Crest of the Stars

Crest of the Stars - Anime Legends Complete Collection

Jinto Lin's life changes forever when the Humankind Empire Abh takes over his home planet of Martine without firing a single shot. Sent off to study the bah language and culture, Jinto must prepare himself for his future as an Abh nobleman. Entering the next phase of his training, he'll meet his first Abh, the lovely Lafiel. However, Jinto will soon learn that Lafiel is more than she appears and together they will have to fight for their very lives. Based on the best selling science fiction novels by Hiroyuki Morioka. Genre: Sci-Fi/Drama.

Crest of the Stars - Into the Unknown (Vol. 4)

This 1999 sci-fi adventure comes to a decidedly inconclusive conclusion that leaves issues of divided loyalties, the rights of subject people, the legitimacy of military conquest, and the struggle for freedom all unresolved. The space battle between the Abh Empire and the forces of United Mankind in the Sufugnoff sector degenerates into a vaguely kinky amusement for the Abh Duchess of Peneju. Similarly, the efforts to capture Jinto and Abh Princess Lafiel on the planet Sufugnoff turn into a weird cat-and-mouse game between an obsessed, rogue military officer and a group of freedom fighters. The series ends happily, but the surprisingly tame battle sequences fail to match the flashy CG effects in the titles. Fans of this series compare it to Babylon 5 and will want to see more in the sequel series, Celestial Banner. Rated 13 Up: Considerable violence, minor profanity. --Charles Solomon

Admiral Trife, commander of the Abh fleet, moves his ships into position for the upcoming battle. He will take no risks and wants victory to be assured before he fires a single shot. But not everyone on his staff believes in this battle plan... On the planet surface, resistance fighters have captured Jinto and Lafiel! They have one last chance to escape their would-be captors. Can they make it back to the fleet before it's too late?

Crest of the Stars - Complete Series Set

Fans of this 1999 TV series compare it to the live-action sci-fi program Babylon 5. Jinto Lin becomes a prince when his home planet Martine is conquered by the interstellar Abh empire. The Abh claim to be descended from humans, but have altered their genetics to give themselves 200-year life spans, blue hair, and elfin features. As Jinto begins his education aboard an Abh starship, he meets pilot trainee Lafiel, the granddaughter of the Abh Empress. Jinto is a good-hearted, unassertive character, while Lafiel vacillates between no-nonsense discipline and romantic daydreams. Jinto's puppy-like adoration and Lafiel's reluctant acceptance of his attention is played against the escalating conflict between the Abh and the forces of United Mankind. Although Crest of the Stars looks and sounds good, with lavish backgrounds, flashy CG effects, and a lush score, the story telling is often spotty. The filmmakers devote too much effort to preserving details from Hiroyuki Morioka's science fiction novel and too little to pacing and character development. Aya Yoshinaga's screenplay suffers from an overload of Abh jargon, including such nonsense as "You put lope in your til nom?" The series ends with Jinto declaring he will always remain at Lafiel's side, but questions of divided loyalties, the rights of subject people, the legitimacy of military conquest, and the struggle for freedom are left unresolved. The sequel, Celestial Banner, followed in 2000. (Rated 13 and older: brief nudity, minor profanity, violence) --Charles Solomon

Jinto Lin's life changes forever when the Humankind Empire Abh takes over his home planet of Martine without firing a single shot. Sent off to study the Abh language and culture, Jinto must prepare himself for his future as an Abh nobleman. Entering the next phase of his training, he'll meet his first Abh, the lovely Lafiel. However, Jinto will soon learn that Lafiel is more than she appears and together they will have to fight for their very lives.

