After the Interstellar Alliance established peace among most of the planets in the universe, they created the Cosmo Academy. The academy is renowned as the most elite school in existence, with its graduates guaranteed virtually any job they desire. However, one can only become a student if they pass the entrance examinations held every three years, making the competition for admission extremely fierce.
Lane Tadatos is a Terran who has managed to reach the final stage of examinations. Placed in a group of 10, he is sent to the Esperanza—a ship stranded in orbit. Their final test is to survive 53 days on the ship, without any means of communication with the outside other than an emergency forfeit button. But a serious problem emerges for the examinees when they perform a headcount. There are 11 people aboard the Esperanza, meaning that one of them is an impostor.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
Mr_Panda
~Mr. Panda's VCR of Doom: #3~ They Were 11 takes place in the far future where the united races of space have constructed an academy that trains the future leaders of the galaxy. Only the creme de la creme even stand a chance at passing the entrance exam. Those that do must face a final test before admission, and that's where this particular work takes us. Ten applicants must survive on a decrepit spaceship for a giving amount of time. Upon arriving, they find their are eleven rather than the prescribed ten. The concept for this story--as near as I can tell--is oneof the most original I have found coming out of the Sci-Fi-mad 80s (note I speak here of anime originality, as certainly 11--like so many other 80s Sci-Fi works--takes the Lost in Space que as its foundation). And within the story there are enough plot twists to keep anyone from being bored. I have to say, at least one of them seemed just a little too convenient for the story to progress, but it added an interesting dynamic and allowed for a satisfactory conflict. Short of this, I can only say this is one of the best stories I've ever had the privilege to watch in a Sci-Fi anime.
The music and sound effects aren't anything particularly special. I have had a separate opportunity to watch the English dub of 11 (only the sub was released on VHS), and so I'm including it in my review since the DVD is the likely copy you will find. The dub is fair. Fewer awkward moments and statements than many other dubs of 80s anime I have seen. However, I have to fall-back on saying I prefer the Japanese version. This is mostly my own feeling that one or two character's voices aren't fitting (though all the others are a nice match). Also, the American-equivalency of an Osakan accent was, frankly, overdone here. I therefore recommend sticking to the Japanese version.
The artwork for 11 is nice. It's not as pretty or shiny as some other works, but it gets the job done. The character design suits the portrayal of each character. And while the players in this flick do seem to be inspired by stock character types, there's enough interesting back story to give the important characters presence.
My enjoyment of 11 ranks right up there with Space Adventure Cobra and LOGH. I might watch the movie about twice a year on my own, but take any given opportunity to introduce it to an unfamiliar audience. 11 has several qualities that seem to have inspired later anime (such as Infinite Ryvius), so if you're a more recent fan of the Sci-Fi genre, They Were 11 is an absolute NECESSITY to watch. You may call it Lost in Space, but by this point I think we're beyond forcing connections between anime and early live action movies/shows. 11 stands up for itself without having to be supported by inspiration from 60s television. It's a movie you don't want to pass-up.
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Echoes
They Were 11, an overlooked classic. In the distant future, warp technology has allowed humanity to explore the vast expanses of space, meeting strange races and populating other planets far away from our humble earth. They Were 11 follows Tada, a man who aspires to join the prestigious Cosmo Academy. As part of the final entrance test, all of the remaining applicants are split into groups of ten and put into actual starships to work together and survive for 53 days without outside assistance. However, as soon as Tada and his group are safely aboard the starship, they notice something is amiss. There are 11 people aboard.Who's the odd man out? How did he get there, and what is he after? This is the premise of They Were 11, and I have to admit, that alone compelled me to watch this movie.
For fear of spoilers, I shan't venture too deep into the actual plot, which is definitely the main attraction. Seeing the group, riddled with suspicion and paranoia, make their way through day after day, all while facing different challenges and hardships will keep you on your toes. I wanted to find out who the 11th man was just as much as they did, and that's a sign of solid storytelling. Naturally, there are twists and revelations along the way, as well as a conclusive ending. (Which I suspect could be controversial, but I was more than satisfied.)
