Ginga tetsudô Three-Nine (1979)

The adventures of a brave young boy who travels from planet to planet in a determined quest to avenge his mother's death.

Director:

Rintaro

Writers:

Leiji Matsumoto (manga), Kon Ichikawa (screenplay)

Stars:

Masako Nozawa, Masako Ikeda, Yôko Asagami

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Masako Nozawa	...	Tetsurô Hoshino (voice)
Masako Ikeda	...	Maetel (voice)
Yôko Asagami	...	Claire (voice)
Miyoko Asô	...	Tochirô's Mother (voice)
Toshiko Fujita	...	Shadow (voice)
Banjô Ginga	...	Captain of the Guard (voice) (as Takashi Tanaka)
Yasuo Hisamatsu	...	Antares (voice)
Makio Inoue	...	Captain Harlock (voice)
Tatsuya Jô	...	Narrator (voice)
Ryôko Kinomiya	...	Queen Promethium (voice)
Kaneta Kimotsuki	...	Conductor (voice)
Gorô Naya	...	Doctor Ban (voice)
Noriko Ohara	...	Ryûzu / Mîmé (voice)
Ryûji Saikachi	...	Bartender (voice)
Hidekatsu Shibata	...	Kikai Hakushaku (Count Mecha) (voice)

Storyline

Tetsuro Hoshino, orphaned by the Cyborgs, lives in a slum in the shadow of their megapolis. He steals a pass for Galaxy Express 999, and is saved by a mysterious woman called Maitre, a living image of his mother who had been killed by the Cyborgs. Wearing a special pendant, he sets out for Andromeda where he can obtain eternal life and avenge his parents' death. On his odyssey, he meets a gallery of fantastic characters that help him exterminate the evil Star of Andromeda which had been giving mechanical bodies to rich human beings.

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Plot Keywords:

multiple english dubs | 2d animation | flying train | galaxy express 999 | outer space | 

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Taglines:

Your imagination is the final destination.

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The gun Tetsuo is given is a rare weapon called a Cosmo Dragoon. There are only a handful in the Universe. Harlock and Emeraldas also own Cosmo Dragoons

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Goofs

The length of the Galaxy Express 999 is inconsistent. A car count reveals that the number of cars varies from shot to shot.

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Alternate Versions

Around 35 minutes was cut from the original for the New World Pictures's Roger Corman's release.

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Connections

Referenced in O Planeta do Tesouro (2002)

User Reviews

Will put you under its spell

This movie can be criticized as not having the hipness or technical quality of anime films today, but it is the depth of the story and passion of the art that make it such a classic. I'm not a big anime fan, and this is the only anime film I've seen that I would want to watch more than once.

The story is a wonderful and surrealistic coming-of-age type allegory. Despite elements common to science fiction (man vs. machine, hero setting out to avenge his parent's death), it stays free of cliche and retains an air of realism, or true surrealism. Almost all of the characters are more memorable and unique than most main characters in other anime films.

One of the unique things about this film is the way it conveys emotion so powerfully. I can't really define what gives it this quality, but it is extremely moving, like a good symphony or vast impressionistic landscape. The only other films I can think of (at the moment anyways) that have this quality would be the Godfather films.

In conclusion, anyone who appreciates what science fiction is about should see this film. It's a rare treat.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

4 August 1979 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ginga tetsudô 999

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures, Ocean Group, Toei Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min 94 min (New World Pictures) (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1