Five Star Stories

I first became aware of this show from posters in hobby stores advertising the very cool Knight of Gold model kit. I had never heard of the series before moving to Japan but I thought the range of kits all look quite appealing so investigated, saw the manga was fairly long (and still ongoing) and that there was an OVA and so decided to save time and watch that instead.

I was very pleasantly surprised and glad that I did. This is exactly the kind of strange "retro-futuristic" sci fi that I enjoy. Whether coincidental or intentional, there is a resemblance to Frank Herbert's writing in its depiction of futuristic neo feudalism which is very excellently depicted, conveying a sense of coherency in visual design with a divers array of costuming and visuals. There is a very pleasing depiction of an arabesque desert planet that suits so well that late showa-period colour palette (think of Trigun or Cowboy Bebop) but the world is imaginatively depicted and never feels monotonous.

I was initially unsure of the hyper stylised depictions of human faces, which to some extent resemble older, angular BL style characters, but there is actual significance behind the art direction which makes it appropriate. The characters are all very well performed, with the highlight being the "mirage knights" and the always excellent Wakamoto Norio whose down to earth gruffness provides a more human wedge in amongst the very remote cast, generally.

The weakest element is, I think, the plot which is well paced - at no point does the story feel sluggish or rushed - but overly concise. Time constraints require that the story fairly whips along, which is no bad thing, but in conjunction with the very obviously detailed conceit and setting, means that concentration is mandatory for the, ultimately fairly shallow love story, to resonate with the viewer. A little more time with the protagonist and his love interest (or friend) would have served handily.

One can imagine this very much delighting fans of the manga, but to newcomers it isn't entirely "welcoming". I didn't find this to be a downside, however, as it creates a sense of confidence and certainty. The events feel weighty, even if we are not necessarily privy to the details of that weight.

The most surprising aspect, to me, was how sparse the actual depiction of giant robots is. I love the design of all of them present - but they have about 5 minutes total screen time, and there's nothing in the way of a battle, more of an excellently animated massacre. Nevertheless, I did not feel cheated, merely surprised.

The music is sparse but pleasant, evocative of Ravel and to some extent some of the music from Gunbuster.

Overall, a very strong recommendation for any fans of science fiction anime.