2075 year. The Earth has exhausted its resources and mankind has rushed into space. Its development, study and depletion are now the main tasks of the governments of the leading world powers. The rest of the countries are overboard the rich space boat, they are torn apart civil wars and hunger. The political situation is shaky, society is going through, but this has become a reality in the near future.
Space theme can be developed in different directions. Space debris collection is vital to the free movement of vehicles, space breaker collectors are either heroes or just scavengers. Construction of a lunar Tranquility City with a population of 120,000 and a rehabilitation center. Launch with the most powerful ship engine in history to Jupiter, data from research satellites.
From the scientific side, everything in Planetes is 'combed' and it seems to us, the townsfolk, convincing and not distracting. But the dream of space is not only a sense of continuity with Tsiolkovsky, who has been mentioned more than once. It is also a desire to know the world, to merge with it (please don’t remember ‘Eve’, Planetes did without religious motives), to break beyond the limits of the possible. You won’t find ‘dry material’ anywhere in the anime, but here is an unusual solution to the issue. Unusual in terms of artistic expression: we perceive the universe through the eyes of characters whose original worldview does not let us get bored and think about the technical aspect.
It is legitimate to talk about animation polyphony - the world of each character is unique, independent and does not lend itself to criticism from a certain objective side. As the story progresses, the stories of the characters become known - and they like to learn. The focus is on the employees of the ‘Spacebreaker Collection Department’ of the Technor Corporation. Fii Carmichael, Raavi Arvind, Hachimaki, Tanabe Ai, Yuri Mikhailov - did you feel international? All of them are presented, of course, in interconnection and in action. They love, they shout, they gather with spacemen, make dates and protect space. And they are hindered by terrorists, their own fears and superiors. The collapse of ideals and the rethinking of values - all this you have to see. But I was pleased that the creators do not speculate on fan service tricks, I sometimes had to rewind to enjoy the moment. No fluff, no fancy dialogue. Explosions and heroic-ironic pathos are a completely different matter, this is action and the necessary minimum.
The philosophy of Planetes is not complicated, but it is formed over the course of 26 episodes. Live life to the fullest - with all feelings - pain, happiness, despair, perseverance, with all ideals - achievable and eternal. Remark. The art is reminiscent of ‘Ra Xephon’ – very distinctive and pleasant to me. Tanabe Ai, chief female character, voiced by Yukino Satsuki, the crazy Tina from 'Ai Yori Aoshi'.
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Endless expanses of the Universe through the eyes of Japanese animators.
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In cinema and video games, the theme of space has been studied almost thoroughly. Sci-fi and historical films appear on the screens regularly, in games the variety of genres begins with space simulators and ends with turn-based strategies and horror.
However, space is rarely seen in Japanese animation. Over the past 60 years, about 14 thousand anime have been released, and of these, only two hundred are in a space setting. If you choose the most interesting of these two hundred, then no more than 50 titles will remain. The problem is not lack. good stories but in budget and audience focus. It's easier and cheaper to create a comedy series about everyday life Japanese schoolchildren than spending a huge budget on complex fiction.
As part of Space Month, we recall remarkable animated films, series and short films, which take place in the solar system and distant galaxies.
planetes
The Leiji Matsumoto Trilogy
The space theme appeared in Japanese animation in the sixties. Most often, the heroes of anime series then were either children with superpowers, or good-natured robots or aliens. In each episode, the villains returned with a cunning plan, but their plans always failed. Only small children can watch this today.
Everything changed after the release of Leiji Matsumoto's manga adaptations. His "Space Battleship Yamato" opened the genre of space opera to many viewers and attracted an adult audience to anime. If in the United States interest in science fiction and space grew after the release of Star Wars, then in Japan it all started with Yamato. The series also influenced the animators, including Hideaki Anno, the creator of the famous "Evangelion". He decided to work in the industry after seeing "Yamato" on TV at the age of 15.
The plot of "Yamato" begins in 2199 on a dying Earth. Oceans have dried up, vegetation has been destroyed, the atmosphere is uninhabitable, and cities have been reduced to dust. So the earthlings paid for the unsuccessful contact with the Gamilus race. The survivors moved to underground cities and have been fighting the alien fleet in vain for 20 years.
The situation changed at the moment when an alien ship fell on Mars. In its wreckage, they found a message from the ruler of the planet Iskandar. She invited people to pick up some kind of device that can revive the dead Earth (like G.E.C.K from Fallout 2). Along with the message, Starsia also attached drawings of a powerful engine.
AT as soon as possible people have assembled a spaceship, created in the image of the legendary battleship of the Second World War - Yamato. Now the fate of all mankind depends on its crew.
"Space battleship Yamato" is Japanese star trek with barely noticeable notes of patriotism, naivety and romance of the seventies. The success of the anime was so great that it became a phenomenon. Yamato is the first animated series to win the Seiyun award for contributions to the arts.
In the 1970s, stores were full of themed merchandise, which even adult fans were willing to buy. The first clubs of anime lovers appeared, plus Yamato greatly influenced the development of cosplay in the country.
Intro to the original series
As is often the case, over time, the franchise has become a cash cow. Until 1983, there were seven sequels with the same problems. From season to season, the scriptwriters' fantasy was only enough to invent multi-colored aliens planning to destroy the Earth and Yamato.
Aliens really differed from people only in color. This did not benefit the franchise, nor all of Japanese fiction. Biological identity with people was justified by the fact that humanity and aliens are the descendants of an ancient extinct race. "Yamato" solidified this stereotype, which is why multi-colored aliens are still found in anime.
Watching the 1974 series today is hard without concessions to age. A good alternative to get acquainted with the Yamato universe can be its modern remake - Space Battleship Yamato 2199. The 2013 series expanded and refined the plot of the original, introduced new characters, and retained the space opera aesthetic of the seventies.
Matsumoto's romanticism was fully revealed in another of his works. "Space Pirate Captain Harlock"- the saga of a valiant pirate who plows space on the ship "Arcadia". His personality is mysterious, only a few true friends know about his past. In the first film adaptation, Harlock fights the alien race Mazon, in the subsequent ones - with human despotism and ignorance.
The Harlock universe has six series and several feature films. Not all of them have stood the test of time, but fans of cautionary tales and fans of the cape and sword genre will definitely like the franchise.
Starship Arcadia
Any "Harlock" is a dramatic parable about eternal truths. The importance of friendship, masculinity, self-sacrifice, love, freedom and, of course, the meaning of life. The whole drama is based on constant empathy for the characters. Every member of the Arcadia team has their own tragic story from the past.
Alas, the full-length remake of 2013 did not save either good graphics nor the praise of James Cameron. The picture failed at the box office, did not pay back the production budget and received mostly negative reviews at home.
There was no trace of the old charm of Harlock, the plot turned out to be crumpled and weak. As a beautiful video clip with first-class CGI - it will go like another chapter in the saga of the valiant pirate - it is no good.
TV series "Galactic Express 999"- the most profound, philosophical and large-scale work of Leiji Matsumoto. The author was inspired by the novel Night on the Galactic railway by Japanese classic Kenji Miyazawa and a play by Maurice Maeterlinck Blue bird". Each episode of the series shows the viewer a new planet, history and philosophical message.
Tetsuro, Maetel and the express conductor
At the beginning of the 22nd century, humanity has long been exploring space, exploring and colonizing planets. Spaceships have been replaced by galactic railroads, on which trains travel between the stars. Due to the development of technology, a social divide has occurred. The rich live forever because they got rid of the old body, completely replacing it with a mechanical counterpart. People of flesh and blood have no choice but to drag out a miserable existence in the slums or leave the Earth forever.
The protagonist, the boy Tetsuro, dreamed all his life of getting tickets for Express 999. This locomotive flies across the galaxy to a planet where anyone who wishes is given a free mechanical body. Tetsuro believes that with a mechanical body, he will find the happiness he deserves. No more worrying about food, sleep, sickness and cold.
Oddly enough, but the mysterious woman Maetel turned out to have the cherished tickets. She agreed to give the boy a ticket for 999 if they went all the way together. From that moment began a journey of 113 exciting episodes.
Series splash screen
Most importantly, the protagonist in Galaxy Express 999 is an ordinary selfish boy. He was battered by life, although he is brave, he is still a child at heart.
If we comprehend the metaphors of the series, then the locomotive is a person's life, and the stars are the stages of growing up. With each planet, Tetsuro slowly learned the wisdom of life. Each meeting has been beneficial to him and provides important lessons, albeit sometimes bitter ones. In life, everything happens like that, only without space and flying trains.
