On This Day 47 Years Ago, We Got the Perfect Sci-Fi Anime Answer to Star Trek

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Space feels fundamentally strange and unlike anything we experience on Earth. It’s a vast emptiness filled with distant starlight and a sense of nothingness. It’s paradoxical – incredibly empty, yet brimming with mystery and potential. We may be alone in the universe, or countless alien civilizations could exist, and we simply don’t know. This uncertainty gives writers the freedom to create any story they imagine. Space offers a canvas for fantasy and magic, a world far removed from our daily routines. However, the most compelling science fiction often explores what it means to be human, using futuristic settings to reflect our own lives and emotions.

Released 47 years ago, *Galaxy Express 999* is a highly influential sci-fi anime from Toei Animation. The series uniquely blends futuristic space settings with a classic, almost old-fashioned style. The central element, the Galaxy Express 999 train, looks like an antique steam engine but travels across the universe seemingly by magic – we only get hints about how it actually works. The show builds its world using a dreamlike logic, creating a distinct mood of atmosphere and suspense. Though it shares similarities with *Star Trek* through its exploration and individual episodes, *Galaxy Express 999* is truly original – a retro-futuristic anime based on the work of a visionary manga artist whose stories have been adapted for decades.

Galaxy Express 999 Takes You Where You Need To Go

Following the popularity of sci-fi anime like *Space Battleship Yamato*, Toei Animation sought to create another hit with the same author, Leiji Matsumoto. Like Gene Roddenberry, the creator of *Star Trek*, Matsumoto became well-known for his imaginative science fiction stories and worlds, which proved popular for many years. His other successful anime adaptations, such as *Space Pirate Captain Harlock*, convinced Toei to adapt more of his work, including *Galaxy Express 999*. Interestingly, Toei decided to create the *Galaxy Express 999* anime even though the original manga was still being published and wouldn’t finish until 1981.

Even while the anime and manga were still being created, the ending of the story was revealed in the *Galaxy Express 999* film. Different versions of the story didn’t always show the ending exactly the same way, but key plot points – like Maetel’s surprising turn and the battle against the Machine Empire – appeared in most adaptations. The *Galaxy Express 999* movie was made quickly, premiering on August 4th, 1979, just a year after production started. It was a huge success in Japan and led to a sequel, *Adieu Galaxy Express 999*. To this day, the series continues to inspire Japanese science fiction.

Galaxy Express 999’s 1979 Movie Is a Surrealistic Masterpiece

Galaxy Express 999 feels like a dream, and its story unfolds in a free-flowing way. It begins with a thrilling setup: a boy named Tetsuro Hoshino joins a mysterious woman, Maetel, on a journey across space aboard the legendary Galaxy Express. After that exciting start, the plot becomes less focused. Initially, Tetsuro has two main goals: to avenge his mother’s death by defeating the robot Count Mecha, and to become a robot himself. Each planet they visit presents a new story that contributes to Tetsuro’s larger journey of growing up. The film’s gentle colors create a calming and dreamlike atmosphere, as if viewers are watching from a distance. Things often happen without clear explanation, but this feels natural within the dreamlike context, and always moves Tetsuro closer to what he wants.

The movie uses dreamlike imagery to emphasize its fantastical nature. Beyond the central image of a train traveling through space, the world of *Galaxy Express 999* features bizarre creations like a robot made of glass and a spaceship designed like a pirate ship. Familiar characters from Matsumoto’s work, such as Captain Hancock and Queen Esmerelda, also make appearances. One of the most memorable scenes shows the frozen surface of Pluto, filled with the bodies of people who transferred their minds into machines-a chilling image that highlights the frightening cost of seeking immortality. The villain, Count Mecha, reinforces this theme through his cruel practice of killing people for entertainment, demonstrating the dangers of losing one’s humanity. These events ultimately inspire Tetsuro to fight against the machine empire instead of becoming a robot himself.

The machine empire’s planet is a bizarre and unsettling place, built with endless, illogical corridors and a cold color scheme of silver and black. It feels utterly alien compared to other worlds the characters visit. Its ruler, Queen Promethium, isn’t a physical being – she appears only as a face shrouded in a dark cloak, giving her a menacing and inhuman presence. Her attempt to kill Tetsuro is a surprisingly subtle but deeply frightening moment. The scene cuts to complete darkness as she pulls him into what feels like a nightmare, until the light of the glass girl – who selflessly sacrifices herself – finally breaks through the gloom and saves him.

Tetsuro embarks on a journey with the Galaxy Express 999, initially wanting to leave his home behind forever. Surprisingly, the film concludes with him back where he started, but profoundly changed. The ending is bittersweet, as Tetsuro and Maetel part ways – a particularly poignant moment being Maetel’s farewell kiss. He desperately tries to stay with her, running after the train, but it eventually departs. The final scene shows Tetsuro walking alone along the tracks as the credits roll, highlighting both the joy and sadness of growing up. The movie suggests that it’s essential for people to experience the world and learn to stand on their own, even if it’s difficult. Though life isn’t always easy, things will eventually work out. As the audience watches Tetsuro continue his journey, they’re left with a sense of hope, knowing he’s gained wisdom and will carry his experiences with him always.

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2025-09-14 17:43