(?? episodes – some sources say 48+)
What’s it about ?
In 2006, two young brothers vowed to become astronauts after seeing an UFO. Flash-forward to 2025…
(Adapted from an award-winning manga.)
Characters
Hibito, the younger brother (29). He did become an astronaut, and is part of an international effort to set up a viable colony on the Moon (as a tryout before they go to Mars). He’s the successful one, then, and thus a bit boring. Fortunately, the series isn’t really about him so far.
Mutta, the older brother (32), is our actual protagonist. He didn’t become an astronaut, instead making a career in designing cars. Which has just collapsed after he headbutted his supervisor for badmouthing Hibito. He’s having a bit of a midlife crisis, to put it mildly, especially as he’s now basically blacklisted from the automobile industry. It’s time for a drastic career change…
We also see their parents, who do let Mutta stay in, but will only let him wallow in self-pity for so long.
Production Values
Perfectly alright. This seems well-documented (NASA is mentioned in the credits) and the near-future feels real enough.
Overall Impression
Hard SF ? The token series with actual adult protagonists ? There’s no way I’ll skip this.
It helps that it’s actually quite good. Sure, the characters aren’t quite well rounded yet, but I’m willing to give it time ; and Hiroaki Hirata nails once again the dude going through mid-life crisis. And it looks like we’re going to see the realistic process of being selected as an astronaut, which was fascinating when Planetes did it.
