Ginga Tetsudo Monogatari/Galaxy Railways thoughts on R2 release [Archive]

slerch666

12-31-2005, 07:35 PM

Well, I purchased the R2 Ginga Tetsudo Monogatari (Galaxy Railways) Complete Box DVD set, so I wanted to share some thoughts on the set, and the show.

I posted pics of the set, which you can see here. (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1237563&page=0&view=c ollapsed&sb=5&o=&vc=1)

The artwork on the box is really well done and nicely detailed. It's slightly disappointing that the artwork on the back is simply the 3 trains (Big 1, 37 and 40 I believe they are, from the Sirius, Spica and Vega platoons of the SDF) way off in the distance, along with the 999 and another train I'm not sure the number of with their home planet in the corner.

When folded out you get the trains from the various platoons, the 999 and the other train I'm not sure what it is on the back. 000 gets all of the area behind the discs (not sure where 000 falls into the story, as I haven't seen it appear yet).

The disc artwork is very nice. Manabu and Louis on disc 1, Bruce and David get disc 2, Bulge and Yuki get disc 3, Mamoru and Wataru get disc 4, Layla Destiny deservingly gets all of disc 5 while Big One gets the special disc.

So far I've watched through 2 of the 5 content discs, for a total of 10 episodes. With 3 more content discs, I'm not entirely sure how it'll play out, but I think it'll be 5-5-5-5-4.

The video on the discs is rather high quality stuff. When compared with the R1s, I think the R1s have a little bit of "softness" to them IN AREAS that while present in the R2s, isn't nearly as much so. I could be wrong in this. For those concerned about the quality of the video on the R1s, worry not. The video is so damn close, or exactly the same as, the R2 video quality. Once FUNi fixed their compression issues (which happened before they began Galaxy Railways on DVD, so it had no problems) their discs jumped a few levels IMO.

The audio presented is obviously the single language Japanese in Dolby Digital Stereo. I had hoped for LPCM but the singles on R2 weren't in LPCM either. The disc count would have gone up for that as well if they used it in the box. When comparing audio from R1 to R2, I THINK the audio is a little louder on the R2s as I remember having to turn up the volume to get it to the level I'm used to. Does this mean the audio is bad? No, as it's the same track only you need to make a minor adjustment for the R1s. The one thing I do notice on both is the opening track seems a bit compressed in terms of sound. The vocal part is fine, but there is this sound that I equate with lower quality compression present in the cymbals. Like the peaks are capped or something along those lines. I haven't heard the CD version of the song, so this MAY be the way the song sounds and I'm just hearing things. The English dub tracks sound similar on the opening song.

VERY interesting to note is that I believe this to be the ONLY R2 set I have that has Japanese subtitles. They seem to be a little mix of subs for hard of hearing (as they have little musical notes appear when they are showing the start of a song), but they appear to be a spot on reading of what's going on. No English subs, if anyone asks.

The extras disc is pretty nice and seems only to collect the extras that were present on the original discs. There is a recording session for bits of episodes 10, 12 and 22 I think they are. My numbers could be off as I was only doing a quick check of the extras. So far 2 of these have been on the R1s, and I'm sure the last piece will show up on a later volume. You also have an interview with Matsumoto Leiji (also on the R1s) and a recording of the press conference showing off the new series (also on the R1s). There are TV spots for the 13 volumes of the original DVD sets (not present on the R1s, and not really needed on the R1s). There is also a talk between the seiyuu that happens after episode 26 aired, which obviously hasn't been on the R1s yet, though I'd be surprised if it didn't make in on the last volume. The only other video extra was the SDF Report where they interview various pieces of the cast (every one of the main characters basically). I DON'T recall these being on the R1s, though they may be. Surprisingly absent, as they appear on the R1s, is the presense of clean op/ed animations. I don't know why they wouldn't include them, but they didn't.

The booklet that comes with the set is packed full of great information; character descriptions, equipment descriptions and episode guides. There's also design artwork.

So far, for the ~$160 I paid for the set from Amazon Japan, I'm rather pleased. It's a great release for a great series. Part of me laments not buying the singles for all the artwork, but considering much of the artwork is included here, or on the R1s (the box artwork for the R1 is actually an amalgamation of the artwork used on the R2 boxes I believe), I can live with spending a lot less money for this set. Considering the price of this box, perhaps the price will drop a lot for the singles on Yahoo Japan Auctions and I'll pick a set up for the artwork?

So in conclusion the only thing that seems to be missing from this set compared to the R2 singles is artwork. There don't seem to be any added extras in terms of video content.

