Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru

This is a movie for dreamers. That's as simple as I can state it. It evokes strong interest and emotion from the viewer. I was on the edge of my seat. It is paced much like an odyssey-traveling along an ever changing magical landscape that you feel you are becoming part of. The artwork has a simplistic beauty that is extremely pleasing to the eye. There is a feeling of drama and intensity all throughout, even in the smallest of scenes you feel as if you are on the verge of-something, something big. This movie is for the fantasy, fairytale and visual experience fans. ... I feel like I have just watched my first piece of fantastical anime. That's a pretty huge feeling, I hope you can share the same.

This is one of the most atmospheric movies I've seen in awhile. It's very abstract, the animation and character design is very well done, especially for its age. This story stresses on friendship and makes you reflect on life. It impacted me very emotionally at the end, and there were many scenes I did not expect at all. The music, especially, was very well placed, and pleasing to the ear. Overall, this is the kind of movie I would love to show to all of my friends.

What an interesting film.

I've never truly seen anything quite like this movie, and I find myself thinking about it quite often.

The story is very simple, yet very complex at the same time. Just about two little cat boys who ride a giant train and travel across the universe, in it all being a metaphor for dying and being taken to heaven.

While this film is very slow and can drag at moments, its extremely atmospheric. The inside of the train and the cats are nothing special but some of the backgrounds are STUNNING. Things like the giant cross and fields seen from the train look very ... well drawn, especially for the time this movie was made.

It should also be noted that the main theme is one of my favorite orchestrated pieces of all time. Such a beautiful and haunting tune, combining a music box and the ticking of a clock.

This movie's ending also caught me off guard completely. This is a G rated movie, meant for children, but it has one of the most bleak and nihilistic endings I have ever seen. Seriously, if you would have showed me this movie as a kid I would have been very confused, but this does not mean the ending is bad by any means. It suits this movie perfectly, being so eerie and downright startling.

Overall, this is a movie I would recommend if you want to watch a classic, artbook of a film. Don't come for a linear story. Come for the capturing atmosphere, bleak tone and beautiful OST. Its not for everyone, but it is a one of a kind movie with heart behind it.

An extremely well hidden gem in a world of superficial entertainment that I was lucky to stumble upon.

The entire movie is incredibly atmospheric and dream-like, the scenery is beautiful, the same for the music. It has the quality that some movies have to resemble a work of art, like a painting that draws you into it and makes you spend some time just appreciating it. I don't mind low pacing in general, I actually like it, and here the low-pacing is an extra plus that increases appreciation time. I could just watch it again and again.

And it is not just empty beauty. The ... story is touching, deep, and emotional, and just adds to the overall beauty of everything. It's actually much more serious than I was expecting, with some dark revelations and concepts, although there is enough hope in it. It's surely something that will be stuck in my soul for some time.

An interesting comment is that I found it to be actually more concrete than the general consensus. Sure, the sequences have a strong abstract and symbolic element, however, many events do have a concrete explanation or receive one after we learn more of what is happening.

From all of the above, it's inevitable to conclude that the movie has the following qualities: abstract elements, symbolism, dream-like feeling, depth, and slow-pacing. It's also imperative to say that the story-telling is highly unconventional and requires the appropriate attitude to be appreciated. For some, like me, this means immediate recommendation. For others, it can mean a sound no. What it doesn't mean, however, is that it is just psychedelic bullshit; maybe it's just not for you. If you feel like the elements above appeal to you, I'd say it's a must. Break the barrier of infinite superficial and popular content, reach to the forgotten realms of the underground, and enjoy this hidden but preserved masterpiece.

I really, honestly, don't think it's possible to capture the beauty of this movie in words. I don't even know if I can call it a movie, because it's nothing short of an experience. It's a languid, heavy exploration of the cosmos, relying heavily on esoteric symbolism and the lack of interaction projected AS interaction. Screenshots and short clips don't do it justice; just like a Captain Beefhart album, this is something that you need to sit down and take in in one sitting with no distractions.
The only thing I didn't give a perfect score to was the art, but please know that ... the art is gorgeous and the only reason I left off a point was because the high foreheads of the cats bothered me a little bit. Aside from that, I don't see any flaws.
Also: do not watch this movie if you want to watch a happy movie. This is not a happy movie. It does not have any happy parts. And the ending made me cry. A lot. For a while. But I still think it's an experience worth having, and even though it isn't happy, I did find it enjoyable.

