Ginga Tetsudou 999

At first glance, any series of 100+ episodes requires a real commitment on the viewers behalf, in many ways its a big gamble (with their time). If the series sucks then you feel like you just wasted an enormous amount of time on nothing, when its a success you walk away with a great sense of enjoyment and that it was time well spent. Galaxy Express 999 (pronounced the 3-9 in the series) delivers in every category. Galaxy Express 999 is one of the chief anime that created the foundation for the space opera genre in anime, the vast majority of new series since have their foundation stem from this (among the others such as Harlock, Yamamoto, etc.) series. What most newer viewers might think about new and recent anime as being riveting and ground breaking, is usually a remake of an older series; back when everything was still done by hand, and without all the eye candy available today. Creators had to rely on their stories and the characters to make a successful anime. Matsumoto does that in GE 999 without having the recycle plotlines in any of the 113 episodes and tie all of them together into a deep insight into the human condition and reminds us of many things we take for granted. Story: GE 999 is set far into the future (around the year 3000) where people can achieve immortality through the use of mechanical bodies. A person's mind is put into a purely mechanical cyborg body giving them an infinite lifespan. The story starts out with one of the main character's Tetsuro being chased by cyborg hunters. One of them shoot and kills his mom, where its her dying wish for Tetsuro to become strong and live a long immortal life in a mechanical body. Tetsuro meets up with Maeel who helps him board the legendary galaaxy express 999; where one can travel to a planet where mechanical bodies are given away free. Through the use of space trains (mass transit with a touch of romantic old style) Tetsuro and Maetel travel to dozens of different worlds; each unique in its own way. Art: For a show that's over 30 years old, the animation and artwork quality are very good. Matsumoto has his own unique style for character designs (much like Miyazaki). Throughout the series he often borrow other characters from his other anime's either as the character themself (like captain Harlock) or uses character design very similar to his other characters from other series. Sound: Creating realistic sounds to match all the different environments and planets that they (Tetsuro and Maetel) visit throughout the series is done very well. While its nothing spectacular on its own, the soundtrack never sounds out of through the course of all the stops the 999 makes. Characters: The meat of the series is built up largely in the characters, each character has their own agenda/purpose in the grand scheme of things. There's really 3 main characters, though the series is focused around Tetsuro and his journey. You have Tetsuro, a homeless, poor and very confused character at the start. Maetel is his traveling partner that acts as a guide/escort/protector during his journey through space. Then you have the conductor, at times he can play a key role in the story; though somewhat comedy relief as he's more like a ghost with clothes on. The development of the characters is a large part of the series. Tetsuro being new to space travel and cruel world that lies ahead relies on Maetel for guidance. When he first boards the 999 he is a really weak person with no skills or experience. Much of the series is about him learning how things really work out there, and becoming a real man. It could be said that its a coming of age story, but there is much more to it than just watching Tetsuuro mature. Along the way he see many different types of people, and what it means to have a mechanical body. Enjoyment: At the beginning Tetsuro is a naive, annoying pest that never does what he's told despite what dangers he might face. In the beginning of the series it can be tough to watch him make stupid mistakes to the point you want to reach into the screen and strangle him for making such stupid judgment errors. As he travels to more and more planets he really learns what it takes to survive out in the harsh reality of space; many of these lessons are done the hard way with him doing exactly what he's told not to do, usually requiring Maetel to come save him. Some characters/character designs might show up several times throughout the series, but each episode is truly a new adventure - Matsumoto never recycles a storyline. You never feel that you're watching recycled scripts/plots like other long series like Inu Yasha, Ranma or Urusei Yatsura are guilty of doing. There is also a big element of mystery throughout the whole series in the character of Maetel. From her detailed knowledge we know she's traveled the same route on the 999 several times before. While she is always looking afterTetsuro, at times you get the feeling that she's got a hidden agenda and is stinging Tetsuro along for an anterior purpose. And no one really knows what exactly she is, throughout the series she is somewhat an enigma of mystery as she frequently knows what's going to happen beforehand. Overall: GE 999 is a great series once you finally settle in with it. The character development and depth is enormous and spectacular. There's a number of episodes that are 2-parters; aside from those each episode brings something new. While frustrating at times, many of the mysteries and odd things that go on during the series don't get tied up till the very end (last few episodes) leaving you guessing the whole time as to what or who Maetel is, and what unique value there is in being human.

