After a long wait, I recently finished Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, otherwise known as the Sato Tatsuo show that isn’t Nadesico or Stellvia. My interest in the show began to grow when it was first released on DVD in North America, but I never bothered setting aside the money to buy said DVDs. This worked to my advantage, however, as the eventual thinpack release proved far less expensive than the individual discs. That, and it’s a perfect show for marathoning. The wait between discs would have been painful, I’m sure.
Anyway, I don’t want to spend much time praising the show other than to say that it’s extremely well done. I often steer clear of sci-fi anime for the simple reason that most sci-fi anime makes little sense upon close examination (I’m a bit too practical to put up with the “just because” storytelling that most sci-fi anime series rely on). However, Shingu is remarkable in that, despite having an especially complicated story, it never drops the ball in providing support for everything that takes place, all the way to the very end. Essentially, it spends its entire episode run paving the way for its “everything but the kitchen sink” ending. I suppose some of the twists and turns along the way could be considered trite, but I still appreciate the fact that the story was so exceptionally well thought out - and a lot of fun, to boot. And, of course, I got a lot of satisfaction out of the slice-of-life elements that supported the show along the way.
However, what strikes me as most interesting about the show upon finishing it is how similar it is to Sato’s later work, Stellvia. For one, both benefit from large ensemble casts (come to think of it, so does Nadesico). In fact, one reason I appreciate Stellvia as much as I do is because of its ensemble cast of diverse and likable characters. And I’d probably say the same for Shingu. Both shows proved adept at providing seemingly minor characters ample time in the spotlight. In fact, Shingu, in particular, has more potential “lead” characters than you can shake a stick at. Who steals the show? Is it Muryou? Hajime? Nayuta? Depends on who you’re a fan of, I suppose.
Furthermore, Shingu and Stellvia both share similar themes. For example, one generation trusting the fate of the future to the next. Children possessing a certain level of autonomy in managing their own affairs. Children rising to the cause when disaster strikes. It’s uncanny how similar both shows are in this regard. I’m almost tempted to accuse Sato of plagiarizing himself.
Also, both shows are willing to leave the unknown to the unknown. As much of Shingu’s story that is explained, there remains a fair amount that’s not. The same could be said for Stellvia. In both shows, the viewer is treated more as a direct observer - someone as involved in events as they unfold as the characters themselves - evidenced by, for example, Shingu’s repeated breaking of the fourth wall and Stellvia’s reluctance to explain any more about its world than what’s necessary to understand what’s going on. Some might find such a perspective to be limiting, but I actually find it engaging. Better to be involved in the story than detached from it.
Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Shingu’s Muryou and Stellvia’s Kouta might as well be long lost brothers. If you had a contest to see who was more aloof than the other, I suspect it would end in a draw.
Of course, as similar as the two shows are, they do have some differences - or, one key difference, to be exact. Whereas Shingu is primarily focused on external events and their impact on the story, Stellvia is more internally focused, allowing character development to drive the story forward. It’s for this reason I think people most often label Stellvia as “angsty”. It’s a label that’s not all that fitting, in my opinion. But the distinction is still there, and while both shows share similarly positive outlooks, Stellvia places far more emphasis on gloomy melodrama.
Now, would I recommend that fans of Shingu take the time to watch Stellvia (or vice versa)? I don’t know, to be honest. Some might find the similarities between the two shows vexing, leading them to unnecessarily compare and contrast in an effort to determine if one is “better” than the other.
Personally, I enjoy both shows equally.
