Planetes

Name-Planetes
Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Space.
Episodes-26.
"Space is such a cold place & It's cruel & It's heartless,but we fall in love with her anyway...Like a pure hearted boy falling for a bad girl." 😍❤️
This story is no less than a Masterpiece imo,It's actually pretty sad that It's pretty much unheard of or most people don't know about this splendid anime...So,to those who haven't watched It yet,please watch..Because this is one of those must watch animes you should at least see once in your life.😌
This is an story about a future where space is polluted by debris by all kinds of abandoned satelites,ships & such ... & a group of people that collects those useless debris to keep space travel secure while chasing their own dreams & hopes..sounds pretty simple,huh??...But no,this story is so much more than that,almost every episode has a lesson to be learned...The way this story showed the nature of humanity,the abuse of power,the distinction between rich & poor countries,both bad & good sides of humanity was amazing & realistic too..This is an story that will make you laugh,some scenes will give you goosebumps while some scenes can be tearjerkingly emotional too....This story digs deep into human psychology,has plenty of comedy & drama,twists & turns...& of course a beautiful love story too..(That confession was one of the best one's I've seen in animes) <3
Decent artstyle/animation,admirablely well written characters & character development,good enough soundtracks & so on makes this anime perfect in every way.

Modern Classic, Standing ovation, would buy merch if it existed!

I LOVE this series the subject, themes, characters, art, musical scoring, all of it is so enjoyable. I tend to re-watch this about once every two years whenever I feel like giving any other anime a 10 I will use this as my yardstick.

The story is very inspiring and keeps things interesting diversions in the forms of side episodes focusing on either one a side characters, love interest, or learning experiences.

On that note Makoto Yukimura is big on character development and even characters who only appear in one or two episodes or show up sporadically tend ... to have their own developments going on in the background as the story progresses.

This anime was made in 2003 and its 16:9 and the art puts modern anime to shame. The smoothness of the animation and the excellence of the design is nearly unparalleled.

The OST alone with out the show gives me chills its so epic Cheers to Urakami Yasuo!
the use of the Theremin is at genius and ads to the spacey feel of the show.

Planetes occupies a strange part of my heart.

On one hand, I vehemently detested at least two of these 26 episodes. On the other, I loved every second of it.

I'm not even sure I could explain what the story set out to accomplish. Trash collectors, romance, eco terrorism, work injuries, mental health, and the impact of capitalism don't necessarily make for a coherent story - but there is one.

It's an analysis of the relationship between two co-workers, and the progression of their lives, their mistakes and their regrets, as they grow closer together. As the synopsis states, it's the story of ordinary people set against the ... backdrop of space, and maybe that's why I can't get it out of my mind. The story of Hoshino and Tanabe isn't perfect, but perhaps that lack of perfection is its shining quality.

Give it a shot, and it might surprise you.

- orenjijuice, 8/10

Planetes stands out as a captivating anime that skillfully balances realism with humor and contemporary narrative. Focused on human struggles in a plausible futuristic setting, it offers a stripped-back, everyday drama that connects with audiences. While initially episodic, it evolves into a serialized narrative with a powerful climax, rewarding patient viewers with profound character depth and societal insights. The animation's simple, clean look complements the condensed drama, and the soundtrack enhances the overall experience. The characters, though diverse, are engaging, with Hachimaki's personal dilemmas and Fee's leadership style standing out. Despite a leisurely build-up, Planetes delivers a unique and gratifying viewing experience for fans of ... hardboiled sci-fi and stirring drama.

Planetes is a fantastic series which explores not only its colourful cast of characters and the concept of space exploration, but complex themes relating to world politics and the human condition.

Art - Visually, the series is very well animated. It manages to keep a fairly constant quality of visuals throughout the series, even when animating complex space structures. The art is very clean and expressive and mimics the source material well. The characters are designed well and are extremely unique and easy to distinguish. Spacecraft and related technology is particularly well designed and comes off as authentic. The series looks beautiful (especially considering its age) ... and uses its visuals to effectively bring the viewer into the experience.

Sound - All sound effects in the series seem authentic and contribute to the realistic depiction of space seen in the series. The music, while acceptable, didn't strike me as particularly effective. Nothing in the soundtrack diminished the viewing experience but any contribution the music made to the series was minor enough to be overlooked.