One of Leiji Matsumoto's Masterpieces, this is one of those unique exprerience anime that come once in ten years, a classic of Space Operas, Galaxy Express 999 is a life Journey. Our Journey takes place in a rather futuristic setting where humans are able to transfer their minds to a mechanical body in order to achieve enternal life. While this seems to be a somewhat perfect world, it is in reallity a dystopian Universe full of opression, suffering and tragedy for the poor and the weak ones. Our Protagonist, Hoshino Tetsuro,a proud and rightous young boy boards the Galaxy Express 999 with help of mysterious Maetel in order to reach the planet where you can get a mechanical body for free. If you are familiar with Leiji's works you will know what kind of Journey you will expect, for those who aren't, this will be a Journey full of Painfull situations, tragic heroes and shatered dreams, in other words, the definition of Drama. While the Story seems rather episodic, from time to time, you will get a tiny revelation about the storyline, which in my oppinion, is a boost in the morale of the viewer since it can be sometimes tyring to watch such a long anime. The art is that from Leiji's previous and future works, beautiful long-haired and fragile looking women, aerodynamic haired and proud males, small and sometimes comic looking elders. One small flaw I think is that, at some point females look like revamps from one another wich is a consequence of the large number of characters throughout the series. The Soundtrack is very good in my opinion, whether it is a comic or serious situation it addapts to the moment you are experiencing, you will sometimes listen Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and songs sang by characters that add an even more dramatic tone to the scene. What I really want to say about this series is that this is a life learning experience, in each of the 999 stops you will get your persona lifel lesson out of the diferent situations that our protagonists will enconter, I felt that I learned something valuable from characters experiences, that is, in my oppinions, the greatest thing about this Anime.

This has been a long time coming and the series is finally completed. Truly, Galaxy Express is an epic at heart and the first watched on this quest. Another original creation of Leiji Matsumoto, if the art style didn’t give it away already, this is a series coming in at 113 episodes. How did it live up to the legacy? It is long and episodic at its core. Now, this may sound like a total turn off right away, but the series sets a universe of mystery and true imagination that captivates the viewer. Each world our two main characters travel to has its’ own unique reason to exist, evolution into why, and the life-form’s interaction with the planet. Our young protagonist, Tetsuro Hoshino wants nothing more than to have a mechanical body to live an immortal life, but how can he get it when: a) it’s expensive and he is poor b) the only way to get a free one is to get the expensive pass for the train 999 to take him to the robot planet Andromeda... Well, it just so happens he meets Maetel. This beautiful mystery woman gives him a pass as long as he joins her on the journey to Andromeda and she will be his tour guide. Therefore, the two set off on a journey unlike any other. Tetsuro discovers and learns countless life lessons, such as what it means to be truly human and the meaning of life and reasons to live, and many more. The story and development of Testsuro over his quest and encountering each planet is why to watch this epic. However, this is episodic even if each planet has its own story itself. Tetsuro and Maetel are always having their pass stolen, lives threatened, and/or seeing a young couple die they just met. It does get stale after a while. One would wonder why wouldn’t you become paranoid, stay in the train, and never leave the comedic relief Conductors side before reaching their destination. Anyways, never mind all of the faults and holes in GE 999, like a train in space it could go on forever. This is the only gripe the show has throughout. Overall, you can watch the epic series as follows: first 8-12 episodes, the two-part episodes in between, and the last 10. You won’t miss a thing and the journey will be just as epic as the show.

This show is unenjoyable in pretty much every aspect. I suggest you watch this show if you are either a masochist, love to see the exact same character design 100+ times, love seeing no character development, or like terrible art styles that progressively get worse over 113 episodes. They really could not come up with more than 3 or 4 character designs, so everyone who is not a robot in the show looks exactly like either Maetel or Harlock, with the exception of old people and Tetsurou, who has probably the worst main character design of all time. Why the hell does his head become longer and longer as the show goes on, I really never understood that. Pretty much every character is incredibly shallow and has no true morals that make them interesting characters, and they all just want money, looks, power, etc. The only enjoyable parts of the show is that it is funny to make fun of (but even that gets old after about 10-15 episodes), and that the soundtrack is pretty good until any action starts happening (which randomly occurs about every 5 minutes). Most action is completely random with absolutely no meaning or development to the plot whatsoever, and it feels very out of place. The first half of almost every episode is just this random, meaningless, terrible action, then they try to transition to actual plot for the last 10 minutes of every episode. Then they use the narrator at the last minute of every episode to attempt to find meaning in these stupid episodes by spewing corny lessons or messages. And MOST OF ALL, the ICING ON THE CAKE of this absolute DUMPSTER FIRE of an anime, Hoshino Tetsurou has the most unbearable voice acting in all of anime. My ears were blasted every two seconds by this stupid kid screaming "MATE!!!!", "MAETEL!!!!" or "YADA!!!". I genuinely despise this character and the voice acting from the bottom of my heart, there is nothing good about his character, he does the exact opposite of what he is told at all times, creates unnecessary conflict, and overall is the most annoying POS of all time. This is easily my least favorite anime of all time, I do not see almost any redeeming qualities in it, and I think anyone who enjoys this is coping for the days they wasted watching it or are truly masochistic.

