Seikai no Monshou

While it was by far not magnificent in terms of its appearance or in terms of a number of those other elements that we greatly take for advantage from the more recent anime with improved graphics and sound, this older "space drama" drew me in from the first episode, beguiling me with its interesting story and interesting cinematography and storytelling. It's hard-pressed to find an anime like Seikai no Monshou, with its same blend of both serious and entertaining drama and dialogue, and its very intense space battle action scenes.

Seikai no Monshou has a story that was both pure in its innocence and compelling in ... its complexity, featuring a not-so-simple delving into the politics of humankind and interstellar relations, as well as the genetically-enhanced race of the Abh, something just as interesting in its own right. Following closely, none of the episodes (as few as there were with only 13) failed to entertain me and none of them seemed off-key at all, blending into a story that was wrapped up without fail with the final episode, transitioning gently and with ease into the next "season" or series of the saga.

Like I said earlier, however, the art was lacking, but even then I was surprised by how much it fit and how little I was distracted by it. It's not something that I would entirely dock many points off for. Too, the cinematography and interesting angles used to portray the story would also help buoy this particular area up. The sound too was fairly "old", but still managed to fit with the show quite well; the voices, on the other hand, were done magnificently (in the subbed version, definitely not the dubbed).

The characters in this show, while not completely original, did progress and were developed well, the main two characters and their relationship even more entertaining to watch and feel how well they manage to grow into each other and balance each other out so nicely. They definitely did not feel flat, which I always hate.

Overall, this show is one I recommend to anyone who'd like to watch an intellectual sci-fi space show (with no mechas) that brings together politics and drama well enough to both entertain your adrenalin and give some practice for your brain. A great show that I really enjoyed!

Overview: Crest of the Stars is by far one of my all time favorite anime. That said it is not for everyone. The show is set far into the future were humans have colonized the entire galaxy. The two main characters Jinto and Lafiel are well developed and entertaining to watch. If there is a down side to this show it is that it is rather slow paced, and involves a great deal of dialog. Although there are action scenes in the show, this is not for people with short attention spans.

Story: There are two stories taking place in crest ... of the stars, both of which are connected and continue into the squeals. The first story is that of Jinto and Lafiel, without giving to much away, suffice to say that a good deal of the show focuses on there journey as they are tossed around by the events around them. The second story is that of galactic politics. Both stories are well told, and they intertwine throughout the show.

Art: Although it is a bit dated by todays standards the visuals are still as stunning as when i first saw the show several years ago. This is a prime example of aged excellence.

Sound: Crest of the stars simply would not be as good a show if not for the amazing orchestra in the background. The opening theme song does get old after a while, but the music during the show is some of the best iv herd in an anime. This is not to say the music in and of itself is superb, but rather the fusion of art, sound and context of what is happening on screen at the moment is masterfully executed. (But the music is the strongest part hear because it invokes powerful emotion in various parts).

Charecters: All of the characters in crest of the stars are well portrayed and developed. The show even hints at cast members back ground just to give you more feel for the world. Also Jino and Lafiel are two of my favorite characters out of any anime.

Enjoyment: The reason why enjoyment is lower than the other areas is simply because crest of the stars is a slow anime. It can in certain places drag on a bit, when a more modern adaptation would be paced a bit quicker. Despite this all of the other elements that make up the show more than compensate for it. (once again though if you have a short attention span you will probably get board before any of the really intersecting things happen).

In the far future, mankind is on the brink of entering a galactic war with the alien race Abh, as earth is preparing for battle, without firing a single plasma beam, their leader Rock Linn surrenders. In the middle of all this is Jinto Linn, the cowardly leader's son whom is only at the time 10 years old. What will become of mankind after its conquering? Will the human race be destroyed? Who are the Abh and what are their intentions? These answers and more in the beginning of the epic Seikai saga!

Story

The main story begins 7 years after mankind’s surrender to the Abh. Jinto ... is now 17 years old. During the last 7 years Jinto was on Planet Delct, training for the Abh miltary as well as learning the Abh language. While departing, he meets the beautiful young female Abh solder Lafiel. Little does Jinto know, but Laifel is the future princess for the Abh. What we get out of the main story is not only adventure, romance and action, but international space politics that show the problems the nations are going through and what they want. Not many anime do this. If you are interested in an all action show you will not get it here. Yes there is great action, but most of that is saved for the sequel. This anime has a lot of dialog, but its not boring or pointless.

Art

The artwork for crest of the stars is done well, even though it looks like how most animes in the 90s did. Where the art does well is the atmosphere. It feels very misty and dream like. The backgrounds on the space stations are creative. The art gives you a feeling of a living breathing world.

