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Seikai no Monshou
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Animation - 8.0 |
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Sound - 8.5 |
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Story - 9.1 |
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Character - 9.5 |
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Value - 9.0 |
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Enjoyment - 9.2 |
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Average - 8.9 |
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eyeresist |
(2009-09-20 23:00:40) 2007-08-16 20:17:31 |
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| Average |
6.2 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
5 |
| Character |
4 |
| Value |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
| Crest of the Stars (Seikai no Monshou) is the first part of a 3-part sci-fi epic. The setting is very interesting and well thought out - a post-human species controlling space travel in order to prevent interstellar war, and the resentment they receive because of that.
The actual story is about the relationship between Jinto, a "lander", and Lafiel, a post-human "Abh". Unfortunately this is a basic problem with the show - Jinto is helpless and adoring through the whole series, while Lafiel is cold and never really shows much affection for Jinto until the end of the final series. And this flawed character/relationship takes centre-stage when a lot more could have been made of the cultural clashes of the Abh empire, and the political strategies of the Abh themselves. (The other characters are flat and underdeveloped.)
There are some good moments of interstellar combat and political machinations in this initial series, but it's mostly a basic "on the run" story, including three episodes devoted to them running from a crazy space Baron who wants to marry Lafiel. Basically I found the story much too small for its setting.
Animation is good for a 1999 TV show, although the cool colour scheme gets a bit boring. Some of the character designs are okay, but some are really awful, including Jinto, who looks a bit like a cartoon mushroom (he looks better in the manga). The space battles are very tactical, and are interesting in trying to show the unusual nature of "plane space", and the limited vantage point of any one combatant in a battle (the "fog of war"). This sometimes makes following the battles a little difficult, however.
I'm surprised how many reviewers here have expressed dislike of the opening theme - for me it's the highlight of the show! I should confess that I'm a huge classical music fan, and I love the big dramatic "Late Romantic" style of the OP - it sends a shiver down my spine. I think the accompanying space "photos" are appropriate and expressive of the vastness of the story's background.
Background music is similar, at a slightly lower standard, but appropriate and effective. The ending songs are a mixed bunch. Japanese voice acting is okay (they don't have much to work with, after all), but the English dub is notoriously poor.
Don't be alarmed when you don't understand the opening dialog of the show - they are speaking a made-up alien language.
Overall, this can be recommended to science-fiction fans, with a warning about the problems mentioned above. If you decide to watch it, you might as well also view the sequels Banner of the Stars (Seikai no Senki) I and II.
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| Average |
8.0 |
| Animation |
5 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| I'm afraid I'm gonna be the only one who will have more than
Animation:
I think we can all agree that the animation isn't this anime's strong point, we can call it simplistic at best but actually is pretty bad for a sf anime. The character design is quite bad, reminescent of "Now and Then, Here and There" and the space battles are borinf and very badly made.
Sound:
Voice acting is good, background music is... well can't really remember it.
Story:
Ok this is the point where I can finally say something that most of you might not agree. The story is good, the political situation between the remaining space countries and the Abhn Humankind Empire are well developed and realist, making the background action and the main trigger of this adventure possible. I did like the way Abhn are seen by the conquered nations and the way people ostracize the young boy. The evolution of the story is well made as well and so is the pace.... But I did not like the space battles as they seemed simplistic, illogical and weak in enjoyment compare to "Infinite Ryvius" for example. And the actions of the later episodes seemed hollywood like exagerated when it comes to Lafiel's abilities.
Character:
This is the main strong point of the anime, the relation between Lafiel and Jinto and the way it evolves. It's well developed and well paced, not very complex or deep as some might say it is but still very enjoyable, sometimes simplicity can be wonderful.
Overall the anime has to offer a nice friendship story between two persons of two different races that seem so far one from the other, a friendship that develops caught in troublesome times of war between the two races, packed with suspense and action... but it does have it's drawbacks in animation, fighting scenes and battle strategies. You can call it a simple anime with child like influences but a solid character development and decent background story.
PS: Some people compared this to Star Wars. I don't think it has anything to do with it. The main focus point of this anime is the character development between two different people of two different races at war with some effort put in an interstelar war that wants to subliniate more the way the Abhn think and act as a race. Star Wars is a movie mainly made to show off special effects, and a generic story of good vs evil where the good who's weaker always wins, and the main character who's of commoner origins finds out he's the "chosen one" and gets the princess and the kingdom at the end. Overall I found this anime a lot more realist and interesting than Star Wars.