Admittedly, when I was watching Galaxy Express 999, I was watching it cause it was related to Harlock (I wanted to fully prep myself for when the Harlock CGI movie became available to watch in English). But after watching it, it's an amazing series. The story may seem old nowadays, but the way the characters interact, and how they develop (more so for Tetsuro as he begins to realize getting a mechanical body would prove to make him more laid back and that everything his mother taught him about hard work would have seemed pointless in the end). The characters themselves are all unique and very enjoyable. Tetsuro, despite how he became a bit of a brat in later episodes, is an enjoyable character, and he certainly becomes quite the badass for being a 10(?) year old. The Conductor was hilarious to watch in almost all episodes he was in due to his strict nature to follow the rules of the Galaxy Railroads, but also fighting the the 999's computer. Maetel is without a doubt my favorite character in the show, because of how complex, and mysterious she is. You spend the series wondering who she really is, and why she keeps asking her father to stop the journey with Tetsuro to Andromeda. The soundtrack is amazing, and so damn catchy (so much that I downloaded the soundtrack on my laptop) that the songs are all stuck in my brain and I don't want to get them out. From the opening song, to the next episode preview, I could listen to the soundtrack on a loop and never get bored of it. All in all, I fully recommend Galaxy Express 999. Despite it's 113 episode run, it's still a great series.

I would like to offer a "not recommended" review which isn't mostly about how Testsurou has an annoying voice. I'm going to follow the format that MAL had me use last time I wrote a review, and make a note and give a score for Story, Art/Animation, Character, Music/Sound, and Enjoyment, with a final overall "why". Art/Animation: Art is based on Leiji's manga, which has the One Piece problem of drawing women the same, except he does so for not only every women, but teenagers and old folks as well. Character design is a 2/10, then, I guess. It has basic anatomy, and pretty much nothing else. One could complain about this due to liking, say, Maetel's character design, but do note that it's repeated at least 25 other times in this series, just with different clothes and hair color. I have nothing to say about clothing. Now, for planet art. Gotta give a reluctant 8/10. Doesn't look very modern, but really does convey the locations they're on quite well. Now, animation. Pretty much what you would expect for a show of it's time. 9/10 if this was written 40 years ago, but 4/10 now. Better than stuff like Ex-arm, and the compositing (or whatever) and scene transition is usually good. Music/Sound: They have 5 tracks that play often. They do fit this series, but they sound old, which is weird since the show is trying to set itself in the future. The other ones do help bring some much needed variety, but are few and far between. Like almost every other series I've seen, I've no problem with the SFXs used. Don't care about VAs, so nothing about that for me. Based no the quality of it, I'd give a 6/10, but due to it's repetitive nature, I'm going to lower it to a 4/10. Plot: There's none. Rather, it's an episodic series with character mysteries spread throughout (I'm going to keep those for the "character" though). The plot for every episode bunch (the show is episodic, but it does have a few 2 parters and one 3 parter) is usually quite similar to every other one, except influenced by the planet's quirk, and the characters. The outcomes are rarely divergent, from each other, and the planet/worldbuilding design does not hold up to any scrutiny whatsoever. Heck, they can open the train windows in space (they do so in the first episode), to no consequence. More than anything, this show's continuity is horrible. Example of plot: Tetsurou gets off on a planet, someone there is poor, and steals his pass. They try to get on the train, then either die or can't, Tetsurou get's the pass, then gets back on the train. End of episode. Example of planet: 0.01% planet. Everyone on this planet is 100 times weaker than the average human, and so are the structures and the planet itself. Good concept, but this is clearly not a planet that would do well with tourists, nor would it's population be able to live anywhere else, yet the point of that episode was a couple stealing Tetsurou's pass to go elsewhere. Example of inconsistency: In an episode, there's a barrier protecting you from boarding the train if you have a fake pass. In another, people just go into the train without any passes. I can't reasonnably give more than a 2/10. See 1 episode, you've pretty much seen them all. Characters: Ooh, boy. Some say Tetsurou is evolving throught his journeys. I say that he's consistently inconsistently written, except for his wish to become a cyborg, which is actually properly paced. Doesn't make him an enjoyable character, though, especially with every other character praising him for being a good human. (2/10) The conductor is seen as comic relief. I understand, but more than anything, he's just there to say "rules are rules" and "we must depart when we must depart" as well as "can't we wait for Tetsurou and Maetel to get on board?", the last one to the automated train. Yeah, the conductor is more like a travel assistant than an actual conductor. He has this thing about his body being special, which is treated as a mystery, but is never explained. (5/10; there 's nothing to hate, but next to nothing to like) Maetel is the last major character. She's the perfect woman who's always right and does nothing wrong (per the show's POV), yet she blows up planets, kills people, and generally does what the show portrays as bad, but "not when it's Maetel doing it". Usually she has a more neutral and "do nothing" role, but that's rarely ever correct. She also always tells Tetsurou what not to do, which is always what he ignores, and sparks the conflict of the episode. Note that Tetsurour never does learn that he should listen to other people, though. Oh, and she also has a mystery. Which is also not properly explained, and makes no sense per what the show gives us as an answer. (3/10). Every (POV) good character in this show: Praise Maetel and Tetsurou, have a tragic backstory, usually are murderers, thieves and some are even terrorists. (2/10), they're way too lazily written. Every (POV) bad character in thi show: No depths. If ever they actually have a reason for their action, the show shifts them to a (POV) good character. (1/10) Enjoyment: I liked the first episode. I liked one other episode, because of the comedy. I laughed and became enraged by the poor writting of this show. I was engaged, but never, past the first episode, was I actually liking the show. (3/10) (gets a +1 due to the occasional "so bad, it's good", but you'd need to watch every episodes for that. Don't. Overall: Honestly, I don't care about Art and Music. This leaves me with 2/10 for plot, overall 2.6/10 for character and 3/10 for enjoyment; a 3 bordering a 2. However, this show is overall very bad, not horrible, so a 3. Not badly produced, just a bad everything else. Do not watch more than 1 episode. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or whatnot about this.

