# Planetes (2003)

> In 2075, a crew of space debris collectors risks their lives cleaning up orbit while chasing personal dreams.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/31387

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, science fiction, drama
- Network: NHK BS2
- Cast: Kazunari Tanaka, Satsuki Yukino, Takehito Koyasu, Ai Orikasa, Tetsuo Goto, Yoshihiro Okada, Isshin Chiba, Shigeru Shibuya
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816398/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: earnest, wistful, melancholic, gritty, hopeful

## What critics say

Audiences broadly rate the series as a positive, thoughtful space drama with grounded, character-driven storytelling about labor and ambition in orbit.

## Synopsis

Planetes (2003-2004) is a Japanese science fiction anime series produced by Sunrise and broadcast on NHK BS2. Set in 2075, when commuting between Earth, the Moon and orbital stations is routine, the series follows debris collectors who clear hazardous orbital junk that can wreck spacecraft and equipment. Hachirouta Hoshino (Kazunari Tanaka) is an ambitious crew member dreaming of owning his own spaceship, while Ai Tanabe (Satsuki Yukino) and Yuri Mihailokov (Takehito Koyasu) work alongside him in dangerous, tedious recovery missions. Its single season of twenty-six episodes is built around episodic job stories that gradually deepen into character arcs about pride, money, and ambition. Each episode is grounded in the mechanics of zero gravity labor, tethers, and thruster fuel, giving the show a practical, workmanlike texture. The tone is wistful and earnest, balancing humor with moments of quiet melancholy and genuine peril. Fans of Space Brothers, Cowboy Bebop and For All Mankind will find resonance in its blend of realistic space work and human struggle. The show offers a thoughtful, grounded look at a future that feels ordinary.

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- [Outlaw Star (1998)](https://ember.film/tv/32302)
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- [Time of Eve (2008)](https://ember.film/tv/54358)

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