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Cataphract |
(2007-04-29 18:40:13) 2007-04-29 18:36:05 |
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| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| The first of the three installments in the Crest of the Stars epic trilogy. Where Twelve Kingdoms established a legacy in the realm of fantasy anime, CotS follows in its footsteps. Instead of fantasy, however, we jump a few thousand years forward to the realm of science fiction. If you loved Twelve Kingdoms you're in for a real treat.
While not its strong point, the animation in Crest of the Stars is still above average. Though character designs lack a bit of detail, we have smooth animation and gorgeous scenery present throughoout the course of the series. The space scenes and ships are very well drawn and certainly do their job in shaping a world that easy for the viewer to immerse him or herself in.
Unfortunately CotS doesn't have a very impressive soundtrack. The opening/ending themes were average, though they do not seem out of place. CotS boasts, however, a brilliant Seiyuu which does wonders for bringing its characters to life. Though not outstanding, the musical tracks in the background fit their scenes well and certainly do their job.
Now, the places where CotS makes its mark are its story and characters. Set in the distant future, mankind has dispersed into the vastness of space and begun to inhabit other planets. Eventually, as mankind becomes more at home in space, empires are built. Humans also advance leaps and bounds in technology, and soon, through genetic engineering, the Abh are born. Rifts begin to form between the Abh and Terran humans and that is where CotS begins. At the beginning of the show, the Abh Empire has begun campaigns of conquest, and we are introduced to a nobleman from one of the captured worlds named Jinto. He meets Lafiel, an Abh princess, and soon the two find themselves caught up in the Terran backlash to the Abh expansion.
The fact that CotS sticks to this story not only well, but amazingly well, throughout every moment of the series is what makes this show such a gem. Both Jinto and Lafiel are given an enormous amount of depth and are, by far, some of the best characters to find themselves into the anime world. Not only this, their characters are incredibly three dimensional and do not possess any absurd or illogical flaws; both are defined as very sane, logical human beings. As you follow their adventures together, not only do you become increasingly more intrigued by their characters but also their world as well. Beautiful, amazing, splendid. You will not be disappointed.
In summary, this is something you should watch before you die. Period. One of the best anime series you will ever watch...and it even has two successors!
Very highly recommended.
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nauXolo |
(2006-11-30 10:04:53) 2006-11-30 01:42:19 |
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| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Crest of the Stars is a gem in the realm of anime. Few works are able to develop such deep and intriguing character relations, properly combine stories at both the personal level and the grand national level and tell an interesting and unique tale. Nevertheless, Crest of the Stars captured my heart from episode one and never let go.
CotS begins begins with the story of a young boy whose life is forever changed when his home planet gets caught up in an intragalactic war that had been going on for generations. As part of the natural process of surrendered assimilation, his father was chosen to serve under the imperial court. As a result, Jinto must receive formal Abh (the race that took over) training as he is next in line to serve. Here, the journey begins as he meets with Lafiel, a young Abh princess training to become a proper military officer, whose mission is to escort Jinto to the capital.
Crest of the Stars greatest aspect is the character development between and within Lafiel and Jinto. From the beginning, we're given a no-BS straightforward princess who is oddly stern yet heart-warmingly open. She is paired up with a boy who is straightforward as well, but thinks in a more relaxed and carefree manner. Essentially, both their personalities and personal histories are very similar - only their backgrounds and upbringing differ, due to their racial differences. In the end, we are able to experience the two understanding each other, learn to rely on each other's different strengths and get closer to each other as they struggle through their mission and adventure.
The background story setting does not extend too far. Generally, the politics are straightforward - due to the nature of the Abh race. I found the decision making criterion of the Abh to be quite interesting and this made for an interesting political conflict. This invisible barrier between the Abh humans and the Terran humans makes for an ominous, ever-present overhanging conflict that basically serves as the backbone for all political outbreaks and strifes in this anime. Had the Abh race been more similar to the Terrans, there would have been less of a potential for reconciliation and progress.
