Interstella 5555 [Review]

2009-12-17_i5

Review

While it appears as just an hour long animated music video from people who may not be interested, Interstella 5555: 5ecret of the 5ive 5tar 5ystem is actually a feature length Anime film made by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto of Galaxy Express 999 and Captain Harlock fame. An added bonus to an Leiji produced film is the music of the French house duo, Daft Punk (who happen to be big fans of Harlock). The soundtrack of Interstella 5555 is based from Daft Punk’s 2001 album, Discovery.

And if it all looks familiar to those who were religiously attached to Toonami, the “music videos” for the songs “One More Time”, “Aerodynamic”, “Digital Love”, and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” (which Kanye West covered with the duo in 2008 featuring Akira) were played along with the Gorillaz‘ “Clint Eastwood” on Midnight Run.

The story of Interstella 5555 involves blue humanoid aliens from space who enjoy preforming music for the people of the planet. (Even their spaceship is shaped like a Guitar.) The first “song” the group preforms is One More Time (from Daft Punk, of course). While everyone is having a good time, their planet is suddenly under attack by intruders in Aerodynamic. Later in Digital Love, a space patrolman, who is a big fan of the band and their female member finds that the group is in danger.

In Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger the intruders arrive safely with the group… on Earth. The blue aliens undergo a major makeover to their Earthly characteristics. Being repackaged as ordinary human beings, Earl de Darkwood, the plotter behind the capturing of the band, pitches them to a record producer earning them the name to the public as “The Crecendolls” (which is also a track on Discovery-and a very, very catchy track, at that). Under hypnosis, The Crecendolls become uber famous on Earth, but eventually the spell will be broken, only to find answers of why they were kidnapped and to find a way back to their home planet.

Note that Interstella 5555 does not contain any dialogue; the entire album is played throughout the movie, from “One More Time” to the final track, “Too Long”, perfectly matching the moods of the story as The Crecendolls face hardships on Earth, finding their way back home. Not hearing voice acting and just Electronica music might be a disappointment to people that may not enjoy such a genre with their anime…

I do recommend at least hearing/watching the music videos of the first 4 songs from Discovery. Heck, just go out and buy it, if you’re feeling adventurous. I must say though that if it weren’t for Toonami, Interstella 5555 or Discovery would have never happened. It’s also a good primer for those interested in “Rave” music to dance to at your Anime con on a Saturday night.