Sound

The music for crest of the stars is great, and help makes the show feel like a real scifi epic. (which it is) The opening song is a tribute to classic SciFi shows of the 1950s and 60s gives the viewer promise of adventure and wonder. The space battle music pumps up the action well, music and background music for calmer moments are at times dreamlike, it fits the space mood very well

Characters

The characters are very well developed, this is due to the many long conversations in the story. Jinto is put into a unique situation, but he is relatable since he is the only major human character. Laifel is the fan favorite, and she does not act like a wishy washy disney princess who just wants more of everything. She is logical but not a genius, she does what she thinks for her country. There are many more characters in the Crest of the stars saga and her sequel, and some are are as developed as Jinto and Laifel.

Overall

Crest of the stars is a great anime with a interesting story and superb character development. Its a shame it did not receive the attention it deserves in western countries. I blame this on the bad marketing bandai had as well as the bad English dub. (watch with Japanese subs) If you are into scifi, or just want a good story with good characters check out Crest of the stars.

Crest of the Stars is one of the best sci-fi series that I have ever watched and I will try my best to formulate my opinions in a simplistic manner. Having said that let's not dwell too much about the synopsis and get straight into the review.

Crest of the Stars does nothing short of an outrageously amazing job of depicting a space-age saga without ever losing its way. In the first episode, everything gets very clear that this is heavily influenced by imperialism. You get thrown into this not world but a galaxy of endless possibilities of places to discover and inhabit. With the ... introduction of Linto one of two main characters who is the heir of the human empire. He's thrown into the life of Abh nobility which is the most powerful empire in the entire universe. Abhs are best described as humans without flaws. In every single practical sense, they're superior and overall better and stronger than any human could possibly wish for, which is the cause of their dominance. But back to Linto. After the human empire's leader basically betrays his own people for his personal gain, Linto's role changed very quickly. He's no longer seen as the heir/prince but instead a betrayer. Linto later get's ordered to moderate Lafiel, the princess of the Abhs. Ironically, she becomes a good friend with Linto because he doesn't just see her as a princess but instead as a being of equal status and rank. That's a short introduction to the series and the two main characters.
I can talk about this much longer but the review would be too lenghty.

Moving on to the art. Crest of the Stars first aired in 1999 created by studio Sunrise. It's definitely not their best work in terms of visually pleasing animation. However, I think the old-school drawing style fits the aesthetic of the show quite well. The actual style is somewhat unique and nothing feels lazily done. Not to mention the amazing battle scenes in space, looks absolutely gorgeous.

The sound is out of this world. The intro theme is magnificent and invokes all kinds of feelings when you listen to it. It sets the scene and helps with the general dark tone of the show. But what I am most impressed with is the creation of a completely new language to represent the Abhs. The voice acting is average across the board but does the job. There is a dubbed version which you should avoid at all costs.

Having no expectation and knowing nothing about the series and the story before. I can definitely recommend this to anyone who likes sci-fi. The progress of the relationship between Jinto and Lafiel feels natural and the world-building is one of the best I have seen from this medium. While writing this I suddenly realized something very important that didn't think of during my initial watch. There is absolutely no character from the enemy army. This furthers adds to the imperialism part where the true villains of the story are the Abhs. You feel emotionally attached to the Abhs and you see the humans as inferior and bad people. When things should be the other way around. Please watch it. It's one of a kind and definitely worth investing your time into.

Okay, I'll make an attempt to be brief, but the stuff goes deep. I'll remark that I was not going to write a review here, but some stuff I saw in reviews here made me stumble a little bit and sit down to a keyboard.

So, this anime is far, FAR from perfect. My major gripes are with animation quality and sound direction.
1. Animation is very, very choppy at times. Many animations are clearly reused, others are not there at all, with static images instead of moving objects or whole scenes. Yes, clearly, those are the result of budget being to small. But this is still ... an issue. Luckily, art style and great visual design pull the series off this pitfall, making visual aesthetic do the job.
2. While the soundtrack itself is rather good, consisting of epic orchestral compositions suitable for imperial scale of the setting and the Cosmos itself, with some more melancholic or cheerful themes here and there, it's often misused, with sappy melodies over already too sappy moments. The result feels too tryhardy and kinda unnatural, taking away instead of improving the atmosphere of certain scenes. Luckily, it's not too commonplace, but the stuff is there.
3. I will be silent on English dub, because oh Warp, English dub; this should be watched in Japanese. But there we have Jinto, the protagonist. It seems seiyu was not told the character is a 10 years old boy only in several scenes, not in *all* of them. His voicework just does not fit the character we see. Yes, Jinto can be sloppy, overly emotional, shy etc., but he still is a young man of decisive nature, who is absolutely able to create commanding presence. The gal who voices him cannot, though. And this is a huge failure.
4. The director really, really likes to remind stuff to the viewer, and to place scenes out of order. While in some cases it does work, for the most part it just breaks the pacing, especially when SUDDEN flashback - preferably to something we already saw - breaks an interesting conversation. These are getting more rare as story progresses, but episodes 1 to 3 are a complete mess.

