| | Alternate title : Hoshi no Koe
Studio : Unknown
Length : 1 OAV
Year : 2002
Genre : Science-Fiction - Romance - Fantasy - Drama
Synopsis :
It's the year 2039, and Mars has been attacked by a race of aliens known as Tarsians. Uncovered in an ancient crater, humans uncovered a seemingly lifeless body - until it destroyed them all. With the ruins of Mariner Trench a testament to the power of the Tarsian race, humanity has no choice but to pursue them to the ends of the galaxy...
Noboru and Mikako, two very close students, have just finished their final exams. They had wished to go to the same high school together, and to be together for years to come... but war is tearing them apart. In her third year of high school, Mikako was chosen as a candidate for the advance party to Mars.
With each battle, Mikako is driven farther, and farther away from Noboru... but they grow apart only in time and distance. Even across the galaxy, and through a war, they find each other, and love...
Well this Anime is simply breathtaking, The Director Makoto Shinkai made this anime in 7 months on his 2 year old Imac.. This is short and (bitter) sweet at only one 25 min episode. The story is very well done and it doesn't need multiple episodes to convey the message. That love has no boundaries.
Added : 2002-10-23
Synopsis by : SCR512
Last update : 2007-12-13
Last update details : Modify info
Score : 8.7
Number of reviews : 30
Link(s) :
Official #1 : Official Voices of a Distant Star Site
Song(s) :
Ending #1 : Low - Through The Years And Far Away
Hits : 59463
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Posted by : jetjaws
Posted on : 2009-10-27 
Going into Voices of a Distant Star, I had extremely high expectations, since the only other Shinkai piece I have seen is 5cm/s, which just blew me away. While this OVA did not dissapoint, I was not floored or deeply affected by this one.
Right out of the gate, I was hooked by the story. The love story between Mikako and Noboru both entranced and intrigued me, and the use of time to separate them was a novel mechanic. Although I was completely engrossed with this while I was watching it, there are some serious issues I had with the OVA. When the OVA finished, I was left with a lot of big questions, such as: "Who are the Tarsians and why did they attack Mars? Why is a 15-year old in the army?" I would have really enjoyed seeing these and other questions fleshed out fully. There is, though, only so much you can shove into 25 minutes, and the focus of this OVA was on the characters, and the relationships between them, rather than what happens around them.
The animation is, in general, absolutely beautiful. The characters, though, were drawn too simply, and deserved more detail. Their design just grated on me throughout the whole OVA. In addition, the action scenes were fairly standard. I loved the music in this one, and I think that the thing that Shinkai did best in this anime was matching the music to the mood of the OVA.
While this OVA is not Shinkai's best work, it is still a better-than-average romance story with amazing animation that is most definitely worth your time.
Posted by : GreyCloak
Posted on : 2008-03-04 
I was really grateful to Kaiser's Top Emotional and Tragic Anime piece. It was instrumental in helping me discover this anime.
Voices of a Distant Star is really good. Thumbs up for its story line although I wanted it stretched like pizza dough. The sense of sadness, regrets, unsaid thoughts, bitter-sweet memories pervades the 30 minutes. It seemed like a blur! So fast yet it leaves an imprint. It was exquisite. Simply exquisite.
The End Song (Through the Years by Ai Miyoko) was so apt. It portrayed the atmosphere of the anime. I find it touching.
For those who wanted to experience the feeling we much encounter in Tragic Movies, plays or books. I recommend this 30 minutes worth of emotional roller coaster.
Posted by : Rosiel
Posted on : 2007-01-14
I was quite impressed with this OAV. At first I was sceptical — what kind of genius can effectively tell a story like this in 25 minutes without making it look ugly and rushed? But Hoshi no Koe bowled me over and did just that, and did it well.