Matsumoto had other works, but it was Space Battleship Yamato, Harlock, and Galaxy Express that immortalized his contribution to Japanese animation. The heroes of Matsumoto's works flaunt on modern Japanese electric trains and in the form on the streets of Japanese cities. New film adaptations, merchandise, reissues of manga and series are released annually.
Robots
Anime action featuring big humanoid robots often takes place in the space of the distant future. Over the years, a stereotype has become entrenched in the minds of the Western viewer that any anime in the “fur” genre (Japanese meka, from the English mechanism) is designed for young children. Partly to blame for this is the Transformers, or, for example, the once popular Grendizer in Russia.
Robots big and small
Serious "fur" is most often found in the Real Robot subgenre. In it, robots usually do not transform, rarely have superpowers, and are mass-produced for military purposes. The target audience of Real Robot is teenagers and adults, because the subgenre often shows cruelty and light erotica. The emphasis in the plot is not on battles, but on the development of the universe, the drama, the characters' personalities and their personal problems.
Mobile Suit Gundam("Mobile Suit Gundam") is the central franchise of the Real Robot subgenre. Two hundred titles include: movies, series, video games, novels and manga. At the same time, the Gundam is still divided into several universes independent of each other. It's easy to get confused.
Models of "Gundam" from different series
Gundam has a lot of universes, but if you choose one, then first you should get acquainted with the Universal Age. It was with her that the franchise began, and to this day they return to it in branches and prequels. She also destroyed the ossified stereotype that all enemies in anime about robots are aliens.
Street fighting is found in many Gundams
The events of the "Universal Age" begins in the near future. Mankind has been studying the expanses of the solar system for 50 years. Terraforming is still a complex technology, but there are bases on Mars and the Moon. Part of the people moved to the cylindrical colonies "Sides" located around the Earth.
Soon, Side 3 colony declares independence from the Earth Federation and proclaims itself the Duchy of Zeon. Negotiations with the rebels fail - the colonists firmly decide to live separately from the earthlings.
The "cold war" begins with an arms race, during which mobile suits are developed, and the study of Newtypes - colonists with psychic abilities. Newtypes are endowed with amazing intuition: they can project their thoughts into space and feel other people at a distance.
Amuro and Char - newtypes and central characters of the "Universal Age"
In the year 0079 of the Universal Age (approximately 2066 according to the old reckoning), a war between the two states begins, which will later be called the "One Year". In less than a year, 3 billion people will die in it, and the southern part of Australia will suffer from a colony dropped on it.
Sydney a second before turning to dust
About 20 anime develop the universe of the "Universal Age". For example, the prequel Gundam: Origin tells about key events, which took place 10 years before the first series in 1979, and Gundam F91 will move the viewer 40 years after the end of the war. In terms of the scope of the story, the franchise can easily compete with Star Wars and its expanded universe.
The battles are built according to logic, and the negative characters in Gundams have never been stereotyped villains with crazy plans and banal motivation. There is no clear division into good and evil, the characters are constantly changing.
Gundam is first and foremost a franchise about warfare and mobile suit pilots. The rarest work in Japanese animation, where they do not hesitate to discuss acute social issues of the future. After all, humanity will never change, it will fight in space for ideology or insignificant patches of space.
For 40 years, the war has been told in a variety of ways in the franchise. For example, in the amazing mini-series Gundam: War in the Pocket, the conflict between Zion and the Earth Federation is shown through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy, Alfred. He is not a Gundam pilot or Newtype, just a student. elementary school, fascinated by mobile armor. His home is in neutral territory, and he is completely unaware that his colony will become a springboard for the secret operation of Zeon.
Gundam Thunderbolt is arguably the most violent and action-packed series in the franchise. "Fireball" can be described in one capacious word - massacre. Destroyed destinies, severed limbs and complete hopelessness to jazz accompaniment. The gundam is presented here not as a machine that brings peace, but as an infernal reaper who takes lives and turns soldiers into invalids.
The contribution of "Gundam" is invaluable, but there are other worthy works in the genre. AT Armored Trooper Votoms("Armored Votoma Warriors") The war between the two star systems ended in the first episode. The protagonist, Kiriko, accidentally revealed a military secret and deserted from the army to save his life. Now a hunt has been declared on him, and he himself is forced to hide in the slums and fight with various scum. His friends are not brave warriors, but crooks and rogues.
The series also has elements of cyberpunk. Mankind has settled throughout the cosmos, but continues to disfigure the planets. Now these are worlds of little use for normal life with acid rain, nondescript megacities, deserts, slave working conditions and total poverty.
Votoms at one time got rid of many of the "mecha" stamps. There is no cheap pathos and another teenage hero who, already in the first episode, superbly pilots a top-secret robot. Central character here is a deserter. Robots in Votoms are consumable items, common military equipment.
Scopedog is the most common armor in anime.
An unusual situation happened with the series Macross(in Russia known as Robotech). It was conceived as a parody of "fur" and space operas, but later this idea was abandoned. At the very beginning, Macross had enough funny gags (like going into outer space without a spacesuit), but by the sixth episode, the mood of the anime had changed. The parody faded into the background, the series increased the budget and expanded the staff of animators.
Series splash screen
Macross has reimagined many of the clichés of popular Japanese fiction. The plot is similar to the Yamato: a spaceship called the Macross flies through space to a given target, constantly fending off attacks from Zentradi aliens. Only instead of a distant planet, he flies to Earth, and the aliens themselves attack rather out of curiosity.
Inside the giant ship, people built a city. Its inhabitants are already accustomed to the war, many calmly go to work or study. The ship has its own media, shops and other infrastructure. There has never been anything like it in the fur genre.
They fight Zentradi on "Valkyries" (official name - Variable Fighter) - a hybrid of a fighter and a robot. The Macross itself also transforms from a starship into a giant two-kilometer robot.
But the main weapon against the Zentradi is not the Valkyries, but human culture. Aliens are alien to love, sex, friendship and ordinary songs. Music demoralizes them, and kisses shock them. Under the influence of culture, some Zentradi will later defect to humans.
With such fresh ideas, it's no surprise that Macross has grown into a huge media franchise. Its sequels were not as successful, but they are loved for good music and colorful, memorable characters. Thanks to the same Macross Frontier, the franchise gained new fans in the late 2000s.
Realistic space
There is little science fiction about space in anime, and in order to list convincing or at least with a bias towards realism, one hand is enough. Series dominating the genre planetes with a dry and realistic look at the coming future of space exploration. The anime tells about the routine everyday life of space scavengers from the Teknora corporation.
Mankind has not advanced further than a base on Mars and a city on the Moon, and the Earth's orbit is littered with space debris. The work of a space cleaner is dangerous, the pay is low, and there is almost no pleasure or romance. But someone has to do it.
The screensaver for the series briefly retells important stages in the history of astronautics
Fiction is fiction, but such a profession will definitely be relevant in the future. If the superpowers start investing more money into space exploration, then the setting of Planetes will turn into reality in 30 years.
The problem of space debris is already relevant. One small bolt will lead to disaster if it hits the glass of a spaceship or its engine. In 1983, a tiny piece of drifting metal hit the shuttle window and left a deep crack in it. And if it is a fragment of a stage from a rocket or an abandoned satellite?
Pseudo-documentary chronicle Space Fantasia: 2001 Nights- adaptation of the manga by Yukinobu Hoshino, inspired by the novels of Arthur C. Clarke and the film "A Space Odyssey 2001" by Stanley Kubrick. In an hour of running time, the filmmakers managed to talk about the discovery of interstellar flights, the terraforming of planets, the loss of interest in space, the decline of the Earth and the degradation of mankind. Parallel to the sad chronology is the story of a spaceship that everyone forgot about, despite the important goal of spreading life beyond the solar system.
mini-series Dallos- the first independent work of director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Angel "s Egg). Although Dallos was released in 1983, it is close to the seventies, the director's favorite decade, in spirit and depressive mood. After the oil crisis and the Vietnam War, they were popular stories about the struggle of one person or a separate class of society with the state machine Dallos is just such a story.
The moon has become a state where most of the population is engaged in slave labor. Several generations have already grown up who have never seen the Earth, because the colony is located on reverse side satellite.
Wealthy people live in comfortable sectors, while poor workers live in slums. The inhabitants of the slums wear serial numbers, the bodies of the dead are not buried, but disposed of, leaving only a miserable hoop with a microchip from a person.
Not without ancient alien artifacts
Over time, dissatisfied people unite in a terrorist group, which begins the fight against local authorities. The main demands of the terrorists are the equalization of the rights of the colonists with the rights of earthlings and freedom from slave conditions.
