Sea of Stars, A Voyage of the Space Cruiser Argo

Credits by Episode

These are the full credits and show notes for each episode of Sea of Stars. To save room and reduce reptition, many "double roles" are omitted from the actuall episode, but the are presented here in full.

Episode One: "The Legend"

The first episode of any show is always serving many masters. First, it has to establish the world, the characters, and the tone for the foreseeable future of the story. Second, it has to do all that without being a boring churn of new faces, facts and bewildering sounds. It has to be a thrill ride.
In Sea of Stars, I tried to introduce the new characters in bunches. I found myself more and more echoing the structure of the first episode of the original anime: battle in space that ends in sacrifice, catapulting that into the introduction of the main characters who are facing the end of humanity,and finally ending with the revelation of hope. This was why I re-used the ending narration from that original last episode. Beyond the idea of it sort of "closing the circle" as it were, it also sums up the idea of hope growing from despair.
Music was a huge part of the storytelling in the original anime, and it serves a similar task here. Musical themes are established in episode one that continue through the entirety of the series. The music that plays when the Argo is first revealed, for example, will always relate to hope emerging triumphant. Likewise, certain iconic sounds HAVE to be present. To life-long fans of the Yamato, they are touchstones that signify emotion and action far better than mere words. The odd echo of the ship's first appearance is as important an identifier as the snap-hiss of a lightsaber in Star Wars.
The characters of this story have grown and changed over the nearly three years it took to get this production to fruition. They are, to me at least, living breathing people in some other version of our world. They are on their own journey out of despair and into a future still unknown...literally, I'm still writing the concluding episodes of the final season. They are flawed, because humans in general are flawed. They are not the single-note cardboard cutout people that populate much of western AND eastern science fiction, but nor are they open books. They all have their secrets, and exploring them is where the fun really is.
Welcome to our world. We hope you'll enjoy the ride.
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Narrator: Mark "The ENCaffinated ONE" Kilfoil
Alpha One (Richard Vega): Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
Alpha Three: Jim Perry
Alpha Six: Andre de Almeida
Transport: Devin Cox
Comet Empire Cargo Captain: Dave Frizzell
Comet Empire Sensor Tech One: Eric Olp
Comet Empire Sensor Tech Two: Devlin James
Alpha Four: Lisa Wong
Neville Drake: Scott Breakall
Michael Vega: Sean Hill
Sam Vandom: Philippa Ballantine
General Wendy Singleton: Melissa D. Johnson (aka Mippa)
Colonel Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
Joachin Reyes: Nathan Butler
EDF Tech 1: Devin Cox

MUSIC:
All music in the series is drawn from several commercially released CDs of music from the original animated series "Uchuu Senkan Yamato." Many of the CDS have long since gone out of print, though some may still be importable through Amazon.com.

SOUND EFFECTS:
All the sound effects for Sea of Stars come from one of three sources: The original series DVDs available through Voyager Entertainment at Starblazers.com, The "Sound Fantasia Yamato" CDs which are now out of print, and The Freesound Project, at freesound.org.

((DISCLAIMER: Sea of Stars is a non-profit fan production, produced for the enjoyment of the fans. All rights to "Star Blazers", "Uchuu Senkan Yamato" or any other copyrighted materials herein, including any unoriginal music and sound effects, are reserved to their ORIGINAL CREATORS. No infringing claims are intended))

Episode Two: "Argo Lifts Off Into A New Dawn"

Episode two sees the rest of the new "Star Force" characters arriving. We get to meet Mac, Colin, Hans and... Jordy Venture, all grow'd up! We also get a hint, just a tease really, about what happened to the rest of the Argo's original crew. The whole story will be forthcoming, I hate loose plot ends, but for now... well, let's just say there's a reason Wildstar looks like he's twenty years older than he is.
We also get to begin a major plot arc for this season of the show, the distrust of the Black Tigers. The idea of the crew being unsure of their shipmates is a major theme in this first arc, and one that provides some interesting insights into the crew's personalities before it's finally resolved.
This episode is dedicated to J. Michael Straczynski because much of his writing (especially his television work, such as Babylon 5) has influenced the nuts and bolts of how I write. Writing a novel is one thing, writing a script for audio or visual media is quite another. The entire "Mac and Colin first meet" scene is, I admit it, an ode to B5.
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Narrator: Mark "The ENCaffinated ONE" Kilfoil
General Wendy Singleton: Melissa D. Johnson (aka Mippa)
Captain Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
Jordan "Jordy" Venture: Dave Frizzell
Hans Schneider: Zach McCue
Colin O'Donnell: Jim Perry
Mac Stevens: Emry Kinney
Major Berit's Aide: Eric Olp
Major Berit: Ducky Patterson
Colonel Nasca: Andre de Almeida
Michael Vega: Sean Hill
Neville Drake: Scott Breakall
Sam Vandom: Philippa Ballantine
Joachin Reyes: Nathan Butler
IQ-9: Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
Pops McClendon: Devlin James
Little Girl: Raye Perry
Girl's Father: Jason Ramboz
Mei Gideon: Silas Carder