Character - At first viewers may find characters irritating due to the series' initial reliance on comic relief. This may be a hurdle to viewers expecting mature storytelling. The characters do however, develop as the series progresses and character complexities are explored thoroughly. I personally enjoyed many of the side characters as well as the main cast and found many of them to be endearing. The main cast however, are broken down to the point that certain moments in the series were genuinely upsetting. The main cast is developed excellently and, while not perfect, is a great example of great character based storytelling.

Plot - The series, on the surface, is about an advanced age of space exploration and the debris haulers of the time, but the series later on expands beyond this straight forward plot and explores many different fascinating storylines (some of which became excessively silly at times) which I will avoid spoiling here. The story reaches a good climax towards the end, but the series was always primarily a character based story and the plot eventually gets put aside slightly.

Enjoyment - The series had an overwhelming effect on me and I enjoyed it immensely. I became more and more invested in the series with each coming episode. At times the series tugged heavily at my heartstrings due to its heavy subject matter and sublime execution.

While not perfect, Planetes is a series I would wholeheartedly recommend to most anime viewers. The series comes off as adult and complex while still remaining to keep most viewers entertained. With a healthy mix of heavy, sciencey plot and skilful character based storytelling, Planetes has to be one of my new favourite series. I wholeheartedly recommend this series as an authentic story about space, and people too.

Underrated.

Planetes is one of those shows that is utterly realistic but lends itself immensely to a deep sense of wonder and fascination. While many who watch this show will be struck by the realism of the future (set in the 2075/late 2070s), it creates an atmosphere that is utterly familiar to anyone who has wondered about the mysticism of space: a vastness that is unconquerable, yet alluring, and unimaginable, yet all around.

Its setting agrees heavily with the pace of space exploration and colonization (there is a Moon base where tourists visit and small colonies on Mars surrounding mining operations that have gentrified slums and fantastical ... skyscrapers, something might be a bit optimistic, but we'll see how the next couple of decades go with these Mars expeditions). Likewise, there is something like a super ISS where most space companies and agencies house their astronauts (and cosmonauts), as well as bureaucrats and visitors, and is the central location (other than in space) of the show. These settings lend themselves to the realism and fantastical nature of the show alike, as they all seem practical for a near-future set narrative, but also seem so distant from where we are today that the wonder can still take the viewers aback.

The characters are all very human and relatable, sure there are some gag characters as well as some "larger-than-life" characters (not in the sense that they are particularly strong or smart, but that they exude something maybe to essential to the plot that they can come across as more of a device than a perfectly natural character), but overall, it is the anime I believe delivers the most variety through characters that come across as painfully real.

The plot (while there is little to speak for a central plot) is sometimes episodic, but quickly changes into short, then arcing paces featuring both whimsical and dramatic attitudes. The first half of the show is often more on the whimsical while the second half (which can really be split into two other halves) is far more dramatic and poignant. Each major climax and resolution throughout even the whimsy lends themselves to questions of deep philosophical and ethical qualms. Though I won't go into specifics (as I am trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible), some of these questions asked are the first time I have considered them, and as someone who spends a lot of time trying to answer big questions in life (and as someone who is known to question the ethics of space travel and colonization), I find these questions to be both deeply relevant to humanity (in this era and as a species), as well as deeply relevant to science as well. While venturing into space, and other aspects of burgeoning technologies, can seem innocuous, there are never any clear-cut, black-and-white scenarios whenever humanity advances - someone is either left behind or carries the fortunate few into the realm of the future, and this show makes great use of that ethical quandary throughout its unfortunately short 26-episode-run.

Likewise, the premise of a handful of episodes, as well as the final arcs of the show are both remarkable and add to the equation of ponder, wonder, and humanity that is Planetes. The culmination of plot points and the revelations of a couple of overlooked Chekov's Guns, really tie together what is already a science-fiction masterpiece. They are infinitely rewatchable and enjoyable (I have watched the series three times since 2014.)

In fact, this is, to me, the most rewatchable anime I have seen, as not only do certain plot points reveal themselves as integral until towards the end (knowledge is power in rewatching cinema), but being reminded of the deep questions and raw emotion this show offers is an experience that I feel cannot be lost through subsequent viewings.

That said, I believe there are a couple of elements that keep the show from being perfect (only with Mushishi Zoku Shou and One Piece, which is purely out of being a fanboy, have I given 10s). The art is amazing, and I disparage it none, but I find it a bit too conventional for my tastes for a show about space, which isn't to say I can think of a better style than what it is, but I think it could be different to a (somewhat) greater effect. Likewise, the music and sound design (as well as the voice acting) are all superb, but for a standalone, 26 episode series (and coming from the mindset of a post Breaking Bad world) I wish there would have been more variety in the score. More dramatic effect could have been accomplished if certain scenes were scored using different music than other scenes. Although the soundtrack is still one I consider to be practically bar-none, it would definitely have been improved with additional scoring.