I'd say these issues would kill any media product for me, but in this case we have such an outstanding *rest of stuff*, I cannot even lower the overall score despite what I just said before.

First and foremost - the storytelling here lines up with classic, more "hard" kind of sci-fi. You won't see robots with swords or schoolboys shooting beams of light out of their... somethings. There are people who do their jobs using technology and in-depth training. There are societies, that exist and evolve, and interact separately from each other. Those societies have their interests, goals and ideals some or most of their members pursue, forming cultures and ideologies that are doomed to clash. Said cultures manifest in all spheres of life - architecture, cloth, traditions, technologies, designs etc.

The driving force of the story is a paradox of an expansionist empire. A romanticised vision of Prussia, ancient China, Russian Empire or early stages of forming of USA. How does the empire expand? What does it do to its subordinates and conquered areas? Can an expansionist empire be the force for good? The authors clash several empires in a battle, with motives and methods of each being clear.

We have Abh, formed from artificial slave labour rebelling against their slavery to form a space-faring machine of expansion, with final goal of ending of all wars. We have classic humanity, which is losing the expansion race of post-diasporal unification. Can we blame the Abh, whose actions are dictated by their own nature? Can we blame the rest of disunited mankind for creating them, and then despising and fearing them? Humanity is afraid of Abh expansion for a reason, but they lead their own expansion as well. Whose expansion is more righteous - Abh, mankind, both, neither? The whole reason for the great war is strategic areas for further colonization. Whatever your personal outlook on subject matter is - can the opposing faction be completely dehumanised in order to achieve victory? In history of mankind there were no wars without dehumanisation of opponents; it is in human nature to explain killing of your own with "them" not being humans for one reason or another.

The Abh as a race or faction are a fantastical assumption (i.e., something that has to be considered true within the story for the story to function, like FTL travel or futuristic tech) as of itself - they *do not* treat their enemies as non-humans. On the contrary, the centrepiece of Abh philosophy is based around humanity of both their enemies and themselves. Notice the way Abh engage with the lands they've conquered: whatever their leaders (and enemies) say about their iron regime, they actually do three things: remove anti-space defences, remove ownership of interstellar spacecraft, enforce the right of citizenship. And that's it. No other policies are forced upon the populace. United Mankind and their allies act... Just like mankind does, aren't they? Ideological opposition is eliminated, separatist movements are destroyed, wrongthink is forcefully cropped out by expansive propaganda, and after THAT all the freedoms and democratic way of life are the topic of the day. Whatever country you live in - I assure you, this is the way things are there. It can be done in a more fine way, or brutforced (like where I live), but it is there. All of it.

This is why the Abh concept is so interesting: what if such an entity existed? How would it operate? It's still populated by humans, so they still have their own motives, characters, wishes, dreams and goals. Can the culture built around nurturinh the idea of humanism as its foundation even exist?

You can also draw parallels to Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers with Abh. ST is often considered to be a pro-fascist book, which it isn't. In actuality systems described by Heinlein are active in most societies with access to election limited by several barriers. In this case the imaginary social structure is vastly different and built around a meritocratic feudalism, whatever I just said. As any imaginary concept, this one can barely be supposed to work, as it provides far, far too many ways for abuse, but luckily in sci-fi we have such a beautiful thing like fantastical assumption, which allows Abh history to occur and for Abh empire to be believable, because its core is formed by people literally engineered to be loyal by their creators, and who chose to idealize evolutionary stagnation.

But what makes CotS to be really great is its ability to say "To hell with it" - and instead of being a philosophical work in guise of sci-fi, like mentioned Heinlein's work, it is actually a personal story of people in this implied scenario. The story creates likeable characters with interesting backgrounds. Of course, the centre of attention is the Empire (it's still the thought experiment, don't forget) but what we follow is growing and maturing of people within the researched culture, instead of direct cultural analysis as it is. Jinto, Lafiel, imperial admirals, nobility, commoners, landers and United Mankind representatives - they all are interesting characters first and foremost, and only afterwards they are the tools of author's idea. This is where the good stories are born. And this is why CotS and its sequels are so great to watch. You can easily ignore the large scale stuff and watch the story of growing up of interesting characters in fantastical environment - or you might want to dig deeper and engage the ideas presented here.

It's sad some reviewers either miss the point, or even outright cross CotS out for exactly what science fiction as a genre exists for - allowing unusual, unbelievable concepts based on reality but impossible within it to come through the prism of author's imagination and be shaped into piece of art. And even more sad to see such a great work to be accused of what it is not.