Even being one of my favorite movies, it’s really hard to me to review this movie, but I’ll do my best.

The story is amazing, but the way the movie tells it could be better. Sometimes it doesn’t flow smoothly. If you are looking for an action-packed movie, this is not for you. I think this is a movie to take a moment and just watch it, but sometimes the movie kind of stops and that can be bothering. Also the story is very philosophical, so the meaning of the movie isn’t evident the first time you watch it. I had to read an analysis of ... the book to completely understand it.
The art is ASTONISHING. The music was composed by Haruomi Hosono and is sometimes eerie, but also very beautiful. The art of the movie is magnificent and oneiric (also kinda trippy tbh)
The characters are cute kitties! I love the character design of the protagonists, but it is kind of cliché since it’s pretty easy to tell them apart from the rest of the cast who just look like normal cats. The cats on the train also have good designs.
Also I have a special feeling for this movie for one reason: Esperanto. Miyazawa Kenji (the author of the original book) was very interested in Esperanto, and the creators of the movie decided to use this language in the film. There’s even an Esperanto version of “Nearer my good to thee” on this movie! That’s amazing and gives an interesting atmosphere to the movie. This movie is the reason I became an esperantist.

(English isn’t my first language, so if I made a mistake please forgive me)

Unlike a lot of anime films, Night on the Galactic Railroad isn't based on a game, a manga or a light novel. It's based on a children's story written by Miyazawa Kenji. It's a novel that's unfinished. Miyazawa was still polishing the middle of the piece when he died in 1933. The novel was posthumously published as it was and it became a classic work of children's literature. In 1985 it was made into an anime film. How well does it work? Let's take a look and find out.

We open with our protagonist, Giovanni attending classes. Giovanni attends school with all the other cats... ... Yes, cats. All the characters in this were replaced by talking cats most of which need to put on pants. For those of you who aren't familiar with the book, it's not originally about cats. That pointless change aside, Giovanni goes into town to get milk for his sick mother while all the other cats are attending the starlight festival. Giovanni stops to rest on a hill when he hears a train. A train that stops right in front of him. He gets on board to find that his best friend, Campanella is there as well. The two ride to a variety of different locations but what's their destination and what's waiting for them when they arrive? I'm not going to give that away, even though it's kind of obvious. The symbolism in this is pretty effective and it ties together nicely. I'm not even going to complain about it being kind of heavy handed since this is a kid's movie. The film does have some flaws though. There are some really slow stretches, especially in the beginning, where nothing of value happens. Changing all of the characters to cats would be fine, albeit pointless, but there are three human characters introduced later which doesn't make sense. At least keep it consistent. The reason that Giovanni's on the train is pretty weak as well, especially when you figure out what its nature is. They also separate the scenes with chapter cards which show a mostly black screen with some words like "Giovanni's Ticket" or "Apples" which doesn't really work in a film. It just serves to bring the action to a grinding halt for several seconds each time.

This film is more about the journey than it is the characters. The characters in this are a little deeper than those found in Animal Crossing, but they're still kind of shallow. And, honestly, they aren't as much fun. Giovanni and Campanella have a pretty good connection and Giovanni does develop a bit as a result of his experience, but aside from that there's not much to the characters.

The art in this is a bit dated. To be fair, this movie is older than I am so that's only to be expected. The art actually does hold up quite well. The backgrounds are very well done and nicely detailed. There are some spectacular environments in this film, especially when they're showing constellations and representations thereof. The characters are the real weakness. Not because they're mostly drawn as cats, but because of their expressions. Most of the time the characters either look slightly surprised or just blank. Actually, that might explain why most of the characters are drawn as cats. Since it's more difficult to identify expressions on animals, it may have been a deliberate effort to conceal that flaw.

