Galaxy Express: A thorough review of the space journey and moving story

The story begins on a planet that is said to be the center of the universe.
Destiny is the starting station for all Galaxy Railroad trains.
The protagonist, Manabu Yuki, follows the wishes of his father and brother and joins the Space Railway Guard Force (SDF).
Together with his father's subordinate, Captain Barge, the cool and collected Bruce, the always cheerful David, his fellow recruit Louis, and the medical sex robot Yuki, the members of Sirius Platoon, Manabu overcomes numerous incidents that threaten the Galaxy Railroad and grows into a full-fledged SDF member.
The mysterious beauty who oversees the SDF, Layla Destiny Shura. She has the power to see into the fate of people and planets, but how does Manabu's fate look in her eyes?

Your "destiny" is something you can change yourself, and "tomorrow's happiness" is something you have to grasp with your own power...
And now, the greatest crisis ever to come to Galaxy Railroad...

What is Galaxy Railroad Story?
When it was broadcast on Fuji TV in the fall of 1978, Matsumoto Reiji's "Galaxy Express 999" created a frenzy across generations. This epic journey story set in space touched the hearts of people of all ages. A quarter century has passed since then. The Galaxy Express has been revived as a completely new work. Its name is "Galaxy Express Story."

Now in his 50th year as an artist, Matsumoto Leiji's work has finally come to fruition, with Space Odyssey depicting the immeasurable scale of the "infinite universe" and the "mystery that lurks within."

・Yuki Manabu/Yanagi Naoki・Louis Fort Drake/Sanada Asami・Schwanhert Bulge/Otsuka Akio・Sexaroid Yuki/Suzuki Naoko・David Young/Midorikawa Hikaru・Bruce J. Speed/Koyasu Takehito・Layla Destiny Shura/Asami Yoko・Yuki Mamoru/Midorikawa Hikaru・Yuki Wataru/Inoue Kazuhiko・Yuki Kanna/Asami Yoko・Narration/Kubota Hitoshi

・Original story, overall setting, design / Reiji Matsumoto・Planning, producer / Hiroshi Kon・Director / Yukio Nishimoto・Series composition / Hideki Sonoda・Character design / Fumitomo Kizaki, Itsuko Takeda・Original mecha design / Katsumi Itabashi・Mechanic design / Koji Watanabe・Art director / Yoshimi Umino・Color design / Takuya Kawami・Director of photography / Katsuyoshi Kishi・Music / Nozomi Aoki・Music producers / Jun Nagara, Hirokuni Maeyama・Music directors / Yoshihiro Kanbayashi, Jin Yagi・Producer / Hideo Aihara・Production producers / Shoji Kumabe, Yasuo Hasegawa・Animation production cooperation / Studio Kuma, Gingaya, Trilogy Future Studios・Animation production / Planet・Production / BS Fuji, Galaxy Railway Administration Bureau

