Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
RyanSpring
This is the second anime in my ongoing experiment in which I uploaded over 100 of my reviews from this site to ChatGPT so it could learn my taste, gave it a ton of choices from my collection that I've never seen before and then asked it to pick what it thinks I'd most enjoy. The first recommendation it gave me, 86, was disastrous and subsequently it supposedly recalibrated and decided this was the one. Let's discuss!
As you can see by my final score, at the end of the day I most definitely enjoyed Planetes. With that said, I'd emphasize if I had stopped the anime at the half way point, or maybe even two thirds of the way through, my final score would have undoubtedly been lower. This anime is very, very backloaded in that it is most definitely a slow burn and honestly somewhat boring in m…
Read at the sourcefh1478
Space Cleaning Is A Thankless Job
Planetes is a show about space pollution, and how big deal it is, but sadly not big enough to truly get the resources is it needs.
The heart of the anime is the characters, because they are a nice selection of weirdos, who don't really fit in anywhere else but in half section. The character writing is very good and it's that kind of space show where it is, grounded in reality.
The two main characters really feel well realize, because we have the cynic realist veteran and hopeful idealistic rookie, they constantly play off each other in really funny but also interesting dramatic way.
It also feels so well done, the space station the workings of it, just everything that has to do with their procedure of space,it's a fully realized setting, and a hell for…
Read at the sourceKranst
Sometimes it takes an anime some time to convince you of its potential. Planetes comes across quite ordinary with its semi-episodic and slow burn plot structure. Moreover, the early comedic absurdity and or middling filler episodes certainly did not help its case. But before you know it, the eccentric cast becomes endearing and its themes deepen. This series drifts far beyond space-focused debris salvaging, and delves into the realm of minor philosophy, realistic existentialism, and obsessive dreaming. The romantic undertones, corporate depictions, and intricate worldbuilding meaningfully contribute to its atmospheric mundanity. The seemingly infinitely vast universe presented soon turns into something more simple and connected.
Read at the sourceDFV
Definitely a surprise.
The first few episodes were somewhat episodic, with almost no connection in between them, which made them boring and slow, and even though it started picking up steam at the 8th episode or so, it still wasn't anything too impressive, but then, the show starts leaning somewhat heavy on political commentary (heavier than I expected at least) and talking about human emotional and spiritual aspects.
Watching episode 11 just a couple days after watching Cabo Verde X Argentina in the World Cup made me really emotional, and I think that's where the series hooked me.
The last 10 episodes or so just started getting increasingly better, doing callbacks to the first few slow and boring episodes, making them actually important, and building up to a climax that, in my opinion, t…
Read at the sourceYsekai
Humankind is finally living in space and in 2075 it seems prosperous. This is what the distant future might be. “Planetes” is well done and is definitely worth watching.
Story [8/10]: The story seemed logical: how humans evolved to conquer space, how they looked for resources and how the development in space grew and how space debris spread. We learn that space development is not easy and has an impact on everyone.
Animation [9/10]: The architecture of cities, buildings, the details of spaceships, various machines, or the EVA suits that looked kinda cute. Those were great.
Sound [6/10]: I noticed the small sound details. The ambient sounds gave the impression of machinery in the background. The opening credits (OP) and ending credits (ED) had a nostalgic feel to it and I liked the ED.…
Read at the sourceKonato_Timotei
Seeing a serious sci-fi anime with such a high score, I thought I had stumbled upon a gem. Perhaps it was precisely because I set my expectations so high that the disappointment hit so hard.
I think Planetes delivers on the science fiction aspect; it’s clear there’s a great deal of research behind it, and the setting it presents is not only believable, but also plausible.
The way gravity affects the characters, the design of the habitats, stations, ships, the suits... it’s amazing. Choosing a near-future setting makes it so the viewer doesn’t have to 'buy into' anything they’re told—there’s no exotic technology involved. The only thing we’d need right now to have a world like Planetes is time and financial investment.