The voice acting is pretty good. Both Tanaka Mayumi and Sakamoto Chika do well in their roles. The rest of the cast is decent enough, although most of them don't say much. The music in this is really well done. It goes perfectly with the art to maintain atmosphere.

The yuri factor is a 1/10. There are only two important female characters. Giovanni's mom, and the inexplicably human girl they meet on the train and they never meet.

My final rating for Night on the Galactic Railroad is a 7/10. It has some weaknesses in terms of story but overall it has aged pretty well. It may not be as good as the novel but it's still a solid film and I think it'll prove to be enjoyable whether you're a child or not. Tomorrow we end this week of film reviews with Kara no Kyoukai 3: the search for more money... I mean Tsukaku Zanryu.

+Beautifully atmospheric
+Simple character animation but gorgeous scenery
+Very artsy and symbolic
+Slower paced but I like it
+The characters were cute
+Surreal

-Yeah definitely for the more creative, artsy type (Which isn't really negative tbh)

As I said, this movie is very atmospheric, and very dreamlike. Yes, it's very slow paced, not much happens at once, but personally I love these types of movies now and then. These types of movies are always such a nice breather from the usual anime I watch. If you're more into shOUNEN, TONS OF DRAMA, SUSPENSE, FAST PACED ACTION then yeah you're definitely not going to like this movie. It's more something for ... people who are creative (What I mean by that is people who are, daydreamers, surrealist, artist ect ect).
But who knows, if you can handle slower paced movies I recommend checking it out. It's a pleasant experience.

Night on the Galactic Railroad is a slow-burning reflective piece about death and self-sacrifice. The story follows Giovanni, an absent minded yet diligent working class boy, through his night whisked away on an inter-dimensional trail ride. Though adapted in 1985 from the 1934 cult novel of the same name, the work’s enduring influence on anime cannot go unnoticed. This is what drew me to the work initially as I felt my understanding of shows like Mawaru-Penguindrum and Giovanni’s Island were lacking. After viewing the film I quickly realized how much wider this scope of impact was. For example, its persistently soft and otherworldly feel, and ... ephemeral characters are all over the waterside train scenes in Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. I was pleased to find that the film stands on its own despite its age and countless imitators.

This owes to its characters above all else. I was initially off put by the stolid reactions to the fantastical and terrible situations many of the cast found themselves confronted with. However, it becomes evident that this was the point in a scene where Giovanni easily shrugs off disparaging remarks from his schoolmates. Giovanni and the rest of the cast have an enviable stoicism about them that the author endearingly asks the audience to imitate. Throughout the film characters willfully resign to their fates trading faith for fear. Many instances of Christian symbolism and ritual are employed to reinforce this theme. The conclusion seems to be patently Christian too - service to others is happiness. However the film’s incorporation of religion, though reverent and unassuming, is somewhat eclipsed for a broader more metaphorical take on its precepts.

While the animation wasn’t impressive even by 80’s standards, it still manages to be engaging. The character animation was given the most fluidity. The film is without any grand action set-pieces but what action there is is at least colorful and stylized. The backgrounds were the most unique aspect of the art direction. They have a stripped-down psychedelic design aesthetic to them. This paired with the sparse, lightly distorted and swelling synth tracks makes for a compelling atmosphere. Both the sound design and art direction vary enough while maintaining an otherwordly theme that creates a strong sense of adventure.

Night on the Galactic Railroad takes the pauses it needs to. It works remarkably well as an unhurried, simple and multi-dimensional meditation on life. It is a journey that borrows from old literature and history itself so well that even when the references are not understood it still speaks well to the themes it sets out to explore - another undeniable anime classic.

let's be honest if you have a short attention span and you only like generic anime this probably isnt for you, but if you're the type to watch anime to live an experience, to feel like youre traveling somewhere else or to simply discover a new world, this is definitely an anime for you. This is an emotional ride about friendship but also about life. Its a simple, dreamy anime where things are simply happening and you need to just stay along for the ride instead of nit picking every detail.

