Arcadia of My Youth
Arcadia of My Youth , Waga Seishun no Arukadia? is an anime film depicting the origin of Leiji Matsumotos seminal character Captain Harlock. At one time, it was considered to be the central hub of the socalled Leijiverse with other works such as Galaxy Express 999 and 1978s Space Pirate Captain Harlock television series occurring sometime after. It is directed by Tomoharu Katsumata, with Kazuo Komatsubara as animation director.
Near the end of World War II, Phantom F. Harlock II is an Iron Crosswearing German fighter pilot that flies a Messerschmitt Bf 109. During a major defeat for his side, he meets Toshiro Tochiro Oyama, a Japanese exchange technician working in Germany. Tochiros project is to design a new gun sight for use in fighter planes. Harlocks most treasured possession is the Revi C12D gun sight which he calls his eye. Both men believe the war to be wasteful and pointless and Tochiro especially hopes that the rockets being developed by Germany may one day lead to a more positive application, such as a trip to the moon. Tochiro wishes he could escape from the war and possibly go to neutral Switzerland where he might be able to fulfill his dream. Harlock offers to take him in his plane. Stowing Tochiro in the planes fuselage, Harlock is able to fly to Switzerland, but only after surviving a fierce aerial dogfight which disables his plane and forces him to crash land just short of the Swiss border. Carrying an injured Tochiro across the river to sanctuary, Harlock departs, giving Tochiro his Revi C12D, before crossing back into the warzone where Harlock expects to face the consequences of his actions. Although this Harlocks ultimate fate is unknown, Tochiro pledges friendship between their two bloodlines for all eternity.At some time in the late 30th century circa 2960s, a Solar Federation officer named Captain Harlock returns home in his battle cruiser Deathshadow to find that aliens from the Illumidus Empire have conquered Earth and enslaved humanity. However the remaining humans blame him and other warriors like him as they were not there to protect the planet when they needed it. Harlock, along with the Tokargans who are ashamed of their role in Earths downfall, sets out to lead a resistance against the aliens and adopts the fighting strategy of ancient marauders. During the course of the struggle, Harlock meets a former Solar Federation engineer a Japanese man who hes never m
Source: Wikipedia