[Categories: OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
Crest of the Stars, revisited
You have Ghostlightning partly to blame for this. His insightful side-by-side analysis of Frontier’s Ranka and CotS’s Lafiel was a bit of an exercise in comparing apples and oranges in some ways but it reminded me of how much I enjoyed the first adaptation of Hiroyuki Morioka’s series of science fiction novels. I’m actually starting on the English language versions, if nothing else to remind me how it avoided becoming a forgettable Legend of the Galactic Heroes clone through its characterisation and world-building. Oh yeah, I lay into an ‘expert opinion’ after the jump too.
My appreciation of CotS is twofold: it creates an entire universe as background for its story, but crucially remembers to fill the stage with memorable faces that bring this story to life. Coming back to one of my old DVD favourites after all this time means that I have a good couple of years worth of anime viewing behind me too, including other space operas of varying lengths and vintage; and of course I was able to concentrate on the little details that I may have missed in trying to follow the plot the first time around. The “When will the Banner of the Stars R2 DVDs come out?” feeling came back with a vengeance too, I might add.
I love the bits of narration that kick off each episode, for a start. They’re a neat way of moving away from the Star Wars Opening Crawl concept but more importantly, at least for me, are one instance where Morioka’s imagination shines> The narration is spoken in Baronh, the language of the Abh so you’re immediately aware of the fact that an entire language has been created pretty much from scratch. The opening animation sequence is interesting too: it has the typical strident orchestral music to accompany it but the static images of planets, nebulae and constellations tell you NOTHING about the characters or story that follow, beyond the fact that it’s a fairly serious piece and it’s obviously set in outer space. It’s a minimalist way of introducing a TV show episode but it works.
What makes CotS less serious and mature perhaps but more accessible and digestible than the Yoshiki Tanaka-style space opera is the dynamic between the two leads - one that could have been an overt romance with all the tiresome tropes and needless complications that accompany it, but instead took a subtly different route. The setup that results from Jinto’s and Lafiel’s respective situations features a curiosity and affection of sorts, but wisely avoids feelings derived from infatuation or any emotions shoehorned in to further the plot. Two young people are thrown together and we explore their universe through following the events that unfold around them; rather than chart the ups and downs of a romantic relationship, devotion develops seemingly on its own accord and leaves love triangles and melodorama to the experts in such things (namely Shoji Kawamori).
According to my trusty copy of the Anime Encyclopedia (it’s just nice sometimes to have a reference source to hand without having to boot up my laptop) Lafiel is portrayed as “an elfen space-bimbo” and goes on to criticise the dialogue-heavy narrative and the less-than-showy animation. I disagree. Granted, it shows its age a bit in terms of visual polish but the 90s-era character designs hold a certain charm for me, and the combat scenes feel more like a homage to the older space operas (you know who you are). The fact that the battleships don’t zoom about like rocket-propelled insects, or the deadpan way in which the combat is orchestrated gives a better sense of scale; I dare anyone to watch the battle of the Gosroth and not be moved by it either.
An heir to the galactic throne does of course require a cat
I’m also really defensive about the way in which the characters are portrayed. The two leads are pretty dignified given their age and situation: their position is fairly unique both within their universe and the genre as a whole. Jinto is learning how to inhabit his role as he goes along, using what he’s learned in training and education to adapt to new situations and problems; Lafiel is actually an even more interesting character, which I suppose is inevitable given that Jinto is the lens that the viewer sees the CotS universe through.
I can understand why Ghostlightning (half-)devoted a blog post to her, but I find the Anime Encyclopedia’s antipathy towards her to be perplexing. How exactly does a sixteen-year old high-ranking member of galactic royalty with military training behave? If there’s otaku-pandering and fan service in this series, I must have blinked and missed it because Lafiel is a textbook example of how a female protagonist can be portrayed, but often isn’t. Her verbal sparring match with Baron Febdash is fantastic; her painfully obvious vulnerability when experiencing a surface world for the first time (OMG! Vulnerability! She must be moe!) when the person she’s tasked with protecting is getting by just fine, is easily convincing enough.
Taking one character who is trying to keep up with a changing world and find his place in it, then throw him into the crossfire of a galactic war alongside a character who has so far been unable to interact with others without her aristocratic lineage getting in the way, is a great way to start a journey of exploration and at the same time portray how these far-reaching events affect the protagonists’ personal growth and development. The moments of humorous misunderstandings add to the entertainment rather than detract from it I think, especially when there’s a lot of politics and wide-angle interstellar combat going on. If there weren’t such memorable and engaging central characters at its core, I probably wouldn’t have found this show half as entertaining.