Finally, to summarize the review, I will say that this is the most underrated and overlooked anime of which I am aware. Its excellence is basically in a league of its own, the questions it makes the viewer ask of themselves are beyond thought-provoking but even life-changing, the story is one that is timeless and so perfectly timely, and the characters are some of the more memorable even in a world of Ls and Son Gokus and Lelouchs and Luffys. There are quite a few anime I recommend: Steins;Gate, One Piece, Mushishi, JoJo's Bizzare Adventure, etc., but this is the one that I recommend above all else. Not even because I think it is the ~perfect~ anime (if there were one, I would say it's Mushishi Zoku Shou, which truly embodies the spirit of all anime on a fantastical, subversive, and hauntingly human level), but because it is the anime I feel is the most important to watch as a person, the same way some paintings, books, albums, and films are important to view/read/listen to/watch as a person. Art enriches and enlightens, and this anime is the one I feel does that the most, and is impressively enjoyable throughout.

Overall 9(.5)/10

I am not sure if I can express in words what this anime made me feel and experience.
This anime had all of it. Everything. Except sound, which there were few good tracks of but a kind of mediocre OP and ED. That is where my criticism ends.

Everything else was top notch.
The story is realistic, and goes over character flaws and their mundane lives very well and still manages to slowly introduce this enticing plot about terrorists advocating for the ethics of space colonisation when Earth isn't optimised yet. This anime portrays characters in such a realistic fashion and in such variety it's almost frightening.

The ... science fiction is for once very non-fictional and talks about very real problems and the technique and events are also very realistic which still doesn't take away from the suspense. It's because there's realism that you are wondering what's going to happen next - this anime is not one to introduce "epic power level increase when in a heightened state of euphoria", no, the characters are all susceptible to failure.

I love how this anime didn't try too hard to push for continuity, as in, it didn't prove each and every "dream" of the characters. It tries to show the beauty of life behind all of the hardships and it damn well succeeds at it.

There's no if or um, this anime really kicks you in the stomach at some point. There is no climax, only a great depression followed by the moment characters experience their philosophical epiphany.

There is no forced romance. The chemistry between Tanabe and Hachi is just right. You'd expect they would maybe try something of an affair with mister pilot man, but no. No unnecessary drama. Claire lets Hachi go instead of going on a vengeful crusade to win him back like shittier shows would've done.

I really liked the politics and philosophy of the show and they struck me right where it counts.
What more can I say? I fucking loved it.

I hope there's a season two. No, I demand a season two.
There's Saturn still unexplored and we haven't seen a single frame of Jupiter. Then there's also Hachi and Tanabe's child.

Don't read this comment, GO WATCH IT AND BUY ALL THE MERCH.

I signed up for a charming one season anime about people clearing debris in space. I got that and SO much more. Planetes is a masterpiece of an anime that starts off simple but gets very deep later on. If you enjoy space as a setting or realistic romances or just good anime in general then I highly recommend Planetes.

Story: 10/10 - Without spoiling anything, lets just say that Planetes pulls an Evangelion. By that I mean it starts off making you think its a simple slice of life but in space anime with a will they, won't they romance subplot. However as the show ... goes on things get much more complicated and deep. The early episodes focus heavily on character development and Planetes shows off some amazing writing in several spots. As the anime goes on you slowly realize that almost everything in the anime has a purpose that is brought up again later. It is very clear that the writers of the show knew what their ending was going to be and built up towards it deliberately because everything comes together by the end. I will talk more about character development in the Character section so instead let me talk about the setting. Planetes takes a more realistic approach to space overall and its clear that there were some experts involved with the show. While the overwhelming majority of the show takes place in low Earth orbit or on the Moon the show does occasionally visit Earth in a few episodes too. The world it builds is believable and the motives of the main actors make sense given their setting. All in all the story of Planetes is far better than most people will expect it to be going into it.

