Submarine Super 99

Submarine Super 99 was produced by Pony Canyon and Vega Entertainment in 2003, serving as an animated adaptation of the classic 1964 manga series created by Leiji Matsumoto. The project was conceived as a tribute to Matsumoto's early aesthetic, centering on the titular advanced submarine and its crew as they defend Earth against the subterranean Invader Empire. The series leans heavily into the signature retro-futuristic mechanical designs and melodramatic space-opera themes that defined Matsumoto's career, most notably his work on Space Battleship Yamato.

The character and mecha designs retain the distinct visual shorthand of 1960s manga, featuring stylized uniforms and complex, industrial-looking ship interiors. While the series was intended to recapture the nostalgic spirit of the original source material for a modern audience, it received a mixed critical reception. Many viewers noted a significant contrast between the source's vintage origins and the contemporary digital animation techniques employed in the 2003 production, leading to a polarizing result that remains a curious footnote in Matsumoto's extensive catalog.