Ouritsu Uchuugun - Honneamise no Tsubasa(“Royal Space Force - Wings of Honneamiz”) is the debut work of the famous animation studio GAINAX. The film failed at the Japanese box office, but was praised by critics in the United States and Europe. Time columnist Richard Corliss admired Honneamise no Tsubasa so much that he called for anime to be considered a separate art form.
Honneamis tells the story of the first human spaceflight at the height of the Cold War. The difference is that the story is not about our world, but about an alternative one. Familiar in terms of technology, but alien in way.
The film has a pantheistic core, because the main character, astronaut Shirotsugu Ladat, sees God in the universe. God in Honneamise no Tsubasa is not a person who observes people, but the cosmos itself and everything that surrounds us. Once in orbit, the astronaut reads a sermon and asks for forgiveness on behalf of all mankind.
The movie isn't even about cold war but about the place of man in the universe. Does he deserve to leave his cradle? Maybe for a start it is worth sorting out your problems on Earth?
If we don't want to spoil space as well, then there is no need to fly there.
One of Shirotsugu's colleagues
Space westerns and comedies
By the mid-eighties, epics about a difficult future gave way to comedies about mercenaries and bounty hunters. Anime Crusher Joe and Dirty Pair based on the novels of Takachiho Haruka.
The brave space mercenaries from Crusher Joe did not receive much popularity, which cannot be said about the bosom pair of beauties from the Dirty Pair. Kei and Yuri were among the sex symbols of mid-eighties anime. Each episode with them is a new crazy adventure.
Action movies with muscular men and femme fatales in the eighties were at the peak of their glory. On the Space Adventure Cobra, a series about a fearless macho, was influenced by Star Wars, Akira Kurosawa's samurai films and Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns. The bounty hunter, with his hand-built "psycho-gun" and antique "Magnum", mows down packs of pirates, aliens and cyborgs.
Cobra and his personal robot Milady
Shinichiro Watanabe managed to maintain the perfect balance between drama and comedy in the series. cowboy bebop. He stands out from the background of Dirty Pair and Space Cobra, from which he borrowed some ideas.
In an anime of this kind, the plot usually treads water until the last episodes. However, thanks to the development of the characters, the revelation of the secrets of their past - in Bebop there is no sense of "sitcom" or incoherent narrative. Each episode is a separate story with a bunch of side elements that eventually form a single plot.
On the battered spaceship Bebop 268170 live: Spike Spiegel - a daredevil and a former member of the mafia syndicate, Jet Black - the owner of the ship and a former policeman, Fey Valentine - mysterious woman with a shady past, Ed is a young and slightly crazy hacker and corgi Ain is the smartest dog in the galaxy. They will have to catch criminals of all stripes: from drug dealers to experienced robbers and killers.
It is believed that the musical accompaniment from composer Yoko Kanno and The Sealbelts is the best in the history of anime. At first, it may be difficult to agree with this, but if you try to remember something of the same quality and versatile, then Bebop will have no competitors.
Jazz blues soundtrack here is independent work, which can be easily listened to in isolation from the original. No one will notice the catch if you turn on the soundtrack in some bar.
Selected compositions
But the main thing in "Bebop" is a melancholic, sometimes neo-noir atmosphere. Convincing life of the inhabitants of the planets and satellites of the solar system, philosophical conversations about life and death, gatherings in smoky bars and a decayed cigarette in hand against the backdrop of sunset. No matter how the future changes, people will remain the same.
Because of the excellent direction, it seems that you are watching a fancy Hollywood drama with elements of comedy and action. Cowboy Bebop was simply ahead of its time, with very few series that can match its quality (according to loyal fans, none). You can not love anime to the core, but everyone should familiarize themselves with Bebop.
Another work by Watanabe, Space Dandy far less fortunate. Both seasons turned out to be amateurish, as not all viewers will understand the specific humor, references to American pop culture and parodies of old anime.
Dandy is a hunter of rare alien species. He travels to distant galaxies, accompanied by a robot vacuum cleaner QT and intelligent cat Meow from the planet Betelgeuse. Rare species of aliens pay well at the space registration center, but Dandy has no luck. He constantly gets into various troubles, and the sinister empire Gogol follows him on his heels.
For lovers of quality parodies and adventures in space - perfect option. To some extent, the series can be called experimental, because many talented animators worked on it. The style of animation in Space Dandy varies from episode to episode.
In the anime Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star(“Star Knights from the Rogue Star”) humanity has long met with several alien races and settled throughout the cosmos.
Three forces rule in it: the military, pirates and freemen (adventurers who are ready to take on any hard work). Boy Gene Starwind and his partner Jim Hawkins run a small company on the godforsaken planet Sentinel-3. The company offers various services: from working as bodyguards to hunting dangerous criminals.
The show came out at the wrong time. The anime was broadcast simultaneously with other fantasy westerns - Trigun and Cowboy Bebop. Most viewers ignored him, and he received recognition only with the release on video in the United States and Japan.
Horror and thrillers
The Japanese did not work out with gloomy space. Not that there were no such works, they just came out on cassettes and had a purely operational character. Simply put, it was grindhouse and low-budget thrash. If you dig even deeper, you'll also find hentai pornography, where lustful aliens stretch their tentacles towards cute girls.
Filmmakers Lily C.A.T do not hesitate to cross "Something" and "Alien". From "Something" they dragged away the image of a creature with wild metamorphoses. There is also a sense of paranoia, because it is not known which of the crew members is infected. From the "Alien" they borrowed the plot (the alien gets on board) and all the secondary elements: from the decoration of the spaceship to the "Mother" computer.
Not at all "Something"short film Root Search- an example of when everything is so bad that it is even good. In the role of the villain here is an alien who imagines himself to be a god and punishes sinful people in the spirit of the "Final Destination". The main character is a stupid girl with clairvoyant abilities and a "Mary Sue complex". The illogical plot and lousy production make Roots Search one of the worst anime ever.
A crazy movie called hell target tells of an expedition that went in search of a missing research vessel off the gas giant Inferno 2. On the planet, the heroes encountered a deadly alien virus that enslaves the human mind, and then kills with hallucinations.
The idea is interesting, but the execution sucks. It is hard to understand what is happening on the screen and how the deadly virus works. Here he is presented as something alive, capable of taking any form: it will turn into zombies, then into huge monsters or Valkyries from Scandinavian myths. Something high-quality could have come out of this if the creative throwing of the screenwriter had been stopped in time.
Hell Target's only scary momentAmong other short films, the film stands out Magnetic Rose from the collection Memories by director and mangaka Katsuhiro Otomo. Its plot is very reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's short stories.
A scavenger team has discovered an abandoned space station in the depths of space. It has been well preserved and functions well after many years. Inside the station, astronauts see ghosts and fragments from the lives of dead people. In almost all visions, a mysterious woman in red appears.
Director Goro Taniguchi (Code Geass, Planetes, Junketsu no Maria) created his version of William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies" in the TV series Mugen no Ryvius("The Endless Voyage of the Rivias Ship").
By the 22nd century, nothing prevented mankind from further colonizing space, if there had not been a powerful flare on the Sun, which led to the spread of the "Geodalt Sea" - a region of high temperatures and pressure. To study the phenomenon, special ships and orbital stations were built.
At one of the stations, "Libe Delta", a group of terrorists staged a diversion. The coup was averted, but the station inevitably sinks into the Geodalt. Some of the staff sacrifice themselves to slow the fall and save the young students. But heroic deed only delayed the inevitable death.
In search of salvation, the cadets ransack the station and find an unusual warship "Rivias" in its depths. On it, they leave the Liebe Delta, but instead of the long-awaited rescue, they get a war - the government is going to destroy the ship. Inexperienced teenagers have no choice but to go deep into the solar system in search of help.
Mugen no Ryvius is a socio-psychological drama with elements of mysticism. You need to watch the series thoughtfully, slowly and without rewinding. Living, constantly changing characters - the main advantage. A kind and sympathetic girl will turn out to be a selfish bitch, and best friend turn into a local tyrant.
The viewer will be shown all the vices of society and how the human consciousness changes in conditions of prolonged isolation and stress. At the end of the series, a dictatorship and local resistance will appear on the ship.
17 years have passed since the release of Mugen no Ryvius, but no one has yet managed to create a worthy animated space thriller or horror. This is far from the most common genre in cinema, and even more so in anime.
space operas
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is an extraordinary work not only in the space opera genre, but in all Japanese animation. The series is based on novel of the same name writer Yoshiki Tanaka. Due to the number of characters, scale and development of events, LOGH is easily compared to Tolstoy's War and Peace. A more adult space opera in Japanese animation simply does not exist.
The end of the 44th century, humanity left the Earth long ago and went to the far expanses of space. People abandoned their home planet due to lack of resources, atmospheric pollution, constant wars between colonists and earthlings.