A whimsical space adventure full of wonder, excitement, and existential horror! What could be better? Galaxy Express 999 is an expert at opening up your inner child’s feeling of wonder into the unknown realms of Leiji Matsumoto’s colorful universe. • The series begins with young Tetsurou learning about the foibles of humanity and swearing vengeance in the heat of passionate rage―causing the beautiful and mysterious Meatel to invite him on a space train to find what he’s looking for; Tetsurou agrees while idealizing the possibility of gaining an immortal mechanical body, so that he doesn’t have to suffer through the ailments of poverty any longer, like starvation and weather’s wears. The narrative explores human nature and the intrinsic value of life, as well as the consequences of relinquishing ones’ nature as a human being. • Nearly every episode is episodic and typically takes place on a different planet, comet, or unforeseen ripple in the chasm of reality, so, filler characters and situations don’t feel like contrived nonsense and each episode shows burgeoning character development―warping Tetsurou’s naïve, small-minded view of the universe into a mature place of understanding and compassion; sometimes, even the reserved Maetel has her moments of revelatory characterization. • This series is more of a fantastical dream landscape rather than a portrayal of a realistic trip into space. On the galactic train, not one character has to wear a spacesuit and can stick their heads out of a compartment window without suffocating to death. While some may see this as a detracting feature, I thought that the surrealistic atmosphere welcomed such oddities… I mean, there is a FLYING TRAIN in space! The innocence of the surroundings, even with some episodes been adult-themed macabre, had the same kind of passionate divulgence (one without a care of an audience reception) as Doraemon (1979)―which I’m a huge fan of! • The weakest point of the series was the climax with Maetel’s mother, which was incredibly rushed and ruined the development that the series had build for hundreds of episodes! The series itself kept Maetel’s composed veneer up for so long, so when it gets shattered immediately―it’s a huge letdown! For the majority of the series, Galaxy Express 999 is a genuine, pure-hearted space adventure with moral catharsis and heart-breaking realizations about mortality. I would recommend this series to anyone who’s willing to give a show from the 70’s a gander, and I would suggest experiencing the entire series rather than just the (recap) movie version, but I always prefer a full-length telling of a story rather than a condensed, film-version―I also thought the Mobile Suit Gundam film trilogy was lackluster compared to the experience of watching Tomino’s full vision of the war. I give Galaxy Express 999 a 8/10; a must-see series for an otaku who wants to experience an influential series!

