"Voices of a Distant Star" & Heart Ache

'SUP, NERDS?!

I most recently looked into my long manga blacklist (which is a never ending log of volumes I own and intend to buy) and felt in the mood for a one-shot story. What better choice could I make but choose Voices of a Distant Star?

Published by Vertical Inc, Voices is a manga adaptation of a 2002 anime created by Makoto Shinkai. Unsurprised upon such revelation, I didn't know there was this anime prior to researching this blog. I'm definitely going to watch, but seeing early 2000s-CGI in the trailer hurt me a just a bit. Nobody to blame but myself for the pain since I'm not a huge fan of the animation technique. I don't mean to rag on it, I'm sure it's a delightful piece!

The Concept

What if you lived out of this world and any communications with home took hours, days or years? Voices of a Distant Star explores the relationship between two middle schoolers, Mikako and Noboru. Mikako is sent on a mission into space to defend Earth from aliens. She pilots an Evangelion-styled mecha and is definitely not fighting aliens that remind me of the Angels of Eva... But fighting foreign creatures is not the focus of the story!

The protagonists share a deep connection and clearly see each other as more than just friends. Mikako embraces her abilities to pilot with a mission to defend Earth. Noboru embodies a vision for the future, never forgetting his promises to Mikako. Each of them have a positive future in mind, but Noboru focuses his goals on a more personal level than Mikako's selfless action to leave her Earth-life behind.

Doki-Doki ドキドキ

As the crew space crew travels, communication with Earth is prioritized for critical, mission-based information. The pilots are able to send personal messages to their friends and families at the cost of time. While stationed on Mars, an exchange takes half a day, which eventually extends into years as the team travels to the edge of the solar system.

However the consequences for traveling light years also bends the progression of time. What is perceived to Mikako as a few days or months during her mission means that a certain number of years has already passed on Earth. Her thoughts and emotional maturity do not progress as the story continues because she still is the middle schooler from the beginning.

I found Noboru to be the more interesting character, although he's just an average guy when comparing Mikako and her abilities. He ages at least ten years over the course of the story and develops much more than she. Noboru briefly distracts himself from loneliness. Although Mikako's messages are few and far between, Noboru's emotions pour whenever he receives a transmission.


I felt a sense of true love when Noboru broke up with his high school girlfriend and got his act together once years of Mikako's silence breaks. He then decides to follow his heart and work every bit of his life into helping Mikako than remain depressed. I find it noble that he takes the tougher route in attempt to reunite with his crush than accept mediocrity via living a simpler life.

The message of this manga: Love transcends time.

Long-Distance Relationships

I only purchased Voices because I heard high praises, only knowing I'm getting into a unique sci-fi piece. But damn. I couldn't have picked this at a better time.

Not too long ago my boyfriend spent 5 weeks working in the literal opposite side of the country. Physical distance certainly affects a relationship, but I'm incredibly grateful that we had the chance to communicate each day we were separated. It made time move more quickly and remind me of the good in this world since we were presented with multiple challenges during our separation. Not only did we build each other, his absence reinforced my feelings and how important he is to me.

I tried doing long-distance with someone else last year, but it wasn't the physical distance that led to my unhappiness. I'm so glad to have made change and recently experience an even greater physical distance to use as a basis of comparison for both scenarios. It helped me realize what a genuine, loving relationship feels like.

More Shinkai Please

I love Shinkai's works I've had a chance to read to date. Heck, you should take a peek at my thoughts on She and Her Cat, a brilliant manga and anime he created as well. If anyone has any other Shinkai recommendations, please send them my way!

Even though I could have addressed more elements to Mikako's story, I still stand behind Noboru being the better character. The other pilots Mikako studied and worked with were more interesting than she, but do not as strongly resonate what I got from Noboru's story.

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz