Crest of the Stars Special Edition: A Reevaluation of the Fascinating Space Adventure

Crest of the Stars Special Edition - A story that spreads to the edge of the universe and its charm

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

novel

■ Broadcast period

April 7, 2000 - January 1, 2000

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW

■Frequencies

90 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original author: Hiroyuki Morioka

■ Director

・Director: Yasushi Nagaoka

■ Production

・Produced by Sunrice

■Works

©Hiroyuki Morioka/Hayakawa Publishing ©Sunrise

■ Story

The distant future of space. In the distant future, humanity has formed thousands of interstellar nations in space, and many different races live there. A race called the "Arves" have genetically engineered bodies that are best suited to the outer space, and they have built a powerful empire that dominates half of the universe: the "Arves Human Empire."
One day, the planet Martin is suddenly invaded by the "Empire of Humanity by the Arves." Jint Lin, the son of the head of government, becomes an Arve nobleman against his will through his father's political maneuvering, and leaves his home planet while being called a traitor. As Jint heads to the imperial capital to fulfill his noble duty of military service, he is greeted at the spaceport by the beautiful and proud granddaughter of the Arve Emperor, Raphael. Jint, an earthling but an Arve nobleman, and Raphael, a princess but a military apprentice, the two, who both felt lonely among the privileged class, are bound by a mysterious affinity from the moment they met.
On the way to the imperial capital, the warship they are on suddenly comes under attack from an enemy country. After receiving an evacuation order from Captain Laksh, who is also Rafiel's mother, the two of them begin their escape through the war with the exploding ship on their backs. It is a journey that gives birth to a deep friendship and love between the two.
After completing his long and difficult journey, Jinto decides to become an Arven noble of his own volition. He and Lafiel make a firm promise to fight together aboard the same ship three years later, when they graduate from Shugikan, the training school for the Starry Sky Army.

■Explanation

This is a compilation of the TV series that was broadcast from January 2nd to March 27th, 1999, with new scenes added. It was aired on the same day as "Fragments of the Starry Sky: Birth" as a special just before the broadcast of "Battle Flag of the Starry Sky". This special edition was produced to bring out the best in the original work and provide viewers with a new perspective. Although it is a compilation, new scenes have been added, successfully deepening the story. In particular, the relationship between Gint and Rafiel, the difficulties they face, and the process of overcoming them are more clearly depicted. It is also praised for the way the grandeur of the space war and the growth of each character are beautifully combined. Through this special edition, viewers will be able to reaffirm the worldview of the original work while also making new discoveries.

■Cast

・Jint Lin/Yuka Imai・Rafiel/Ayako Kawasumi・Rekshu/Masara Takashima・Baron Febdash/Takehito Koyasu・Ramaj/Mika Doi・Maruka/Yurika Hino・Undertaker/Wataru Takagi・Min/Ichie Seta・Kaito/Hiroshi Ikemichi・Entreture/Unsho Ishizuka・Spoel/Rika Fukami

■ Main staff

Original author: Hiroyuki Morioka
・Director: Yasushi Nagaoka
・Screenplay: Aya Yoshinaga
・Character design: Takami Akai, Keiichi Eda (Nine Lives)
・Character design: Keisuke Watanabe
Mechanical design: Yoshinobu Tsuneki, Masanori Shino, Yasuyasu Moriki
・Music: Katsuhisa Hattori

■ Related works

・[TVA] 99.01.02-99.03.27 Crest of the Stars (13 episodes in total)
・[TVA] 00.04.14-01.07.14 Starry Sky Battle Flag (all 13 episodes)
・[TVA] 00.04.07 Starry Sky Fragment "Birth" (1 episode)

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Crest of the Stars Special Edition" is a work that recreates and further deepens the magnificent worldview of the original novel in the medium of anime. This special edition condenses the essence of the original novel while adding new scenes to provide viewers with a fresh experience. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and recommended points of this work.

1. The appeal of the story

"Crest of the Stars Special Edition" centers on the story of how Jinto and Lafiel met. Jinto became an Arv nobleman due to his father's political maneuvering, and was forced to leave his hometown. Lafiel, the granddaughter of the Arv emperor and a military trainee, comes to pick him up. The two feel lonely among the privileged class, but from the moment they meet they feel a mysterious affinity. This affinity turns into deep friendship and affection as the story progresses. In particular, their escape when they are attacked by an enemy country is an important episode that strengthens the bond between the two. This scene depicts Jinto's growth and Lafiel's courage, and is sure to leave a strong impression on viewers.

2. The appeal of the characters

Jinto and Rafiel are the central characters of this work, and their growth and relationship are the core of the story. At first, Jinto was forced to accept his role as an Arv nobleman, but through his encounter and journey with Rafiel, he decides to become an Arv nobleman of his own volition. This growth evokes sympathy from viewers and adds depth to Jinto's character. Meanwhile, Rafiel is a character who has a strong will to fulfill her responsibilities as a soldier despite being a princess. Her courage and determination will impress not only Jinto but also the viewers. In addition, the relationship between the two is carefully depicted as it changes from friendship to love, which is an important element that moves viewers.

3. The appeal of visuals and music

In "Crest of the Stars Special Edition," visuals and music play an important role in depicting the grandeur of space warfare. In particular, the beauty of the mecha designs and movements stand out in the battle scenes, creating a visual impact. The music, by Hattori Katsuhisa, is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, music that enhances the tension and emotion is used in the escape scene of Jinto and Rafiel, creating an emotional effect in the viewer. It can be said that this fusion of visuals and music further enhances the appeal of the work.

4. Recommendation points

"Crest of the Stars Special Edition" is a work that can be strongly recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to viewers experiencing this work for the first time. In particular, the following points are the reasons for the recommendation.

• A grand worldview : The grand worldview set in a space war has the power to draw viewers in. In particular, the setting of the Arv race, born from genetic manipulation, will be attractive to science fiction fans.
• Character Growth : The growth and relationship between Jinto and Rafiel makes viewers empathize and feel touched. In particular, their escape scene is an important episode that touches the hearts of viewers.
• Fusion of visuals and music : The beautiful mecha designs in the battle scenes and the music that adds excitement to the story have a visual and auditory impact. In particular, Katsuhisa Hattori's music is an important element in evoking the emotions of the viewer.
• A new perspective : Although it is a compilation, new scenes have been added, so fans of the original will be able to discover something new. It will also be able to convey the appeal of the story to viewers who are experiencing it for the first time.

5. Recommendations after viewing

After watching "Crest of the Stars Special Edition," we would also like to recommend the following related works.

• Crest of the Stars : A 13-episode TV series that aired from January 2 to March 27, 1999. It details the story that begins with the meeting of Ginto and Rafiel. If you were interested in the special edition, be sure to watch this one too.
• Banner of the Stars : A 13-episode TV series that aired from April 14, 2000 to July 14, 2001. It follows Jinto and Rafiel as they graduate from the Starry Sky Army's training school and fight together. It's a must-watch for viewers who want to know what happens next in the special episode.
• Starry Sky Fragment "Birth" : A special episode consisting of one episode, broadcast on April 7, 2000. It includes an episode depicting the meeting of Ginto and Rafiel and their growth. Watching this episode together with the special episode will give you a deeper understanding of the story.

6. Summary

"Crest of the Stars Special Edition" is a wonderful work that brings out the best in the original work and offers viewers a new perspective. The growth and relationship between Jinto and Rafiel, the spectacular worldview of space warfare, and the fusion of beautiful images and music will leave a strong impression on viewers. It is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for viewers experiencing this work for the first time. After watching it, be sure to check out related works to immerse yourself even more deeply in the world of the story.