Galaxy Express 999: A review and review of a masterpiece anime depicting a space journey and the quest for the human soul

Galaxy Express 999: An eternal journey and human dignity

■Overview of the work

Galaxy Express 999 is an anime film based on the manga of the same name by Leiji Matsumoto, and was released on August 4, 1979. Produced by Toei Animation and distributed by Toei, the film was a 129-minute feature length film and was the highest grossing Japanese film of 1979. It also received high praise, including a Special Award at the Japan Academy Awards.

■ Story

The story is set in the galaxy in the distant future. The protagonist, Hoshino Tetsuro, whose mother was killed by a cyborg, sets out on a journey in search of eternal life. He meets a mysterious beauty, Maetel, and the two board the Galaxy Express 999, heading for a planet that will give away mechanical bodies for free. During his journey, Tetsuro visits various planets, meets many people, and grows as a person.

■Explanation

Galaxy Express 999 is an anime film that recreates the Andromeda arc of the original manga. While the original manga and TV anime versions are incomplete, this film is notable for depicting the Andromeda arc to its conclusion. The film also delves deeply into the themes of eternal life, human dignity, and humanity in a mechanized society. Director Rintaro faithfully recreates the worldview of the original manga while developing the story from his own unique cinematic perspective.

■Cast

The main cast is as follows:

• Tetsuro Hoshino: Masako Nozawa
• Maetel: Masako Ikeda
• Conductor: Kaneta Kimotsuki
• Narrator: Tatsuya Shiro

Masako Nozawa expresses the purity and strong will of Tetsuro with her voice, while Masako Ikeda brings out the mysterious charm of Maetel. Kaneta Kimotsuki's performance as the conductor is also memorable, adding to the atmosphere of the entire film.

■ Main staff

The production staff is as follows:

• Executive producer: Tomonori Imada
• Planning, original story, composition: Reiji Matsumoto
• Planning: Ken Ariga, Yoshio Takami
• Screenplay: Shiro Ishimori
• Animation Director: Kazuo Komatsubara
• Art director: Takamura Mukuo, Tadao Kubota
• Director: Rintaro
• Music: Nozomi Aoki
• Supervised by Kon Ichikawa

The theme song "Galaxy Express 999" is sung by Isao Sasaki and the Suginami Children's Choir, with lyrics by Jun Hashimoto, music by Masaaki Hirao, and arrangement by Nozomi Aoki. In addition, Godiego's "Taking off" and Kaori Kumiko's "Don't be gentle" are used as insert songs, and each song adds depth to the development of the story.

■ Main Characters

The main characters are as follows:

• Tetsuro Hoshino: A boy who dreams of eternal life and travels to the end of the Galaxy Railroad, where he will be given a mechanical body. He has a strong sense of justice and is very curious, and gets into all sorts of trouble along the way.
• Maetel: A mysterious beauty who travels with Tetsuro. Intelligent and calm, she often supports Tetsuro. She is also skilled in handling weapons, and uses a variety of weapons to face troubles.
• Conductor: The conductor of the Galaxy Express 999 that Tetsuro and his friends ride. There is a black shadow between his uniform and hat, through which you can see his round, glowing yellow eyes. He is loyal to his duties and has a very serious personality.

■ Related works

"Galaxy Express 999" has the following related works:

• TV anime "Galaxy Express 999"
• Movie "Galaxy Express 999: Andromeda Terminus"
• Galaxy Express 999 Eternal Fantasy

■ Evaluation and impact

"Galaxy Express 999" was highly praised when it was first released, and gained many fans. In particular, the theme of eternal life and human dignity deeply moved viewers. The beautiful visuals and music also became a hot topic, and the artistic quality of the work as a whole was highly praised. Furthermore, this work showed new possibilities for science fiction anime, and had a major influence on later anime works.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Galaxy Express 999" is a masterpiece of science fiction anime. The story, which combines grand space travel and profound themes, will leave viewers with a lot of emotion and thought. The beautiful visuals and music also enhance the worldview of the work. In particular, the scenes that make you think about eternal life and human dignity will always bring new discoveries no matter how many times you watch them. This work is recommended not only for science fiction anime fans, but for all viewers who are looking for deep themes.

■ Detailed information

Galaxy Express 999 is based on the original manga by Matsumoto Leiji, but the film adaptation depicts the end of the Andromeda arc. This completes parts that were left unfinished in the original manga and TV anime version, making it a very valuable piece of content for fans. Director Rintaro also faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original while developing the story from the film's unique perspective. This makes it a work that can be enjoyed not only by fans of the original manga, but also by new viewers.

■ Deeper character development

Hoshino Tetsuro is a boy whose mother was killed by a cyborg. He sets out on a journey in search of eternal life, meeting many different people along the way and growing as a person. Tetsuro's purity and strong will deeply move viewers. Meanwhile, Maetel appears as a mysterious beauty who supports Tetsuro. Her intelligent, calm personality and excellent weapon handling skills add tension to the story. The conductor is also loyal to his job and has a serious personality, supporting Tetsuro and his friends on their journey. The deep portrayal of these characters adds to the appeal of the entire work.

■ The appeal of music

The music for Galaxy Express 999 was written by Nozomi Aoki. The theme song, Galaxy Express 999, is sung by Isao Sasaki and the Suginami Children's Choir, and resonates deeply with viewers. Insert songs include Godiego's "Taking Off" and Kaori Kumiko's "Don't be gentle," each of which adds depth to the story's development. In particular, "Taking Off" leaves a strong impression on viewers as it symbolizes Tetsuro's departure. These pieces of music enhance the atmosphere of the entire work and bring out the emotions of the viewer.

■ Introduction of related works

"Galaxy Express 999" has the following related works:

• TV anime "Galaxy Express 999": A TV anime based on the original manga, depicting the journey of Tetsuro and Maetel. Many parts are left unfinished, making it a valuable read for fans.
• The movie "Galaxy Express 999: Andromeda Terminus": A sequel to "Galaxy Express 999", it depicts the new journey of Tetsuro and Maetel. It became a hot topic for its beautiful visuals and deep themes.
• The movie "Galaxy Express 999 Eternal Fantasy": A remake of "Galaxy Express 999", the story is reconstructed from a modern perspective, making it enjoyable for new audiences.

■ Recommendation points

"Galaxy Express 999" is a work that can be said to be a monumental achievement in science fiction anime. The story, which combines grand space travel and profound themes, provides viewers with many moving moments and thoughts. In addition, the beautiful visuals and music further enhance the worldview of the work. In particular, the scenes that make you think about eternal life and human dignity offer new discoveries no matter how many times you watch them. This work is recommended not only for science fiction anime fans, but for all viewers who are looking for deep themes. Please give it a watch.