galaxy express 999 ( ginga tetsudô three nine ) . make in 1979. direct by rintaro . base on the original work by leiji matsumoto . what little i know of the history of galaxy express 999 and it be first publish a a popular manga in 1970 and be create by leiji matsumoto . ge999 be set in the same star war type of space universe a matsumoto other famous space manga represent captain harlock . in fact space pirate harlock and other character from that manga ( include queen emeraldas and tochirô oyama ) make appearance in ge999 . ge999 be a success a a manga and be soon follow by also popular anime series which include over 100 episode . it be air in 1978. a year later come this anime film and which isn not a sequel to the series and but summaries the main point of the story in two hour long movie . the story be set in unidentified star war type of future where journey to different planet have become a possibility . people of the future can have themselves mechanical body in which they can live hundred of year and maybe even forever . the protagonist and tetsurô hoshino and be a young boy who witness how a cruel count mecha and whose entire body be make of mechanical part and kill tetsurô mother . tetsurô swears revenge and be convince that he can only achieve it by have a mechanical body . to obtain it he must travel to a far away planet with space train galaxy express 999. however and since tetsurô come from poverty and he have no money to obtain the expensive ticket . by a chance coincidence he meet a beautiful young woman and maetel and who bear a resemblance to his dead mother . maetel offer a ticket for tetsurô on a condition that she accompany him on his journey . and so the journey begin i first saw this film last october and about six month from now and and again yesterday . i feel that i must first tell about the thing that bother me the most in this film represent it seem very rush . then again what can you expect from 2 hour long movie that try to tell the main point of over 100 episode long series . whatever the case and the situation change with a fast speed and tetsurô meet other important character in the story mostly by pure chance . i feel maker should have either leave something out or include extra 30 minute . however and there no arguing that ge999 have deserve it place a an anime classic . the animation itself and very faithful to the style of matsumoto manga and be detail and beautiful to watch . even after almost 30 year of it release the animation have not become out of date but put many later anime film in shame . the music through out the film be enjoyable to listen even if somewhat old these day ( it be the 70 after all ) . i have not hear any english dub of this film so i can only comment the japanese audio which be good . voice actor give life to their character and most memorable one be masako nozawa ( mainly know a the voice of goku through out the entire dragon ball saga ) a the excited and young tetsurô and and masako ikeda a the calm and mysterious maetel . the support character be not leave in shadow and but also have a life of their own and most memorable to me be waitress claire . the story itself be suitable for both those who be look for an entertainment for couple of hour and as well a for those who try to find deep message . ge999 be an entertaining adventure film but can also be see a tetsurô journey from boyhood to manhood . the whole film be tell from his point of view and so we be force to feel what he feel . i think many people can relate to tetsurô and for despite the fantasy element and he be a very realistic character represent young and hot head and awkward and naive . we follow him a he start to see difference between human and machine and come to conclusion whether he want the mechanical body or not . maetel on the other hand stay a a mystery in the film and even in the end and when she reveals who and what she really be and it doesn not much answer to anything . maetel can be see a a dream of a grow young man and always close but just out of reach . it be the strange yet beautiful relationship between tetsurô and maetel that still awake talk and question and and fascinates after the decade . people have argue if their relationship be that of a two friend and of mother and son and or of two possible lover ( which wake a lot of critique since maetel age be unknown and tetsurô hasn not even reach his puberty yet ) . without any mean to sound deep and i think the best term to describe them be soul mate . there be no question that the two feel devotion and caring and love for each others and yet it go beyond that of friendship and family and lover . i think that if their relationship would be stuff in any of those category and it would take something out of the whole film and of the character . the end scene and even if you already know what be go to happen and be still very touching and memorable . all in all and despite the rushing of plot and some corny scene and galaxy express 999 hold it place a an anime classic amongst the film like katsuhiro otomo akira ( 1988 ) and mamoru oshii ghost in the shell ( 1995 ) . the film be direct by rintaro and who have previous experience of leiji matsumoto work a he have work in captain harlock series . later rinatro direct a wonderful look metropolis ( 2001 ) that also question the difference between human and machine . galaxy express 999 ( 1979 ) be a classic that should be see at least once by every anime fan .