A limitation of the anime’s running time (my first cursory glances at the novels suggest that it isn’t quite as noticeable in the source material, although no doubt I’ll cover them here sooner or later) is that of exploring the side-stories and supporting cast, so there are some fascinating idividuals who pop up for an episode or two and aren’t revisited. what’s most interesting is how the Abh are portrayed as the typical alien invaders initially but are gradually humanised as we learn more about them.
All hail the Lady of Chaos
Here the humans are the antagonists, and the aliens are shown as both galactic warriors and…people. The younger Febdash is an arrogant, foolish racist; Captain Lexshu’s maternal affection for her crew speaks volumes; Admiral Trife is an able tactician who makes good use of information presented to him but his unpopular with his subordinates; Grand Duchess Spoor is given the nickname ‘the Lady of Chaos’ for her unparalleled courage and talent in battle that hides behind a façade of playfulness and eccentricity. I actually found myself rooting for the alien invaders in this case, not despite of their human flaws and quirks, but because of them.
Ghostlightning hit the nail on the head when showing appreciation for the epic scope of the story, but also noticing the ‘banter’ between Jinto and Lafiel and between crew members on the Abh ships, which makes wide-reaching events more personal. It’s easy to forget that when whole planets are locked in combat there are individuals who are affected - be they Abh, human, both/neither (as in Jinto’s case), maids on a mining planet, freedom fighters or downtrodden detectives; thirteen episodes are indeed hardly enough for all this, I admit. But then, there are the books sitting on my shelf, then two seasons and an OAV of Banner of the Stars begging to be imported. It’s not LotGH, nor does it presume to be. Crest of the Stars is its own entity, and I still love it.
If you happen to share my fascination with the series by the way, you may find The Abh Nation to be Relevant To Your Interests. Now, SLEEP GET.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 3:23 am
It’s nice to see some of the older BBT animes getting some love once in a while. I have no familiarity with the source material (though I imagine it to be quite something), I hold the Crest of the Stars series in great esteem. This might be imagined, but I see many similarities between the CotS adaption with the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy adaption. To put it succinctly before I get off on a tangent, Crest of the Stars, and accompanying sequels Banner of the Stars I and II, are one of the few true anime masterpieces that I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. A more elegant anime for a more civilized age.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 4:11 am
Seriously good series, just not enough of it. I think the big draw for me is the creator’s world, the characters, and the slight tension that occurs throughout the stories. Gotta love the subtleties, and a world that you can actually dream in…. highly involving.
This is the sort of series that makes lovers of the media.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 4:29 am
I just rewatched this a few months ago, too, and loved it once again. Lafiel is one of the greatest characters in all anime (or at least all anime that I’ve seen). I can’t imagine what the writer of the Anime Encyclopedia article can have been thinking. “Space bimbo” is exactly what she’s not. I’ll stick with the group wisdom of Wikipedia.
Just as Ryan A said, this is one of the series that made me love this medium.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 4:40 am
Crest is great stuff, and in some ways I prefer it over the original novels >_>
But Banner of the Stars, oh how lovely thou art.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 5:52 am
The one thing that I did not like about Crest of the Stars and Banner of the Stars I and II is that they never did develop United Mankind. It’s a minor quibble but It would have been nice to put a face on the opposing force as they were blown to bits.
Grand Duchess Spoor is my hero, in fact many of the female captains in Crest and Banner are vastly different from any other series for their ability to credibly think about a tactical problem. Just wait until you meet the blokes from Banner I am sure you will be pleased.
The relationship between Jinto and Lafiel was handled in a much more dignified and subtle way, such a pity that it is over as an anime franchise.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 6:11 am
Oh happy day! A Crest of the Stars post!
I can’t really explain it, but I’m glad that this is anime. I may change my mind later when I get around to reading the books (I have the first volume of the manga and the character designs are ugly and killed my willingness to read it). I feel that it is an example of what can be told through the anime medium, how nuanced and meaty the dialogue and the characters can get.
I agree that part of how the series showed its class is through the restraint it held on developing the relationship between Jinto and Lafiel. It’s beautiful and I prize this kind of storytelling. I do say here that I sometimes wish that they do gave in to the cheesy romantic tropes if there will be a continuation of the story. I’ve been rooting for Jinto the whole series, and a kiss… hell, a few kids between the two would be fine by me. Be glad that I’m not the one calling the shots!
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 7:38 am
I’m so glad that this excellent series is finally getting attention! I feel that the Ahb are really one of the most well conceived “alien races” in anime, if not science fiction in general. This is the kind of world building we need to see more often.
@ Martin
If you haven’t seen the rest of the series, you must! Especially Banner II which rivals Crest as the best of the series. Even Banner III (which looks like it could serve as the ending of the animated series) is a fitting farewell to the universe.
@ Crusader
Grand Duchess Spoor is indeed awesome! I find it funny how ghostlightning tells me that you are an even bigger Sheryl fan than me, looks like we have more than that in common! My favorite Spoor moment: Her negotiation with the United Mankind Admiral in Banner II. Sheer WIN.
