Arcadia of My Youth (1982)
Animation Production: Toei Company Ltd/Tokyo Agency
Running Time: 130 Minutes
Released by: Animeigo
By Jeffrey Couto

Introduction

You know that feeling you get when you see a film that is truly powerful and evokes a sense of awe and contemplation? When you know that you are seeing something that is truly special and goes beyond anything you’ve seen before? Very few films can bring forth this range of emotion and take us through a journey so powerful that it will always stay with us, Arcadia of my Youth is one of these rare films.

Late last night, after my wife and daughter went to sleep, when I knew that the phones wouldn't ring and the dog would not need to go out on a walk, I decided would be the perfect time to see this movie; so with a can of soda on hand and the silence of the night behind me I joined Harlock and Tochiro in a film about honor, integrity, and bravery in the face of great adversity.

What's it about?

“Set against the conquest of Earth by an alien empire, and drawing parallels to the post-WW2 occupation of Japan, Captain Harlock, together with those who will become his lifelong friends, battle against tyranny no matter what the cost.

As they fight the evil Illumidus Empire, the message of the film shines through: that one must stand up for one's beliefs, even when everyone else believes that slavery and suffering are preferable to the sharper pains endured by those who fight for freedom. ” - Animeigo's Arcadia of my Youth page

Review

We begin our journey as we join Phantom F. Harlock, a distant ancestor of the Captain Harlock we come to know, and follow for the rest of the film. He is an adventurer traversing the skies on his way to Rabaul on New Britain Island, however before getting there he comes across a challenge, the Owen Stanley Mountains, a mountain range that no other aviator has been able to beat. Not wanting to be defeated he jettisons most of his fuel and turns his plane, the Arcadia, around. He will not be beaten.

Flash forward to the distant future. We join the DeathShadow battleship as it makes its way to the Earth, which has been invaded and conquered by the Illumidus Empire. The ship, which is under the command of Captain Harlock, is the last remaining Earth Federation battleship; its surrender signaling the end of an era for humankind and the beginning of complete dominance by the Illumidus.

Upon deporting his ship Captain Harlock goes off in search of his love, Maya, who is currently sending underground radio signals to Earth’s population as the voice of Free Arcadia, an effort to build up their spirits and help the population get through these harsh and trying times. Seeing what the world has come to in his absence and a lack of courage in a population that would rather be a slave to the occupying forces than stand up for their own freedom drives Harlock to take action and to do what he feels is right.

After a chance encounter with a cloaked man by the name of Tochiro, who was formerly a mechanic for the Earth forces, the seeds of revolt and hope for the Earth are planted. Having learned that the Illumidus is using the Earth for its own needs until the planet and its people are no longer necessary, as is being done with Planet Tokarga, Harlock and Tochiro alongside Emeraldas and rebel Tokargans working under the Illumidus set off on a journey to put a stop to the alien invaders.

Arcadia of my Youth is a masterpiece and true testament to the power and presence that Leiji Matsumoto’s characters have. From the introductory sequence with Harlock’s ancestor to the dramatic final battle, each of the elements that make up the story and its characters is perfectly crafted.

The movie, which is rather poetic in its visual and narrative presentation, centers around a couple of central themes; the pursuit of our dreams and standing up for what we believe in, no matter how those beliefs are challenged or how hard they are to uphold. Through Harlock we see the strength and conviction that it takes to uphold these ideals. In a world where all seems lost, it is the strength of those who believe in themselves and a better tomorrow that can effect change and inspire others.

Harlock is represented as the purest realization of this ideal. His inner strength, determination, and principles of honor, remind one of the heroes of old such as the Samurai and cowboys (which are large sources of influence for the character). This is also represented and carried forth by the other characters in the cast although they do so in different ways; Tochiro through his inner bravery and skills, Emeraldas by standing up for her friends even when it may cost her life, Maya through her voice of Arcadia transmissions, Zoll by believing in others and sacrificing himself for them; they all share the inner strength, conviction, and resolve that is at the heart of this film.

In the end this movie reminds one of a time when anime films were less commercially driven, which is not to say this one and many others weren't driven by such forces in their heyday, but rather that they were to a degree much more motivated by the need of a storyteller to share an unforgettable story with his or her audience. This is evident in the lack of distracting elements and an almost exclusive focus on the characters as opposed to mecha battles and special effects.

Production-wise you would be hard-pressed to say that this is anything, but amazing, especially when you take into consideration that this was originally made back in 1982! Talk about standing up to the passage of time! Everything from the characters to the more complicated scenes featuring battleships moves surprisingly smoothly and could easily stand side-by-side next to any contemporary production. Since this was made before the use of CGI became the norm for effects and mecha drawings, it enjoys a sense of artistry and elegance that is sadly missing from some of today’s more popular shows.

It should be noted that the visuals of the film benefit greatly from a beautiful digital transfer by Animeigo, which makes everything that much brighter and defined. I've seen and own a a copy of the English dubbed version of this movie that was released a while back (heavily cut I might add), to see that print next to Animeigo's is quite revealing into how well handled this release was and how much love went into putting it together.

The music soundtrack for the most part is up to par although it doesn’t reach the heights I expected it to. While the BGM is a little muffled during some scenes the featured songs are quite nice and really add to the romantic feel of the story and characters. In the end I would probably really enjoy adding this soundtrack to my personal collection of anime CD’s.

The DVD itself comes with some bonus materials, which include originals trailers for the film, a filmography of Leiji Matsumoto with very interesting tidbits and facts behind the man who created so many icons of anime & manga, as well as a collection of unusual facts behind the movie. There is also an image gallery included as a bonus and as always Animeigo saw fit to include their famous linear notes inside the DVD case, which proved to be a fun read. Overall its very well put together.

Final Thoughts

This is the kind of timeless classic all anime fans should have in their collection. We recommend it very highly not just to anime fans, but to all of those who enjoy a really good movie.

Jeffrey Couto