It might have taken me over two years to finish, but despite the major time commitment that Galaxy Express 999 demands, it is one well worth pursuing and finishing, as its episodic and varied nature means that even when accounting for its (arguably excessive) length, it never ends up feeling particularly repetitive or overdone. The format of each episode of Galaxy Express is fairly basic. After Tetsuro’s mother is killed by cyborgs, he sets out to travel on the 999, an old-timey steam train that flies across space, to go to the planet Andromeda, where he can get a mechanical body for free, and by extension, immortality. Long before works like Robocop and Cowboy Bebop decided to merge the motifs and conventions of the Western and sci-fi genre, there was Galaxy Express. For that matter, Tetsuro’s hat and cloak are right out of a Clint Eastwood film, and the typical episode setup of Tetsuro finding his way onto a hostile new planet and finding himself having to sort out the local conflict is almost a direct pastiche of Eastwood’s own High Plains Drifter, but with less rape. Although Tetsuro going to a new planet and sorting out other people’s problems is a common story route, it is not the only one present throughout the series, as there are some episodes in which Tetsuro has a rather minor effect on the overall events, and it’s not uncommon for an episode’s most poignant moments to happen without him. But despite its sci-fi setting, the individual planets are able to take on just about any theme the writers could come up with: the futuristic urban metropolis is expectedly there, but also planets that didn’t evolve beyond prehistory, jungles, deserts, underwater cities, there was clear creativity on display, as the locales across each episode manage to all feel different, and even if the general premise still remains, it manages to avoid ever feeling like a rerun of an idea they’d already covered. This feeling of originality within each individual episode is further accentuated by the superb visual design, which manages to always feel imaginative yet believable. The landscapes are something to behold, not only for their impressive scale and use of architecture, but because the placement of characters within these landscapes manages to be just as evocative as the places themselves. Just like the desolate towns on the American frontier, most these planets are harsh places to live, if not because most the residents left for somewhere better, then because an oppressive regime is forcing them to stay. In all of its aspects, the stylistic use of cinematography is undoubtedly excellent, but the one area that stands out more than any other is the use of shadows and lighting, which manages to reinforce the ideas that were previously conveyed through the architecture in a manner that makes it a lot more engaging. The level of significance and attention to detail that Galaxy Express attaches to its visuals is almost comparable to a neo-noir, very few anime even begin to use lighting to this effect, and even fewer manage to make it work as seamlessly. The storytelling in Galaxy Express is remarkably nuanced, and manages to make good use of its episodic format, as while its stories are often parabolic, they are still given enough layers to acknowledge the different perspectives on the issues created, and the closing minute of each episode typically ends with either Tetsuro or the narrator contemplating and asking questions about what is right, rather than outright telling the viewer what they are supposed to think. The issues it tackles are certainly varied, the issue of cyborgs is undoubtedly a central part of the series, and the one point that comes up more than any other is the loss of humanity that comes when cyborgs are deprived of their original body, but the series is far from one-note. It might have come out during the height of détente, but that didn’t stop them from doing an episode on mutually assured destruction and nuclear paranoia, plus other issues that don’t concern cyborgs, such as an episode that takes place in an actual Western-style town, stories involving social outcast bibliophiles or struggling artists, some of whom just so happen to be fans of series creator Leiji Matsumoto, a crossover episode with Captain Harlock, an episode that takes place in a post-scarcity society, and plenty of other cases that don't fit the stereotypical notions of a sci-fi story. Perhaps the most important of all, not only did Galaxy Express come up with the sci-fi Western 15 years before Robocop, they came up with the idea of having a golden irradiant briefcase whose contents are never revealed but manage to subdue anyone who looks inside it, 20 years before Pulp Fiction. Galaxy Express is a damn fine series, in some ways its episodic format makes it a jack of all trades, it does not focus intensely on a single aspect, but being this scattershot is not a negative point when it never manages to falter, nor does it ever feel like it would have been a much better series had it been a 13-episode character drama focusing on just one of these planets. The number of planets and different societies they are able to create feel limitless, and the visual design is a masterclass in visual design, which is only exemplified by great cinematography and use of lighting that make Galaxy Express a worthy successor to its Western origins. Samuel Johnson may have said “he who is tired of London, is tired of life”, but he wouldn’t have said that if he got to fly a train into space and talk to a robot skeleton.

this is one of the saddest anime ever made. not in one particular arc, nor any particular episode/episodes, but in a general sense, in a sort of bulk evaluation. galaxy express 999 sets out to paint universal truths of, well, the universe. and by the show’s definition, the universe is a drab, terrible, sad place. most episodes end in melancholy. whether it’s due to the death of a newly introduced character, the extinction of a race, the destruction of a planet, the dousing of a fervent dream, there is rarely an episode that ends positively. 999 seems to say that there is as much heartbreak as there are nebulae. as strong the pull of black holes, so is the pull of despondency. as wide and expansive as the arms of galaxies stretch, so do the arms of death, war, poverty. that there are as many tears as there are stars in the sky. it is a universal constant that most dreams are crushed, that most hard work is for naught, that most goodwill is abused. according to 999, the universe is a dark, dark, dark place, as if the very fabric of deep space is composed of it. a very heavy message packed in 113 episodes aimed towards children. but what makes 999 beautiful is that amidst all of this darkness that holds the universe together, amidst the tragedy, undeserved hardship, crushing heartbreak, there is always, always one other universal constant: hope. as we follow maetel and tetsuro throughout their journey, there is always the ocassional planet, the ocassional character, the ocassional episode that doesn’t end on a depressing note. no, these few episodes seem to be pointedly optimistic, pointedly bright in a vast swath of formulaic episodes that seem constructed as moral lessons for children. they are few and far between, but they shine bright, for it is these episodes that probably made me cry the most. it is THESE episodes that really sum up galaxy express 999 for me. yeah, it’s a very long, very tedious journey at times due to its posession of 70s anime staples (episodic nature, recycling frames galore, very limited selection of music), but after enduring all the hardships and darkness this universe has to offer, leiji matsumoto’s handling of the theme of hope, the promise of a better tomorrow, is not only poignant and moving, it is timeless. it’s unfortunate that the goodness is buried so deep in the recycled plotlines and unbingeable episodic format, but the goodness is there. it’s a long, long, long journey, but at the end of it, you’ll be reminded that the universe might not be such a dark place after all. farewell, galaxy express 999.

