One of the most unique anime music collaborations of all time, Interstella 5555: The 5th story of the 5ecret 5tar 5 systemis returning to theaters for a one day only special event display. Interstellar is a visual album that accompanies the iconic Daft Punk album Discovery. The remastered version of the anime, originally released in 2003, offers audiences the rare chance to experience the groundbreaking anime on the big screen. The announcement comes following Daft Punk's retirement, making it a bittersweet celebration of their legacy and their extraordinary collaboration with anime legend Leiji Matsumoto.
Daft Punk, the French duo known for their robotic personalities, has redefined the electronic music scene throughout their 28-year career. His second album, Discovery (2001), was a huge success with timeless hits like “One More Time”, “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” and “Digital Love”. The album, heavily inspired by disco and science fiction themes, consolidated their global status and served as the basis for Interstellar 5555. Combining the music of Daft Punk with the aesthetics of anime, the film showcased their ability to think outside the box and transcend the norms of visual storytelling in the music industry.
Interstella 5555 is Daft Punk's epic sci-fi anime
The hour-long film is set around the band's iconic album Discovery
Interstellar 5555 is a dialogue-free anime that tells the story of an alien music band kidnapped and exploited by a sinister human villain with his sights set on universal domination. Directed by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and produced under the supervision of Leiji MatsumotoThe anime was initially released as separate music videos before being compiled into a cohesive film. Despite receiving critical praise for its innovation and emotional depth, the film has become a cult classic worth revisiting. Now, 20 years after its debut, The film's metaphor for music industry abuses is more relevant than eversadly.
The remastered version of Interstellar 5555 is particularly significant because it breathes new life into the visuals and sound, allowing audiences to fully appreciate Matsumoto's beautiful designs. Whether dancing through the air of a psychedelic alien landscape or speeding through the rain-soaked streets of a neon city on Earth, every moment of the film is visually stunning and enhances Daft Punk's already brilliant work. This remaster celebrates the duo's artistic talent at a time when their music became timeless, offering a perfect farewell to a group whose influence extends far beyond music.
Daft Punk's visual album is part of Toonami history
Cartoon Network's iconic programming block has always been ahead of its time
Interstellar 5555 holds a special place in anime history, especially for those who saw its serialized airing during Toonami's late-night programming block Midnight Runin the early 2000s. For many, myself included, this was their introduction to the film, although it was shown in incomplete segments. “One More Time” was inevitable at the time, and its anime music video suddenly appearing on Toonami seemed to legitimize anime, which was so often included in children's programming in the US. That's it one of the things that made Toonami so special and inspired so many young viewers to explore anime.
The film was produced as a collaboration between Daft Punk and Matsumoto, blending the duo's sci-fi inspired soundscape with Matsumoto's legendary storytelling style. With its dreamlike visuals and captivating music, Interstellar 5555 elevated the visual album concept years before Beyoncé perfected it with Lemonade. Clocking in at one hour and five minutes, the remaster's theatrical release also includes additional Daft Punk music videos from directors including Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry after the show to provide extra value for the ticket price.
More than two decades later, Interstella 5555 finds a new audience
The film's return follows the band's retirement in 2021
Daft Punk's recent retirement adds emotional weight to the remastered release. With their latest major release, Random access memories (2013), winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, the announcement that they would retire in 2021 marked the end of an era. Interstellar 5555 serves as a poignant reminder of their ability to push creative boundaries and collaborate across mediums, even after their separation. The hype around InterstellarThe re-release of anime follows a trend of anime fan artists incorporating it into their new music projects, such as Megan Thee Stallion.
This theatrical event is a perfect opportunity for those who have only seen excerpts of Interstellar 5555 to finally experience it in full. The remaster's enhanced visuals bring greater clarity and smoothness to the film's quality, offering the best movie viewing ever. Even though it's been 20 years Discovery topped the charts, the songs are timeless and the accompanying visuals recontextualize the song for Daft Punk fans who only heard the album. Hopefully the one-night event will generate more interest and demand for music and anime collaborations.
Interstella 5555 is even more magical than I remembered
This is a special event display you'll regret skipping
Interstellar 5555 it felt like a fever dream until I had the chance to watch it again recently. I had seen some snippets of it on Cartoon Network in 2003, but I couldn't discern where or when this strange, wordless story came from. I could instinctively tell that the four brief episodes weren't the complete story, but I had no option to track it at the time and let the retro-futuristic story slip away into the recesses of my mind. As soon as the opening notes of “One More Time” faded, I felt waves of nostalgia.
Yet I also felt like I was experiencing something entirely new. The music doesn't just play over the visuals, it's completely in sync with them, and the lyrics echo the themes of what's happening on screen without any exposition. The animation has a sweeping, romantic quality, charting the heroes' journey across the galaxy with a style and vibe that makes you want to spend more time in this world. Interstella 5555: The 5th story of the 5ecret 5tar 5 system you can't miss it, and the special one-night screening is the best way to experience this anime masterpiece.