The highly anticipated “Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume” TV anime has officially announced its main characters and key staff, setting the stage for its premiere in 2026. This original series is part of the ongoing 20th-anniversary celebration of Tomytec’s “Tetsudō Musume” (Railway Girls) project, a popular multimedia franchise that personifies various train-related jobs as anime-style girls.
A Journey with the Train Travel Club
The narrative of “Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume” will center on four university students who share a profound passion for railways. These students are members of the “Tetsudō Ryokō Dōkō-kai,” or “Tetsuryō” for short, which translates to the Railway Travel Club. Their adventures will take them across Japan, where they will encounter the numerous “Tetsudō Musume” characters. These iconic “Railway Girls” are known for wearing the authentic uniforms and work clothes of real-life railway companies and related businesses throughout Japan.
Introducing the Main Characters
The anime’s core story will follow the experiences of four central characters:
- Misaki Sata
- Usa Harutachi
- Kodama Orihara
- Ushio Yagami
While the vibrant personalities of these protagonists are set to come to life, the voice cast responsible for portraying them has not yet been announced by the production committee.
The Creative Team Behind the Rails
Bringing this unique railway adventure to the screen is a talented production team:
- Director: Misuzu Hoshino will be at the helm, known for her directorial work on popular titles such as Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!, and her involvement as an episode director for Laid-Back Camp.
- Series Composition and Scripts: Aya Satsuki, recognized for her contributions to Solo Camping for Two and Too Cute Crisis, is handling the series composition and scriptwriting.
- Character Designs: Hisanori Hashimoto, who worked on the third season of Laid-Back Camp, is responsible for designing the anime characters.
- Animation Studio: The series is being produced by EAST FISH STUDIO Inc.
- Original Work Collaboration: The project credits TOMYTEC and Kisetsu Morita, the acclaimed writer of the I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level novel, for the original concept.
The Enduring Legacy of Tetsudō Musume
The “Tetsudō Musume” franchise, launched by Takara Tomy’s subsidiary Tomytec in 2005, has captivated fans for two decades. It features over 100 girls, each named after stations, trains, or facilities along real Japanese train networks, wearing the uniforms of their respective companies. These characters serve as mascots for promotional activities and collaborations, often appearing as figures and other merchandise.
The franchise has previously branched into various media, including novels, voice dramas, manga, and a Nintendo DS video game. A live-action television drama titled “Tetsudō Musume: Girls Be Ambitious!” also aired from 2008 to 2009. The upcoming “Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume” marks a significant return to animated storytelling for the beloved “Railway Girls” universe.
