Lost in Starlight Review: A Beautiful, Magical and Intimate World of Wonder and Love

Lost in Starlight Review: In this warm sci-fi animated film taking place in 2050 Seoul, young astronaut Nan-young, devastated at not being able to go to Mars, encounters budding singer Jay during a chance encounter. As love blooms, she is called to go on her dream mission out of the blue, which results in the two lovers having to make some hard decisions.

The film has a runtime of 96 minutes.

Lost in Starlight Review

In the sci-fi romance animated film Lost in Starlight, we are shown the power of choices and how there is always someone rooting for us wherever we go. The film is marketed as a mature romance that showcases two people who choose to fulfil their dreams even if it pulls them apart for the time being. It’s beautifully made, and I feel like the animation makes it a deeper exploration, taking away any and all preconceived notions that one might have if we watch something in live-action.

The film takes a very empathetic look at how adult relationships work. It’s not always flowers and snuggles, sometimes we have to make difficult decisions, despite our relationship status,s if that means realising our dreams. Jay implores Nan-young not to go to Mars, afraid of losing her after watching Ji-young’s last video. However, Nan-young soldiers on, knowing that if she doesn’t embrace this chance, she might always end up resenting Jay for it. It’s her life’s work that is on the line, and going to space is such a fleeting opportunity that doesn’t come across all the time.

However, it’s not like Nan-young is without her faults. She’s impulsive and can sometimes be very selfish. However, it’s how they get over these issues that makes this film stick in the long run. The beautiful animation just makes things better; it’s enchanting to look at. It adds to the film’s overall vibe and makes you lose yourself in life on Earth and space converge together over and over again. The film reminds us that we are, at the end of the day, a part of the larger cosmos where someone is always looking out for us.

I loved how, for once, our protagonists, after a heated fight, choose to talk instead of just walking away, thanks to their egos. Yes, Jay might have said some awful things, and Nan-young wasn’t as empathetic to his concerns, but there’s a lot that can be solved by talking, and I am glad that we didn’t see them unnecessarily fight for too long. Plus, these are flawed, everyday people who are going through something completely life-altering. People are bound to make mistakes under these extreme circumstances, you know?

I also found the characters to be extremely relatable, they are written and rounded out so well that I found myself emotional a lot throughout the runtime. It feels extremely personal sometimes, and it’s not just their romance but also their own thoughts about their own issues that will make your heart break as they struggle to find themselves.

Other than that, I think the film’s themes are great, the characters are relatable, and there’s something magical about it that will leave you hooked. Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung are fantastic as Nan-young and Jay. It feels like I am a fly on the wall for two real people talking and going through their lives. Also, shoutout to The Devil’s Plan 2‘s Justin H. Min – he was great as the English voice for Jay. I enjoyed the music as well. The soundtrack goes well with the story and brings out the emotions that a scene is trying to convey.

Final Thoughts

I loved Lost in Starlight – I truly found myself lost in its story and beautiful images, along with witnessing a sweet and sensitive romance between two flawed but ultimately well-meaning characters. It’s an intimate world that the creators have brought to us and you can’t help but find yourself drowning in its various beautiful, lived-in alleys.

Also Read: Lost in Starlight Ending Explained: Does Na-young Come Back to Earth? What Happens to Her and Jay?