By the beginning of the series, the galaxy is divided into two opposing sides: the monarchical empire of the Galactic Reich and the democratic Union of Free Planets. The Reich and the Union have been at war with each other for 150 years with rare truces.
Both sides are exhausted. In the Reich, the entire monarchical system is outdated and requires radical reforms. The Union is rotten from corruption and empty-headed politicians. Democracy is just a front. Any dissent is not held in high esteem here, the propaganda machine is working with might and main, and opposition leaders are being removed. Both in the Reich and in the Union - the situation begins to change after the arrival of young and talented commanders.
What happens when you hit a spaceship
Eternals are often raised in anime philosophical themes: the freedom of man, his place in society and the significance of war. for the sake of smart quotes or discussions, I want to rewind individual pieces of the series. True, LOGH has one serious drawback - after it it is difficult to perceive today's anime. Against the background of the 110 serial masterpiece and its three prequels, everything seems somehow faded, uninteresting.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is sometimes compared to a franchise Crest of the Stars("Star Emblem"), based on the novels of the writer Hiroyuki Morioka. And again the war, but this time between people and their genetically modified variety Av.
A rare case when youthful fantasy claims to be something more. In general, the whole story is about space adventure teenagers - a beautiful elf-like girl of the Av race and a young nobleman whose father voluntarily surrendered the planet to the pointy-eared descendants of people.
Jinto and Lafil
Crest of the Stars has a well written universe and great characters. The catch is that anime and novels don't have endings yet. Hiroyuki Morioka has been writing his books since 1996 and we are unlikely to know the final in the next five years.
In the shojo genre (anime and manga for girls), science fiction and space operas are rare guests. The best space opera for women was created by mangaka Keiko Takemiya. In his work Terra E("To Reach Terra"), she mixed ideas from the novels 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and O Wonderful new world". As a result, the manga received two adaptations and an award for "Seiyun" in the nomination for contribution to literature.
Mankind has gone beyond the solar system, but has not multiplied. From now on, the population is controlled by a supercomputer. People live under artificial skies and in cities that look like finely tuned machines or anthills. Babies are grown in test tubes and placed in the care of foster parents. It is strictly forbidden to have your own biological children, moreover, over the years, people have forgotten about natural reproduction.
Once in the birth system there was a failure - there were children with disabilities. Deaf, blind and dumb, but with supernatural abilities, like the same telepathy or psychokinesis. They were nicknamed Mew and immediately recorded as a potential threat, subject to immediate destruction. Mew themselves hid on a distant planet and dream of returning to Earth - the forgotten homeland of mankind.
A rare example of an atypical "shojo" with serious themes, in a space setting and without deliberate sweetness. The plot covers 30 years from the life of the guy Jomy, who suddenly learned about his mysterious power and connected his life with the outcasts of Mew.
Worth a mention
It is worth briefly recalling other notable anime, even if their plot casually touches on the space theme.
In a feature film Venus Wars shows an armed conflict between two states on Venus - Ishtar and Aphrodia (named after the continents on the planet). The protagonist is a former racer Hiro who joined the rebels of Aphrodia.
("Night on the Galactic Railroad") - feature film directed by Gisaburo Sugiya based on story of the same name Kenji Miyazawa. It was from this book that Leiji Matsumoto drew inspiration for his Galaxy Express 999.
Giovanni the cat is from poor family. His mother is sick, his father is missing, and he delivers newspapers for a penny. On the day of the Festival of the Stars, he went in search of milk for his mother, but he got tired and fell asleep on a hill. Giovanni woke up from the sound of a train that came down to him from the sky. in a mysterious way he was carried inside the train, where he immediately saw his old friend, Campanella. Suddenly, the train started moving, soared into the sky and set off on a journey through the stars.
Where is the end station? Who are these strange passengers? How did Giovanni get the ticket? What is Campanella doing here? The audience must find the answers. First of all, this is a philosophical parable that will make you think carefully about the essence of being. In part, the film resembles Soviet psychedelic cartoons, after which a depressive and thoughtful aftertaste remains in the soul.
Uchuu Kyoudai("Space Brothers") is an educational series based on the still unfinished manga by Chuuya Koyama. If it were not for the protractedness and absence (on this moment) adequate ending, then the series would have no price. If you want to see what happens next, you will have to read the manga or wait painfully for the continuation.
Two brothers saw a UFO as a child and decided that they would definitely become astronauts. The plot affects real plan space exploration for the next 100 years. Including: building a base on the moon and the first landing on Mars.
Sidonia no Kishi("Knights of Sidonia") based on the manga by Tsutomu Niheya (Blame!) is still better to read than to watch. Not all viewers can handle ragged computer animation. It's not as bad as the recent film adaptation, but it still hurts the eye. Moreover, the rights to release manga in Russia
Endless expanses of the Universe through the eyes of Japanese animators.
To bookmarks
In cinema and video games, the theme of space has been studied almost thoroughly. Sci-fi and historical films appear on the screens regularly, in games the variety of genres begins with space simulators and ends with turn-based strategies and horror.
However, space is rarely seen in Japanese animation. Over the past 60 years, about 14 thousand anime have been released, and of these, only two hundred are in a space setting. If you choose the most interesting of these two hundred, then no more than 50 titles will remain. The problem lies not in the lack of good stories, but in the budget and focus on the audience. It is easier and cheaper to create a comedy series about the everyday life of Japanese schoolchildren than to spend a huge budget on complex fiction.
As part of Space Month, we recall remarkable animated films, series and short films, which take place in the solar system and distant galaxies.
planetes
The Leiji Matsumoto Trilogy
The space theme appeared in Japanese animation in the sixties. Most often, the heroes of anime series then were either children with superpowers, or good-natured robots or aliens. In each episode, the villains returned with a cunning plan, but their plans always failed. Only small children can watch this today.
Everything changed after the release of Leiji Matsumoto's manga adaptations. His "Space Battleship Yamato" opened the genre of space opera to many viewers and attracted an adult audience to anime. If in the United States interest in science fiction and space grew after the release of Star Wars, then in Japan it all started with Yamato. The series also influenced the animators, including Hideaki Anno, the creator of the famous "Evangelion". He decided to work in the industry after seeing "Yamato" on TV at the age of 15.
The plot of "Yamato" begins in 2199 on a dying Earth. Oceans have dried up, vegetation has been destroyed, the atmosphere is uninhabitable, and cities have been reduced to dust. So the earthlings paid for the unsuccessful contact with the Gamilus race. The surviving people moved to underground cities and have been fighting in vain with the alien fleet for 20 years.
The situation changed at the moment when an alien ship fell on Mars. In its wreckage, they found a message from the ruler of the planet Iskandar. She invited people to pick up some kind of device that can revive the dead Earth (like G.E.C.K from Fallout 2). Along with the message, Starsia also attached drawings of a powerful engine.
In the shortest possible time, people assembled a spaceship created in the image of the legendary battleship of the Second World War - Yamato. Now the fate of all mankind depends on its crew.
"Space Battleship Yamato" is a Japanese Star Trek with subtle notes of patriotism, naivety and romance of the seventies. The success of the anime was so great that it became a phenomenon. Yamato is the first animated series to win the Seiyun award for contributions to the arts.
In the 1970s, stores were full of themed merchandise, which even adult fans were willing to buy. The first clubs of anime lovers appeared, plus Yamato greatly influenced the development of cosplay in the country.
Intro to the original series
As is often the case, over time, the franchise has become a cash cow. Until 1983, there were seven sequels with the same problems. From season to season, the scriptwriters' fantasy was only enough to invent multi-colored aliens planning to destroy the Earth and Yamato.
Aliens really differed from people only in color. This did not benefit the franchise, nor all of Japanese fiction. Biological identity with people was justified by the fact that humanity and aliens are the descendants of an ancient extinct race. "Yamato" solidified this stereotype, which is why multi-colored aliens are still found in anime.
Watching the 1974 series today is hard without concessions to age. A good alternative to get acquainted with the Yamato universe can be its modern remake - Space Battleship Yamato 2199. The 2013 series expanded and refined the plot of the original, introduced new characters, and retained the space opera aesthetic of the seventies.
Matsumoto's romanticism was fully revealed in another of his works. "Space Pirate Captain Harlock"- the saga of a valiant pirate who plows space on the ship "Arcadia". His personality is mysterious, only a few true friends know about his past. In the first film adaptation, Harlock fights the alien race Mazon, in the subsequent ones - with human despotism and ignorance.
The Harlock universe has six series and several feature films. Not all of them have stood the test of time, but fans of cautionary tales and fans of the cape and sword genre will definitely like the franchise.