Art: 9/10 - I was surprised to learn that this show came out all the way back in 2003 and I have no idea how I missed it all this time. That being said the art design of the show is still top notch though visually there are better anime's out there, Planetes is still better than most. The background art is particularly noteworthy and there are a number of little easter eggs and details that are a very nice touch. In fact even small details in the opening sequence change every few episodes to reflect changes to certain characters. The animation is also quite crisp and there are a lot of very subtle and deliberate character movements during emotional scenes that really work well. Speaking of characters the show does a fantastic job on character design. This is especially important since the characters are the clear focus of the show. The art style is pretty unique with each character looking more realistic than stylized (no fan service here). All in all the art of Planetes isn't exactly stunning but it is very deliberate.

Sound: 8/10 - This was the lowest category but it was still very good. The soundtrack fits well with the setting but since the setting is space there is a lot of silence, especially during important scenes. The music isn't bad but I don't remember it very much and I don't have any strong desire to go look up any of the songs and listen to them again. That being said the sound design in Planetes does its job well enough. Before I forget, I watched the dubbed version and the english voice actors did an amazing job. Fans of the early seasons of Digimon are in for a treat as the english voice actors for T.K. and Kari are both supporting characters (Nono is an awesome character that I wish we got to see more of).

Character: 10/10 - If you enjoy extensive character development then you will enjoy Planetes. Most of the main cast gets some backstory and character development over the course of the show. Even some of the side characters show development over time. The main two characters in particular have character arcs that can best be described as a rollercoaster. Appropriate enough for the setting, some of the character development for the main cast take them to some pretty dark places but the show handles it extremely well. I will say that by the end of the show some of the characters are doing things that you would never expect to see them do after watching the first half of the series but their actions make sense given their character development. I am also pleased to say that Planetes doesn't go for stereotype characters in its main cast very much and each individual in the main group is shown to be complicated with their own motivations and conflicts to deal with. A theme of the show is how everyone is connected and nobody can go through life completely alone because we are influenced by those around us. The show knows what it is going to do with its characters from the get go and there are a lot of little details that might not seem significant early on that come back up later on and most of these affect the development of the main cast. I can't say enough about how well Planetes handled the development of its characters so I will just stop here.

Enjoyment: 10/10 - Since the anime does such a good job getting you to invest in its characters it is a joy to see what happens to them next. The early episodes are slower in pace as we are introduced to the backgrounds of different characters but the second half of the series really picks up the pace with many episodes leading directly into each other. The last few episodes are especially good at forcing you to binge watch them just to see what happens next. Once again the genius of this show is how much it gets you to care about its complex main cast of characters who are all lovable in their own ways but each of them also has their own flaws and conflicts that makes them much more relatable and believable than your standard anime characters. The setting is also used perfectly with mankind's place in space being a reoccurring theme of the show that is explored quite well. Overall I found myself getting more and more hooked on this show as I watched one episode after another and that is a sign of a very enjoyable anime.

Overall: 10/10 - In summary, Planetes is a true masterpiece of an anime that really deserves more exposure. I for one will highly recommend this show to anyone who is looking for a good anime to watch or anyone who is interested in space.

This anime definitely was better than I originally thought it would be. I don't know what the title means, its close to planets? Space?

The characters were the best part of the anime. The girl seemed like the main focus, but it turned to the dude later on.

The story was very light hearted and it developed into deep awesomeness near the end. Its like stress that you don't feel. Like you got this barrier that reflect unawesome feelings and you feel awesome the whole time.

For someone like myself who has seen a lot of animes with robots in space, the tagline 'garbage men in space' might seem a tad underwhelming. It would be understandable that you'd skip this anime based on this. I'd advise you not to.

By skipping Planetes, you'd miss out one of the most realistic sci-fi animes out there.

In the first half of the series we get to explore the environment, backstory and motivations of the characters and much more in an episodic format. Mostly it packs a mix of comedy and excitement as something goes wrong with the job of the 'debris haulers' ... as they call themselves (either due to difficulties of working in space or because of the corporate environment they find themselves in).

The second half of the series can delve into more of a larger story arc, now that we know the characters well etc. Here it turns more into drama with a hint of romance.

So... the good:
- Characters feel very human, have flaws, backstory etc
- Great comedy moments
- Very realistic world (office politics, third world countries still exist etc)
- Science is an integral part of the series, such as with the hazards of working in space
- Enjoyable stories, both the first half's episodic ones and the larger story arc of the second half

The bad:
- Opening and ending song are very cheery, which doesn't fit the second part of the series at all. So I skipped it basically every time after two or three eps
- I was left wanting with the romance aspect. Could have been done a lot better
- One of the main characters gets serious mental stability issues, but solves it a little too easily towards the end of the series, and solves it mostly alone (a missed opportunity)
- There is a little bit of filler here and there, but it isn't necessarily bad. They could have trimmed it to make it even a sleeker experience though.

