TV Special
Description
Maetel, a central figure across the Galaxy Express 999 universe, originates from the long-lived inhabitants of the planet LaMetal. She is the daughter of Queen Promethium, ruler of the Mechanized Empire, and Dr. Ban, a scientist opposing mechanization. This divide creates profound internal conflict, as Maetel is torn between her mother's directive to recruit young individuals for mechanization and her father's mission to dismantle the empire. Her early life included the loss of her father, whose consciousness was preserved in a pendant she carries, and growing up alongside her twin sister, Emeraldas. When LaMetal faced environmental catastrophe after colliding with Earth and falling under the black sun Ra, Promethium enforced widespread mechanization. Maetel and Emeraldas resisted, leading to their escape aboard the Galaxy Express 999 following their mother's transformation into a mechanized entity and her sacrifice to ensure their safety.
Her physical appearance embodies a distinctive artistic style: tall stature, long blonde hair, pronounced eyelashes, and melancholic brown eyes. She is most recognized for wearing dark attire, including a dress coat, fur-trimmed neckwear, boots, and an Astrakhan hat, described as "clothes of mourning." The color of her attire shifts across different narratives, reflecting emotional states and life phases: white during youthful innocence in *Maetel Legend*, blue in *Cosmo Warrior Zero*, red or fuchsia in *Space Symphony Maetel*, and iconic black during her travels with Tetsuro. Alternative outfits include a long black dress for relaxation and a black bikini for high-temperature environments. Ambiguity surrounds her physical form, as X-ray examinations reveal a human skeleton, yet other instances suggest her body may be mechanized or concealed through technological means like camouflage underwear or pendant-generated illusions. This uncertainty is compounded by her resemblance to Tetsuro's deceased mother and the existence of an original body buried on Pluto, which she visits tearfully, hinting at potential cloning or body-swapping possibilities. Her name, derived from the Latin word "maeter" (mother), reflects her symbolic maternal relationship with Tetsuro, while also incorporating associations with "machine" and "metal."
Throughout her journey, Maetel exhibits a calm, compassionate, and protective demeanor, particularly towards Tetsuro Hoshino, whom she rescues after his mother's death and guides aboard the Galaxy Express 999. She respects his initial desire for a mechanized body while encouraging him to critically evaluate the implications of immortality. Her relationship with her sister Emeraldas remains strong despite differing temperaments—Maetel avoids conflict whereas Emeraldas confronts it. She harbors bitterness toward her father, Dr. Ban, for his role in her mother's transformation, yet collaborates with him via his pendant-consciousness to undermine the Mechanized Empire. Her interactions with figures like Captain Harlock and Tochiro Oyama reveal mutual respect for their self-determination and idealism.
As a La Metalian, Maetel possesses an extended lifespan, immunity to illness, and physical prowess enabling feats like evading lasers and breaking superalloy chains. Her brain interfaces with complex machinery, such as the Galaxy Express 999, allowing communication or control. She demonstrates exceptional marksmanship with weapons like the Gravity Saber rifle and the Dimension Recoil Gun, alongside proficiency with a Blitz Whip capable of destroying thick walls or functioning as a sword. Her healing factor, bolstered by Dr. Ban's pendant, allows recovery from severe injuries, and she displays high alcohol tolerance. She carries a trunk storing belongings and facilitating communication, while accessories like programmable earrings (e.g., flash or smoke bombs) and dream sensors augment her capabilities.
In *Galaxy Express 999: Can You Live Like a Warrior?*, a narrative reworking of episodes 12–13 from the television series, Maetel's role aligns with her established characterization. She and Tetsuro investigate a planet petrified by a fossil cloud, encountering the sole survivor, Urius. When Urius steals Tetsuro's pass to seek a mechanized body for his stone wife, Maetel tends to Tetsuro's injuries and supports his efforts to reclaim the pass. Her actions emphasize her protective nature and adherence to the journey's broader purpose.
