22 Years Later, This Anime From Vinland Saga Mangaka Is Still the Most Accurate Sci-Fi Title Ever
Forget Contact and The Martian, this title is the real deal.
Let's face the truth, inaccuracies have a right to exist in science fiction. Its very name, science fiction, does not mean "scientifically reliable" fiction, but "fiction about science."
But there are also projects in the genre of hard science fiction that even the harshest critics find hard to criticize. Their creators hire scientific consultants and bury themselves in books on astrophysics to make their story convincing.
22 years ago, the anime Planetes was released, and it is still considered to be the most realistic science fiction title about space. And the author of the original manga, Makoto Yukimura, who would later create Vinland Saga, tells about not the most obvious characters for the genre.
What Is Planetes About?
In the year 2075, humanity flies to nearby planets and settles in space. However, as a result, a lot of dangerous garbage is rotating near the Earth's orbit, which one day caused a catastrophe with a large number of victims.
After the precedent, a special department is created to clean up the near-Earth space from debris and garbage. The main character, Ai Tanabe, joins the space garbage department.
It is located on the lowest level of the station, and the inhabitants of the upper levels treat it with contempt.
Planetes Creators Consulted with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Hard science fiction is a rare genre for anime, where giant robots and magical schoolgirls are more common. But this series was created in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
While working on the series, director Goro Taniguchi, screenwriter Ichiro Okouchi, and character artist Yuriko Chiba all took a course in space technology and physics. Life on the station and the work of the garbage collectors were thought out down to the smallest detail.
The Characters' Work in Space & Their Design Are as Realistic as Possible
The characters live on a station where gravity is created by rotation. To go into space, you not only have to put on spacesuits, but also uncomfortable space underwear that looks like diapers. And there are no sounds in space – except for the ones in the helmets.
The demand for authenticity extended to the design of the characters, which were created by Chiba based on images of real actors.
Planetes is also realistic in the way it destroys the romance of the astronaut's job. Space is beautiful, but the work of an orbital cleaner is dangerous, and most of all, boring.
Most of the time, the garbage collectors are not saving the world from disaster, but filling out tons of paperwork, arguing with their bosses, and fending off annoying insurance agents.
Where to Watch Planetes?
Planetes is available to stream on Crunchyroll.