Let's talk a little bit about the characters. They're great. A varied bunch of personalities, some of them with alien appearances, customs and physiologies. Some get more time to shine than others do, but with eleven characters and only an hour and a half to work with, that's perfectly understandable. What we do learn about the characters in terms of background helps to not only flesh them out, but also flesh out the setting, as each character's tale lets us learn something about his homeworld, and its struggles and conditions.
Again, I find myself limited as to what I can discuss for fear of spoiling anything. I'll just say this; the movie has a lot of heart. There's a sweet charm to much of the character interaction, and a few humorous moments you wouldn't expect a movie like this to have to be found throughout. I appreciated them a lot; they provided both the characters and the viewers with a little break from the suspense.
While some viewers might be put off by the art-style, I find it delightful. It holds up well, and just looks damn good period. There's a lot of personality in every character design, and the setting is brought to life with nice backgrounds and subdued colors. The animation doesn't hold up quite as well, but it was never to the extent that my enjoyment was hampered at all.
Overall, "They Were 11" tells a unique, suspenseful and well crafted tale of survival and cooperation in dire and uncertain circumstances. It has heart, charm, an interesting setting, and will keep you guessing and smiling. It gets a strong recommendation from me; they rarely make'em like this, either now or back then!
infxone
- Not a Thriller, More of a Shoujo Oneshot - They Were Eleven is a movie with an incredibly interesting premise. Genius candidates from across the galaxy are taking the most important exam of their lives to get into the elite Cosmo Academy. Ten of these candidates are grouped to take the final portion of the exam: survive living on a space station for 45 days. However, once aboard, the candidates realize there are not ten, but eleven members on the ship. With dangerous situations abound including hidden bombs and dangerous viruses, these crew members must work together to surviveand find the culprit.
That sounds absolutely fantastic in summary. Unfortunately, in practice, They Were Eleven is not really about any of that. It is not a traditional thriller nor mystery but more of an exploration of the characters' personalities and motivations to get into Cosmo Academy. The fact that the story originally ran under a shoujo magazine should give you some indication of what to expect in terms of content.
The specific reasons as to why this movie fails as a thriller or mystery title primarily lies in the antagonist. From the title, the movie postulates that our story revolves around an unknown eleventh member on the space station who lurks beneath the surface ready to cause harm...except throughout the movie, it doesn't feel like this person is particularly dangerous.
You'll find that all of the major problems on the space station are caused by outside events, and the mysterious eleventh person comes to play only twice in the movie by hindering the crew from implementing their solutions to these challenges. All of this comes out to make the antagonist a passive figure. In my head, I kept thinking throughout the movie, so what if there's an eleventh member on board, just keep on doing what you're doing, because it's abundantly clear that this eleventh member really isn't actively trying to hurt any of you.
While this eleventh member is eventually revealed with a complete explanation of the backstory, it is here that the story fails as a mystery as well. No real clues are present throughout the story to help you figure out who it is so when the reveal comes it comes as a little bit of a let down. Red herrings are thrown around to make you suspect characters, but that's all they come out to be, red herrings. In addition, deus ex machina is involved in the solution as the reason to why the suspect was able to hide himself and cause problems on the ship is because he is a "telepath" and doesn't need to actually be at the site where accidents and where the people get hurt are.
What is made even more annoying is how the movie throws in your face how dangerous this eleventh person is to the crew. There are constant accusations, arguing, and conflict among the candidates. This part is fun to watch but again let down by the weak resolution.
What the movie excels in is creating strong impressions of the candidates within the time limitations of the film. In particular, the character Frol who has issues with her sex identity warrants a nod. This comes as no shock as the this is supposed to be a shoujo title, and I'm inclined to think that this movie is meant for people who enjoy light romance, strong-willed girls, and a generally more enigmatic rather than scary sci-fi atmosphere.
