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Information

Title (English) Stellvia

Title (Japanese) Sora no Stellvia

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Fantasy Novel

Notes

Classification -

Synopsis "Space cadet" sci-fi series.
Science fiction drama set after the earth has been severely affected by a supernova in near galactic space. About 180 years later, the second shock, a wave of particle radiation is expected to arrive. the surviving humans, now based in a number of space stations, prepare a shield agains the deadly particle blast. The youngest space cadets are being trained to play their part in the mission.

Review This, like Infinite Ryvius, is a spacegoing equivalent of the school drama, concentrating on a group of young characters. Episodes 3 and 4 concentrate on the story of Shima, brilliant at math and computing, but very poor at piloting a space capsule.
This has high production values and a strong science fiction component, and some interesting characters. It does underscore the "ganbatte" element of Japanese popular culture. There were some details in episode 3 that bugged me - a character logs on to the central server to get some data for her simulation and accidentally alters the central data - not possible unless the server was set up by beginners - and then the gang of youngsters set off for the central server room to put things right from there - like they'd be allowed to physically access the administrator consoles - I don't think so!) Worth watching if you like SF space anime with big concepts. (GC)
I just watched the first episode of the new Xebec/TV Tokyo late night space cadet anime, "Stellvia" and I already can predict that this will be one of my least favorite series of the new season.
Okay, first off - a disclaimer. In general I dislike "space cadet" sci-fi series. I developed that dislike somewhere around 6th grade when I read too many such stories in the "Young Adult" section of my local library. In the subsequent 40 odd years, nothing much has changed my opinion. My reaction against this sort of sci-fi story probably helped me be a big Analog fan in the 60's, because John Campbell avoided those sorts of stories, having done them to death in the 40's and 50's.
Sure, I'm probably too old to "appreciate" this plot line anymore, and I understand why it continues to appeal to the pre-teen crowd, but that leads to one of the puzzles about "Stellvia" - why is TV Tokyo broadcasting it at 1AM? It seems to be a natural for one of their suppertime anime slots.
The preface of the story also started me out on the wrong foot. ( Remember what I said about being a big, big fan of the Campbell era Analog - I have a really low tolerance for "stupid science" in science fiction. ) In 2167 a supernova blasts the earth, melting the icecaps and causing immeasurable devastation and loss of life. The story then starts only 189 years later, at which point civilization has recovered to "super science" levels. Odd, but from the look of the initial impact I would have been surprised if anyone had survived, and if so, had recovered even to the level of experimenting with Jomen pottery, let alone massive space flight. (A lot of people have no idea how complicated technological society really is, and how much infrastructure is necessary to keep it going. )
Okay, irritatingly bad preface aside, we then have little15 year old Shima going into space from a space port somewhere in South America. How do we know it is South America? The hostesses say "Buenos Tardes" and they use Nazca line motifs everywhere. Shima is "cute" and looks more like an eight year old than a teen. She travels up to the space station Stellvia on an incredibly large launch vehicle that uses some sort of anti-gravity to fly at 1 "gee" all the way into space, with less internal motion than a rail car. On the way Shima meets red-haired, outgoing Arisa and they decide to become friends.
Snore.
Can't anyone come up with anything original? The whole set up, along with the character designs, "screams" 6 PM kid's show. Why is it being played at 1 AM? Couldn't they get sponsors for an earlier showing? (The most painful part of watching the episode was seeing the ad for the DVD release of the first half of "Princess Tutu" - I am dying to see the second half episodes released. ) There was no fan service nor hint of it in the first episode, just lots of "Cute Girls". You know, "cute girl" shows don't have to be painfully unoriginal and stupid. Look at "Alien 9" for an example of an intelligent "cute girl" series that is also very, very different.
So what about things other than plot and story? Well, the animation is okay, but nothing special, as is the music. But I suspect that won't make a lot of difference to the fans of "Cute Girls Doing Stupid Things" series like this.
Thank God I didn't buy the first DVD of this p.o.s. !
(Dave Baranyi)

Credits

Episodes 26

Release

TV Showing See the whole series for free? This series may be syndicated to regional cable, satellite or terrestial TV stations. For Europe click here.

Date 2003-04-02 to 2003-09-24

Production Xebec

Broadcaster TV Tokyo

Animation

References & Help Look up the latest data on this title at:
Richard Llewellyn's Animated Divots, or
Anime News Network (see Encyclopedia section) ,
or in "The Anime Encyclopedia" (Clements & McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 2001).
Help & further information.