It tells a great story about many lives and deaths, but keep in mind this anime is very dated! Japanese culture has a lot of issues, and isn't great at handling mental health issues. There are alot of "old fashioned" values, that are very annoying, and I'm glad we've moved away from a lot of the beliefs this anime has packed into it from the late 70s - early 80s. And, if you're like me, you hate hate it when situations could have been better for everyone if someone had just reacted faster! A lot of what I hated was how a lot of the female characters were held up by male characters, which is a huge situation with that "old fashion" mind set. Not that anyone is getting their relationship advice from anime, esply old anime, but this has some very toxic and creepy stuff in it. The end was also pretty creepy, to be honest. And, there's a story conflict of "grind til you die" and "take care of yourself, and do what love". Somethings it's "grind til you die, doing what you love." but the bleeding obsession with "work hard", and anyone who doesn't is a hot mess is a casting shadow on the series for me. But, most of the characters that come into play have deep, serious meaning. Everyone learns a lesson, and the story pays off for the most part. And, it's thankfully not an "all work no play" series - where the characters get to take breaks from life threatening danger, and have fun. As much as I enjoyed it, I wouldn't suggest it to just anyone. Mostly for the toxic messages about relationships and how long it is.

Galaxy Express 999 is not for people who don't like long anime or older anime. Spanning 113 episodes from '7?-'8? everything about this anime from the episode themes to the music makes you feel like you really are watching this in the late 70's. If you are only wanting the story you only need to watch the first 5 or so episodes and the last 4. Again another common fact of older anime most stories don't take long to tell and are very, very stretched out. Almost every episode they stop on a different planet where an event happens to them that effects Tetsuro's opinion on cyborgs and gaining eternal life. Also if you are a Captian Harlock fan and are watching this because you want to see how it ties in or want to see Captian Harlock; you should know he's only in one episode, and the only thing him and Tetsuro have in common is that they both have the same type of gun. Over all I enjoyed watching this anime and it's story but there are a lot of "filler" episodes that failed to hold my complete attention and interest.

Galaxy Express 999 was one of the very first anime franchises I got into and remains one of my favorites today. People looking to get into the franchise have several options, including the original manga (which unfortunately has not been released in English), the movies and the TV series. All three are worth looking into. The basic premise of the show is that it is far in the future and one of the most popular ways to travel throughout space is through the Galaxy Railways corporation’s space trains. Most famous of these is the 999, which is designed as a train from the 20th century. The 999 travels throughout the universe, landing on many planets for as long as a local day lasts. Unfortunately tickets are both incredibly expensive as well as very desirable. The other big part of the show’s premise is that people have been able to live forever by acquiring mechanical bodies. Unfortunately only those who are rich can afford them, resulting in 2 classes, the elite who get to purchase mechanical bodies and live forever, and the poor, who suffer and hope their entire lives to earn enough to obtain one. A big lure for the 999 is that its last stop is a planet where one can get a mechanical body for free! This is where the show’s main character, Tetsuro Hoshino comes in. A poor boy wandering through the snow with his mother, it is his goal in life to obtain a mechanical body for both of them. Unfortunately his mother is soon killed by a group of machine men and Tetsuro nearly dies himself. However he is rescued by a mysterious blonde woman named Maetel. Maetel gives Tetsuro a pass to the 999 as long as he agrees to travel with her. Thus begins a long quest as Tetsuro and Maetel travel across numerous planets and experience various adventures with the end goal of Tetsuro obtaining a mechanical body. A key theme throughout much of the show is whether it is worth obtaining a mechanical body or whether it is better to remain human. The show has a really interesting and unique premise and one that consistently keeps you entertained. The show’s format permits for a lot of different types of storylines, and Leiji Matsumoto has a lot of great ideas that we see throughout the series. Tetsuro and Maetel are two extremely likable characters and it is a blast to go on this journey with them. The mystery behind Maetel is another important part of the storyline, and one that will run throughout the entire series. Going through my most recent re-watch of this show it was also good to see how willing they were to provide at times melancholy and depressing storylines which you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a show in this era. While we are not likely to see either of our two heroes be in a jam they can’t get out of, there are many sympathetic characters they run into throughout the show, many of which do not have happy endings. I think many could get a bit scared by the show’s length. 