Queen Emeraldas - Anime Review

Queen Emeraldas

Like a tireless vigilante, Emeraldas wanders endlessly into space... fighting against those who would oppress the innocent. She is a lone woman haunted by her past, destined to journey in solitude. But when Emeraldas encounters a feisty boy named Hiroshi, something inside impels her to go out of her way to help him... even if it means challenging the merciless Afressian fleet alone.

Review: Queen Emeraldas

Queen Emeraldas is from the legendary Leiji Matsumoto, who is probably best known as the man behind the classic anime series "Star Blazers".

Now I'm not very familiar with Matsumoto's other works, and Queen Emeraldas anime is my first exposure to the much celebrated Galaxy Express universe (which includes titles like "Galaxy Express 999", "Maetel Legend", and "Harlock Saga").

Queen Emeraldas is actually the name of our heroine Emeraldas' spaceship, which looks like a gigantic blimp that was somehow merged with a pirate ship.

The series is made up of only two episodes, which are just about enough to give you an idea of what Emeraldas' life is like but not much else. She saves a boy named Hiroshi and fights some antagonists, but we are ultimately left with about a hundred why's.

Why is Emeraldas destined to wander in space alone? Why is her name known throughout the galaxy? Why is it that only she and Capt. Harlock can display the skull and crossbones insignia on their ships? Why was she even in love with a short, fat weirdo like Tochiro? (I mean I'd understand if it were Capt. Harlock but hey...) Why did she give Hiroshi the gun? Well, we're definitely not getting the answers from this series.

queen emeraldas manga, pirate queen emeraldas

The character designs are very distinct. You'd know with just one look that they are Leiji Matsumoto's creations.

Emeraldas is a tall, lithe figure with a majestic air. She fills up the screen with her commanding presence. She's impossibly cool, collected, and invulnerable. She never gets hit by the enemy even when she just stands there and waits for the barrage, and the same goes for her ship.

More incredible still is the fact that she can wipe out hundreds of enemy ships all by herself. While I liked her a lot, I thought she was just too... um, super to be true.

The art and animation are excellent, more so whenever Emeraldas is on the scene. The English dubbing is done pretty well, except for the fact that Emeraldas' voice actress sounds too old for the part.

What Queen Emeraldas does is give you a glimpse of something vast and intriguing, and you would undoubtedly have to watch Matsumoto's other related works to get the big picture.

leiji matsumoto queen emeraldas, galaxy express 999 emeraldas

Queen Emeraldas

Genre Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Episodes 4
Status Finished Airing
Aired Jun 5, 1998 to Dec 18, 1999
Producers Four Some, Dynamic Planning
Studio OLM
Rating PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Themes Space

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