YAT Anshin! Uchū Ryokō

YAT Untroubled Space Tours (YAT安心!宇宙旅行, Yatto Anshin! Uchū Ryokō) is an anime series produced by Group TAC.

It aired on NHK in Japan from October 1996 to September 1997; a second series aired from April to October 1998.

Plot

The series is set in the year 5808; human civilization has taken gigantic steps in the conquest of the space, and with the creation of the three-dimensional tunnel, people can travel to any Galaxy in the universe. "The Gentleman of the Cosmos" is a company that manages the tunnel and has come to dominate the tourism industry.

The main characters of the series are part of Yamamoto Anshin Travel (YAT), with the plot revolving around Goro Hoshiwatari, an adolescent who has left his home to travel by the space and to find the whereabouts of his father, who disappeared fifteen years ago during the explosion of the main transporting center of the three-dimensional Tunnel that he created. Goro falls in love with Katsura, the commander's daughter; and becomes the YAT mechanic/janitor after an accident that he was responsible for, so he tags along to pay for the damage and to find his father as well. Finding his father turns out not to be his only problem, since Kanea, a young lady whose mother is the owner of "the Gentleman of the Cosmos", is in love with him. In addition, Kanea's mother had a mysterious and conflicting past with Yamamoto.

The second series takes place six months after the first. YAT ships and crew are transported to a very far universe. They soon discover that the person responsible is Professor Nota, a scientific who is working on a teletransportation device, helped by a cat-like girl with psychic powers called "Pinky". Then, Emperor Ganon kidnaps the professor, who wants to use the device to rule the universe. The aim of the YAT crew is finding the kidnapped professor and going back to Earth.

Characters

Main

Goro Hoshiwatari (星渡ゴロー, Hoshiwatari Gorō): Protagonist of the series. He works in YAT to clear off damage costs he had inadvertently caused for the company. Like many shounen heroes, Goro is very brave and has an innate sense of righteousness, along with his longstanding goal of searching for his missing father. He is bossed around by Kaoru for the majority of the series, while he has a deep crush on his daughter Katsura. Voiced by: Motoko Kumai
Katsura Tenjoin (天上院桂, Tenjōin Katsura): Kaoru's adopted daughter. She is sweet and affectionate, but she possesses superhuman strength which allows her to lift 100 tonnes of heavy objects easily even only one hand is used. Also she instinctively defends herself with martial arts whenever she feels she is in danger. She is a cheerful girl all around and it often rubs off on other people, regardless of their mood. She has some unique paranormal abilities (especially her immeasurable super strength) that complement her skills in fighting. Voiced by: Hekiru Shiina
Kaoru Yamamoto (ヤマモトカオル, Yamamoto Kaoru): Director of YAT and captain of the YAT Dove. Considered an old wolf of space, he was a pirate who was feared by all until he retired. He is very ambitious and egoistic, and organizes trips to cheap destinations. Despite his grumpy personality, he has a good heart. He devotes much of his life to his beloved daughter Katsura. Voiced by: Kiyoyuki Yanada
Ucchi (ウッチー, Utchī): The Pilot of the YAT ship who dreams about having his own ride. Although a sensible person, he is easily depressed. He has the ability to change his appearance or impersonate people, regardless of their gender. He has solved problems for Goro and Katsura, which reflects his good side. Voiced by: Katsumi Suzuki
Kanabi (カナビー, Kanabī): The navigator of the YAT ship. Although the tours rely on his skills, the ship sometimes arrives at unexpected destinations. While clearly a robot, he has displayed various emotions, although much of it in seemingly pointless arguments with Ucchi. Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi
Bukki (ブッキー, Bukkī): Mascot of the company and apparently Katsura's pet lizard, although many people are scared of its mean appearance. Voiced by: Yūko Mita

Captain Rock's crew

Captain Rock (キャプテン・ロック Kyaputen Rokku): Leader of the pirates. When he appears, he always sings the same song with the rest of his crew. Long ago, he was part of Yamamoto crew and he is still in Yamamoto's old ship, Nevermore. He is a parody of Captain Harlock. Voiced by: Kazuki Yao
Nanako (ナナコ): Pirate crewmember. She plays electric guitar and is very good at controlling computers on Nevermore. She was also, part of Yamamoto crew in the past. She married with Hacibee later in the series. She is a parody of Yuki in the Captain Harlock series. Voiced by: Yūko Nagashima
Hachibee (ハチベー Hachibē): Pirate crewmember. He plays a digital piano. He loves mechanics and is a parody of Yattaran in the Captain Harlock series. He and Nanako became a couple. Voiced by: Yuichi Nagashima