Starship Arcadia
Any "Harlock" is a dramatic parable about eternal truths. The importance of friendship, masculinity, self-sacrifice, love, freedom and, of course, the meaning of life. The whole drama is based on constant empathy for the characters. Every member of the Arcadia team has their own tragic story from the past.
Alas, the 2013 full-length remake was not saved by good graphics or James Cameron's praise. The picture failed at the box office, did not pay back the production budget and received mostly negative reviews at home.
There was no trace of the old charm of Harlock, the plot turned out to be crumpled and weak. As a beautiful video clip with first-class CGI - it will go like another chapter in the saga of the valiant pirate - it is no good.
TV series "Galactic Express 999"- the most profound, philosophical and large-scale work of Leiji Matsumoto. The author was inspired by the novel Night on the Galactic Railroad by the Japanese classic Kenji Miyazawa and Maurice Maeterlinck's play The Blue Bird. Each episode of the series shows the viewer a new planet, history and philosophical message.
Tetsuro, Maetel and the express conductor
At the beginning of the 22nd century, humanity has long been exploring space, exploring and colonizing planets. Spaceships have been replaced by galactic railroads, on which trains travel between the stars. Due to the development of technology, a social divide has occurred. The rich live forever because they got rid of the old body, completely replacing it with a mechanical counterpart. People of flesh and blood have no choice but to drag out a miserable existence in the slums or leave the Earth forever.
The protagonist, the boy Tetsuro, dreamed all his life of getting tickets for Express 999. This locomotive flies across the galaxy to a planet where anyone who wishes is given a free mechanical body. Tetsuro believes that with a mechanical body, he will find the happiness he deserves. No more worrying about food, sleep, sickness and cold.
Oddly enough, but the mysterious woman Maetel turned out to have the cherished tickets. She agreed to give the boy a ticket for 999 if they went all the way together. From that moment began a journey of 113 exciting episodes.
Series splash screen
Most importantly, the protagonist in Galaxy Express 999 is an ordinary selfish boy. He was battered by life, although he is brave, he is still a child at heart.
If we comprehend the metaphors of the series, then the locomotive is a person's life, and the stars are the stages of growing up. With each planet, Tetsuro slowly learned the wisdom of life. Each meeting has been beneficial to him and provides important lessons, albeit sometimes bitter ones. In life, everything happens like that, only without space and flying trains.
Matsumoto had other works, but it was Space Battleship Yamato, Harlock, and Galaxy Express that immortalized his contribution to Japanese animation. The heroes of Matsumoto's works flaunt on modern Japanese electric trains and in the form on the streets of Japanese cities. New film adaptations, merchandise, reissues of manga and series are released annually.
Robots
Action anime with the participation of large humanoid robots often takes place in the space of the distant future. Over the years, a stereotype has become entrenched in the minds of the Western viewer that any anime in the “fur” genre (Japanese meka, from the English mechanism) is designed for young children. Partly to blame for this is the Transformers, or, for example, the once popular Grendizer in Russia.
Robots big and small
Serious "fur" is most often found in the Real Robot subgenre. In it, robots usually do not transform, rarely have superpowers, and are mass-produced for military purposes. The target audience of Real Robot is teenagers and adults, because the subgenre often shows cruelty and light erotica. The emphasis in the plot is not on battles, but on the development of the universe, the drama, the characters' personalities and their personal problems.
Mobile Suit Gundam("Mobile Suit Gundam") is the central franchise of the Real Robot subgenre. Two hundred titles include: movies, series, video games, novels and manga. At the same time, the Gundam is still divided into several universes independent of each other. It's easy to get confused.
Models of "Gundam" from different series
Gundam has a lot of universes, but if you choose one, then first you should get acquainted with the Universal Age. It was with her that the franchise began, and to this day they return to it in branches and prequels. She also destroyed the ossified stereotype that all enemies in anime about robots are aliens.
Street fighting is found in many Gundams
The events of the "Universal Age" begins in the near future. Mankind has been studying the expanses of the solar system for 50 years. Terraforming is still a complex technology, but there are bases on Mars and the Moon. Part of the people moved to the cylindrical colonies "Sides" located around the Earth.
Soon, Side 3 colony declares independence from the Earth Federation and proclaims itself the Duchy of Zeon. Negotiations with the rebels fail - the colonists firmly decide to live separately from the earthlings.
The Cold War begins with an arms race, during which mobile suits are developed, and the study of Newtypes - colonists with psychic abilities begins. Newtypes are endowed with amazing intuition: they can project their thoughts into space and feel other people at a distance.
Amuro and Char - newtypes and central characters of the "Universal Age"
In the year 0079 of the Universal Age (approximately 2066 according to the old reckoning), a war between the two states begins, which will later be called the "One Year". In less than a year, 3 billion people will die in it, and the southern part of Australia will suffer from a colony dropped on it.
Sydney a second before turning to dust
About 20 anime develop the universe of the "Universal Age". For example, the prequel Gundam: Origin tells about key events that took place 10 years before the first series in 1979, and Gundam F91 will move the viewer 40 years after the end of the war. In terms of the scope of the story, the franchise can easily compete with Star Wars and its expanded universe.
The battles are built according to logic, and the negative characters in Gundams have never been stereotyped villains with crazy plans and banal motivation. There is no clear division into good and evil, the characters are constantly changing.
Gundam is first and foremost a franchise about warfare and mobile suit pilots. The rarest work in Japanese animation, where they do not hesitate to discuss acute social issues of the future. After all, humanity will never change, it will fight in space for ideology or insignificant patches of space.
For 40 years, the war has been told in a variety of ways in the franchise. For example, in the amazing mini-series Gundam: War in the Pocket, the conflict between Zion and the Earth Federation is shown through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy, Alfred. He's not a Gundam pilot or a Newtype, just an elementary school student addicted to mobile suits. His home is in neutral territory, and he is completely unaware that his colony will become a springboard for the secret operation of Zeon.
Gundam Thunderbolt is arguably the most violent and action-packed series in the franchise. "Fireball" can be described in one capacious word - massacre. Destroyed destinies, severed limbs and complete hopelessness to jazz accompaniment. The gundam is presented here not as a machine that brings peace, but as an infernal reaper who takes lives and turns soldiers into invalids.
The contribution of "Gundam" is invaluable, but there are other worthy works in the genre. AT Armored Trooper Votoms("Armored Votoma Warriors") The war between the two star systems ended in the first episode. The protagonist, Kiriko, accidentally revealed a military secret and deserted from the army to save his life. Now a hunt has been declared on him, and he himself is forced to hide in the slums and fight with various scum. His friends are not brave warriors, but crooks and rogues.
The series also has elements of cyberpunk. Mankind has settled throughout the cosmos, but continues to disfigure the planets. Now these are worlds of little use for normal life with acid rain, nondescript megacities, deserts, slave working conditions and total poverty.
Votoms at one time got rid of many of the "mecha" stamps. There is no cheap pathos and another teenage hero who, already in the first episode, superbly pilots a top-secret robot. The central character here is a deserter. Robots in Votoms are consumable items, common military equipment.
Scopedog is the most common armor in anime.
An unusual situation happened with the series Macross(in Russia known as Robotech). It was conceived as a parody of "fur" and space operas, but later this idea was abandoned. At the very beginning, Macross had enough funny gags (like going into outer space without a spacesuit), but by the sixth episode, the mood of the anime had changed. The parody faded into the background, the series increased the budget and expanded the staff of animators.
Series splash screen
Macross has reimagined many of the clichés of popular Japanese fiction. The plot is similar to the Yamato: a spaceship called the Macross flies through space to a given target, constantly fending off attacks from Zentradi aliens. Only instead of a distant planet, he flies to Earth, and the aliens themselves attack rather out of curiosity.
Inside the giant ship, people built a city. Its inhabitants are already accustomed to the war, many calmly go to work or study. The ship has its own media, shops and other infrastructure. There has never been anything like it in the fur genre.
They fight Zentradi on "Valkyries" (official name - Variable Fighter) - a hybrid of a fighter and a robot. The Macross itself also transforms from a starship into a giant two-kilometer robot.
But the main weapon against the Zentradi is not the Valkyries, but human culture. Aliens are alien to love, sex, friendship and ordinary songs. Music demoralizes them, and kisses shock them. Under the influence of culture, some Zentradi will later defect to humans.
With such fresh ideas, it's no surprise that Macross has grown into a huge media franchise. Its sequels were not as successful, but they are loved for good music and colorful, memorable characters. Thanks to the same Macross Frontier, the franchise gained new fans in the late 2000s.
Realistic space
There is little science fiction about space in anime, and in order to list convincing or at least with a bias towards realism, one hand is enough. Series dominating the genre planetes with a dry and realistic look at the coming future of space exploration. The anime tells about the routine everyday life of space scavengers from the Teknora corporation.
