Uchuu no Stellvia

Length: 26 episodes Original Airdates: 4/03 - 9/03 Demographic: Seinen Genres: Adventure, Drama, Mecha, Romance, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic Plot Synopsis The year is 2356 A.D. - 189 years after a distant supernova caused a global catastrophe that wiped out 99% of the world population. To keep track on all space activities, mankind has built colossal space stations called "foundations" all over the Solar System. After passing the Space Academy entrance exams, Shima Katase embarks to the Earth-based foundation Stellvia to fulfill her dream of seeing the galaxy and to prevent another interstellar catastrophe from destroying Earth. Personal Opinion So when I saw the first few episodes of Stellvia, I was thinking... "This isWAY to cheerful to be a post-apocalyptic anime". Well considering the other post-apoc anime I had seen was Evangelion... I wasn't wrong to think so. So the first 8 episodes do a really good job of establishing the universe that Stellvia was situated in. By episode 13, here is what i noticed - It had some really interesting characters - A romance that nearly everyone would appreciate - Plenty of character development - A beautiful storyline and animation - Limited by heartpounding action Had it ended on ep 13... it would probably tied with Gurren Lagann as my favorite anime... Unfortunately... Stellvia took a downturn heading into the 2nd half... the characters that we were interested in suddenly started to get annoying. The romance goes nowhere. And the character development gets muddled in frequent crying outbursts. The only thing that didn't go downhill was the animation and the action. The epilogue was also kind of anti-climactic. Overall.. this anime would've worked really well if it were split into 2, 13 episode seasons. As for my reccomendation... watch it for the first half, expect to be dissapointed by the 2nd half 1st half: 10/10 2nd half 6/10 Overall: 8/10 Similar to... - Eureka Seven For the same reasons listed above - Neon Genesis Evangelion Post-apocalytic... and Shima develops a "Shinji-complex" towards the end.

I LOVED this anime. It had a very unique storyline that kept me interested until the end. There was very few fillers, and the characters are realistic (being that they don't have out of proportion body parts, random personalities). It has romance, action, unexpected twists, I think it is definitely worth watching but the first episode explains everything so it might be a little boring for some people. And for those who love space, pretty images of the universe, you'll get a huge dose of it :)