A well thought-out and original slice of life anime.

PLOT: Highly original premise centred on a small group of Space Debris Collectors (essentially space bin men) in the near future. Everything is kept extremely grounded and realistic so while it is sci-fi, it's entirely believable sci-fi and this makes it all the more interesting, even to someone like me who loves high fantasy. As a show it starts out quite slice of life as it establishes the characters and the world setting. Gradually the plot builds until it becomes a gripping drama with a centralised plot line with Hachimaki as the focus. If Planetes is ... anything its character driven, there is a huge amount of consideration and development given to all characters introduced into this series. Even if the character is only in the show for a short amount of airtime, they are never superfluous – practically everyone introduced has an essential role to play in furthering the plot and are given closure by the end of the series. It really is remarkable storytelling – I was completely sucked in for the duration and found the characters engaging, believable and likeable (for the most part).

Planetes also tackles a number of interesting questions, its not a show you can watch with your brain switched off – subtle politics, economics, ethics, terrorism and philosophical questions are raised; although not all are answered and much is left to the viewer to draw their own conclusions. In short I felt the plot was well worked out, paced and had a very satisfying conclusion (I would have even liked a wee bit more).

ANIMATION: The animation is solid and there is very little deviation in quality for the duration of the show. Everything has a very realistic feel – from the set & background designs to the character designs. There is some use of CGI, but its well integrated with the 2D animation. Character designs are plain but with a lot of variety – there is no two characters who look alike, even among the background cast – lots of different nationalities are depicted too.

MUSIC & VOICE ACTING: I quite liked the OP & ED even if they are a touch forgettable. The score was excellent though – great orchestral and choral pieces and excellent use of background silence when appropriate. Voice acting was also superb, all the seiyuu really brought their characters to life and all of them displayed quite a bit of depth and range over the course of the series.

Overall Planetes was a very well thought out and presented series – an excellent show and I really would urge anyone to watch it.

This is by far my favourite anime series. If you haven't watched it...stop reading this review and go watch it!

On the level of story and characters: The story sounds a little strange I admit. Planetes follows a team of debris management workers in outer space. The show in the beginning follows the ironically named Tanabe Ai as she finds herself the new employee of the team. The show follows her grappling with her new position and new relationships with people. Along the way she is forced to learn more about herself and to deal with some serious questions that many of us ... have yet to answer ourselves especially with regards to human decency, technology and the value of love. It is endearing, thought-provoking, sad and hysterical in a perfectly balanced package. The characters are strong and likeable despite their flaws, flaws that actually add a dimension of reality to them. Despite the fact that this takes place in the future it is actually quite believable (after all even today we are having issues with space debris). The relationships between the characters (both romantic and non-romantic) make you heavily invested in the characters which was wonderful. It is also quite nice because the romance is present but not overwhelming. Also, Tanabe is an awesome female character (finally!).

The Art: I don't really pay attention to the art. It's not outstanding but it is simplistic in a beautiful way that I think really complements the message and feel of the story.

Overall, it was a wonderful watch. It may not be as flashy as other space-set anime nor as overly romantic as other rom-coms out there but it is definitely worth watching and you will for sure find yourself engrossed in the characters.

When I give Planetes an enjoyment score of 10, what I really mean is "I didn't enjoy this series at all, and I'm pretty sure that's intentional." Don't let that dissuade you from watching if you're up for the challenge, because Planetes is capable of changing and expanding your entire world view.

It starts out with an interesting and realistic premise and runs with it in a typical anime fashion, nevertheless staying true to a conservatively reasonable near-future setting. Then characters start becoming people, idealism begins falling apart, and continuing to watch becomes both difficult and necessary. More than a story, Planetes is ... a complicated critique of politics in a technological age as seen through the eyes of "garbage men" and flavoured with grueling emotional investment.

For what it's worth, I recommend that you watch Planetes simply because it deserves to be watched, and because our future deserves that you have watched it.

Planetes starts off slow and takes its time to establish the setting. The first half or so is basically episodic slice of life which does a very good job of building up a rich, plausible and fascinating world. The cast gets plenty of time to establish and grow, and the characters are great.