Mankind has not advanced further than a base on Mars and a city on the Moon, and the Earth's orbit is littered with space debris. The work of a space cleaner is dangerous, the pay is low, and there is almost no pleasure or romance. But someone has to do it.
The screensaver for the series briefly retells important stages in the history of astronautics
Fiction is fiction, but such a profession will definitely be relevant in the future. If the superpowers begin to invest more money in space exploration, then the setting of Planetes will become a reality in 30 years.
The problem of space debris is already relevant. One small bolt will lead to disaster if it hits the glass of a spaceship or its engine. In 1983, a tiny piece of drifting metal hit the shuttle window and left a deep crack in it. And if it is a fragment of a stage from a rocket or an abandoned satellite?
Pseudo-documentary chronicle Space Fantasia: 2001 Nights- adaptation of the manga by Yukinobu Hoshino, inspired by the novels of Arthur C. Clarke and the film "A Space Odyssey 2001" by Stanley Kubrick. In an hour of running time, the filmmakers managed to talk about the discovery of interstellar flights, the terraforming of planets, the loss of interest in space, the decline of the Earth and the degradation of mankind. Parallel to the sad chronology is the story of a spaceship that everyone forgot about, despite the important goal of spreading life beyond the solar system.
mini-series Dallos- the first independent work of director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Angel "s Egg). Although Dallos was released in 1983, it is close to the seventies, the director's favorite decade, in spirit and depressive mood. After the oil crisis and the Vietnam War, they were popular stories about the struggle of one person or a separate class of society with the state machine Dallos is just such a story.
The moon has become a state where most of the population is engaged in slave labor. Several generations have already grown up who have never seen the Earth, because the colony is located on the far side of the satellite.
Wealthy people live in comfortable sectors, while poor workers live in slums. The inhabitants of the slums wear serial numbers, the bodies of the dead are not buried, but disposed of, leaving only a miserable hoop with a microchip from a person.
Not without ancient alien artifacts
Over time, dissatisfied people unite in a terrorist group, which begins the fight against local authorities. The main demands of the terrorists are the equalization of the rights of the colonists with the rights of earthlings and freedom from slave conditions.
Ouritsu Uchuugun - Honneamise no Tsubasa("Royal Space Force - Wings of Honneamiz") is the debut work of the famous animation studio GAINAX. The film failed at the Japanese box office, but was praised by critics in the United States and Europe. Time columnist Richard Corliss admired Honneamise no Tsubasa so much that he called for anime to be considered a separate art form.
Honneamis tells the story of the first human spaceflight at the height of the Cold War. The difference is that the story is not about our world, but about an alternative one. Familiar in terms of technology, but alien in way.
The film has a pantheistic core, because the main character, astronaut Shirotsugu Ladat, sees God in the universe. God in Honneamise no Tsubasa is not a person who observes people, but the cosmos itself and everything that surrounds us. Once in orbit, the astronaut reads a sermon and asks for forgiveness on behalf of all mankind.
The film is not even about the Cold War, but about the place of man in the universe. Does he deserve to leave his cradle? Maybe for a start it is worth sorting out your problems on Earth?
If we don't want to spoil space as well, then there is no need to fly there.
One of Shirotsugu's colleagues
Space westerns and comedies
By the mid-eighties, epics about a difficult future gave way to comedies about mercenaries and bounty hunters. Anime Crusher Joe and Dirty Pair based on the novels of Takachiho Haruka.
The brave space mercenaries from Crusher Joe did not receive much popularity, which cannot be said about the bosom pair of beauties from the Dirty Pair. Kei and Yuri were among the sex symbols of mid-eighties anime. Each episode with them is a new crazy adventure.
Action movies with muscular men and femme fatales in the eighties were at the peak of their glory. On the Space Adventure Cobra, a series about a fearless macho, was influenced by Star Wars, Akira Kurosawa's samurai films and Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns. The bounty hunter, with his hand-built "psycho-gun" and antique "Magnum", mows down packs of pirates, aliens and cyborgs.
Cobra and his personal robot Milady
Shinichiro Watanabe managed to maintain the perfect balance between drama and comedy in the series. cowboy bebop. He stands out from the background of Dirty Pair and Space Cobra, from which he borrowed some ideas.
In an anime of this kind, the plot usually treads water until the last episodes. However, thanks to the development of the characters, the revelation of the secrets of their past - in Bebop there is no sense of "sitcom" or incoherent narrative. Each episode is a separate story with a bunch of side elements that eventually form a single plot.
On the battered spaceship Bebop 268170 live: Spike Spiegel - a daredevil and a former member of the mafia syndicate, Jet Black - the owner of the ship and a former police officer, Fey Valentine - a mysterious woman with a dubious past, Ed - a young and slightly crazy hacker and corgi Ain - the smartest dog in the galaxy. They will have to catch criminals of all stripes: from drug dealers to experienced robbers and killers.
It is believed that the musical accompaniment from composer Yoko Kanno and The Sealbelts is the best in the history of anime. At first, it may be difficult to agree with this, but if you try to remember something of the same quality and versatile, then Bebop will have no competitors.
The jazz-blues soundtrack here is an independent work that can be easily listened to in isolation from the original. No one will notice the catch if you turn on the soundtrack in some bar.
Selected compositions
But the main thing in "Bebop" is a melancholic, sometimes neo-noir atmosphere. Convincing life of the inhabitants of the planets and satellites of the solar system, philosophical conversations about life and death, gatherings in smoky bars and a decayed cigarette in hand against the backdrop of sunset. No matter how the future changes, people will remain the same.
Because of the excellent direction, it seems that you are watching a fancy Hollywood drama with elements of comedy and action. Cowboy Bebop was simply ahead of its time, with very few series that can match its quality (according to loyal fans, none). You can not love anime to the core, but everyone should familiarize themselves with Bebop.
Another work by Watanabe, Space Dandy far less fortunate. Both seasons turned out to be amateurish, as not all viewers will understand the specific humor, references to American pop culture and parodies of old anime.
Dandy is a hunter of rare alien species. He travels to distant galaxies, accompanied by a robot vacuum cleaner QT and intelligent cat Meow from the planet Betelgeuse. Rare species of aliens pay well at the space registration center, but Dandy has no luck. He constantly gets into various troubles, and the sinister empire Gogol follows him on his heels.
For lovers of high-quality parodies and adventures in space, this is an ideal option. To some extent, the series can be called experimental, because many talented animators worked on it. The style of animation in Space Dandy varies from episode to episode.
In the anime Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star(“Star Knights from the Rogue Star”) humanity has long met with several alien races and settled throughout the cosmos.
Three forces rule in it: the military, pirates and freemen (adventurers who are ready to take on any hard work). Boy Gene Starwind and his partner Jim Hawkins run a small company on the godforsaken planet Sentinel-3. The company offers various services: from working as bodyguards to hunting dangerous criminals.
The show came out at the wrong time. The anime was broadcast simultaneously with other fantasy westerns - Trigun and Cowboy Bebop. Most viewers ignored him, and he received recognition only with the release on video in the United States and Japan.
Horror and thrillers
The Japanese did not work out with gloomy space. Not that there were no such works, they just came out on cassettes and had a purely operational character. Simply put, it was grindhouse and low-budget thrash. If you dig even deeper, you'll also find hentai pornography, where lustful aliens stretch their tentacles towards cute girls.
Filmmakers Lily C.A.T do not hesitate to cross "Something" and "Alien". From "Something" they dragged away the image of a creature with wild metamorphoses. There is also a sense of paranoia, because it is not known which of the crew members is infected. From the "Alien" they borrowed the plot (the alien gets on board) and all the secondary elements: from the decoration of the spaceship to the "Mother" computer.
Not at all "Something"short film Root Search- an example of when everything is so bad that it is even good. In the role of the villain here is an alien who imagines himself to be a god and punishes sinful people in the spirit of the "Final Destination". The main character is a stupid girl with clairvoyant abilities and a "Mary Sue complex". The illogical plot and lousy production make Roots Search one of the worst anime ever.
A crazy movie called hell target tells of an expedition that went in search of a missing research vessel off the gas giant Inferno 2. On the planet, the heroes encountered a deadly alien virus that enslaves the human mind, and then kills with hallucinations.
The idea is interesting, but the execution sucks. It is hard to understand what is happening on the screen and how the deadly virus works. Here he is presented as something alive, capable of taking any form: it will turn into zombies, then into huge monsters or Valkyries from Scandinavian myths. Something high-quality could have come out of this if the creative throwing of the screenwriter had been stopped in time.
