Leiji Matsumoto has always been given to revisionism of his long-running works; the various versions of Yamato and Captain Harlock testify to this. It comes as no surprise, then, that Matsumoto chose not only to revive Galaxy Express 999 but to substantially revamp the ending of the saga.
Galaxy Express 999:Eternal Fantasy is an hour-long feature from Japan that picks up where the original film and TV series left off. This means that the events in the previous film Adieu Galaxy Express 999 are now redundant, and do not correspond to Matsumoto's current continuity. Matsumoto has turned back the clock; Tetsuro is no longer a young man but a boy once again. As creator, Matsumoto certainly has the right to revise the events he has created in any way he wishes and, as an audience we have the right to accept such changes as long as Matsumoto's new story is worth telling.
Matsumoto does not disappoint. The film, loosely based on the current Galaxy Express manga story line, contains the same mixture of philosophy and space opera that the original series possessed. Advances in the art of animation in Japan have led to a smoother animation style than in the original series, and the inclusion of computer-generated graphics have made the Three Nine more surreal than ever before. The new characters, Kanon (the "spirit" of Three Nine), a young girl named Ezra, and a female warrior named Helmazria are worthy of the old Matsumoto series. The short running time of the film (which one assumes is intended to be the first in a series of new Galaxy Express films) saves it from the occasional ponderous nature of the original series.
Without giving too much of the plot away, the film is a condensation of the first few chapters of the current Galaxy Express manga. Tetsuro (a homely child who wears a poncho and sombrero just like a hero out of a spaghetti western) is rescued from imprisonment and certain death by his old friend, the mysterious Maytel. Helmazria, a Maytel look-alike, is in the service of the Metanoids, a weird group of elementals seeking to destroy all life in the universe, and she is in hot pursuit of Tetsuro and Maytel across the galaxy. As the story progresses, Tetsuro realizes that he is on an epic journey, one which may well decide the fate of his entire universe. Along the way there are some dazzling bits of animation, as well as quieter moments on the Planet of the Fireflies.
Despite the improved animation, there are no concessions to the blockbuster anime hits of the 1990s along the way. In other words, there are no busty heroines in cheesecake poses, no oversized and improbable mecha, no giggly schoolgirls with magic powers, and no friendly talking super-deformed animal sidekicks. Matsumoto has stayed true to his original vision, which retains its timeless quality. This is to be commended.
Unlike the previous feature films, the film is squarely aimed at old fans of the original series. If you've never seen any episodes of Galaxy Express or either of the two feature films, you will be totally puzzled by virtually the entire film. It's unlikely any new fans will be won over by the film, since there is little attempt to fill the viewer in on previous events.
Eternal Fantasy is not yet available on videotape in English. However, given that the manga has been published in translation in Animerica, it's possible that Viz will distribute the film in the near future. While not essential viewing for the non-initiated, fans of the Galaxy Express series will not be disappointed with Eternal Fantasy.
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