Story- 10/10
Its fun, you just need to listen to it and not think ... too much. seriously dont, that anime is only fun if you're just listening to it, especially with someone else.

Characters- 9/10
they're not really special or different, but once you get to the end of the movie you still feel like you miss them for some reason. because even if you dont have multiple episodes to get attached they still leave a lasting impact on you.

Art- 10/10
interestingly enough in the manga the artstyle was quite different because the characters were actually not anthropomorphic cats. but im so glad they decided to change that for the anime because it really makes in all better. it definitely adds to the "dreamy" and "weird" feel that this anime has and i think changing the characters for cats was a really smart choice.

soundtrack- 10/10
The music in the anime actually makes the atmosphere a lot more tense and scary than it should. it adds a lot of suspense and its honestly what makes the anime even better. what couldve been a simply dreamy anime had a lot more substance all because of the soundtrack. its beautiful, sounds good and really shows the difference between a simple ride and a more suspensful moment.

overall im glad i got to watch this anime, its amazing and i recommend it to literally anyone who's reading this right now! good luck!

Based on the classic Japanese fantasy novel by Kenji Miyazawa written around 1927, Night on the Galactic Railroad is a bit of a story with major themes hidden and in plain sight. One theme in particular, “What is true happiness” is the focal point. It was directed by Gisaburou Sugii (Astro Boy episode director), and a slew of other notable staff members, most of which went on to promising careers in the anime industry as directors or studio founders. One of note was Kōichi Mashimo, whom founded Studio Bee Train (.hack//sign).

The story centers on what appears to be a mix of an old Japanese town ... with Italian influences, hence the two main characters names Giovanni and Campanella. All the major characters in the anime are depicted as cats as to mellow down the somewhat depressing overall mood. During the night in town, there is a star festival called the Centaurus Festival. However, due to our poor stricken main character, Giovanni must work and care for his family instead. He goes to get some milk at a dairy farm and falls asleep. A train appears, and somehow, he ends up boarding it. He is joined shortly thereafter by his only friend Campanella, who is wet for some reason. There, they both start a journey through the galaxy over the course of a single night meeting strange beings, Cats and humans alike, all of whom have interesting circumstances why and how they came to be on the train.

Pacing wise, the anime is fairly slow, especially during the beginning with almost nothing significant happening other than giving the viewer an idea of the town and the people in it. Over the course across the Milky Way, there are imaginative visual, interesting ways of giving each theme an underlining meaning whether it is through classical music or symbolism, and even the importance in what the characters are saying creates deep philosophical thoughts.

Based on the fact it is geared towards trying to teach children symbolism and themes, the anime hits the mark. However, the slow pacing and how tough it is to pick up on some of the more important meanings in some scenes leads to some viewers overcoming to boredom easily. Night on the Galactic Railroad has very enticing visuals, music, and generally makes up for the pacing once the characters get on the train. It’s an enjoyable ride from 30 minutes in to end, and worth a good watch to get a nice perspective on “What is true happiness?”

Night on the Galactic Railroad is a perilous adventure of two cat-people, Giovanni and Campanella, who travel through space on a train that glides through galaxiesーor is it? This iconic film is something that bred films like Angel’s Egg and Yuasa Masaaki’s adaptation of Nekojiru-sou; this movie is a heavily surrealistic, auteur piece that breaches the boundaries of mortality and death. An unfettered classic that will send shivers down your spine with the eerie atmosphere and emotionally intense climax.

The story begins with the protagonist, Giovanni, running errands for his sickly motherーwhich then turns into a magical adventure with the deuteragonistーthe protagonist’s closest friendーCampanella. Much ... of this movie is quiet and contemplative, rather than filled with dialogue; every speech, action, and observation by a character in this film is intentionally there to scrub away Giovanni’s confusion and lead him to the grand realization towards the end.