Yuki Manabu: Sirius Platoon member. Son of Yuki Wataru. After graduating from training school, he is assigned to Sirius Platoon. He is said to be an ace in the making and has high physical abilities, but he acts thoughtlessly and is a problem child of Sirius Platoon, as he will face anyone if he doesn't agree with something. He has an indomitable spirit and good luck, but he also has a naive side to him, as he thinks that momentum will do anything for the time being. He has a large emotional ups and downs and is an easy-to-understand character, but he tends to be a bit idealistic. His family runs a ramen shop, and his favorite foods are his mother's ramen and Tabito tea. Although he is fairly popular with the female members, he is not good at love and romance.
Louis Fort Drake - Sirius Platoon member. In charge of the communications radar section. Graduated top of his class at training school and assigned to Sirius Platoon. A good athlete, he is a brilliant and good-student type of student. He has strong mood swings and can suddenly burst out in irrational anger, but the next moment he is often perfectly fine. He is somewhat self-conscious, but it also seems like he is acting this way on purpose, and at times you can see his dark side. He hates to lose, but is not very good at competitive situations. He is good at speaking his mind, and always carries sweets in his uniform. He doesn't like bugs, reptiles, and cats. However, he doesn't mind kittens. His parents seem to be quite wealthy.
Schwanhert Balzi, Sirius Platoon Captain. After graduating from training school, he was assigned to the Sirius Platoon. He was later appointed as the captain. He is calm and collected, and a commander with firm convictions and great insight. He is a passionate man who loves the Galaxy Railroad, but he is not a man of many words and expresses his will through his actions. He is usually tenacious and faithful to his duties, but sometimes he can be bold. Because he is faithful to his duties, he is strict with his subordinates, but he is not completely ignorant, and rather cares about them. He occasionally says outlandish things that frighten his subordinates. He is like a father to the Sirius Platoon. He is often called a "simple-minded man" and a "workaholic," but those who know him well call him an "honest con man."
・Sexaroid Yukilius Platoon - Responsible for the medical part. Sexaroid (female android). Utilizing advanced medical technology, she manages the health of passengers and crew members. No matter how harsh the scene, she does her job with fortitude. She is kind to everyone, but always takes a step back because she is not human. She has a worrisome side, and occasionally her nagging machine gun explodes, and if she is caught, it will last a long time. She also has a seductive side.
David Young - Sirius Platoon member. In charge of operations management and mechanics. His skills as a mechanic are superb, and he knows every nook and cranny of the Big One. He also has excellent steering skills, and has even performed acrobatic flying in a large transport aircraft. He is a friendly, cheerful, and playful person, and although he can come across as a bit frivolous, he is a kind person. He is sometimes too kind and is unable to be too forceful with others. He is a big fan of gambling, and is always betting on things. He is a self-proclaimed cool, popular nice guy with an excellent sense of humor, and has a history of stories that can hardly be called honorable in all circles.
Bruce J. Speed ​​is a member of the Sirius platoon. He is in charge of combat. He is a former mercenary. He is one of the top five heavy weapon handlers in the SDF, and is also an expert marksman, preferring rifles. He loves the blues harp and bourbon. He joined the SDF at the age of 20, and in the six years since then, three of his teammates have been killed in the line of duty. He is known behind his back as "Bruce the Grim Reaper." He appears grumpy and unfriendly, but in reality he is not that unfriendly. He claims to be a man with no hobbies, but he is a gun enthusiast. He works as a gun tester for new SDF recruits, both for his hobby and for practical purposes. He has a sweet tooth and is a sharp-tongued man.
・Layla Destiny Shura
A mysterious woman who oversees the SDF. She has the power to see into the fate of people, living things, and planets.
・Mamoru Yuki
A member of the SPG. The son of Yuki Wataru. He is a unique individual who was scouted by the SPG and enlisted after graduating from training school. He is a diligent, intelligent, and excellent student with excellent physical abilities, but he is a little too stereotyped and lacks flexibility and originality. Because he is too diligent, he has often been put in unfortunate roles. He is a passionate person with a strong sense of duty and humanity, and never gives up on his beliefs. He is Manabu's older brother, and while Manabu resembles his father, Mamoru resembles his mother. He has beautiful features.
Yuki Wataru: Former Sirius Platoon Captain. He was the predecessor to Bulge as captain. A great commander with great flexibility and excellent leadership skills. He is compassionate and hates anything that doesn't follow through. He was loved by his subordinates as a considerate and understanding captain, but some of the higher-ups seemed to dislike him. At home, he is a kind father who cares about his family. He is the biological father of Yuki Manabu and Yuki Mamoru.
Kanna Yuki is Manabu's mother. She runs a ramen shop on the planet Tabito. She tries to stop her son from joining the SDF after he passes the entrance exam, but...
