So, as you might have noticed, there are a
lot of scenes in the Alien Nine anime that include airplanes in the background. They're really prominent in the shots they're in, too. Obviously, this means
something, but I really can't say what. Here are a few snapshots of this from the first episode:
(I think the first two pics are the same plane; the two shots take place one after the other)
(The last one is from the credits sequence)
As you can see, there are a good number of airplanes here, like I earlier mentioned. This is all from the first episode.
Okay, now I'm about to start merely speculating. The planes have significance, no doubt, but I can only guess what that is. So, that's what I'm going to do now.
An airplane looms over you; so does a borg...
So does... a net? (I
doubt this means anything, but hey!)
Also, regarding airplanes, there are scenes in the anime (in Yuri's dreams) when characters take flight and leave Yuri behind:
On the topic of altitude, there's the cherry blossom petals which fall at certain times (and perpetually all over in the dream sequences), so maybe that descending quality has some relation to other symbols in the show...
...probably not, but maybe. Chances are, I'm over analyzing some things here, but I kinda like thinking too much
Anyway, those airplanes mean something for sure, but the rest is my personal speculation. That being said, I really don't know what the airplanes
do mean. Oh well, I guess I need to get used to that, cause we probably never will know for sure what a lot of things in Alien Nine mean, which is just one more reason to love it. Not knowing may be annoying at times, but endearingly so. Oh yeah, sunsets are also focused on in the show. The sky itself is prominent in a lot of shots, but thats common in anime. Sunsets appear a lot though, and always in great detail. Two times, they are directly noted by the characters, first by Kasumi after jumping off the building in pursuit of an alien, and then by Miyu and everyone else at Kasumi's summer home. Keep in mind that the theme of the show seems to be about growing up (just watch the intro with subtitles
) A sunset could symbolize the end of another day, meaning that you're a day older...?
Feel more than welcome to share any thoughts you might have on this, or other interesting things you've noticed yourself! I'd love to talk about it!
EDIT: Im watching Alien Nine right now, and I just realized that at the part where Kumi and Yuri are taking shelter from the rain, and Kumi tells Yuri that everyone is worried about her and everyone cares about her, you can hear an airplane overhead (but not see it). And it's not the bus approaching, trust me- we do hear that shortly after though.