Crest of the Stars
Encyclopedia
is a three-volume space opera
science fiction novel written by Hiroyuki Morioka
with cover illustrations by Toshihiro Ono
. Beginning in 1999, the novels were adapted into anime
series, the first of which ran for 13 episodes on WOWOW
. The initial novel was followed by a second, ongoing novels series, Banner of the Stars
(currently 4 volumes, aka Seikai no Senki), which was adapted into three sequel series to the anime—Banner of the Stars
(13 episodes, aka Seikai no Senki), Banner of the Stars II (10 episodes, aka Seikai no Senki II) and both adapting the second novel, two recap movies—Crest of the Stars Special Edition and Banner of the Stars Special Edition, and an OVA Crest of the Stars Lost Chapter (aka Seikai no Danshō
). The fourth anime series, adapting the third novel, Banner of the Stars III (aka Seikai no Senki III) is an OVA
released in Japan in 2005.
. When Jinto was a young boy, his father, Rock Lynn, under threat of invasion, handed over their world, Martine, to the Abh in exchange for a position within Abh society. Young Jinto is sent off to school to learn the ways of Abh nobility and the story of Crest of the Stars picks up as he meets the young Abh princess
, Lafiel as they are about to travel to military school for Jinto's further training.
However, in the midst of their travels, Lafiel and Jinto (along with the Abh ship Gothlauth, aka Gosroth) find themselves at the very beginnings of a war between the Abh Empire and the Four Nations Alliance of humankind—an anti-Abh alliance of the democratic nations of the United Mankind, the Federation of Hania, the Republic of Greater Alcont, and the People's Sovereign Union of Planets.
(and an accompanying alphabet, Ath), which the Abh speak, read, and write. Almost all written text in the anime is in Baronh, with occasional text in other (invented) languages; at least one planet is shown to have adopted Ath to write their own language (although this is not a plot point, and easily missed).
, the work is actually a three-volume novel. The novel is composed of the following volumes, which were translated and released in English by Tokyopop
in 2006 and 2007:
and Aya Yoshinaga. Hiroyuki Morioka is also credited on the cover as the original creator.
Much like the anime series, it covers all three volumes. Dubbed the first part of the Seikai Trilogy, since two other companion manga were also released, adapting Banner of the Stars
and Banner of the Stars II:
Crest of the Stars was released in Japan in 1999 and in the United States
by Bandai
in 2001. At the end of 2002, TechTV
announced that Crest of the Stars was to be one of the initial titles as part of their new Anime Unleashed
programming and began broadcast at the end of 2002 and through 2003.
released a video game adaptation for the Playstation
. It features a story inspired by both the Crest of the Stars and the Banner of the Stars
novels, incorporating some of their characters. The game consists of 67 different space battles, with a story split in two paths and three possible endings each.
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
science fiction novel written by Hiroyuki Morioka
Hiroyuki Morioka
is a Japanese science fiction novelist.- Biography :In 1992, his first novel Yume no ki ga tsugeta nara appeared in Hayakawa Shobo 's SF Magazine...
with cover illustrations by Toshihiro Ono
Toshihiro Ono
is a Japanese manga artist and graphic novelist. He was born in Aichi, Japan.He is best known for the Pokémon manga based on the animation series: "The Electric Tale of Pikachu" published by Viz Media...
. Beginning in 1999, the novels were adapted into anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series, the first of which ran for 13 episodes on WOWOW
WOWOW
WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. It has its headquarters on the 21st floor of the Akasaka Park Building in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo...
. The initial novel was followed by a second, ongoing novels series, Banner of the Stars
Banner of the Stars
is a series of science fiction novels written by Hiroyuki Morioka, which serve as sequels to Crest of the Stars. The series is ongoing. Three of the four novels in the series have been made into anime.- Characters :Main characters:...
(currently 4 volumes, aka Seikai no Senki), which was adapted into three sequel series to the anime—Banner of the Stars
Banner of the Stars
is a series of science fiction novels written by Hiroyuki Morioka, which serve as sequels to Crest of the Stars. The series is ongoing. Three of the four novels in the series have been made into anime.- Characters :Main characters:...
(13 episodes, aka Seikai no Senki), Banner of the Stars II (10 episodes, aka Seikai no Senki II) and both adapting the second novel, two recap movies—Crest of the Stars Special Edition and Banner of the Stars Special Edition, and an OVA Crest of the Stars Lost Chapter (aka Seikai no Danshō
Seikai no Dansho
is a series of books collecting short stories by Hiroyuki Morioka, set in the same universe and involving characters from his novels Crest of the Stars and Banner of the Stars. The word Dansho refers to a passage from a written work, but there is currently no consensus on how the title should be...
). The fourth anime series, adapting the third novel, Banner of the Stars III (aka Seikai no Senki III) is an OVA
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
released in Japan in 2005.