Crest of the Stars - To the Stars (Vol. 1)

This 13-part TV series is based on a novel by the prominent Japanese science fiction writer Hiroyuki Morioka. Jinto Lin, the son of the president of the planet Martine, becomes a prince when his father cedes the planet to an alien interstellar empire. The Abh claim to be descended from humans but have given themselves a genetic upgrade: with their 200-year life spans, blue hair, and elfin features, they've become "Children of the Stars." A passive and uncertain hero, Jinto recalls Kazuki in Dual Parallel Trouble Adventure. As he begins training for his role in the empire, he meets pilot trainee Lafiel, who turns out to be the granddaughter of Abh empress Ramaj: their relationship is the focus of the series. Crest of the Stars looks and sounds good, with lavish backgrounds and a lush score, but the storytelling is often spotty. In episode 4, Captain Lexshue of the battleship Gosroth complains about the anti-Abh calumnies issued by United Mankind: "we're supposed to be natural invaders"--when the viewer saw them invade Jinto's home planet in episode 1. To add texture, the filmmakers show lots of signs written in the rune-like Abh alphabet, but they get a bit carried away with the jargon. When a crewmember announces that enemy ships are within "1,540 gedrels" of the Gosroth, it's not clear if that's disturbingly near or very far away. Rated 13 and up but suitable for viewers a few years younger: very brief, very minor nudity and discussions of genetics. --Charles Solomon

Jinto Lin's life changes forever when the Humankind Empire Abh takes over his home planet of Martine without firing a single shot. He is soon sent off to study the Abh language and culture and to prepare himself for his future as a nobleman - a future he never dreamed of. Or wanted. Now, Jinto is entering the next phase of his training, and he is about to meet his first Abh, the lovely Lafiel. But Jinto is about to learn that she is more than she appears to be. And together they will have to fight for their very lives.

Crest of the Stars - The Politics of War (Vol. 2)

The friendship (and nascent romance) that ties Abh princess Lafiel to human nobleman Jinto Lin unfolds against the increasing hostilities between mankind and the vast Abh Empire. They escape the destruction of the warship Gosroth, only to find themselves in the clutches of an allied princeling attempting to increase the size of his petty domain. Based on a novel by the prominent Japanese science fiction writer Hiroyuki Morioka, Crest of the Stars plays like a cross between Dual Parallel Trouble Adventure and Macross or one of the early Gundam continuities. Jinto is a well-intentioned but reluctant nobleman who finds himself out of his league; Lafiel vacillates between no-nonsense discipline and romantic daydreams. Aya Yoshinaga's screenplay suffers from an overload of Abh jargon, including such nonsensicalities as "You put lope in your til nom?" Rated 13 Up: brief nudity, minor profanity and violence, largely limited to spaceship versus spaceship. --Charles Solomon

The situation worsens and Jinto finds himself at the center of events he doesn't really understand. Lafiel has been ordered to escort Jinto, a non-combatant civilian, to safety before the battle begins. Despite her protests, Lafiel finally agrees and the two set off to warn the Empire of the impending attack. But the baron has plans of his own, and he won't allow anyone - not even a member of the Imperial Star Forces and an Imperial Princess - stand in his way... Crest of the Stars DVD Vol. 2 - The Politics of War (Episodes 5-7)

Crest of the Stars - Wayward Soldiers (Vol. 3)

Jinto and Lafiel escape from the treacherous Baron Febdash and crash on the planet Sufugnoff, which is controlled by United Mankind. After functioning as the junior member of the partnership for eight episodes, Jinto begins to assume a more active role, steering a disguised Lafiel through the crowded human metropolis of Lune Biga City. Meanwhile, the prospect of war between the Abh Empire and United Mankind increases, as negotiations collapse and the rival fleets square off. Despite the often flashy CG special effects, the story never generates much excitement. The filmmakers seem to have devoted too much attention to re-creating details from Hiroyuki Morioka's science fiction novel and too little to pacing and character development. After the first few episodes, the subtitles in Abh runes cease being a novelty and become an annoyance. Rated 13 Up: Minor profanity and violence, largely limited to spaceship versus spaceship. --Charles Solomon

A civil war erupts in the Febdash territory, as some of the vassals remain loyal to the sinister Baron and some side with Lafiel and the Empire. The Baron, however, refuses to give up and plays one final card... Afterwards, Lafiel and Jinto resume their fight plan to Sufugnoff. Butalong the way, they encounter some enemy ships. Alone in an unarmed craft, Jinto and Lafiel don't really stand much of a chance at armed combat. When they land on a nearby planet, they find themselves in a potentially hostile environment. Lafiel, being an Abh, has never really spent much time on the ground, and she is uncomfortable and nervous. And, despite Jinto's best attempts to hide Lafiel's true identity, they are soon being hunted by the local authorities and the United Mankind!