Hell Target's only scary momentAmong other short films, the film stands out Magnetic Rose from the collection Memories by director and mangaka Katsuhiro Otomo. Its plot is very reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's short stories.
A scavenger team has discovered an abandoned space station in the depths of space. It has been well preserved and functions well after many years. Inside the station, astronauts see ghosts and fragments from the lives of dead people. In almost all visions, a mysterious woman in red appears.
Director Goro Taniguchi (Code Geass, Planetes, Junketsu no Maria) created his version of William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies" in the TV series Mugen no Ryvius("The Endless Voyage of the Rivias Ship").
By the 22nd century, nothing prevented mankind from further colonizing space, if there had not been a powerful flare on the Sun, which led to the spread of the "Geodalt Sea" - a region of high temperatures and pressure. To study the phenomenon, special ships and orbital stations were built.
At one of the stations, "Libe Delta", a group of terrorists staged a diversion. The coup was averted, but the station inevitably sinks into the Geodalt. Some of the staff sacrifice themselves to slow the fall and save the young students. But the heroic feat only delayed the inevitable death.
In search of salvation, the cadets ransack the station and find an unusual warship "Rivias" in its depths. On it, they leave the Liebe Delta, but instead of the long-awaited rescue, they get a war - the government is going to destroy the ship. Inexperienced teenagers have no choice but to go deep into the solar system in search of help.
Mugen no Ryvius is a socio-psychological drama with elements of mysticism. You need to watch the series thoughtfully, slowly and without rewinding. Living, constantly changing characters - the main advantage. A kind and sympathetic girl will turn out to be a selfish bitch, and her best friend will turn into a local tyrant.
The viewer will be shown all the vices of society and how the human consciousness changes in conditions of prolonged isolation and stress. At the end of the series, a dictatorship and local resistance will appear on the ship.
17 years have passed since the release of Mugen no Ryvius, but no one has yet managed to create a worthy animated space thriller or horror. This is far from the most common genre in cinema, and even more so in anime.
space operas
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is an extraordinary work not only in the space opera genre, but in all Japanese animation. The series is based on the novel of the same name by writer Yoshiki Tanaka. Due to the number of characters, scale and development of events, LOGH is easily compared to Tolstoy's War and Peace. A more adult space opera in Japanese animation simply does not exist.
The end of the 44th century, humanity left the Earth long ago and went to the far expanses of space. People abandoned their home planet due to lack of resources, atmospheric pollution, constant wars between colonists and earthlings.
By the beginning of the series, the galaxy is divided into two opposing sides: the monarchical empire of the Galactic Reich and the democratic Union of Free Planets. The Reich and the Union have been at war with each other for 150 years with rare truces.
Both sides are exhausted. In the Reich, the entire monarchical system is outdated and requires radical reforms. The Union is rotten from corruption and empty-headed politicians. Democracy is just a front. Any dissent is not held in high esteem here, the propaganda machine is working with might and main, and opposition leaders are being removed. Both in the Reich and in the Union - the situation begins to change after the arrival of young and talented commanders.
What happens when you hit a spaceship
Eternal philosophical themes are often raised in anime: human freedom, its place in society and the significance of war. For the sake of smart quotes or discussions, I want to rewind individual pieces of the series. True, LOGH has one serious drawback - after it it is difficult to perceive today's anime. Against the background of the 110 serial masterpiece and its three prequels, everything seems somehow faded, uninteresting.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is sometimes compared to a franchise Crest of the Stars("Star Emblem"), based on the novels of the writer Hiroyuki Morioka. And again the war, but this time between people and their genetically modified variety Av.
A rare case when youthful fantasy claims to be something more. In general, the whole story tells about the space adventures of teenagers - a beautiful elf-like girl of the Av race and a young nobleman, whose father voluntarily surrendered the planet to the pointed-eared descendants of people.
Jinto and Lafil
Crest of the Stars has a well written universe and great characters. The catch is that anime and novels don't have endings yet. Hiroyuki Morioka has been writing his books since 1996 and we are unlikely to know the final in the next five years.
In the shojo genre (anime and manga for girls), science fiction and space operas are rare guests. The best space opera for women was created by mangaka Keiko Takemiya. In his work Terra E("To Reach Terra"), she mixed ideas from the novels 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and Brave New World. As a result, the manga received two adaptations and an award for "Seiyun" in the nomination for contribution to literature.
Mankind has gone beyond the solar system, but has not multiplied. From now on, the population is controlled by a supercomputer. People live under artificial skies and in cities that look like finely tuned machines or anthills. Babies are grown in test tubes and placed in the care of foster parents. It is strictly forbidden to have your own biological children, moreover, over the years, people have forgotten about natural reproduction.
Once in the birth system there was a failure - there were children with disabilities. Deaf, blind and dumb, but with supernatural abilities, like the same telepathy or psychokinesis. They were nicknamed Mew and immediately recorded as a potential threat, subject to immediate destruction. Mew themselves hid on a distant planet and dream of returning to Earth - the forgotten homeland of mankind.
A rare example of an atypical "shojo" with serious themes, in a space setting and without deliberate sweetness. The plot covers 30 years from the life of the guy Jomy, who suddenly learned about his mysterious power and connected his life with the outcasts of Mew.
Worth a mention
It is worth briefly recalling other notable anime, even if their plot casually touches on the space theme.
In a feature film Venus Wars shows an armed conflict between two states on Venus - Ishtar and Aphrodia (named after the continents on the planet). The protagonist is a former racer Hiro who joined the rebels of Aphrodia.
(Night on the Galactic Railroad) is a feature-length film directed by Gisaburo Sugiya based on the short story of the same name by Kenji Miyazawa. It was from this book that Leiji Matsumoto drew inspiration for his Galaxy Express 999.
Giovanni the cat comes from a poor family. His mother is sick, his father is missing, and he delivers newspapers for a penny. On the day of the Festival of the Stars, he went in search of milk for his mother, but he got tired and fell asleep on a hill. Giovanni woke up from the sound of a train that came down to him from the sky. Mysteriously, he was transported inside the train, where he immediately saw his old friend, Campanella. Suddenly, the train started moving, soared into the sky and set off on a journey through the stars.
Where is the end station? Who are these strange passengers? How did Giovanni get the ticket? What is Campanella doing here? The audience must find the answers. First of all, this is a philosophical parable that will make you think carefully about the essence of being. In part, the film resembles Soviet psychedelic cartoons, after which a depressive and thoughtful aftertaste remains in the soul.
Uchuu Kyoudai("Space Brothers") is an educational series based on the still unfinished manga by Chuuya Koyama. If it were not for the protractedness and lack (at the moment) of an adequate ending, then the series would have no price. If you want to see what happens next, you will have to read the manga or wait painfully for the continuation.
Two brothers saw a UFO as a child and decided that they would definitely become astronauts. The plot touches on the real plan for space exploration for the next 100 years. Including: building a base on the moon and the first landing on Mars.
Sidonia no Kishi("Knights of Sidonia") based on the manga by Tsutomu Niheya (Blame!) is still better to read than to watch. Not all viewers can handle ragged computer animation. It's not as bad as the recent film adaptation, but it still hurts the eye. Moreover, the rights to release manga in Russia
Anime - extremely popular genre Japanese cartoons which are watched by both children and adults. This is because Japanese animation is designed for a more adult audience, while cartoons in other countries are usually created for children. Anime is characterized by a characteristic drawing of characters.
Anime is published in the form of feature films and short films, as well as television series. It is divided into many genres. Today we will look at anime about space.
The best anime in the genre of space fiction
Space fiction is a favorite genre of many, but, alas, modern cinema is easier to draw than to shoot, having spent a huge budget on special effects. Anime on the theme of space battles and travel is very fond of not only teenagers, but also children and even adults - they usually differ not only in a dynamic plot, but also in deep meaning, the truth that the creators want to convey to the viewer. That is why space anime cartoons are so popular.
"Space Pirate Harlock" (2013)
This animated film is based on cult comics"Space Pirate Captain Harlock" tells about the distant future. Cosmetic aliens have enslaved humanity, turned people into slaves. They are deprived not only of freedom - their life can only be called a miserable existence. However, a hero suddenly appears who is able to save humanity. The elusive pirate Harlock, captain of the Arcadia, is a brave and daring young man who challenges the established system. But not everything is so simple - Harlock must prepare for a serious battle ...
The rating of this anime about space on KinoPoisk was 6.6. On other sites, its rating varies from 8 to 10. This animated film impressed not only anime fans - even science fiction fans appreciated it. Among the advantages, excellent computer graphics, interesting story and the versatility of history, where there is love, and betrayal, and adventure. Of the minuses, the audience noted excessive pathos and "disposability" - the revision of the picture will no longer cause those violent emotions that overcome at the first viewing. However, the film is on the "Best Space Anime" list.
