PLOT: Dealing with a young couple that are separated by time and space, Shinkai somehow manages to make this short movie incredibly multi-layered and gripping! The storyline is remarkably well thought out and well paced. Each second of the 25 minutes is used well and there is adequate time given to action as well as quiet introspection. His portrayal of Mikako as a young girl thrust into the battle against an alien threat is excellent, and the characterisation of Noboru as the boyfriend she leaves behind is also wonderful. This short manages to perfectly capture the feelings of these two people as ever-increasing amounts of time and space separate them. It really is a wonderfully put together plot. The only complaint I have is that I wanted more – the alien threat could have been better developed and a more solid ending would have been nice too, but on the whole I was very impressed with Voices of a Distant Star.
ANIMATION: Wow. It’s hard to believe that this was the sole work of Makoto Shinkai and his computer. The animation is nothing short of beautiful – the skyscapes and landscapes are just gorgeous with wonderful use of colour. The character designs aren’t the best I’ve ever seen, but they are consistent throughout. The action scenes and use of CGI is also inspired – this short is truly a triumph of independent animation!
MUSIC & VOICE ACTING: The version I watched was the one were Shinkai and his fiancée provided the voice work and it was pretty well done for amateurs! The music is simple and understated, playing its role well.
Overall Voices of a Distant Star is simply one of the best short movies I’ve seen – its truly remarkable how so much plot and emotion these 25 minutes contain!
