Knights of Sidonia has been one of the more popular mecha and space opera anime in the past several years, with the well-received series helping to convince many viewers that Netflix was the place for anime streaming. The series was remixed into a theatrical film, with a new entry -- Knights of Sidonia: Love Woven in the Stars -- finally finishing the story.
Following mankind's battle with the alien Gauna, Knights of Sidonia has consistently involved themes of transhumanism and what constitutes a person. That is brought to a head in the finale movie, with a romance between protagonist Nagate Tanikaze and the Gauna hybrid Tsumugi. This relationship is one of the film's strengths, which generally overcomes its inadequacies in pacing and focus.
The story takes place several years after the end of Knights of Sidonia Season 2 and plops viewers into a narrative the film assumes they're caught up on. It tries and mostly fails to parse information that would acclimate newcomers to the story, and these attempts to do so are admittedly admirable. After all, the film is the sequel to a TV show, so at least some knowledge of the lore and the story so far should be expected.
In Love Woven in the Stars, the peace experienced since the Gauna's apparent defeat comes to an end, with Nagate and other pilots forced to defend the starship Sidonia against an old threat. This sparks several training missions and full-on battles throughout the movie, the former of which happen right at the beginning. While this helps to establish the stakes, the new and improved CGI animation for the movie is still a bit too jarring for those used to traditional animation. Thus, battles that should be exciting seem either too stiff or difficult to follow.
RELATED: When Did Anime First Become Popular Outside of Japan?
The fact that the movie has to end the show's narrative is definitely an Achilles heel, as it tries to do so in less than two hours. Plenty of material from the manga has not been adapted, so there was potential for at least one more season of the show. As such, this movie's story is a completely original ending that isn't based on the manga, but it feels constrained, in that it tries to fit a lot into a short amount of time. This can sometimes make the pacing feel unrefined and the story come off as a sort of "race to the finish" while checking off narrative boxes.
The movie's biggest strengths, however, are its characters and its voice talent. Even when the plot meanders or isn't quite as clear as it should be, the character's reactions help to provide context while also raising the stakes and making actions matter. Even viewers who have never watched Knights of Sidonia will immediately fall in love with the flighty, yet powerful Tsumugi and come to admire Nagate's protectiveness over her.
This only serves to make their blossoming romance even more interesting and enjoyable to watch, which is saying quite a bit. After all, Tsumugi is a gigantic inhuman Gauna hybrid who looks nothing like a "normal" girl, but the fact that neither party cares about this makes the romance all the sweeter. This also enhances the impact of other plot points revealed in the story, such as Nagate's heritage, in doing so strengthening a weak plot through its character work.
The voice acting is also quite good in both the original Japanese version and the dub, with the cast from the show reprising their roles. Every character's voice fits perfectly, with their quirks and personalities shining through in different ways during different situations. For instance, Tsumugi's schoolgirl-like nature is perfectly portrayed in how perky she sounds toward the film's beginning, and she's just as shy and unsure when she admits her feelings to Nagate. His own commanding and sometimes strong voice further bolsters his own emotions and convictions.
All-in-all, Knights of Sidonia: Love Woven in the Stars is a satisfactory, if flawed and relatively rushed conclusion to a very good anime series. It may disappoint fans in terms of its runtime and all that it showcases, but Love Woven in the Stars offers an incredibly exciting and touching farewell to the series and its characters.