The review of the cartoon says that each character turned out to be bright and ambiguous. Harlock, against the backdrop of his confidence, fearlessness and honesty, wins over the viewer. The graphics are at the highest level - the characters are drawn as natural, not to mention large-scale space battles!
"Cowboy Bebop" (2001)
The events of this picture unfold on Mars, in 2071. Thousands of colonists were killed in a terrorist attack using biochemical weapons. The authorities dream of punishing the criminal, so they promise the one who catches him a huge sum of money.
Known to everyone and everyone bounty hunters Jack and Spike decide to start hunting for a terrorist...
The film is based on episodes 22-23 of Cowboy Bebop. His rating on KinoPoisk is 7.8. Fans claim that this is not just an anime about space - it is the whole world. Particularly noteworthy is the excellent musical accompaniment, bright heroes, a dynamic plot, which, although not particularly original, looks exciting. Perhaps due to the atmosphere of real adventure.
The review of the anime says that this is not boring, but quite a serious story about bounty hunters. The characters are alive, especially everyone liked Spike. The characters are almost perfect, both externally and internally. The cartoon is pleasant not only to watch, but also to listen to.
"Burning Wind, Ocean and Earth" (2013)
The story of this anime takes place in a different reality. One day, an asteroid hit the Earth, spreading the Shinobi virus, which killed many people. Those who survived found shelter in the place of the dried up ocean. New house was named "Kairiku". There, people have been actively developing protection against the virus. She became the unique weapon "Yaguyu", which is able to withstand the destructive effects of poison. Now people dream of regaining their lost home.
Many viewers refer anime not only to the fantasy romance genre, but also to the drama. Indeed, the plot contains sentimental scenes, as well as romance between the two acting heroes- the princess and leader of the country of Thor. The anime received high ratings and excellent reviews, although not everyone liked it. However, the taste and color ...
Anime series about space
Space anime films require much less patience than series. To start watching a series of at least 50 episodes, it takes courage and an incredible interest in the plot. Today we have collected the most interesting series about space, which were reviewed by many people - almost every one of them left positive feedback about these projects.
"Gurren Lagann" (TV series 2007-2008)
People drag out a miserable existence in underground caves, afraid of constant landslides and earthquakes. Simon lives in one of the underground villages. The boy, inspired by his spirit guide's teachings about the other world up there, dreams of going outside. Once Simon finds a way to leave the underground state and go to explore the boundless worlds of the Universe...
This anime about space includes 27 episodes. This is one of the best animated series that has received many positive feedback. His rating on KinoPoisk is 8.4. Of the advantages of anime, viewers highlight the characters of the characters (determination, courage, optimism), a dynamic plot and the bright characters of other characters. Of the minuses, they often focus on pathos and a set of stamps.
Yes, the audience notes, he is not without flaws, but in general the picture turned out to be very successful. The cartoon features many storylines and is poorly hidden deep meaning- everyone can understand it. Epic battles did not make you bored throughout the entire viewing. Rated 9 out of 10.
"Welcome to the space show!" (2010)
This anime is classified as a family anime. It is exciting and dynamic, but at the same time there is a certain fabulous naivety in the picture. However, adults also enjoy watching anime, but there are no reviews on it. But the reviews for this picture can be judged by high ratings - even on KinoPoisk it is 7.5.
In the center of the plot are the inhabitants of a village lost in the highlands of Japan. One day, the heroes find a wounded dog, which turns out to be an alien sent to Earth on an important mission. The recovered alien thanks his friends and invites them to visit one of the planets in our system. Their choice falls on the moon. It is here that many adventures await the heroes.
"Space Brothers" (2012)
In the center of the picture are two brothers who dream of space. As time went on, the children grew up. The younger brother, who works at NASA, is preparing to go to the moon as part of an expedition, but the older one, on the contrary, is going through a difficult life crisis - he lost his job, and with it the meaning of life. However, Mutta finds the strength to continue to live and achieve his goals. He takes part in the Aerospace Competition, the end of which is a trip to Mars. The adventures of two brothers are just beginning...
"Space Brothers" is a family saga on a space theme, while devoid of various intergalactic battles. This series tells about life, ups and downs, which invariably follow hand in hand. Of the advantages, viewers highlight good humor(however, by the end of the series it becomes less and less), well-chosen musical accompaniment. The series quite plausibly tells about a person's path to success, about the successes and failures that befall him on the path of life. The series has a high rating of 7.2.
In general, viewers are satisfied with the series, although they believe that it is somewhat delayed. However, a serious plot with a fantastic basis makes the series interesting. The story is calm and believable. Rating - 7 out of 10.
Along with serials, they often come out with full-length anime about space with the same names. In 2014, he made a film about the adventures of two brothers, the duration of which is only an hour and a half (for comparison, there are 99 episodes in the series). It's called "Space Brothers: Episode 0".
Full-length anime about space and robots
Since the 70s, anime about robots has been increasingly created in Japan. Events usually unfold against the backdrop of space. Initially, these cartoons did not have a particularly original plot, but since the beginning of the new century, stories have become more and more entertaining and interesting. Consider the most popular anime. Science fiction about space (feature films) is almost always a box office success. Both adults and children all over the world love star travel.
Full-length anime about space: list
Ninja Robots (1985)
Perhaps this anime is classified as a classic of the genre - a large number of fights, an interesting plot, and most importantly, it is interesting to watch it not only for teenagers, but also for adults. According to the story, Joe Maya witnesses a space battle between the warriors of the princess and the soldiers of her captor - Emperor Zabum - and decides to save the beautiful lady.
War on Venus (1989)
An excellent example of an anime feature film about space, which the audience especially liked. Everything is here - dynamics, famously twisted plot, beautiful scenes.
This anime about space and robots belongs to the genre of combat fiction. Recommended age - 16+. Rating on "KinoPoisk" - 6.7. Anime, alas, is devoid of reviews and reviews, but the high rating speaks for itself. If you are looking for an interesting fantasy with lots of action scenes, this is the anime for you.
Psycho-Pass (2015)
The anime tells about the distant future - 2116. The Japanese state practices the creation and use of drone robots, which become an ideal invulnerable defense against violence in many countries. But once the idyll comes to an end ...
Apple Seed - Project Alpha (2015)
Soldier Dune with his partner, the cyborg Briares, travels through the worlds of the solar system. They are looking for the city of Olympus, which should become a new home for humanity.
Macross: do you remember our love? (1984)
The plot of this anime about space (fantasy along with an action movie) is based on the story of three people - a pilot Hikaru, his lover and an aspiring singer. These three find themselves in the epicenter of terrible events - alien giants attack humanity, having hundreds of spaceships at their disposal ... The rating on KinoPoisk is 6.9.
Dashing Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace (2015)
High school student Kato, who works part-time in retro coffee, suddenly becomes the leader of a team of pirates formerly commanded by her father. It turns out that even during the life of her father, a law was passed allowing the captaincy to be inherited. Numerous adventures await the girl and her team. The film was highly acclaimed by both critics and audiences.
Conclusion
Today we reviewed the best anime about space, the rating of which exceeds 6. These are commercially successful projects that are loved by many viewers. Our list includes both old anime ( classical representatives genre), as well as completely new ones, which breathe the originality of the plot and are distinguished by excellent graphics. Let's hope that if you decide to watch one of these tapes, you will not be disappointed either.
Release year: 2013
Genre: adventure, fantasy
Type of: TV
Number of episodes: 25 (25 min.)
Description: A hundred years ago, mankind was bent from the constant attacks of giants. The giants were outwardly similar to people, but had two differences. They were of enormous size - several times higher and larger than any person. They were also stupid. Their actions resembled a horror movie about zombies, since they completely lacked intelligence and only the basic survival instinct was developed - to eat their smaller brothers without any regret. Under the pressure of such madness, humanity almost died out, but the surviving people gathered all their strength and defended themselves. They built three huge walls: Maria, Rosa and Sheena, each of which was stronger than the previous one.
For a whole hundred years, people forgot about the titans, since the walls were almost twice as high. Fear was replaced by a peaceful life, but in reality people lived like locked cattle. A young guy named Eren dreams of joining the scout squad, as he believes that the titans can break through the wall at any moment. The scouts are going outside the walls and trying to destroy the giants. No sooner had Eren made his dream come true than something terrible happened. One of the giants managed to reach dimensions exceeding the size of the wall and managed to break through it. Now the era of peace has been replaced by chaos again, and people are forced to be afraid. Will the young guy be able to become what he wants, namely the hero who will destroy all these enemies of humanity?