I love these kinds of "down to earth" (not entirelly a fitting term in this case), almost "pigfarming" stories. No super powers, no abyssal evil. Just people. The first half of Planetes reminds me of masterpieces such as Haibane Renmei, Cowboy bebop and Trigun.

Sadly, when the main story takes off, it does so ... in a direction I wasn't entirely sold on. I would have been more than happy to let the second half be more like the first. I like the political aspect that is introduced, but I would have prefered that the low-level drama was kept as the main focus.

The show also suffers from being too clean and nice. I'm not asking for all out Elfen Lied here, but a wee bit more blood and sex (or at least a kiss or two) wouldn't have hurt at all. It is hardly a kids show anyway. The immersion gets weakened when you feel the creators are holding back.

Graphically it is alright, although I had hoped for more. Simple but fitting art style, decent character design but a bit stiff animation. Soundwise, the opening and ending songs are decent, had it not been for the awful male vocals. The background score is among the best I have heard though. Varied and atmospheric.

All in all, I loved the first half, and really thought it would be a new top 10 show. But the 2nd half let it down in my opinion. Still worth watching.

Great anime with a simple premise yet it was executed greatly.
Though the pacing was slow at the beginning and a bit fast in the end, it was still good. I still like it a lot.

The characters are great. They are a solid cast with their own flaws and developed into great characters.

Music is amazing. Opening is straight banger and ending is pretty great. The OST is also great af.

The animation is great, it's probably Sunrise's prototype animation style before they did Gundam Unicorn. It's smooth, the art is great, and it flows well from scene to scene.

Overall, a great anime that I recommend to others. ... It's pretty realistic in its take, even though it kinda exaggerated in some parts, but that's the perk of being fiction.

i usually don't write reviews , and i know that this is one of the most cliche start of reviews but this i wish to express the feeling i am feeling just after completing the anime.
i shall apologize because i am no pro when it comes to the different aspect of rating the anime but i will write what hit me the most
as most of my thoughts right now are on the story i will write most probably write a single lines for other but please bear with me

The ART was normal i didn't find it anything specifically bad or good. one thing that surprised ... me was even at the end of 2017 ( the time i watched the anime) i didn't find the art old and as i didn't know the year of airing while i was watching it i thought it was definitely after 2012 because it didn't lack in any way.though 1 downer was that character art could have been much better and constant.

SOUND was again something that i didn't find appealing. According to other reviews it was bad so i will leave it to the pros

CHARACTER in all came out to be well balanced. I found the MC totally reeled me in while the side characters although had a unlikable/normal character were pretty nice sometimes. i did like it that there were less supports but they had repeated airtime and that all their stories were intertwined and definite.

And at the end the STORY,which you can say was the main show of this anime. the story dragged me in like a black hole. There were many reasons why i wish to give this story 11 out of 10. firstly as i said all the supports have their own backstory and do not just come in to rant about in a single ep only to disappear next. No, they are constant and come overtime with results. this can relate to another reason that is there are a lot of location the story takes place and all of them are interesting and quite detailed.
But the main reason due to which i gave this anime 10 even though its not to noticable sound,bad character art,some unlikable character was the unpredictable plot and how it mixed reality and fantasy anime.So before you flip the table hear me out.
You might say that a lot of anime out there have awesome plot twist and i agree but those are a single type shocks.After you watch a lot of anime you can almost always predict whats gonna happen. Like in a battle anime a plot twist is considered the death of a mc or support. it works out the first time affecting but you know that someone else is gonna die soon and you can almost say the mc is gonna win somehow.But here i could not predict whats gonna happen. Some things took me by surprise while somethings went totally of my predictions which constantly made me worry whats gonna happen next.
The other thing is how well the concepts of reality and fantasy are mixed in. le me explain what i mean by fantasy and reality anime. Fantasy concept anime for me are those concepts which cannot be possible in real life eg extreme dense harem mc or extreme emotions causing game bugs (yup! that was meant for that one anime :). While reality ones are where rational actions are taken eg all the anime where any character says at one point "this is the real world" , "this is real life" etc etc. But the anime here achieved for me was the perfect female fantasy mc and the perfect rational male mc . Both combine to create a anime which was not predictable at all and kept me going until i got to know what happened.
those cliffhangers which made me extremely anxious while the next ep not continuing it but instead having a time skip was one of the most excruciating yet exiting thing i found.
overall i find myself deeply satisfied of ending not being a mystery but taking it way to the end.