The very essence of cartoons is that they possess the ability to 'stretch reality'. In other words, to take an initial idea or assumption that we are all familiar with and then start pulling at it very hard. Taking that which is so clearly absurd and taking it to its logical conclusion.
This is why cartoons and satire make for excellent bedfellows. Since after all, the latter is doing exactly the same thing. From Hogarth to Watterson, with Tenniel, Shultz, Uderzo, and Groening somewhere inbetween. Yet rarely if ever has anyone dared to make a good space satire. Animated or otherwise.
Though it may seem at first ... glance a simple thing to do. After all the sheer preposterous of the genre might lend suggest that it seems ripe for a good ribbing. But good satire requires a certain sense of subtlety, at least to start off with. Not an easy feat when the story begins with spacemen from the planet Zog.
There have been some noble attempts in the past, most notably Douglas Adam's sublime 'Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. Yet even then, an almost unrivaled comic flair (not to mention a quotability up there with Blackadder and Monty Python) is fatally undermined by an uneven narrative. '
Red Dwarf' on the other hand presents a much more conventional proposition. Being as it is a standard (albeit first rate) sit-com set in space, thus with all the jokes being references to the eccentricities and inconsistencies of its chosen genre. Thus what it presents in barrel laughs, it lacks in any sense of subtlety.
Which is what makes the entire 'Crest of the Stars' series such an astonishing piece of work. Unquestionably the single finest satire on the space (and/or space opera) genre that I have ever seen. All the great works from the Anglo-American tradition are put to the sword. Nothing is sacred, nothing is given quarter.
I for one welcome our new Ahb overlords.

Studio Sunrise just pumps out anime. Also, there are two people to note of in terms of the Crest/Banner of the Stars anime (Seikai Series), and those are unknown director Yasuchika Nagaoka whom worked on all of the Seikai Series before going freelance, and original creator Hiroyuki Morioka. Notably, Morioka created an entire language with an alphabet (Ath) called Baronh just for the main alien race, the Abh. From 1999-2005 the Seikai Series anime went through 3 separate seasons plus an OVA to finish up.

Seikai’s story focuses around a young man named Jinto. As a child, his planet was taken over by the Abh and ... his father negotiates that he and his son be given nobility status within the Abh in exchange for the planet, in simple terms. Quickly Jinto goes off to nobility school to learn the culture and language of the Abh. Upon going off to military school, which is custom for all Abh, he meets the young Abh Princess Lafiel. Of course, their ship gets into conflict with a developing war, and the story goes from there.

Character designs are different to say the least. It tends to be a bit repetitive with the Abh, and humans are generally portrayed as Neanderthals. However, it does come with good reason. The Abh are a genetically engineered race that are supposed to look the same, while humans are meant to be portrayed as the inferior race. This also makes a point in the ways political conflicts are handled on both sides without giving away spoilers. Almost every detail in the Seikai Series has a point one way or another, and it’s done very well. From the opera music in this space opera anime, makes sense, to the written dialogue with not all races speaking the same native tongue, makes sense, the Seikai Series is an anime that really breaks boundaries on the typical sci-fi front. Even the romance is done well in how Jinto and Lafiel’s relationship develops from their first meeting all the way to the OVA. Next to the politics and space battles with subtle romance as a sub-plot, the only anime that comes close to this amount of detail is Legend of the Galactic Heroes.

From the hard space action of Crest of the Stars, to the political struggle and war of Banner of the Stars, even the romance development and civil conflicts of the OVA, the Seikai Series is an anime of wonder. Pacing is constantly changing and mostly holds up from start to finish. Highly recommend to say the least.

星界の紋章 the show has a great script that was taken from the Mangaka Morioka Hiroyuki novel of the same name from 1996. Directed by Nagaoka Yasuchika, the TV series Crest of the Stars has become a rarity that offers a lot of background despite only 13 episodes and impresses with well-designed settings and demanding dialogues. The focus is on the relationship between the two main characters Lafiel and Jinto. By the way, there is also a manga version.

Story: against conventions; world setting & characters well-built, interactions with bitter humor at times (8,5/10)
In a distant future, the Abh people will occupy the Hyde Stars system. The ... overwhelming spectacle of the huge spaceship fleet fades away the thoughts of resistance. The president handed over the entire Hyde system without firing a shot. However, this should only be the starting point of the actual story, which will be about the President's son, young Lin Jinto. Through the actions of his father, the young man Jinto receives the rank of count among the nobility of the Abh. Here the real story begins and takes a different path than expected in every aspect. The series does not show great commanders like Ginga Eiyū Densetsu, but the adventures of our young count at the side of his no less noble companion Lafiel, a born Abh. Those who hope that this story is viewed as both warlike and from a human perspective will be disappointed. Again, the story takes a different course and does not focus on war, although it is always the linchpin of the story. The focus is on a really well told love story with lots of good dialogues that unfold in the turmoil of war. It is a sophisticated science fiction series in which the Manga-ka has put a lot of effort and creativity. This is shown not least in the fact that a whole language "Baronh", including an alphabet, was created as Conlang for the series.

Characters: a wide variety with well-described character profiles (8.5 / 10)
The cast is just too big to describe them all. Therefore I want to focus on the two main characters and describe a few more characters that I personally liked.
Lin (Shu Rock Yalulug Dril Hydal) Jinto:
Jinto is the male leading actor and also the first one we get to know. As the son of Rock Lin, the former President of the Hyde Star System, he bears the title of a count. His behavior is characterized by an initially insecure and reserved manner. It's not that he doesn't embark on adventure when it catches up with him, but he doesn't plunge head over heels into one. His childhood was not bad, but his father was always very busy and had little time for his son. Jinto's mother, a mining engineer, died shortly after his birth in a mining accident. So it happened that the secretary Mr. Clint Teal took over the education of the young Jinto. Because of his rank as a Abh nobleman, he was sent to the planet Delktou to be taught in Baronh, the language of the Abh and their culture. A few years later, as is customary for Abh nobleman, Jinto is supposed to attend a military academy in order to join the armed forces later. His departure from the spaceport will be a crucial moment in his life and in that of Lafiel. So, stay tuned.
(Abriel Nei Debrusc Borl Paryun) Lafiel:
The young Abh-beauty, who is already serving in the armed forces, is Jinto's escort and shuttle pilot to the spaceship "Gosroth", which Jinto is to take to the military school in Lakfakalle.
Lafiel is strong-willed and, due to her descent as a princess, very familiar with the courtly behaviour of the Abh nobility. However, she is rather straightforward and doesn't want to be treated like a princess either. This peculiarity and the way Jinto approaches her without knowing her origin is basically the perfect beginning for their friendship and its development. Personally, I took her to my heart the moment Jinto asked her for her name and she turned to him with an enthusiastic smile and said it would be nice if you call me "Lafiel". Jinto is not yet aware of the honor this represents. It is comparable to Japan, it is not common to address someone by their first name, but if it is desired, this speaks for a very special close relationship. Regardless of her idiosyncratic nature, she is very mature for a teenager (16 years old) and, with logic, is able to grasp most situations and find a suitable solution. However, sometimes her impulsive, more emotional side takes over and she doubts about herself. This shows again and again that the chemistry between her and Jinto fits very well. It is a lot of fun to watch the two and their development, because Jinto is more of a down-to-earth person. However, in order to understand the overall picture of their development, it would be good to look at the second part (Banner of Stars) as well. I think the Lafiel is a very successful figure. A little triviality, her first name "Lafiel" is very similar in pronunciation to the French "La fille" (= the girl).
Lexshue Wef-Robell Plakia:
She is the captain of the patrol ship Gosroth, to which Lafiel brings Jinto. Her personality captivates from the beginning. Her calm and thoughtful manner, which does not hide the fact that she is an experienced woman and a proud, dutiful officer, is very well and impressively portrayed. The successful balance between her personal bond and the obligation as captain is very well represented in the discussion between her and Lafiel. Her inner conflict will only become fully apparent after Jinto and Lafiel are sent to Sufugnoff, when an attack on the Gosroth is inevitable. A great personality and a good presentation, I like this character very much.

Visuals: certainly the weakest aspect, but I like the overall design (6.5 / 10)
The drawing style of the series is very much based on the original, and that's a big plus for me. I really like the adaptation of Watabe Keisuke's character-design. It struck me very positively that the faces of the Abh have slightly rough shapes, but in the diplomatic and subtle dialogues the faces show very well-made facial expressions. The sometimes very introverted behavior of the characters is reflected very impressively in the very convincing facial expressions. Even if the design of the characters and machines, as well as other objects is rather simple, especially at the beginning, the series as a whole stands out by the many small things. These make it clear how well thought out the Mangaka Morioka-san created the worlds, machines, objects and people. I also liked the fact that the series has a bit of eroticism but doesn't use clumsy ecchi. All female characters are very pretty to look at and some have a special feminine charm, such as Beneej Spoor. It's appealing without being cheap, which makes the series attractive in my eyes. On the other hand, the backgrounds are mostly simple. Well, some of the rooms in the spaceships have paintings and tapestries with family crests or decorations with attractive furniture, but most are rather plain. On the other hand, it is noticeable that e.g. Landscapes are very detailed and beautifully designed. Keep in mind that the anime is already very old.
However, Sunrise's animation is rather average and this aspect could be distracting for viewers who are quite picky when it comes to smooth movements. Even if the movements seem a bit bumpy at times, the camera work is great and knows how to support the dialogue directing with well done camera angles and close-ups. I felt that the space battles, which are basically not the core of the story, to be relatively well done. The atmosphere is a bit like a mixture of Star Trek and Blade Runner. The battles are explained, affect the story and the characters, but the focus is still on the main characters and their actions. In this respect the priorities are set correctly. Nevertheless, there are also events which, despite their visual simplicity, are impressively staged by very good musical emphasis. I mentioned the example of the Abh invasion at the beginning of my review. All in all, considering the age of the anime, I don't see in the visualization a sufficient reason not to try the series at least.

