Space Pirate Captain Harlock
A disgraced space pirate and a conflicted infiltrator challenge an authoritarian coalition holding humanity’s ravaged homeworld hostage.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- grand
- dystopian
- immersive sci fi night
- anime marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film mixed, with strong visual ambition and CGI spectacle offset by reservations about its storytelling and execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The exiled human population seeks to reclaim Earth, portrayed as the most valuable resource in the galaxy and controlled by the Gaia Coalition.
Captain Harlock and the Arcadia crew oppose the Gaia Coalition while Harlock is vilified and targeted for assassination.
The production uses 3D CGI animation and was specifically praised for its CGI and 3D presentation.
Humanity has exhausted the galaxy after fleeing a ravaged Earth, making the planet a coveted resource.
Films like Space Pirate Captain Harlock, and why
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
shared space opera scale, rebellious captain, galactic conflict, and stylized science fiction spectacle
Space Battleship Yamato
shared anime space opera tradition, starship battles, political intrigue, and sweeping humanist themes
Appleseed
shared adult-oriented animated science fiction, dystopian politics, and visually ambitious digital animation
Movie Details
- Director
- Shinji Aramaki
- Release Date
- 2013-09-07
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (1117)
Cast
- Shun Oguri
- Haruma Miura
- Yu Aoi
- Arata Furuta
- Ayano Fukuda
- Toshiyuki Morikawa
- Maaya Sakamoto
- Kiyoshi Kobayashi
- Chikao Ohtsuka
- Miyuki Sawashiro
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Space Pirate Captain Harlock about?
- A disgraced space pirate and a conflicted infiltrator challenge an authoritarian coalition holding humanity’s ravaged homeworld hostage.
- What is Space Pirate Captain Harlock like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Space Pirate Captain Harlock as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Space Pirate Captain Harlock violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Space Pirate Captain Harlock as moderate.
- What did critics think of Space Pirate Captain Harlock?
- Critics broadly found the film mixed, with strong visual ambition and CGI spectacle offset by reservations about its storytelling and execution.
- Which films are like Space Pirate Captain Harlock?
- Films with a similar feel include Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Space Battleship Yamato, and Appleseed.
- How long is Space Pirate Captain Harlock?
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Space Pirate Captain Harlock?
- In United States, Space Pirate Captain Harlock is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store.
