The character known as Albator in certain regions, originally Captain Harlock, appears across interconnected narratives. His lineage descends from aerial explorers and warriors: Phantom F. Harlock I, who flew perilous missions over the Owen Stanley Mountains in the early 20th century, and Phantom F. Harlock II, a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II. Despite opposing Axis affiliations, Harlock II aided Japanese engineer Toshiro Oyama's escape to neutral Switzerland, an act he called "just paying rent," reflecting a sense of feudal obligation amidst personal disillusionment with the war's futility. Their pact of eternal friendship between bloodlines became foundational. Centuries later, in the late 2960s, Harlock returns to a conquered Earth as a Solar Federation officer. Blamed by Earth's populace for failing to prevent the Illumidus Empire's occupation (aided by the Tokargans), he initiates resistance. During this struggle, he meets Tochiro Oyama, Toshiro's descendant, who reveals a secretly constructed spaceship named Arcadia—honoring the ancestral pact and symbolizing an idealized freedom. Harlock's lover, Maya, operates a pirate radio station as "The Voice of Free Arcadia," echoing French Resistance broadcasts. Her death during a clash with Illumidus forces costs Harlock his right eye, a wound he retains. Despite defeating the occupation commander, Earth's collaborationist leader exiles Harlock and his allies, including Queen Emeraldas and Tochiro, branding them outlaws due to Earth's preference for subjugation over rebellion. Harlock gathers a crew of idealists for a journey into deep space. The starship Arcadia serves as both vessel and symbol of Harlock's ethos. Designed by Tochiro and named for the Harlock family's utopian aspirations, it incorporates elements from Harlock's prior battleship, Deathshadow. In some narratives, Tochiro's consciousness merges with the ship's systems, rendering it sentient. The Arcadia's physical design varies across media, from a blue-grey warship to a distinctive green galleon-inspired battleship, yet consistently features the skull-and-crossbones prow and Jolly Roger flag. Its armaments reflect Harlock's combative defiance. Across expanded media, Harlock interacts with younger figures, reflecting mentorship. In the "Endless Orbit SSX" series, he guides Tadashi Monono, an orphaned bounty hunter initially seeking to claim the price on Harlock's head, their dynamic evolving into mutual respect. This contrasts with his mentorship of Tadashi Daiba in the 1978 series, the orphaned son of a scientist assassinated by aliens. Harlock's broader appearances include "Endless Odyssey," set after the 1978 series, where he confronts the cosmic entity Noo following Earth's disappearance, and the 2013 CGI film adaptation, which reimagines his origins and the Arcadia's design with heightened scale and visual complexity. His core traits remain consistent: a Byronic hero rejecting totalitarianism, motivated by personal codes of honor rather than external allegiances, defined by his eyepatch, scar, and skull-adorned attire. His philosophy centers on individual freedom, summarized in his declaration to fight only for "something deep in [his] heart."