113 episodes is very daunting. Especially when one can simply watch the movie version and basically get the entire storyline in less than 2 and a half hours. I think one can view the show’s length as both a good and a bad thing. One good thing about the show is that most of it is made up of stand-alone storylines (presented in batches of either 1 or 2 part episodes). There’s maybe 10-15 or so critical episodes, and technically one could leave the viewing experience to just those if they really wanted to. Also with rare exception one can usually watch most episodes in any order they want. So one could watch even say, 40 to 50 episodes to see the best the show has to offer while skipping out on some of the weaker storylines. My recommended viewing would be to at a minimum watch episodes 1, 3-5, 7-8, 22, 42, 79-81 and 111-113. These episodes in aggregate will provide you with the main storyline of the series (including each storyline that is covered in the movie), as well as cameos from famous Matsumoto characters Captain Harlock and Emeraldas, and some background on the 999’s Conductor, a storyline we unfortunately don’t get in the movie version. My choices for the remaining strongest individual episodes include 15, 26, 65 and 68, although I could name another good 20-30 more episodes at least that are of high quality. Being at this length, the show does possess some overused storylines. In particular, Tetsuro frequently has his pass stolen forcing him to find some way to get it back. This has got to be the central plot of at least 15-20 or so episodes. There are also numerous scenes where Tetsuro is shocked to find an evil person has a mechanical body. It is interesting the first few times, but the shock has got to wear off once it’s happened double digit times. There is the occasional deus ex machina, especially with Maetel. Although generally the characters are likable enough where you don’t mind it as much. This is a show from the late 1970’s/early 1980’s and another thing one will have to get used to in order to like the show is the older animation style. I personally love anime from this era, so I’ve never minded it, but I do recognize that it will turn some people off. The music also gets stale after a while and they don’t mix it up enough considering the show’s length. The last subject I’ll touch upon is whether you should see this show if you have already seen the movie. No questions asked, the movie will spoil you on the biggest secrets in the show’s storyline. The movie has better animation, better music and overall a more thrilling and exciting ending. The individual episodes in the TV series that the movie adapted can’t really compare to their movie version. At the same time, there are lots of interesting stand-alone storylines not in the movie that is worth seeing here. Is this show worth seeing? Definitely. I think it’s likely that only the most hardcore fans will go through and watch all 113 episodes, but there is plenty to enjoy here even if you aren’t really familiar with this franchise. It’s also a nice gateway to other Matsumoto works such as Captain Harlock. I have a hard time ever seeing this show not among my favorites.

Well, 2026 has certainly been an interesting year as we've explored various anime and TV shows from old to new. Especially with retro anime that we dove into. This anime, is kinda special as it was passed along throughout social media, which I had, that one of the main actresses sadly passed away this year. From one of the goats, Hideo Kojima, he'd dedicated to watching this in honor of the main actress herself, Masako Ikeda. So, I decided to go do that, too, since I never mind expanding my horizons, and learned that Masako has actually done a lot not only in anime, but also dubbing American media over in Japan such as Disney's Hercules, Charlotte's Web, Singin' in the Rain, Glee, Amelie, and 1975's Airport. It's a wonder why Masako Ikeda has been a legend until she'd passed away due to an intercerebral hemorrhage. So, this review is in honor of the main voice actress herself, who voiced a woman who'd stuck around the second main character himself from start to finish. I've glazed a little enough on this, so let's get into the review here. Galaxy Express 999 takes place where class is divided. Between those who can afford it can turn their human bodies into eternal, mechanical bodies to live longer depending on their own desire on why they want to trade in their humanity via trans-humanization. For those who can't afford it however, they rot away in poverty. Those who have a working job either have the choice to save up for a mechanical body of their own or just live a happy life until the time comes to pass on. Which is where we meet one of our main protagonists, Tetsuro Hoshino, voiced by Masako Nozawa, who is a poor Earth boy who traveled with his mother to Megalopolis where they can get jobs to pay for passes for the 999. Along their way, however, Tetsuro witnessed his mother being shot dead by Count Mecha, voiced by Hidekatsu Shibata, and his gang of human hunters. Tetsuro's mother passed a message to him to continue the journey they started and to get a mechanical body to live the eternal life she and his father could not. He forgets through until he passes out in the cold. Tetsuro had thought that he's passed on as he apologizes to his mother, except that he awoke to see that he is saved by a mysterious blonde woman who bears a striking resemblance to his mother named Maetel, voiced by Masako Ikeda. Maetel had confessed that she overheard Tetsuro's desire with a long-range microphone and offered him an unlimited use pass for the 999 if he will be her traveling companion, to which Tetsuro agrees. Right after he brings vengeance with the gun Maetel gifts and directs. So Tetsuro and Maetel boards the Galaxy Express 999 where they travel planet to planet from the Milky Way Galaxy to the Andromeda Galaxy with the Conductor, voiced by Kaneta Kimotsuki, and the train's engine computer, voiced by Koji Totani (in episode eight and from episode fifty to a hundred and thirteen) and Kaeton Yamada (episodes fourteen to forty-five). As Tetsuro and Maetel travel, they travel to different and exotic planets, and meet many kinds of folks, human and alien, living