Sounds: BGM very well done, also the OP, very good VA (8.5 / 10)
The background music was composed by Hattori, Katsuhisa and contains some wonderful musical arrangements. Even if not all music is spectacular, I like to hear, for example: "Shounen Ghintec", "Genzai" (Abh no Theme) with the beautiful panpipe melody, "Lamhirh to Yobuga" with solo piano and panpipe, a wonderful harmonic arrangement with the orchestra. But also "Zenkan Sankai! Wakuran no Shukujo Spaurh" is extremely sonorous and gives the scenes underlined with it an exciting framework. I find the musical arrangements to be accentuating and entertaining.
Hattori-san also composed the OP "Seikai no Monshou". A pure instrumental that communicates the orientation of the anime as a space opera very well. The prelude of the orchestra conveys a sonorous tension and is very suitable for the series. Moreover, it awakens strong memories of the title melody from Star Wars. The image design is very suitable for the OP, especially concerning the selection and timing of the pictures.
The EDs are from the episode 1-12 "Ushinawareta Aozora" by the band TimeSlip-Rendzvous. The formation founded in 1994 has already released several albums and convinces with a clear rock sound. The lyrics match the anime and conclude the episode with a slow, slightly melancholic ending, which is additionally underlined by the vocals of Kingo Kondo.
The 13th episode is closed with the title of the OP "Seikai no Monshou".
The dialogues are very well written and for the audio recording, the sound department has put together a selection of very famous artists who bring the characters of the series to life.
First the main characters. Lafiel is spoken by Kawasumi, Ayako. Kawasumi-san is a very experienced voice actress, but in 1999 she was just beginning her career. Her great ability to think her way into the speaking role and convey it compellingly to the audience is already evident in the portrayal of the young Abh aristocrat.
The role of Jinto is spoken by a woman, as it is not uncommon in the depiction of young men in anime. Imai, Yuka lends Jinto her voice and gives him his rather reserved, yet caring charm.
But I would also like to talk about the supporting roles, because there are also very good voice actors.
Captain Lexshue is spoken by Takashima, Gara. Her clear, soft voice, which is powerful yet very feminine, fits the character perfectly. I think her performance is the best of the supporting roles.
In my opinion, the narrator also deserves a mention. The pronunciation of Baronh as the language of the Abh, which the Mangaka Morioka-san created on the basis of ancient Japanese and which even has its own alphabet, was certainly a challenge for Jō, Haruhiko. Especially in Seikai no Monshō, as each episode begins with a new prologue.

I highly recommend Seikai no Monshō and the sequel Seikai no Senki, hidden jewels in the field of epic science fiction space operas, but they are not series for pure action fans! I am sure that those who like series with depth and good dialogues, like "Spice and Wolf", to name just one more example, will also enjoy these series from 1999 and 2000.

As always, thanks for reading and have fun watching.

A master piece of an anime that is certainly lost in the time of the early 2000's. This series not only brings originality with story and the surrounding environment it also introduces the concept of love without the physical part. True emotional love and care between two characters in an all out war against humankind. Jinto is a well reserved and good manner male character that shows his lack of understanding of his environments and carelessness. Lafiel is a strong female lead that also has her own draw backs, but when the two face countless challenges and battles they make a perfect couple as each ... ones faults or strength makes up for the other. If you like romance, and space battles this little gem is for you.

Seikai no Monshou is a must see for space-alien anime fanatics, of any age, despite that a lot of people do not like anime from before 2000. In my opinion, this show is great because of how successful it became, with two other full sequels and a bunch of ova's, specials, and movies to go along with. This series was fun to watch and easily got me hooked. As the story progresses, one can feel fully immersed in this space world, and even find themselves in relatable positions. The story is about a boy, Jinto, who is the son of the president of Planet Martine. ... When the planet is invaded by the Abh empire, the president gives up without a fight in return for nobility status; thus making Jinto a minor prince. His title is his saving grace in more ways than one...

