Okay, so I binged Lost in Starlight on Netflix last night, and I’m still kinda reeling. This is Korea’s first animated feature on the platform, dropped May 30, 2025, and it’s a sci-fi romance that’s got all the feels of a classic K-drama with animation that’ll blow your mind. Directed by Han Ji-won and co-written with Kang Hyun-joo, it follows an astronaut and a musician falling hard for each other while dealing with Mars missions and personal demons. Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung voice the leads, and the 96-minute runtime is packed with stunning visuals and heart-tugging moments. I’m a sucker for K-dramas and animated romances, so I was all in—but while I loved so much about it, it’s got some flaws that kept me from totally losing it. Here’s the scoop.
Animation That’s Pure Magic and a Romance That Hits Deep
First off, the animation is straight-up gorgeous. Like, I was glued to my screen. The story’s set in Seoul, 2050, and it’s this vibrant, neon-lit city that feels alive—think buzzing markets with holographic ads, drones flying past ivy-covered buildings, and little details like a futuristic dresser that folds out so smoothly I want one IRL. It’s got this warm, almost cozy vibe mixed with sci-fi coolness, like Your Name meets Blade Runner but with a Korean soul. Then you get to the Mars scenes, and it’s next-level: red deserts swirling under starry skies, craters that feel endless, and a soft glow that makes space feel both lonely and magical. The mix of crisp 2D characters and lush 3D backgrounds is so smooth, it’s up there with Studio Ghibli or Makoto Shinkai’s best.
The animation doesn’t just look pretty—it tells the story. Like, when Nan-young’s staring at Mars through her helmet, the reflection of stars on her face shows her longing so perfectly. Or when Jay’s strumming his guitar under Seoul’s neon lights, the colors shift to match his mood. Even the action scenes, like a wild marsquake with floating debris, are so fluid and intense. Small moments—like rain hitting a Seoul street or Jay fixing a vintage record player—are drawn with so much love, I wanted to pause every frame. It’s the kind of animation that makes you forget you’re watching a cartoon.
The story’s about Nan-young (Kim Tae-ri), an astronaut chasing her mom’s dream after she died on a Mars mission 25 years ago. She flunks a big NASA test and heads back to Seoul, where she meets Jay (Hong Kyung), a musician who gave up on his dreams and now fixes old audio gear. Their meet-cute—Jay walking through a hologram about Nan-young’s mom—is so K-drama, and their romance kicks off over a broken record player. Kim Tae-ri’s voice is all fire and heart, making Nan-young feel fierce but vulnerable, while Hong Kyung’s soft, broken tone had me feeling for Jay. Their chemistry is chef’s kiss—like, I believed they’d die for each other.
What got me was how real their relationship feels. No dumb K-drama clichés like silly fights—they talk through their baggage, like Nan-young’s obsession with Mars or Jay’s fear of performing again. A scene where she pushes him to face his stage fright, with the animation showing his shaky hands in soft light, had me tearing up. The soundtrack’s full of indie-pop bangers and emotional ballads (some written by the leads!), and it amps up every scene. The last 20 minutes, flipping between Nan-young’s Mars chaos and Jay’s big concert, is such a rush—visually stunning and so emotional, even if it feels a bit all over the place.
Too Much Story, Not Enough Time
Here’s where I got annoyed. The movie tries to cram in so much—Nan-young’s grief, Jay’s music struggles, a sci-fi Mars plot, and their romance—all in under 100 minutes. It’s a lot, and it feels rushed. Nan-young’s drive to honor her mom is super compelling, but we don’t get enough of why she loves space—it’s more about duty than passion. Jay’s backstory is even thinner; we know he quit his band over some drama, but that’s it. I wanted more of his heart to match hers. One review I read said Jay’s music plot feels “kinda silly” next to Nan-young’s life-or-death mission, and I felt that.
The pacing’s wonky, too. The first half takes its time, letting the romance and animation shine, which I was into. But the ending goes from zero to 100, jumping between a crazy Mars crisis and Jay’s concert, and it’s like, whoa, slow down. The visuals stay amazing—glowing Martian rocks, pulsing stage lights—but the story’s chaotic. There’s this cool droid Nan-young builds to find life on Mars, but it’s barely explained, and the big themes about love and trauma feel half-baked. Also, the English subtitles were off sometimes—watching in Korean, I noticed lines that didn’t match, which was super distracting.
Why It Got Me
I’m a dreamer who’s always second-guessing myself, so Nan-young and Jay’s struggles hit me hard. Her need to carry on her mom’s legacy while figuring out who she is? Relatable. Jay’s fear of putting himself out there again? Been there. The animation made it even more intense—like Nan-young’s face reflected in her helmet or Jay’s silhouette against Seoul’s skyline. Those visuals pulled me into their hearts. The Korean vibes—Seoul’s markets, the quiet family moments—felt so real and grounded, perfect for K-drama fans like me.
The representation’s awesome, too. Nan-young’s a badass female lead, and Kim Tae-ri makes her tough but human. Their grown-up relationship, with real talks and a bit of physical spark, feels fresh for an animated K-drama. The animation elevates everything, using light and color to show their growth—like Seoul’s neon warming up as their love deepens.
Final Thoughts: A Beautiful, Flawed Ride
Lost in Starlight is a stunner—animation that’ll leave you speechless and a romance that’ll break your heart. The visuals are pure magic, blending 2D and 3D into a world you want to live in, and Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung make Nan-young and Jay’s love feel so real. The soundtrack’s a bop, and the K-drama vibes are on point. But the story’s too packed, the pacing’s off, and some big ideas don’t get the depth they deserve. It’s like a shooting star—gorgeous, but it fades a bit fast.
If you’re into K-dramas, animation, or just want a love story with cosmic stakes, you gotta watch this. It’s on Netflix now, and I’m giving it 3.5 out of 4 stars for its heart, style, and jaw-dropping visuals, even if it doesn’t totally nail the landing. Curl up, maybe grab some tissues, and get lost in it.