Crest of the Stars Vol. 3 - Wayward Soldiers (Episodes 8-10)

Crest of the Stars - Complete Series Set

Fans of this 1999 TV series compare it to the live-action sci-fi program Babylon 5. Jinto Lin becomes a prince when his home planet Martine is conquered by the interstellar Abh empire. The Abh claim to be descended from humans, but have altered their genetics to give themselves 200-year life spans, blue hair, and elfin features. As Jinto begins his education aboard an Abh starship, he meets pilot trainee Lafiel, the granddaughter of the Abh Empress. Jinto is a good-hearted, unassertive character, while Lafiel vacillates between no-nonsense discipline and romantic daydreams. Jinto's puppy-like adoration and Lafiel's reluctant acceptance of his attention is played against the escalating conflict between the Abh and the forces of United Mankind. Although Crest of the Stars looks and sounds good, with lavish backgrounds, flashy CG effects, and a lush score, the story telling is often spotty. The filmmakers devote too much effort to preserving details from Hiroyuki Morioka's science fiction novel and too little to pacing and character development. Aya Yoshinaga's screenplay suffers from an overload of Abh jargon, including such nonsense as "You put lope in your til nom?" The series ends with Jinto declaring he will always remain at Lafiel's side, but questions of divided loyalties, the rights of subject people, the legitimacy of military conquest, and the struggle for freedom are left unresolved. The sequel, Celestial Banner, followed in 2000. (Rated 13 and older: brief nudity, minor profanity, violence) --Charles Solomon

Crest of the Stars - Wayward Soldiers (Vol. 3)

Jinto and Lafiel escape from the treacherous Baron Febdash and crash on the planet Sufugnoff, which is controlled by United Mankind. After functioning as the junior member of the partnership for eight episodes, Jinto begins to assume a more active role, steering a disguised Lafiel through the crowded human metropolis of Lune Biga City. Meanwhile, the prospect of war between the Abh Empire and United Mankind increases, as negotiations collapse and the rival fleets square off. Despite the often flashy CG special effects, the story never generates much excitement. The filmmakers seem to have devoted too much attention to re-creating details from Hiroyuki Morioka's science fiction novel and too little to pacing and character development. After the first few episodes, the subtitles in Abh runes cease being a novelty and become an annoyance. Rated 13 Up: Minor profanity and violence, largely limited to spaceship versus spaceship. --Charles Solomon

Crest of the Stars - The Politics of War (V.2)

The friendship (and nascent romance) that ties Abh princess Lafiel to human nobleman Jinto Lin unfolds against the increasing hostilities between mankind and the vast Abh Empire. They escape the destruction of the warship Gosroth, only to find themselves in the clutches of an allied princeling attempting to increase the size of his petty domain. Based on a novel by the prominent Japanese science fiction writer Hiroyuki Morioka, Crest of the Stars plays like a cross between Dual Parallel Trouble Adventure and Macross or one of the early Gundam continuities. Jinto is a well-intentioned but reluctant nobleman who finds himself out of his league; Lafiel vacillates between no-nonsense discipline and romantic daydreams. Aya Yoshinaga's screenplay suffers from an overload of Abh jargon, including such nonsensicalities as "You put lope in your til nom?" Rated 13 Up: brief nudity, minor profanity and violence, largely limited to spaceship versus spaceship. --Charles Solomon

Crest of the Stars - Into the Unknown (Vol. 4)

This 1999 sci-fi adventure comes to a decidedly inconclusive conclusion that leaves issues of divided loyalties, the rights of subject people, the legitimacy of military conquest, and the struggle for freedom all unresolved. The space battle between the Abh Empire and the forces of United Mankind in the Sufugnoff sector degenerates into a vaguely kinky amusement for the Abh Duchess of Peneju. Similarly, the efforts to capture Jinto and Abh Princess Lafiel on the planet Sufugnoff turn into a weird cat-and-mouse game between an obsessed, rogue military officer and a group of freedom fighters. The series ends happily, but the surprisingly tame battle sequences fail to match the flashy CG effects in the titles. Fans of this series compare it to Babylon 5 and will want to see more in the sequel series, Celestial Banner. Rated 13 Up: Considerable violence, minor profanity. --Charles Solomon