Beemelians[2] were a primitive human[3] species hailing from planet Beemela 4. They were visited by the Iscandarians around 1800 and went extinct about 70 years after encountering them.[1]
Biology[]
The Beemelians were a human[3] species of arthropods[2] that evolved from insects,[4] and shared many characteristics with their Earth counterparts. They had a pair of wings, two antennas, and an exoskeleton that could persist in fossilized form[2] for centuries after their deaths. Much like other humans, they were bipedal and had two arms.[1]
Culture and Technology[]
Beemelian ruins centuries after their extinction
Although rather primitive when compared to modern-day human species, the Beemelians still had a certain level of technological advancement. They practiced animal domestication, sculpture, and stone architecture as well as the construction of tools such as swords. While they seemingly didn't wear clothing, some of them wore belts which went around their shoulders. They tamed the giant arthropods that roamed their planet, but after their extinction the arthropods turend feral and greatlly grew in size.[1][2]
They had contact with the Iscandarians during one of planet Iscandar's missions meant to further the planet's goal of bringing "salvation to all life in the universe." The Beemelians treated the mission with a measure of reverence, placing a wave-motion core and data storage device from the crashed Iscandar ship inside a temple-like structure nearby.[1]
Manga[]
Biology[]
In the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 manga the Beemelians bore much more similarities with other human species rather than with insects. They still had wings, but they also sported hair, breasts and skin. They also sported a singular, extremely long antenna that sprouted from the top of their heads. At least one of them had light-blue eyes.[5]
Culture and Technology[]
The original name of Beemela 4 was Vorzon, meaning "scented planet". The Beemelian's culture was very spiritual and incentrated around peace and armony and, according to princess Yurisha Iscandar, their world was known for its immutable mercy. They seemed to have great respect for Iscandar and its people.[5]
The Beemelians' royal palace
Technologically, the manga version of the Beemelans seem much more advanced than their animated counterparts. Underneath their royal palace stands a great memory database which contains a perfect copy of their deceased queen's personality. This copy can manifest itself through a hologram, and is capable of communicating with strangers through a universal translation device. It's implied that other Beemelians other than the queen also have copies of their late conciousness uploaded in said database.[5]
Their architecture seems to be based around spherical and curved shapes. Their royal palace resembles an anthill covered with domes, and is surrounded by short, curved walls. Artificial spherical structures are scattered throughout the planet.[5]
Gallery[]
Behind the scenes[]
The name Vorzon used in the manga for the planet is taken from the first novelization of the original space battleship yamato. Planet Vorzon was ruled over by a King who communicated through his mind rather than with words, which may have inspired the translation device used by the queen in the manga.
The design of the Vorzon queen in the manga is very similar to a picture of two women engraved on a portal seen on the Beemela 4 ruins in "A Choice for the Future", however these figures are very different from what we're shown of the actual Beemelians in the episode. It's possible that in the anime, those figures are mytological.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "A Choice for the Future"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Model Sheet Design Collection GARMILLAS p.200
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Beemelian structures are shown in "The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202" when Sanada talks about the different human species hailing from Archalias, implying that the Beemelians are also a human species.
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 - Astronomical Research p.124
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Space Battleship Yamato 2199 manga ch.45
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Manga announcement art by Michio Murakawa
Japanese language information[]
ビーメラ人 Bīmera-jin