THE most Frequently Asked Question I hear is: "Where can i get Captain Harlock videos?". On this page I offer a few solutions for that craving fan who knows not where to go. I intend to clarify first, that my first hand knowledge is on the *AMERICAN* releases. Sure, you can go to Japan and get all the Harlock videos you wish, but that could be a bit of a radical solution. Believe it or not, stateside fans have at least a handful of options, and I intend to list them here! Today! Now!

1) cut the beautiful opening sequence, where Phantom F. Harlock, Sr. challenges the Owen Stanley Witch mountains in his biplane, the Arcadia.
2) Gave Harlock a voice suspisciously reminiscent of Arnold Schwarznegger (or Richard Kiel in "Human Duplicators")
3) Eliminated the "Sun Will not Die" song entirely.
4) cut the scene where Harlock's eye is shot.
5) You can't hear the background music.
6) The bar brawl is cut in half...and numerous other sacrileges.
7) Put a picture of the biplane Arcadia on the box, although it never appears on the cut film!

8) Kept the "Arcadia Main Theme", but dubbed it in english and relocated it to middle of the film (It was in the end).
The Arcadia theme was dubbed as follows:

I'll never fill my mind with sorrow
or thoughts of yesterday..
I'll spread my wings to see tomorrow
and simply fly away.
Our life's too short to spend it waiting
for time to take its toll...
Instead i'll spend it celebrating
the freedom of my soul.

To be free without a care
to lead my life no matter where
to truly see and be aware
Seek out whatever's there!

For there are times when it's so hard
to face the night alone
But when the shadows fade away
I'll be here to greet a brand new day!

Please refer to the Arcadia of My Youth Lyrics Page for the actual japanese lyrics and accurate translation.

F.H.E. is responsible for G.I.Joe, the movie, and apparently tried to keep their imported kidvids on the same level: action-oriented no-brainers, with plenty of "acceptable" violence and no logic or beauty.

Somehow by 1993 AnimEigo rescued "My Youth in Arcadia" and gave it a new lease under the title "Arcadia of My Youth" (which, all-in-all is a better translation of "Waga Seishun no Arcadia")

1993 was a good year for Harlock fans. Malibu Graphics, also responsible for the Captain Harlock comic book through their "Eternity Comics" subdivision released the first four episodes of Space Pirate Captain Harlock on video! Only two volumes were released. I believe the original intention was to release the entire series, but that the reason why no further tapes were issued was the same that led to the end of Eternity's marvelous "Captain Harlock" book. To read more about it, please refer to the Tim Eldred Interview.

Here i present what is currently available. I recommend you all try special ordering from Suncoast Video. Their prices have proved to be the best for these tapes, and specialised stores charge you too much.

"Vengeance of the Space Pirate" is the infamous F.H.E. release of "Waga Seishun no Arcadia/My Youth in Arcadia". This release is 101 minutes long and sells for $9.99 at Suncoast. I've seen it marketed for as much as $29 in anime stores, so if you are paying more than $9.99 you are being screwed.

These are the first four episodes of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock tv series, as they were originally dubbed for american release. I hope purist fans don't chew me out on this point, but i think the dubbing was fun! I know, I know, i'll go to my room now...but where else would you have the Mazones (called Zetons here) described as "illegal aliens from an underdeveloped galaxy" or the boy Tadashi Daiba named "Tommy Hairball Dexter"? Overall it's great fun especially for those who first saw the series in this form. Let's face it, "Derek Wildstar" is nowhere close to "Susumu Kodai" and i don't hear a lot of Star Blazers fans whining about it.(g)

• In episode 1, Harlock visits Mayu, Tochiro's daughter, on her seventh birthday. He makes her an ocarina, which Mayu places on a necklace around her neck, and is captured by Commander Kirita.
  
• Episode 2, "Flying from the unknown" pits Harlock against the evil Zetons(Mazones). Professor Hairball (Daiba) tries to warn the government of Earth about the alien threat, but is called "pathetic" by a president who wears a polka-dot pajamas and blue santa hat. Mayu is abused by her head mistress and falls off the church tower.
  
• Episode 3, "A woman who burns like paper" has Harlock confused with an alien by Tommy (Tadashi), Prof. Hairball's son. Professor Hairball is murdered by a Zeton and Tommy joins the crew of the Arcadia. This episode contains the famous line: "That's not a person, that's a WOMAN!".
  
• Episode 4, "the Zeton Threat" has Harlock & co. discover that the Zetons built the pyramids and they look for clues in the South American jungles.

Unfortunately this is all that has been released, up to now, of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock series. I bought mine for the reasonable ammount of $9.99 each and it has also been a hit with my 4 year-old who now wants to dye her hair blue like Mayu's! Her mom nixed the idea. Oh well...(grin).

Finally, the original "Waga Seishun no Arcadia" comes to America! AnimEigo, one of the best ever anime companies did a grade A job! Everything is perfect about this release! Uncut, in original japanese with english subtitles, contains all the scenes cut in the previous F.H.E. offering. Sorry, "Akira" fans, I believe this to be the best anime feature ever produced. A triumph for all fans! This one I bought at Suncoast for $34.94 and it was worth every penny. It is also available in LD for a little more. Write AnimEigo for their catalogue:

AnimEigo, Inc.
P.O. Box 989
Wilmington, NC
28402-0989

NEW!!!

It was about time!! Galaxy Express 999 was released this August!!
And Harlock has a cameo in it!!
A Viz video release!

Go to my GALAXY EXPRESS 999 PAGE for more details!

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Disclaimer: Captain Harlock is a trademark of Toei animation. I am not affiliated with Toei nor do I profit from this work. It's a fan thing, ya know...

This page copyright 1996 Cristian R.

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