If you are in the market for the series and can't understand Japanese, don't hesitate to purchase FUNimation's R1 DVDs, as the video and audio seem to be the same, and most of the extras seem to be intact as well. I'm glad I picked this one up this way as well as the R1s, as now I can see the end of the series sooner than the R1 release, as the wait was painful between volumes. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

littleharlock wanted to start a content discussion, and I have some thoughts to post, but this is a long post, so I'm signing out for now. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

slerch666

01-01-2006, 02:29 PM

Well, I had hoped to entice some people to post some thoughts on the series itself with my original post, that doesn't appear to have happened yet, so I'll post some of my own thoughts.

I watched through all 26 episodes in just over 24 hours, and the only reason it took me that long was sleep and I was watching another DVD when the mail turned up yesterday. I also got on the Internet like an idiot and wasted some time. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

So anyway, here we go with some stuff I picked up watching the series:

Eps 1
The series begins in an action packed fashion and hardly lets up, and when it does it does so for good reason.

The series is extremely well animated, though there is an eps or so that has lower than desired animation IMO. We'll get at that a little later. It matches Matsumoto's style well, something thankfull animators seem to do well (even if the show is shit, like Cosmo Warrior Zero).

Here you have 2 children who completely admire their father, who want to be like their father when they grow up, only to watch him perform a kamikaze manuver to save them and his crew. A real man's man.

I thought it was rather fitting that Mamoru boards the 999. Thanks to littleharlock for pointing out that Maetel and Tetsuro's shadows appear in the windows as the train takes off

I really liked how the ending of this episode was artistically handled. You see Mamoru take off, telling you it happened 5 yrs after Wataru's death. You then see one year after taking off, Mamoru is reported as dead to his family. Boo to the R2 company for not including a textless op/ed for these episodes.

This whole mess sets the stage for the series to come, and does so in grand fashion.

Eps 2
Manabu joins the SDF, following in his family's footsteps, much to the chagrin of his mother, so much so that Kanna says she's cutting her ties as family to him, though of course this is one promise she can't and won't keep.

This episode presents a promises, sort of broken and sort of kept. Manabu breaks his promise to his father to help out his mother. Kanna breaks her word when she said she was breaking her ties to Manabu and Mamoru keeps his promise to his father to watch out for Manabu, though he only has one chance at that.

I really love the artwork they use for the different galaxies we see in the series. It makes the space sequences that much cooler.

Manabu boarding the train and meeting Louis is a fated encounter. The bond that begins on that train takes deep root, to Louis' minor misfortune (eps 19 is hilarious) and to Manabu not even realizing it until way into the series. The way the relationship plays out is natural and never really presented IN YOUR FACE. Accolades to the writers and director.

I do find it rather funny that when the train makes it's landing, there appear to only be 3 people on the train. Manabu, Louis and the conductor. Why exactly did they need a full train to get them to SDF headquarters again? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

This is also the episode where we see that Layla Destiny has some sort of connection to Manabu. She looks at him during the opening ceremony, but she also interacts with him through telepathy during the series. Done so well that you always wonder what's going on with that.

This whole episode brings up a very interesting discussion on time travel, and whether if time travel were possible, would changing something in the past damage the future? We don't really have a chance to find out, since in this episode time plays out as it was fated, though not without Manabu trying to prevent it.

Eps 3
I love the scene with Yuki taking off her battle outfit and putting on the nurse outfit, which we see twice in the series. /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif

With Louis' interaction with the Vega Platoon we also get to see she's a little fireball, full of life and vigor. Great character (even if her voice creeps out littleharlock lol)

It's also interesting how there are little things in the series that connect to larger things within the main story, as in this episode we see our first glimpse of Sho the vendor guy. Some innocent encounters lead to some crazy stuff.

This episode also shows us that Manabu is still as rash as he was as a child. Bruce is presented as a dick, though he has reasons which we learn of later. After the incident he seems less of a dick, though he's still a dick.

It's also interesting to note that during the train hijacking, when Bruce strikes Manabu, Yuki seems a little more concerned than necesary when she sees Manabu has been shot. This fits in again with another episode.

Manabu's naive nature has him believing he can save people without using his gun. Bruce forces a working gun on him, despite Manabu's protestations, which also foreshadows coming events.

Eps 4
This is the episode I thought the animation was a little less than it was in the episodes prior. The design of Jane was goofy looking, and her animation seemed jerky, as did some of the animation in the episode itself. The story in this one was OK, but one that isn't all that. When you watch the episode, take a look at Bruce's extremely long hand during the scene where they are briefed on there next mission. It's like a frickin' gorilla hand!

I like how the train in this episode had no number and no schedule. It's the train that takes people to their final destination, literally.

We are also presented with more evidence that Layla is connected to Manabu in some fashion, as she always seems to know he's up to something, even if she can't see the outcome.

Bruce also shows us some concern over his newly acquired partner, proving he's not a complete ass. LOL

The falling cherry blossoms as the train departs, leaving Terry on the station with his sister Jane, was fitting and really well done. Great scene and more proof that animation today CAN have artistic hints to it.

