About Star Driver
Star Driver stands as one of mecha anime’s most distinctive and boldly theatrical works, transforming the genre through its flamboyant presentation, coming-of-age themes, and celebration of youth’s radiant potential.
Created by the dream team of director Takuya Igarashi and writer Yōji Enokido, this groundbreaking franchise emerged as a genre-defying spectacle that challenged conventional mecha storytelling whilst establishing new standards for visual flair and thematic depth.
The Star Driver franchise features giant biomechanical mecha called Cybodies that can only be activated and controlled within an alternate dimension known as Zero Time. These elegant, mask-wearing robots serve as both weapons of war and expressions of their pilots’ innermost desires, accessed through the dramatic invocation “Apprivoise!”
Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto is the foundational television series that established the franchise’s core themes. Set on the mysterious Southern Cross Isle, the story follows Takuto Tsunashi, the self-proclaimed “Galactic Pretty Boy,” as he protects the island’s seals whilst navigating the complex relationships of youth and the theatrical battles of Zero Time.
Star Driver emerged as a deliberate celebration of anime’s most flamboyant traditions, combining the coming-of-age themes of Revolutionary Girl Utena with the mecha spectacle of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The franchise transformed potential mockery of its “fabulousness” into genuine artistic strength, proving that earnest emotion and theatrical presentation could coexist powerfully.
This approach established Star Driver as a love letter to youth itself, exploring the idea that adolescence should be lived with passion, authenticity, and the courage to shine brilliantly—even in the face of an uncertain future.
History of Star Driver
Creation and Early Development
In 2010, Studio Bones created what would become one of anime’s most polarising yet beloved mecha series. Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto premiered on Japanese television as an original work that deliberately embraced everything critics typically dismissed about anime: flamboyant characters, theatrical poses, and over-the-top presentation.
Director Takuya Igarashi, known for his work on Soul Eater and various magical girl series, collaborated with writer Yōji Enokido, whose credits included Revolutionary Girl Utena and FLCL. This partnership reunited the creative team behind Ouran High School Host Club, bringing together Igarashi’s visual flair and Enokido’s talent for complex, symbolism-laden narratives.
The series was produced by an all-star team including character designer Yoshiyuki Itō (Fullmetal Alchemist), mechanical designer Shigeto Koyama, concept designer Shinji Aramaki, and composer Satoru Kōsaki (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). The high-profile production team reflected Aniplex’s confidence in the project’s potential to establish a new creative benchmark.
Television Series and Reception
The series aired for 25 episodes from 3rd October 2010 to 3rd April 2011 on MBS and TBS, occupying the prestigious Sunday evening time slot. The anime was licensed in North America by Aniplex of America and was streamed with English subtitles on Hulu, Crackle, and Crunchyroll.
Star Driver deliberately positioned itself as both homage to and evolution of mecha anime traditions. Drawing inspiration from Neon Genesis Evangelion’s psychological complexity and Mobile Fighter G Gundam’s theatrical combat, the series forged its own path by refusing to apologise for its earnest embrace of spectacle and emotion.
The series became notable for its cultural impact beyond traditional anime audiences. Studio Bones famously incorporated the series’ signature “Kiraboshi” pose into actual job application requirements for animators, demonstrating the franchise’s real-world influence on Japanese pop culture.
Film and Expansion
A compilation film titled Star Driver: The Movie was released on 9th February 2013 by Shochiku, featuring approximately three minutes of new footage alongside a condensed retelling of the television series’ narrative. The film served both as a conclusion to the television series and a celebration of the franchise’s distinctive visual style.
The franchise spawned various multimedia expansions, including manga adaptations, model kits, and a significant merchandising presence that reflected its cultural impact within anime fandom.
Star Driver Universe
Unlike many mecha franchises that span multiple timelines or universes, Star Driver exists within a single, self-contained narrative framework centred on Southern Cross Isle and its ancient mysteries.
The Cybody System
The franchise’s central technological concept revolves around the Cybodies—22 ancient biomechanical giants created by a mysterious alien race called the Entropeople millions of years ago. These elegant, mask-wearing machines exist primarily within Zero Time, an alternate dimensional space that freezes normal time and prevents their influence from affecting the real world.
The Cybodies are organised into distinct categories: Warrior types designed for combat, Maiden types that maintain the seals restricting the others, and the singular King type known as Samekh. Each Cybody takes its name from letters of the Phoenician alphabet and possesses unique abilities that reflect their pilot’s personality and desires.
The Glittering Crux Brigade
The primary antagonistic force of the series, the Glittering Crux Brigade (綺羅星十字団, Kiraboshi Jūjidan), operates as a secret society within Southern Cross High School. Their goal involves breaking the four seals maintained by the island’s Shrine Maidens to allow Cybodies to function in the real world rather than being confined to Zero Time.
Notable series in chronological order:
- Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto (2010-2011)
- Star Driver: The Movie (2013)
Technology and Innovation
The Apprivoise System
Star Driver distinguished itself through its concept of “Apprivoise”—the activation phrase derived from The Little Prince’s concept of taming or forming relationships. This system represents the deep psychological bond between pilot and machine that drives the franchise’s unique approach to mecha combat.
Tauburn, the 22nd Cybody piloted by Takuto Tsunashi, represents the franchise’s most significant technological achievement. According to series lore, Tauburn was specifically designed for human pilots and possesses hidden capabilities that allow it to phase-shift between different power levels as the seals are progressively broken.
Zero Time Combat
The franchise revolutionised mecha battles by treating them as theatrical performances rather than mere violence. Each Zero Time encounter follows the structure of a stage play, complete with dramatic entrances, monologues, and choreographed combat that prioritises visual spectacle and emotional expression over realistic warfare.
Themes of Star Driver
Youth and Authenticity
Central to Star Driver’s narrative is its unflinching celebration of adolescent passion and the courage to live authentically. The series presents youth not as a phase to be outgrown but as a state of being that should be embraced fully—complete with its melodrama, intensity, and willingness to take dramatic stands for personal beliefs.
Takuto Tsunashi’s declaration as the “Galactic Pretty Boy” becomes a metaphor for refusing to diminish oneself for others’ comfort. The franchise argues that being “fabulous” is not a character flaw but a form of personal rebellion against a world that demands conformity and emotional restraint.
Theatrical Combat and Performance
Star Driver’s approach to mecha combat reflects the series’ deeper themes about performance, identity, and the masks people wear in social situations. The literal masks worn by Cybodies mirror the metaphorical masks worn by the characters as they navigate the complex social dynamics of high school life.
This theatrical approach influenced a generation of creators willing to embrace anime’s inherent melodrama rather than apologising for it, proving that audiences would accept openly flamboyant presentation when paired with genuine emotional depth.
Love and Relationships
The franchise’s treatment of its central love triangle between Takuto, Wako Agemaki, and Sugata Shindō deliberately avoids traditional romantic resolution. Instead, Star Driver explores the idea that meaningful relationships don’t require exclusive possession, and that love can take multiple forms simultaneously without losing its authenticity.
This polyamorous approach to romance was groundbreaking for mainstream anime, particularly in how it presented all three characters as equally valid in their emotional connections without forcing a definitive choice between romantic partners.
Legacy of Star Driver
Influence on Mecha Anime
Star Driver’s bold aesthetic choices and thematic content influenced a generation of mecha creators willing to embrace the genre’s inherent theatricality. The series proved that audiences would accept—and even celebrate—openly flamboyant presentation when paired with genuine emotional depth and spectacular animation.
The franchise’s integration of magical girl elements into mecha storytelling opened new creative possibilities for genre hybridisation, whilst its focus on high school social dynamics demonstrated that mecha anime could successfully explore everyday relationship drama alongside spectacular robot battles.
The series’ creative team continued their collaboration on Captain Earth (2014), which further explored similar themes of youth and mecha combat, cementing their reputation as masters of the coming-of-age mecha subgenre.
Technological Inspiration
The franchise’s detailed Cybody designs and Zero Time concept have inspired various technological and artistic interpretations. The series’ emphasis on the psychological bond between pilot and machine has influenced discussions about human-machine interfaces in both fictional and real-world contexts.
Cultural Phenomenon
The series’ “Kiraboshi” pose and catchphrases became cultural touchstones within anime fandom, symbolising the courage to embrace one’s authentic self regardless of social pressure. The pose’s incorporation into Studio Bones’ hiring practices demonstrated the franchise’s impact on Japanese corporate culture.
Star Driver’s success paved the way for other original anime willing to take creative risks, proving that audiences were hungry for fresh approaches to familiar genres when executed with conviction and artistic integrity.
Merchandising and Commercial Success
Model Kits and Figures
The Cybody designs produced by Shigeto Koyama proved highly popular for model kit production. Bandai released various scale models of Tauburn and other Cybodies, featuring intricate detail work that captured the elegant, mask-wearing aesthetic of the original designs.
The Robot Spirits action figure line featured highly articulated versions of the main Cybodies, allowing collectors to recreate the series’ dramatic battle poses and transformations.
Music and Soundtracks
The series’ music, composed by Satoru Kōsaki and monaca, became a significant commercial success. The opening themes by Aqua Timez and ending themes by 9nine achieved considerable popularity on Japanese music charts.
Character image songs performed by the voice cast, particularly the Maiden songs representing each of the four Shrine Maidens, became cultural phenomena within anime music circles.
Video Games
Star Driver spawned several video game adaptations, including mobile game applications that allowed players to pilot Cybodies and participate in Zero Time battles. These games expanded the franchise’s reach to gaming audiences whilst maintaining the theatrical combat style of the original series.
External links
- Star Driver on Wikipedia
- Star Driver on Anime News Network
- Star Driver: Takuto of the Radiance on MAHQ
- Official Star Driver website (archived)