As for the story regarding the immediate surroundings of Lafiel and Jinto, we have a very simple but potent escape scenario. Basically, from start to finish there is always someone or some group chasing after the duo, forcing them into situations where they must rely on each other. Furthermore, these intense situations also forces the characters to concede from their initial instinct as the other character makes a point that makes sense. In the end, the characters have each left an impression on the other and they have both learned from the difficulties of their journey.
Crest of the Stars is a very engaging anime that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. While it wasn't the most detail specific or technical anime in the realm of space science fiction, the character development and interactions as well as interesting background story made for an extremely memorable and entertaining viewing experience.
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Saya77 |
(2006-10-02 15:23:38) 2006-10-02 15:23:06 |
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| This epic space opera features one of the most fascinating settings and background plots in the history of anime. While this is probably better atributed to the series of novels, this anime deserves credit for the transition between mediums and bringing the novels to life.
Crest of the Stars is set in the deepest reaches of space where half of the universe is controlled by the "Humankind Empire Abh", ruled by a species of genetically modified humans called "Abh" who live for hundreds of years and call space their home as the "Kin of the Stars". The rest of humanity, divided up into 4 Empires of their own, are regular humans who fear, envy, and hate the Abh and those who submit to their rule.
Crest of the Stars follows the adventures of one of these regular Terrans whose father submitted to the rule of the Abh and was rewarded with a noble title. His name is Count Jinto of Lin Syun Rock Hyde. We follow Jinto and his companion, the Imperial Princess, grandaughter of the Empress, Lafiel Abriel, in their adventures.
As a backdrop, viewers are treated with political and military drama in the form of a war between Abh and the other nations; through this we learn much about the personalities and culture of the Abhs, which is incredicbly interesting.
Both Jinto and Lafiel are developed extensively; we find out about both their background's and learn about the struggles each had to face as children of nobility. Throughout the series we are shown how Jinto and Lafiel compliment each other as their relationship grows and they become closer to each other; they learn to trust and lean on each other and become true friends.
There are many side characters introduced in this anime: Baron Febdash, his vassals, the commanders of the Abh fleet, and many others. Each is given the background, motivation, and personality to bring the characters to life as unique individuals.
The animation isn't very spectacular during the battle scenes, and there are some scenes which are reused a few times; however, I love the ship designs and the character's emotions were shown perfectly on their faces. As to the soundtrack and voice actors, I believe they did a perfect job. The proud certainty of the Abh was conveyed perfectly in every Abh voice actor.
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Summoner |
(2009-10-02 10:27:28) 2006-10-01 02:45:53 |
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Note: This review applies to all animated series of Crest of the Stars franchise. It is based on, first, KAA for Monshou, later A-Et for Senki I and II, and finally, AonE-Conclave for Senki III. Too bad KAA didn't do the whole series, their use of Baronh was neat. Otherwise, good quality and plausible translation, the best you can get for that age. AonE-Conclave is a must for Senki III, as they offer Director's Cut. Funny how some of the best scenes from that adaption are exclusive to it.
Quote:
I will become his world, and will make him my world.
Originally written as a series of novels by Hiroyuki Morioka and directed by Nagaoka Yasuchika Crest of the Stars is a space opera masterwork like no other, a shining diamond in the sea of mediocrity. Set in a distant future during the galaxy-scale conflict between Humanity and the Abh, it takes a completely different approach to reach epic heights. Rather than following a stature of a grand leader, the plot of this show concentrates on adventures of a young man, once a land dweller, now an Abh nobleman, Count Linn Ssynec-Rocr Haïder Ghintec and his unlikely companion Viscountess Ablïarsec néïc Dubreuscr Parhynr Lamhirh, who happens to be a granddaughter of the all-mighty empress of the Abh. The existence of the two have little, if any, impact on the grand war, while a single decision of a war leader can destroy everything they have worked for. Thus starts an epic tale about romance born under the shackles of war, between a melancholic land-dweller and the princess of Abriels, infamous for their malicious and ruthless nature.