Eps 5
The Big One touches down on a planet, only to be hijacked by pirates of a sort. Bruce continues in on Manabu, and Manabu continues to be Manabu, rash as all hell. It's amazing with all the stupid things he does that he isn't booted from the SDF! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

We are presented with some of the workings of the Big One, as we get a 1/2 assed explanation of the cosmo generator that powers the train (which is what the pirates real goal is).

In another weird twist, Manabu is presented with the ability to exact revenge on the man who killed his brother. Ultimately he chooses not to shoot the man, in line with his "I don't need a gun to save people" attitude. In the end the guy winds up dying, though not by Manabu's hand. The suffering he feels towards this is nicely presented with his scream at the end of the series.

This is also the first episode to give us some of the Spica Platoon goodness. /images/graemlins/wink.gif Ai certainly doesn't get enough air time IMO. lol

Anyway, that's a run down of my thoughts on the first 5 episodes as presented on the first disc. Hopefully littleherlock will have some thoughts of his own, as I have several pages of notes for the series.

The series is one of the best things to be released on R1 DVD this year, easily. I'm kind of sorry I missed getting the singles, but saving lots of money and still getting the R2s is nice for a change. Considering I got screwed with the Re: Cutey Honey complete box, considering I missed out on some nice extras (though got some nice extras with the first press releases).

Anyone that even partially enjoys a good SCI-FI/Space Opera should do themselves a favor and check this series out, either on R1 DVD (only up to eps 18, which cuts off right before the best episode in the series... hot springs!) or R2 in this box or singles. It's a great, great show. If I didn't have so much else to watch (including 100 or so episodes of another great series, Ginga Tetsudo 999), I'd almost certainly pop the first disc back in and watch the series again.

Keith

01-02-2006, 01:36 AM

This is definately my favorite series in recent years, I'm currently picking up the R1 relesae, but right from the first episode I was blown away. It just make me wish some U.S. company would take a chance on at least 1 older Matsumoto series (provided that one is GE: 999).

Natsume_Maya

01-02-2006, 03:32 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Eps 1
The series begins in an action packed fashion and hardly lets up, and when it does it does so for good reason.

The series is extremely well animated, though there is an eps or so that has lower than desired animation IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I've found the animation in the series to be pretty average (have seen up to about episode 10).

I didn't have any problems with episode 1, but then again, it's probably rare to have a poorly animated first episode nowadays, with animation studios seeming to spend a lot on attracting the viewer's interest from the start.

With other episodes, though, I found the animation - particularly animation of a person's whole body - to be cheap/unnatural at times. Of course, the quality varies with the episodes.

[ QUOTE ]
I really liked how the ending of this episode was artistically handled.

[/ QUOTE ]

I liked that ending too. And I love the ending theme song - to me, it's a nostalgic style of song, which reminds me of some older anime series.

[ QUOTE ]
Eps 2
Manabu boarding the train and meeting Louis is a fated encounter. The bond that begins on that train takes deep root, to Louis' minor misfortune (eps 19 is hilarious) and to Manabu not even realizing it until way into the series. The way the relationship plays out is natural and never really presented IN YOUR FACE. Accolades to the writers and director.

[/ QUOTE ]

Personally, I found the first 4 or 5 episodes of this series to be disappointing. In general, the stories didn't grab my attention. I don't mind melodrama (I love Rurouni Kenshin and Hana Yori Dango), but the drama in these first few episodes of Galaxy Railways didn't work for me - I thought perhaps the direction of the episodes was too heavy handed (or perhaps the storylines).

However, I did like the scene where Manabu and Louis first meet - nice and light-hearted /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Eps 3
I love the scene with Yuki taking off her battle outfit and putting on the nurse outfit, which we see twice in the series. /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That scene was a bit of a surprise to me - wasn't expecting that /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, that's a run down of my thoughts on the first 5 episodes as presented on the first disc. Hopefully littleherlock will have some thoughts of his own, as I have several pages of notes for the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's littleharlock with an "a", I think.

slerch666

01-02-2006, 07:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Actually, I've found the animation in the series to be pretty average (have seen up to about episode 10).

[/ QUOTE ]
If you put it up against something from say, Gonzo, then yeah, it's average. It's not the greatest out there, but it definitely works for the series.

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
With other episodes, though, I found the animation - particularly animation of a person's whole body - to be cheap/unnatural at times. Of course, the quality varies with the episodes.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you talking about the running sequences? If you are, I know what you are saying, however the problem is that this running style matches the way they animated people running in the older series, so it matches that style IMO. It does look odd though...

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
I liked that ending too. And I love the ending theme song - to me, it's a nostalgic style of song, which reminds me of some older anime series.

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, the opening and the ending give it that feel. The upbeat opening theme (with a male singer instead of female) and the somber light ending theme. The ending actually kinda reminds me of the Macross ending theme.

