Review of "Battle Flag of the Stars": A fusion of epic space warfare and deep human drama

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Starry Sky Battle Flag

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

novel

■ Broadcast period

April 14, 2000 - July 14, 2001

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW, video media/distributor, Bandai Visual

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

・Original work: Hiroyuki Morioka (published by Hayakawa Bunko)

■ Director

・Director: Yasushi Nagaoka

■ Production

・Production: Sunrise

■Works

©Hiroyuki Morioka/Hayakawa Publishing, ©Sunrise

■ Story

In the distant future, when humanity has spread its wings across the galaxy, the world is made up of five interstellar nations. Among them, the "Empire of the Arves," made up of a race called the "Arves," was a particularly powerful interstellar nation, but the other nations that had allied around the "Human Integration" were now plotting to recover from their disadvantage. Jinto, who lived on the surface world but was invaded by the Starry Sky Army of the Arves and inadvertently became an aristocrat, completed three years of training at the training center and was assigned to the assault ship "Bersroil" as a secretary. The captain of that ship was Rafiel, who became one of the Ten Flight Commanders. Three years ago, the two fought together and eventually became bound by a deep bond. The joy of their long-awaited reunion was fleeting, but the order to sortie was given to the Bersroil. The battlefield was "Aptique," which could be said to be the throat of the Human Integration. With an enemy fleet far greater than theirs approaching, Jinto and Rafiel's first battle is about to begin...!!

■Explanation

"Battle Flag of the Stars," produced as a sequel to "Crest of the Stars," was a challenge to recreate the spectacular worldview of the original novel in the medium of anime, and its success was highly praised by viewers. The story centers on the growth and bond between Gint and Raphiel, and skillfully blends the realism of war with the humanity of the characters. In particular, the precision and strategy of the battle scenes set it apart from other science fiction anime, deeply moving and exciting viewers. Furthermore, for fans of the original work, it is a work that allows viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original.

■Cast

・Raphiel/Ayako Kawasumi・Jinto/Yuka Imai・Eclya/Kaori Shimizu・Sobash/Mitsuki Saiga・Samson/Akio Otsuka・Atslya/Miho Yamada・Spohr/Rika Fukami・Kufadys/Susumu Chiba・Doussagne/Kaneto Shiozawa・Kennesh/Chiharu Suzuka・The Bibous Brothers/Kazuhiko Inoue

■ Main staff

・Original work: Hiroyuki Morioka (published by Hayakawa Bunko)
Director: Yasushi Nagaoka Screenplay: Chikara Makiya, Yuichiro Takeda Concept design: Takayoshi Akai, Keiichi Eda (Nine Lives)
Character design: Keisuke Watanabe Mechanical design: Yasuyasu Moriki, Kunihiko Inoue, Mitsuru Owa Music: Katsuhisa Hattori

■ Main Characters

・Rafiel (19 years old)
Viscount Abrial Nei-Dubresque Paryugne, Lafiel, is the commander of the Ten Commanders of the Starry Sky Army and the captain of the assault ship "Basroil." A beautiful Arvian girl with long dark hair, light tan skin, an oval face, and black onyx eyes.
She is the granddaughter of Emperor Ramage of the Arv Empire and the first princess of the Kingdom of Club. As befitting an emperor's granddaughter, she is proud and competitive.
・Jinto (20 years old)
Count Lin Shunu-Lok Hyde, Winged Paymaster of the Jinto Starry Sky Army, and secretary of the assault ship "Basroil."
He inadvertently became a nobleman when his father became the lord of the Hyde star system, which became part of the Arv Empire, but the Hyde system was later reoccupied by the Human Unified, and he inherited the title of Earl Hyde in place of his father, who went missing. A strange Arv nobleman with no territory or castle of his own.
・Diaho (male)
A proper Arv cat.
Jinto is a pet cat given to him by Raphiel, and he hates baths.
- Wing Pilot of the Ecrua Starry Sky Army, second in command of the assault ship "Basroil" (job involves communications and operating the condensed light cannon).
A beautiful Arv girl who doesn't say much.
A vanguard pilot of the Sobash Starry Sky Army and senior pilot of the assault ship "Bersroil" (navigator, whose job is to manipulate space-time bubbles).
An Arven woman with androgynous charm. She seems to be quite wealthy.
- Winged Warlord of the Samson Starry Sky Army, supervisor of the assault ship "Basroil" (his job is to maintain the engines, etc.).
A surface dweller from Midgrad. A heavy drinker who loves alcohol.
The commander of the assault fleet to which Athosliya Lafir's Basroil belongs.
She is the younger sister of Baron Febdash Croire, who was involved in Rafiel and Jinto's escape three years ago.
Spall: A beautiful heroine who was promoted to admiral in the previous work, "Crest."
Due to his aggressive fighting style, he serves as commander-in-chief of the Genen Fleet's First Fleet.
Coufadis, Chief of Staff of the First Fleet of the Phantom Flame Fleet.
Spall's unrestrained orders put his subordinates at a loss.
- Crown Prince of the Dussanyuave Empire and Imperial Marshal of the Starry Sky Army.
The Supreme Commander in charge of Operation Genen, which opposes the Triple Alliance.
Kenesh The chief of staff of the Phantom Flame Fleet led by Dussagne.
Neres (Bibbos Brothers)
Prince Neres, Bibaos Aron-Neremu, is a twin brother of the Bibaos family who serve as commanders of the Aptic Defense Fleet. An admiral.
Along with Nefe, his words and actions are known as `splendid madness`.
・Nefe (Bibeaus Brothers)
Prince Bibaos Aron-Neremu, the twins of the Bibaos family who support Neres as the chief of staff of the Neferaptic Defense Fleet.
A man who had more love affairs than Neres.