The storyline is not incredibly original, and the science-fiction features (Tarsians and solar systems and whatnot) seem inappropriate and far-fetched. This doesn't bother me much, however, because any other way to express the romance between the Mikako and Noboru would be completely implausible, bizarre and unconvincing to boot. The time warp idea is wonderful: the idea that Noboru ages while Mikako remains a 15-year-old girl is poignant and heartrending, and while many other aspects of the story are weak, the relationship between Mikako and Noboru is very moving. I can't help but wish a little more of their time together was shown in order for the viewers to really feel more for them, since next to nothing was told about their lives prior to Mikako's time in space. Hoshi no Koe could definitely have benefited from a longer running time. 25 minutes just does not do it justice.
The animation is, of course, beautiful — warm, compelling and breathtakingly vibrant in colour and depth. The action scenes are spectacular, as expected, and the animation is generally smooth and flowing. The character models were substandard: not enough detail was paid to the faces; the bodies were angular and disproportioned; the lines of their faces were irregular and out of place. However, don't let this put you off because the rest of the animation is top-notch.
The music is sweet and beautiful, especially the song near the end of the OAV, which really suited the mood and did not disrupt the person speaking over it, even though there was singing throughout. The sound effects were well timed. The original Japanese voice acting was quite good, though flat at times, but the English dub had room for much improvement.
On the whole I give Hoshi no Koe an 8 for its incredible, stylish animation and powerful, evocative romance.
Posted by : codedragon45
Posted on : 2006-12-29 
Hoshi no koe is a tear-jerker, the only anime that has actually truly made me cry(I am a male). This anime is great, the characters are focused on two main characters and their life. The drawings are old and unsuitable for the sophistication of the show but the surroundings really capture the emotions of the characters. Makoto Shinkai is the director of this 30 minute show and he is a man that likes the idea of long-distance relationships. He shows how sad it truly is, and with Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a Distant Star) you will fully understand what he means. Keep a box of kleenex next to you, because you will cry.
Posted by : du5k 
Posted on : 2006-10-31
I got to say that Hoshi no Koe is fantastic , breathtaking and have so much WOW factor. I dun care how many men it takes to deliver this animation, but I got to say it's pretty darn good. The perfect combination of their actions and words never fails to deliver the message that the boundaries of love is infinite.
I'm gonna rate this to my enjoyment. I gotta admit that this 25 minutes is a piece of art, no doubt. But the plot ISN'T anything fantastic; I'm fact I've seen something like this before and wrote my assignment based on that. To be frank, although this plot isn't pretty common or what, it isn't all that good. Because frankly, although I've used it before, I dun like ending.
Why. If you looked it from the good side, the ending shows them comforted in the heart, and somewhat happy. The bad side, deep in their hearts. there is still a place somewhat empty. To me, that is without furture, and it means imperfection and being incomplete. I can never smile with tears for an ending like this.
If I'm looking for a piece of art I'll be giving this a better score, but as someone looking for a anime for enjoyment, not. I'll probably go find this in a museum instead of it in my collection.
Posted by : Itachi-kun
Posted on : 2006-09-23
The story of love oversoming bounds of time and space. Voices of a Distant Star is perfect. The animation suits the story. The story is amazing in depth and clarity. The music is perfect for the feel of the story. The characters are well thought out. The most touching thing I have ever seen. An anime for the ages. I can not possibly convey the perfection of this piece with words, I can only try. Perfection of anime.
Posted by : random149
Posted on : 2006-01-23
The reviews that I've seen concerning this OVA are all pretty good... (a few notable expections)... but most complain about its relatively inexperienced character models.
But then... what can you expect from a "guy with an apple computer"? That "guy" I'm refering to is, of course, Makoto Shinkai, and his 3 (or was it 4?) other colleagues responsible for the majority of the anime's production? Certainly... the results speak for themselves, an anime on par, or perhaps even graphically superior to many shows out there. Good work Mr. Shinkai!
The story... fantastic...
You'd think the creators/directors wouldnt have enough time to create a significant level of emotional attachment for a 25 minute piece. But this is were this show really shines.
Because it is such a short OVA, it goes right to the point. There is none of the long, pointless background stories of the main character and how he/she is related to each and every one of his/her sidekicks. There simply isn't enough time for that kind of thing...
Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I remember any other characters with speaking roles in the entire show.
The music was good, could have been better... but... eh... the show is already pretty damn good.
Posted by : Himitsu
Posted on : 2006-01-03
Holy CRAP!!! This has to be the best animated film I've seen. So much detail, so much forte, it was so... astounding! The movements were really smooth, the camera angles draw you in, and the explosions were more than fun.
While the animation was superlative, the other areas in art were out-of-place. I wasn't too fond of the character design. The lines were sharp, and there was little variety in colour and shading. Nice shadows and such for the scenery, but the characters looked odd and amateur-ish. Don't get me wrong, the character design was nice, but the structure and lines were a bit off.
The whole feeling of it all definitely felt like Makoto Shinkai, especially in the beginning with the development of the story (and little development of the characters). Look to The Promised Place for that same feeling.
For the background music, it was nice. More melodic, even for the more suspenseful moments.
The story was heart-felt, I loved the romance bit. The addition of the light years was the icing on a cake. For such a short movie, the feelings of the characters go through, and you feel for each one. They give you a lot of candy for your eyes with the animation, however, the story lacked depth. Also, the ending was abrupt, it left a sad note, but was still sweet.
Posted by : Enker
Posted on : 2005-12-27
This is the kind of movie Orange would make if they had the chance (you all know the adverts you get before films in the cinema!) A girl goes out into space to fight some gigantic menace in the latest piece of techno gadgetry the big-mech world has to offer. As she travels faster and further from Earth the time diference becomes more dramatic, and whilst she remains the same, time on earth moves more slowly. The only way she can stay in touch with her boyfriend is to send texts to him from her phone . . .
I've heard people refer to this film as an artpiece - but I have to be honest and say that I was thoroughly unimpressed, the plot was weak and the animation shoddy in more than one place. Voice acting was alright (Japanese dub - the English one was horribly cast) and the whole film played out in the space of a short amount of time. If this had been developed into a full series I'd have hoped to see a LOT more characterisation.
Summary: Kills a couple of hours, but don't bother buying it.
Posted by : ssharm11
Posted on : 2005-11-10
Makoto Shinkai's movie is a piece of visual and verbal poetry of astounding beauty, a melancholy celebration of everlasting love and the power of human connections that awes and surprises at the most inconvenient and unexpected of moments. I think this is the sort of film that can become injured by the fallacy that the beauty, focus, and driving force of a movie must be in its plot and dynamic action. Instead, a film such as this is a poem, a work to be savored more from its image and its mood than anything else.
In only 25 minutes, this anime made my chest tight and my face streaked with tears. The beautifully honest dialogue was restrained, but deeply meaningful. Actual time was not even felt as the intensity of emotion came through real and true
Posted by : Rocky
Posted on : 2005-10-19
For some reason, I really enjoyed this series.
The story follows a boy and his life after he gets out of high school. His girlfriend has joined the army as a pilot to fight the alien forces attacking Earth, but is sent out on far-out missions. The story is really about Noboru (boy) and his girlfriend, Mikako, who are struggling with their long-distance (verrrry loooong distance) relationship. Even though the story moves a bit slowly, there is plenty of action to spice it up.
I liked it not only for the excellent anime and good music, but for the depth of feeling this story envoked from me. Even though it was kind of like the many gundam-whatever animes, it really topped them out in story. It wasn't just about fighting and saving the world. Instead you have a glimpse of the sacrifices young pilots have to deal with, presenting a realistic side to the (really unrealistic) story. These things can be applied even to people today, like, say, soldiers in Iraq who can't see their [girlfriends/boyfriends] for lengths at a time.
All in all, I rate this one 7. Excellent, excellent.
Rocky
Posted by : xenocrisis0153
Posted on : 2005-09-17
Wow, I don't know which is better: the incredible artwork or the captivating story. Granted that this OVA is only 25 mins long, it still manages to go deeper than most full-length series.
