Reviews

Oct 15, 2022
Mixed Feelings
Going into Planetarian, I was totally unaware that it was an adaptation of a visual novel, but having discovered this after I finished it, it actually makes a lot of sense. Planetarian has a lot of the characteristics that reveal its VN roots, like well-written dialogue, intriguing story concepts, and interesting music. Though, it also harbors some of the notable drawbacks, like flat characters, basic motivations, and sometimes rigid animation. Beginning with the story, it starts with a simple yet engaging concept about a postapocalyptic world where humans are very scarce, and a planetarium robot which still manages to function. Of course, when the first customer in almost 30 years shows up, it leads to a unique interaction between the two. The story that ensues is pretty simple, but that simplicity works really well and the anime is better for it. By episode 4 I was already more invested than I thought I would be. Even if it isn't genre-defining, it will be something I think about every now and then.

The art is pretty good, meeting all the standards of quality, and even if it doesn't demonstrate visual mastery or anything, it uses the level of artistic talent it does have to great effect, producing a rather immersive atmosphere. Though, the character designs are pretty basic, and the animation thereof is pretty lacking, save for the planetarium scenes.

The sound is great, with an ethereal, mysterious score and detailed sounds of life, which is itself a feat given the sound of the constant rain.

The characters are, like their designs, thoroughly unremarkable, but not bad by any means. They serve their purpose well within the story, though I feel that these characters worked better in their VN, as the player is able to fill in the blanks in that context that here are simply laid bare. Overall, Planetarian is a short, simple, pretty anime that doesn't really excel in any regard. I still enjoyed it, and if you liked the visual novel, or enjoy planetariums, it's a definite recommend. Though, for everyone else your mileage may vary.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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