Space Brothers

Plot

99 episodes may be daunting but this sheer length is needed to display the whole journey of becoming an astronaut. It symbolises the tedious process astronauts have to go through to step into space. In fact, even 99 episodes were not enough for us to see everyone’s dream come true. Every episode was necessary and it never felt draggy at any point. The show managed to cement Mutta’s and Hibito’s desire to go through space by giving us sneak peeks into their childhood. I really liked these flashbacks as it showed their innocence when they were younger and they were never afraid to dream. It also displayed their unbreakable bond and shared dream. I particularly liked the parts where Mutta turned back to moments in childhood to solve problems as an adult. Even if you are not a fan of space, you can still relate to these young boys about dreaming big and being imaginative. The show helps to strike this reliability through its realistic portrayals. Yes, this show is very realistic.

My only complaint with the plot was that they pulled the suspense too much. When it came to announcing results for a selection, we will only know the results only after 2 episodes or so. However, these reveals may be expected or unexpected. The show gives us insight into the ups and downs of being an astronaut. Notable points include the multiple rounds of selection, the importance of teamwork, and never giving up. Even after becoming an astronaut, you face the uncertainty of being sent on missions, the dangers of missions and family commitments. I liked that the show emphasised on the support system within NASA and JAXA, whose role is to send astronauts into space. During one arc, it was clearly shown how JAXA and NASA worked collaboratively to solve an issue and the agencies really do care about their astronauts. The success of space mission does not rest solely on the astronauts but also the people on the ground who guide them. We generally do not know what goes on behind the scenes for rocket launches but the show gave us some insight into it.

Space brothers also features many philosophical moments and the ideologies that the characters follow to make their decisions. As mentioned before, Mutta does fall back on childhood experiences to guide him to make decisions as an adult and in training, even though it may be the least expected one. This makes the show meaningful and there is something the viewers can learn as well. The show may be about something as niche as space but the lessons learnt can be applied in any context.

Characters

There were a variety of characters from all walks of life. However, what connected them was their shared desire to go to space. They even differed in their purpose for going to space which made their backstories unique. It may be to reach the moon or it may be just the sheer curiosity of what lies outside of earth. Serika’s reason intrigued me the most as I never imagined that medicines could be made differently in space. I also found it interesting that they even included astronomers who have an equal passion for space. Through Sharon and the brothers, we learn that astronauts are the vehicle to make astronomer's dreams come true.

Mutta’s and Hibito’s parents were highly entertaining and contributed to the comedy aspect of the show. Despite not knowing anything about space, they still supported their sons and expressed curiosity in whatever they did. Watching the family scenes made me appreciate the brothers’ achievements: coming from a humble background, they stood side by side with NASA astronauts and Hibito even achieved celebrity status. You will definitely get attached to the characters, feel happy for them, feel sad for them and feel nervous for them. Some scenes will definitely strike a chord like anticipating exam results or feeling like you can never be able to achieve certain things.

Animation

The animation was fine. The comedic parts were very well done and made the show really fun to watch. Facial expressions were also entertaining. The OST was great. The slow piano, the iconic motivational music as well as the dreamy music elevated the enjoyment of watching the show. I really got goosebumps in some of the scenes. There are 8 pairs of OP and EDs and the visuals were really creative for all of them. I’d say OP1 (feel so moon) and ED3 (tete) stuck to me the most.

Overall, the show gave a good glimpse of the journey of becoming an astronaut and even what is in store after. I can safely say I learnt a lot from this show although I'm not a big fan of space. Space brothers is certainly for everyone and there are many life lessons to take away.