Film Name: 昆塔：反转星球 / Axel：Adventures of the spacekids / The Floating Planet
Compared to the first installment, which offered only a partial and simplistic portrayal of the resistance and self-rescue struggle on Kepler’s planet, this sequel is undeniably more grand in scale and profound in depth.
While still a clash between an agrarian civilization and a mechanical one, it incorporates the backdrop of colonization and subjugation, along with motivations of vengeance and protection. The mechanical civilization ascends into sci-fi capable of reversing a planet, while the agrarian civilization gains the faith-driven power of natural totems. The deceptive regime crumbles with the castle’s collapse, highlighting the true greatness of Qi Dada—a leader whose courage and sincerity genuinely inspire hearts. The greed and imposed misfortune lurking behind the seemingly reasonable demand to “go home” imbue Dr. Vance with a tragic quality beyond mere detestability.
From the realism of “survival above all else” to the idealism of “what meaning remains if courage is lost,” the Seven Great Ones undergo a profound shift in worldview. This transformation guides Spinach, Gaga, and Milk Bubble to rise again in the darkest hour of crisis and despair. Of course, compared to the protagonists destined for heroism, the desperate struggle of the deceitful ruler Louis 88 and his soldiers is even more moving. The unity and resilience people display when their homeland faces destruction is precisely why a nation deserves to exist. Hasn’t the Chinese nation faced such perilous moments? Would you desert, become a traitor, or pick up a gun—even if your strength is meager—and fight with all your might? Each person might choose differently. But the ordinary characters in this film undoubtedly chose a magnificent path. The pity is that those “cowardly” players in the soccer match didn’t join this grand “Planetary Defense War.”
The film’s most brilliant stroke lies in its opening: it paints a sweeping, majestic panorama of Karalo—the plant hailed as the source of life on Kepler’s planet—accompanied by songs sung in minority languages, brimming with reverence and faith. This elevates the audience’s spirit to its peak, filling hearts with hope. Yet immediately afterward, the narrative takes a jarring turn. Humanity’s colossal machinery crushes this newly born hope into dust, plunging the audience’s spirits into the deepest despair. This masterful manipulation of emotions—plunging viewers from the highest heights to the lowest depths—achieves a stark contrast rarely seen in previous domestic animations.
It is precisely this stark contrast that leaves audiences eagerly anticipating a return to uplifting, hopeful plotlines. Consequently, when Kararo begins to grow again, they accept it without question. In truth, the most fundamental question here is: What exactly does Karalo signify? The Karalo seed that Quanta sacrificed himself to protect took years of cultivation to form a Karalo forest. Yet after Vance’s machine drained its energy completely, leaving no seeds behind, how could Karalo possibly grow again? If Karalo can regenerate spontaneously, what purpose did Quanta’s protection serve in the first place?
Karalor symbolizes the lifeblood of Kepler. Kepler’s beauty and abundance stem from Karalor; its vitality flows from Karalor. Thus, Karalor embodies the very essence of Kepler’s life. Thus, when the last mother tree of Karalor was drained dry, Kepler should have undergone catastrophic upheaval. After all wars ended, Karalor could not have sprouted spontaneously. The film must explain the origin of its new seed. Either by chance, a seed was preserved by the furry creatures or the spinach people, or all Keplers channeled their psychic power to form a new Karalor seed. Whether through a mundane stroke of luck or a metaphysical act of will, we need a plausible reason for Karalo’s revival. This reason carries the fate of Kepler—whether it survives through divine protection or through the planet’s own self-rescue.
I strongly oppose the trope of preschoolers saving the world. Why not let children live happier lives instead of burdening them with world-saving missions? When Spinach charges toward the giant device that reverses the planet’s rotation while clutching the energy source, when Milk Bubble’s tiny car gets smashed by a robot’s iron claw—what do you truly feel? Courage or pity? This is no different than sending a six-year-old with explosives to blow up a bunker like Dong Cunrui, or to block a gunport like Huang Jiguang. Do you find that imagery aesthetically pleasing? Thus, the film’s cruelest aspect isn’t exposing human greed and selfishness, but forcing a group of children to bear burdens they shouldn’t have to carry, to fulfill responsibilities they shouldn’t have to shoulder.
When Spinach and Vance sit quietly on the rocks, gazing at the vast azure sea before them, all the clamor fades into stillness. This scene is profoundly moving. Compared to the ocean and nature, humanity is truly insignificant. Simultaneously, human greed is ultimately dissolved by the ocean’s boundless tolerance. Facing Vance—the one who brought such catastrophe to Kepler 433b, the one who deceived her—Spinach chooses acceptance and release. Compared to similar films that insist on ending with spiritual defeat and physical annihilation, this conclusion invites far deeper reflection. When the film reveals through an end-credits scene that Spinach devised multiple plans to help Vance return to Earth, audiences experience a sense of beauty that transcends mere triumph of justice over evil. I deeply appreciate this conclusion.
Regardless, the reversal on Kepler’s planet ultimately stems from the awakening of its citizens, transforming the planet’s fate. Not everyone possesses the power to reverse a planet’s course, but perhaps each of us holds the strength to turn our own destiny around. So, let’s find the courage to embrace more possibilities in our lives.
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