Let me start by stating that this anime is NOT for everyone, despite how amazing and motivating it is. This being said, I believe that everyone has something to gain by experiencing this legendary story. "Space Brothers" is a mature anime, not because of inappropriate content or overly complex scenarios, but because I imagine it would be hard for some younger viewers to connect with the entire complexion of its characters. On the other hand, anyone of any age with a dream for their future – one that brings chills down your spine as you close your eyes and imagine it – will love and benefit from this story.
STORY:
"Space Brothers" is realistic and simple. It follows the journey of a pair of adult brothers who dreamed of going to space as children. It is renowned for its accuracy in telling the story of an astronaut, and effectively portraying the challenges faced the entire way. Its important to note that the story is only half of what makes "Space Brothers" incredible. The other half is because of the characters and their relationships (which I will discuss in more detail later).
While the story is great, its important to note that there is literally zero action. If you are a person who NEEDS action, then maybe this anime isn't for you. I would discourage abandoning the prospect of watching it however, as the action is replaced by a constant emotional tug in all directions! The story makes you FEEL like no other.
Why did I rate the story a 9? Well its fantastic, and very little could be done to make it better. That being said, there is a bit of a lull in the middle where they start to use repetitive flashbacks that are not entirely necessary. This does not make the story frustrating to watch, but the time used on those flashbacks would be better used closing up a few elements of the story that I feel go unfinished at the end. Many promises were made and set into motion simply are not addressed by the ending. Due to the nature of the show, the open-ended conclusion works quite well, but I would have appreciated a little more, especially concerning what happens to Hibito.
CHARACTERS:
In short, the characters make up half of the beauty of this anime. If character development is as essential to you as it is to me in how you regard anime, then look no further: this one is a masterpiece.
The characters are amazing. The way "Space Brothers" develops the relationship between Hibito and Mutta is flawless. As an older brother (of a talented brother), I feel that every part of how Mutta feels about his little brother is INCREDIBLY real.
Mutta and Hibito are not the only characters that are very fleshed out and developed however. There are many support characters that are important, and each one is explored perfectly over the course of the show. Their relationships with Mutta feel essential to his progress as both an astronaut and a human being. Even the parents, who don't play as large a role as may be expected, are absolutely hilarious and a treat to have present when they show up during the story.
PRESENTATION:
As for the art, "Space Brothers" does a good job of keeping things very clean and real. A review I read before watching this anime claimed that heredity was well portrayed throughout, and I couldn't agree more! The stylistic choices for characters are great, as they add to both their individuality and realism at the same time. There are neither perfectly sculpted women wearing almost no clothes, nor exaggerated features to emphasize specific personality traits (such as a greedy character being far too fat).
Probably the weakest part of the show is the music. It isn't bad, and more importantly, it isn't distracting, but my god it is repetitive. They have like three tracks that they play over and over again. On the other hand, all of the openings/endings were good enough to watch, and I LOVED the 1st OP/3rd OP/3rd End.
CONCLUSION:
Here's the short version: "Space Brothers" depicts an incredibly difficult journey in an unexpectedly realistic and beautiful way. The characters are developed perfectly in a well-paced manner, and contribute to what I consider to be one of the best stories of character relationships ever shown through the medium. There are few stories that I can empathize with as well as I can with "Space Brothers."
In my own personal rating system:
Masterpiece
**Near Perfect**
Enjoyable
Sub-Par
Do you have a dream for your future? If you do, watch "Space Brothers." It is truly inspirational in a unique way.
