Note: This review is based on KAA fansubs. Recommended.
Quote:
Ever since middle school, we could only see each other. But a distance that takes eight years at the speed of light, is no different than saying, "forever".
Originally created, directed and animated by Shinkai Makoto (Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho; Byousoku 5 Centimeter) Voices of a Distant Star[/b] is a twenty-five minutes long melodramatic OVA set in what appears to be a distant future ready with interstellar travel and centered on two lovestruck adolescents who happen to get separated by a distance of a couple of light years. While this piece also offers some beautifully animated short mecha battles, its core is set on the relationship between its two leads, or rather, on the melancholic feelings their separation evokes.
My opinion of Shinkai Makoto is very mixed to say the least. I see weird people prowling around explaining how big of a genius he is and how all his anime are masterpieces and yada yada, but whenever I decide to actually give his work a try I end up with errr, that's it? feelings; and this comes from a person who has a soft spot for well-refined dramas. To tell the truth, I find Shinkai Makoto's work on the OPs for awesome minori's visual novels far more engrossing than the stuff he writes the script himself for. Nonetheless, I like Shinkai Makoto, be it his awesome OPs, or nice anime; no stuff he produces ever drops below average. At the same time, he hasn't produced any true to the word great stuff yet himself, and, of course, the decent, but not particularly exceptional OVA, Voices of a Distant Star is no exception. It has a clear idea, it implements it well. It gets slightly rushed at times, but the overall plot never breaks and remains interesting from the beginning to the end. However, this OVA is certainly not a creation to linger in one's head for a very long time, as even though it is indeed beautiful, Hoshi no Koe is still a simple love story with very little character development in the core.
Animation: 7/10
Unlike in the the eye dazzling minori's OPs Shinkai Makoto offers some really horrible character designs in this show. Our two leads are badly drawn to such extent that your brains might refuse to input their images in the human form library; I personally found them very similar to overgrown beavers... Rodentia Order. It is really a shame that beings with such messed up proportions are treated to the Shinkai Makoto's usual breathtaking background scenery and masterful use of lighting effects (though I must say this particular skill evolved great lengths during the years he was active - just check ef ~the latter tale~ op). The few space fighting moments are very nicely animated making you wish Gundam animators had as much energy and skill; there is little to nothing to gripe at when it comes to fluidity. All in all, horrible character designs bring the overall feel of animation down quite a bit, but when they are not on screen - be ready to treat yourself to some really refined visual pleasures.
Sound: 8/10
Voice of a Distant Star never stuck in my head for long, so by re-watching it for the damn fourth time (again hoping to find where exactly that proclaimed genius of it is hidden) I found its music surprisingly familiar. Then I check it, and whoa, it's the Tenmon (ef ~tale of melodies~)! I know him better for composing music for minori's visual novels, but it seems he is also a good friend of Shinkai Makoto, good enough to compose music for all his shows. And I must say, Tenmon is one of the best composers in the business when it comes to composing melancholic themes, some of his violin and piano compositions are worth buying. So no wonder music is what I like the most in this show. Still, while he does indeed offer many high level heart soothing melodies in Hoshi no Koe, none of them struck me strong enough to make me rip the particular theme out and put it into my mp3 player (and you bet, some of his other works did).
Voice-acting is... mhm, adequate for the most part. While not particularly professional (as the show was voiced by Shinkai himself also borrowing the help of his wife) voice stage sounds fresh and still believable.
Story: 6/10
The best thing about the story in Hoshi no Koe is that it never wastes time. Worst thing about it - it is too short. Even though the idea goes through, I found this OVA over before I even had a chance to start feeling emotional. Still, even if it was a bit longer, I don't think two separated adolescents is that much of a heartbreaking theme; nor is it particularly original (though the mail system was indeed a nice and original touch). Since the whole melancholic atmosphere is probably the most important factor in the enjoyment of this show, I recommend watching Voice of a Distant Star during time when you are sure no one will disturb you (best at night).
You could go and say that there are limits to what can be done with a show no longer than twenty-five minutes (and of course you would be right, but I'm not doing charity work here), but there are also examples of deep philosophical sci-fi stories in such mediums *cough* Pale Cocoon. And I say, Pale Cocoon is three times the masterpiece Hoshi no Koe is.
Characters: 5/10
From the beginning to the end the two characters of this show are not particularly interesting. I mean, the protagonist is a normal guy living a normal life and heroine is a normal girl piloting robots few light years away from earth (for some reason). They like... or rather love each other. That's it; all the foreshadowing there is. I know not of a single original trait belonging to one of them, and if they were exchanged by another lovestruck couple nothing would in essence look different. Well, the guy appears to have a liking of introspective melancholy, but that's about it. However, considering quite a lot of stuff happens in the plot, I must say that characters do cope with their situations pretty well. Voice of a Distant Star is also pretty good at making you believe that those characters develop (though of course you can't trace it since you have no idea what state they even start from). It is still nice, however, that the protagonist has enough backbone to make an important decision near the end.
Value: 6/10
Okay, this grade might be a little bit contradicting to the fact that I have watched this show four times, but I must stress, I didn't really have that much fun with it during consecutive watches. The only reason why I have re-watched Voices of a Distant Star so many times is that I simply forget it very easily, and whenever there is a discussion about it or something (in this particular case writing a review) I have to re-watch it to remember what the hell is it about. Anyway, nice animation and good music is certainly a thing worthy to be experienced twice; would not say the same thing about the plot, it's just okay.
- Conclusion[/u]:[/b] Voices of a Distant Star is a refined twenty-five minutes long melodramatic OVA regarded as a masterpiece by many (I don't understand them, frankly). If you enjoy melancholic stories and have an evening to spare - give this show a shot, you might or might not be disappointed, but a couple of minutes isn't that much of wasted time is it? Of course, if you've liked Shinkai Makoto's later works, Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Bashou or Byousoku 5 Centimeter; you likely have already seen this show, if not, what you are waiting for? Personally I don't think it is as good as his two movies, but they have their similarities. If you simply enjoy watching anime shorts however, then I'd recommend Pale Cocoon and Comedy