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
That's littleharlock with an "a", I think.

[/ QUOTE ]
Considering how many times I use his name, you'd think I'd get it right! I'm used to spelling it Herlock without the A, so I guess I got carried away. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Njr Scrawl

01-02-2006, 10:16 AM

Does the box include those GE999 specials which were re-made & improved versions of certain TV episodes?

Can you live like a soldier?
Can you love as a mother?
Clea made of glass
Emeraldas the eternal traveller

Which of the GE movies is best as a stand alone story i.e easiest to follow without having seen the TV series?

Mazinkaizer

01-02-2006, 11:39 AM

Hummm, i've been looking forward to watch the series but i wonder if it's ok to watch it when i still didn't watch GE 999 TV ? i know it's a side story/story within the same timeline but i wonder if it's ok to do so or should i watch GE 999 1st ?

littleharlock

01-02-2006, 12:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
Does the box include those GE999 specials which were re-made & improved versions of certain TV episodes?

[/ QUOTE ]

Two different series. The one you´re referring to is Ginga Tetsudô 999 (Galaxy Express 999). The one slerch started this thread about is Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari (Official English title: The Galaxy Railways). It´s set in the same universe (and actually the manga is very...let´s say interlinked with each other right now) but still two different series ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
Can you live like a soldier?
Can you love as a mother?
Clea made of glass
Emeraldas the eternal traveller

[/ QUOTE ]

The TV specials for Ginga Tetsudô 999 have been released as DVD Boxset some while ago.

The details if you´re interested:
Ginga Tetsudô 999 TV Special DVD Box "Toki no Wa no Tabibito"
Catalog Number: AVBA-14776 | Price (excl. tax): 14,800 Yen
Release Date: 2003/09/18 | CD Japan Link (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/(mint)/detailview.html?KEY=AVBA-14776) | Amazon.jp Link (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AKI7D/qid%3D1136223192/503-1347350-3463102)
Contains:
• Ginga Tetsudô 999 ~ Kimi wa Senshi no Yô ni Ikirareru ka!! 1st TV Special (Can you live like a Soldier?; based on episodes 12 &13 "Kaseki no Senshi" of the TV series)
• Ginga Tetsudô 999 ~ Eien no Tabibito Emeraldas 2nd TV Special (Emeraldas the Eternal Traveller, based on episode 22 "Kaizokusen Queen Emeraldas" of the TV series)
• Ginga Tetsudô 999 ~ Kimi wa Haha no Yô ni Aiseru ka!! 3rd TV special (Can you love like a mother?; based on episodes 51 & 52 "Tômeikai no Artemis" of the TV series)

Then there exists a 4th TV special (also called the 114th episode) titled Ginga Tetsudô 999 ~ Shônen no Tabidachi to Wakare which has been collected on the Bonus DVD for the (out of print) 6th Complete DVD Box of the Ginga Tetsudô 999 TV series (it´s not available seperately AFAIK).

The Glass no Claire special (it actually didn´t air on TV, but on the Tôei Manga Fair in 1980, so I refrain from calling it TV special) has been released as extra of the (also out of print) Ginga Tetsudô 999 Movie DVD Box. However while it´s not available seperately on DVD, it is available on a LD titled Matsumoto Leiji Gekijôban Anime Theater (containing several other specials like the first Uchû Kaizoku Captain Herlock "movie", and stuff for Starzinger, Wakusei Robo Danguard A(ce)).

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
Which of the GE movies is best as a stand alone story i.e easiest to follow without having seen the TV series?

[/ QUOTE ]

The first. It is a re-telling of the actual Dai Andromeda arc from the manga (and which the TV series does adapt very faithfully) which is rather good. It does contain the most popular characters, stories from the many stops 999 made on its way to Dai Andromeda...however due to the limited length (the TV series had 113 episodes "time" to tell the story of a rather LONG manga after all) several changes made by Rintaro (director) & staff.
Still as good as it is, my personal favorite (sorry for repeating this) is Eternal Fantasy. It does require some knowledge of what happened in the Dai Andromeda arc, yet is simply beautiful in the visual aspects and it´s one of those projects where "all fits". It´s an adaption of the "best parts" from the early story of the 2nd manga series, the Eternal arc. However note that this one is really a short movie (only 52min. long).

