Crest of the Stars, a science fiction novel by Hiroyuki Morioka, was first published in Japan, marking the beginning of the franchise.
The anime adaptation of Crest of the Stars aired on Japanese television, helping to popularize the franchise beyond the original novel readers.
The sequel anime, Banner of the Stars, aired following the original Crest of the Stars series, expanding on the story and universe.
Hiroyuki Morioka published the Banner of the Stars novels, continuing the story started in Crest of the Stars.