So, yeah... Frankly, Crest of the Stars (or Banner for that matter) is such a highly refined piece of art that it leaves but two options for its viewers. You'll either love it, if it's your thing, or you will feel indifferent towards it, if it's not. Apart from financial troubles it has no flaws, be it original content or its adaptation. There are things it does, there are things it doesn't, but it never shows any faults. However, Seikai no Monshou is certainly not for everyone (which is evident from its relatively small, but zealous fanbase). You might be turned off by its slow pace, ruthless nature of the Abh or by the fact that epic war is but background for the show's real story. Are those flaws? Hell no, and I'd cut out tongues of everyone who says they are, if I could. Crest of the Stars is an overwhelmingly well-detailed slow-paced love story between two people who are likely the best characters to ever grace anime realm. War and space are but background, but tools to draw out emotions and paint relationship between two unlikely matches, characters, who'd never express their feelings if not under extreme pressure. I personally have never came across a similar work of fiction, and you bet I've searched for years. Is it good? It's damn best... if you know where you are getting in, that is.
While, my other two favourites, Neon Genesis Evangelion has introduced me to the path of knowledge and Berserk has shown me the meaning of ambition, Seikai no Monshou is the only thing I have ever experienced to move my feelings. Well, at least I can read the myth of Pygmalion with full understanding now, can I?
Conclusion: Crest of the Stars is a brilliant masterwork like no other, with virtually every aspect polished to perfection. It's not easy to get into, and it choses its viewers. However, if you are a person who values character interaction over action and aesthetic sense over politics, romance flavored space opera Seikai no Monshou will doubtless become one of your favourites. If you have liked this show and you want another epic space opera, full of politics and conquest, Legend of Galactic Heroes is your choice. If you, however, want a romantic story on par with Crest of the Stars, I am forced to disappoint - there is none. At least, I couldn't find one in my five years of anime watching, novel reading, poetry deciphering and even game playing. If you know one - please, enlighten me... Mention Clannad and I will boil you alive though.
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Warning to anyone watching this anime. The animation is not spectacular, the opening is a little boring, the action is not that great and infrequent, and the story moves pretty slow. But even with all that this "is" a spectacular anime.
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Pakxenon |
(2006-11-18 00:27:12) 2006-09-01 19:11:25 |
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| Average |
8.0 |
| Animation |
5 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| A beautiful story backed by lackluster animation but strong characters and a proper ending. Recommended to anyone interested in sci-fi, politics, space battles, and drama. Semi-recommendable to Star Wars maniacs (Space battles with no interceptors? I need some X-wings and TIE fighters here!).
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cain |
(2007-02-18 15:59:25) 2006-06-20 17:29:55 |
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| Average |
5.8 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
3 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
4 |
| Crest of the Stars seems to be to be one of the first successful anime to deal with space-related issues and politically conflicting races (although admittedly I still didn't enjoy it that much). The storyline was emotive and enticing, for the war-situation was very realistic and throughout the anime you receive this twinging sense of urgency as you watch the protagonists flee from the bad guys. The dramatic tension just builds and builds throughout the show, not letting viewers down because of ample action and fighting.
The characters are commendably realistic in their approaches to the emergency situation in Crest of the Stars, and this is assisted by the wonderful script that is clever, witty and humorous. Lafiel was notably one not to be messed with. Contrasting the comparatively docile Jinto, she is fierce, direct and rather emotionless (to the point that she is quite funny).
Character design, though, could be a problem here. Jinto dubbed Lafiel 'the most beautiful girl in the entire universe' and I hope that he only means that personally, because there was certainly something wrong with the face shapes in Crest of the Stars. Especially at an angle or from the front, their faces were too rigid and square.
The face shape was something that I did not find too enthralling in Crest of the Stars, but to add to that, there were times of monologue when some man's voice just speaks in an unknown language. His monotonous tone makes a dull introduction and conclusion to almost every episode of Crest of the Stars, so naturally (though unfortunately) it was necessary to skip some moments to escape the monologue. The first few episodes of Crest of the Stars proceeded quite slowly, but from episode 6 and onwards the true clinch of the anime comes through in very successful drama.
The adventures explored in Crest of the Stars range from the dramatically tense arena of symbolic war to the idyllic romance between two unlikely lovers. I believe that this amalgamation of genres helps Crest of the Stars appeal to the modern audience even more. It is an enjoyable anime that is filled with intelligence and drollness, and is deceptively simple though it explores a realistically portrayed situation of warfare.
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petran79 |
(2007-11-26 16:46:08) 2006-04-28 11:29:01 |
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| Average |
7.2 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| In terms of managing to adapt a world of a sci-fi novel that even includes a complex artificial language to a total of 39 short episodes, Crest of the Stars and its sequels are perhaps the best effort I've ever seen.
