The highly anticipated CG anime short, Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express, a sequel to animator Yōhei Kameyama’s viral Milky☆Highway, has unveiled its second trailer, offering a glimpse into the expanded cast and revealing its theme song ahead of its July 3 premiere. The short will debut on Tokyo MX at 9:54 p.m. JST and will also be simultaneously streamed globally on YouTube with dubs in ten languages, including English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, French, Hindi, and Russian.
Expanding the Galactic Crew
The newly released trailer confirms additional voice cast members joining the adventure. Hisako Kanemoto will portray Akane, Mikako Komatsu takes on the role of Ryōko, Kōki Uchiyama voices Kurt, Makoto Koichi is cast as Kanata, and Yoshitaka Yamaya lends his voice to Max. These additions complement the previously announced main cast, with Momoka Terasawa as Chiharu and Anna Nagase as Makina.
A Classic Tune for a Cosmic Journey
Adding a nostalgic touch to the futuristic setting, the theme song for Milky☆Subway is “Gingakei Made Tonde Ike!” (Fly to the Galaxy!), a 1977 song by the iconic Japanese girl group Candies. This selection promises a unique auditory experience, blending retro charm with contemporary CG animation.
Plotting the Course Through Chaos
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express continues the story of superhuman Chiharu and cyborg Makina, who find themselves in trouble after violating space traffic laws. Their sentence: community service, cleaning the interplanetary train known as the “Milky☆Subway.” What was intended to be a straightforward task quickly devolves into interstellar chaos when the train unexpectedly blasts off into deep space. The narrative promises a “never-before-seen space-train spectacle, powered by nothing but pure momentum,” emphasizing a plot driven by unforeseen events and the characters’ frantic reactions rather than meticulous planning.
The Visionary Behind the Express
Yōhei Kameyama, the acclaimed animator behind the original Milky☆Highway short, returns to helm Milky☆Subway. Kameyama is credited with directing, writing, producing, and handling the character designs, modeling, animation, and editing, showcasing his singular vision for the project. His previous work, Milky☆Highway, released in 2022 as his graduation project from Kadokawa’s Vantan Game Academy CG Animator major, garnered significant attention, accumulating over 6.75 million views across its English-subtitled and original versions. The success of Milky☆Highway laid the groundwork for this much-anticipated sequel, which aims to expand the quirky and engaging “Milky☆Universe.”
