Background Information
Space Pirate Captain Harlock (宇宙海賊キャプテンハーロック Uchū Kaizoku Kyaputen Hārokku) 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. A computer-animated film adaptation of the same name premiered in 2013.
The story focuses on Captain Harlock and his band of outlaws aboard the pirate ship Arcadia. They deny the oppressive government and fight for their freedom. Generally they also wage their private war against a certain alien invader. The franchise is an old and beloved classic, the lead character Captain Harlock enjoys practically memetic status of badassery.
This franchise is part of the so-called "Leijiverse".
Canonicity
There's only one thing to say about the Harlock franchise's continuity: it doesn't exist.
Nearly each and every media are self-contained stories which may build on the previous series and reintroduce old concepts but it won't try to fit with the continuity at all. There are overall dozens of media including manga, anime, movies, videogames and more. The most notable installments are:
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock (Manga, 5 volumes, 1977-1979, original manga created by Leiji Matsumoto)
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock (TV Series, 42 episodes, 1978-1979. based after the above manga)
- My Youth of Arcadia/endless Road SSX (movie followed by a TV series with 22 episodes, 1982-83)
- Harlock Saga (manga with 3 volumes, has an OVA adaptation with 6 episodes, 1998-1999)
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock: The Endless Oddyssey (OVA series with 13 episodes, 2002-2003, pseudo-continuation of the 1978 anime)
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock (CGI animated film, 2013)
There are numerous other stories featuring Harlock. Most notably he has numerous appearances in Galaxy Express 999, another series based after Leiji Matsumoto's works.
Overall the Harlock franchise is part of the so-called "Leijiverse", the collection of most works by Leiji Matsumoto which seems to share a loose continuity. Harlock frequently appears in other Leiji Matsumoto stories and he had actually debuted in the manga Gun Frontier.
Standing in the Battledome
Due to the fact it has multiple continuities the battledome standing of the franchise differs from series to series.
Captain Harlock (1978 series): Has ships with island level firepower and FTL travel via their regular engines (which also leads to superluminar combat). The Mazone fleet is often portrayed as a caravan with about the same length as the Andromeda Galaxy. Aside from that the Mazone has an assortment of psychic/magic abilities and exotic technologies (mostly featured for just an episode each). Most notably there's a technology piece which allows them to move small planets.
My Youth of Arcadia: TBA
Harlock Saga: TBA
Endless Oddyssey: TBA
Captain Harlock (2013 movie): TBA
Supporters of the Series
- Gwyn
- KaiserWombat
- willyvereb
OBD Profiles
Character Profiles
- Captain Harlock
- Mimay
Vehicle/Vessel Profiles
- Arcadia
- Arcadia (2013 movie)
- Docrass
- Fata Morgana
- Mazone Battleship
- Stalwart
- Zoness
Weapon Profiles
- TBA
Civilization Profiles
- Gaia Coalition
- Illumidas
- Mazone Empire
- Vallhalans