This is a serious anime for patient viewers and it requires many viewings to be understood.
Sometimes I found myself confused as to what was going on. Reading the novels (yet to be translated) is a must to understand what is going on since important factors such as the structure of the Abh language and the Abh's rites are impossible to be covered in a movie. Considering that the author is interested in linguistics, creating such a complex artificial language gives Crest of the Stars a deserved place as one of the best sci-fi series created.
For those like myself who havent read the novels prepare to strain your brain even more to understand what is going on.
Though when I searched a few webpages about the novels I found out that the Abh were in reality descendants of a Japanese colony and their language related to Japanese. So in the novel the Japanese will rule the galaxy in a few millenia.
Reviewing Crest of the Stars separately it is along with Banner of the Stars II & III perhaps the easiest to follow. Banner of the Stars #1 was perhaps one of the most complex sci-fi shows I encountered. So many things took place there and so many interactions that I felt as if I was reading a book. Not here though. Crest of Stars is an introduction to the story, the era and the characters of the novels. It shows the way how a novel adaptation should be made.
Ghintec is forced by his family to become an Abh noble and is sent to a military academy. There he meets Lamhirh, an Abh, and from then on he gets introduced to the world of the Abh. What I found exciting is how the Abh were represented. Their mental and genetical structure is completely different than ordinary humans.Their mentality and way of thougt and the contrast with that of humans, manifested mostly in the interaction between the boy and the girl is worth watching and can cause moments of fun but also moments of tragedy. The rest of the characters make short appearances,mostly decorative, but the two main characters alone are what makes Crest of Stars a must watch.
From the first manga volume it states that within the Abh Empire the Abh population is 25 million, around 200.000 suif (Abh nobles) of which 1600 are considered Voda (landholding nobles within the empire). The nationals are 1 billion and the total population around 9 trillion. Ghintec is a Voda (nothing to do with voda or vodka).
From the start the viewer delves into the vast and exciting world of the novels, where as in every sci-fi novel human kind made huge steps in technology and colonization of other planets. Except the Abh Empire there are 4 other factions: The People's Sovereign Union of Planets, the United Mankind, the Federation of Hania and the Republic of Greater Alcont. Except Hania the other 3 formed an Alliance against the Abh Empire. This war, till the total domination of the Abh is taking place till the last episode of Banner of the Stars.
Crest of Stars includes amazing background info and story, vastly superior to the rest of sci-fi animes and executed and directed in a professional manner that, once used to the pace, will keep the viewer till the final OVA interested.
Only drawback is the animation that makes the characters look extremely ugly. The space battles leave a lot to be desired too. Fortunately later the visuals improve to a tolerable extent.
Music composition on the other hand consists of an epic score and various SFX, representative of a decent sci-fi movie.
Credits to the german fansub group GAX who managed to translate such a difficult anime without many problems.
Tokyopop started translating the novels. I've read the first part of the book Crest of the Stars, titled '"Princess of the Empire'' which was a very good, including a short Abh dictionary as an addendum, so I had to refer to it each time an Abh word was mentioned. I bet if I knew Japanese the reading experience would be much better. There are also some books in Japan exclusively dealing with the Abh language. Judging from the book that covers around half of the anime, the anime has done a very good and accurate adaptation, even if some Abh words had to be omitted or else the fansubbers would have much work to do.
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Avalanche |
(2006-04-06 13:14:45) 2006-03-30 08:42:22 |
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| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Often hailed as Japanese Star Wars, I was at first wary of Sekao no Monshou (Believe it or not, I didnot find any of the Star Wars special.) However, this was a pleasant surprise, Crest of the Stars exceeded my expectations and was an entertaining anime. Basically it's about two people - Princess Lafiel and Count Jinto and their journey to the Abh system. And all the time, this journey is overshadowed by a war between the Abh and an alliance between four other empires. Take a read again of the previous sentence: It is quite similar to Star Wars, isn't it? However, I found it better.