The pacing may seem slow, but the deliberation and the uncovering of mysteries throughout the breadth of the movie makes those solitary moments worth while. This series is similar to something like Neon Genesis Evangelionーwhere you watch it the first time to experience it and the second time is to analyze things that you may not have noticed before.

This film left me feeling deeply lethargic and melancholic. It made me cherish the journey that I’ve embarked on with the people I love and how much I should treasure those moments while they’re still alive. An allégorie towards the strife of living itself. The subtly, care, and passion poured into this film can be felt. It is unlike anything that has ever existed in Japanese animation and I feel that it deserves the reverence that it gets from many long-time anime fans; a curio among most. It’s difficult to say much about this film without spoiling anything, but I definitely recommend the experience that this film brings to anyone who is willing to be confused at first, then sit through a slow burn, only to be immensely rewarded in the end. I give Night on the Galactic Railroad a 7/10.

Firstly, I feel that this movie is not to be taken at face value- if you look at it based on just what they give you, you will be very disappointed and confused. You have to think on a deeper level about what each scene actually means - just about all that happens has a deeper meaning/moral to it.
Secondly - this movie is very abstract, the music is meant to be jarring and the art is meant to look unusual - that just gives it its unique style and feeling. I feel that it gets better and better the more you pick at its ... scenes and think about what they truly mean.
As a final note more towards the other reviews - I don’t get where people are saying that Giovanni and Campanella are in a relationship together, the movie has them as being friends (at least in the translation) or I’m just not getting something.
All in all I absolutely recommend it to anybody that wants something to think about on a deeper level, although I don’t recommend it for people not thinking deeper - you will just see it as a nonsensical acid trip.

This movie is paradoxical for a number of reasons, but the most important one was how it merged a sense of calmness with unease. Its extremely slow pace was an open invitation to a very contemplative viewing experience. There is a generous abundance of silent moments in which the characters are able to allow their emotions to sink in, and in turn the viewer is allowed to interpret their thoughts and emotions. Inner monologues are practically non-existent, and the dialogue is enunciated very naturally, more for the benefit of the moment than for the viewers' comprehension. This is not a negative point, far from it. ... Those quiet scenes in which we are able to take in the atmosphere are meant to lead us into thought, into interpretation, and the message is either clear enough or just elusive enough to allow the imposition of certain key emotions of our own.

This intent is at times truncated by the rather rigid animation, and while the character designs are memorable enough, they are not given much leeway in the form of facial expressions, so the conveyance of subtler emotions depends on the viewer's ability to project their own feelings into them to a certain degree. This is a shortcoming that has a significant impact on a movie that is so reliant on emotion rather than plot or character. Despite this, the visuals are for the most part a pleasure to observe, particularly the backgrounds. While not overly intricate, the art's ability to transmit a sense of welcoming warmth, of impending dread or absolute desolation should not go without mention. It is obvious that the director prioritized the environment over the people in it, and despite how harsh my wording may sound, let it be said that at no point do the characters look bad; at worst they are serviceable, and at best a little better than that. The rigidity that dictates their movement and reaction, while not awful, will serve as a deterrent for many people, and they should be made aware of that.

I believe that what should be taken away from the film is its devotion to the establishment of a mood. It is an emotional experience, one that takes you to both beautiful and haunting spaces, that delves in the stark themes of solitude, isolation, hardship and death, as well as, more positively, on the value of a life well spent, endurance against its cruel realities, and even faith. This movie bears a surprisingly blatant religious charge whose effect with undoubtedly vary depending on the viewer. In my case, due to my lack of a potent religious background, I was not as touched as others may have.

In any case, this movie is a study of the beautiful and the grim, a serene and entrancing experience that will demand patience from you, but whose fruit will be extremely fulfilling.

Due to its pacing and this very clear focus on an element that does not appeal to the average viewer as much as character studies or plot driven stories might, I find myself hard pressed to issue an open recommendation. Despite all my commendations I would not qualify this movie as a required viewing for everyone, but if you are ever in the mood for a calming, personal experience, a journey of sorts to undertake (preferably alone), I would advice you to give this movie a chance.