From its start, the story is enthralling. It is a thrilling trip through another world ominously close to our own.

Completely original, yet it still finds the time to comment on contemporary society. Will the space-skeptics in our own world ever be overcome?

Shiro travels a long way on the road from cynicism to idealism, and every labored step is a joy to watch. Even the background characters steadily bring their lives and beliefs into focus.

This fictional world is incredibly well layered, at once colorful and drab and verisimilarly "lived-in." Every detail of director Hiroyuki Yamaga's vision, from Space Force headquarters to the back allies of the cities, is cogently presented.

It weren't poetry, but it certainly ain't bad. (sic sic sic sic sic)

Inspired with strong character development, the voice actors skirted the tendency toward melodrama.

Thanks to a hapless but topless doomsayer.

Sorry to say it, but this story's so airtight it would send those notoriously sarcastic hecklers on a dangerous thinking spree. X-Factors are so great in describing the idiosyncrasies connected to everyone's favorite genre, but let's face it, a good story's a good story, and sometimes the X-Factors just aren't a good fit.

Love it? Hate it? Buy it.