For starters, the story is quite smooth. There is really no other word to describe it. It was unlike many other anime I've seen, its more like a novel (which makes sense considering this is adapted from a novel by Morioka Hirouki.) The story starts out as a flashback, and goes on at its own slow pace, developing slowly but steadily. There was no climax, no cliffhangers - the story just went along in a nice and calm manner. The story can be roughly divided into two streams - the battles between the Abh and the Alliance, the other story about the escape of our two leads. Both were equally enjoyable. Lafiel and Jinto are now my second favurite anime couple (the top goes for Sousuke and Chidori from FMP!) The relationship is quite similar, but only in the exact reverse - Lafiel takes the place of a stoic Sousuke, unable to understand most of the basic human emotions, remaining aloof in most of the situations.Jinto on the other hand is like Chidori (but in a manly way), trying to inculcate such values into our heroine. The have a nice chemistry with each other, and there are a few comic moments between them (however far less than in FMP!) The other part is the newly developed war between the Abh and the Alliance - and the space war scenes were nothing short of excellent. Beautifully orchestrated, they are a must for any space-series fan. However be forewarned, there is not much action in this anime - it is more plot driven rather than action driven.
Till here, there is perhaps nothing bad that can be said about Sekai no Monshou. But once you get to the production this sucks bad. The anime is soooo ancient - I felt as if I was watching Ranma 1/2, which is a 1989 anime (ten years older!!!) Lafiel is not that attratctive, she is kind of gnomy for a princess.And Jinto does not look like 17, he looks like 12. The space fights were not animated quite well. All in all, the animation was way below par. The sound was kinda OK - but not impressive in the least. The opening theme is once again a reminiscense of Star Wars. The ED theme was better though but not out of the remarkable in the slightest. The seiyuu were impressive - Lafiel is believeable as a bossy, naive princess. Jinto seiyuu (done by a female) also does a good job.
Sekai no Monshou remains among the better anime I've seen. Had it not been for the bad animation this series would have been right on the tops. However, even now, I will remember it for its nice story and its nice chemistry between Lafiel and Jinto. I eagerly await the next installment which is currently under my downloading list. Fansubs? Go for anime.fin.
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Earl |
(2005-12-16 08:12:37) 2005-12-16 07:59:50 |
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| Average |
8.3 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| CREST OF THE STARS is probably the second best of the anime about the Humankind Empire Abh. I say this based on the spread-out, epic situation: a human boy, Jinto, has greatness thrust upon him when he is declared an Abh noble in a diplomatic posturing event. He meets the other of our heroes, the Abh princess Lafiel, when she picks him up as the envoy who is supposed to transport him safely to the Abh. The story takes off in earnest when they are attacked by the United Mankind, who oppose the Abh government. The story has just got started, as they are thrown off course into various dangerous situations, one involving a mad, sulky tyrant on a forgotten Abh outpost, their attempts to escape this, and a crash landing on a planet inhabited by more angry humans, where they have an extended land-based adventure which I loved. The end of this series is very creative and unusual and cool.
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Villain |
(2006-08-17 04:30:29) 2005-12-13 12:29:54 |
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| Average |
7.2 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| The beginning of an epic space-opera with a romantic overtone. While Crest of the Stars and its sequels could be called "Japanese Star Wars", this part of the series is actually vastly different from traditional western sci-fi in many ways. The main characters are not great heroes, but merely pawns on a cosmic battlefield, where no-one is thoroughly "good" or "evil".
The central element of the series is the race of Abh, "Kin of the Stars", genetically modified "space-elves" whose massive space-fleets oftentimes clash arms with those of humankind (from which the Abh have evolved). Much of the series is spent introducing the history and culture of the Abh, which unfortunately results in a rather slow pacing. The typical traits and manners of the Abh are portrayed in a most exaggerated way, which sometimes feels a bit tedious, if not outright ridiculous - especially with all the unnecessary theatricals of the Abh military leaders.
Nevertheless, the series is quite mature and serious, and it is very interesting to follow our main protagonist Jinto take his first steps into the life of the Abh. Also, the nicely developing relationship between him and the Abh-princess Lafiel is far superior to most teenage anime-romances. Their oftentimes funny, sometimes awkward and occasionally genuinely deep dialogue is the heart of the series.
The unusual character-designs need some time to get used to, but in the end they look refreshingly original despite their simplicity. Overall, the simple visual style works pretty well, apart from a few unnecessarily "artistic" scenes that seem way too clumsy and outdated for such a relatively recent series. The most obvious weakness of the series are the poorly directed action-scenes that feel very lackluster. Luckily Crest of the Stars does not rely on them too much, concentrating instead on the political drama and the development of the characters. The dramatic semi-classical music fits the mood of the series, but is not used quite as well as it could have been.