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Information
Title (English)	Stellvia
Title (Japanese)	Sora no Stellvia
Advertising Fantasy Novel
Notes
Classification	-
Synopsis	"Space cadet" sci-fi series. Science fiction drama set after the earth has been severely affected by a supernova in near galactic space. About 180 years later, the second shock, a wave of particle radiation is expected to arrive. the surviving humans, now based in a number of space stations, prepare a shield agains the deadly particle blast. The youngest space cadets are being trained to play their part in the mission.
Review	This, like Infinite Ryvius, is a spacegoing equivalent of the school drama, concentrating on a group of young characters. Episodes 3 and 4 concentrate on the story of Shima, brilliant at math and computing, but very poor at piloting a space capsule. This has high production values and a strong science fiction component, and some interesting characters. It does underscore the "ganbatte" element of Japanese popular culture. There were some details in episode 3 that bugged me - a character logs on to the central server to get some data for her simulation and accidentally alters the central data - not possible unless the server was set up by beginners - and then the gang of youngsters set off for the central server room to put things right from there - like they'd be allowed to physically access the administrator consoles - I don't think so!) Worth watching if you like SF space anime with big concepts. (GC) I just watched the first episode of the new Xebec/TV Tokyo late night space cadet anime, "Stellvia" and I already can predict that this will be one of my least favorite series of the new season. Okay, first off - a disclaimer. In general I dislike "space cadet" sci-fi series. I developed that dislike somewhere around 6th grade when I read too many such stories in the "Young Adult" section of my local library. In the subsequent 40 odd years, nothing much has changed my opinion. My reaction against this sort of sci-fi story probably helped me be a big Analog fan in the 60's, because John Campbell avoided those sorts of stories, having done them to death in the 40's and 50's. Sure, I'm probably too old to "appreciate" this plot line anymore, and I understand why it continues to appeal to the pre-teen crowd, but that leads to one of the puzzles about "Stellvia" - why is TV Tokyo broadcasting it at 1AM? It seems to be a natural for one of their suppertime anime slots. The preface of the story also started me out on the wrong foot. ( Remember what I said about being a big, big fan of the Campbell era Analog - I have a really low tolerance for "stupid science" in science fiction. ) In 2167 a supernova blasts the earth, melting the icecaps and causing immeasurable devastation and loss of life. The story then starts only 189 years later, at which point civilization has recovered to "super science" levels. Odd, but from the look of the initial impact I would have been surprised if anyone had survived, and if so, had recovered even to the level of experimenting with Jomen pottery, let alone massive space flight. (A lot of people have no idea how complicated technological society really is, and how much infrastructure is necessary to keep it going. ) Okay, irritatingly bad preface aside, we then have little15 year old Shima going into space from a space port somewhere in South America. How do we know it is South America? The hostesses say "Buenos Tardes" and they use Nazca line motifs everywhere. Shima is "cute" and looks more like an eight year old than a teen. She travels up to the space station Stellvia on an incredibly large launch vehicle that uses some sort of anti-gravity to fly at 1 "gee" all the way into space, with less internal motion than a rail car. On the way Shima meets red-haired, outgoing Arisa and they decide to become friends. Snore. Can't anyone come up with anything original? The whole set up, along with the character designs, "screams" 6 PM kid's show. Why is it being played at 1 AM? Couldn't they get sponsors for an earlier showing? (The most painful part of watching the episode was seeing the ad for the DVD release of the first half of "Princess Tutu" - I am dying to see the second half episodes released. ) There was no fan service nor hint of it in the first episode, just lots of "Cute Girls". You know, "cute girl" shows don't have to be painfully unoriginal and stupid. Look at "Alien 9" for an example of an intelligent "cute girl" series that is also very, very different. So what about things other than plot and story? Well, the animation is okay, but nothing special, as is the music. But I suspect that won't make a lot of difference to the fans of "Cute Girls Doing Stupid Things" series like this. Thank God I didn't buy the first DVD of this p.o.s. ! (Dave Baranyi)
Credits
Episodes	26
Release
TV Showing	See the whole series for free? This series may be syndicated to regional cable, satellite or terrestial TV stations. For Europe click here.
Date	2003-04-02 to 2003-09-24
Production	Xebec
Broadcaster	TV Tokyo
Animation
References & Help	Look up the latest data on this title at: Richard Llewellyn's Animated Divots, or Anime News Network (see Encyclopedia section) , or in "The Anime Encyclopedia" (Clements & McCarthy, Stone Bridge Press, 2001). Help & further information.