Film Evaluation

The Emotional Battle in Voices of a Distant Star

The Emotional Battle in Voices of a Distant Star

Voices of a Distant Star (or “ほしのこえ”, Hoshi no Koe) is a Japanese OVA (original video animation) directed and written by Makoto Shinkai and developed by the studio of CoMix Wave Inc. While movies are usually extended, self-contained stories, OVAs are usually shorter with a length equivalent to that of an average television episode. Voices of a Distant Star is no exception with a runtime of approximately 25 minutes. OVAs are incredibly diverse and can be found in nearly every anime (Japanese-style animation) genre ranging from comedy to horror to science fiction. However, even though they span across multiple genres, OVAs typically conform to one of two structural varieties: extensions of previous television or movie series or as standalone stories. Voices of a Distant Star falls more into the latter category as it is a reinterpretation of a single manga (Japanese comics) volume and should be viewed more as a short film rather than an addition to an established series.

Voices of a Distant Star tells the story of two middle school students, Mikako Nagamine (the girl) and Noboru Terao (the boy) and the struggles they have to maintain communication between each other not only as they grow older but increasingly farther apart in physical distance. Mikako is enlisted to fight for the U.N. Space Army against an aggressive alien species named the Tarsians. She is trained to pilot a large mecha (a robot used for war similar to the imperial AT-AT Walkers of The Empire Strikes Back) to destroy the Tarsians as she travels with her squadron across the galaxy. However, Noboru remains on Earth. As she travels farther and farther into space, years begin to pass and the characters begin to change emotionally. They keep in contact though e-mails on their mobile phones, but the delivery of the messages is severely delayed not only by days and months, but by years. Mikako suffers a mental breakdown and wishes to see Noboru again; on Earth, Noboru wishes the same, and it is implied that their inner thoughts are able to transcend the vastness of space to reach each other. The ending is incredibly ambiguous as Mikako aimlessly drifts on in space after an encounter with the Tarsians: She simply claims that she knows she will see Noboru again.

Because of the nature of OVAs and the unfamiliarity that many American audiences have with this Japanese medium, it is necessary to clearly outline the criteria of this evaluation. In order to have a successful message that impacts the viewer, the OVA must be judged on the overall coherence of the plot, its emotional appeal to the viewer, the impact of the personal relationships between and the development of the characters, and the integration of appropriate art backgrounds that add to the intended atmosphere. Although the plot of Voices of a Distant Star sometime ventures into the realm of disbelief and muddled confusion, it nevertheless captures the difficult emotions of want, despair, and hope and shows the viewer a world that embraces all three through an unbreakable connection between two people.

The plot is fairly easy to follow at first; however, by the end of the OVA, the viewer is left somewhat confused: What does Mikako mean when she says she will see Noboru again? Does she mean this literally? How could she as she is essentially left to die in the emptiness of space, or does she have hope that she will be rescued? Or does she mean this that she will see him solely in her own mind through her memories? However, while this ending may leave some unsatisfied since there is not solid conclusion, it is this very ambiguity that is a central strength of the story; since the viewer does not know, the viewer must interpret Mikako’s underlying meaning, and it is up to the viewer to decide what happens based on the strength of the two characters’ personal bond.

The central issue with the plot of Voices of a Distant Star is the viewer’s suspension of disbelief, or in some cases, the lack thereof. In this portrayed world, there exists technology that far surpasses what we are currently able to do: giant military robots of immense firepower, interplanetary travel, and highly advance computer systems. However, despite all of this advanced technology, the only way for Mikako and Noboru to communicate is through outdated and limited-capability cell phones. With all of this technology at the disposal of the characters, it is hard for the viewer to believe there is not another viable form of effective communication. However, without this inability to communicate, the OVA would not be able to explore the idea of how the lack of communication threatens the bond of two people.

This personal bond is at the heart of the OVA, and it is developed extensively through the intertwining dialogue. This is exceptionally true near the end when, separated more than ever before; they each give a soliloquy explaining their feelings and devotion to one another. This overlapping of the soliloquies creates a “dialogue” between the two characters and their responses show that, despite their distance and loneliness, their thoughts of each other keep them connected. This longing comes to a zenith at the OVA’s end.

In addition to the emphasis on interconnectedness, the art design contributes to the subdued and emotional atmosphere. As seen in Figure 1, several of the scenes are directly designed from real-world places in Japan. This is done to insure the connection between this fictional world and the viewer’s sense of reality in order to foster believability. In part, this makes up for the aforementioned issue with believability but it does not completely resolve this issue. However, the use of softer grey tones in some scenes creates an air of melancholy and depressed reflection, while the harsher oranges and reds signify the conflicted emotions and the struggle to maintain contact. This juxtaposition create a balance that take the viewer on an emotional ride that alters it course several time as the film moves from uncertainty to conflict to resolution to doubt and—finally—to hope.

Voices of a Distant Star is by no means for everyone; the confusing and unsatisfying plot as well as it poorly executed suspension of disbelief severely damages the coherence of the plot. However, the ambiguity and the emotional windfall resulting from the distance between the two characters create a powerful emotional reaction within the viewer and allow the viewer to connect with the characters’ struggles. It is this personal connection to the characters that is the greatest achievement of Voices of a Distant Star.

Figure 1. Real-world places in Japan in comparison to their representation in Voices of a Distant Star (Extremepro).

References

Extremepro. “Screenshot from Makoto Shinkai Interview.” Screenshot. Wikipedia. 21 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.

Voices of a Distant Star. Dir. Makoto Shinkai. CoMix Wave Inc., 2002. DVD.