I think what makes the series less enjoyable are the characters. Many…
Read at the sourceS_Yellow
Let me praise this anime for having mentioned class warfare, and earnings gaps, for featuring diverse characters and people of color. This is a well-rounded and grounded series that has animation that holds up even to this day. These things seem so few and far between in the anime industry that it's like a shining beacon of what all anime could become. Which brings me to my hilarious problem with this anime. Truth be told it's not the anime, the anime is damn near perfect. The problem is that it's so far ahead of its time that the people who complain about anime lacking diversity and people of color and class warfare and the role of government and the oppressiveness of government that the people who cry about that about these things will never watch this anime cuz it's older than they are.…
Read at the sourceBeagle313
Humanity craves travel, longs for exploration and is only satisfied when a new frontier is reached and another is born. We want to see new places, be the first, and maybe most importantly to look back and say "I did it". Planetes is a series that's about people who all share this dream in one way or another. It's full of questions that come with space exploriation and humanity's pursue of "new" and "grand". And yet, it's told through the lives of simple people.
Our main characters are not the grandiose heroes we see oftentimes in shows, perfect, powerful and hollow. They all have their struggles, some with their identity, some with their families, other with their mistreatment. They all fail and cry, but also succeed and laugh, all to the tune of space. Each episode unravels a new facet o…
Read at the sourceamikigu
Like others have noted, the story really picks up after the first half. I actually almost quit watching after a particularly silly and childish episode (involving space "ninjas"). But I'm glad I continued watching; this is now one of my favorite shows because it tackles geopolitics and capitalism in a compelling way, and was written by people with big dreams and bigger hearts. Most of the characters we're introduced to change throughout the show, and I was impressed with how well their story arcs kept intermingling and how relevant each character ended up being in the end. Unlike some others, I thought the music was beautiful, nuanced, and appropriate for each scene. I actually think it has one of my favorite scores for any show, not just anime, especially the in-episode instrumental and j…
Read at the sourceLukinooo
Planetes – A Hidden Sci-Fi Gem That Took Me by Surprise
I went into Planetes with low expectations, picking it up solely because I love sci-fi and the old-school animation style. But man, I was not ready for this. Planetes had everything I needed—romance, drama, action, a bit of slice-of-life, and a mix of both lighthearted and heavy themes. At times, it felt like I was actually living in space alongside the characters.
One thing I really appreciated was the contrast between the beginning and the end. At first, it felt like I was watching Friends in space, with a slow and relaxed pace. But oh boy, when it picked up, it really picked up. It reminded me of Made in Abyss—the early episodes feel chill and cozy, and then suddenly, you're hit with deep, intense themes like racism, oppression,…
Read at the sourceLatooq
Planets is the first story written by Makoto Yukimura. And just as Vinland Saga this anime offers a unique setting. It's a distant future and it's set in space but it's not sci-fi. It's more like an alternative universe if governments still funded space programs as they used to do during the space race. And with Planets I'm confident that character writing is Yukimura's forte. Male characters are exceptional just as I expected but there are also a female lead and several female side characters who are as interesting and diverse. And speaking of the story, Planets has several storylines. Hoshino's character development, Tanabe's coming of age, few side characters' arcs, and there are politics as well. Of course it wouldn't be Yukumura's story if it didn't have social commentary. An internat…
Read at the sourceMediaDabbler
When I first Heard about the anime Planetes was through Code Geass as they’re both written by the same creators (Goro Taniguichi and Ichiro Okouchi), I know the manga was initially made by the guy who wrote vinland saga, but apparently the anime and manga are very different especially in thematic elements of politics/existential philosophies and anime was more celebrated on that aspect as well as other things such as characters behaviors. So as Code Geass is my Favorite media of all time, I was thrilled especially after hearing that Planetes is also this thematic and deep yet subtle masterpiece.
When I started watching Planetes from episodes 1-13/14 I found it quite less appealing as I thought I would, by no means did I have a problem with the narrative or plot issues such as plot holes…
Read at the sourcegakinotsukai
Dang, this is good, like GOOD good. Bad stuff out of the way first, the music is just okay, and the female MC is absolutely infuriating, though her being infuriating is simply the result of good writing. Planetes starts off rather chaotically, with a funny scene about astronauts and diapers, but then it proceeds to open up and pull you along into the world of space trash cleanup. All the while it is just stunning to look at, the background art is masterfully done, and characters are actually unique people, ithe women aren't just cookie cutter eye candy and they have *gasp the horror* actual personalities! Oh by the by the animations are smooth and realistic, characters walking down a hall actually walk rather than slide, it's a miracle! Some CGI pokes through here and there but never anywh…
Read at the sourceStrikeca
Plantes is a really hard series to review due to how far apart its highs and lows are. The first 14 episodes or so are fantastic. However, ep 15 and onwards has a dramatic crash in the quality of characters and episode structure. That being said, even with the very disappointing ending it's still a show that I keep thinking about for positive reasons.
