The highly anticipated CG anime short, Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express, a sequel to the viral Milky☆Highway, has unveiled its second trailer, main visual, and additional cast members ahead of its July 3 debut. This new installment promises to expand upon the quirky universe established by animator Yōhei Kameyama, who once again takes on a multitude of roles, including director, writer, and character designer for the project.
Expanding the Crew and Cast
The latest trailer for Milky☆Subway has confirmed several prominent voice actors joining the ensemble. Hisako Kanemoto, known for roles such as Akane, Mikako Komatsu as Ryōko, Kōki Uchiyama as Kurt, Makoto Koichi as Kanata, and Yoshitaka Yamaya as Max, are among the newly announced cast members who will lend their voices to the interplanetary adventure. These actors join Momoka Terasawa, who voices the superhuman Chiharu, and Anna Nagase, portraying her cyborg companion Makina. This diverse cast is set to bring to life a group of misfits forced into an unexpected space journey.
A Retro-Pop Soundtrack for a Space Odyssey
Adding a unique flavor to the futuristic setting, the anime short will feature “Gingakei Made Tonde Ike!” (Fly to the Galaxy!) by the iconic 1977 Japanese girl group Candies as its theme song. This choice of a classic track is poised to infuse the CG animation with a nostalgic, retro-pop sensibility, aligning with the distinctive aesthetic that Kameyama has cultivated in his works. Takurō Yoshida composed the theme song, with lyrics by Makoto Kitajō.
The Story So Far: From Community Service to Galactic Chaos
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express continues the narrative from Kameyama’s 2022 graduation project, Milky☆Highway. The premise centers on Chiharu, a superhuman, and Makina, a cyborg, who find themselves arrested for violating space traffic laws. As a form of community service, they are tasked by police officer Ryōko with cleaning the “Milky☆Subway,” an interplanetary train. What was intended to be a straightforward assignment quickly spirals into chaos when the train unexpectedly embarks on an uncontrolled journey into deep space. The official description teases a narrative driven by “no purpose! No principle! No point! A never-before-seen space-train spectacle, powered by nothing but pure momentum!”
Kameyama’s Vision: A One-Man Production
Yōhei Kameyama’s involvement in Milky☆Subway is extensive, mirroring his approach to the original short. He is credited with directing, writing, and producing the sequel, in addition to handling character designs, modeling, animation, and editing. This highly individualized production style was a hallmark of Milky☆Highway, which garnered over 6.75 million combined views for its original and English-subtitled versions, establishing Kameyama as a notable independent animator. The new short is produced in partnership with Titan Industries and Shin-Ei Animation, a studio known for works such as Doraemon, indicating a growing diversification in their projects.
Global Reach and Premiere Details
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express is set to premiere on July 3, airing on the Tokyo MX channel in Japan at 9:54 p.m. JST. Crucially, the anime will also be simultaneously streamed globally on YouTube, a move that significantly broadens its accessibility. Furthermore, the production team has confirmed that dubbed versions will be available in ten languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, French, Hindi, and Russian, underscoring a commitment to reaching a worldwide audience. This global release strategy, coupled with Kameyama’s unique creative vision, positions Milky☆Subway as a notable entry in the realm of independent CG animation this summer.