■ Main robot items

The first newly constructed assault ship given to Lafiel. Its main armament is an antiproton cannon, and it is a main battleship of the Starry Sky Army that aims for hit-and-run tactics.
In recent years, as enemy patrol ships have been equipped with new equipment, there have been concerns about their defensive vulnerability.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/"Reunion"
Episode 2: "Operation Genenen"
・Episode 3: "Assault Ship "Basroil""
・Episode 4: "First Battle"
Episode 5: "Glamorous Madness"
Episode 6: "Funeral Dinner"
Episode 7: "Escape in the Dark"
・Episode 8: "The Night Before the Final Battle"
Episode 9: The Battle of Bathroyle
・Episode 10: "Shooting Star"
Episode 11: "The Scorching Battlefield"
Episode 12: "Battle off the Aptic Gate"
・Episode 13: "The Shape of Bonds"

■ Related works

[TVA] 99.01.02-99.03.27 Crest of the Stars (13 episodes)
[TVA] 01.07.11-01.09.26 Starry Sky Battle Flag II (10 episodes)
[OVA] 05.08.26-05.09.23 Starry Sky Battle Flag III (2 episodes)

■Detailed evaluation

"Battle Flag of the Stars" is one of the most highly acclaimed science fiction anime, and there are many reasons for this. Firstly, it overcame the difficulty of recreating the profound worldview of the original novel in an anime and succeeded in conveying its appeal to viewers. For fans of the original work, it is a work that allows viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original. In addition, the precision and strategy of the battle scenes set it apart from other science fiction anime, deeply moving and exciting viewers. In particular, the story, which focuses on the growth and bond between Gint and Rafiel, skillfully combines the realism of war with the humanity of the characters, deeply moving viewers.

The acting of the cast was also highly praised. In particular, Kawasumi Ayako, who played Raphiel, and Imai Yuka, who played Jinto, expressed their characters' emotions realistically and deeply moved the audience. The acting of the supporting characters was also highly praised, and in particular Otsuka Akio, who played Samson, portrayed the character's humanity realistically and deeply moved the audience.

Furthermore, the main staff's efforts were also great. Director Nagaoka Yasushi succeeded in depicting the story from a new perspective while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work. Furthermore, screenwriters Makiya Chikara and Takeda Yuichiro reconstructed the original story in a form suitable for anime, deeply moving the viewers. Character designer Watanabe Keisuke brought out the charm of the characters to the fullest, deeply moving the viewers. Mechanic designers Moriki Yasuyasu, Inoue Kunihiko, and Owa Mitsuru brought out the precision and strategy of the battle scenes to the fullest, deeply moving the viewers. Musician Hattori Katsuhisa brought out the atmosphere of the story to the fullest, deeply moving the viewers.

■Recommendation details

"Battle Flag of the Stars" is a work that can be recommended not only to sci-fi anime fans, but also to general viewers. In particular, the story, which skillfully combines the realism of war with the humanity of the characters, deeply moves the viewers. In addition, the precision and strategy of the battle scenes set it apart from other sci-fi anime and gives the viewers deep excitement. In addition, the performances of the cast have also been highly praised, especially the performances of Ayako Kawasumi as Rafiel and Yuka Imai as Jinto, who realistically express the emotions of the characters and deeply move the viewers. The main staff is also very capable. Director Yasushi Nagaoka succeeded in depicting the story from a new perspective while faithfully recreating the world view of the original. Screenwriters Chikara Makiya and Yuichiro Takeda reconstructed the story of the original in a form suitable for anime, deeply moving the viewers. Character designer Keisuke Watanabe brought out the charm of the characters to the fullest, deeply moving the viewers. The mechanical designers, Yasuyasu Moriki, Kunihiko Inoue, and Mitsuru Owa, brought out the intricacy and strategy of the battle scenes to the fullest, deeply moving the audience. The music composer, Katsuhisa Hattori, brought out the atmosphere of the story to the fullest, deeply moving the audience.

"Battle Flag of the Stars" is a work that can be recommended not only to sci-fi anime fans, but also to general viewers. In particular, the story, which skillfully combines the realism of war with the humanity of the characters, deeply moves the viewers. In addition, the precision and strategy of the battle scenes set it apart from other sci-fi anime and gives the viewers deep excitement. In addition, the performances of the cast have also been highly praised, especially the performances of Ayako Kawasumi as Rafiel and Yuka Imai as Jinto, who realistically express the emotions of the characters and deeply move the viewers. The main staff is also very capable. Director Yasushi Nagaoka succeeded in depicting the story from a new perspective while faithfully recreating the world view of the original. Screenwriters Chikara Makiya and Yuichiro Takeda reconstructed the story of the original in a form suitable for anime, deeply moving the viewers. Character designer Keisuke Watanabe brought out the charm of the characters to the fullest, deeply moving the viewers. The mechanical designers, Yasuyasu Moriki, Kunihiko Inoue, and Mitsuru Owa, brought out the intricacy and strategy of the battle scenes to the fullest, deeply moving the audience. The music composer, Katsuhisa Hattori, brought out the atmosphere of the story to the fullest, deeply moving the audience.