In the world of anime and manga the name Leiji Matsumoto is synonymous with the space opera genre. This legend created shows such as Captain Harlock, Queen Emeraldas, and Galaxy Express 999. While the main attractions to his works are the wonderfully developed characters and rich atmosphere, I've always felt the continuity between series helped a lot. Though each show he has created takes place within its own confines there are elements in each that grace one another. Take his latest work Galaxy Railways for instance.

In Galaxy Railways humanity travels the stars via space faring trains and has settle across many star systems. If you're new to Matsumoto's works it may take some getting used to because it's decidedly different than watching a science fiction show where the protagonists fly around in actual starships. Another throwback to his prior works is the fact that Galaxy Express 999 is the name of a character's train early on. It's safe to say that if you have ever been a fan of Matsumoto's creative vision then Galaxy Railways is a show you simply must check out.

Galaxy Railways originally aired in 2003 and has 26 episodes under its belt. FUNimation handled the release of the individual volumes but recently issued a complete collection for fans savoring the whole kit and caboodle. This is a show that makes such an impression upon the viewer that I'm anxiously awaiting the second season which recently aired in Japan and the OVA that is reportedly in production. Few shows are as creative and entertaining as this one and I simply can't gush enough after watching the whole thing.

The show takes place on a distant world and revolves around the Yuuki family. Young Manubu has dreamt about flying through the stars on a train like his father for quite some time. In fact it has been his childhood dream for as long as he can remember. Nothing will deter him from seeing his wishes come true; not even the death of his father and brother.

You see, Manubu's father was a captain in the Space Defense Force (SDF) and in an effort to save the lives of innocent passengers and his stowaway children he sacrifices himself. He was a brave man and one who was admired by many and not just his peers. Traveling space in trains is a dangerous thing and there always seems someone out to get you whether it's an alien race or a merciless band of pirates. With this in mind it's only natural that Manubu idolized his father and wanted to walk in his footsteps despite the fact that they have all but ruined the Yuuki family.

A big theme in Galaxy Railways is the exploration of a character's personality and the role that they play in life. Manubu for instance goes through a metamorphosis and really grows up once he becomes a member of the SDF and Sirius Patrol aboard the Big One like his father. He initially refuses to use a weapon with lethal intent but when he's faced with a life and death situation later on he begins to question the morality of it. Another example of his character comes about when he accidentally travels back in time and meets his brother moments before his death. He wants nothing more than to undo the tragedy of the past and take his brother back with him but you don't have to be a fan of Back to the Future to imagine what would have happened.

While Manubu is the main character in Galaxy Railways there are many other sub-characters that add some depth to the show. The mysterious leader of the SDF was a good example of a weighty personality in the series. Manubu's other teammates such as Bruce, David, Bulge, and Yuki also help to flesh things out. In particular Louise is an interesting character because she joins the series early on and goes through a similar growth pattern with Manubu.

Throughout the 26 episodes the show balances action and plot development very well. There are many episodes where it basically turns out to be a "situation of the week" type show but there are mini-stories and arcs nestled here and there. At a couple of points in the middle the pacing slows down but it revs up soon enough with a massive ending that leaves an impact. It's one of those grand showdown moments where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance but it's handled in a very non-cliché manner.

Galaxy Railways was such a fun show and in many ways it represented the best of Leiji Matsumoto's works. This is a celebration of his creativity and if you aren't already, it will make a fan out of you. Scoff at the idea of trains flying through space all you want, Galaxy Railways is more about great writing and interesting characters than anything else. I can't recommend this series enough.

Galaxy Railways may be a few years old but it's a great looking show that is presented with a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Matsumoto's unique designs give the series personality and it's complimented by the quality of the video. Colors appear vibrant and natural, aliasing is non-existent, and grain is kept very minimal. If there are any flaws to be found on this collection it's really only a little bit of compression that appears at random points throughout.

Like many shows now-a-days, Galaxy Railways receives English and Japanese 2.0 stereo selections as well as a 5.1 English mix. The stereo offerings are decent though their range was limited as you'd expect with all sound remaining on the front channel and very little to no separation to speak of. The 5.1 selection brought some more immersion to the table with music and sound effects being particularly noteworthy. The voices had a degree of directionality as well though I felt the effect had less impact. Both language dubbings are very good as well and I can honestly say that I didn't prefer one more than the other which is a rare thing.

While other companies like ADV strip their complete collections of all supplemental material, FUNimation generally does not. Granted these discs are simply a repackaging of the original DVDs so it's not very surprising that the bonus features are intact. Throughout the six discs in this set you'll find some of the standard inclusions such as trailers, textless songs, and character profiles.

In addition to those features there are also three commentary tracks with the American voice cast and director. Two Japanese recording sessions are included as well a press conference for when Galaxy Railways was announced. My favorite feature in this collection was the interview with Leiji Matsumoto. In the interview he connects this series with his previous works and discusses his inspirations. It's interesting to see the way many characters were integrated into the show from some of his prior productions.

If you're looking for a unique science fiction show with personality and heart then Galaxy Railways should definitely be on your list. Anyone familiar with Matsumoto's other series will know right from the start just how skilled he is as a storyteller. It doesn't happen often enough where a series is rock solid from start to finish but Galaxy Railways proved its worth. Highly Recommended

Check out more of my reviews here. Head on over to my anime blog as well for random musings and reviews of anime, manga, and stuff from Japan!