and is somewhat infatuated with Yayoi. While he doesn't get good grades in school, he is a very honest and kind person. At first he wants revenge on the people who are responsible for his parents' deaths, but he decides it is fruitless to hold a grudge and abandons that plan. - There are a few differences between the various versions of the story:
- In the anime film, he is introduces as a student of Yayoi. In order to protect the Earth from La-Metal's troops, he uses a ZeroA6M ZeroThe Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
from a museum. - In the anime TV series, he tries to act as a peacemaker between La-Metal and the people of Earth, and tries to work out a compromise between them. In the end, he tries to help people escape from the approaching La-Metal by using a helicopter.
- In the manga, he receives a cybernetic implantCyberneticsCybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
which increases his intelligence and allows him to fly space ships extremely well.
- In the anime film, he is introduces as a student of Yayoi. In order to protect the Earth from La-Metal's troops, he uses a Zero
- Professor Amamori is the head scientist at the Tsukuba Observatory. He is Hajime's uncle, though Hajime's father is his younger brother in the TV series and his older brother in the film. He became Hajime's guardian after his parents were both killed in an explosion. Amamori discovered the 10th planet, La-Metal, and determined it would collide with the Earth. At first, he had plenty of hair, but the discovery caused him to begin losing hair (though in the TV series, he keeps all his hair).
- Larela is the Holy Queen and absolute ruler of planet La-Metal. She appears in the film as a small girl with glowing body and eyes, and energy halos at her head and feet. She is cold-hearted, and it is her plan allow Earth to be destroyed when her planet passes it for its final time.
Sources:
Manga
The manga was originally serialized in from 28 January 1980 through 11 May 1983 in both the Sankei ShimbunSankei Shimbun
is a daily newspaper in Japan published by the . It has the sixth highest circulation for a newspaper in Japan, and is considered as one of the five "national" newspapers...
and Nishinippon Sports newspapers. There have been multiple releases in book form. A planned ten volume B5-sized gekigaban set released under Sankei Shuppan's "Wakuwaku Comics" label had the first 10 pages of each volume in color, and an appendix with cel images from the TV series and interviews with Matsumoto and the creators of the TV series. The series was only published through volume 5, however.
- Volume 1, 203 pages, August 1981
- Volume 2
- Volume 3, 205 pages, April 1982
- Volume 4
- Volume 5, 205 pages, November 1982
A shinshoban series of five volumes was released by Sankei Shuppan. Each volume had approximately 200 pages. Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
released the series in both B6-sized hardcover and bunkoban formats under the shorter title. They also released the series in two volumes under their "My First Wideban" label, marketed to convenience stores.
Shogakukan bunkoban reprints
- Volume 1, 346 pages, ISBN 4-09-197261-6, June 1991
- Volume 2, 340 pages, ISBN 4-09-197262-4, August 1991
- Volume 3, 330 pages, ISBN 4-09-197263-2, August 1991
Novels
A two volume novelization by Kaeko Iguchi and Leiji MatsumotoLeiji Matsumoto
is a well-known creator of several anime and manga series. His wife is also known as a manga artist.-Space opera:Matsumoto is famous for his space operas such as Space Battleship Yamato...
was released by Sankei Shuppan under their "Junior Shōsetsu" label., 181 pages, December 1980, 180 pages, August 1981
Light novel
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
adaptations were written by Keisuke Fujikawa, who also wrote many of the teleplay
Teleplay
A teleplay is a television play, a comedy or drama written or adapted for television. The term surfaced during the 1950s with wide usage to distinguish a television plays from stage plays for the theater and screenplays written for films...
s for the anime TV series as well as the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
for the anime film adaptation. A film adaptation was also written. They were published by Shueisha
Shueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
under their Cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
label.
- Volume 1, 241 pages, ISBN 4-08-610429-6, January 1981
- Volume 2, 239 pages, August 1981
- Volume 3, 233 pages, March 1982
- Film version, 1982
Bunka Publishing Bureau
Bunka Fashion College
is a prestigious Japanese college specializing in the teaching of fashion design and related disciplines in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The College is known for its strict curriculum and heavy workload...
published a three volume "Pocket Mates" light novel series by Ken Wakasaki.
