Movie
Description
Daisuke Shima is a central character in the narrative, serving as the chief navigator and helmsman of the space battleship Yamato. He holds the rank of Lieutenant and is a close friend and former classmate of the protagonist, Susumu Kodai.
Born in Naha, Japan on August 15, 2178, Shima comes from a family with a long history of seafaring and spacefaring tradition. His father, Captain Daigo Shima, commanded the United Nations Cosmo Navy cruiser Murasame. Before the events of the story, Shima aspired to attend the Space Merchant Marine School, but his path changed when his father was killed during a disastrous first contact mission with the Garmillas Empire in 2191. Driven by a desire to follow in his father's footsteps and seek justice, he abandoned his merchant marine ambitions and enrolled in the Space Officer Training Academy in 2194, graduating in 2198.
In the 2199 remake, Shima's personality contrasts with his counterpart from the original series. While still a competent and dedicated officer, this version harbors a strong, personal hatred for the Garmillas due to his father's death. This makes him more prone to letting his emotions guide his decisions, creating friction with his more level-headed friend, Kodai, and leading to disagreements on how to engage the enemy. He is depicted as having a somewhat more open and at times impatient demeanor compared to earlier incarnations. Despite this, his professional competence is unquestionable. He is a highly skilled navigator and pilot, entrusted with the vital task of steering the Yamato through countless dangers on its perilous voyage.
Shima's primary role in the story is as the Yamato's chief navigator and helmsman, a position he assumed on a wartime promotion after the original candidate was killed. He is responsible for the ship's operation, plotting its course, and executing high-risk maneuvers, including faster-than-light warp navigation. He is a key member of the ship's bridge crew. Before boarding the Yamato, he and Kodai played a crucial part in Operation M, recovering a vital capsule from Mars that contained the plans for the wave motion engine and a message from the planet Iscandar, which formed the foundation of the Yamato's mission.
Beyond his professional duties, Shima's personal life is defined by his family. He is the older brother of Jiro Shima, for whom he shows a caring and protective side, and the son of Saori Shima. His motivation is deeply rooted in avenging his father, whom he initially believed was a victim of an unprovoked Garmillan attack. He later grapples with the revelation that the Earth fleet, under orders from his own superiors, fired first, forcing his father to carry out a command that led to his own death. This complex truth adds significant depth to his personal journey and his evolving understanding of the war.
His most significant relationship is with Susumu Kodai. They are best friends and rivals, having trained together and shared the critical mission on Mars. While their personalities often clash, with Shima’s more headstrong views on the war opposing Kodai's evolving perspective, their bond of friendship and mutual respect remains a constant throughout their service aboard the Yamato. He also shares a professional relationship with other key officers, including First Officer Shiro Sanada and analyst Yuki Mori.
Born in Naha, Japan on August 15, 2178, Shima comes from a family with a long history of seafaring and spacefaring tradition. His father, Captain Daigo Shima, commanded the United Nations Cosmo Navy cruiser Murasame. Before the events of the story, Shima aspired to attend the Space Merchant Marine School, but his path changed when his father was killed during a disastrous first contact mission with the Garmillas Empire in 2191. Driven by a desire to follow in his father's footsteps and seek justice, he abandoned his merchant marine ambitions and enrolled in the Space Officer Training Academy in 2194, graduating in 2198.
In the 2199 remake, Shima's personality contrasts with his counterpart from the original series. While still a competent and dedicated officer, this version harbors a strong, personal hatred for the Garmillas due to his father's death. This makes him more prone to letting his emotions guide his decisions, creating friction with his more level-headed friend, Kodai, and leading to disagreements on how to engage the enemy. He is depicted as having a somewhat more open and at times impatient demeanor compared to earlier incarnations. Despite this, his professional competence is unquestionable. He is a highly skilled navigator and pilot, entrusted with the vital task of steering the Yamato through countless dangers on its perilous voyage.
Shima's primary role in the story is as the Yamato's chief navigator and helmsman, a position he assumed on a wartime promotion after the original candidate was killed. He is responsible for the ship's operation, plotting its course, and executing high-risk maneuvers, including faster-than-light warp navigation. He is a key member of the ship's bridge crew. Before boarding the Yamato, he and Kodai played a crucial part in Operation M, recovering a vital capsule from Mars that contained the plans for the wave motion engine and a message from the planet Iscandar, which formed the foundation of the Yamato's mission.
Beyond his professional duties, Shima's personal life is defined by his family. He is the older brother of Jiro Shima, for whom he shows a caring and protective side, and the son of Saori Shima. His motivation is deeply rooted in avenging his father, whom he initially believed was a victim of an unprovoked Garmillan attack. He later grapples with the revelation that the Earth fleet, under orders from his own superiors, fired first, forcing his father to carry out a command that led to his own death. This complex truth adds significant depth to his personal journey and his evolving understanding of the war.
His most significant relationship is with Susumu Kodai. They are best friends and rivals, having trained together and shared the critical mission on Mars. While their personalities often clash, with Shima’s more headstrong views on the war opposing Kodai's evolving perspective, their bond of friendship and mutual respect remains a constant throughout their service aboard the Yamato. He also shares a professional relationship with other key officers, including First Officer Shiro Sanada and analyst Yuki Mori.