There are also some other 999 anime that haven´t been released on any video format yet (Planetarium Specials or Niji no Michishirube) though.

so far
yours
littleharlock

Roujin0308

01-02-2006, 12:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Mazinkaizer wondered:
... if it's ok to watch it (Galaxy Railways) when i still didn't watch GE 999 TV ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I'm watching Galaxy Railways (R1 release), and my only prior exposure to GE999 material was some of the manga that Viz translated. I doubt that if I had seen GE999 first that my appreciation of GR would be enhanced, but I'll never know now. Through episode 18, GR doesn't seem to be about the railways or SDF so much as they provide a setting and structure for telling dramatic human interest stories. There may be a larger plot developing in the background - all those thoughts Layla Destiny shares about fate and unseen actors - but whether it'll tie-in directly to something related to GE999 remains to be seen.

littleharlock

01-02-2006, 12:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Mazinkaizer said:

Hummm, i've been looking forward to watch the series but i wonder if it's ok to watch it when i still didn't watch GE 999 TV ? i know it's a side story/story within the same timeline but i wonder if it's ok to do so or should i watch GE 999 1st ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not required. That´s what a lot of people actually consider great about the series. It does include hints (really quite a few) however they are very subtle, meaning that if you haven´t watched or read much of Matsumoto´s previous works, you won´t notice and it won´t really bother. On the other hand, longtime fans do still have the beloved relations to other Leijiverse works included (believe me, I´ve read quite a bunch of his manga and watched a lot of his anime projects...but some of them were too subtle for me to spot *it´s good that there are good jp fansites out there devoted for this though* /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif ).
The Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari manga is a whole different thing. It is heavily connected with Ginga Tetsudô 999 though and does require knowledge.

I´ll post a list I´ve recently typed up for the hints laterwards.

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-02-2006, 12:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Actually, I've found the animation in the series to be pretty average (have seen up to about episode 10).

I didn't have any problems with episode 1, but then again, it's probably rare to have a poorly animated first episode nowadays, with animation studios seeming to spend a lot on attracting the viewer's interest from the start.

With other episodes, though, I found the animation - particularly animation of a person's whole body - to be cheap/unnatural at times. Of course, the quality varies with the episodes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I pretty much agree with slerch666 on this issue. Admitted, there certainly are better animated (high budget) series out there. If you´re looking for the latest and best, Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari may be disappointing in these regards. However two things to note:
-) Matsumoto fans have seen a LOT worse up to now. I mean, I know that´s no "excuse" (not that I´d try to look for one), but honestly I wouldn´t want to imagine how the series would have turned out if a studio like Venture Soft (who tend to waste all the budget in the first episode and make the rest look like sh*t...I wonder wether they actually are still working on Dai Yamato or have stopped the project alltogether) would have done the animations for this series. And furthermore, if you look at the original designs for the series it would have been a low-low budget series (really I was waiting for a "Animation Production: Venture Soft" in the credits when I saw the designs of Yuki Sexaroid and Manabu on the old Official site back when it launched).
-) I found that while there are a few "not-so-good" animated episodes featuring very sloppy chara designs (IMO most notible in those episodes if you look at David) the majority of the series had very consistant animated episodes with some very good animated once. I normally hate inconsistant animations...heck I couldn´t bare to watch through all of Lodoss tô Senki TV because of that, but in terms of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari the "when it´s good, it´s really good" stuck in my mind in regards of animations.

Ironically, since slerch has brought it up, I found that this series (although not being the highest budget once around) did manage to handle CG sequences more fitting than GONZO projects (as much as I enjoyed Gankutsuô as project, the CG sequences at times looked really odd *the city of Paris in the 3rd episode as example*)

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
I liked that ending too. And I love the ending theme song - to me, it's a nostalgic style of song, which reminds me of some older anime series.

[/ QUOTE ]

The music was one of the elements that got me hooked on this series in the first place (I was rather sceptical over the project at first...especially after having seen how much potential has been wasted on other recent Matsumoto anime projects such as the Dai Yamato OVA). It reminded me a lot of the music from the original Ginga Tetsudô 999 TV series (okay not that hard, since Isao Sasaki sang both OP & ED for that series as well and Aoki Nozomu back for the music as well. The IMO best BGM track is the theme of Layla Destiny (speaking of which I love the new "Layla" theme for the sequel series of GTM...which they played during one of the Web Radio broadcasts recently) as it just fit the mysterious aura surrounding this character.

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
That scene was a bit of a surprise to me - wasn't expecting that /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

While I´m not the biggest fan of fanservice in the anime I watch (or at least pretend so /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif), I found it really nice how they handled this in GTM. You get your fair but IMO fitting (meaning no boobs bouncing over the screen like there´s no tomorrow) share of fanservice moments/scenes for both female and male characters (slight spoiler(?)I wasn´t expecting to see THAT much of Manabu in the series /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif)
Btw. Yuki was rather contained in these regards...judging by how her predecessor Yuki 7-gô behaved in Shin Sexaroid ^_^
[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Anyway, that's a run down of my thoughts on the first 5 episodes as presented on the first disc. Hopefully littleherlock will have some thoughts of his own, as I have several pages of notes for the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's littleharlock with an "a", I think.