Story~7
I can only judge the show based on this particular season without any bias from its' many sequels. This anime more or less always starts off with a 1-2 minute pre-intro in Abh language. It is a totally made up language, and dub or sub, I never got any translations. We have to use our imaginations for this part. Then the intro starts playing and it goes back into regular Japanese or whatever dubbed language it was supposed to be in. The anime has a major plot, with 3 main subplots that take up the entire 13 episodes. In my opinion, the 2nd arc was a bit lackluster, but it probably was put in to show the versatility/creativity of the characters. Still, it was just a three episode burnout, which is only really important for those who wish to complete the other sequels.
Art~9
The art was great for an anime in the “despised era” of the 90’s and early 2000’s; a time many people try to specifically avoid because the art style is too old. It is actually done very well, and depict the scenes of space and some of its inhabitants on other planets pretty well. It does use some of the cliché’s, like the cliché for women to wear short clothes, but main characters usually have a full-body suit. The "humans" are also drawn more feral, in an attempt to make the Abh look even better. The ships are the standard many space operas have used. The attention to detail was also an important aspect of the art for the anime, with even background depictions surpassing many anime of its time.
Sound~8
The sound is excellent. The music really sets the scene and helps with the tone of the show. The space fights are better than many other space operas, such as Outlaw Star. The speech of the characters is varied a lot, helping set the mood of the nobility, where different people use different dialects. An important “sound” is that important “Abh speak”. It helps create the idea that the Abh really are a different species altogether with their own language and customs. Other than that, the opening and ending themes are very memorable.
Characters~8
The characters really make the show. Jinto is from a planet resembling Earth, so his character is easier for the audience to connect to. This is in contrast with the space princess Lafiel, which makes the audience want to get to know her better, because of her royal blood, but desire for military prowess. The characters are all well developed, though some names might be harder to remember, because they are Abh of course. The only reason I didn’t give the characters a 10 is because of that one arc I didn’t enjoy all that much, mainly dealing with a baron of the Abh Empire. He was still a good character, but I felt that it would have been better if he didn’t have a whole arc to himself. The characters and their behavior still pave the path to understanding the Abh people. This is contributed by the depth of the characters, and their beliefs.
Enjoyment~10
Again, this is a must see for space opera fans. The entire Seikai series does an outstanding job of depicting a space age saga, probably comparable to the legendary Uchuu Senkan Yamato. I really did not expect to enjoy this anime so much, but the story was great, the characters even better, and just the idea of an interstellar romance was enough to draw me in. It is a great series that I would recommend to everyone. It was immediately added to favorites after completing it, because it was the building block for an even greater experience with the other series.
Overall~9
Since I still want to try to be objective, I’ll give it an 8.5-9. There were some things that could have been done better to make it a greater show, but there's no point in debating what could have been. It is a great anime that is worth everyone’s time and is easily a timeless 90’s space opera classic. If you must, just skip the first 2 minutes if the Abh speak confuses you too much. I don’t recommend it, but there were some times I just could not fathom what they were saying. If this anime is ever remade, I would love it for them to make the language more comprehensible to the public, but this anime is great just the way it is!

Note; I have not watched the rest of the series when writing this because I had the chance to review the show in isolation and thus give it the fairest shake possible. This is something that could of course become a cause for regret later, but I thought you should know.

Crest of the Stars is an extremely comfy old-school anime that fills you with positive feelings. Nostalgia. Optimism. Freedom of thought. Attraction. Respect. Appreciation. It does things that only something from the 1990's can do and something that we, sadly, have lost forever. It should be raised to one of the greats that everyone refined ... should enjoy at least once in their lives. Do you know for how long to brew a tea before it gets bitter? Can you tell a good cognac from a poor one? Can you no longer use a keyboard without your favourite color of Cherry MX switches? Do you only drive a vintage Mercedes W123? Then, you must see this one. Like all things in life, it's not perfect. But it is exquisite.

To start with, it looks great. Of course, it's only of TV anime standard and not movie or OVA miniseries. But it's really good. There is that 90's haze that covers everything, and you know what, I don't mind it at all. Actually, this show just begs to be watched on a big CRT screen. The art style is unique and confident. Everything stands out. Especially, in the very beginning, you see some highrises painted on the background that immediately tell you that – viewer – we are now in the future. Simply looking at the terraced buildings climb into the sky picks you up like a pretty girl picks you by the shirt so high that your feet don't touch the ground anymore. Speaking of, the girls are very pretty. Ahem.

The soundwork in general must be quite good because not once did I note anything annoying. The space war sounds are very... usual, but you can't really fault something purely because it's ordinary. It could have been a chance to make something more unique instead however. The voicework on the other hand is very good. Every person's voice fit the role perfectly and conveyed moods and personalities appropriate to story and visuals. I looked up later and apparently most of the talent had long careers behind and ahead of them, no wonder.

The characters are really nice. They are all absolute 90's bait every one of them. Form fitting clothes, ideals, deep thoughts, morals of good and evil, doubts yet bravery in the face of danger. Wisdom beyond their nominal years. If you need a contemplation space to ponder how we all found ourselves in the 2000's with things turning the way they have, turn on an incandescent lightbulb, get a hot drink, cross your legs and pop this into the VHS. The heroic 90's teenagers, middle-age men with stubbles and sunken cheeks and unreasonably buxom mature ladies in very snug military uniforms will keep you perfect company while you meditate.

