If you know about some of my favorite anime series of all time, you'll more than likely know that I am a HUGE fan of Key. Key is a company that makes visual novels that are centered around ripping your heart right out of your chest and tearing it to shreds, while burning it to crisp right after beating it into the ground. In other words, they're good at making you cry. I've been a fan of Key for a LONG time. I discovered them by accident and I am forever grateful for it. My first Key anime was Air, a show that is very dear to my heart. I then proceeded to watch their other works. First Air, then Angel Beats, then Clannad, and then Kanon. Every single one of these is a masterpiece and is legendary for its masterful storytelling and absolutely perfect visuals.
Ever since finishing those shows, I would check the Key Wikipedia article, to see when the other Key Visual novels got an anime adaptation. A few years later, a new Key anime released, called Little Busters. And it definitely lived up to the legacy that the shows before it had created. And just a few weeks ago, a new Key anime called Rewrite has begun airing. Needless to say, I was extremely excited to see it. But there was one Key visual novel that I didn't think would ever get an anime adaptation, simply because of how different it is from all the rest. And that is Planetarian. I actually didn't know that this show had even gotten confirmed to become an anime, until the day of Episode 1's release. When I finally heard the news, I flipped out. I was SO excited! But because I absolutely adore these Key shows, I waited until the anime had finished, before watching it. Thankfully, Planetarian is only 5 episodes long, so it wasn't a very long wait. I just watched all 5 in one sitting and just like all the Key animes before it, Planetarian has left me in complete awe, amazement, and sadness.
So like I said, this anime is only 5 episodes long. Making it the shortest Key anime. Considering the type of show that it is, 5 episodes is plenty of time to tell its story. I could totally see them adding to it, and expanding the universe even a LITTLE bit. Not as in a sequel, but if they had added some elements into the story right from the get go, they could've easily made this a 12-13 episode anime. I know they could've done it, considering how masterful Key stories always tend to be. But I am still 100% satisfied with what I got. Now, the animation for the first 3 Key animes were done by the lord and savior of anime, Kyoto Animation. However, after Clannad, Key has been jumping from company to company, when adapting their future visual novels into anime series. Angel Beats was animated by P.A. Works, Little Busters was done by J.C. Staff, Rewrite was animated by 8-Bit, and Planetarian was animated by David Production, whose other works include Soul Eater, Code Geass, Black Butler, and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. This is actually my first time seeing any of David Production's work, believe it or not. And what a wonderful show to start with. Planetarian was beautiful, to say the least. If there's something I can promise you with every Key anime, its beautiful animation. For the most part, it's just really above average. But there are some instances where they just knock it out of the park, as Key tends to do. Honestly, there were several times where I went rewound parts or paused the episode, just so I can look at the scenery, in all its details. Congratulations, David Production. You've won me over in just one show.
Another thing I can always promise you with every Key anime is that it'll have phenomenal music. Absolutely beautiful tracks that add so much to the scenes that they're in. There's no other way of putting it. Planetarian's soundtrack is just as wonderful as all the rest. The only complaint I could come up with is that there's actually no opening theme to this show. Since it's technically not a full fledged anime series, being only 5 episodes, I guess they didn't think it was deserving of one? The show does have an ending theme, though. Unfortunately, the ending theme is drawn in a less detailed, chili art style. It's ok, and the song is alright, but I definitely would've loved to see a full blown opening for this show. Especially considering the openings for other Key shows are some of the best openings in anime history. Like I said before, this show is VERY different from other Key visual novels. This is actually the only one that doesn't take place in a high school setting. I'd elaborate more on what the show IS about, but I think it'd be best to discover it on your own. I will say that because of the type of show that it is, there is a very small amount of main characters. Or rather, there's a very small amount of characters, period. When deciding whether to watch this show in sub or dub, the first episode is all you'll need to watch, in order to review every character's voice in the show.
Speaking of the sub vs dub debate, which one do I prefer? Well to be perfectly honest, one thing that Key animes don't have a very great reputation for are its english dubs. Personally, I'm actually a fan of the english dub of Air and Angel Beats. But for Clannad, Kanon, and Little Busters, I can't say I'm a fan. Planetarian was given the red carpet treatment by Funimation, as soon as it was released. The first english dubbed episode is already released for you to check out. Like I said, that'll be all you'll need to watch, to decide which dub you like more. This one sounded alright, and I can honestly recommend watching the english version simply so you can look at the visuals for longer periods of time. Here's hoping that the rest of the english episodes can do the show justice, when they release. But for now, all I can promise you that the Japanese version did its job perfectly.
I was a bit hesitant to give this show as much praise as I wanted to, at first. It's only 5 episodes long, so does it really deserve to be held in such high regard as one of the best anime that I've seen? Honestly... yes. Yes it does. Even if it was only 5 episodes, I enjoyed this show just as much as any other Key anime I've seen. I even liked it more than Kanon, which is 26 episodes! This show has the perfect music and animation that Key is always known for having. The characters are very likable and you'll love just seeing them interact with one another. I especially love characters that don't really mix well together, but wound up together simply because of the current circumstance. The small moments where things are happy, even if it's just a general conversation, they always manage to make you smile. And just like every other Key anime, it'll manage to slam a meteor of sadness, plummeting right down into your soul. Only 5 episodes? That's all the time they needed, to leave their mark. There's not much else I can say, really. It's a Key anime. Key is and always will be legendary, and held in the highest regard as one of the greatest storytellers of all time.
Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet gets a 10/10
