Sunrise’s anime Planetes, originally aired in 2003, is now streaming on Crunchyroll, though it requires a subscription after a free trial.
Set in 2075, the 26-episode series focuses on the “Debris Section,” which clears space junk. The show tackles themes of environmentalism, class disparity, corporate exploitation, romance, and existentialism.
Planetes emphasizes realism with grounded designs for spacecraft and accurate portrayals of zero gravity.
Sound design includes silent scenes and music, which creates a cinematic feel.
The series depicts the possibility of a society where humans can live on the moon and go about doing everyday business in space.
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