OVA
Description
Maetel is a central figure within the larger narrative universe created by Leiji Matsumoto, and her appearance in the Harlock Saga continues her role as an enigmatic and influential traveler. She is a woman of striking appearance, typically depicted as tall and willowy with long, flowing blonde hair, and she is almost always seen in her signature outfit: a long black dress coat paired with a matching wide-brimmed hat and boots, attire that carries a theme of mourning and reflects her profound personal losses. As a native of the planet La Metal, she belongs to the La Metalians, a race known for their exceptionally long lifespans, which allows her to appear ageless across many different eras and storylines.
Maetel’s personality is defined by a calm and compassionate nature, which she pairs with an unwavering resolve when protecting those under her care. She holds deep admiration for individuals who display genuine courage and passion, while she disdains traits like bravado, arrogance, and actions motivated solely by self-preservation, viewing these as self-destructive. In her youth, she was more naive, strongly opposing her mother’s plan to convert the population of La Metal into androids and yearning to reconnect with her despite her sister Emeraldas’s warnings. However, through numerous battles and encounters with figures such as Emeraldas, Captain Harlock, and Tochiro Oyama, she evolved into a hardened yet still compassionate individual who seeks to find the best in people and hopes they can achieve an enlightenment beyond established systems.
Her motivations are deeply rooted in the tragic history of her family. Maetel is the daughter of Queen Promethium, who became the ruler of a mechanized empire, and Dr. Ban, a scientist who resisted this transformation. After fleeing La Metal due to her mother's mechanization crusade, Maetel’s actions become a delicate balancing act. She is compelled by her mother to recruit young people, such as Tetsuro Hoshino, to become living screws to power the Machine Empire, yet she follows the instructions of her father, whose consciousness resides in a pendant she carries, to ultimately lead these recruits toward the destruction of the mechanized regime. This inner conflict drives her journey as she guides others to question the true cost of mechanized immortality.
In the context of the Harlock Saga, Maetel appears as a traveler of the infinite, a daughter of Queen Millenia, and a sister to Emeraldas. She comes to the aid of Captain Harlock and the crew of his ship, the Arcadia (also known as the Atlantis), as they battle against the forces of Alberich and the power of the Ring of the Nibelung. Her role is that of an enigmatic ally whose true purpose and goals are not always clear, yet she provides crucial assistance in the fight for the survival of Earth and the freedom of the universe. Throughout the broader narrative, she shares a relationship of mutual respect with Captain Harlock, acknowledging his resolve as a man who decides his own destiny, and she is a cousin to him. Her bond with her sister Emeraldas is a resilient one; despite their differences in approach to conflict, Maetel can always rely on her sister in times of crisis.
Maetel possesses a range of notable abilities that make her a formidable presence. As a La Metalian, she has an enhanced physiology that grants her a long lifespan and physical capabilities such as agility and strength, allowing her to tear apart superalloy chains. She is highly skilled with various weapons, displaying exceptional marksmanship with firearms like the Gravity Saber in its rifle mode and the powerful Dimension Recoil Gun. Her signature weapon is the Blitz Whip, which can destroy thick walls, grasp distant objects, or be used as a blade, often in conjunction with a ring that can fire powerful beams. Her brain is also uniquely altered to interact with complex machinery, such as the Galaxy Express 999, allowing her to interface with and guide such systems. Most significantly, she carries a pendant containing her father Dr. Ban’s consciousness, which provides her with guidance and instructions, can heal her injuries, and holds the power to destroy La Metal by taking control of its central computer.
Maetel’s personality is defined by a calm and compassionate nature, which she pairs with an unwavering resolve when protecting those under her care. She holds deep admiration for individuals who display genuine courage and passion, while she disdains traits like bravado, arrogance, and actions motivated solely by self-preservation, viewing these as self-destructive. In her youth, she was more naive, strongly opposing her mother’s plan to convert the population of La Metal into androids and yearning to reconnect with her despite her sister Emeraldas’s warnings. However, through numerous battles and encounters with figures such as Emeraldas, Captain Harlock, and Tochiro Oyama, she evolved into a hardened yet still compassionate individual who seeks to find the best in people and hopes they can achieve an enlightenment beyond established systems.
Her motivations are deeply rooted in the tragic history of her family. Maetel is the daughter of Queen Promethium, who became the ruler of a mechanized empire, and Dr. Ban, a scientist who resisted this transformation. After fleeing La Metal due to her mother's mechanization crusade, Maetel’s actions become a delicate balancing act. She is compelled by her mother to recruit young people, such as Tetsuro Hoshino, to become living screws to power the Machine Empire, yet she follows the instructions of her father, whose consciousness resides in a pendant she carries, to ultimately lead these recruits toward the destruction of the mechanized regime. This inner conflict drives her journey as she guides others to question the true cost of mechanized immortality.
In the context of the Harlock Saga, Maetel appears as a traveler of the infinite, a daughter of Queen Millenia, and a sister to Emeraldas. She comes to the aid of Captain Harlock and the crew of his ship, the Arcadia (also known as the Atlantis), as they battle against the forces of Alberich and the power of the Ring of the Nibelung. Her role is that of an enigmatic ally whose true purpose and goals are not always clear, yet she provides crucial assistance in the fight for the survival of Earth and the freedom of the universe. Throughout the broader narrative, she shares a relationship of mutual respect with Captain Harlock, acknowledging his resolve as a man who decides his own destiny, and she is a cousin to him. Her bond with her sister Emeraldas is a resilient one; despite their differences in approach to conflict, Maetel can always rely on her sister in times of crisis.
Maetel possesses a range of notable abilities that make her a formidable presence. As a La Metalian, she has an enhanced physiology that grants her a long lifespan and physical capabilities such as agility and strength, allowing her to tear apart superalloy chains. She is highly skilled with various weapons, displaying exceptional marksmanship with firearms like the Gravity Saber in its rifle mode and the powerful Dimension Recoil Gun. Her signature weapon is the Blitz Whip, which can destroy thick walls, grasp distant objects, or be used as a blade, often in conjunction with a ring that can fire powerful beams. Her brain is also uniquely altered to interact with complex machinery, such as the Galaxy Express 999, allowing her to interface with and guide such systems. Most significantly, she carries a pendant containing her father Dr. Ban’s consciousness, which provides her with guidance and instructions, can heal her injuries, and holds the power to destroy La Metal by taking control of its central computer.