The Galaxy Railways

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The Galaxy Railways
銀河鉄道物語
Genre Action, Science fiction
TV anime
Director Yukio Nishimoto
Licensor Flag of Japan BS Fuji
Flag of the United States FUNimation
Network Flag of the United States Select On Demand
CoLours TV
Original run Flag of Japan October 4, 2003 – April 4, 2004
Episodes 26
OVA: A Letter from the Abandoned Planet
Episodes 4
Released Flag of Japan January 21 - March 24, 2007
TV anime: Crossroads to Eternity
Director Tsuneo Tominaga
Network Flag of Japan CBC
Original run Flag of Japan October 4, 2006 – March 28, 2007
Episodes 26

The Galaxy Railways (銀河鉄道物語 Ginga Tetsudō Monogatari?) is a 26 episode sci-fi 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 has now debuted on American TV in a syndicated FUNimation Channel programming block airing on CoLours TV beginning on Monday, June 19, 2006, but has since been replaced by Dragon Ball.

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) 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. Both sequels are currently unlicensed in English.

Contents

[edit] Plot

[edit] 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.

[edit] A Letter from the Abandoned Planet

[edit] Crossroads to Eternity

Now having joined the SDF, Manabu Yuki 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Characters

[edit] SDF

[edit] Sirius Platoon

[edit] Spica Platoon

  • Julia F. Reinhart Voiced by: Hyo-sei
  • Percy Shelly Voiced by: Hikari Yono
  • Maggie Redford Voiced by: Yūki Mitsugi
  • Ai Matsuura Voiced by: Tomato Akai

[edit] Vega Platoon

[edit] 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

[edit] SPG (Space Panzer Grenadiers)

[edit] Galaxy Railways Administration Bureau

  • Layla Destiny Shula Voiced by: Yōko Asagami (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)
  • Heigorō Tōdō Voiced by: Hitoshi Kubota
  • Brad Voiced by: Kayato Ōhashi
  • Franz Voiced by: Yōichi Masukawa (Japanese), Daniel Katsük (English)
  • Kate Voiced by: Asuka Tanii (Japanese), Susan Huber (English)
  • Miki Voiced by: Izumi Koike
  • Sayaka Voiced by: Aki Nanbu
  • Sōichirō Nagumo

[edit] Maintenance Bureau

[edit] Special Intelligence Bureau

  • Ivonov Leonidovitch Berichkov Voiced by: Kōzō Shioya
  • Hiroshi Kondō

[edit] Other characters

[edit] Music Themes - 1st Season

[edit] Intro
Title Artist Episodes
Ginga Tetsudo wa Harukanari Isao Sasaki 1-26

[edit] Ending
Ginga no Hikari Isao Sasaki 1-26

[edit] Music Themes - Crossroads to Eternity

[edit] Intro
Carry the Light JAJA 1-26

[edit] Ending
ALL OF US Maki Goto 1-26

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links