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem. It actually is Herlock as in Uchû Kaizoku Captain Herlock, but the little guy I´ve taken as username is a character appearing in the Eternal arc of the Ginga Tetsudô 999 manga named littleharlock who´s not related to the Space Pirate (so much for the borring story as how I came to choose my username /images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-02-2006, 01:34 PM

littleharlock

01-02-2006, 01:36 PM

As written before I recently typed up a list of hints for connections to the Leijiverse included in Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. As mentioned, these hints are very subtle and while I´m sure I missed a few (additions welcome!) I thought it would be a good idea for those that have seen the series completely and want to check wether they spotted these little hints or for those that want to check them anyway (please note that I haven´t found all by myself, but thanks to some really great jp fansites):

• Episode 1 "Tabidachi"
- In the second half of the episode (near the end to be precise) you can see the silhouette of Maetel and Tetsurô when Mamoru Yûki boards 999 on his quest to enter SPG (Space Pancer Grenadier) Squad. This scene has been a bit redone by the staff for the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari Sôshûhen ~ Ginga Tetsudô wa Harukanari (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007MTBLU/qid%3D1136229618/503-1347350-3463102) release as you can see (in that version of that particular scene) that Maetel wears a blue dress (which she wore in her "younger years") and Tetsurô with his brown hat and cloak. 
• Episode 9 "Kioku no Kairô"
- In the later half of the episode David (IIRC) held a coin that has the Sennen Joô (aka Queen Millenia as written on the coin) engraved.
• Episode 11 "Bojô"
- The big blue lightning trace looks fairly close to the opening sequence of Sayonara Ginga Tetsudô 999 ~ Andromeda Shûchakueki
• Starting from episode 13 "Unmei Ressha"
- You may have noticed that when one of the invading aliens get shot by Manabu in that episode, the blue/green-ish flames surround the alien and you´ll hear a high scream. That´s the almost exact same way as the Mazone soldiers die in Uchû Kaizoku Captain Herlock TV
• Episode 16 "Sexaroid"
- An Ooyama (remember Tochirô´s surename is Ooyama) appearing as unsucessfull businessman
- The Sake that Ooyama orders in the beginning of the episodes are supposed to be the same mark of sake that has been sold inside the train of Matsumoto´s Hyôryû Kansen 000 (aka The Drifting Express 000).
• Episode 19 "Seihitsu no Koku"
- At the beginning of the episode during the card play on their way to vacation on board 610, Spica Squad member Maggie Redfort held a Joker card featuring Herlock.
- The white cat Shirobota (male) appearing in the episode, also appeared in the 2nd episode of the Queen Emeraldas omake Torajima no Mime
- Tora (female cat) appearing in the same episode is basically the cat that appears in almost every Matsumoto work..in different ways..Mi-kun
Connections/Hints within the main cast of characters:
• Regarding Yuki Sexaroid she´s an "descendant" model of the original Sexaroid from Matsumoto´s manga Sexaroid (andd the rare 3 chapters long Shin Sexaroid which features Yuki 7-gô supposable the same Sexaroid model as in the original series).
• Regarding Manabu & family it´s been hinted by Matsumoto himself and in the 999 manga that Manabu Yûki and better said his "family" is related to the Arcadia´s crew member Kei Yûki...which would be yet another different family story of Kei (incl. this one we have been introduced to 3 different parents, or better said fathers of her) but that´s Matsumoto.

Furthermore I am not sure wether this has been said in the actual series (I certainly don´t remember it, but I´m currently re-watching ^_^) but regarding 000 (Fortune) Express, according to the (old) Official site for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari which featured a listing of all appearing trains in the series this train is reserved for exclusive usage by Layla Destiny. Btw. while the designs seem to differ slightly, there is a manga by Matsumoto titled Hyôryû Kansen 000 (aka The Drifting Express 000) which seems to feature the same train.

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-02-2006, 01:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Ironically, since slerch has brought it up, I found that this series (although not being the highest budget once around) did manage to handle CG sequences more fitting than GONZO projects (as much as I enjoyed Gankutsuô as project, the CG sequences at times looked really odd *the city of Paris in the 3rd episode as example*)

[/ QUOTE ]
I wasn't comparing the CG. I think the CG that was incorporated into GTM looks so damn close to "normal" animation you tend to forget the trains aren't cel animated. For me, that's a hell of a complement, as I generally hate CG mixed with cel animation. A few series handle it well, and this is one of them. On the Gonzo side, the way it was handled in Vandread, that being the CG only interacts with CG for the most part, is part of why it's so great.

littleharlock

01-02-2006, 02:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Well, I had hoped to entice some people to post some thoughts on the series itself with my original post, that doesn't appear to have happened yet, so I'll post some of my own thoughts.