- Volume 1, 315 pages, June 1981
- Volume 2, 256 pages, September 1981
- Volume 3, 290 pages, March 1982
Anime TV
The Queen Millennia anime TV series aired on the Fuji TV network from 16 April 1981 through 25 March 1982 in the 7:00pm to 7:30pm time slot. It replaced Galaxy Express 999Galaxy Express 999
is a manga written and drawn by Leiji Matsumoto, as well as various anime films and TV series based on it. It is set in a space-faring, high-tech future in which humans have learned how to transfer their minds into mechanical bodies, thus achieving practical immortality.The manga won the...
in that time slot, and was replaced by Patalliro!
Patalliro!
is a long-running manga series written and illustrated by Mineo Maya, one of the few known male manga artist for shōnen-ai manga. Patalliro! is the first anime series to present shōnen-ai themes on television.- Plot :...
at the end of its run. The series was animated by Toei Dōga
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
. The series was originally scheduled to have 52 episodes, but due to having lower ratings than the previous Galaxy Express 999, the series was completed with only 42 episodes.
Staff
- Planning: Tokio Tsuchiya, Kenji Yokoyama, Yoichi Kominato
- Production Supervisor: Masahisa Saeki
- Teleplay Writers: Keisuke Fujikawa, Shigemitsu Taguchi, Hiroyasu Yamaura, Toyohiro Andō
- Chief Director: Nobutaka Nishizawa
- General Animation Director / Character Designer: Yoshinori Kanemori
- Mechanical Designer: Katsumi Itabashi
- Chief Designer (Art Direction): Isamu Tsuchida
- Music: Ryudō Uzaki, Tomoyuki Asakawa
- Production: Fuji TV, Toei AnimationToei AnimationToei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
Music
Queen Millennia had music composed and arranged by Ryōdō Uzaki and Tomoyuki Asakawa. The opening theme song, , was sung by Masaki Takanashi. The ending theme song, , was sung by Manami Ishikawa. Both songs had lyrics by Yōko AkiYōko Aki
is a Japanese actress and novelist. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 5th Hochi Film Award for Shiki Natsuko.-References:...
, were composed by Ryudō Uzaki, and were arranged by Motoki Funayama.
Ishikawa was selected from 1898 applicants to work with Takanashi on the image song
Image song
An image song or character song is a song on a tie-in single or album for an anime, game or dorama that is usually sung by the seiyū or actor of a character, in character...
. The song was performed by the Queen Millennia Grand Orchestra and arranged by Nozomi Aoki. A second image song, , was sung by Keiko Han
Keiko Han
is a Japanese voice actress. She attended Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin, going on to study theatre arts at Nihon University. She gained experience in theater while attending school by obtaining work through Aoni Production, singing the theme songs in productions such as Story of the Alps: My Annette and...
and Slapstick, and was arranged by Motoki Funayama. The lyrics for both image songs were written by Yōko Aki and composed by Ryudō Uzaki.
Film
The 1982 film serves as a retelling of the anime series. The 1999 setting is designed as more futuristic in appearance than in the TV series. in addition, the film provides an alternate ending to the story. The music score for the film was written and performed by KitaroKitaro
, better known as , is an award winning Japanese musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist who is regarded as one of the pioneers of new age music.-Early life:...
, while the end credits song was sung by Dara Sedaka.
Maetel Legend
The 2001 OAV Maetel LegendMaetel Legend
is a 2000 anime OVA based on characters created by Leiji Matsumoto, about how the planet La Maetelle becomes the planet Andromeda, or "Planet Maetel," the mechanized world....
serves as a prelude to Galaxy Express 999
Galaxy Express 999
is a manga written and drawn by Leiji Matsumoto, as well as various anime films and TV series based on it. It is set in a space-faring, high-tech future in which humans have learned how to transfer their minds into mechanical bodies, thus achieving practical immortality.The manga won the...
. It is clearly established that Maetel is the daughter of Yayoi and that Yayoi becomes the Queen Promethium of the Mechanized Empire.
Film comics
Film comics based on the anime TV series were released by Sankei Shuppan under their "Wakuwaku" label.- Volume 1, 156 pages, 15 June 1981
- Volume 2, 156 pages, 15 July 1981
- Volume 3, 156 pages, 15 August 1981
- Volume 4, 156 pages, 15 September 1981
- Volume 5, 156 pages, 25 October 1981
- Volume 6, 156 pages, 15 November 1981
- Volume 7, 156 pages, 1 January 1982
- Volume 8, 156 pages, 15 February 1982