The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the CG anime Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express has confirmed that a re-edited version of all 12 episodes, featuring new additional content, will receive a theatrical release in Japan. This announcement follows the airing of the anime’s 12th and final episode on Thursday.
From Viral Short to Theatrical Feature: The Journey of Milky☆Subway
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express is a sequel to Yohei Kameyama’s 2022 CG anime short, Milky☆Highway. The original Milky☆Highway gained significant traction online, amassing over 6.7 million views globally and attracting a dedicated fanbase with its unique world-building and casual dialogue. Kameyama, a film school student at the time, independently handled much of the production for the initial short.
The success of Milky☆Highway paved the way for the sequel series, Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express, which premiered on July 3, 2025. The series was broadcast on Tokyo MX and simultaneously streamed on YouTube, including dubbed versions in 10 languages such as English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, French, Hindi, and Russian.
The Visionary Behind the Animation
Animator Yōhei Kameyama is the driving force behind Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express. He is credited as the director, writer, producer, character designer, modeler, animator, and editor for the series, showcasing a remarkable one-man production approach. This comprehensive involvement has been a hallmark of his work since the original Milky☆Highway short, solidifying his reputation as an exciting creator in the animation industry.
Unpacking the Plot: Chaos Aboard the Galactic Limited Express
The story of Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express centers on two main characters: the super human Chiharu and the cyborg Makina. After being arrested for violating space traffic laws, they are sentenced to perform community service cleaning the “Milky☆Subway,” an interplanetary train. What was expected to be a simple task quickly descends into chaos when the train unexpectedly takes off into deep space.
The duo finds themselves stuck with a crew of other misfits, including the super human pair Akane and Kanata, and cyborg pals Kurt and Max. The narrative unfolds as this unlikely group grapples with the escalating crisis onboard, described as a “never-before-seen space-train spectacle, powered by nothing but pure momentum!”
Key Characters and Voice Cast
The main cast bringing these characters to life includes:
- Chiharu: Voiced by Momoko Terasawa
- Makina: Voiced by Anna Nagase
- Akane: Voiced by Hisako Kanemoto
- Kanata: Voiced by Makoto Koichi
- Kurt: Voiced by Koki Uchiyama
- Max: Voiced by Yoshitaka Yamaya
- Ryoko (the police officer): Voiced by Mikako Komatsu
The series also features the 1977 song “Gingakei Made Tonde Ike!” by the girl group Candies as its theme song.
The Theatrical Experience: What to Expect
The upcoming theatrical edit will combine all 12 episodes of the Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express anime and integrate new, additional content. While specific details about the nature of this new content—whether it comprises extended scenes, additional plot points, or a re-contextualized ending—have not yet been fully disclosed, the announcement suggests a refined and expanded cinematic experience for fans. This theatrical release marks a significant milestone for the independently driven project, elevating its presentation from streaming and television to the big screen.