・Julia F. Reinhart, Spica Platoon Captain. After graduating from training school at the top of her class, she was assigned to the Acrux Platoon. Later, she was selected to be the Spica Platoon Captain due to her high intelligence and analysis skills and her ability to carry out her missions. She is a strong-willed, inflexible genius. She is trusted by her subordinates because she has a strong sense of responsibility and is good at taking care of others. She is usually a kind and easy-going captain, but her strong sense of responsibility and punitive personality sometimes make her take unnaturally strong-minded command, which can earn her resentment. She also often causes friction with others because she is too stubborn about her own ideas. She often clashes with her classmate Murase in particular. Her subordinates say she is "more like an older sister than a superior officer." In her free time, she seems to be passionate about flamenco, as if to shake off her own conflicts.
Maggie Redford - A member of the Spica Platoon. In charge of combat. She excels at piloting aircraft, and was awarded the title of "Novice Ace" during her time at training school. After graduating, she joined the SDF's 88th Aviation Squadron before being assigned to the Spica Platoon. She is friendly, and in an effort to live up to the expectations of those around her, she tends to take on a lot of things on her own, and before you know it, she's playing solo. She also has a rough side, and tends to try to get things done just by impulse. Many people like her for her desire to have open relationships with everyone, and according to her colleague Shelley, "her cooking skills are lethal."
Percy Shelley is a member of the Spica Platoon. He is in charge of traffic control. He is an expert in traffic control, operating everything from small ships to large spacecraft. After graduating from training school, he went through the experimental SDF Traffic Control Expert Program before being assigned to the Spica Platoon. He has extremely stable driving techniques and pilots a Flame Swallow. He is also an excellent mechanic, and maintains and drives around in his privately owned classic car. He has no qualms about calling his beloved Forche E947 and bulgogi his lovers, and prefers dumplings to flowers. He is intelligent but a bit short-tempered. He calls himself a man who will fight back against any challenge he is given. Maggie calls him the "shadow troublemaker."
・Sueura Ai A member of the Spica Platoon. In charge of the communications radar section. A natural radio operator with parents who are communications engineers. After graduating from training school, she was assigned to the Spica Platoon due to her high information processing ability and accuracy. Although she has excellent abilities, she sometimes loses sight of the overall flow because she is too caught up in individual processes. She has a cheerful personality and is a bit of a joker. She is outspoken and often makes mistakes, but she plays the role of a mood maker in the Spica Platoon. With her natural cheerfulness and consideration, she often supports Captain Julia. She is also known for her love of sweets, and there is a rumor that the purchasing department has a list of products just for Ai.
・Murase Ryusaku, Captain of the Vega Platoon. After graduating from training school, he was assigned to the Acrux Platoon. During missions to defeat space pirates, he earned the title of "Ace of Aces." He was then appointed captain of the Vega Platoon, and has successfully led a group of tough guys. Although he is often seen as reckless, he is a tactician with self-control, and is skilled at one-hit attacks when the opportunity arises, and has never known defeat in combat with space pirates. His behavior is sometimes questioned, but he is a man of great loyalty and humanity, and is simple and strong, and many squad members are attracted to his attitude of sticking to his beliefs regardless of what others think of him. He dotes on his pet cat, Shirobota, who he left behind at his parents' house. His favorite food is curry.
Edwin Silver: A member of the Vega Platoon. In charge of combat. A former mercenary. His shooting skills are among the best in the SDF. His rapid-fire ability is particularly impressive, and he shows great abilities in hand-to-hand combat. He was once invited to join the SPG, but declined due to his admiration for Captain Murase. Although he has a rough side, he also has a gentle side, caring for Schneider like a younger brother. In his free time, he often goes out to busy areas with Schneider in what he calls urban warfare, but no one has reported that he has achieved any brilliant results. He seems to feel an affinity for Sirius Platoon's Bruce, who he senses has the same vibe as him, but at the same time, he also seems to see him as a rival.
Jose Antonio Valdivia: A member of the Vega Platoon. In charge of the operations management part. After serving in the revolutionary army of the planet Azeraus War of Independence, he joined the SDF. A brave warrior who sometimes runs through the battlefield like a snake, and sometimes like a gust of wind. He excels at tactics on the battlefield, and is often entrusted with operations during battles. Although he complains that "Commander, you're cutting corners too much," he doesn't seem to mind being entrusted with them. He is not very noticeable considering his physique, but he is an indispensable member of the Vega Platoon. He also doubles as an artilleryman. He loves alcohol and baths, and finds joy in life in drinking in an open-air bath. He says, "As long as I can take a bath and drink alcohol, I have no complaints."
Moritz Schneider is a member of the Vega Platoon. He is in charge of the communications radar section. After graduating from training school, he was assigned to the Vega Platoon. He is an all-rounder with a good knowledge of communications technology and excellent steering ability. He seems to have many ideas about tactics, but he is lacking in ideas. However, he is someone who can acknowledge failure as failure and use it to his advantage next time, so we can expect great things from him in the future. He has an indomitable spirit, and his spirit never breaks except in front of women. He also seems to have a high opinion of Sirius Platoon member Yuki Manabu, who he feels has a similar indomitable spirit. Like Manabu, he is still developing, but he is an ace with great expectations. "He's the kind of guy who messes up even when he looks great," said a certain female operator.