Episode Three: "Prisms of View"

The Homeguard is a security force drawn from native Earth men and women. Tasked by the Comet Empire with maintaining peace on Earth and overseen by Imperial troops, they are despised by both sides of the conflict.
When the Argo left Earth on it's mission to save humanity, nearly the entire Homeguard contingent left the moon base in thirty-four Tiger class Astrofighters and joined the Star Force. How these new "Black Tigers" will be seen by the rest of the crew is unknown, but tensions will run very high, and it will turn very, very ugly before it clears... if it ever does.
Episode Three is dedicated to Jim Butcher, author of the urban-fantasy series "The Dresden Files" and the fantasy "Codex Alera" series. Jim earned my dedication and respect not just for his awesome characterization, but because anybody who can take the ideas of a "lost Roman legion" and "Pokemon" and combine them into a multi-novel series is truly a force to be reckoned with.
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Narrator: Mark "The ENCaffinated ONE" Kilfoil
Mei Gideon: Silas Carder
Philippe de LaRoche: Devin Cox
Crewman A: Devin Cox, who forgot to cast this one...
Captain Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
Michael Vega: Sean Hill
Neville Drake: Scott Breakall
Colin O'Donnell: Jim Perry
Hans Schneider: Zach McCue
Joachin Reyes: Nathan P. Butler
Jordan "Jordy" Venture: Dave Frizzell
Sam Vandom: Philippa Ballantine
Mac Stevens: Emry Kinney
Major Berit's Aide: Eric Olp
Major Berit: Ducky Patterson
Colonel Nasca: Andre de Almeida
Most Holy Xavier: Nathan P. Butler
IQ-9: Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
Pops McClendon: Devlin James

Episode Four: "Ambush At Jupiter!"

Episode Four is probably my favorite in the first season. It's got it all, introspection, human drama, a flashback and of course, the WAVE MOTION GUN!
We had a small fighter battle in Episode One, a minor space battle in Episode Two, but this is the first beat-down drag-out fight of the series. Battles are fun to write, to mix and (let's face it) this is a WAR story so they're kind of inevitable. If this story had no battles, it'd be Star Trek. (rimshot)
One of the hardest things about producing this series, has been finding clean, iconic sound effects. You can't just simply record the build up to firing the WMG at the floating continent in the anime and use it here, you have to clean off the dialog. That's a long and laborious process let me tell you. The Wave Gun sequence took me the better part of a week to clean up... and then after I was done, I found a collection of Yamato sound effects on Youtube that was clean as a whistle. Head, meet desk.
This Episode is dedicated to Mr. Tim Eldred. Tim is the creator of the "Star Blazers Rebirth" and "Bolar Wars: Extended" webcomics as well as the artist on the short-lived Star Blazers comic/magazine from the 90's. His work has served as inspiration for this series, and rekindled my love of Leiji Matsumoto's work in manga and anime.
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Narrator: Mark "The ENCaffinated ONE" Kilfoil
Jordan "Jordy" Venture: Dave Frizzell
Pops McClendon: Devlin James
Captain Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
Mei Gideon: Silas Carder
Joachin Reyes: Nathan Butler
Sam Vandom: Philippa Ballantine
Hans Schneider: Zach McCue
Mac Stevens: Emry Kinney
Michael Vega: Sean Hill
Neville Drake: Scott Breakall
Colonel Nasca: Andre de Almeida
Most Holy Xavier: Nathan Butler
Colin O'Donnell: Jim Perry
Philippe de LaRoche: Devin Cox

Episode Five: "The Calm Before The Storm"

Episode five is messy. It's supposed to be. You can't go through a major battle and not have aftermath to deal with. Not just patching the holes in the ship, but in her crew as well. I find it so odd that in most American cartoons, the use of violence is heavily curtailed because 'it'll scar the children.' Yet, when there IS violence, it NEVER has consequences. What sort of message is that?
Speaking of messages, it is here that we introduce the spiritual side of the Comet Empire. It wasn't done to humanize the enemy quite so much as it was to give them some motivation. I HATE antagonists who are evil for evil's sake. Give me a good, noble baddie any day.
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Narrator: Mark "The ENCaffinated ONE" Kilfoil
Mac Stevens: Emry Kinney
Michael Vega: Sean Hill
Pops McClendon: Devlin James
Jordan "Jordy" Venture: Dave Frizzell
Captain Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
Joachin Reyes: Nathan Butler
Sam Vandom: Philippa Ballantine
Hans Schneider: Zach McCue
Most Holy Xavier: Nathan Butler
General Geran: Andre de Almeida
Admiral Kahn: Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
Emperor Jahmorta: Jim Perry
Mei Gideon: Silas Carder
Philippe de LaRoche: Devin Cox
Colin O'Donnell: Jim Perry