Minor characters

Ann Marigold (アン・マリーゴールド An Marīgōrudo): President of the "Gentleman of the Cosmos". She was part of Yamamoto's crew 15 years ago. She stole data about a prototype and used it to become rich and powerful. She married Donzu Marigold, who was a friend of Goro's father, and had a daughter with him. However, due to serious incident of Maza dimension tunnel (a new dimensional tunnel which can teleport spacecraft to further universe directly) which nearly destroy the Earth, the United Earth Federation then closed all dimensional tunnels and deprived the exclusive franchise of dimension tunnels from the Gentleman of the Cosmos, so the company was bankrupted. Ann was arrested because of her pirate career ( Daniel exposed Ann was once a wanted criminal during the opening ceremony of Maza dimension tunnel). Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka
Donzu Marigold (ドンズ・マリーゴールド Donzu Marīgōrudo): Late husband of Ann Marigold. He was a friend of Goro's father, Daigo. He died 10 years before the start of the first series, when he was only 34 years old. Voiced by: Mitsuru Miyamoto
Kanea Marigold (カネア・マリーゴールド Kanea Marīgōrudo): Daughter of Donzu and Ann Marigold. She is hyperactive, rich, and bad-tempered. She is in love with Goro, although he is not interested in her. She leads her own ship, which resembles an enormous cruiser. At the end of season one, after the Gentleman of the Cosmos had bankrupted, Kanea promised to her mother that she would rebuild the Gentle of the cosmos. Voiced by: Satomi Kōrogi
Daniel (ダニエル Danieru): Caretaker of Kanea Marigold, whose her mother is always working and does not have much time to spend with her. Daniel was fired by Ann because he had known too much (he had known that Yamamoto used to be a pirate) and hence he exposed Ann was once a wanted criminal during the opening ceremony of Maza dimension tunnel for revenge. After that, he realised his mistake and went to rescue Kanea's mother and nearly sacrificed during the accident of Maza dimension tunnel. After the Gentleman of the Cosmos had bankrupted, Daniel was the only staff who still willing to follow Kanea to rebuild the company. Voiced by: Wataru Takagi
MAM: The most important computer in Kanea's ship. It has feelings, because it was designed to take care of Kanea. It has substituted Ann Marigold's role. Voiced by: Yūko Mita
Daigo Hoshiwatari (星渡ダイゴ Hoshiwatari Daigo): Goro's father. He invented the 3D tunnel and created the "Daigo System". While working on the prototype of the tunnel, he was absorbed by the gravitational energy which came from the tunnel, leaving him in a different dimension for 15 years, although he is still 30, because in his world the accident occurred only 20 days before. Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi
Haruka Hoshiwatari (星渡ハルカ Hoshiwatari Haruka): Goro's mother. She drives a big truck and has a very strong personality. She had raised her only son, Goro, alone since her husband disappeared 15 years before. Voiced by: Kumiko Watanabe
Mr And Mrs Toukichi (藤吉 Tōkichi): An elderly couple who love travelling with YAT and they appear in nearly all episodes of the first series. They are hoping that something will happen, because it's a tradition in YAT travels.

Episode list

Season one (1996–1997)

Season two (1998)

Theme music

First series

Opening theme

"Heaven"

Performed by: HIM
Ending theme

"Dame yo! Dame yo! Dame yo!" (だめよ!だめよ!だめよ!!) (1–25)

Performed by: Hekiru Shiina

"Moonlight" (26–50)

Performed by: Hekiru Shiina

Second series

Opening theme

"Everlasting Loop" (エヴァーラスティング・ループ, Evārasutingu Rūpu)

Performed by: Supersonic Float
Ending theme

"Jun" (純, Jun)

Performed by: Hekiru Shiina

Controversy

On March 29, 1997, there was an incident involving the episode "The Mysterious Father" (まぼろしのオヤジ, Maboroshi No Oyaji) in which four children were taken to hospitals after reportedly watching a scene in the episode with rapidly flashing red and white colors. Later broadcasts of this episode were edited so that the flashes were not as fast, unlike the infamous "Electric Soldier Porygon" episode of the Pokémon anime, which was completely banned. Similar incidents were also reported following the "Pokémon Shock" incident.