I am looking for the 42 TV episodes (1978-79). It's by Leiji
Matsumoto, and I would like to purchase it in DVD format, with
subtitles or dubbed (english or spanish). I can't seem to find this.
Also, any other old stuff (1978-83) by that guy would be great. Where
can I find these things?

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 30 Sep 2003 00:55 PDT

Hello Dcasa,
I looked around the Internet for the stuff that you want, but the only
DVD release of the regular series of Captain Harlock is the French
dubbing called Albator 78, and has no subtitles. There's even a page
with a petition for the DVD release of the series in Region 1, so I
suppose there's no release yet in this code.

Other works of Leiji Matsumoto include Space Warship Yamato
(Starblazers), Danguard Ace, Galaxy Express 999, Starzinger
(Spaceketeers), and Queen Esmeraldas.

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Clarification of Question by dcasa-ga on 07 Oct 2003 19:00 PDT

I signed that DVD petition ;-)
So the french stuff on DVD has no subtitles at all? that is odd. I
looked around in fansubber sites and the such, but I guess you know
why I ended up here. But someone should know!
Anyway, if you have more info on that or on the other works (esp.
ga999, 113 tv episodes) I'd be grateful
Thanks for your attention,
dcasa

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 08 Oct 2003 09:23 PDT

I wonder if you'll accept the French DVD version, along with mentions
of DVDs of other Matsumoto cartoons as an answer here? I'm sure you
also know about the "new" Captain Harlock movie, called the Captain
Harlock Saga (I think it's also called the Harlock: Ring of the
Nibelungen or something like that), which seems to be the only Harlock
thing in English or English-dubbed DVD. I'll keep looking.

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Clarification of Question by dcasa-ga on 09 Oct 2003 20:05 PDT

Yes, I know (and have) all the other stuff.
If your answer is "the original episodes do not exist in DVD with
enlish/spanish subtitles anywhere"  and you assure me that's the case,
then I'll consider the question answered. I was hoping that some
hard-core anime fan knew something else.
I looked at the french stuff and it's not even clear to me from their
descriptions that it actually is the original series by matsumoto. I
can read/ comprehend french, albeit with difficulty, so I'll guess
that may have to do.
I'm not dissapointed with your sincere efforts, I'm dissapointed with
the fact that I can't find something that is not so rare or obscure.

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 09 Oct 2003 22:52 PDT

Hello, Dcasa,
Thanks for your clarification. I myself am wondering why the Harlock
original series does not exist in DVD yet. I just saw on on a site
though where someone rated the Captain Harlock VHS copies just short
of a full rating because they were masters, but the quality suffered
somewhat. Maybe finding a master with good quality is the problem why
no DVD in Japaense or English has come out yet (so I suspect the
French DVD is based on a not-so-good quality master). Even VCD seems
hard to find.
Should I really be unable to find anymore, I'll post an answer. Thank
you.

Greetings Dcasa,
Well, I think it's the end of the line on this search, and since you
have given me permission to post an answer even if I haven't found
exactly what you're looking for, here, I post.

I will affirm that there isn't a copy of the Captain Harlock original
series in English or English-dubbed DVD, based on this page I found:

Space pirate Captain Harlock old work DVD-ized movement!!
~Signature-collecting canpaign~
http://www.dokuroan.com/dvdkaundo_e.html
" With the Mr. Leiji Matsumoto-related work, as for the "Galaxy
Express 999" TV version and the theater version, "HARLOCK SAGA",
"space battle warship Yamato" and "DANASITE 999.9", "Cosmowarrier
Zero", "QUEEN EMERALDUS", etc. are put on the market with DVD from the
first.
In these days when "The Space Pirate Captain Herlock ~Endless
Odyssey~The Outside Legend " is released.
But the previous work of Harlock there never are not still. And there
are so many fan who wishes DVD-ization of these works."

I guess all I could offer you is the French version:
Cinemasie.com - French DVDs of the Harlock series (episode 1-42) and
others
http://www.cinemasie.com/fiche/editeur/46/
- I'm sure this is the original series, 42 episodes, but it may have
redone scenes. I don't know how the French do it anyway. No subtitles
also, unfortunately. I suppose they used their master tapes of Albator
78 for this.

Harlock Related Merchandise
http://arcadia.kouha.net/merchandise.html
- Here's a site which lists DVDs of other known Matsumoto works. Some
Harlock movies are in DVD. "Arcadia of my Youth" shows Harlock's
origin.

Harlock Saga DVD - Japanese w/ English/Chinese Subtitles
http://www.meganimedvd.com/itemdetail.php?Id=481

Harlock Saga DVD Review.  DVD Vision Japan (DVD Vision)
http://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/harlock.html

Harlock: Arcadia of my Youth DVD
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000DJYP4/qid%3D1065818252/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-0543472-5927040


There are some other works I mentioned that are not yet in DVD.
Danguard Ace is one. The Cockpit (non sci-fi, more on war) is another.
Here is a reasonably long biography of Matsumoto, which mentions his
other works.
http://kyodai.free.fr/namida/english/leijibio.html

Space Battleship Yamato DVD Set
http://www.valkyrie-exchange.com/video-books/DVD-Space_Yamato.html

There've been rumors floating around of Starzinger available in DVD,
though I'm not sure you could use those copies, since they seem to be
in German:
http://se.kelkoo.com/b/a/ss_starzinger.html
I doubt there's anything in English for this one except for the
"Spaceketeers" redoing of this series (as part of the Force Five
series package on TV).

I'm sorry you haven't found what you were looking for, but I hope the
page on the other Leiji Matsumoto works and the other information here
will do as a consolation.

Google Search engine:
captain harlock dvd
leiji matsumoto DVD
captain harlock youth arcadia DVD

I hope this has been a most helpful answer. If you need anything else,
or have a problem with the answer, do please post a Request for
Clarification and I shall respond as soon as I can. Thank you.

Bravo. You have helped in my quest and provided me with new info.
Let's wrap it and maybe someday when it comes out I'll invite you to
watch it ;-)
Thanks for your attention.

Thanks for the high rating! Yeah, I can't wait for the Harlock series
to be made into DVD. The other movies though seem very interesting.

Maetel Legend is another of Matsumoto's works that's finally become
available on Region 1 DVD. You can check it out here:
http://www.centralparkmedia.com/maetel/

It's a short OVA series that gives the origin story for Maetel and
Emeraldas. It comes on one DVD, but you can also find a "Two for One"
set with both Maetel Legend and Harlock Saga, if you haven't bought
the latter yet.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000063K2H/qid=1066088713/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-6850738-1832638?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

Matsumoto's "Cosmo Warrior Zero" also involves Harlock and other
characters from Harlock's universe.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000065AYJ/qid=1066088713/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/103-6850738-1832638?v=glance

Good luck finding the rest of Matsumoto's work!