There are two intertwining storylines: the adventures of our two main characters and the military-political development between the Abh and the human nations (seen mainly from the Abh point of view). The story is very well written and has plenty of interesting twists, but the execution is a bit lacking in the sense that several times the series concentrates too much on trivial things and leaves much bigger issues a bit undetailed. It is obvious that there has been an abundance of material for this short series, and the creators have had to focus on the aspects they preferred and leave the rest to the imagination of the audience. Luckily we have the sequels.
Another problem is that while Jinto and Lafiel are both rather well developed, practically all the remaining characters are merely one-dimensional caricatures with no development at all. I know this is largely due to the aforementioned lack of time and the sequels will explore some of them deeper, but I still consider the blandness of the side-characters a flaw.
Finally, I must say Crest of the Stars is one of the genuinely well-made series, no matter how subjectively I look at it. Even though it is not quite my kind of an anime due to the few minor issues mentioned above, I can easily recommend it to anyone who's even remotely interested in space-opera or romantic sci-fi. The cheap R1 DVD-collection by Bandai Entertainment, while not necessarily loaded with extras, is in every way a decent release and well worth its pricetag.
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|
| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| COS is a sci-fi war story set in te future in which genetically enhanced humans named Abhs or "kin of stars" have peacefully conquested a large part of the universe, much to de displease of a lot of humanity.
This story is centered around Jinto Lin a human boy who became Abh nobility by his father's "achievements", and Lafiel a princess of the Abh race.
Since square one their relationship is interesting and refreshing, since both have very different personalities and views of the world, jinto being kinda clueless, kind and polite, and Lafiel being arrogant, confident but with a good heart.
Both end up in the middle of the begging of the war between the United mankind and other similar nations, who you can say are jealous and afraid of the Abhs growth, and the Abhs.
The pacing is a bit slow the first 2 episodes but things get interesting very quickly as you get to see how life for humans and abhs differ and later when some of the reasons of the war are revealed.
One thing i like a lot about the show is that the whole universe and cultures are really well thought out and there are lots of interesting details about how the world works, it almost seems legit.
animation is good, though nothing outstading.
music is nice it has an orchestral sound to it and makes me reminscent about Yamato and star wars.
This is a very enjoyable and well thought out story which i look forward to finish experiencing with the sequels
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VyZioN |
(2005-09-16 15:33:15) 2005-09-16 15:32:27 |
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| i dont know what it is...but i dont really see anything special or that really stands out about this anime that made enjoy it to an extreme extent, but maybe thats it...because its so well rounded...a beautiful love story
since i started watching anime like 2-3 years ago i'd guess that i'm used to massive action, fan service, and really good animation...however it seems that most of my favorites dont have any of these 3 aspects (one piece, aishiteruze baby, and possible the SnS series)
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|
|
| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Crest of the Stars is a great science fiction story that is set in a finely crafted epic world. The story follows two teenage Abh nobles in an adventure through a newly started warzone.
Characters in Crest of the Stars are great. Ghintec (Jinto) and Lamhirh (Lafiel), the lead characters, are unique and interesting. Kawasumi Ayako does a very good job of acting Lamhirh, an elegant, bossy (in her royal way) but sometimes naive princess. Jinto, a guy, has a female voice actor, but it suits the character's personality well.
The animation looks a bit old, but it's acceptable even now. The space battles are drawn well and the ships are interesting.
Crest of the Stars soundtrack is well done and fits the anime. The opening isn't the standard anime pop music, which was surprising at first. However, the orchestral theme fits the anime much better than pop music would. It gives it a more epic feel.
Overall, this anime is very enjoyable. There are 2 more seasons following this anime which are also very good, but have a slightly different feel to them as they cover different stages of the protagonists' lives. There will probably be more seasons in the future too.
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|
rande |
(2005-08-11 04:14:40) 2005-08-09 11:12:10 |
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Having watched PlanetES and Infinite Ryvius, I didn't think Crest of the Stars could compete in the sci-fi anime field. Boy was I wrong. While I wouldn't directly compare it to those other two anime, Crest of the Stars could certainly lay a claim to the throne of best sci-fi anime.
