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

It is curious that "Discovery", the hit record by Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo (AKA Daft Punk) was launched in the year 2001. Perhaps it was some kind of hommage to that coincidence and the legendary picture named after that year, but it inspired a whole movie. And the result is this one. Some years later, it comes out, and what to say? At first, I remember I didn't like the singles, I remember thinking that "One More Time" was too commercial and bubble-gum. And I thought also that this kind of japanese animation wasn't something that wondered me at all. But there is something magical about this movie, which starts to glory with that same tune, the one I thought I didn't like. The animators really had a field day here, working hard to revive every feel of that 70's style, adding a fantastic feeling to the listening of the music, and making the viewing experience sheer pleasure. The movie never loses breath as long as the music stays up to it, and we are greeted with bone-chilling renditions of "Aerodynamic", "Digital Love" et al. Beautiful sounds, that find their true meaning when married to these pictures and when they come out of theatre speakers. The concept may have looked like risky, since the animation looks so old fashioned, but the revival goes all the way to the music, and the result is a fascinating journey in time. Fantastic achievement, that will change the way we look at "Discovery" forever.

From the time that I saw the music videos for "One More Time", "Aerodynamic", "Digital Love, and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" I fell in love with the story that unfolded in each video and I wanted to know more. After Listening to the cd that the videos where from "Daft Punk's Discovery" I could only imagine what the rest of the stories would be.

After buying the dvd and finally seeing the entire story unfold in each song, I was impressed by the talent and skills that Daft Punk and Leji Matsumoto brought to the project.

The movie's design is a nod to Leji's designs in Captain Harlock & Galaxy Express 999. It's a refreshing change to go retro in anime in see that a story can be told in a simplistic way without the current CG japanese animation.

I highly recommend that if you love anime, Techno, Daft Punk, or just a good movie see Interstella 5555

I hardly ever listen to Daft Punk's kind of music and hardly ever watch an Anime, but this one really got me. The animation and the music is a winning combo together here and I enjoyed every minute of it, even for the second and third run. In fact, I even looked for a recent album of Daft Punk and 'discovered' those moments when I like to listen to it, and even in the gym or at the Friday night parties the tunes come up making me smile. I don't thing to go that far to purchase a complete set of the plastic dolls (Shep, Stella, Arpegius, Octave, Baryl from the movie). But don't be mislead, Daft Punk is a French band of only two guys making electronic music. They started back in 1997 with 'Homework', then released 'Discovery' in 2001 - this movie builds mostly on the music of this album -, and 'Human After All' is dated to March 2005. Interstella 5555 is among the few titles in my collection that I like to watch over and over and each time I got the same addicted to it, 10/10! '… don't stop, come a little closer…'

In its way a remarkable film, and a genuine one-off, which deserves to be better known amongst animation lovers. Co-director Leiji Matsumoto, who during his long career in anime has been associated in one capacity or another with such cheesy epics as Space Battleship Yamato, the Harlock Saga, Star Blazers & etc, worked with Daft Punk (a French two-man band specialising in electronic rock) on this unique feature. Deliberately recreating the extreme glam stylisation of the 1970's/early 80's Japanese animation style, albeit done with more fluidity and detail which modern day budgets and software allow, Matsumoto has married image and sound to hypnotic effect in a movie which in effect is both unique and unforgettable. A "digital love story" of a kidnapped technoband - who incidentally travel together in a Scooby-Do like 'Mystery Machine' as events unfold - and an evil music impresario (echoes of the obscure Toomorrow here (1970) - anyone seen that?). Despite some snipes at pop exploitation, there are no great depths here story-wise, although there are dark elements, such as the painful burial of a deceased major character. But the characterisation is not important, as it was not what the creators were after, leaving the graphic designs and timings to unfold. What makes the film so great is the peculiar manga-music hybrid that results, as the stylised visual design and editing rhythms join with a contemporary soundtrack (the entire film is wordless outside of lyrics)in a way which is both culturally nostalgic as well as being strikingly modern in effect. The plastic surface which results entirely transcends the original pulp manga inspiration. In short it's a film which sounds naff but, somehow, works. As an achievement the result is miles ahead of the director's previous, briskly produced juvenelia and ought to be required viewing.

Okay so its just an extended music video, but so what? If you were intrigued by the One More Time video, or even just liked the sound of that track, you'll get something from INTERSTELLA 5555. The retro-nostalgic 70's and 80's japanimation style perfectly fits Daft Punk's "old-school electronica" music. The story is dialogue free but tells a remarkably dense tale, characters are well-defined, and there is some great comedy (Daft Punk's cameo at the awards ceremony).... but at the end of the day, its all about the music baby - before, I only really knew Daft Punk from their 2 major singles, now I want to rush out and buy the album!