There is a fly in the soup however. There is, in the story, a part where it gets pretty stupid. Just... close your mouth and swallow so you don't bite on your tongue. It doesn't go on forever but it does take its time. Also, I will say that you might not be relating to or liking the people that you thought you would have. Not wrong or bad or perhaps unintended by the authors or anything. But it is a thing that I felt when I watched the show and that bothers me on a metaphysical level.

Seikai no Monshou (aka Crest of the Stars) is an anime series based on the Seiun Award winning light novel trilogy by Hiroyuki Morioka. Hiroyuki Morioka's seikai series is sort of intermediate between the flowery and grandiose martial sci-fi of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the ambitious and elaborate world building (galaxy building?) of Dune, and the 1990's aesthetics of moon-eyed bishoujo anime and, as such, has the ability to appeal to a wide range of viewers.

Seikai no Monshou follows the tribulations of Lafiel, an imperial cadet and not-so-secret princess of the blue-haired space elves, and Jinto, a young puppet baron of the empire that ... Lafiel is tasked with escorting. The empire, more specifically, the Abh Empire is a vast space faring polity run by genetically modified humans who seek to control the galaxy and the worm hole-like inter-dimensional openings that allow for interstellar colonization, trade, and warfare. While the Abh's galactic empire might sound a bit evil, it appears that the Abh only want what's best for their terran subjects who are allowed to enjoy a good degree of freedom so long as they mind their own planets and leave space to the Abh; after all it wouldn't due to allow those greedy and unpredictable terrans to start some sort of... some sort of Star War! Unfortunately, the good intentions of imperial overlords rarely go unpunished...

The seikai series also plays around with gender roles in ways that, for the time, were interesting enough that Seikai no Senki (the main series that acts as a sequel to Seikai no Monshou) was nominated for the grand prize of The Sense of Gender Awards. In Seikai no Monshou, the traditional gender roles between Lafiel and Jinto are reversed as Lafiel, a Strong Female Character, is portrayed as more competent and capable when handling conflict while Jinto takes on more of a sensitive and supportive role. In addition, the Abh have what could be described as a feminist society and many of the important Abh characters are powerful women who are contrasted with the terran women who are typically portrayed as servants or service workers whose potential is hidden behind their menial position in society.

In general, there's a lot to like about Seikai no Monshou but maybe not all that much to love. I sort of get the feeling that a big part of the novel series's appeal is in their world building but an anime series can only fit in so much lore before its opening credits. It's also a series whose slow, character focused story might be a hard sell to modern audiences and that's before factoring in its dated animation and 90's gender politics, but I enjoyed it well enough and will check out it's sequel soon.

This is .... truly something.

This anime has some of the best character portrayals I ever saw. The story also wonderfully handles exposition and calmly shows the world and its aspects.... the creators even went as far as to write full language for the universe. Every episode starts with small exposition and backstory told in that language. Coupled with amazing music, the whole thing feels magical.

So... why not 10/10? Well... there are few minor issues, and the anime is just too short. Only 13 episodes. When you watch it, it feels like you're seeing a beginning of something like another Legends of Galactic Heroes.... but then ... it is over. The ending is handled very gracefully, however.

Details:

Story: 8/10:
This is about space, futuristic societieis, differences between those societies, and the anime wonderfully presetns the world. There are, however, few scenes and one episode that felt a bit forced , but that is the only problem. The anime spends plenty of time describing world, interesting theories/ideas used by it, touches details on differences between races, and in the end this effort pays off -- Everything feels real and alive.

Art: 7/10:
The art is a fairly good old-school drawing style. It is similar to maybe Magic-M66 or something like that. It does resemble Legends of Galactic Heroes in the way how it is executed. The problem is... I spotted some reused footage, and the "awkward episode" I mentioned in story section, felt like they had funding problems. So... there are few cost saving tricks noticeable. Aside from that, visuals look good, the actual style is somewhat unique, and nothing feels obviously rushed. Overall, I'd say that characters could use a tiny bit more detail, but for the purposes of this anime everything in the art style works.

Sound: 7/10:
Intro theme is magnificent and invokes feeling of awe. The issue here is that I don't really remember any track beside intro theme. They're there , and they do their job, and of decent quality, though. Voice actors are quite good, although I think there was only one famous name. Lafiel can sound a bit cold and indifferent, but that matches her personality well.

Character: 9/10:
This is where anime shines. Almost every interaction between characters is completely believable, and beautifully crafted. Every person feels alive, it is very easy to sympathize with pretty much everybody on the screen is believable and looks like a person. There are also no steretypical characters here.

So... why not 10/10? Well, there is ONE subpar character in the show, which doesn't meet the quality standard by the rest. Thankfully, that character didn't get too mcuh screen time.

Enjoyment: 8/10:
Very enjoyable. Pacing is slow, despite some events, but watching it was very interesting.

Overall: 8/10:
I highly recommend to watch this anime. Character quality is truly something in those series, music is great, and story - and the world are interesting.

Check it out when you have an opportunity.