- Actors: Mika Shinohara, Cynthia Martinez, Makoto Shinkai, Sumi Mutoh, Adam Conlon
- Directors: Makoto Shinkai
- Writers: Makoto Shinkai, Steven Foster
- Producers: Makoto Shinkai, John Ledford, Mark Williams, Yoshihiro Hagiwara
- Format: Animated, Colour, Dubbed, DVD-Video, PAL
- Language Japanese, English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Adv Films
- DVD Release Date: 17 Nov 2003
- Run Time: 25 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00008G8QC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 51,398 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I usually consider myself to be fairly impervious to the effect of film on my emotions. From the ending of Titanic to the gore of Elfen Lied, nothing has ever really moved me. Until, that is, I watched this.
Voices of a Distant Star was a film I picked up on a whim. I had read good things about it but it had never been at the top of my list of things to watch. If that is you, go buy it now!
In case you need a little more explaining, this is one of the best films ever. Yes, it's only half an hour long, but it'll stick with you forever. The story is about Mikako, a girl who joins the UN army to fight a race of aliens known as Tarsians which have attacked Earth, and the boy Noboru who she leaves behind. As they move further apart, so the time it takes to send messages to one another increases. The scripting is flawless, and the scene moves from intimate and emotional to epic battles effortlessly.
A lot of CG is used in the battle scenes, but don't let that put you off if you're an anime purist. The hand drawn sections are also beautiful, with the skies being a real focus point. This was in effect made by just one man, so the roughness of the characters in places is forgivable.
Music-wise the film is sound (no pun intended), with a great ending theme. Even the DVD menu has a great song on it. However, the English dub sounds a little too unemotional in places- watch the Japanese first.
One of the things that confused me at first was that Noboru seems to get older while Mikako doesn't. The box even says "while she barely grows older in the timelessness of space, Noboru ages". In fact I don't think this is a) correct or b) possible- in fact, the film flips between different time periods, so the scenes with Mikako are taken from the "present" whilst some scenes with Noboru are from the "future". You'll see my reasoning for this in the ending speech too.
The extras on this are also worth mentioning. There are loads- in fact, altogether they are twice as long as the main feature! Okay, so one is the same film with an altered script, and some are just bog-standard trailers, but you also get an interview with the director, and his first film, She and Her Cat, in three versions. This is also a brilliant film, which isn't worth it's own DVD (it's 5 minutes long), but is as inspiring and thought-provoking as Voices.
I would also like to point out that the original title translates literally as "Voices of a Star", which in my opinion makes more sense. But whatever it's called, this is one of the best films in years, and an essential purchase for any fan of anime or film in general.
Voices of a Distant Star was a film I picked up on a whim. I had read good things about it but it had never been at the top of my list of things to watch. If that is you, go buy it now!
In case you need a little more explaining, this is one of the best films ever. Yes, it's only half an hour long, but it'll stick with you forever. The story is about Mikako, a girl who joins the UN army to fight a race of aliens known as Tarsians which have attacked Earth, and the boy Noboru who she leaves behind. As they move further apart, so the time it takes to send messages to one another increases. The scripting is flawless, and the scene moves from intimate and emotional to epic battles effortlessly.
A lot of CG is used in the battle scenes, but don't let that put you off if you're an anime purist. The hand drawn sections are also beautiful, with the skies being a real focus point. This was in effect made by just one man, so the roughness of the characters in places is forgivable.
Music-wise the film is sound (no pun intended), with a great ending theme. Even the DVD menu has a great song on it. However, the English dub sounds a little too unemotional in places- watch the Japanese first.
One of the things that confused me at first was that Noboru seems to get older while Mikako doesn't. The box even says "while she barely grows older in the timelessness of space, Noboru ages". In fact I don't think this is a) correct or b) possible- in fact, the film flips between different time periods, so the scenes with Mikako are taken from the "present" whilst some scenes with Noboru are from the "future". You'll see my reasoning for this in the ending speech too.
