In a future where trains deliver all species across the
cosmos, young Tetsuro wishes to travel aboard the legendary Galaxy Express 999,
to attain a body that can never die.
Through twist of fate, he gains an unlikely ally in the beautiful and
mysterious Maetel, who offers him the chance of a lifetime to travel with her
aboard the 999 itself. It’s the
beginning of a journey that spans the stars and beyond with dangers and wonders
alike awaiting Tetsuro in his galactic quest.
The Galaxy Express 999 film from 1979 is one of my
favorite Anime films of all time.
It’s a
gorgeous space age fairy tale filled with wonder, excitement, terror and
endless possibilities.
I’ve always known
there was a TV version but there was so much I didn’t know going in to the
first episode.
For starters, I didn’t
know the movie came out during the TV Series, nor that the show wouldn’t wrap
for another couple of years, and probably led into the theatrical sequel Adieu
Galaxy Express 999 in 1981.
Not to
mention, the TV Series is pretty long, clocking in at more than 100
episodes.
Does the Premiere inspire the
urge to board that old space age steam locomotive once more?
Most of what’s covered in 999’s first episode is in the
theatrical film but things are surprisingly more sped up and a lot more
intense.
I figured with the series being
as long as it is, it would be a couple of episodes before Testuro even met
Maetel and boarded the 999.
Nope.
In 30 minutes we get the death of Tetsuro’s
mother, his meeting Maetel and his departure on 999…and in the middle we get
Tetsuro going full Rambo on the Cyborg that killed his mother.
That was probably the biggest shocker of this
take on 999.
The movie has a more
fantastical tone, closer to space fantasy than anything else.
The TV Series has a way more action packed
and darker debut by comparison and it’s both “whoa” but also “Oh, I don’t know
how I feel about that.”
Maybe it’s
because Tetsuro knocked off one of his many side quests that he didn’t get to
til well into the Movie so quickly.
Beyond the changes to the story and tone I’m not sure
what else there is to add this early into the series.
I mean it’s Galaxy Express 999 so there’s an
instant attraction to that classic and timeless Anime feel that came out of the
70’s and 80’s.
A TV adaptation also
allows the show to go further and deepen the lore and mystery of this universe
in which the 999 isn’t the only train running on the Galactic Railways (pretty
sure that’s another Matsumotoverse Anime).
Might be worth hopping on a stop or two for a few treks here and
there.
Whether this’ll become another
piece of Matsumoto/999 mythos I tackle in greater detail, the possibilities are
as vast as the Galaxy the 999 travels.
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