I absolutely had to leave a review when I saw basically no one talking about this show apart from a single site giving basic coverage when this was re-released by Nozomi Entertainment in 2014. I want to spoil nothing if possible, while also explaining what works so, so well about this, the way that the show feels holistic, being kid friendly while also having the depth and nuance of great family cartoons (like Owl House, Adventure Time etc). The best way I can think of to sell you on this show, is to say that this is the type of anime you can watch withyour mom, or your legal guardian, and it will make them proud of you... <3
Space Pirate Mito is a Triangle Staff production, the studio known for Serial Experiments Lain, Kino's Journey, and (to a smaller degree) Magic User's Club, the classic OVA by Junichi Sato and Ikuko Itoh. Triangle Staff were simply one of THE best and most experimental studios of their time, making short films and TV shows that really felt cinematic, with clear creative freedom given to their animators and episode directors. Space Pirate Mito is no exception, the show is absolutely gorgeous and full of great serious and comedic action scenes in equal measure.
The best way to describe this show is a found family of whacky people from space, realizing how the bonds of family can be the most badass thing in the universe and stop space dictators. In other words, image Tenchi Muyo, and the beautiful and whacky found family of space aliens, except without any harem elements (I am not against harem, I am just saying that this show has zero of that). Mito is such a wholesome mom character, the vibes of familial love and faith in your children is so warm and encompassing in this work. All of the found family who make up Mito's crew are wholesome, a special standout goes to Shin, a shapeshifter who really completes out this main cast (though honestly I love everyone in the cast, they all are wholesome.
There is a scene in the dub where Shin comes in at the perfect last moment to protect the family and Mito (voiced wonderfully by Lisa Ortiz in the dub), goes "You're the best, Shin", and I was thinking in my head, yes, they are the best, Shin really is awesome (also, if you enjoy non binary shapeshifter type rep with a character who can be a cool alien creature one minute, and a gorgeous lady the next, you will definitely enjoy Shin's character. In fact there is even more gender exploration stuff in the later half of this show and in season 2, because Mito's species have a unique perspective on gender. That is all I will say without spoiling this show or the second season). The English dub performance for them is also a standout. Shin had two voice actors because unfortunately the first English dub voice actor for the character passed away mid production. There is only a listing on MyAnimeList for the second voice for Shin, Rosie Reyes, but the original voice the one who passed away, Stephanie B Goldman, is not listed on here for some reason but I don't know how to use MAL and fix that.
Oh by the way another fun fact, but this is the first ever example of a dub directed by the English voice of Goku, Sean Schemmel. I just find it funny that a whacky found family space show was directed by Goku's dub voice (and Lucario!~)
This review is without a doubt a total mess, but this show is so personal to me, I don't know how to even describe it. A show like this is so wholesome with its themes, so broadly appealing and like I said just, holistic. Even the visuals feel like a timeless cartoon, the faces gave me vibes of Batman The Animated Series, and also it reminded me of Teenage Robot, even though Space Pirate Mito came out before that.(especially in terms of having a wide variety of aliens, some of them being based on non human creatures).