Whenever I wish to introduce a new friend to anime, I always start with "Voices of a Distant Star." The universal feeling of love and the emotions of angst and torture that accompany it when one has been seperated from their significant other for a long time produce only one thing: hope. Using future technology, the creator tells a tale of two individuals whose only means of evening knowing the other is still alive and still cares is through text-messaging.
I give this show a perfect 10 because it cannot possibly get any better. There is no need to improve on something that already has everything.
Posted by : forevergone
Posted on : 2005-09-03
Short, sweet, and concise to the point. I truly thought it was remarkable how Makoto Shinkai approached this. In 25 short minutes, he's shown one of the greatest aspects of one of mankind's hardest emotions, that love simply has no limits. To be able to do this, it shows that he is incredibly talented as a producer.
Hoshi no Koe carries such a simple story, but it packs a punch. Noboru and Mikako, two students are separated by the tides of time and yet the will of their love never ceases. Their relationship shows that bonds of this strength can form, despite all odds of Mikako ever returning. Viewers alike will feel captivated by the sheer essence of brilliance that radiates off this title.
One of the greater aspects of this OAV was the synchronization of time. Hoshi no Koe took through a timespan of 9 years, and despite of this, it was executed flawlessly. There was no plotholes that were created because of this, and for that, I was intrigued.
Hoshi no Koe truly is an inspiring title that simply needs to be watched, to understand how good of a title it is. It's not a type of anime thats directed only towards one type of audience, which makes it even more brilliant because anyone can watch it. To simply put, this is the best 25 minutes I've ever watched in my life.
Posted by : glidedream
Posted on : 2005-06-18
Hoshi No Koe is the best 25 minutes of anime I can think of.
To be able to condense so much raw emotion and feeling into such a short span of time, Makoto Shinkai must be a genius. The animation is sterling, the characters so simple yet so human, and the storyline short but perfect for the purpose. Still, the best aspect of this movie is the ability to relate to anybody. The short sequence where the main character is talking about the things she wants to do with Noboru is pretty universal, and one of the better sequences in all of anime. It feels like a really good poem delivered as a heart felt message. Even the action scenes in this movie are pretty good, even though I think they feel a little out of place at times. Obviously there is little character development or storyline, but it is only 25 minutes. If you're in a long term relationship, this movie will make all your worries and problems seem pretty insignificant.
I will definitely watch this a few more times, because it's simply flawless.
Posted by : Sepherz
Posted on : 2005-06-08
Beautiful.
I'll be honest enough to say that although it got good ratings, I approached Voices of a Distant Star with many doubts concerning its greatness. I mean, come on - 25 minutes can be very excellent, but they still remain 25 minutes. How strong of an impact can a 25 minutes project leave on a watcher?
Boy, was I wrong..
Hoshi no Koe is simply amazing. Its plot is so simple. Two lovers being separated by seas of time and distance from one another, maintaining their never ceasing to grow despite all odds love. It is the perfect execution that makes this OAV so beautiful. Hoshi no Koe doesn't have any spare details. It doesn't tell you much, if at all, about the character's past or biographies, and it tells the story of over 9 years in less than 25 minutes.
However, it is amazing to see how the little details it does give and underlines are sufficient in order to make you feel so strongly for Noboru and Mikako and their distress.
More than being perfectly executed, having amazing monologues, dialogues, and a very, very touching ending, Hoshi no Koe also features experimental CG, that in my opinion look damn well. The action scenes are very beautiful (despite the Tarsians looking a little ridiculous), and the animation itself is top notch, really.
The only thing that bothered me was the character design. Mikako and Noboru practically looked exactly the same, with Mikako having slightly longer hair, heh. The OST is not exceptional, but it definitely isn't bad and fits the atmosphere this OAV brilliantly delivers very well.
Overall, Hoshi no Koe taught me size doesn't matter :)
It might've been a mediocre series, but it's an exceptional watch as a 25 minutes long OAV. Definitely something everyone should watch.
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