{"rewrite":{"id":"r_b7fc13ef42bcbf527122f1c0","clusterId":"c_a822c33440a427efe8ed2020","slug":"new-galaxy-express-999-theatrical-anime-announced-with-story-by-rintaro","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"New Galaxy Express 999 Theatrical Anime Announced With Story by Rintarō","summary":"Toei Animation announced on Saturday that it is producing a new theatrical anime film based on Leiji Matsumoto's Galaxy Express 999 franchise. Anime director Rintarō, who directed the original 1979 Galaxy Express 999 film and its sequel Adieu Galaxy Express 999, is handling the original story draft for the new project. The announcement was made by Leijisha, the company managing Matsumoto's estate. No director, release date, or further production details have been disclosed. The original Galaxy Express 999 television anime ran for 113 episodes from 1978 to 1981, and the 1979 film was an alternate retelling. The franchise has since spawned multiple movies, specials, and OVAs. The story follows orphan Tetsuro Hoshino as he travels across the galaxy on a space train with the mysterious Maetel, seeking a cybernetic body. Two key franchise figures died earlier this year: voice actress Masako Ikeda, who voiced Maetel, passed away on March 3 at age 87, and composer Nozomi Aoki died on February 20 at age 94. A Leiji Matsumoto exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Galaxy Express 999 has been touring Japan since June 2025.","whyItMatters":"The new film marks the first theatrical Galaxy Express 999 project in decades, and Rintarō's involvement as story writer-rather than director-signals a shift in creative leadership for the franchise.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eToei Animation is producing a new Galaxy Express 999 theatrical anime, with Rintarō-director of the 1979 film and Metropolis-writing the original story draft. The announcement came from Leijisha, the estate management company for creator Leiji Matsumoto, who died in 2023. Makiko Matsumoto, the artist\u0026#39;s daughter and Leijisha president, said the new film fulfills a long-held ambition of her father\u0026#39;s, calling it a \u0026#39;miracle\u0026#39; that the franchise continues. No director, release date, or additional production staff have been announced. The original Galaxy Express 999 manga ran from 1977 to 1981 across 18 volumes, and the television series aired 113 episodes from 1978 to 1981. The 1979 film was an alternate retelling of the story. The franchise later expanded with multiple movies, OVAs, and specials. Two key figures from the franchise died earlier this year: Masako Ikeda, the voice of Maetel, passed away on March 3 at age 87, and composer Nozomi Aoki died on February 20 at age 94. A 50th anniversary exhibition for Galaxy Express 999 has been touring Japan since June 2025, visiting Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Aichi, with a future stop planned for Saitama.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Rintarō, director of the 1979 Galaxy Express 999 film, is writing the story for a new theatrical anime in the franchise, Toei Animation announced.","twitterPost":"A new Galaxy Express 999 film is in production at Toei Animation, with Rintarō handling the story draft-no director or release date yet.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Toei Animation announced a new theatrical Galaxy Express 999 anime with Rintarō writing the story draft. No director or release date have been set. The franchise lost two key figures earlier this year: voice actress Masako Ikeda and composer Nozomi Aoki.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-25/new-galaxy-express-999-theatrical-anime-announced-with-story-by-rintaro/.239959\",\"title\":\"New Galaxy Express 999 Theatrical Anime Announced With Story by Rintarō\"},{\"source\":\"Cartoon Brew\",\"url\":\"https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/new-galaxy-express-999-film-rintaro-toei-264909.html\",\"title\":\"Rintaro Working On New 'Galaxy Express 999' Feature At Toei Animation\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":5445,"outputTokens":1076,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785043308,"createdAt":"2026-07-26T05:19:27.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-26T05:20:45.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-26T05:19:27.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_a822c33440a427efe8ed2020","canonicalTitle":"News\nNew Galaxy Express 999 Theatrical Anime Announced With Story by Rintarō","representativeArticleId":"a_78c74a7176d55e1e7247ca9e","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"Galaxy Express 999\"],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Rintarō\"],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-25T09:30:33.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-25T12:45:27.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-26T05:20:45.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-25/new-galaxy-express-999-theatrical-anime-announced-with-story-by-rintaro/.239959","title":"News\nNew Galaxy Express 999 Theatrical Anime Announced With Story by Rintarō"},{"source":"Cartoon Brew","url":"https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/new-galaxy-express-999-film-rintaro-toei-264909.html","title":"Rintaro Working On New ‘Galaxy Express 999’ Feature At Toei Animation"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["Galaxy Express 999"],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["Rintarō"],"type":"announcement","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Toei Animation is producing a new Galaxy Express 999 theatrical anime film.","Rintarō, director of the 1979 Galaxy Express 999 film, is writing the original story draft.","No director, release date, or further production details have been announced.","Voice actress Masako Ikeda, who voiced Maetel, died on March 3, 2026 at age 87.","Composer Nozomi Aoki died on February 20, 2026 at age 94."]}