When I first saw the picture and plot line of Uchuu no Stelllvia I though that they didn't match at anything at all and the story was going to be boring and childish. Oh boy,how I was wrong. Story : 9/10 The plot is simple: mankind is about to be extincted by a huge electromagnetic wave and humanity should stop it by all means possible. Katase Shima,the main character, is a new student at the Stellvia station that must face the challenges of becoming a pilot and at same time,help humanity in this important mission. What it was only a cliche story about a hero saving mankind becamesomething much more as it explores the challenges of growing up and undestanding how difficult the world can really be. The mood set in first episodes gradually transforms into something deeper and,sometimes,sad as we see the characters in situations that everybody experiences in life. It isn't enemies,amazing actions scenes or boom moments that moves the story,what we see it's jealousy,frustrations,broken dreams,achievements,friendship and love. And even though Uchuu no Stellvia shines in human aspects,the physics and actions moments of every Mecha anime appears as well at its best shape. You actually undestands all the physics behind the "evil" electromagnetic wave and honestly,a star exploding and destroying Earth?Not something hard to believe. All the other physical elements make sense too,though some of them - like the alien people - are not very explored and could have been better developed. Even though they use a lot of elements,including thoughts of Nietzche later on, the ending lacked on two things that this anime was good about: passing and exploration of some of the facts exposed. What Kouta likes in Katase? What exactly is the commander? And what about Arisa's family situation?The story is amazing,but there's no conclusive ending that it actually needed in some points. Art : 8/10 The art was something I got used after some time. It was childish and not exactly pretty,but it was clear,consistent and neat.There was a background in very single scene,some prettier some more shabby,but still,a background.There was no such a thing as an eye bigger than the other,misconfigured bodies or anything like that. Even the figurants were well executed. They were unique and colourful,the desing team really worked hard to make them look like a human group(different from some anime that they are just faceless or simple sticks). The main cast was good,each had a different design based on their personallity.The only thing that bothered me was that they only had TWO oufits. Like really? Yes,they are in a space station and in a dangerous moment,but when nothing was bad and they were hanging out,they still dressed their school uniforms. This is a seinen,yes,it's not usual to have a lot of clothes.But if the show wanted realism at least make them wear something normal for once! Now the CGI. They were bad,but it didn't burn my eyes to see it at every space scene.The Ultima spaceship was good and so was the planets design and the rift but only that. However, I have to give points to the programming system. It was creative and artistic to look at. I'm talking about an 2003 anime,for that time,it was revolutionary. Sound: 8/10 Asu e no brilliant road,Kirei na Yozora,The end of the world,Dear my best friend all perfomed by Angela it's not was I would call a masterpiece. Ordinary is the first world that comes to my mind. They tried to fit the end of mankind theme but to this anime I don't think it worked. If they went with lighter songs it would cause much more impact than this one. I gave a high score to this a anime song mostly because of the OST. I loved the piano arrangements.It was so simple and covered perfectly what was going on. They repeated very little and thus I could listen to a variety of songs to each ambient. The seyuu were suitable and they matched the character. The timid Shima or the mature Yayoi were always being well represented.Though I think characters like Kouta deserved a lower tone,since he actually sounded like a child when he was already 15 to 16. Character: 9/10 I love the characters in Uchuu no Stellvia. Katase Shima had a development that is difficult to find. She experienced situations and deal with them in her own way. Shy, modest and conscious were words that described her during the whole series and that's okay. She matured,understood things,but still didn't change her personality in the end. Various sides are shown of her,from the confident to the jealous one. She was a child but an adult at the same time,dealing with situations that anyone would be confused about. Not only her,the majority of the cast had a background story,a development and I could identify their best qualities and flaws.It's difficult for an anime that focus so much in the coming of age of a single character to actually be able to show development of other characters,but I think Uchuu Stellvia did it well. Masaru suprised me a lot, from a character wrote to comic relief,he actually progressed subtely and makes me proud to say that he is,indeed,one of my favorite characters in the show. Still,some of them lacked background or even worst,had plot holes in their progress.What about the Big Four? How did they met? Who are they truly? Even Kent,the guy appeared much more than Najima & Shojin and nothing at all was explained about him or his relationship with Ayaka. Also relationships,an important aspect in the Romance genre,were well established. Be friendship or romance itself,there was something going on with the characters on the anime. Arisa's frienship with the whole team is more more complex than the viewer watches superficially.It's a consequence to the lack of human relations that she has at home.The same goes to Rina,a little girl that stays home alone because of her parents' workload. Kouta and Shima's relationship is good at the beginning and you can understand why Shima fell in love him.He's mysterious,cute and nice with her.As the series goes,their feelings change and situations that were once natural become awkward.This is how things work in real life,mostly when it's about your very first love - and Uchuu no Stellva knows that and makes sure to include that at each single step in their relationship. Like a said in the story review,there's just one big issue that really bothered me in their relationship: there are too many questions that aren't answer in the end.How exactly they deal with what was happening with their love? And Shima's inferioty towards Koura? And the biggest issue, why does Kouta like her???? The anime made this question and didn't answer it at ANY point. Enjoyment: 10/10 I watched Uchuu no Stellva non-stoping.I love it no doubt about it and I couldn't wait to watch the next episode. The ending dissapointed me? Yes. Does that make it less enjoyble? Hell no. Some times things are not perfect,and this happens a lot in the anime industry.It did need more episodes,but its time is limited and I don't think that it could have done better with the number of episodes that it had. The pacing was great and I really wish that more animes did it at the same velocity that Uchuu no Stellva did. It's a anime about growing up more than it's about mecha.It's about to understand yourself and humanity. We fight together only when we have an enemy in common,we feel jealously towards the people we love and we just hate to be worst than others.Does that makes us bad? And where exactly is the limit to us,humans? I think that's what this anime is about. I recommend it to anyone that likes a good slice of life or a more scientific mecha. And of course can take a lot of crying of the characters. Uchuu no Stellva is not a romance tear-jerk anime,it's a reflective one about humans relations and progress.

This is a great story about the next generation of kids growing up in a world about 200 years post-supernova disaster. They know what happened, how things used to be, and that the next wave is coming in their lifetime. Humanity is prepared, but there's still a sense of tension to it. These are kids going to school in space, pursing dreams and aspirations in space, so each has a certain level of drive and excellence. A reason that brought them all the way out here, to see space on the front lines of the oncoming world event. That core really drives the story. While thereis a lot of fun high school hijinks of them hanging with their friends and learning new skills, and eventually more serious storylines, the driving through line is the emotional journey and pressures of being a kid. Specifically being a "smart kid." That drive to succeed, to excel, to make something of yourself. The internal struggle of comparing ourself to others and not feeling good enough. What is the difference between a prodigy and a genius? Can you work hard enough to make a difference or is it pointless if someone else is just naturally gifted? The show really explores these ideas with all of the characters to different degrees. It's something I think a lot of people can relate to. I think the anime does a great job balancing the slice of life, the big important events, and the internal journey. As disparate as the elements can seem on paper, it all flows naturally as we watch this very important moment in history for these kids and the world at large. Honestly one of my favorite anime.

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