Galaxy Express 999

In a distant future, Tetsuro is a human boy who wants his body replaced with a robotic one. This is possible, but to do so he has to reach the Immortal Planet onboard the space train Galaxy Express 999. Maetel, a beautiful and mysterious blonde woman dressed in Russian style, joins him in the long journey through space. Every episode sees our heroes arriving in a new planet's space train station.

Galaxy Express 999 (1978-1981) is a Japanese anime space opera series produced by Toei Animation for Fuji Television and its affiliated regional network. Tetsuro Hoshino, voiced by Masako Nozawa, is a human boy who wants his body replaced with a robotic one, a transformation possible only at the Immortal Planet. To get there he boards the space train Galaxy Express 999 with Maetel, a beautiful and mysterious blonde woman in Russian style dress, voiced by Masako Ikeda. The engine of the series is the long journey itself. Every episode brings the pair to a new planet's train station, where they meet strangers, dangers and the hard costs of mechanized life, while the Conductor and the narrator frame each stop. The series runs for one season of 113 episodes, a self-contained episodic format with a slowly advancing overarching quest. Set in a distant future across a sprawling galaxy, it carries a melancholic, philosophical and wistful register, with cosmic imagery and a coming of age heart. Fans of Space Battleship Yamato, Captain Harlock and Ghost in the Shell will find resonance in its blend of space opera, cyborg identity and quiet longing.

• Space Battleship Yamato (1974)shared cosmic melancholy, space opera journey structure, and coming of age themes
• Captain Harlockshared episodic space journey with a philosophical, wistful tone and a young protagonist seeking a bodily transformation
• Ghost in the Shellshared cyborg identity themes and a melancholic far future setting

Release Date

1978-09-14

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

7.8 / 10 (33)

What is Galaxy Express 999 about?

A young boy and a mysterious woman ride a cosmic space train across a far future galaxy in search of the Immortal Planet and a robotic body.

What is Galaxy Express 999 like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Galaxy Express 999 as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Galaxy Express 999 violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Galaxy Express 999 as moderate.

Which shows are like Galaxy Express 999?

Shows with a similar feel include Space Battleship Yamato (1974), Captain Harlock, and Ghost in the Shell.

How long is Galaxy Express 999?

Galaxy Express 999: 1 season, 113 episodes.

Is Galaxy Express 999 still running?

No, Galaxy Express 999 has ended.

Where can I watch Galaxy Express 999?

In United States, Galaxy Express 999 streams on Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel.