Stars Align (Anime)

**Stars Align** (星合の空, *Hoshiai no Sora*, tl: Star-Crossing Skies) is an original series from 8bit studio. The series first aired in Japan on October 10, 2019 and broadcasted on TBS, BS-TBS, and other channels. English dub of the series was also broadcasted simultaneously and licensed by FUNimation. The anime is directed by Akane Kazuki, whose other work include Escaflowne (2000), Heat Guy-J (2002), Noein (2005), and Tetsuwan Birdy Decode (2008-2009).

## Synopsis

Toma Shinjo, the president of Shijo Minami Boys Soft Tennis Club, finds the club in danger of being shut down due to their poor skills and lack of positive results in matches. With hope in one hand and a racket in the other, he recruits the help of the reluctant Maki Katsuragi, a new transfer student who demonstrates natural talent when he catches a stray cat in his classroom. Toma refuses to back down and ends up persuading Maki – only under the condition that Toma will pay him for his participation and cover other club expenses.

As Maki joins the team, his incredible endurance and quick learning allow him to immediately outperform the rest of the team. Although this gives rise to conflict among the boys, Maki challenges and pushes his fellow team members to not only keep up with his seemingly natural talent, but also drive them to devote themselves to the game they once neglected.

This story focuses on the potential of the boys' soft tennis club and their discovery of their own capability, while also enduring personal hardships and dealing with the darker side of growing up in middle school.

## Staff and Cast

The anime was announced in May 2018 with the following staff and cast.

## List of Blu-ray

### Volume 1

**Release Date: February 26, 2020**

**Catalog:**

* SHBR-0608 (BD – Shochiku)
* DASH-0062 (DVD – Shochiku)
* SHBR-607 (BD – Animate)

**Contents:**

* Episode 1 – 6 of Stars Align Anime
* Video Benefits: PV Collection / TV-CF Collection and Digital Gallery (Illustrations, Image Boards, etc.)
* Audio Benefits: Audio Commentary (2 Episodes) by Natsuki Hanae (Maki Katsuragi CV), Yu Hatanaka (Toma Shinjo CV), Yoshitaka Yamaya (Yuu Asuka CV), and Mayu Mineda (Mitsue Kanako CV)
* Special Booklet (16 Pages)
* Bonus CD based on Purchase Site

* **Shochiku / Official Website : That Time When I Got Reincarnated to Another World Special Episode**
	+ Synopsis: Was it a slime when I woke up? On the way back from the barbecue party, the members of the Shijo Minami Boys Soft Tennis Club were suddenly sent to another world. Toma, Maki, Mitsue, and Yuu joined the adventure. With their new appearances and personalities, four of them hunted monster and enjoy otherworldly meal cooked by Maki. All of a sudden, a beautiful zombie appears ??!!
* **Animate : Dance Competition Special Episode**
	+ Synopsis: Shijo Minami Student Council have just announced that a dance competition will be held before the summer break. The club that wins the competition will able to choose their preferred practice spots and also get a prioritized club annual budget. Attracted by the prize, Toma asks Maki, Yuu, and Mitsue about who is good at dancing. But wait… could they even dance in the first place ??

### Volume 2

**Release Date: April 22, 2020**

**Catalog:**

* SHBR-0610 (BD – Shochiku)
* DASH-0064 (DVD – Shochiku)
* SHBR-609 (BD – Animate)
* DASH-63 (DVD – Animate)

**Contents**:

* Episode 7 – 12 of Stars Align Anime
* Video Benefits: Non Credit OP and ED, Stars Align Special Collaboration Movie (with AIKI)
* Audio Benefits: Audio Commentary (2 Episodes) by Akane Kazuki (Director), Yūichi Takahashi (Animation Character Design), and Ryota Fujitsu (MC)
* Digital Gallery (Various Illustrations)
* Special Booklet (16 Pages)
* Bonus CD based on Purchase Site
* **Shochiku / Official Website : Meeting Special Episode**
	+ Synopsis: The Shijo Minami Boys Soft Tennis Club was prohibited from practicing due to complaints from Nao’s mother. During that time, Maki, Toma, Yuuta, and Mitsue continued to discuss and analyze their practice plans. However, the discussion turns into a story about the members birthday and blood types… Let the Personality Test Begins !!!
* **Animate : Training Special Episode**
	+ Synopsis: It’s been three days since the rainy season began, and club activities were cancelled due to the rain. The Shijo Minami Boys Soft Tennis Club could not practice and were stressed out. In the mean time, Toma proposed a endurance training session during this season. The members quickly agreed to this proposal, but with Mitsue involvement, will the training goes into an unexpected direction??

## Promotional Videos

TVアニメ「星合の空」新プロモーションビデオStars Align Trailer 1TVアニメ『星合の空』 プロモーションビデオ第二弾Stars Align Trailer 2「星合の空」番宣CM 15秒Stars Align Promotional Video (15 second)「星合の空」Blu-ray&DVD 30秒CM ◆ 2020.2.26 ON SALE!!Blu-Ray and DVD Volume 1 Promotional Video (30 second)星合の空 Special Collaboration MovieStars Align Special Collaboration Movie
## Music

中島 愛 ニューシングル「水槽」MV（short Ver.)Opening Theme - Suisou by Megumi NakajimaAIKI from bless4「籠の中の僕らは」Music Video(short ver.)Ending Theme - Kago no Naka no Bokura wa by AIKI from bless4
## Reception

Despite being a new anime with no established fanbase, Stars Align generally received positive reviews among users in MAL and Anime News Network. It is also named one of the best Fall 2019 anime by ANN reviewers. Many user praised this anime for sharing the desperation among adolescence and discussing sensitive topics such as LGBTQ+.

The show's subversive first episode, rated as the best of the whole series, was the second highest-rated premiere of the entire season, behind only *Kono Oto Tomare! 2nd Season*. However, this anime ends with a sharp dip on the final episode. It came out after the finale that the show was originally meant for two-cour, and the Director Akane Kazuki had promised a sequel of some kind, however the damage was already done. Despite this sharp drop in the final episode score, this series managed to maintain a great average rating which may still increase in the future.

## See Also

* Stars Align Promotionals (for lists of all promotionals and merchandise related to the anime)

## External Links

* Stars Align Official *Website* (in Japanese)

* Stars Align Official *Twitter*

* Director Akane Kazuki *Twitter*

* Stars Align in *MyAnimeList*

* Stars Align in *Anime News Network*

## References

1. ↑ Stars Align from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars\_Align)
2. ↑ Kazuki Akane from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuki\_Akane)
3. ↑ Stars Align (TV) from Anime News Network (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=21283)
4. ↑ Hoshiai no Sora (Stars Align) from MyAnimeList (https://myanimelist.net/anime/37972/Hoshiai\_no\_Sora)
5. ↑ Hoshiai no Sora Blu-ray & DVD (https://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/hoshiai/disc)
6. ↑ The Best (and Worst) Anime of Fall 2019 from Anime News Network (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-01-03/the-best-anime-of-fall-2019/.155023)
7. ↑ Hoshiai no Sora Reviews from MyAnimeList (https://myanimelist.net/anime/37972/Hoshiai\_no\_Sora/reviews)
8. ↑ In Numbers: The Best and Worst Anime of Fall 2019 from MyAnimeList (https://myanimelist.net/featured/2322/In\_Numbers\_\_The\_Best\_and\_Worst\_Anime\_of\_Fall\_2019)