Mechafetishs last blog post..Only in the Philippines: a national love affair with a combining super robot
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
I guess this post makes me feel better about not affording the Anime Encyclopedia.
I’ve waxed lyrical about Crest before, so you already know I agree with you on its quality and on the need for its sequels to be released here. Crusader raises an interesting point about the United Mankind. As far as I recall all we get about them is an excerpt from one of their propaganda videos, which is more about how they perceive the Abh.
Are there any Legend of the Galactic Heroes clones? I haven’t looked very hard, but I couldn’t think of any offhand - and it’s the kind of clone I’d be interested in watching . . .
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Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
@Kadian1364: I can see where you’re going with the LotR comparisons. I’ll be reviewing the novels in due course but for now all I can say is they include a bit more than the anime did. Detective Kite is given only a couple of lines of background in the anime, but there are several paragraphs explaining his origins in the novel.
@Ryan A: subtleties indeed. I don’t think the nuances in body language and designs of the mecha and vehicles don’t get enough credit; it’s a complex universe, whose surface is merely scratched here.
@hashihime: I don’t understand how Lafiel could be misunderstood either! She’s the gutsiest and most entertaining female lead I’ve seen outside of a Miyazaki movie, and definitely not a fanservice character at all.
@Omo: there’s the issue of whether certain things work better in a visual medium, but I don’t think Morioka intended them to be adapted that way at first. It certainly works well in the animated format - the facial expressions and banter shouldn’t be restricted to print on a page!
@Crusader: I’d like to see the human side given a bit more attention - they are after all the opponents in the conflict. I would certainly add a more balanced perspective but I suspect the story decided to concentrate on exploring the Abh culture instead. I can’t wait to see what ‘chaos’ Spoor wreaks in Banner though!
@ghostlightning: I don’t think I’ll track down the manga for this series - the novels and the anime give a full enough grasp of the bigger picture for me. ‘Restraint’ is the key in the Jinto/Lafiel dynamic, although I’d like to see less of their feelings left to the imagination by the end. Maybe Morioka is leaving that resolution for his final novel…?
@mechafetish: I think I’ll make a start on Banner in the new year..need to survive Christmas first though! You might be surprised how many Sheryl fanboys there are among us by the way…
@IKnight: The AE is useful, but it doesn’t have the advantage of constant updates for new shows that the likes of ANN and Wiki have. Furthermore, the contributors are more or less the only well-known ’serious’ UK anime critics so I guess fans are reluctant to disagree with them, even though they’re as prone to occasional mistakes of judgment as anyone else. In terms of LotGH, I suppose I had Tytania in mind here (which is very similar indeed…in a good way of course), and perhaps Star Wars. The …Stars franchise is more appealing to me than anything George Lucas can come up with, though.
Posted on November 6th, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
I think the focus is deliberately on Jinto and Lafiel because after all, normal humans are just that. In covering things from Jinto’s perspective, it makes sense to focus on the new world that he’s exploring. And I guess the idea is that we would already know how the United Mankind would operate normally. Banner II focuses more on an area associated with the United Mankind, but even then, it’s not a normal situation on that area.
The characters and character interactions are the best part of the show, no doubt. :3
Posted on November 7th, 2008 @ 6:18 am
@ Crusader, IKnight
-What The Big N said-
The consequence of not having a developed United Mankind as a character group/antagonist is that we do feel that something’s missing: as if the whole show can feel like the propaganda that the UM broadcasts to its population, only this time promoting the Abh, and ever more subtly.
That said, it also gives us a stronger experience of Jinto’s isolation. We see how dependent he is on Lafiel, which is beautifully balanced by how she depends on him in her own fashion.
The Abh is the subject of the narrative, and the whole thing works as well as it does because we get to know this alien world through the eyes of a n00b like Jinto.
Posted on November 7th, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
crest/banner of the stars are indeed awsome, and probably has some of the best and most intense space combat in any anime.
my biggest gripe with the series was the shape of Jintos head, and to some degree that bannerIII never felt like a good enough ending.
oh, and the themepark episode was awsome; heroic robotic horses and everything!
Posted on November 8th, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
Glad to hear someone else is looking into the light novels! I reviewed them a while back, and it really added to my overall appreciation both of Hiroyuki’s universe and Sunrise’s excellently executed adaptation of the novel. Tokyopop also did an amazing job translating the novels, and it’s a pity that many of their other projects didn’t receive the same level of care and attention.
Like you and Ghostlightning pointed out, one of the key things that make Crest of the Stars so special is the balance between the vastness of his setting and the personal, living characters inside it. I also agree that a less unbiased portrayal of the United Mankind forces would have added significantly to the story.
I’ll be interested to read your opinion on the novels once you’ve finished reading.