Leigi Matsumoto was one of the more prolific anime and manga creators of the 70s and 80s. Galaxy Express 999 (Called the three-nine) is often considered his masterwork, featuring cameo appearances by most if not all of his other characters. It is the tale of a young boy finding his way to adulthood as he rides the Galactic Railroad and meets many intriguing characters. The boy, Tetsuro Hoshino, even meets his personal hero in the form of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Harlock is a hero who refused to surrender his spirit, even when his homeland has. For this, he becomes outlaw. He refuses to accept their rules and injustice, and travels without a home. He fights anyone who threatens Earth, anywhere he encounters them. Harlock is not the only space pirate.
There is also the beautiful Pirate Queen Emeraldas. Her scarred face is a hint of the scars she bears on her soul. She too is alone, though even more alone than Harlock. His Arcadia has a crew, but Emeraldas' Queen Emeraldas has none but robots. She was a free trader, but meeting Harlock and his friends gave her the heart to fight for what is right. These brave souls are not the only defenders of the Earth.
	There is also the crew of the Space Battleship Yamato. They travelled to distant Iscandar to gain technology to remove radiation from the Earth after an alien bombardment. They had only one year to make their perilous journey, but they did succeed. Soon after, they left the Earth to defend her once more.