The Galaxy Railways (銀河鉄道物語, Ginga Tetsudō Monogatari?) is a 26 episode science fiction anime series about flying trains set in the far reaches of space. It is licensed by Funimation Production Ltd. and produced by Leiji Matsumoto. It debuted on American TV in a syndicated FUNimation Channel programming block airing on CoLours TV on Monday, June 19, 2006, but was replaced by Dragon Ball until the programming block was dropped. Currently, the series is still airing on the linear FUNimation Channel. Two sequels have been produced, both currently unlicensed in English regions.
A 4-part OVA series The Galaxy Railways: A Letter from the Abandoned Planet (銀河鉄道物語 ～忘れられた時の惑星～, Ginga Tetsudō Monogatari ~Wasurerareta Toki no Wakusei~?, Planet of Forgotten Time) was produced that bridges both seasons of the show (production on the OVA actually began before the sequel TV series, even though it was released later).
In 2006 a sequel series, The Galaxy Railways: Crossroads to Eternity (銀河鉄道物語 ～永遠への分岐点～, Ginga Tetsudō Monogatari ~Eien e no Bunkiten~?) began broadcasting in Japan for a 26-episode run. Of those 26, only 24 episodes were broadcast on television, with the final two released only on DVD.
Plot
1st Season
In the future, mankind will venture to the far reaches of the cosmos using technologically advanced trains. The fleet of the Galaxy Railways transports countless galactic citizens from one exotic planet to the next, protected by the Space Defence Force, or SDF, the elite force protecting the Railways Fleet against terrorists, meteor storms and malicious alien life.
In the beginning of the story, the main character, Manabu Yūki, has always had dreams of joining the SDF, following in the footsteps of his father and brother, who died while serving in the SDF. Unfortunately, his mother is fed up with losing her family to the great space beyond and does what she can to deter him from following his dream. Despite this, Manabu is determined to join, and boards the train to Destiny Station, the story leads on from there.
A Letter from the Abandoned Planet
The Galaxy Express 999 crashes on the off-limits planet of Herise (ヒーライズ) and it's up to the SDF Sirius Platoon to assist.
Crossroads to Eternity
Now having joined the SDF, Manabu Yuuki now has to work among other new and familiar SDF members onboard the Big One. Which the team travels to the outer reaches of Space, combating terrorists to alien life invaders that may threaten the passengers of some of the trains. It is through these events that he learns how to respect his teammates and further develop a lasting friendship among them.
Continuity
It is not certain where this series fits in with the rest of the Leijiverse. Galaxy Express 999 was noted for guest appearances by Captain Harlock, Queen Emeraldas and other connections such as Queen Millenia. The first Galaxy Railways season had no such crossovers and appearances by other Leijiverse characters were limited to subtle visual homages, although Manabu's brother, when accepted by the SDF, boards the Galaxy Express 999 to start his new assignment. For example, Captain Harlock appears as the Joker in a deck of cards. And Queen Millenia appears on the head of coin used for currency. Their status as actual existing characters in this continuity is not known. However, Maetel, Tetsuro, and The Conductor from Galaxy Express 999 do appear in the later Galaxy Railways OAV.
Leiji Matsumoto states on an interview included in the first DVD of the american release, that Manabu Yuuki is actually the brother of female space pirate Kei Yūki, seen in the Captain Harlock TV series and Endless Odyssey OVA, though such relationship has never been mentioned in the anime series and seems unlikely. In the latest volume of the Galaxy Express 999 manga, however, they are brother and sister.
About the dub
The dub of this anime is very faithful to the original Japanese version.
Characters
SDF
Sirius Platoon
Spica Platoon
Vega Platoon
- Ryūsaku Murase Voiced by: Ryūsaku Chiziwa (Japanese), Matthew Tompkins (English)
- Edwin Silver Voiced by: Wataru Hatano (Japanese), Colin Ware (English)
- José Antonio Valdivia Voiced by: Atsushi Imaruoka (Japanese), Jerry Zumwalt (English)
- Moritz Schneider Voiced by: Yōji Ueda (Japanese), Anthony Bowling (English)
Cepheus Platoon
- Guy Lawrence Voiced by: Yasushi Miyabayashi
- Jean Pierre Voiced by: Masato Nishino
- Kim R. Nightguy Voiced by: Yōji Ueda
- Kori Raysheed Voiced by: Haruka Kimura
SPG (Space Panzer Grenadiers)
- Frederick Johannson Voiced by: Kenyū Horiuchi (Japanese), Paul Slavens (English)
- Mamoru Yuuki Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa (Japanese), Dave Trosko (English)
- Bartolomeu Helguera
Galaxy Railways Administration Bureau
- Layla Destiny Shula Voiced by: Yōko Asagami (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)
- Heigorō Tōdō Voiced by: Hitoshi Kubota (Japanese), Andy Mullins (English)
- Brad Voiced by: Kayato Ōhashi (Japanese), Frank Ford (English)
- Franz Voiced by: Yōichi Masukawa (Japanese), Daniel Katsük (English)
- Kate Voiced by: Asuka Tanii (Japanese), Lucy Small (English)
- Miki Voiced by: Izumi Koike (Japanese), Emily Hornsby, Trina Nishimura (English)
- Sayaka Voiced by: Aki Nanbu (Japanese), Kate Borneman (English)
- Sōichirō Nagumo
Maintenance Bureau
Special Intelligence Bureau
- Ivonov Leonidovitch Berichkov Voiced by: Kōzō Shioya (Japanese), Grant James (English)
- Hiroshi Kondō
Other characters
- Kanna Yuuki Voiced by: Yōko Asagami (Japanese), Jennifer Seman (English)
- Kinuko Asai Voiced by: Hikari Yono (Japanese), Linda Young (English)
- Narrator Voiced by: Hitoshi Kubota (Japanese), Matthew Tompkins (English)
- Shaw Voiced by: Yū Arata (Japanese), Jim Foronda (English)
- Leon Voiced by: Bin Shimada (Japanese), Christopher Sabat (English)
Music Themes - 1st Season
Intro
|
| Title |
Artist |
Episodes |
| Ginga Tetsudo wa Harukanari |
Isao Sasaki |
1-26 |
|
Ending
|
| Ginga no Hikari |
Isao Sasaki |
1-26 |
Music Themes - A Letter from the Abandoned Planet & Crossroads to Eternity
Intro
|
| Carry the Light |
JAJA |
1-26 |
|
Ending
|
| ALL OF US |
Maki Goto |
1-26 |
See also
- Galaxy Express 999 – the original series by Leiji Matsumoto.
- Time travel – Manabu meets his brother again after his death by traveling back in time.
External links
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