Knights Of Sidonia

“Knights Of Sidonia” is the anime that inspired me to start this blog site. This is because I thought it was a very good science fiction anime, yet it was not well known and not many people were praising it.

If this situation continues, the motivation of the people who created this anime may decrease, and as a result, great creativity and technology may become obsolete.

I have no influence on the Internet at this time, but I started this blog site because I want as many mature adults as possible to see this anime.

Tsukasa Jonen, (上念司) a well-known economic commentator there in Japan, praises this anime. I am sure you will like it too.

Highlights: You couldn’t ask for a better sci-fi anime. Incredibly good computer graphics.

The modeling and movement of the mechanics are of excellent workmanship. The use of light and shadow is also excellent. As one would expect from a war story, you will be excited by the sortie scenes. You will be even more excited to witness the moment the afterburners are ignited, the propellant flying off, or the shells flying in all directions from the machine gun. These are just a few examples. If you are a science fiction fan, you will be captivated by this anime.

The design of the screen (user interface = UI) is also very cool, and the Kanji used in the UI are really well done. These Kanji characters are supervised by Tsutomu Nihei (弐瓶勉), the author of this anime, and developed and sold as PC fonts by IWATA CORPORATION, a long-established font manufacturer. I have never heard of a font being developed for an anime. That is how much effort was put into this anime.

Would you like to watch a bit? This is the first episode. CG will be further advanced in the movie version.

If you are only familiar with older science fiction works, you will be astonished at the progress anime has made.

Setting: It is a robot anime.

You may have misunderstood. Robot anime is not necessarily for children.

In this anime, humanoid robots are the main weapons. You may be under the mistaken impression that an anime featuring robots is for children. However, if you watch this anime, you will understand that robots are actually rational.

The characters in this story are all descendants of Japanese people. One day, the earth is destroyed by a mysterious life form, and they board a spaceship (a seeding ship) and set out on a journey of escape. Naturally, available resources are extremely limited. In this situation, it is not surprising that a machine capable of combat, hull repair, resource extraction, and all such extra-vehicular activities would take the form of a humanoid robot. The protagonist’s first mission is a modest one: mining for resources on an asteroid.

This anime does not try to market robots as characters. Therefore, there are only a few types of robots, and it is difficult to tell the difference between them. There is no more difference than between a Gundam and a mass-produced GM. It is only as different as the original F-16 and the Japanese customized F-2.

In short, it is a robot anime, but it is a work made for mature adults.

The setting, a seeding ship, sets the mood for this anime.

The seeding ship carrying humanity has been traveling through space for roughly 1,000 years since it escaped from Earth. The creator’s strong individuality and creativity have successfully visualized this unimaginable situation.

First of all, let’s take a look at the exterior. It does not look like a spaceship at all. It must have been repeatedly extended and remodeled since it escaped from the earth. It has a strange shape, as if a square pillar were inserted into a spherical asteroid. Its surface is filled with craters created by collisions. It makes us realize the immensity of the spacecraft, and at the same time, it is easy to imagine that it has traveled for a long time.

The interior of the ship is also a different space. The city stretches upward in a disorderly manner, with a complex three-dimensional network of stairs and corridors, and piping infested everywhere. The oppressive, claustrophobic, and twilight atmosphere caused by the long war creates a unique atmosphere. While the combat zone is a very science fiction-like place surrounded by cutting-edge technology, the residential zone has a lived-in feel in places, like an old Japanese house. It is a strange combination of suffocation and relief that gives this anime its unique atmosphere.

The creator’s prodigious imagination has created a wonderful visualization of survival in space.

Others are full of science fiction-ness.

This anime features many settings that will appeal to those who love science fiction. Cloned humans play an important role. Humans are modified to be able to photosynthesize, thus saving a lot of energy. Also, there is no bold disregard for physical phenomena, as is often the case in children’s anime. It is an anime for adults that is well thought out in every detail and packed with information.

Story: The story centers on the exploits of a genius ace pilot.

The main character is a genius ace pilot, but he is not a “new type” psychic like Gundam’s Amuro. I can’t go into details because it would be a spoiler, but he is born with the promise of talent. From the time he was a toddler, he has been thoroughly trained using simulators to prepare him for all kinds of combat situations. That is why he is exceptionally strong.

The asshole may trap his allies, but the main focus of this anime is the war against the mysterious life form. The story progresses in the form of depicting the enemy’s appearance, the difficult war situation, the new weapons used to break through it, and the battle. It does not unnecessarily annoy the viewer by keeping the mystery hidden. This is an anime in which viewers can fully enjoy the tense battle scenes and the exploits of the main characters.

There is a scene in which a huge enemy is destroyed in formation. This may be a homage to the first Star Wars film, reminiscent of the battle in which the X-wing Starfighter sinks the Death Star, as science fiction fans will understand.

There is also satire. In this anime, there are extreme pacifists. They claim that “if we lay down our arms, our enemies will not attack us,” but in fact there are people in Japan today who say exactly the same thing. The author is making fun of them. It is not hard to imagine their tragic fate.

There is also a romantic comedy. It is a farce, but this is acceptable because it is tiring to watch if all you do is war. The romantic comedy also has elements of science fiction, which makes it surprisingly interesting.

Character: Look out for this voice actor.

Captain Kobayashi is a cold, capable and solitary leader. She is well played by Sayaka Ohara (大原さやか).

Sasaki is a feisty, big-sisterly mechanic and chief development officer. The role is played by Takako Honda (本田貴子). She is a perfect fit for the role.

Atsuko Tanaka (田中敦子) as the pilot leader. Major in Ghost in the Shell, and with that voice she has, “Follow me!” I was impressed by her voice. She is the only one who can command the field. I want to be her subordinate🫡.

Osamu Saka (阪脩), born in 1930, plays a skilled elderly mechanic. He is older than my father. He is the voice actor for Daisuke Aramaki, the boss of Public Safety Section 9 in Ghost in the Shell. His tone is both austere and comical, and although he plays a minor role, his presence stands out.

Takehito Koyasu (子安武人) and Takahiro Sakurai (櫻井孝宏), two stable voice actors who have appeared in all kinds of anime, also appear in this production. A little disappointing is that my favorite, Mamiko Noto (能登麻美子), was not cast in a role that allowed her to show her personality.

These are my favorite veterans, but young voice actors are very active in major roles 👏 Japanese voice actors are of a very high level, so please try to watch the show in Japanese audio as well.

The entire first episode is now available on YouTube.

How can you not watch “Knights of Sidonia”? It is a loss of life.