::01:06:09::

::: Voices of a Distant Star :::

By ~ Apollo

This movie is directed by the same person who created 5 Centimeters per Second, so the quality is obviously there. This story is narrated in one 25 minute OVA. It doesn’t sound like you can fit much into that, but director Mikato Shinkai does a fantastic job and has placed yet another story up there with the best of them. Some of the best artists and/or writers are able to convey their message with either very few strokes of the brush or very few lines or paragraphs. Well Mikato Shinkai delivers a beautiful and top notch story in 25 minutes. That makes him one of the best anime directors in my book.

The story is about two people in love obviously. On one hand we have Noboru, a normal teenage boy who matures into a young man as our story progresses. Opposite him is Mikako, Noboru’s talented love interest who is selected for a space expedition to rid planet earth of its alien enemies. Communication between the two is reduced to text messages between cell phones. As Mikako and the space expedition venture farther and farther into the depths of space, it takes longer and longer for their texts to reach each other. First its hours, then hours turn into days, days into months, and months turn into several years. The strain on their relationship is apparent as communication between them decreases as the distance between them increases. It is amazing how this short story can pull you in after such a short amount of time.

Visually the anime has its own style, but its not overwhelming. We also have to remember that the point is not to get lost in wondrous visuals, but to enjoy the touching story that is being delivered. It is a relief to say that the visuals do not in any way impede or deter us from enjoying this fantastic tale. The score is actually quite good.

You have to understand what you are in for before you watch this. You are going to watch a sad and painful love story that actually does pull you in even though it is so short. If you haven’t watched anime drama before, you need to be patient. The story is really good. In fact it is exceptional. It is for a very mature and patient crowd, who understand that anime can shine in many ways and that fighting or action is not an essential part of it.

Grade: A