Galaxy Express 999 (1979)

Together with Kaboom Animation Festival we bring the best anime to the big screen!

While the boom period for anime starts from the 1990s, there are many gems to unearth from before that period. One is Galaxy Express 999, the debut feature film of Rintaro, one of the cofounders of studio Madhouse. Based on the manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto, Galaxy Express 999 is a space opera like no other. Set in a distant future in which immortality can be achieved by transferring one’s mind into a machine-body, young Tetsuro dreams of reaching the end of the intergalactic Galaxy Express 999 line, where one of these bodies can supposedly be obtained for free. In doing so, Tetsuro hopes defeat Count Mecha, a trophy hunter responsible for his mother’s death. A wild romp across the solar system, Galaxy Express 999 was visually inspired by Star Wars and steampunk, but the result is a unique blend of anime and 1970s scifi. With a great soundtrack by Nozomu Aoki, Galaxy Express 999 is a classic that needs to be seen on the big screen.

Melkweg often hosts different types of programmes at the same time, such as concerts, club nights and films. Please note that there may occasionally be some noise pollution from other programmes during the screening.