The Upcoming Anime Film Lost in Starlight Reveals an Exploration of Space and Love

May 7

Netflix has released the teaser trailer and poster for Lost in Starlight, its inaugural South Korean original animated feature, set to premiere globally on May 30, 2025. Directed by Han Ji-won and produced by Climax Studio, the sci-fi romance promises a visually stunning and emotionally resonant tale of love stretched across the cosmos. And following the release of the first official trailer, the film has already sparked excitement for its lush animation and poignant storytelling.

A Visual Spectacle

Set in a retro-cyberpunk Seoul in 2050, Lost in Starlight follows Nan-young, an ambitious astronaut voiced by Kim Tae-ri, who dreams of uncovering the truth behind her mother’s disappearance during a Mars mission. Her life intertwines with Jay, a musician and vintage audio repair technician voiced by Hong Kyung, after a chance encounter at his shop where she seeks to fix her mother’s old record player.

Their budding romance faces the ultimate test when Nan-young embarks on a long-term mission to Mars, leaving Jay behind on Earth. The trailer highlights their tender connection, the anguish of separation, and the futuristic yet nostalgic aesthetic of Seoul, featuring landmarks like Sewoon Plaza and Jamsu Bridge bathed in dreamy pink skies.

Romance Infused with Space Exploration

The film’s narrative explores themes of long-distance relationships, loneliness, and the pursuit of dreams against the backdrop of space exploration. Netflix describes it as a story of “star-crossed lovers literally separated by the vast infinite space,” emphasizing the emotional weight of their journey.

The trailer’s stirring soundtrack and vivid visuals, from glowing nebulae to serene Earthbound moments, have drawn praise, complementing the film’s core genres and emotional range. Essentially, we’re looking at a well-rounded production that has the potential to appease two distinct genre spaces.

A Major Animation Event

With Netflix’s global platform, the film is poised for a simultaneous multi-country release, a rarity for Korean animated works. This debut aligns with South Korea’s broader push to elevate its animation industry, backed by a recent $1 billion government investment to transform it into a global powerhouse. The film’s voice cast, featuring Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung—known for their chemistry in the horror thriller Revenant—adds further star power, though some fans have debated the use of actors over professional voice artists.

The upcoming animated film Lost in Starlight is set to launch on Netflix on May 30, 2025.