In the end, I would not recommend watching this movie if you already have a backlog of things to watch. Outside of the strong character work, the story just isn't all that interesting. That being said, I will admit that I had some fun at moments and agree that it's a watchable title if you're in the mood. The animation still holds up relatively well today, and the fact that the story tries something different from the mass-produced magical high school love romcom titles currently airing means that it deserves a moment of consideration before you move on to another anime to evaluate for your viewing pleasure.
Sidewinder51
Rate a 9 English Dubbed genres:action, mystery, thriller,science fiction Slight intro to this movie without spoilers Often we see/hear events/people but having a second thought is not really done. Although, when one is put into a important situation does one start to really care. Sadly, that tends to be a little too late. Luckily they have a life line to use but that is it exactly a 'life' line. And they only have 'one'. Story -Was a bit confusing at first but it made sense. It was an okay confusion because when it comes to science fiction anything most often something is made up and once your mind welcomes that ideaor concept the rest starts to sink in.
-Introduction was narrative
-conclusion was nice for it was almost memorable. Kind of like the way the breakfast club movie ended. You get each characters follow through without really stepping in their shoes and seeing from their eyes.
Art
-no complaints
-I think changing the art would ruin the show.
Sound
-no issues
Enjoyment
I found this movie entertaining. From the plot being hard to predict. Strong character management, not just by being independent from each other but interaction wise as well. Original concept or rarely seen in terms of messing with your mind. Face it, when we are told a story it plays out one way. Introduction, followed by plot and ending result. In other words, we don't need to think just watch. Here, thinking is a must. Not only that but depending on the situation you must think fast. Hitting the pause button for this would only ruin the thrill.
Skarmory
This is an extremely obscure anime movie. The only way I even heard about it was because the GeekNights podcast was saying how great it was. Finding this thing is incredibly difficult. I ended up having to get it via a Netflix rental. I'm not really a fan of old-school anime, but I gave this a shot. And it was good. It's an incredibly interesting concept. And the pacing is well done. And there's lots of action. There's really interesting situations that the characters go through. And it's suspenseful... I guess. And well... yeah. There's not much I can say without spoiling it.
Bizancio
Excuse me, I don't usually write in English. If you want you can read my review in Spanish. Although Moto Hagio is one of the most important authors of the Group of 24, along with others such as Ryoko Ikeda or Keiko Takemiya, due to her contributions to the shōjo manga, her extensive work has not found a niche in the extensive anime production. The only exception, of course, is the work that we are going to review at this time. A film that, although it does not adapt all the material of the manga, is an interesting piece within the mediocre set of medium-length andfeature films of the 80s. It had no great luck with the studio because the animation is provided by Magic Bus. However, it is a film whose approach is attractive as it reminds us of a novel by Agatha Cristie with the particularity that the action takes place in space.
They were eleven (1986) is a film starring Tadatos and 10 other aspirants who want to enter the Galactic Academy, a training institution reserved for the elite. However, to pass the final test the examiners place on them, they will have to combine their survival skills and collaboration as they try to figure out who the phony among them is. In connection with this, the mysterious link between the protagonist and the spaceship where the test takes place will also be revealed. Is it really the stowaway of the ship?
As I have already said, the approach of the film may remind us of a mystery novel where there is a group of individuals locked up with a murderer. The spatial theme, on the other hand, leads us to think of feature films like Alien (1979). None really fits perfectly with what unfolds during its almost ninety minutes of footage. The "unexpected guest" factor leads to the existence of an impostor who seeks to assassinate the rest of the crew while he conceals his identity from him. But here what the "murderer" seeks is to discover if the applicants to enter the Academy have the necessary skills. For me, this particularity gives it extra points, since at least in the anime of the time there is no film or series with a similar idea.