The extras on this are also worth mentioning. There are loads- in fact, altogether they are twice as long as the main feature! Okay, so one is the same film with an altered script, and some are just bog-standard trailers, but you also get an interview with the director, and his first film, She and Her Cat, in three versions. This is also a brilliant film, which isn't worth it's own DVD (it's 5 minutes long), but is as inspiring and thought-provoking as Voices.
I would also like to point out that the original title translates literally as "Voices of a Star", which in my opinion makes more sense. But whatever it's called, this is one of the best films in years, and an essential purchase for any fan of anime or film in general.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A really stunning 30 minutes worth of anime, even if it did end unconcluded.
The music is incredibly beautiful throughout, the animation looks great (the CG flows wonderfully, but the character designs seem a little choppy at times), the story is a bittersweet tale of young love, and will really leave you with something to think about.
Oh, and the mini movie "She and Her Cat" included in the extras is also lovely, if only 5 minutes long. This one brings a little smile to your face after the deep philosophical context of the main feature.
Definitely worth a look at if you like anime that will stay with you for a long time...because this one will.
The music is incredibly beautiful throughout, the animation looks great (the CG flows wonderfully, but the character designs seem a little choppy at times), the story is a bittersweet tale of young love, and will really leave you with something to think about.
Oh, and the mini movie "She and Her Cat" included in the extras is also lovely, if only 5 minutes long. This one brings a little smile to your face after the deep philosophical context of the main feature.
Definitely worth a look at if you like anime that will stay with you for a long time...because this one will.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
From the moment you reach the menu, you are captivated by it's beautiful music. It then goes straight into story.
During the film some bits feel fasted paced. The action is good. The graphics superb. But the thing that really captivated me was the music and storyline.
Parted for so long, knowing you could get a message to someone only it would take 8 and a 1/2 years to reach the other person.
It was worth buying but it is short, It ended to quickly. A bit of a downer but don't let it stop you from buying it.
:)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stunning
Stunning. Only 30 minutes long but the plot is interesting, the drama poignant and bitter-sweet and the animation is stunning (although not as good as 5 Cm Per Second). Read more
Published 5 months ago by Davedrummer182
beautiful
Not what i was expecting... in a good way. Visually amazing and very emotional. I'm slowly converting to this new guys work.
Published 10 months ago by BrotherOdd
Good- not brilliant.
I was able to relate strongly to the themes and it did pull the heart strings.
However, it is as you've probably gathered quite short. Read more
However, it is as you've probably gathered quite short. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2009 by Rory Bryson
Voices of a Distant Star
`Voices of A Distant Star' is a short animation produced entirely on the directors home computer. For this reason alone the animation and artwork seems especially rich and... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2009 by Spider Monkey
piece of crap
I am sorry but this film is:
pointless
poorly animated
CG effects are primitive
story is at best over-boring
good luck for people who purchased... Read more
pointless
poorly animated
CG effects are primitive
story is at best over-boring
good luck for people who purchased... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2008 by Wissam Boustany
What light through yonder window breaks?
At only half an hour long, this short film manages to be more poignant and emotional than many films three times this length. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2008 by GeekZilla
Beautiful
The animation is lovely, the music is amazing, the story is touching, the characters are sympathetic and the whole thing is perfectly timed and scripted to produce an enigmatic and... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by Chiru
Almost a classic
I was a little put-off by the fact the actual film is 25 mintutes long, but I'm glad I took the time to watch it: it actually seemed a lot longer than it was, and the story is very... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2007 by Ada Aran
A superb, touching anime short
Considaring Makoto Shinkai was somewhat of a one-man band in the production and directing of this anime short, the end product is very professional and well made. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2007 by W. cross
Kinda sucks
Fantastic animation all through but the story sucks, the voices are annoying and it has no real feeling in the narrative. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2006 by Mr. R. J. A. Sattin
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