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn accountancy training...I always get around when the fun is already fully ongoing /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I watched through all 26 episodes in just over 24 hours, and the only reason it took me that long was sleep and I was watching another DVD when the mail turned up yesterday. I also got on the Internet like an idiot and wasted some time. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Once the story develops it´s really nice to have it all at once to watch the series ^_^ You can probably imagine how painfull the wait was when I bought the seperate DVDs with episodes like 13 included as second episode on one of the DVDs ^_^"

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Eps 1
The series begins in an action packed fashion and hardly lets up, and when it does it does so for good reason.

The series is extremely well animated, though there is an eps or so that has lower than desired animation IMO. We'll get at that a little later. It matches Matsumoto's style well, something thankfull animators seem to do well (even if the show is shit, like Cosmo Warrior Zero).

[/ QUOTE ]

I personally enjoyed the series in regards of animations as well overall (though as mentioned there are a few "not-so-good" animated episodes included). The only thing that somewhat annoyed me at times was the re-usage of the scenes for Layla. Really it wouldn´t have hurt them to animate a bit more of her...it´s not like she appeared in a lot scenes anyway. The take-off scene of Big One, or better said the re-usage of that scene didn´t bother me though. I really enjoyed Buldge´s "Big One hasshin!" ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Here you have 2 children who completely admire their father, who want to be like their father when they grow up, only to watch him perform a kamikaze manuver to save them and his crew. A real man's man.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wataru is a real man, isn´t he? ^_^ As Helen mentioned in the other thread, he reminded me a lot of Herlock. The man that would sacrifice himself, in order to save his crew and children. Also the scene with his right eye bleeding was rather reminiscent of Herlock. The death, while rather heroic portrayed was IMO very well done. I gotta love Layla´s appearance in this episode

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I really liked how the ending of this episode was artistically handled. You see Mamoru take off, telling you it happened 5 yrs after Wataru's death. You then see one year after taking off, Mamoru is reported as dead to his family. Boo to the R2 company for not including a textless op/ed for these episodes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Loved the ending to the episode as well. In fact I was rather surprised how much story got comprised within these 20 min. and yet doesn´t give the "too much story squeezed in" feeling.
I need to check wether the seperate release contains textless OP/ED (can´t remember the extras as I never really paid much interest to them)

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Eps 2
Manabu joins the SDF, following in his family's footsteps, much to the chagrin of his mother, so much so that Kanna says she's cutting her ties as family to him, though of course this is one promise she can't and won't keep.

This episode presents a promises, sort of broken and sort of kept. Manabu breaks his promise to his father to help out his mother. Kanna breaks her word when she said she was breaking her ties to Manabu and Mamoru keeps his promise to his father to watch out for Manabu, though he only has one chance at that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again a great episode, and once again I enjoyed the final moments the most. I mean Layla Destiny scenes are rare througout the series and at times (especially during the short scene you see all the new members of the SDF standing at the hall with Layla entering the hall) looked really close to Matsumoto´s original designs for this great character ^_^. It sort of gives you the feeling that the true adventure is about to start from here on.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Manabu boarding the train and meeting Louis is a fated encounter. The bond that begins on that train takes deep root, to Louis' minor misfortune (eps 19 is hilarious) and to Manabu not even realizing it until way into the series. The way the relationship plays out is natural and never really presented IN YOUR FACE. Accolades to the writers and director.

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree with you (again ^_^). There is a chemistry between those two..yet it never really seemed forced or cheesy througout the series

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I do find it rather funny that when the train makes it's landing, there appear to only be 3 people on the train. Manabu, Louis and the conductor. Why exactly did they need a full train to get them to SDF headquarters again? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

And also, why share a cabin when the rest is empty (so much for fated chemistry /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif)
Maybe the two were the only one on the route from Earth to Wakusei Destiny at the time ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
This is also the episode where we see that Layla Destiny has some sort of connection to Manabu. She looks at him during the opening ceremony, but she also interacts with him through telepathy during the series. Done so well that you always wonder what's going on with that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking of which I really hope we get to expand that a little more in the sequel. That´s the only thing that I wished to resolve by the end of the series properly

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
With Louis' interaction with the Vega Platoon we also get to see she's a little fireball, full of life and vigor. Great character (even if her voice creeps out littleharlock lol)

[/ QUOTE ]

I like Louis...but I´d so wished for a different Seiyuu for her. I mean Asami Sanada did a good job, but I just can´t stand her voice ^_~

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Manabu's naive nature has him believing he can save people without using his gun. Bruce forces a working gun on him, despite Manabu's protestations, which also foreshadows coming events.

[/ QUOTE ]

It plays out pretty well as the series continues. The relationship between Manabu and Bruce is something I found, next to Louis/Manabu, the best written character development in the series. The end is just so cruel

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
We are also presented with more evidence that Layla is connected to Manabu in some fashion, as she always seems to know he's up to something, even if she can't see the outcome.

