Audience reviews
17 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Jxbinha
I Byeol-e Pil-yohan is one of those short films that manages to create a beautiful and melancholic atmosphere in very little time. The futuristic aesthetic combined with space, music, and that constant feeling of nostalgia works really well.
The story itself is simple, but it has an interesting idea about dreams, distance, and the connections between people. I especially liked how music becomes an important part of the narrative, helping create a feeling that is both lonely and hopeful at the same time.
Maybe because it is so short, I was left wishing the universe and its ideas had been explored a little more. Still, it is a beautiful experience with great visuals and an atmosphere that stays with you after it ends.
Score: 7/10
Read at the sourceSpike_Spiegel06
honestly, i only watched this out of pure curiosity, but this film was WAY better than what i was expecting.
the animation was really beautiful, Han Ji-won's direction was great, i loved how colorful this film was and i also loved how it had that anime aesthetic to it. the story was pretty good, nan young and jay's relationship isn't just a love story; but a relfection of our dreams, sacrifices and the strength of human connection.
definitely one of the best animated films of 2025. kinda sucks that this and chainsaw man: reze arc didn't nominated because people in the academy are just a bunch of imbeciles who think that animation is a meduim for kids.
Read at the sourcebruuhim
▶ **Summary and Recommendation:**
I Byeol-e Pil-yohan (Lost in Starlight) is a masterpiece that destroyed me emotionally. This Korean animated film is a hidden gem that deserves way more attention.
⚠️ **Content Warning:**
The film deals with parental loss and grief in ways that hit extremely hard.
▶ **Story:**
Set in 2050, the film follows Nan-young, an astronaut preparing for a Mars mission, and Jay, a musician with a broken dream. Their romance develops across the vast distance between Earth and space. ▶ **Animation:**
The animation is the best I've ever seen in my life. The hand-drawn style combined with subtle 3D elements left me in complete awe.
▶ **Music:**
The soundtrack is phenomenal. I found myself listening to the OST on repeat after watching, especially the tracks featuring…
Read at the sourceFloralFlames
“And if you don’t embrace the shadows, then you will never see the light.”
I liked this.
The futuristic setting is blended in so seamlessly – because no matter how technology advances, I still think there will be relics of technology simply for the nostalgia factor. Jay and Na-young, the main characters, hit it off immediately in a meet-cute.
Jay and Nan-young both have passions that they love that scare them a little – Jay’s a gifted musician and songwriter who would rather stay in obscurity than see his work compromised. Nan-young wants to go to Mars of her own volition and subconsciously chases her mother’s shadow. Now, I’m not trying to nitpick, but you know all the lovesick giggling can get a little old. It's not quite melodramatic, but it's very sweet. I still think most viewers…
Read at the sourcedextr__
I went into this film wanting to be moved, and it mostly delivered. The core is a quiet, bittersweet romance between Nan-young, an emotionally guarded astronaut, and Jay, a retro-loving fixer. Their chemistry is warm and earnest; the film leans on familiar beats (meet-cute → slow-burn connection → obstacles around ambition and loss), so you can often guess where scenes are headed, but the moments still land because the characters feel sincere.
Art — 7/10
The hand-drawn visuals and lighting are lovely: careful line work, thoughtful composition, and some genuinely striking frames. My only gripe is the color palette — it skews gloomy and muted in a way that sometimes kept me from fully connecting with the aesthetic, even though the animation quality itself is solid.
Story — 7/10
The plot is…
Read at the sourceHERMIT_PAIMON
Lost in Starlight is a heartfelt and beautifully animated romance with an enchanting K-pop accompaniment, a joyful story of two disparate souls finding each other in a near future where humanity's greatest endeavors are on the cusp of realization.
Although I am not much a K pop fan but bgm is really soothing .The story is a little slight but sweetly affecting and engaging, and is helped by the fact that Jay and Nan-young are fun together.
At first you will find plot predictable and too much generic but ending will prove you wrong . I can't say much otherwise it will a long spoiler review , all i say everything was happening for a reason in movie . Past , present and future are well connected through a bond which is called family and love .
Read at the sourceAdnan4468914
I was feeling extreme emotional numbness for a couple of weeks. Nothing seemed interesting. It felt as if entertainment itself was being forceful with me. Right around that period I got to know about the movie's release. Thought to myself, "Fine, lets give this one a try" and hopped in blind. I am so grateful I did so. I had zero expectation and was prepared for the story to go to shit but it didn't. For the first time in a while have I rooted for a fictional character so damn hard!
The beginning felt a little cliche but I loved the buildup. The story is simple yet well written. There was a ton of potential for world building but the story kept revolving around our mains. At one point i got sucked so deep into the characters that I became very unprepared for anything to go wrong between t…
Read at the sourceTipsForce
Short and simple
- The visuals are truly dope
- Stunning af, I was at a loss for words with how beautiful the animation was
- It didn't hit me in the feels like a Ghibli Film, Silent Voice, or Your Name, but it was a delightful a@# movie with its own unique style
Conclusion: Some very clean animation, a great story with some hit or miss moments, to be honest. I'd recommend it. I also think this was my first time watching a Korean Yeonghwa (anime) ngl I Googled that, I didn't wanna assume they called their animation the same thing but overall this was a solid movie, I hope to see more in the future
Read at the sourceboguda
With a lot of Netflix's ONA category being easy on the eyes but empty in the middle, this movie finally answers the question: what if we paired those great visuals with at least a halfway decent story? The result isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s still pretty good-like, actually good.