Her story extends beyond this special, as depicted in *Space Symphony Maetel*, where she returns to LaMetal summoned by Promethium. She confronts her mother's attempts to mechanize her consciousness during a coronation ceremony, battles a mechanized clone of Promethium, and witnesses the planet's destruction. She later establishes a new LaMetal, though Promethium survives and declares Maetel will eventually return to her. This arc underscores Maetel's resilience and evolving resolve against mechanization.
Her physical appearance embodies a distinctive artistic style: tall stature, long blonde hair, pronounced eyelashes, and melancholic brown eyes. She is most recognized for wearing dark attire, including a dress coat, fur-trimmed neckwear, boots, and an Astrakhan hat, described as "clothes of mourning." The color of her attire shifts across different narratives, reflecting emotional states and life phases: white during youthful innocence in *Maetel Legend*, blue in *Cosmo Warrior Zero*, red or fuchsia in *Space Symphony Maetel*, and iconic black during her travels with Tetsuro. Alternative outfits include a long black dress for relaxation and a black bikini for high-temperature environments. Ambiguity surrounds her physical form, as X-ray examinations reveal a human skeleton, yet other instances suggest her body may be mechanized or concealed through technological means like camouflage underwear or pendant-generated illusions. This uncertainty is compounded by her resemblance to Tetsuro's deceased mother and the existence of an original body buried on Pluto, which she visits tearfully, hinting at potential cloning or body-swapping possibilities. Her name, derived from the Latin word "maeter" (mother), reflects her symbolic maternal relationship with Tetsuro, while also incorporating associations with "machine" and "metal."
Throughout her journey, Maetel exhibits a calm, compassionate, and protective demeanor, particularly towards Tetsuro Hoshino, whom she rescues after his mother's death and guides aboard the Galaxy Express 999. She respects his initial desire for a mechanized body while encouraging him to critically evaluate the implications of immortality. Her relationship with her sister Emeraldas remains strong despite differing temperaments—Maetel avoids conflict whereas Emeraldas confronts it. She harbors bitterness toward her father, Dr. Ban, for his role in her mother's transformation, yet collaborates with him via his pendant-consciousness to undermine the Mechanized Empire. Her interactions with figures like Captain Harlock and Tochiro Oyama reveal mutual respect for their self-determination and idealism.
As a La Metalian, Maetel possesses an extended lifespan, immunity to illness, and physical prowess enabling feats like evading lasers and breaking superalloy chains. Her brain interfaces with complex machinery, such as the Galaxy Express 999, allowing communication or control. She demonstrates exceptional marksmanship with weapons like the Gravity Saber rifle and the Dimension Recoil Gun, alongside proficiency with a Blitz Whip capable of destroying thick walls or functioning as a sword. Her healing factor, bolstered by Dr. Ban's pendant, allows recovery from severe injuries, and she displays high alcohol tolerance. She carries a trunk storing belongings and facilitating communication, while accessories like programmable earrings (e.g., flash or smoke bombs) and dream sensors augment her capabilities.
In *Galaxy Express 999: Can You Live Like a Warrior?*, a narrative reworking of episodes 12–13 from the television series, Maetel's role aligns with her established characterization. She and Tetsuro investigate a planet petrified by a fossil cloud, encountering the sole survivor, Urius. When Urius steals Tetsuro's pass to seek a mechanized body for his stone wife, Maetel tends to Tetsuro's injuries and supports his efforts to reclaim the pass. Her actions emphasize her protective nature and adherence to the journey's broader purpose.
Her story extends beyond this special, as depicted in *Space Symphony Maetel*, where she returns to LaMetal summoned by Promethium. She confronts her mother's attempts to mechanize her consciousness during a coronation ceremony, battles a mechanized clone of Promethium, and witnesses the planet's destruction. She later establishes a new LaMetal, though Promethium survives and declares Maetel will eventually return to her. This arc underscores Maetel's resilience and evolving resolve against mechanization.