Netflix’s Lost in Starlight is a bittersweet tale blending romance with the grandeur of space. Korea’s first animated film on the platform follows Nan-young, a dedicated astronaut, and Jay, a musician-turned-mechanic, as they navigate the challenges of a relationship stretched across emotional and astronomical distances. With a Mars mission on the horizon and lingering personal pain anchoring them to Earth, the film explores whether love can survive the silence between the stars.
Production Highlights and Emotional Separation Shape the Journey of Nan-young and Jay
Directed and co-written by Han Ji-won, Lost in Starlight premiered on Netflix on 30 May 2025, after a teaser and poster generated excitement in April. Praised by Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho as a “visual masterpiece,” the film presents a futuristic Seoul in 2050 with breathtaking visuals. The voice cast includes Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung for the Korean version, while Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Justin H. Min bring the characters to life in the English dub.
Lost in Starlight (Netflix Animation Studios)Before Nan-young’s Mars expedition, she and Jay part ways, driven not by loss of love but fear. Jay struggles with the idea of her following in her late mother’s footsteps, a pioneering Korean astronaut who died on Mars. Unable to reconcile his fear, Jay asks Nan-young to abandon her mission, prompting her to end the relationship temporarily before departing for the United States.
Nan-young Faces Peril on Mars Before Miraculous Rescue and Emotional Reunion
Nan-young’s expedition on Mars takes a perilous turn when she discovers traces of potential life in an underground lava cave. A sudden storm severs communication, leaving her trapped and unconscious. Her disappearance sends shockwaves back on Earth, intensifying the emotional stakes and highlighting the dangers of space exploration.
Miraculously rescued, Nan-young reconnects with Jay through heartfelt messages while still on Mars. Her safe return to Earth coincides with a groundbreaking discovery: a garden of Amur Adonis flowers thriving underground, possibly planted by her late mother. In the film’s final moments, Nan-young and Jay reunite in Seoul, sharing a quiet, emotional embrace that reflects both the endurance of love and the wonder of human exploration.