Plot
Crest of the Stars and Banner of the Stars (series I and II) follow Jinto Lynn, a young count whose world is taken over by the space-dwelling race of the AbhAbh
The Abh are space-dwelling people in the fictional universe of Crest of the Stars. They are the rulers of an interstellar civilization with feudal government and social structure.- Definition:...
. When Jinto was a young boy, his father, Rock Lynn, under threat of invasion, handed over their world, Martine, to the Abh in exchange for a position within Abh society. Young Jinto is sent off to school to learn the ways of Abh nobility and the story of Crest of the Stars picks up as he meets the young Abh princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
, Lafiel as they are about to travel to military school for Jinto's further training.
However, in the midst of their travels, Lafiel and Jinto (along with the Abh ship Gothlauth, aka Gosroth) find themselves at the very beginnings of a war between the Abh Empire and the Four Nations Alliance of humankind—an anti-Abh alliance of the democratic nations of the United Mankind, the Federation of Hania, the Republic of Greater Alcont, and the People's Sovereign Union of Planets.
Development
The series—both the anime and novels—are particularly notable for the fact that Morioka created for them an entire language, BaronhBaronh
Baronh is a fictional language created by Japanese science fiction author Morioka Hiroyuki and used in Crest of the Stars and Banner of the Stars...
(and an accompanying alphabet, Ath), which the Abh speak, read, and write. Almost all written text in the anime is in Baronh, with occasional text in other (invented) languages; at least one planet is shown to have adopted Ath to write their own language (although this is not a plot point, and easily missed).
Books
Despite being commonly dubbed as a trilogyTrilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
, the work is actually a three-volume novel. The novel is composed of the following volumes, which were translated and released in English by Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
in 2006 and 2007:
- Seikai no Monshō I "Teikoku no Ōjo" (星界の紋章I 帝国の王女) (Crest of the Stars I "Princess of the Empire") (Released September 6, 2006 in U.S. by Tokyopop)
- Seikai no Monshō II "Sasayaka na Tatakai" (星界の紋章II ささやかな戦い) (Crest of the Stars II "A Modest War") (Released January 9, 2007 in U.S. by Tokyopop)
- Seikai no Monshō III "Ikyō e no Kikan" (星界の紋章III 異郷への帰還) (Crest of the Stars III "Return to a Strange World") (Released May 8, 2007 in U.S. by Tokyopop)
Manga
Tokyopop also released a manga adaptation of the novel by Aya Yoshinaga. The manga was illustrated by Toshihiro OnoToshihiro Ono
is a Japanese manga artist and graphic novelist. He was born in Aichi, Japan.He is best known for the Pokémon manga based on the animation series: "The Electric Tale of Pikachu" published by Viz Media...
and Aya Yoshinaga. Hiroyuki Morioka is also credited on the cover as the original creator.
Much like the anime series, it covers all three volumes. Dubbed the first part of the Seikai Trilogy, since two other companion manga were also released, adapting Banner of the Stars
Banner of the Stars
is a series of science fiction novels written by Hiroyuki Morioka, which serve as sequels to Crest of the Stars. The series is ongoing. Three of the four novels in the series have been made into anime.- Characters :Main characters:...
and Banner of the Stars II:
- Seikai Trilogy, Vol. 1: Crest of the Stars
Anime
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
in 2001. At the end of 2002, TechTV
TechTV
TechTV was a 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. In 2004, it merged with the G4 gaming channel which ultimately dissolved TechTV programming...
announced that Crest of the Stars was to be one of the initial titles as part of their new Anime Unleashed
Anime Unleashed
Anime Unleashed was an anime block that was broadcast on the American cable TV network, G4. The block was placed on the original TechTV in early 2003 and moved to G4techTV after the two networks merged...
programming and began broadcast at the end of 2002 and through 2003.
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
Video Game
Roughly a year after the Anime finished airing, at the end of May 2000 Bandai VisualBandai Visual
, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
released a video game adaptation for the Playstation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. It features a story inspired by both the Crest of the Stars and the Banner of the Stars
Banner of the Stars
is a series of science fiction novels written by Hiroyuki Morioka, which serve as sequels to Crest of the Stars. The series is ongoing. Three of the four novels in the series have been made into anime.- Characters :Main characters:...
novels, incorporating some of their characters. The game consists of 67 different space battles, with a story split in two paths and three possible endings each.
External links
- Crest of the Stars at the Seikai Web
Reviews
- Seikai no Monshou – the review of original Japanese version (or Seikai no Monsho)
- Crest of Stars – The overview of Crest of the Stars with excerpted scenes
- Review of Crest... on THEM Anime
- Asian-Stuff.com - Crest of the Stars Review
- Web.archive.org