Outlaw Star
1998
Genre: Space Opera, Space Western
Studio: Sunrise
Hello my space cowboys, welcome to another entry of the blog.
I decided to take a little break from my continuous reviews of the episodes of Chainsaw Man, don’t worry, I am still working on My First Impressions on the last ones, and they will appear eventually. However, I was invited to watch a series that, for some reason, I skipped from time to time. And again, the title says it all. It will be just matter of seconds before I decided that, unless I write a little entry of this anime, I will not be in peace, because it is a already fantastic one, and since I have always been a great fan of both Trigun and Cowboy Bebop (and pretty much most of the work of Yasuhiro Nightow), this is a perfect opportunity to write down about this little gem.
Having said that, I bring you…
OUTLAW STAR
But before I start, I must ask you the typical Question.
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy. Now, let’s go back with the space cowboys with Outlaw Star.
PREMISE
Outlaw Star is based in the manga written by Takehiko Ito and published by Shueisha from September 20, 1996, to May 20, 1999, and tells the story of Gene Starwind and his business partner, a 11-year-old boy called Jim Hawking, that manage a business that take all kinds of jobs. One day, they receive a job that involves protecting a woman, who later turns out to be “Hot Ice” Hilda, an outlaw who is being chased by the Kei Pirates, a part of the TinPa Empire, and that is after a case that contains a bio-android called Melfina, the only being in the universe that can contact with a spaceship that can travel faster than the speed of light in a matter of minutes. Now, after some skirmishes with other outlaws and members of the Kei Pirates, Gen, Jim and Hilda find Melfina, and eventually they found the ship. However, after a fight with the pirates, Hilda sacrifices herself to allow Gene, Jim and Melfina to escape with the ship.
Finally, Gene names the ship “Outlaw Star” in the memory of Hilda, embarking all in an adventure to discover Melfina’s purpose and past.
But for all this story to make sense, I must talk about the background. Turns out that, some time ago, a new element was discovered by humanity, called Dragonite, which allow it to develop technology to travel through space and build colonies all over the universe. You know, the typical story of space and science. The problem is that this dragonite energy also attracted the attention of the wrong people, including pirates, outlaws, and assassins. And despite Earth created many empires to counterattack these threats, including the already-mentioned TinPa Empire, internal disputes made things worse. Now practically Earth and Space are in a constant state of war.
As you already read, Outlaw Star has an incredibly vast background inside its simple story. Furthermore, Outlaw Star was produced in 1998, by Sunrise.
Do you know which space western anime was released that year by the same studio? That’s right!!!
The always classical Cowboy Bebop.
Outlaw Star was released in a total of 26 episodes, same as Cowboy Bebop, from January 8 to June 25, 1998, on TVTokyo, while its English dub was released on Cartoon Network in 2001, with very notorious censorship on its episodes, including some scenes of Melfina naked.
Finally, Outlaw Star has one of the best opening themes I have ever heard – “Through the Night”, performed by Masahiko Arimachi. Also, I listened to both the TV Version and the whole version of Through the Night, and both are simply beautiful.
Well… It’s the same freaking song.
To be point that I enjoyed as much as the intro of both Trigun and Cowboy Bebop.
You can find the links for both versions here.
STORY
Ok. I must confess that I already heard of Outlaw Star months ago, but for some reason I constantly skipped it. And now that I am watching it, thanks to the Deakin Anime Club… I feel kind of furious, because so far, I am enjoying it, and I watched a lot of good anime in 1998, including Trigun, Cowboy Bebop and Magic Knight Rayearth, although this once was released in 1994.
And I wonder… Why? Why the hell I spent many months skipping Outlaw Star? I got the same issue with Berserk (the original… The good one! Not the crappy version of 2016)
I was full of regret, but then, after some meditation, I also remember all the good anime I grew up with, including Fullmetal Alchemist and Saint Seiya, so yeah… I wasn’t too bad to miss for a while Outlaw Star. No regrets, especially now.
The point is that I am enjoying this series more than I expected, especially for an anime produced in 1998. Every time, Studio Sunrise knows how to surprise me, especially with Cowboy Bebop and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Outlaw Star has an animation that has aged really well, every second you fell that incredible feeling of being in space and travelling in colonies, and with the action scenes, they are really exciting, to the point of being as good as with Cowboy Bebop. The movements, the tension, the atmosphere, all of these elements really strong in an animation that knows how to take advantage of its colours and power.
And let’s now mentioned the beautiful, well-done backgrounds. Again, as fantastic as with Trigun and Cowboy Bebop.
For me, many space anime have already hooked me with their very… spacepunk setting. But with Outlaw Star I feel something more unique, allowing me to enjoy it more.
Furthermore, the story has a really good pacing – we come to learn a lot of our characters. Their past experiences with whole development, their new adventures, in which they learn a lot about each other, and the feeling of friendship. Little by little you come to love the characters and root for them, and, in many cases, despises most of their antagonists. Also, the comedy is pretty enjoyable, mostly from Gene and Jim. These two create an amazing duo, with Gene being the sleazy hero, and Jim being the voice of reason. Man! Every time Gene acts stupid, Jim puts him in his place, and yes… I might be old-school comedy, but the characters and the setting are so great you find it hilarious enough.
Perhaps… My only complain about the comedy is that sometimes Aisha can be a bit annoying, but, for the most part, she is hysterical.
Anyway – both the backstory, the action and the rhythm make for a very enjoyable anime. Trust me, if you love Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, or both, you will have a wonderful time with Outlaw Star.
CHARACTERS
Just like I said before, Outlaw Star has a lot of great characters, Gene, Jim, Melfina, Suzuka, and Aisha. All of them have their own personalities and moments of shining. Here is a really funny fact.
Gene is named after Gene Roddenbery, the creator of Star Trek, and a more… obvious one. Jim is named after Jim Hawkins, the main protagonist of Treasure Island, one of my favourite childhood stories, that also inspire another awesome movie from 2002.
Treasure Planet.
Melfina is beautiful and gorgeous, Suzuka has everything you are looking for in a samurai, and Aisha… well, you have to see her to create your opinion. And also… one useless trivia. When I first saw Melfina, I swear I thought she looked like Ameria, from Slayers.
I do not why did I think that.
And also, the Kei Pirates are so fearsome and powerful you really come to hate them for their intentions or loving them for how dangerous and badass they are, just like our protagonist Gene.
Yeah. Great story, great characters.
CONCLUSION
It is no wonder why Outlaw Star has become so popular throughout the years. It is fun, it is poignant, it is original, it brings some new fresh air to the space western anime, and I will never stop repeating this. I have enjoyed it as much as now I enjoy Trigun and Cowboy Bebop.
I am still watching the whole series, and I will do eventually, but I repeat, if you loved these two wonderful masterpieces, you will love Outlaw Star.
Now, time for me to leave, Chainsaw Man awaits, but, like some said before…
See you Space Cowboy.
Till next time.
Jainituos Presents 