The undeniable weight of nostalgia strikes again for the veteran community. After twenty-eight long years of silence in cinemas, the giant studio Toei Animation dropped a massive bomb to celebrate its 70th anniversary: the official production of a new animated film based on the iconic space franchise Galaxy Express 999 (Ginga Tetsudo 999), bringing back the magical and unparalleled universe of the late master Leiji Matsumoto to the big screen.

To ensure this monumental project maintains the classic essence that captivated an entire generation, the legendary director Rintaro (known for timeless gems like Metropolis and X/1999) will be in charge of drafting this new story. The choice of Rintaro is no coincidence, as he was the mastermind behind the acclaimed films of the franchise in the late 1970s. Makiko Matsumoto, daughter of the original creator and current legal representative of his intellectual properties, confessed with deep emotion that this project fulfills her father’s greatest ambition: to keep creating animated works and expanding this melancholic intergalactic journey regardless of time.

While the news is a cause for pure celebration, it comes with an inevitable bittersweet tone for longtime fans. The announcement of this new production occurs just months after the painful and recent losses of Masako Ikeda, the unmistakable voice of the mysterious protagonist Maetel, and Nozomi Aoki, the historic composer of the series. Despite the immense void left by these figures, the production committee is determined to honor their memory, as this anticipated return to cinemas coincides with a spectacular traveling art exhibition across Japan that will land in Saitama Prefecture on September 19, showcasing over three hundred original pieces from the original work.

Knowing it’s been nearly three decades since the release of the film Eternal Fantasy in 1998 and that irreplaceable members of the original voice talent are no longer with us, do you think Toei Animation can recruit new acting talent that matches the classic legacy, or will the purist fans reject the impending changes to these beloved characters?