Compulsion about the Star Driver Puzzle – Vanishing Age

Star Driver is kind of like a fable. People in the show act out stuff, in representation of higher concepts and ideas, in service of themes. Or at least, that is how it is represented with characters larger than life and brighter than a shooting star. Or something. The problem is these characters all clearly are employed by somebody, and it has become irritating when they don’t say who that somebody is. It’s like when you are being told a fable, you kind of just want to get to the bottom of it, to spin that wheel of morality already and see what the final answer is.

I’ve been pretty okay about Star Driver when it comes to that compulsion, so far. However the recent episodes featuring the Vanishing Age really tickled my fancy. I mean, let’s look at the names of the Kiraboshi Juujidan factions. Unlike Urobuchi, we know Yoji Enokido is not trolling us, right?

  • Filament – It’s bright, but more importantly, it burns out. It also makes Kiraboshi Brigade what it is, or at least the Kiraboshi part. We’ve had the episode about the “glittering of youth,” so perhaps this symbolizes the literal glittering part of youth. Also, filament, an man-made creation, is great foil to the naturally-apprivoise-able Galactic Pretty Boy. It’s tough to beat fusion for brightness.
  • Adult Bank – I thought this one is obvious. But why “Adult” when there are no adults in it? I can’t say for Bouganville, but Vanishing Age and the Science Guild surely have adults? I could also point to the relationship between Leon Watanabe and his teenage bride, but that would be obvious, so the not-as-obvious point here is something about the wealth kids have that are not really theirs. Kanako lives in the shadow of her husband, that much we know for sure.
  • Science Guild – I thought this one is even more obvious. And this one is also the most over-the-top. Can I have Rinko as my First Stage?
  • Bouganville – Besides being the largest of the Solomon Islands (now an independent nation) and that Japan occupied it during WWII, the only thing to say about it is that it is actually an “island in the south.” It makes sense in that it has a flavor of locality and tradition behind it, as applied to the members of this subsection. (Human civilization on the Solomon Islands do date back pretty far.) All two of them, at this point, anyways. Maybe the events of WWII can serve as a possible hint.
  • Vanishing Age – Well this is where…I stop bulleting and start to make the point I was trying …to make.

When I was thinking about putting the puzzles together, I was influenced by this NY Times piece. Generation gap is actually a big issue facing American society today as well, but Japan is really getting screwed–so screwed, that we use a more technical and all-encompassing term, “Generational Inequality.” The socio-econo-political aspect aside, the Times piece paints an image that, hopefully, resonates with Japanese college pre-post-grad/super-seniors struggling to find happiness in their line of work and their near-future. It is a future that is, not unlike Head’s sunset, turning darker each passing moment.

The old boys club, the high-class lounge, the back-room deal made under a cloud of cigarette smoke and over some fine Suntory whisky are a thing of the past. There is your Vanishing Age. That is your modern vice that rocketed Japan to its global economic plateau, perhaps at the cost of its first-born sons and daughters. Looking from that perspective, the Kiraboshi section titles become

  • People who tries, even if it looks like they’re faking it
  • People who can’t get out from under their fetal silver spoons, no matter how accomplished they are
  • Otaku
  • People stuck in the old ways
  • People on elevators

But that is just one interpretation, and you might be able to do better. Also, we clearly see that Vanishing Age represents a group of people who are truly elite, who are born with “the mark” and who use it to reinforce its own elite status. Injecting a dose of real world problem into this fairly modern fable is more nuanced than one might imagine.

All this, just to capture that spark. Will it cure Japan’s problems? DUN DUN DUN.


No Responses to “Compulsion about the Star Driver Puzzle – Vanishing Age”

  • omo

    For those being paywall-blocked by NYT you can get the text here
    http://pastebin.com/Kc417Ti8

    Or learn to use google’s redirect :3

  • kuromitsu

    Bouganville is also a flowering plant, correctly written as Bougainvillea. It’s pretty hardy, has strong vines that can grow over most anything, plus thorns. I think this is what Star Driver references.

  • Mystlord

    A social commentary undertone to Star Driver? Possible. I don’t think that it’s the case though. After all, isn’t Vanishing Age the group that will ultimately lead the Departure to bring the Cybodies into the real world? Hardly seems to be a sign of a group that’s dying out and past their prime. Aside from that, I’d be interested in some theorizing about the names of the members of the Kiraboshi, since you seem to be looking at the section names anyway. (I’m too lazy to think about it)

  • omo

    @kuromitsu
    I think you are right.

    A hardy flowering plant in warm climate makes more sense than the island. Both are for warm climates and enduring tenacity.

  • omo

    >> After all, isn’t Vanishing Age the group that will ultimately lead the Departure to bring the Cybodies into the real world?

    I think that’s just a claim… we don’t know what will happen by the end.

    The question is, why Vanishing Age? I think they do behave like fabulous by-gone cool cats, and in a way represents that sort of elitism. Do they have a place in the future? As much as anyone else. But I think given the theme of youth and future they are still not the main players.

  • Mystlord

    @omo: No, it’s not a claim. They are the only ones who have the power to pilot Cybodies, so I mean logically they are the ones who will lead the Departure. You can pilot a Cybody if you don’t have a real mark after all. They do have a reason for being elitist.

    Also, the general age spread currently in Vanishing Age is pretty young, with the possible exclusion of Head.

  • omo

    >> They are the only ones who have the power to pilot Cybodies, so I mean logically they are the ones who will lead the Departure

    Uh. Again, until it actually happens, you’re just claiming so. It’s pretty clear that it will not go according to plan, right? One or all of the other factions will do something before the series ends. It seems like an obvious thing.

    >> Also, the general age spread currently in Vanishing Age is pretty young, with the possible exclusion of Head.

    Hard to say, there are a couple old people (like the really old guy that is no longer around).

  • ToastCrust

    Speaking of youth, didn’t the Vanishing Age leader signature his painting with the same signature that is on what is apparently the painting of Takutou’s dad…?

    Or has it just been too long since I watched the first couple episodes?

    Certainly, either it’s that old guy who lurked around for some reason, or there are some really weird time/age shenanigans at work….

  • omo

    Yes, Head is being foreshadowed as Takuto’s dad. If so, it won’t be the first time we’ve seen an older person become young again in this anime.

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