Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage – A Mixed Conclusion

Read our review of Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage, the latest anime film from the collaboration between manga author Tsutomu Nihei and CG animation studio Polygon Pictures. Discover the visually stunning landscapes, improved animation, and satisfying conclusion, while also noting the shortcomings in writing and character development. Find out if this film lives up to Nihei’s other acclaimed works.

Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage – A Mixed Conclusion

Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage, the latest anime film from the collaboration between manga author Tsutomu Nihei and CG animation studio Polygon Pictures, concludes the story that began in the TV series. While the film wraps up the narrative and mysteries with a satisfying conclusion, it falls short in terms of its writing and character development.

The film starts by showcasing the visually stunning landscapes that were a highlight of the TV series. The unique and evocative setting of the dying planet, with its alien canopy, orbital trees, and rustic human settlements, remains the film’s greatest asset. The animation has improved compared to Polygon’s previous works, with notable improvements in character acting and direction. However, underwater physics still feels off, which adds to the air of mystery surrounding the story.

Unfortunately, the characters in Star Sage fail to rise above their archetypes, lacking meaningful development and chemistry. Kaina, the protagonist, stumbles through the plot without much depth or complexity. Ririha, another main character, is sharper but ultimately uninteresting. The new antagonist, Byozan, is a stereotypical arrogant villain. These characters feel calculated and risk-averse, lacking the edge and weirdness present in Nihei’s other works.

The plot also falls short, lacking urgency and creativity. There are instances where important plot elements are introduced but never fully explored or utilized. The writers seem to have focused more on the destination rather than the journey, resulting in a lackluster progression of events. While the film avoids excessive exposition, the revelations provided are neither surprising nor particularly interesting. The answers to the story’s biggest questions feel underwhelming, failing to match the grand scale of the mission.

Despite its shortcomings, Star Sage still manages to entertain. The sound design and soundtrack complement the grand adventure, and the final battle is visually striking, with multiple tiers of action. The film ties up loose ends from the TV series without spoon-feeding the audience exposition, allowing for some mystery to remain.

In conclusion, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage is a mixed bag. While it maintains the visually stunning worldbuilding of the TV series and delivers a satisfying conclusion, it falls short in terms of character development and plotting. Fans of Nihei’s works and original sci-fi anime may still find enjoyment in this film, but it doesn’t reach the heights of his other acclaimed works.

Grade:
Overall: B-
Story: C+
Animation: B
Art: B+
Music: B-