OVA
Description
Maetel is the daughter of Queen Promethium, ruler of La Metal, and Dr. Ban, with a twin sister named Emeraldas. Her early life occurred on La Metal, a planet cast into freezing darkness after orbital disruption pulled it from its sun. Facing extinction, Queen Promethium adopted the mechanization process advocated by the cyborg scientist Hardgear, converting organic life into mechanical forms for survival. Maetel and Emeraldas resisted this transformation, prioritizing the preservation of human souls and emotions over physical endurance, placing them in opposition to their mother and Hardgear, who sought control through mechanized subjects.
Conflict escalated as Hardgear's forces attempted to forcibly mechanize Maetel and eliminate Emeraldas. Maetel survived an assassination attempt by Hardgear's subordinate, Cast, only through Emeraldas' intervention. Together, they exposed Hardgear's plot to use mechanization for conquest and resource exploitation, including attacks on Earth vessels. Their rebellion culminated in destroying Hardgear's core system, though his consciousness resurfaced elsewhere. Throughout, Maetel displayed reluctance towards lethal force, contrasting Emeraldas' aggression. Queen Promethium, initially complicit, experienced deep regret as mechanization eroded her humanity; she sacrificed herself to delay Hardgear, enabling her daughters' escape aboard the Galaxy Express 999, marking the start of Maetel's cosmic journey.
Physically, Maetel embodies Leiji Matsumoto's design: tall and slender, with long blonde hair, pronounced eyelashes, and brown eyes, often expressing melancholy. Her iconic long black coat, fur-trimmed hat, and boots symbolize mourning for her mother and lost world. Outfit colors reflect different phases: white during youth on La Metal, blue in "Cosmo Warrior Zero," and red in "Space Symphony Maetel." Her body's nature—organic or mechanized—remains ambiguous; an X-ray revealed a human skeleton, yet technology like camouflage underwear or a pendant may conceal her true form. Her original organic body is buried on Pluto, a site she visits with sorrow. She implies reclaiming that body might alter her appearance, though sequels show her retaining her form.
Maetel's personality blends compassion, resilience, and enigma. She exhibits maternal care, particularly towards Tetsuro Hoshino, a boy she rescues after his mother's death and accompanies on the Galaxy Express 999, guiding him to question mechanization's value. Despite a calm demeanor, she confronts threats unflinchingly, wielding weapons like the Blitz Whip or EMP pistol lethally. Internal conflict stems from divided loyalties: tasked by Queen Promethium to recruit youths for the Mechanized Empire, she simultaneously works with Dr. Ban (whose consciousness resides in her pendant) to identify individuals capable of destroying it, causing recurring anguish.
As a La Metalian, Maetel possesses an extended lifespan and enhanced abilities, including rapid healing, high pain tolerance, and toxin resistance. Her brain interfaces directly with complex machinery, enabling control of ships or computers. She carries specialized equipment: a communication trunk, earrings doubling as explosives, and dream-monitoring devices. Her journey extends into "Space Symphony Maetel," where Promethium reappears, summoning her back to La Metal. Maetel confronts a mechanized duplicate of her mother, participates in a failed coronation ceremony aimed at replacing her heart, witnesses La Metal's near-destruction during a human revolt, and sees Promethium's apparent disintegration (though her mother later resurfaces). Maetel vows to rebuild a new society within the planet's core, yet Promethium's enduring influence suggests unresolved conflict.
Leiji Matsumoto conceptualized Maetel as an archetypal figure accompanying adolescent boys on journeys of self-discovery, embodying maternal guidance and cosmic mystery. Her name derives from Latin roots for "mother" and "machine," reflecting these dual aspects. Her narrative consistently explores themes of loss, identity, and resistance against dehumanization, positioning her as a tragic yet enduring symbol across Matsumoto's universe.
Conflict escalated as Hardgear's forces attempted to forcibly mechanize Maetel and eliminate Emeraldas. Maetel survived an assassination attempt by Hardgear's subordinate, Cast, only through Emeraldas' intervention. Together, they exposed Hardgear's plot to use mechanization for conquest and resource exploitation, including attacks on Earth vessels. Their rebellion culminated in destroying Hardgear's core system, though his consciousness resurfaced elsewhere. Throughout, Maetel displayed reluctance towards lethal force, contrasting Emeraldas' aggression. Queen Promethium, initially complicit, experienced deep regret as mechanization eroded her humanity; she sacrificed herself to delay Hardgear, enabling her daughters' escape aboard the Galaxy Express 999, marking the start of Maetel's cosmic journey.
Physically, Maetel embodies Leiji Matsumoto's design: tall and slender, with long blonde hair, pronounced eyelashes, and brown eyes, often expressing melancholy. Her iconic long black coat, fur-trimmed hat, and boots symbolize mourning for her mother and lost world. Outfit colors reflect different phases: white during youth on La Metal, blue in "Cosmo Warrior Zero," and red in "Space Symphony Maetel." Her body's nature—organic or mechanized—remains ambiguous; an X-ray revealed a human skeleton, yet technology like camouflage underwear or a pendant may conceal her true form. Her original organic body is buried on Pluto, a site she visits with sorrow. She implies reclaiming that body might alter her appearance, though sequels show her retaining her form.
Maetel's personality blends compassion, resilience, and enigma. She exhibits maternal care, particularly towards Tetsuro Hoshino, a boy she rescues after his mother's death and accompanies on the Galaxy Express 999, guiding him to question mechanization's value. Despite a calm demeanor, she confronts threats unflinchingly, wielding weapons like the Blitz Whip or EMP pistol lethally. Internal conflict stems from divided loyalties: tasked by Queen Promethium to recruit youths for the Mechanized Empire, she simultaneously works with Dr. Ban (whose consciousness resides in her pendant) to identify individuals capable of destroying it, causing recurring anguish.
As a La Metalian, Maetel possesses an extended lifespan and enhanced abilities, including rapid healing, high pain tolerance, and toxin resistance. Her brain interfaces directly with complex machinery, enabling control of ships or computers. She carries specialized equipment: a communication trunk, earrings doubling as explosives, and dream-monitoring devices. Her journey extends into "Space Symphony Maetel," where Promethium reappears, summoning her back to La Metal. Maetel confronts a mechanized duplicate of her mother, participates in a failed coronation ceremony aimed at replacing her heart, witnesses La Metal's near-destruction during a human revolt, and sees Promethium's apparent disintegration (though her mother later resurfaces). Maetel vows to rebuild a new society within the planet's core, yet Promethium's enduring influence suggests unresolved conflict.
Leiji Matsumoto conceptualized Maetel as an archetypal figure accompanying adolescent boys on journeys of self-discovery, embodying maternal guidance and cosmic mystery. Her name derives from Latin roots for "mother" and "machine," reflecting these dual aspects. Her narrative consistently explores themes of loss, identity, and resistance against dehumanization, positioning her as a tragic yet enduring symbol across Matsumoto's universe.