The stage, and by proxy the world, draws us in and gives us purpose

But so do we shape the stage and thus the world

And so do we give it purpose

Life is a personal experience, passions formed from within us

Many can be selfish and greedy at times

But to deny the communal aspect of life and passions is to deny life itself

Our glimmers are ours yet they can merge with others, bounce off of them, reflect them, change them, morph them and morph with them, and be reborn.

Our starlight is not some unreachable top spot, but life itself and those people in it, is reaching for it.

A work that is far from perfect, with arguably rather thin character writing for a lot of the cast, but so committed to its grand exploration of the stage and passion, and by proxy life and human connections, that it comes across as oh so sincere and powerful.

As much as several characters may embody specific tropes and dynamics, it works within the theatrical nature of the show, and their tropes and dynamics feel earned and earnest. Simplicity can hit hard when done right. The character writing, which could be seen as thin, becomes a lens to explore certain feelings, with the theatrical backdrop to express them.

Characters such as Banana are of particular note here, and the way the show choses to explore her character tendencies, and how this in turn impacts others, and the thematic messages of the show around critiquing its brand of competition, and urging the importance of healthy human connection. Pairs may have dynamics, but they can be healthy ones

A work that suffered from a messy production, barely scraping though, yet that pulled out all the stops when needed.

A work of such theatrical heart, and straightforward yet resultantly honest bombast and thematic care. Ambitious and not always successful, but incredible for when it is. Love and connection transcending barriers.

If I was to sell anyone on this show I would simply tell them to watch the first episode, show them screenshots and clips of all the moments where the team were able to truly pull off the Revue scenes like they wanted. However, the show truly shines through with its end.

Alongside Kyousougiga and other favourites, this reaffirms a large part of my love for anime as a medium. Simple yet resonant tales told with such care and grandeur. Grand visuals for a straightforward (yet resultantly grand) heart. Fantasy and maximalist art as a lens to express.

A show who’s thematic power is summed up in one very short scene built up to right at the end, now one of my favourite scenes in anything ever. A change in perspective.

See the mentioned scene below:

Grasping for the stars yet staying grounded, Revue Starlight is an ambitious work that certainly stole my heart.