Score: 8.17/10
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These – Seiran 3 [DUB]
Synopsis
At the behest of Admiral Yang Wen-li, defected intelligence officer Commander Baghdash makes an emergency broadcast announcing that the National Salvation Military Council staged a coup under the direction of the Galactic Empire. Despite the lack of physical evidence, this debilitating declaration inspires former Rear Admiral Andrew Lynch to reveal his own role in sowing discord within the Free Planets Alliance. A fatal shootout between Lynch and Admiral Dwight Greenhill acts as the final death knell to the short-lived period of martial rule. Within the Galactic Empire, footage of Duke Otto von Braunschweig's nuclear bombing of Westerland results in the dissolution of the Lippstadt League. Marquis Reinhard von Lohengramm's decision to allow the massacre for personal gain creates a rift between him and High Admiral Siegfried Kircheis, souring the taste of their inevitable victory. Now on the cusp of achieving absolute power, Reinhard is embattled by his apparent personal failings and the heavy responsibilities of leadership. Though the civil wars in both the Alliance and the Empire are coming to a close, neither side can ever regain what is lost. Yang Wen-li and Reinhard von Lohengramm each take bitter solace in the knowledge that just on the other side of the galaxy is a worthy opponent—and a true equal. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Legends of the Galactic Heroes (LotGH) is not an elitist anime, it’s ‘thee’ elitist anime. But despite it critical acclaim and devoted fanbase, one thing is for certain: this new iteration falls short of its formers grace. Not so short that this reviewer would call it ‘bad,’ yet its faults are glaring.
‘Stellar Wars’ pacing feels rushed, enough so that events fly by without proper development. Yang and Reinhard, as a consequence, are relatively flat as characters and seem to be missing something vital to their respective personalities. Granted, they were a tad idyllic in the original version, but they felt genuine, nonetheless. ‘Stellar Wars,’ however, gleans past pivotal moments of characterization, in exchange for a brisk, ‘highly-polished’ retelling of an old classic.
But the problem with 3D action sequences — and CGI, in general — is that there is no ‘life’ in the final product. It cannot be stressed enough that numerous shots looked awkward, and in some instances, downright awful. Sure. The vibrant color looked ‘pretty’ and the character designs were ‘flawless,’ but that same flawless is a hindrance in and of itself. As it prevents the characters from portraying certain emotions that would otherwise be captured from a hand-drawn image. Emotions that are vital in tapping into the character’s psyche; thus, allowing the viewer to understand and empathize with said character(s).
The original ginga eiyuu densetsu die neue these – seiran 3 episode 1 these may have had clunky sequences with an abundance of reused scenes and backdrops — but it stayed with the viewer long after the viewing experience. The same cannot be said for ‘Stellar Wars’ or its 12 episode predecessor. Probably because 3D animation makes most scenes blend together, without creating something of true artistic brilliance. Simply put: ‘Stellar Wars’ is dull, lifeless, and uninspired; whereas as the original is visceral, impactful, and resplendent.
While the original The Legend of the Galactic Heroes may have ‘dragged’ at times, it was necessary in telling a richer story. A story that felt like a docudrama on the human species itself (economically, socially, politically, and historically). In contrast, ‘Stellar Wars’ feels like a plot-based affair that jumps from point-to-point to complete a preset checklist — hence, why remakes are inherently flawed. ‘Stellar Wars,’ in summation, is not a terrible anime, despite the various criticisms presented; however, it is not the stuff of legends, as the narrator would have you believe.
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