Starting at what is perhaps the low point, the animation quality is rather average. The character designs needed a little more flair and uniqueness. The voice-acting was superb and the background music fitting (I liked the sweeping classical scores). The dialogue (and narration monologue) is notably excellent; quite possibly the most involving and well-written dialogue I have heard in anime.
Being based on a series of novels is a huge plus in the form of an epic, involving plot. However, because the series is a trilogy, you will also need to watch the sequel, Banner of the Stars. Supporting the grand plot is a cast of characters vibrant in life with strong, consistent personalities. Jinto is a great male lead and Lafiel likewise female. Their contrasting personalities/backgrounds make for some interesting interactions.
Although, there's no injected humour, Lafiel's straight-to-the-point attitude, flawless logic and cold-heartedness often made me chuckle. The sci-fi elements, especially in relation to the Abh, are very interesting and quite believable. Although I recognise that Crest of the Stars is indeed somewhat niche, I would still recommend it to anyone to try. If you have a particular interest in sci-fi then this is an anime not to be missed.
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|
| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Crest of the Star (including the sequels) are all time top 5 animes candidate, no doubt! This is a solid serious anime, with no comedy, no nonsense and with a strong plot. The voice actors doing the main characters voices in English dub have perfect pronunciation of the English Language WOW! I wish more anime productions follow the type of seriousness used for this anime.
This anime is all plot, plot, and plot …sorry no fillers episodes. The only “problem” (not for me ) with this anime is that sometime is so serious that due to the fact that we all are brainwashed with today’s animes style you get sometime desperate, meaning you want to see fan service, more romance, more action, comedy etc. I know this series isn’t over therefore; I am waiting for the new series, Banner of the Star 3, to be release. So far this anime is a classic however, let wait for the conclusion to do a final verdict. Sci-fi fans you can not miss to see this one.
Music is ok but not that great.
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Ridian |
(2006-01-20 01:08:30) 2005-07-28 01:33:38 |
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| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| It really says a lot when just one 13-episode series can make me grin and laugh more than the funniest of comedies, tighten my grip on my seat more than the most rousing of action-flicks, and feel more than the most poignant of dramas. Throughout the breadth of this marvelously-written series, the viewer is treated to a delightfully complete world, a universe bursting with wonder and mystery and fantastical existence, and cultures so rich and developed that one could pass it off as real. But it doesn't end there; Crest of the Stars further treats us to some of the best dialogue anime has to offer, served by delightfully endearing characters, all amidst the backdrop of an epic war story.
So where could it go wrong? Quite simply, it doesn't. Unless you demand the need to constantly be fed gratuitously cheap fanservice, heaps of sickly-sweet melodrama or tireless action, Crest of the Stars is in many ways an immaculate series. One might argue a lack of completeness, but of course it is part of a trilogy -- a person would not fault a Star Wars movie for not making sense on its own. At any rate, this series is one of the best I've ever seen.
Bringing much of the life to the screen are our two main characters, Jinto and Lafiel. Neither of these people might seem too exceptional at first, but through constant interaction between themselves and others, they become fully-realized and extraordinarily complex people. Watching Lafiel deal with Jinto is quite different than watching her deal with an insane baron, or a subservient maid. The two are absolutely perfect for each other; engrossing dialogue flows between the two endlessly. The script is extremely important in Crest of the Stars...without it, the series would be missing half of its charm.
Writing is often a very underappreciated facet in most animes. Sometimes there is a certain intangible charm that one anime has that a similar one might lack. Some people can perceive this, but few realize that it's actually indescribable subtleties in the writing and direction that lend an anime this freshness and charm. Trying to define all of them is over-obsessive and pointless; it would deprive the very point of crafting the media this way. Crest of the Stars is effused with near-infinite likeability, but you can't scrutinize it too deeply. Be mean to an inferior series...but with this one, just kick back and be sure to enjoy the ride.
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Zero |
(2006-06-14 10:19:48) 2005-07-05 19:24:40 |
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| I bought this series not really expecting much from it. Looked pretty generic on the surface. At any rate, this opinion changed greatly for the better once I started watching. Unique, interesting, involving. Good animation, nice appropriate music, though nothing amazing on that score. Great voice acting, but what really caught me was the characters, which were so much more real to me than any I have seen so far, and I won't try to describe as it might spoil a few things for you. A definite rewatch, I loved it, don't regret buying it in the slightest, and I'll leave it at that.
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