The appeal and evaluation of Odin: Starlight, a space adventure masterpiece anime

Odin Photon Sailing Ship Starlight - Mysteries of the Universe and Epic Adventures

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

August 10, 1985 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toei

■ Eirin Number

111771

■Frequencies

139 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original idea: Yoshinobu Nishizaki

■ Director

Director: Toshio Masuda, Takeshi Shirato, Eiichi Yamamoto

■ Production

Produced by Toei Animation, West Cape Corporation

■ Story

The year is 2099. The photon sailing ship Starlight leaves the space colony City of Einstein for Jupiter. The ship was built over 20 years and is a cutting-edge spaceship equipped with a gravity control system. The crew consists of Captain Takeshi Suzuka, Deckmaster Kuramoto, and a group of young trainees. The spaceship Alford is destroyed by the Scaenos asteroids, and Starlight heads off to rescue it. Akira Tsukuba, who was unable to board the Starlight because he punched his instructor, follows in a state-of-the-art fighter jet. A girl named Sarah is rescued from the only intact escape pod. Soon, Starlight is hit by a magnetic storm. It seems that the enemy distinguishes between manmade and natural objects and only attacks manmade objects. Under enemy attack, they desperately try to escape, but are caught in a distortion in space and end up near Uranus. Sarah points out that a spaceship is buried on the surface of Uranus' moon Oberon. A computer memory device was retrieved from the spaceship, and it was discovered that the spaceship had come from the planet Odin, which is in the Canopus star system in the Argo constellation, 20,000 years ago. The existence of a mysterious distortion point in space was also revealed. The captain received orders from Earth and is about to return. However, the crew, who want to experience an encounter with an alien, lock the captain, the boatswain, and others in a room and launch Starlight toward the planet Odin. Sarah says that Odin is calling her, though she doesn't know why. After passing the distortion point, Starlight goes into space where the Tripole triple star system is located. A person who calls himself Earthgod stands in their way and sends countless mecha troops, but Starlight barely holds out. The person riding the combat mecha is a cyborg. It turns out that the Queen of Odin, who was struck by a disaster 20,000 years ago, sent her genes into space. Sarah is her descendant, and the Nordic Odin legend tells of an event that occurred 20,000 years ago. The Odinians mechanized themselves and became cyborgs. Computers have evolved and begun to control humans instead. Tsukuba, Mamoru, Nekoda and others infiltrate the Bergel Cluster Unit, which serves as the command center, and succeed in destroying it thanks to their efforts. The injured Captain Suzuka dies, saying, "It is up to you to carve out a path to an unknown world."

■Explanation

A science fiction anime about a spaceship called Starlight that encounters a mysterious alien creature in outer space and engages in a fierce battle. The screenplay was written by Kazuo Kasahara, Toshio Masuda, and Eiichi Yamamoto based on an original idea by Yoshinobu Nishizaki. The general director is Toshio Masuda of "Love Departure," and the cinematographer is Shigeyoshi Ikeda.

■Cast

Toshio Furukawa Hideyuki Hori Keiko Han Goro Naya Gentaro Ishida Noboru Matsuhashi Takeshi Kato Toru Furuya Noriaki Wakamoto Kazuya Sogabe Tsubasa Shioya

■ Main staff

・Producer / Nishizaki Yoshinobu・Executive Producer / Nishizaki Yoshinobu・Planning / Nishizaki Yoshinobu・Original Story / Nishizaki Yoshinobu・Producer / Katsumata Guji・Production company / Toei Animation・Screenplay / Kasahara Kazuo, Masuda Toshio, Yamamoto Eiichi・Director / Masuda Toshio, Shirato Takeshi, Yamamoto Eiichi・Settings brains / Mikuriya Satomi, Toyoda Aritsugu, Yamamoto Hideaki, Fujikawa Keisuke・Storyboard / Shirato Takeshi, Endo Seiji・Animation directors / Udagawa Kazuhiko, Kaneda Yoshinobu, Kakuta Koichi, Endo Seiji, Kogawa Tomonobu, Takahashi Shinya・Animation character design / Kogawa Tomonobu, Takahashi Shinya・Cinematography / Ikeda Shigeyoshi・Music / Miyagawa Yasushi, Haneda Kentaro, Takasaki Akira, Ameno Masamichi, Anzai Fumitaka・Art / Katsumata Geki, Tsuji Tadanao・Sound recording / Hayashi Shohei・Editing / Senkura Yutaka・Narration / Naya Goro

■ Review

"Odin: Starlight" is a Japanese anime film released in 1985, known for its epic story and beautiful visuals. This is a science fiction anime that depicts the mysteries of the universe and human curiosity, and is a work that combines visual appeal with profound themes.

First, let's talk about the story. Set in the future of 2099, the film begins with the photon sailing ship Starlight setting sail for Jupiter. The ship is equipped with a state-of-the-art gravity control system, and the crew is excited about the new adventure. However, they encounter a mysterious extraterrestrial creature in space, and a fierce battle ensues. This story is not just an adventure story, but delves deeply into the relationship between humans, technology, and unknown beings. In particular, the presence of a young girl named Sarah adds a mysterious element to the story and plays an important role in drawing the viewer in.

Next, we will evaluate the visuals. For an anime from the 1980s, this work boasts very advanced visuals. The spaceship designs and battle scenes were drawn using the technology of the time, and have a strong visual impact. The background art is also beautiful, conveying the vastness and mystery of space. In particular, the scene on Uranus' moon Oberon exudes a fantastical atmosphere and is visually appealing.

Let's also touch on the characters. The main character, Captain Takeshi Suzuka, is a man of leadership and courage who leaves a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the young characters such as Akira Tsukuba and Sarah also portray their own growth and struggles, adding depth to the story. The acting of the cast is also excellent, and in particular the expressiveness of Toshio Furukawa and Keiko Han as voice actors conveys the emotions of the characters realistically.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The music, created by Tai Miyagawa and other composers, enhances the magnificent atmosphere of space and stirs the emotions of the viewer. The music, especially in the battle scenes, heightens the tension and excitement, giving even more power to the development of the story.

Finally, let's consider the theme of this work. "Odin: Starlight" depicts the relationship between humans, technology, and unknown beings. The plot, in which the people of the planet Odin mechanize themselves and are ultimately controlled by computers, symbolizes the evolution of technology and its effects in modern society. In addition, through Sarah's existence, the theme of inheritance of genes and memories is also depicted, encouraging deep reflection in the viewer.

■Recommendation

"Odin: Starlight" is recommended not only for sci-fi anime fans, but also for viewers who enjoy profound themes. In particular, it is a must-see for those who are interested in the mysteries of the universe and human curiosity. It is also an appealing work for those who want to enjoy the visuals and music of 1980s anime.

To enjoy this work even more, please also refer to the following related works and materials.

■ Related works

• "Space Battleship Yamato" series - A sci-fi anime also set in space, it features an epic storyline and beautiful visuals.
• "Galaxy Express 999" - A work that depicts the relationship between humans and machines, it shares a common theme with "Odin: Starlight."
• "Mobile Suit Gundam" series - A work that delves deeply into the themes of war and technology, encouraging deep reflection in the viewer.

References

• "Odin: Starlight" Official Guidebook - Includes detailed explanations of the work and interviews with the staff.
• "The History of Science Fiction Anime" - A book that provides an in-depth explanation of the history of science fiction anime and its influence.
• "The Art of Animation" - A book that delves deep into the background art of anime, including the visuals of "Odin: Starlight."

Above is a summary of the review and recommendation for "Odin: Starlight". This is a sci-fi anime that combines visual appeal with profound themes, making it well worth watching. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.