Heikurō Tōdō serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Earth Defense Forces in the original Space Battleship Yamato series, a position that places him at the strategic heart of humanity's military operations following the war with Garmillas. In Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato, he is a seasoned and pragmatic strategist who prioritizes established military protocols over speculative risks. This defining trait is most evident when he dismisses Susumu Kodai’s urgent warnings about the approaching White Comet Empire during an Earth Defense Force council session, a skepticism that ultimately drives the Yamato crew to embark on their unsanctioned mission to confront the threat head-on. Despite his adherence to hierarchy and procedure, Tōdō maintains a formal yet professional relationship with the Yamato’s former crew, which includes informing them of the ship's planned decommissioning. His complex stance becomes clear during the crew's subsequent mutiny; while his adjunct vehemently condemns the takeover as treason, Tōdō’s notably restrained reaction and tacit permission for the Yamato to depart suggests a quiet, unspoken approval of their decision to act against a threat that Earth's leadership has chosen to ignore.

Tōdō’s motivations are rooted in his unwavering commitment to Earth's institutional security and calculated decision-making, even when those choices have far-reaching consequences. His role in the story is that of the highest military authority on Earth, responsible for coordinating the planet's defensive strategies. During the Comet Empire's devastating assault on Earth, he leads the defense from Earth Defense Headquarters in Tokyo, coordinating fleet engagements, including those involving the new flagship Andromeda. It is in this capacity that he ultimately perishes when the Comet Empire overwhelms Earth's defenses and destroys the command center. Key relationships in his life include his granddaughter, Akiko Tōdō, who serves as his secretary. He also collaborates closely with General Kotetsu Serizawa, engaging in clandestine strategic debates, including discussions about reviving massive evacuation plans like Project Izumo. While his personal history remains largely undetailed in the original film, later works in the broader franchise provide additional background, establishing that he was originally a civilian official who rose to the top of the Defense Forces and that his wife, Chiaki, passed away during the early years of the Garmillas War, leaving him to raise their daughter, Saki, alone. In terms of notable abilities, Tōdō is distinguished not by physical prowess or piloting skills, but by his strategic mind, his ability to manage a global defense network, and his influence over the course of Earth's conflicts through his authoritative and often controversial decisions.