Episode Six: "Firestorm"

This is it. Everything rides on this fight. Either the Argo defeats the Scourge Fleet, or it doesn't and humanity dies.
I really don't have anything to add to that. Let's just say it's not a forgone conclusion that the good guys win...
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Narrator: Mark "The ENCaffinated ONE" Kilfoil
Captain Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
IQ-9: Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
Hans Schneider: Zach McCue
Mac Stevens: Emry Kinney
Mei Gideon: Silas Carder
Jordan "Jordy" Venture: Dave Frizzell
Michael Vega: Sean Hill
Colin O'Donnell: Jim Perry
Neville Drake: Scott Breakall
Sam Vandom: Philippa Ballantine
Joachin Reyes: Nathan Butler
Emperor Jahmorta: Devlin James
Princess Izri: Natalie Van Sistine
Admiral Kahn: Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
General Wendy Singleton: Melissa D. Johnson (aka Mippa)
General Singleton's Aide: Jim Perry
Comet Empire Tech #2: Eric Olp
High Priest Anshon: Devin Cox
Black Tiger Six: Lisa Wong
Black Tiger Four: Jonathan Edward Dolnier (aka Pokejedservo)
Philippe de LaRoche: Allan Smithee
Comet Empire Tech #3: Ducky Patterson
General Geran: Andre de Almeida
Harlock: Ducky Patterson
Arcadia Crewman: Jason Ramboz
Desslok: Devin Cox

Prequel Episode: "Invasion!"
As I neared the end of writing season two, it became more and more obvious that we were going to need something... special. The first season focused primarily on events from the point of view of the Argo's crew, but we never really explained where the original Star Force got off too. Furthermore, we hadn't really had much time to flesh out the Comet Empire as a people. Sure, we could have explained such things through season two (no spoilers here, don't worry), but it felt like a missed opportunity.
And then I re-watched “My Youth In Arcadia” for about the thousandth time.
In an off-handed way, we sort of roped that film into the SoS continuity once before. When Hans mentions Harlock back in episode four, he vaguely describes events from that film. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to do a special episode focusing on actual invasion of Earth.
This had to be different though. It couldn't be the sort of “narrow-setting” we have in the series... the Argo was still scrap at this point. The answer was a rambling viewpoint, telling the story of two men, both looking for the way forward after painful loss. Jahmorta after the death of his beloved son, and Derek after the loss of the man who he'd come to view as his father in all but blood. Add a dash of politics, a liberal dose of intrigue, and simmer.
The results are truly delicious. We hope you'll enjoy listening to this feast for the ears.
-Dev

CREW
Sea of Stars is written, produced and directed by Devin Cox, of Forward Momentum Productions.

CAST (in order of appearance)
Derek Wildstar: Joe Harrison
Pastor: Devlin James
Narrator: Mark “The ENCaffinated ONE” Kilfoil
Crowd: Devin Cox and Sean Hill
Homer Glitchman: Jeffery Lincoln
Sandor: Jason Ramboz
Anshon: Devlin James
Imperial Priests: R. Douglass Barbieri, Josh Lambright & Jeffery Lincoln
Nova Forester Wildstar: Amy Howard Wilson
Mei Gideon: Silas Carder
Archprelate: Chris Walker
Emperor Jahmorta: Jim Perry
GNN Newscaster: Matthew R. Smathers
General Thaddeus Singleton: Andrew Seally
Wendy Singleton: Sarah Moore
Prince Zordar: Frederick Kopetz
James Conolly: Chris Walker
EDF Tech: Devin Cox
“The Rose”: Xiang Xiang Liu

MUSIC:
Music for the series is drawn from soundtrack of the film “My Youth in Arcadia”, composed by Toshiyuki Kimori and Hiroshi Kumagai . As well as the anime “Uchuu Sen-kahn Yamato” by Hiroshi Miyagawa and Kentaro Haneda.

Page design Copyright 2012, Forward Momentum Productions.
Our works are non-profit fan productions produced for the enjoyment of the fans.
All rights to the original properties or any other copyrighted materials herein,
including any unoriginal music and sound effects, are reserved to their original creators.
No infringing claims are intended.