Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem Review

Have you ever heard a song that you really love? Have you ever tried to explain WHY you like that song so much to your friends? You can try to describe the beat or the guitars but when you are done your friends still do not know what you are talking about. Even worse is trying to describe the mental imagery or emotions that the music gives you. You could say that the song reminds you of walking on the docks on a foggy morning, but even that is up for interpretation. Finally you play the song to your friends and they say 'okay now I understand.'

Next let us say that you had a very vivid but unexplainable dream that when you try to tell someone about it you can never find the right words. It is like trying to describe a color no-one has ever seen but you. When you try to accurately describe this amazing dream you experienced, you come off sounding like either an idiot or a lunatic; however it still makes perfect sense to yourself because you experienced it firsthand.

Now take the two scenarios above and apply it to the often completely indescribable but awesome techno/robotic music of the band Daft Punk. That is how this review is going to look and feel because until you have watched, listened, and experienced this movie for yourself. Nothing I will say will make a ton of sense until you do.

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem is a feature-length Japanese animated musical film originally released on December 1, 2003. The film is a visual realization of Daft Punk’s album Discovery. Daft Punk produced the film along side Toei Animation, and was supervised by famed Anime director Leiji Matsumoto.

The full Discovery album is played, start to finish without any editing, minimal sound effects, and virtually no dialogue. Each track from the album has been animated as a scene in the movie. Interstella 5555 itself is as incomprehensive and ‘daft’ as you could possibly imagine: a humanoid pop-star group, called the Crescendolls, is abducted, disguised as normal people, brainwashed to have their memories altered, and forced to play their music on earth. The goal of the villain is to use talented intergalactic musicians to win gold records in order to complete a device that will give him ultimate power. The result, however, is the eventual burnout of the musician and their death. Meanwhile an unnamed star fighter from their planet follows the abductors to earth in an attempt to save the band, but most importantly the female bassist who he idolizes.

The Crecendolls: (Left) Their real alien appearances and (Right) Post Abduction with unnamed villain in foreground.

But honestly when you look at the plot in such a simple description, the entire film loses all of its magic. The animation is synchronized to the individual songs to near perfection. Every song has a specific auditable ‘feel’ to it, and the animation only re-enforces (not overshadows) it. The music and the animation tell a story, perfectly complimenting one another to the point that if one of the two were missing, it would create an entirely new experience: If the video were missing, you would have the Discovery album, but no binding story; If the music were missing, you would have a massive migraine trying to figure out what you are watching.

The animation is fairly well done, though nothing as impressively detailed or stylized as the infamous anime studio MadHouse. Instead the style is closer to the older anime styles of the 1980s: Speed Racer, DragonBall, Golgo 13, and so on. Some of the characters have a comic appearance to them (think Krillin from DB: no nose, huge eyes, comic expressions) but there isn’t an over use of the stereotypical Japanese anime ‘retardedness’ as LaughingMan would say. For the most part the animation takes itself seriously, even if the plot does not always.

The themes of the video are also well played out: Love, loyalty, self-sacrificing heroes, and the afterlife. However, the most pivotal is after the people of earth discover that the world’s greatest band, the Crescendolls, are in fact aliens, and thus all rally together to send them all back to their home world. It’s an interesting play that despite cultural differences, music is one of mankind’s most common bonds, and is probably the only transcendent medium.

The music itself varies from pop, to techno, to even Gothic in one scene, reminiscent of "Toccata & Fugue" by Bach (the classic ‘Dracula’ theme) with its mournful pipe organ. However, all of the songs retain a distinct and infectious rhythm. The odds of someone NOT being able to find a song in this film that they like is very slim. While there are songs from the Discovery album that some people may not care for, when paired with the animation of Interstella 5555 the watcher can’t help but see their lesser favorites shown in a new positive light.

I’ll end this review by simply saying that Interstella 5555 is a magical film that borders on dreamlike in both its imagery and its absurdity. However, until you watch it, until you EXPERIENCE it, it is impossible to accurately judge this album by its cover. I can’t suggest this film enough. Even if you hate anime or dislike the music of Daft Punk, it is still a powerful piece of music history that, unlike a dream, can be re-experienced by a simple click of a button.

Leave a Comment

eh?
16 Jun 2009, 01:32

when did the site start reviewing animes? not complaining or anything it was an interesting read and i hope you do more Onoe

Chikibabi
16 Jun 2009, 19:11

Daft Punk!!! Rock On!!!

LaughingMan
23 Jun 2009, 16:15

ATTENTION!

I have a very public announcement to make.

I will only make it once.

I concede.

ONOE has done it.

Congratulations, ONOE, you have found an Anime that I actually enjoyed watching. Mission accomplished.

I had my doubts, but your review pretty much told me to take this movie light-heartedly and enjoy the ride; and for what it was the ride was indeed enjoyable. So I found a copy of it while I was pirate- er, 'legally obtaining digital copies' of movies and decided to give it a spin over the weekend.

I've listened to Daft Punk a few years back ('Bigger, Harder, Stronger, Faster') and liked their music style so I gave this video an honest chance to impress me. it did. The story was... out there, but it was a great rock opera. Probably the one of the best things about 5555 was the fact that all you ever really heard was the music; no talking what so ever, and very little for sound effects made it feel like a 90 minute music video (not a bad thing at all in comparison to Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (minus the 'Smooth Criminal' scene)).

I also didn't really figure out what you meant by 'dreamlike' in your review until I watched the movie, but you were right, the video was very fluid and surreal.

Hands down the best thing about Interstella 5555 was that the video was timed PERFECTLY with the music. You can catch a glimpse of it in that youtube video ONOE included in his posted review.

Not my favorite movie, but it was good. Damned good.

To ONOE: If you gloat, I'll ban you... joking.... maybe... haha.

sUPERsTEVE
28 Jun 2009, 02:41

I found this review on yahoo when I looked up Daft Punk. 5555 is one of my favorite movies and you did a good job on the review.

Conway
22 Oct 2009, 09:47

I don't know why but I actually consider this my favourite anime. It just has
this precence to it.

The funny thing about this is that I have friends who are really into anime
(There are some titles that I really like but I'm not an Otaku) and most of them
haven't even heard this one.

Anyway, great review.

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Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem Review

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