The characters aren’t super nuanced, but they feel believable, and honestly, that’s all you can really ask for in an ONA. Jay and Nan-Young’s romance is probably the second-best aspect of the film, right after the visuals.
Speaking of visuals, the whole movie is storyboarded like a music video. The more intimate scenes are drawn almost like they’re being filmed on a handheld camera, which contrasts beautifully with the big, spacey, high-concept sequences. It’s a strong visual identity that carries a lot of the f…
Read at the sourcetokenizerX86
This anime is absolutely amazing! The creators really went all out with this masterpiece. The animation is breathtaking, and it really captures a range of emotions like love, happiness, fear, and loyalty. It’s a true work of art and a great way to pass the time. If you’re having trouble deciding whether to watch it, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won’t be disappointed!
One of the best parts of “I Byeol-e Pil-yohan” is its truly beautiful and well-deserved happy ending. In a world where stories often end on a cliffhanger or with a bittersweet conclusion, it’s refreshing to see a story commit to a resolution that leaves you feeling uplifted and content. This commitment to a positive outcome is a definite plus, giving viewers a sense of fulfillment that many crave.
The characters i…
Read at the sourceAshParth
Korea's first ever animated film feature? Sure. It was interesting after seeing a trailer of this one. On the one hand, it would feel like another one of those generic romantic comedy films that you see in any other language. At the other, this has exceeded my expectations on how this film has given me. More than just your average romantic comedy involving a man and a woman who'd met, having a similar interest, and then falling in love as the days go by. This is an exploration of one's dream and then fulfilling them for both of them. A romantic comedy with drama that shares all their feelings across the board. One wants to go explore Mars. The other wants to bring his song to life. Learning more about one another, whether through one's trauma and the other is about their muddled past, they…
Read at the sourceJason_kaneki1007
I know Lost in Starlight is a significant achievement for Korean animation. But honestly, I just didn’t think the movie was that good. There were a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies that made it hard for me to get emotionally invested. For example, Nan-young’s motivation for going to Mars is all over the place. At first, she says she wants to complete her mother’s mission, but later she reveals she was basically pressured into becoming an astronaut. The film never really explains how or why her feelings change, so her character arc feels unconvincing.
The romance between Nan-young and Jay also felt forced and repetitive. There’s a scene where Nan-young has a dramatic realization that she loves Jay, even though she already confessed her feelings earlier in the film. This made the emoti…
Read at the sourceLucianael
I might be the odd one out here, but the reason why I didn’t like this film as much as I expected, after looking at a trailer, was not plot holes, was not occasionally weak writing, was not somewhat annoying characters, but much more the world this story takes place in.
Lost in Starlight is generally a good film and one that is worth a watch, though not as much as a lot of other stuff, but for all the things it shows, all the imaginative imagery it uses to tell its story, it fails to address one incoherence at its core. This is a romance story set in a dystopian world, that is sold to us as utopia. Flying taxis, drone delivery, ten lane highways, advertisements everywhere, blasted through your windows straight into your brain; this is a world that screams Blade Runner, that bleeds of the…
Read at the sourceNoSensOfSelfe
This is very beautifully crafted, directed and emotional movie. It manages to hit all strings in ones heart. The story is decent enough to keep you invested till the end.
Unfortunately, it falls flat when it comes to characters' writing and story building. The main MCs are basically one and the same person - likeable without a strong quality distinguishing them from one another. The only difference is that one is a tech savvy living in the future chasing her dreams and the other is old school vinyl listening guy who gave up on his. This is a good ground to build the characters' differences and clash their understanding of the world in order to create interesting relation between the two. Instead, after the beginning of the relationship these traits are never addressed nor developed.
This…
Read at the sourceWebtoonMaster
Lost in Starlight is nothing short of a masterpiece. From the stunning animation to the emotionally charged story, it completely captivates from beginning to end. The character design is beautifully detailed, and the world-building immerses you into a universe that feels both magical and real. What truly sets it apart, though, is the way it handles emotions every moment feels genuine, and the relationships between characters are so well-developed. The pacing is perfect, and the soundtrack elevates every scene. It's one of those rare gems that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll. A definite 10/10, and easily one of the best animated films to come out in recent years.
Read at the sourceimData
Lost in Starlight is a big-budget story with many inconsistencies and forced elements. For a tearjerker romance anime, it lacks realism. The characters act way too stupid sometimes which can break the mood. The story feels predictable but it is to be expected with those kind of animes.
On the positive side, the animation is strong, and the climax feels very Makoto Shinkai-esque, it would be effective on those unconcerned with consistency. The characters also feels like actual human beings (aside from those stupid acts) even if they were not really developed (what can you expect in ~1h30?)
If you love Makoto Shinkai's style and are not too regarding about the story, you will love this anime.
Read at the sourceEdySilva
Lost In Starlight is a victory not only for Korean animation, but for the animation scene as a whole. My greatest wish at this moment is that this film will touch many hearts like mine, which is celebrating wildly.
Han Ji-won's direction brings a unique sensibility, combining elements of science fiction with a deeply human narrative.
The animation is stunning, capturing the essence of a technological future without losing the poetry of the present. She did such an impressive job that I even thought it was a film directed by Makoto Shinkai.
This film is not just a love story; it is a reflection on dreams, sacrifices, and the strength of human connections, even in the face of immeasurable distances. It skillfully balances romanticism with elements of science fiction, without ever losing…
Read at the source
