Lost in Starlight

I might be the odd one out here, but the reason why I didn’t like this film as much as I expected, after looking at a trailer, was not plot holes, was not occasionally weak writing, was not somewhat annoying characters, but much more the world this story takes place in. Lost in Starlight is generally a good film and one that is worth a watch, though not as much as a lot of other stuff, but for all the things it shows, all the imaginative imagery it uses to tell its story, it fails to address one incoherence at its core. This is aromance story set in a dystopian world, that is sold to us as utopia. Flying taxis, drone delivery, ten lane highways, advertisements everywhere, blasted through your windows straight into your brain; this is a world that screams Blade Runner, that bleeds of the corpo bullshit of Cyberpunk and Ghost in the Shell, but is so dazzled by flickering pixels of neon lights, that it fails to see the problems in these things. Lost in Starlight, through selling us a dystopian future as a hopeful tomorrow, frames its entire narrative as one of corporate bliss, of utopia through the systems constructed at the end of the line, that has to go up and up and up, and will eventually reward all of us. You can write beautiful stories of romance and friendship in settings that fight kindness at every step, look at an anime like Edgerunners, a show about how humanity always resists no matter how fucked the world is, but these narratives exist in acknowledgement of what we are fighting, they are tales of people who get together, not because Tinder is mandatory, but in spite of it, that end up happy, even though the state outlawed happiness, that fight a system that forbids to acknowledge anything but its own existence. Lost in Starlight sells us a future that forgot us, as one that was created for us, and though I understand how people can look at a movie like this and say, “well, it’s just a romance story”, that is exactly the problem. We can not forget reality, simply because our manufactured version of romance is so much more fluffy than the hard edges of this hellhole we built for ourselves, that was built for us. We should find happiness and hope at every step of the way, but that happiness should lie in truth, in the actual human connection at the heart of any romance story, and that heart can not be found in advertisements, no matter how lavishly animated. Lost in Starlight is a good movie, one well worth checking out, but it is not lost in starlight, but much more the workings of reality itself.

Lost in Starlight is nothing short of a masterpiece. From the stunning animation to the emotionally charged story, it completely captivates from beginning to end. The character design is beautifully detailed, and the world-building immerses you into a universe that feels both magical and real. What truly sets it apart, though, is the way it handles emotions every moment feels genuine, and the relationships between characters are so well-developed. The pacing is perfect, and the soundtrack elevates every scene. It's one of those rare gems that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll. A definite 10/10, and easily one of the best animated filmsto come out in recent years.

Lost in Starlight is a big-budget story with many inconsistencies and forced elements. For a tearjerker romance anime, it lacks realism. The characters act way too stupid sometimes which can break the mood. The story feels predictable but it is to be expected with those kind of animes. On the positive side, the animation is strong, and the climax feels very Makoto Shinkai-esque, it would be effective on those unconcerned with consistency. The characters also feels like actual human beings (aside from those stupid acts) even if they were not really developed (what can you expect in ~1h30?) If you love Makoto Shinkai's style and are nottoo regarding about the story, you will love this anime.