Crest of the Stars (1999, Japanese: 星界の紋章 Seikai no Monshō) is an anime science fiction (space opera (some parts could classify as military science fiction/military space opera)) series based on the same title Japanese science fiction novel published in 1996 written by Morioka Hiroyuki. It ran for 13 episodes on WOWOW. There have two sequel series - Banner of the Stars (13 episodes, aka Seikai no Senki), Banner of the Stars II (10 episodes, aka Seikai no Senki II) and an OVA Crest of the Stars Lost Chapter (aka Seikai no Danshou), and Kin of the Stars . A fourth anime series have been recently announced.

Crest of the Stars and Banner of the Stars (series I and II) follow Ghintec Linn (aka Jinto Lynn), a young prince whose world is taken over by the space-dwelling race of the Abh. When Ghintec was a young boy, his father, Rock Lynn , under threat of invasion, handed over their world, Martine, to the Abh in exchange for a position within Abh society. Young Ghintec is sent off to school to learn the ways of Abh nobility and the story of Crest of the Stars picks up as he meets the young Abh princess, Lamhirh (aka Lafiel) as they are about to travel to military school for Ghintec's further training.

However, in the midst of their travels, Lamhirh and Ghintec (along with the Abh ship Gothlauth, aka Goliath) find themselves at the very beginnings of a war between the Abh Empire and the nations of humankind.

The series -- both the anime and novels -- are particularly notable for the fact that Morioka created for them an entire language, Baronh (and an accompanying alphabet, Ath), which the Abh speak, read, and write. Almost all written text in the anime is in Baronh, with occasional text in other (invented) languages; at least one planet is shown to have adopted Ath to write their own language (although this is not a plot point, and easily missed).

Crest of the Stars was released in Japan in 1999 and in the United States by Bandai in 2001. At the end of 2002, TechTV announced that Crest of the Stars was to be one of the initial titles as part of their new Anime Unleashed programming and began broadcast at the end of 2002 and through 2003.

Characters

• Ablïarsec néïc Dubreuscr Bœrh Parhynr Lamhirh (a.k.a., Lafiel) - The strong-willed Abh princess (granddaughter of the Abh empress) who has a steely exterior, but ends up befriending Ghintec Linn. Like all Abh, she has beautiful, blue hair and silver eyes and will live for well over 200 years. Her full name can be roughly translated to Lamhirh (néïc Dubleuscr) Ablïarsec, Viscountess of Parhynh.
• Linn ssynec Rocr Ïarlucec Dreuc Haïder Ghintec (a.k.a., Jinto) - Born on the world of Martine, Ghintec is very practical and sensible and is very unsure of himself, being suddenly thrown into the life of Abh nobility . He acts as a moderate counterweight to Lamhirh's stubbornness. His name can be roughly translated to Ghintec (ssynec Rocr Ïarlucec) Linn, Count of Hyde.
• Laicch üémh Laubér Placïac (a.k.a, Lexshue) - Captain of the Gothlauth who is every bit as smart, beautiful, dedicated and stubborn as Lamhirh is, but older and wiser. From her name, Placïac Laicch's rank in the Abh social hierarchy will be that of a reucec (knight or dame).
• Rock Lynn - Ghintec's father. As the head of government of the Hyde star system, he was the one who negotiated Martine's surrender to the Abh forces. Due to circumstances, he was accepted into the Abh aristocracy as a Count. His actions were interpreted ( or misinterpreted, it could go both ways) by the people of Martine henceforth branding him a traitor.

See also

• Conlangs

External links

• Crest of the Stars - The official site from Bandai.
• Crest of Stars - The overview of Crest of the Stars with excerpted scenes
• Seikai no Monshou - the review of original Japanese version (or Seikai no Monsho)
• Seikai no Monshou (Crest of the Stars) by Ito Nobutoshi - the Abh language and society, the hierarchy of the Abh Empire and Space Navy, and their fictional science
• Review of Crest... on THEM Anime
• Crest of the Stars: Odyssey - A major Crest of the Stars resource