Anime ● Review: Planetes
- Very Average Joe
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
English Title: Planetes
Japanese Title: プラネテス [from Greek ΠΛΆΝΗΤΕΣ, lit. wanderers]
Director(s): Taniguchi Goro
Screenwriter(s): Okouchi Ichiro
Studio: Sunrise
Released: 2003–2004
Runtime: 26 episodes, ~25m each.
Starring: Tanaka Kazunari, Yukino Satsuki, Orikasa Ai, Koyasu Takehito
Based on the manga of the same name by Yukimura Makoto, this is a hard sci-fi series set mostly in and around one of Earth’s orbital space stations. I have not read the manga so the review is purely of the anime.
It is a classic known for its attention to detail and worldbuilding, amongst other things. At over twenty years old, it is worth at least a brief review.
Due to a tragic accident involving an orbital passenger craft in 2068, the tracking and removal of space debris has become a focus. The plot is set in 2075 and follows a young woman named Tanabe Ai who joins Technora Corporation; she arrives on an orbital station and is assigned to the Debris Section.
The stupidity of the corporate environment is immediately apparent. Whilst the Control Section has many staff, the Debris Section—the ones who actually go out in a small ship and EVA suits and directly deal with the debris—is a small team of misfits. Excluding Tanabe, there are only six people and one of them is a temp. Indeed, the department is referred to as the “Half Section”, undermanned and ill-equipped.
Tanabe is partnered with Hoshino Hachirota, nicknamed “Hachi”, a reference to the hachimaki (headband) that he wears. Tanabe immediately gets a spacesuit fitted for a mission. They go out on the ship DS-12, or Toy Box, piloted and captained by Fee Carmichael with Yuri Mihairokov as first officer. Thus, the first episode efficiently introduces the premise, setting, main characters and a typical mission. The plot goes from there, following Tanabe’s training and exposure to all that goes on.
Apart from corporate stupidity, there is also global politics. There is the International Treaty Organization (INTO), presumably something like NATO, that acts as some sort of world police. Not surprisingly, there are terrorist threats that try to upend the status quo. The politics are always present but it is not always in your face.
True to the genre, there are endeavors to venture further out, particularly the long-term Jupiter Exploration Mission which Hachi is determined to be a part of. The anime focuses much on its selection and training.
The characters all follow the commonly used templates. For example, Hachi is the seemingly brash, intolerant and cynical veteran whereas Tanabe is the idealistic rookie even though she is intolerant in her own way. Carmichael, although having an attitude, is more understandable and Yuri Mihairokov is the level-headed member of the team. The manager, on the other hand, is clueless and absentminded but good-natured.
Visually, it mostly looks very good. Whilst the characters look too simple, the environment, interior and mechanical designs and attention to detail are superb.
The sound design and mix are also excellent. It makes good use of momentary silence in scenes that are in space. When there is music, the mostly orchestral soundtrack provides a solid background without drawing too much attention to itself. In terms of visuals and sound, some scenes are very cinematic (even if they are not that dramatic).
The tone is mostly serious. It attempts a little humor given the personalities and the consequent clashes but this is not always effective. After all, it establishes itself as a hard sci-fi anime, and does so very well. The visuals and the storytelling simply do not align well with that sort of humor.
Although a different genre, a somewhat comparable series is Patlabor (1988). Both are set in the near-future, take a relatively realistic approach in their respective fields, involve politics even if not delved into, follow a team of weirdo misfits, and are visually impressive.
Whilst both have strong characters, Patlabor’s characters are more quirky and the storytelling has a layer that doesn’t take itself too seriously. As such, the characters are more lovable, and the action and humor work well in Patlabor. But, to be fair, action and humor are intended to be central in Patlabor but not in Planetes.
Not surprisingly, there is some romantic development between the two leads in Planetes. This is perhaps the story’s most apparent weakness as the Jupiter Exploration Mission is meant to last seven years. It simply will not work unless Hachi fails or gives it up (which we know he will not), so that thread doesn’t really work regardless of what happens. (I will not elaborate to avoid spoiling.)
More generally, the series tries to be ordinary and realistic but also dramatic enough to be gripping. It doesn’t always hit that but this balance is admittedly difficult to maintain.
The pacing at 26 episodes is steady without being too slow. Whilst it is not slice-of-life, it does allow the audience to be immersed in the environment in which the main characters live and work. It can be tighter. Despite some key weaknesses, Planetes is still an impressive effort at a hard sci-fi and it is obvious why it is considered a classic.
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