When facing a test designed by an academic institution, it is to be assumed that the level of danger to which the characters are subjected cannot be very high. Otherwise, the candidates could die and it would not suit them. Without a doubt, the emergency button that is presented from the beginning helps to generate this idea in the viewer. If something goes wrong, everyone can press it and survive, even if that means suspending the whole group. However, the author did not fall into this error because in the course of the fifty-three days of living together a series of eventualities and setbacks not programmed by the Academy occur and that, therefore, put their lives at risk. The drift of the ship's trajectory, the red spot virus, or the possibility of the ship exploding all serve to add enough tension to the story. In this sense, the survival aspect seems to me more than correct.
Too bad my opinion is not so favorable regarding the mystery. At first, the author succeeds in trying to confuse us using the protagonist's memory loss. The fact that he knows the ship necessarily leads us to think that he was there previously and that the past events that explain the abandonment of the transport are related to it. Thanks to this distraction maneuver, the viewer distrusts the protagonist more than the rest. The problem with the mystery lies, however, in the scarcity of clues that lead us to discover the identity of the impostor. Virtually nothing that happens, except for the initial ruse of the stowaway, serves to get to him. If he had offered any clues as to who the telepath was, they would have helped us, but they didn't. Observing the immaturity of some characters, on the other hand, helped to rule out several for sure. But the impostor was among the secondary ones who hardly participated and were precisely not few. A mystery should give guarantees to be solved because otherwise it is of little use.
From my point of view, the film did not choose the best approach by placing a greater emphasis on mystery. The real key point of the film is in its message: the need that all passengers have to cooperate in order to survive, despite mistrust and the deep differences that distance them. A mission that is not easy at all because it requires learning to trust others and accept each other's differences. The play does a competent job of introducing us to the peculiarities of each of these characters because it spends part of its time allowing them to talk about their aspirations, their home of origin, the traits of their species, etc. It is as if in the same place people of different social classes, ethnicities and races were mixed, with all that that entails. Although this diversity is not so much the engine of the conflict as it is the fact that they are facing strangers, among whom one is an impostor who can be blamed for the problems they are going through. In any case, this fact greatly enhances the message of acceptance, union and cooperation. At the end of the film, the change of mentality in the crew crystallizes in an appropriate way, after an intense interaction and joint problem solving.
Before putting a full stop to the review I would like to mention a problem related to the group of characters. Although it was clear that the eleven could not count on the same attention, it is clear that about half are left over to tell the exact same story. Of the eleven passengers, less than half stood out enough for us to be aware of them. The participation of the rest was much less active and their characterization was very poor, almost inferring their characteristics from their appearance. A bug that could have been fixed by narrowing the group slightly and paying attention to them in a more balanced way. Being positive at least they contributed from a thematic point of view by showing that they are a very plural crew. Speaking of diversity, it manifested itself in matters of sex and gender roles with the hermaphroditism of Frol and Vidmenir or the position of men and women on the planet of Frol's comic relief.
You can read my review here: https://elarmarioanimados.blogspot.com/2020/07/resena-quien-es-el-11-pasajero.html
Yemi_Hikari
One of the problems a series may find itself being bogged down with is having that unique thing which draws people in, and regarding this movie, it has that unique thing. The problem is, I struggled a bit with believing what made this one unique – the premise. In truth, this may be why I’ve yet to see another movie with this premise since this 1980s film. There are only so many ways one can go with said premise, but one is also dealing with some very bizarre extremes. And while the piece tries to be ahead of its time with characters like Frol, who atfirst seems to represent females starting to take on the roles ascribed to men, it’s really not. The reason doesn’t lie with the fact thirty years later we are unable to conceptualize a time of space exploration where women would not be allowed, when so many jobs once thought barred are now open, but the 80s was a much different time.
No, Frol’s character falls flat because of Frol looking down on men to the point of wanting to be male, only to have said character forgo gender choice for the sake of romance because there was no way her love interest would be okay with her being a guy. Yes, there is again the issue of the time period, but Frol’s character constantly knocks down on females instead of building them up as such a character should.
