Japanator Recommends: Interstella 5555

12:00 PM on 02.20.2010   |   Jon Snyder

Ever wondered what Captain Harlock would look like on acid?

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem is a musical film collaboration between the French house artists Daft Punk and Toei Studios. On the surface, it appears to be a fairly generic sci-fi adventure anime. It has a group of intrepid heroes, a dastardly villian, an adventurous journey and a fight against evil. What's unusual about Interstella is the presentation. Instead of dialogue, it uses music from Daft Punk's Discovery album, making it essentially an hour-long music video with pulsing psychadelic visuals. It is, without a doubt, one of the most unique and visually arresting anime I have ever seen.

Find out more after the break.

The story of Interstella is fairly straightforward, even cliche. A blue-skinned alien band consisting of four generic members (the spiky-haired hero, the elegant heroine, the buff black guy and the chubby midget) are kidnapped by an evil record company mogul (named Darkwood) from Earth. They are brainwashed and disguised as human band called the Crescendolls, and forced to play endless concerts and sign thousands of autographs. After being freed by an intergalactic adventurer who flies a guitar-shaped starship, they find themselves on the run from Darkwood's minions and Earth's authorities. Eventually, they discover Darkwood's plans for universal domination, and journey to his sinister castle to stop him once and for all.

Of course, this is merely an excuse plot, designed to set the stage for catchy tunes and colorful visuals. Every scene of Interstella is filled with exotic scenery, bright neon lights and kaleidoscopic colors, all of which throb in time to the soundtrack. This film has no dialogue or narration, merely Daft Punk music. Provided you enjoy electronica, this soundtrack is very catchy and usually complements the story and visuals nicely. There are, however, a few instances when the upbeat tempo of the music feels horribly inappropriate, such as the more serious scenes involving heartbreak and death. Aside from these jarring moments, it all flows quite nicely and creates an exhilarating sensory experience.

Many have likened Interstella to an acid trip, a metaphor I find wholly appropriate. It's definitely worth checking out if you enjoy electronic dance music or techno. However, if you dislike such music, you will find this movie to be boring and annoyingly repetitive, especially given its lack of any meaningful plot. If you need a litmus test, watch the video for Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger on YouTube. If you like what you hear, then Interstella 5555 is worth a look.