Lost in Starlight (Byeol-e Pil-yohan) - Spoiler Free Movie Review

A beautiful love tale spanning across distant stars, displayed in dream-like animation that more often than not reminds of Japanese anime. 

Original Title: 이 별에 필요한 (Byeol-e Pil-yohan)

Genre: Animation / Romance / Sci-Fi 

Director: Han Ji-Won

Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Hong Kyung, Sharon Kwon, Yoon Ah-young, Ahn Young-mi, Kang-gu Han, Lee Myung-hee & Choi Han.

Run Time: 98 min.

Korean Release: 30 May 2025 (Netflix)

US Release: 30 May 2025 (Netflix)

UK Release: 30 May 2025 (Netflix)

German Release: 30 May 2025 (Netflix)

Announced as Netflix’s first feature-length, original K-animation, a milestone for the Korean sector, this sci-fi romance is visually ambitious, as well as sending the genre into a bold new direction, embracing its heartstring-plugging emotions. Using the streamer’s massive platform to find a global audience, this new release confidently finds a voice in the animated branch, sharing it for everyone to hear. Join me as we traverse the galaxy to find the answers in my review of Netflix’s captivating Lost in Starlight.

When Nan-young, an astronaut training for a Mars mission, and Jay, a musician fixing vintage sound equipment, accidentally bump into each other, their lives get unexpectedly entangled. But when Nan-young gets accepted for a mission, the vast infinite space divides the star-crossed couple.

Set in a retro-futuristic Seoul, the premise originated from the mind of female animator plus director Han Ji-won, who was inspired after creating a short commercial for a jewellery brand, featuring a girl dreaming of space. Reflecting her own path, as she rose through the traditionally male-dominated animation industry, the story reflects these subjects, as the primary lead is a female astronaut dreaming of joining a mission to Mars.

Set in a retro-futuristic Seoul, the premise originated from the mind of female animator plus director Han Ji-won, who was inspired after creating a short commercial for a jewellery brand, featuring a girl dreaming of space. Reflecting her own path, as she rose through the traditionally male-dominated animation industry, the story reflects these subjects, as the primary lead is a female astronaut dreaming of joining a mission to Mars.

The plot’s core is an interweaving of two different social spectrums. On one hand, it is a representation of female ambition in male-dominated working sectors, represented in Nan-young’s efforts to make it into the Mars expedition team. On the other side, it explores the themes of love, infatuation, plus family, manifested in the form of Jay. As their relationship starts to blossom, both get influenced by each other, figuring out that the key to a happy life is a balance between professional aspiration and nurturing partnership.

The adult romance represented in the narrative is forthrightly grounded, including issues of miscommunication, just like errors made. The two protagonists do work on their relationship, talking through issues, instead of the story relying on typical tropes to magically solve them. Having said that, their problems are resolved quickly, not allowing disappointment or anger to simmer, which would have made the characters more sympathetic.

Also, the climax is not as impactful as hoped, since the dangerous interstellar mission, in contrast with Jay overcoming stage fright, feels muddled, overshadowing the latter's growth. 

These are minor flaws in an otherwise brilliant script, especially with the symbolic imagery boosting sentimental beats, giving it a poetic richness

The movie’s atmosphere is well captured through gentle, sincere conversations, rich in emotional subtext, making the leads' growth credible, as well as relatable.

The feature doesn’t lend much focus to personas outside the core relationship. Much of the supporting players simply exist without being properly introduced, giving it a pragmatic touch of tunnel vision when in love. That said, it could have done with fleshing out some of the side arcs more; this is especially true of Nan’s good friend Rosa, who makes several appearances, yet we know nothing about her, except how nosy she is.

Most impressive is how believable the couple's progression feels, without added synthetic drama. Nan-young, voiced by Kim Tae-ri, struggles with the loss of her mother, having pushed down those feelings deep inside her. However, as trauma works, those feelings don’t disappear, resurfacing as grieving PTSD, when confronted with her past. This also affects her communication with Jay, who, although open, masks her true reason for star-chasing.

Jay, on the other hand, is struggling with artistic purpose, having suffered a bad experience with creative control over his work. On top of that, he is plagued by stage fright, deepening his issues with the craft that left him stagnant. Unfortunately, he isn’t given as much attention as Nan-young. Nevertheless, both actors gave great vocal renditions, nailing their feelings over their struggles.

The camera work is immersive, seamlessly flowing through Seoul’s streets, as well as its beautiful sci-fi city landscape, adding kinetic movements as characters rise stairs or pass through moving traffic. Metaphoric visuals elevate the screenplay’s emotional elegance, as seen in the symbolic scene, where a spinning record effortlessly blends into a frame of a galactic cloud. The colours carefully highlight the film’s tone, alternating between warm, pastel glows during cute, sentimental sequences and cold blues during moments of anxiety-induced isolation.

The animation itself is a blend of hand-drawn cartoons, together with three-dimensional computer imagery, creating an optically lush setting with real-world depth. Neon lights in combination with holograms bring the city to life. While comparing the rich background to the less dynamic character renditions can feel a little jarring, the animation is, nonetheless, adorable looking. The intimacy between the two leads feels genuine, giving viewers a purpose to root for.

The score chosen by the regisseur merges well with the narrative, using edgy, yet soft synth-pop soundtracks that give the whole picture a futuristic but not apocalyptic touch. Songs by several Korean artists that suited the style of the movie have been included, for emotional purposes.

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Verdict: I didn’t know what to expect from this original meet-cute adult animation, released by the streaming giant Netflix. The platform has consistently released titles that aren’t simply disappointing, but downright bad! As it turns out, this one is a welcome addition to the genre! The plot, set in a retro-futuristic Seoul, focuses on the blossoming relationship between the two leads while exploring their innermost desires and fears. Drama is not artificially overblown, as is the case in many depictions of this genre, but rather realistically displayed, with characters talking about their shortcomings, wishes, etc. That said, while the surrounding world does feel organic, not much thought was given to supportive personas. Jay's personal growth is also overshadowed by the space-faring Nan-young, a shame, as his troubles are intriguing. The animation is delightfully engaging, as is the choice of music. Lost in Starlight is a smaller, more personal story that is gorgeously developed, absolutely worth watching, deserving of a 9.0 out of 10.

Have you seen this Korean production yet? If not, give it a try! I promise you won't be disappointed. Thank you very much for reading!