・001 Big One
<Type> SDF Sirius Platoon exclusive vehicle
<Power plant> cb-01rs (Supergravity Cosmo Burst Boiler Kai?U)
<Maximum speed (1M)> 3400skm/h (1M)
<Basic formation> 11 cars (1M+10T)
<Basic output> 6 million cosmo horsepower
<Basic Capacity> 24 (combatants)
<Body material> Top secret
<Defensive Equipment> Enhanced Electromagnetic Barrier, Enhanced Magnetic Shield
<Armament> Currently under investigation...
<Optical camouflage> Yes

・002 Flying Dragon
<Type> SDF Cepheus Platoon exclusive vehicle
<Power plant> cb-02a (Supergravity Cosmo Burst Boiler Type 2)
<Maximum speed (1M)> 3380skm/h
<Basic formation> 11 cars (1M+10T)
<Basic output> 6 million cosmo horsepower
<Basic Capacity> 24 (combatants)
<Body Material> Secret Reinforcement
<Defensive Equipment> Enhanced Electromagnetic Barrier Enhanced Magnetic Shield
<Armament> Top secret
<Optical camouflage> Yes

・026 White Horn II
<Type> SDF Castor Platoon exclusive vehicle
<Power plant> cb-26 (Supergravity Cosmo Burst Boiler)
<Maximum speed (1M)> 3100skm/h (1M)
<Basic formation> 12 cars (1M+11T)
<Basic Capacity> 24 (combatants)
<Defensive Equipment> Enhanced Electromagnetic Barrier, Enhanced Magnetic Shield
<Armament> Plasma buster, sub-light speed missiles, etc.

・223 Olympus Liner
<Type> Limited express train
<Power plant> GRV-GSX11 (gravity turbo boiler)
<Maximum speed (1M)> 1150skm/h
<Basic formation> 10 cars (4M6T)
<Basic output> 900,000 Cosmo horsepower
<Basic Capacity> 320 people (passengers)
<Body material> Wessen steel alloy
<Defensive Equipment> Electromagnetic Barrier, Magnetic Shield

・290 Express train
<Type> Limited express train
<Power plant> GRV-cB8 (gravity boiler)
<Maximum speed (1M)> 840skm/h
<Basic formation> 11 cars (5M6T)
<Basic formation output> 970,000 horsepower
<Basic Capacity> 384 people (passengers)
<Body material> Slantium alloy
<Defensive Equipment> Electromagnetic Barrier, Magnetic Shield

・389 Express Train
<Type> Limited express train
<Power plant> GRV-cB6 (gravity boiler)
<Maximum speed (1M)> 780skm/h
<Basic formation> 10 cars (2M8T)
<Basic output> 650,000 Cosmo horsepower
<Basic Capacity> 560 people (passengers)
<Body material> Reinforced Wessun steel alloy
<Defensive Equipment> Electromagnetic Barrier, Magnetic Shield

Episode 1: The Departure Episode 2: The Knot of Time Episode 3: The Wheel of Fate Episode 4: The Name of Eternity...
・Episode 5: The Robbery of the Big One ・Episode 6: The Cry of Darkness (Part 1)
Episode 7: The Cry of Darkness (Part 2)
Episode 8: AfterglowEpisode 9: Corridor of MemoriesEpisode 10: Turning PointEpisode 11: AffectionEpisode 12: DuskEpisode 13: Train of FateEpisode 14: BondEpisode 15: United FrontEpisode 16: SexaroidEpisode 17: Goddess of ArmorEpisode 18: Life and DeathEpisode 19: Moment of SerenityEpisode 20: ChoiceEpisode 21: BetrayalEpisode 22: ImpermanenceEpisode 23: Cruel JudgmentEpisode 24: Burning GalaxyEpisode 25: Echoes of LifeEpisode 26: Distant Feelings

・Galaxy Railroad Story: Crossroads to Eternity
・Galaxy Railroad Story: The Forgotten Planet

・OP1
・The Galaxy Express is Far Away・Lyrics by Shiho Aiyoshi・Music by Takeru Sato・Arrangement by Koichiro Kameyama・Singer by Isao Sasaki

・ED1
・Galaxy Light
Lyrics: Hideaki Takatori Composition: Hideaki Takatori Arrangement: Nozomi Aoki Singer: Isao Sasaki