Relesed in 1974, this show was way ahead of it's time on alot of levels, but particulary in a few familar concepts. A mammoth energy weapon, the Wave Motion Gun, capable of annihlating planets and stars in one shot (Death Star). A device that could rejuvenate dead planets, the Cosmo DNA (Star Trek's Genesis Torpedo) and the later resurrection of a main character via said device (SBY's Captain Avatar/Star Trek's Spock).
As far as the future of anime, the sci-fi epic saga style started with Space Battleship Yamato.
I planned to go to the 30 year anniversary SBY Film Festival in Japan back in February but couldn't swing the time off from work

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