What makes the first half of the show so great? The biggest strength of the first half was its character interactions. Each episode was stuffed full of fast-paced banter and discussion from a wide variety of characters, and it all worked extremely well. It led to episodes that could both be funny while still keeping the viewer emotionally invested in the serious problems each episode presented. Its very rare to find a show that does this be…
Read at the sourcem1ster
I recently came across this anime, and honestly, it’s a 10/10 for me. It may be slow for some, but not everything needs to be an action packed shonen. I am deeply drawn to narratives that explore the intricacies of the human condition and seek to answer the profound question of existence itself. This work strikes a masterful balance between character development, action, comedy, love, depression, anxiety, and drama, making it a truly immersive and engaging experience. Furthermore, the relatability of the characters elevates the story to new heights of emotional resonance. Planetes was Makoto Yukimura’s first work, the same author of Vinland Saga.
Read at the sourceorenjijuice
Planetes occupies a strange part of my heart.
On one hand, I vehemently detested at least two of these 26 episodes. On the other, I loved every second of it.
I'm not even sure I could explain what the story set out to accomplish. Trash collectors, romance, eco terrorism, work injuries, mental health, and the impact of capitalism don't necessarily make for a coherent story - but there is one.
It's an analysis of the relationship between two co-workers, and the progression of their lives, their mistakes and their regrets, as they grow closer together. As the synopsis states, it's the story of ordinary people set against the backdrop of space, and maybe that's why I can't get it out of my mind. The story of Hoshino and Tanabe isn't perfect, but perhaps that lack of perfection is its shinin…
Read at the sourceEmperorThor
This is one of the easier intellectual anime, it is good for the beginners of this kind of shows.
It will give you plenty of easy to handle intellectual debris. Here you can practice to handle, analyze and understand small philosophical ideas, so that you can later take on intellectual spaceships, such as Infinite Ryvius, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Ghost in the Shell, Serial Experiments Lain, Mawaru Penguindrum, Tatami Galaxy, Higurash no Naku Koro ni and of course Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Code Geass
This show is about a so called half-section of a big space organization. The half section handles collection of space debris and is full of various misfits, each of them however is a very unique and interesting person with a story to tell. Their and other people stories as well as philoso…
Read at the sourcetrone100
Great anime that starts out as a slice of life set in space and then evolves into a drama. Planetes follows astronauts who are glorified garbage people employed by Technora that spend each day to clear out space garbage floated around Earth. As mentioned multiple times in the anime, their work is critical to the future of space development. However, by the time of this story their department is underfunded and undervalued. Only the dedication and competency of the crew as well as the favor of the space station's director are what keep them afloat. Their day-to-day lives are eventually disrupted by the ambitions of several of the younger members of the space station - particularly Hoshino, the protagonist. However, these ambitions become tested once a new member, Tanabe, joins their crew.…
Read at the sourceMrSpenfo
I entered this anime, thinking it was about space garbagemen, and I left knowing that its actually about space garbagemen who fight terrorists, which is actually a little disappointing. Workplace dramas (i.e. what I thought this would be) don't need big "save the _____(city, country, planet, universe, etc.)" conflicts, and in my opinion, Planetes is one of those. This is unfortunately one of many things I believe is holding Planetes back. Planetes is one of those anime that I enjoyed, but could've enjoyed so much more if it had simply been written better. It is by no means, bad or enjoyable, but when I reflect on it, I can't help but think about what could've made it better.
The most pressing issue right off the bat for Planetes is the very nature in which it is told, which is a semi-epi…
Read at the sourceOneFaintingRobin
Alright. So. Planetes.
This one's ended up meaning a lot to me. There's context to me having even been able to see this, which I won't get into but which primed me to really enjoy this by extension. Not that I ended up needing that extra push to love this. It is very much my kind of show; I'm a huge 'Code Geass' fan, so the second I saw this was written by Ichiro Okouchi and directed by Goro Taniguchi, I knew it was for me. And, like, yeah, I'm a sci-fi fan, the concept of a heavily character-driven drama set around this grounded future world pushes all the right buttons for me. It probably also helps that I'm a huge Gundam fan, so anything made by Sunrise appeals to me on some level (and the character designs especially feel VERY Universal Century Gundam, which I love).
In the end, I g…
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