Sidonia no Kishi: A Space Without Choices and the Human vs. Alien War

In a merciless universe, when Earth is completely destroyed, the surviving humanity must live on a giant spaceship called 'Sidonia.' For a century, they lived peacefully under strict laws requiring everyone to serve the military. But one day, the old enemy 'Gauna' reappears, along with a young boy hidden in the ship's depths, 'Nagate Tanikaze,' who is pulled to the surface and must become a pilot in a war he cannot avoid. This is the beginning of 'Sidonia no Kishi,' a sci-fi anime series that is more than just battles; it's a story of survival in a society with no choices.

Story Summary (No Spoilers for the Ending)

The story takes place in a future where alien beings called 'Gauna' have destroyed Earth, nearly wiping out humanity. The few thousand survivors live on the giant spaceship 'Sidonia,' drifting through space. Society on the ship is strictly organized, especially mandatory military conscription to prevent the Gauna's return. The protagonist, 'Nagate Tanikaze,' is a young boy raised in seclusion by his grandfather in the ship's depths, never knowing the outside world. Until one day, he is discovered and forced to become a pilot of the 'Guardian,' a giant cybernetic battle mecha used to fight the Gauna.

As Tanikaze must adapt to a new society and learn to control the complex mecha, the threat from the Gauna begins to reappear unexpectedly. The series unfolds with dangerous encounters with the Gauna, while revealing the secrets of the Sidonia ship and Tanikaze's past connected to this battle. The story moves quickly, excitingly, and is full of twists, especially regarding cloning and human identity, which are deeply questioned.

Performance and Characters

Although 'Sidonia no Kishi' is an animation primarily using voice actors, the voice acting is crucial in bringing the characters to life. Especially Ryota Osaka, who voices Nagate Tanikaze, conveying the determination and confusion of a young boy facing a new world realistically. Meanwhile, Aki Toyosaki as Izana Shinatose is cute and memorable as a classmate who supports the protagonist.

The characters are designed with depth, from the protagonist trying to find his place to supporting characters each with their own issues and motivations. However, due to the series' limited length, some characters may not be fully developed, but overall, the voice cast fills that gap well.

Direction, Visuals, and Music

In terms of visuals, 'Sidonia no Kishi' uses full CG (Computer Graphics), which in 2014 was impressive, especially the design of the Sidonia ship, which looks grand and realistic, and the Guardian mecha design with beautiful details. The combat movements are smooth and thrilling. However, CG in some scenes, especially character movements, may appear stiff and slightly unnatural compared to hand-drawn anime.

The music is composed by Naruyoshi Kikuchi, known for jazz-rock works. The music helps create an atmosphere of space that is both vast and desolate, especially the intense and exciting battle tracks. The opening song 'Sidonia' by EGOIST is beautiful and fits the theme perfectly.

Editorial Analysis

Our editorial team sees 'Sidonia no Kishi' as not just a sci-fi cartoon focusing on alien battles, but also embedding interesting social and philosophical issues, such as humanity's survival under limited resources, the use of cloning technology to preserve the species, and questions about humanity in a society controlled by regulations. The series also questions the 'choices' humans have when forced to choose what may be against morality.

Another strength is the creation of a realistic and believable world. Details of the Sidonia ship, from social systems to combat technology, are meticulously designed, making viewers feel immersed in the story's world. However, the fast-paced story at times may make viewers feel that characters lack deep emotional development, but that may be the price for excitement throughout the series.

Verdict

Sidonia no Kishi is a well-rounded sci-fi anime, with exciting battles, a meticulously crafted world, and thought-provoking social issues. Despite limitations in CG and some character development, overall it is a worthwhile watch, suitable for sci-fi fans looking for something different.