and mechanical. This is a long train ride, as the anime goes for Tetsuro. But the question is: Does he go through with it? I can't really tell you that. Because where's the fun in finding out with how Tetsuro deals with his journey with all that he encounters planet-to-planet between two galaxies. This section is kinda where I'm kinda split with it due to the show being over a hundred episodes while on the 990. Not in a bad way because I'm used to watching lone TV series. Especially with this year when we were watching the original Ranma 1/2 (which we're only about one season away to finishing), currently watching Katekyo Hitman Reborn (which I'm taking a break for a while and will pick it back up at the fifth season where I'd left off), finished up all of My Hero Academia with every season, movie, and OVAs. I'd even finished all seven Buffy the Vampire Slayer seasons because of an event I have planned for October. In fact, I do plan on how many episodes I would often binge per session. In this show's case, I've binged about four episodes a session until I jump into other anime to avoid burnout. I may have binged a lot when I was ten years younger. But with my current age, burnout can sneak up on you roughly. That, and it does depend on where I watch a show where I would binge a movie in between shows during my off time. And with this accident that I'd got myself into, I do have a valid excuse on why I couldn't work at the moment by the time I'm writing this review. Now, I have criticized the story via the length of episodes, what I do love about this anime is the moral of such. It's all about Tetsuro's journey where he would learn a lot more than just dreaming about eternal life via a mechanical body. He learns about humility, morality, the ethical hazards of trans-humanization, and the value of a finite life. Tetsuro may come off as a cocky brat at times, but this anime is all a coming-of-age for him when you have Maetel overseeing his actions, judging him if he does want to go through with his decision or not as soon as we make it to the two-pat finale where he would get a mechanical body for free. Not to mention, he does remind himself that he came from a poor life as he does show mercy to some folks who are also poor such as sharing ramen with this woman. As far as Maetel's purpose, it's just guidance for those like Tetsuro. If anything gets in their way, it wouldn't just be Tetsuro holding a hero's gun. Maetel would also have some tricks up her sleeve. We don't know much about her except these moments when she would be fatally wounded and suddenly come back in one piece with what I'd thought of that voice being the One God. When we've reached the two-part finale of the anime to finally learn about who Maetel really is, I was actually conflicted with it. Again, it has to do with the show being a long train ride in the form of over a hundred episodes. As I'd finished up my thoughts on Tetsuro and Maetel, what about the other characters? The Conductor is a fair amount of fun as he is doing his job and does care on occasion. What's funny is that his design goes both ways. Looking like a Black Mage from Final Fantasy with his clothes on, and becoming the Invisible Man with them off. It's like if Vivi traded his staff to get himself a job as a train conductor. Let alone that the train is mostly empty. The characters we meet during Tetsuro's journey, on the other hand, I don't remember most of everyone. The most I can think of being this Fossil Warrior whose girlfriend is in a fossil, fighting off these raiders, this character that looks like she was made of glass named Claire, this character who's mechanical body that looks like it's made of wood, this one gunslinger who has a sharp eye, and this woman who lives on a planet where it had endless rain, living in this mud pool where the other folks who are living in poverty. Granted, I can't remember every single character since they do sadly come and go while impacting Tetsuro's humility and morality. In addition, I've asked myself that this anime shares the same universe as this character named Captain Harlock, who has his own show along with this other space pirate named Esmeraldas. Sadly, they are also like the other characters Tetsuro and Maetel meet. Just a couple of brief appearances and we don't see them again. Meanwhile, we have to talk about the music. Composed by Nozomi Aoki, the music is beautiful that it's mostly an ambiance. Funny thing is that I nearly fell asleep. Not because I was bored of the show or whatever. It was because the music is so ambient, it makes the journey smooth sailing until we jump into the next wave of trouble Tetsuro and Maetel get themselves into. By the way, there is only one intro and outro, which I can't complain about too much since there were limitations back then. Just throwing that out in case you're willing …

Lets start by saying that I watched this show for its status as one of the most classic shows in the anime industry. It is not for everyone, but when you really commit to it, it become a very special experience. To see the journey of Tetsurou and Maetal through countless planets and explore so many wild concepts that it becomes a cooking pot where you don't even know what you are tasting anymore. To have the message of having humanity only when you are made of real flesh and blood but if you become a machine you lose that humanity, becoming a monster. It tells you to value your heart, be kind and understanding but still have street smarts when it comes to navigating life. Its corny and sometimes a little embarrassing, but it also has such a genuine soul to it. I won't say its a perfect show, far from it. But it was truly enjoyable despite that fact. I recommend it if you want to experience something very genuine with flaws that can also be seen as strengths. PS, 6 and above means I enjoyed it.