Just finished Planetes and i loved it. This show was magnificent and i especially loved how it explored the concept of love.
The show doesnt rub the concept of love into your face nor does it need to because the beautiful writing and the dialogues speak for themselves. It explores the concept with such subtlety yet such beauty.
What connects all the episodic situations is one common factor that is love. In every instance, the people are doing what they are for the love of someone be it a person, a thing or a place. It's episodic tales are like fairy tales albeit often with ... a dark twist and in every situation the motivation derives from love. Many kinds of love are shown in the series. A few notable are as follows.
First and foremost is the unconditional love of parents shown through the parents of a girl who turn over a new leaf for their daughter. When they were on the verge of suicide the love for their daughter draws them back.
Then there is the romantic love that is between our protagonists Ai tanabe who is deeply in love and Hoshino who is torn between his love for Ai and his ambition of going on the Jupiter Explorer(the first ship to go to Jupiter). He decides that he doesnt love Ai and the only thing important is his dream so he abandons her. After a fateful experience, Hoshino realizes that Ai is really important to him and he embraces his love for her. He goes onto the Jupiter Explorer for a 7 year trip and Ai patiently waits for him with an enduring love.
And last is the manical love of an astronaut with space. When he learns that he has leukemia and he cant stay in space he chooses to end his life in space because for him space is everything and without it there was no reason for him to live on.
And thats not all on top of that it had a well thought-out world with an ingenious political system which perfectly portrays how the hierarchy is always with the poor being oppressed no matter what happens.
There is a lot more i have to say but then i would be spoiling the show so i won't go into more details. I would recommend everyone to check it out.
Planetes had some of the best character development and some of the most consistently beautiful dialogue i have ever seen. The animation and sound design was also really good. It was a journey of 26 episodes that i am glad i experienced
I personally rate this show a 10/10.

This is such a gem of a show. Great characters, beautiful world and another unique view of space. Whilst Gravity showed what happens when things go wrong in space and Interstellar showed audiences the dangers of time, Planetes focuses on corporations in space as well as the adventures who dare to go beyond. The characters develop from the start of the show which is so wonderful to see within a short 26 episode series!

One of my favourite shows, however, I would recommend viewers not to get put off the anime because of the first episode. Give it three episodes and be amazed by the spectacle.

Planetes is just a wonderfully enjoyable series, with a cast of characters that you will miss deeply once the final episode finishes.

It tells the story of a rag tag bunch of Debris Collectors (space debris being a very real and serious problem at this point in the future) who are generally looked down upon within the corporate structure as being the lowest of the low. The first episode introduces us to the Debris Section's newest employee, a young, exuberant, and very outspoken girl named Ai Tanabe. Passionate, opinionated, with a strong moral compass, Tanabe is instantly at odds with her sempai Hachimaki. Hachi is everything ... that Tanabe is not. He is jaded, lazy, unenthusiastic, and Tanabe's outspoken passion for always doing the right thing grates on his nerves. Its the standard opposites attract setup right? Yes, but the beauty of their developing relationship is that it truly feels natural and takes some surprising and very sad turns along the way. It's truly one of the best romantic stories that has ever been depicted in Anime.

Thematically and tonally, Planetes also surprises. The first half of the series tends to stick to the one self contained story per episode, as we get to know each member of the team and their backstories. We also get a deeper understanding of how humanity has progressed with space colonisation. The Moon has a city. Shuttles regularly transport passengers back and forth between Earth and the Moon. Large corporations are planning to send a manned flight to Jupiter. However, as humanity branches further into space, and pouring more resources into space development it seems that Earth has been neglected, and the division between rich and poor countries has widened to such a degree that terrorist organisations have popped up, with the aim of impeding progress in space whilst people starve and die on Earth.

The beauty of the first half of the series is that its generally light in tone, with the emphasis on comedy and character development. Yet at the same time we see the underlying danger that space presents, and the underlying tensions and rifts that space development has caused within humanity. The tone of this half felt very Cowboy Bebop-ish in my opinion, which is always a great thing to emulate. However, the second half turns rather suddenly into a tense political thriller, as the flight to Jupiter is threatened by terrorist attacks. Not to mention Hachi and Tanabe's relationship hits some rather sad notes. The second half of the series definitely has a rather jarring tonal shift, with a dour and quite sad overarching storyline that connects each episode. The ending is quite beautiful though, as each character seems to be at peace with the decisions they have made, which is not to say they all end up happily ever after. There is definitely a existential tone to the ending, almost Buddhist in its philosophy.