Some of the decisions made by characters didn’t make sense, yet I must admit during this time frame they did for the genre, but were common tropes of the time period. The characters also weren’t very relatable, falling flat and having no real dimensions to them, possibly meaning the movie should have been a series. This said, I’ve got to admit I wouldn’t mind seeing this particular movie get a modern remake with what we know now, but with a more modern understanding on how to construct a story which works.
In other words, the bones and meat of a good story are there, although a bit misshapen at times. And despite the lack of memorable traits for the characters, the film still finds a way of standing out, so why not take it to the next level.
noGiAnime
OVERALL: 7.4 (Good) I honestly can't believe I hadn't heard of this before! "They Were Eleven" (1986) is an adaptation of the 1975 manga "11-nin Iru" by Moto Hagio. Among the founders of modern shoujo, she is heavily influenced by the works of science fiction authors Issac Asimov (Foundation, I, Robot) and Arthur C. Clark (The Sentinel, 2001: A Space Odyssey) and even adapted short stories from "R is for Rocket" by Ray Bradbury (Farenheit 451) into manga. "11-nin Iru" would actually go on to win the Shogakukan Manga Award for best Shounen. Originally adapted in 1977 to live action, the anime came nearly adecade later. Producer Kitty Films released the movie in 1986 and it was licensed for North American VHS distribution with subtitles in the early 90s. It was later re-released with an English dub in 1996. The main characters are well developed and the rest of the cast is smartly defined, despite art that is clearly a product of the time. A story that touches on themes of politics, paranoia, and even gender topics that would have been fairly controversial at the time, "They Were Eleven" is an old hidden gem that I was really glad to have come across!
STORY:9 (Great)
Art: 5 (Average)
SOUND: 7 (Good)
CHARACTER: 7 (Good)
ENJOYMENT: 9 (Great)
CaptainKenshiro
Juuichinin Iru gained some fame along the years for being one of a kind movie, at least when it comes to anime. It has an amazing setting and premise consisting of ten people from different galaxies, planets, and races taking a final exam on a spaceship in order to graduate from a space academy and the situation goes out of control when they realize that there are actually eleven people so they will have to find out who is the infiltrator. The biggest issue with this movie is its short duration, is only one hour and a half long so there’s no time to exploreits vast setting and so many characters properly. Some of them have a bit of their backgrounds and motivations revealed but the viewer will only get the names out of the majority of them. Only a few get some development and since the movie is too short, it feels more like they were rewritten instead of having a natural and progressive change. Their personalities and interactions, though, are strong; everyone is completely different in behavior and they need to work together and use their different knowledge and skills in order to surpass difficult situations such as having to deactivate bombs planted on the spaceship or fix said spaceship’s computers and it never feels like someone is useless, they are all capable people about to graduate after all.
The production values are good for the time the movie came out, the character designs are very simple and, few aside, they all have a generic look from a shoujo manga (this movie is an adaptation of one after all). The motions are weird, it can be excused in the beginning since they were in space but for the rest of the movie, it just feels like the characters’ movements are really slow, to the most part at least. There are noticeable quality drops and the special effects are poor as well. When it comes to body language though, the film does a good job, especially in its comical situations, but the best part of this department are definitely the backgrounds, the space academy, the space station, the spaceship, its different levels, the computers, etc.; as expected from a 80’s anime movie, everything that has to do with mechanical designs looks great.
As for the sound department, it is ok, nothing really special when it comes to voice acting or music, and the sound effects are rather weak.
On the second half is when the film starts to feel rushed; all of a sudden the characters’ motivations change for something completely different with extreme ease and the mystery is resolved in the laziest way possible, with asspulls and no foreshadowing of who was the eleventh at all, even the presentation of the outcomes of the characters is lazy, still images with short descriptions under them, as if it was a videogame from that time. Hell, it even has a completely pointless and out of place food war in the middle.
It’s not a bad movie, it’s actually watchable and enjoyable and definitely better than that bullshit closed door mystery that was Rokka no Yuusha, but it is not even a shadow of what could have been if it was a series and could explore its characters and setting properly.