This review might seem jumbled and a bit of a ramble, but thats a reflection of my mind after watching Planetes. It challenged me, and to be honest im still undecided if the ending satisfied me or frustrated me. But isnt that the beauty of a great story? All i can say with certainty is that once the final credits rolled, i felt a great loss and deep sadness my time with these characters was over. I missed them as people. I think that is the best compliment i could give to a series.

So pay a visit to the Debris Section. I guarantee you will not regret it.

I've noticed that this anime is highly acclaimed as a very underrated anime. Most of the reviews here rate it a 9 or 10. I've observed that the show's fans usually mention that it's a realistic sci-fi rather than...well, mecha sci fi. I personally don't like mecha anime simply because it's rehashed so frequently, so Planetes was refreshing in comparison. The sci fi genre is an excellent platform for exploring the plausibility of the future, other worlds, and space, and Planetes succeeds at this.

I genuinely enjoyed this anime. It left a profound impact on my psyche, and I won't be forgetting it any time ... soon. Regardless, the anime's faults are very stark against its thought-provoking and overall well-crafted premise. I would also like to specify that the concept and the premise of the story is excellent and very intriguing, but the way it was expressed could have been better at times. I elaborate upon the pacing of the story a bit later in my review.

My first impression of Planetes was that it was a lighthearted, amusing, and unique anime that had the potential to become serious, but I didn't really know what to expect if it did. And then it did become serious. Very serious. By episode 16 it turned on its head and, excuse my french, went batsh*t crazy and suddenly explored existentialism in the context of space exploration. I was completely deceived by the lighthearted humor that I was introduced to in the first half of the series. In a way, it's reminiscent of the direction that the anime Trigun took, which is also a deviant sci-fi anime comprised of 26 episodes.

In both Trigun and Planetes, the first half was lighthearted, and the second half was more serious and philosophical, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. With Planetes, at times it felt very...abrupt, messy, and random after it turned from lighthearted to solemn. Sh*t hit the fan, and consequently it forced the viewer to reconsider the whole premise of the show. It was a bit off putting and confusing at times. It's a dangerous line to tread; it can either pique the viewer's interest, or possibly drive them away, but perhaps it's worth the risk.

In this particular case, I would say it was definitely worth the risk because the sudden change in pacing was used as a catalyst to develop and further explain the protagonist, Hachi, and his constant inner conflict with not only his despicable and cynical inner voice, but also his incredibly self-centered goals. That character conflict really drove it home for me because of how intriguing and plausible it was. Despite what a selfish jackass Hachi was, I was still drawn to his character, and I was able to understand him. He was a strong character not because he was a particularly great person, but because he was realistic, and I really liked this aspect of the series.

Near the end of the show, however, a conflict between Hachi and another main character, Ai Tanabe, seemed very rushed. The show began as blithe, became dark, and yet it still managed to resolve itself and become calm again, especially between the two main characters. Episode 15 still retained the show's lighthearted demeanor, episode 16 is when everything began to turn batsh*t, and 25 and 26 is when the conflicts were finally and calmly resolved as if the past several episodes didn't just happen. I felt a tad bit unsatisfied with the ending because of this abruptness, but it wasn't a terrible ending. I suppose it served to prove how much the show had changed and how much the characters had grown over the course of the 26 episodes, and I'm willing to acknowledge that.

Uhm, I guess I'll talk about the art and sound of Planetes. I liked the art style. The character design was a bit bland, but the animation was smooth and always seemed to be constantly moving, and there was a keen attention to detail that I was really fond of. The music in this show is phenomenal and it was also utilized correctly. If I'm correct, Planetes means 'wanderers' in Greek, and the music really captured the essence of almost wandering in the intangible vastness of space. It really evoked a sense of fear, danger, and wonder; of boundlessness and empty loneliness, of cynicism and of wavering but insistent hope...holy sh*t, the soundtrack successfully covered a broad range of emotion. I cried a few times because the music combined with the imagery and of certain scenes struck a cord within me.

Ultimately, Planetes has its irrevocably phenomenal moments, but at the same time, it suffers from a few setbacks that can't really be overlooked. At times, it was unnecessarily silly, at other times it was rushed and very unexpected, and at others it left me wanting just a bit more development in certain areas. And yet those mediocre moments were juxtaposed by harrowing, beautiful, and unforgettable scenes. It managed to transcend the confines that nearly boxed the show into a state of mediocrity, and I'm very glad that it did.