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking of which it really made me wonder why they chose the same Seiyuu to voice Layla AND Kanna Yûki.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Anyway, that's a run down of my thoughts on the first 5 episodes as presented on the first disc. Hopefully littleherlock will have some thoughts of his own, as I have several pages of notes for the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

All for now. I will continue re-watching the series and post some more tomorrow.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I'm kind of sorry I missed getting the singles, but saving lots of money and still getting the R2s is nice for a change. Considering I got screwed with the Re: Cutey Honey complete box, considering I missed out on some nice extras (though got some nice extras with the first press releases).

[/ QUOTE ]

You know I really hope that the prices for the firstpress boxes for the seperate release drop. I mean, I got the ltd. Edition for the first Volume, the 2nd firstpress box (via Amazon.jp *lucky bastard*) but I sadly didn´t get the last one (featuring all 3 Yûki´s). I should have known better though (but I really needed to continue watching the series and couldn´t wait several months of waiting wether the firstpress appears on the Y!AJ ^_^) as AMOTokyo told me back then (when I asked them how hard it would be to get the firstpress boxes) that they are pretty hard to track down as they sold out pretty fast after the release date (in fact they told me that they may could get it second hand, but definitely not in new condition).

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-02-2006, 04:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Once the story develops it´s really nice to have it all at once to watch the series ^_^ You can probably imagine how painfull the wait was when I bought the seperate DVDs with episodes like 13 included as second episode on one of the DVDs ^_^"

[/ QUOTE ]
Considering I was in pain waiting between R1 volumes, and there's more episodes per DVD on R1, I can sort of imagine only getting 2 episodes in a sitting, then having to wait a month or so for the next volume. Though in your case it sounds like you waited between some volumes anyway. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:The take-off scene of Big One, or better said the re-usage of that scene didn´t bother me though. I really enjoyed Buldge´s "Big One hasshin!" ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
The thing about the big one reusage is that it's really just the background that's recycled (well, so is the animation technically) as we see the background when the other trains (Spica and Vega's trains... Flame Swallow and Iron Berger). The lighting changes as well (night/day).

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
I gotta love Layla´s appearance in this episode

[/ QUOTE ]
Technically that was Shula, though they are mainly one in the same. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Loved the ending to the episode as well. In fact I was rather surprised how much story got comprised within these 20 min. and yet doesn´t give the "too much story squeezed in" feeling.
I need to check wether the seperate release contains textless OP/ED (can´t remember the extras as I never really paid much interest to them)

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree. They put enough story, enough action and enough character development in that you'd think after contemplating it that they put in too much. It turns out they included the perfect amount.

I think the R1 DVDs have the clean op/ed for this and the following episode, though I let my sister borrow the DVD so I cannot verify this. Anyone with the DVD is welcome to fill us in. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
And also, why share a cabin when the rest is empty (so much for fated chemistry /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif)
Maybe the two were the only one on the route from Earth to Wakusei Destiny at the time ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
LOL I hadn't thought about why they shared a cabin. If the cabin went by where you were in line, wouldn't they have been in line together? Or perhaps Louis bought her ticket (if you even need to buy the ticket considering the official nature of the trip) and Manabu bought his 20 minutes later and they were the only ones boarding? Or perhaps the tickets are sent out with the acceptance letters, and they were one after the other?

Are Louis and Manabu supposed to be from the same planet? I mean, when we meet Louis' father we aren't given the impression Manabu knows him, and he doesn't give a speech on the planet Earth. Hmmm.... So if this is the case, why were they even on the same train? I know, it's a story, don't over analyze. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Speaking of which I really hope we get to expand that a little more in the sequel. That´s the only thing that I wished to resolve by the end of the series properly

[/ QUOTE ]
Having watched the entire series, and now knowing there is a sequel in the works, when I got to the last episode I was wondering who the hell would be left to even MAKE a sequel about! Vega is gone. Bruce is gone. Flame Swallow is destroyed. Julia's in bad shape (well, sort of anyway). If the sequel has the same teams working on it, I can only imagine it'll be just as good as the first.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
I like Louis...but I´d so wished for a different Seiyuu for her. I mean Asami Sanada did a good job, but I just can´t stand her voice ^_~

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know, after seeing her in action, and the emotion she put out, I think the part fit really well. I can think of voice actor's voices whom I like better, but after 5 minutes with her, Louis' personality works really well as presented by Sanada.

Which leads me to also comment that the characters in this series REALLY get into it. It's amazing the depth of feeling they reach. Not to say other series aren't at a similar level, but I can't honestly think of one character that was poorly played at all. Not a small feat.

One thing I always have a problem with is Takehito Koyasu is I am ALWAYS waiting for him to scream out "Umi wa ii na!" (one of the few lines of his I can vividly remember from Sakura Taisen, especially Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2) LOL He disappointed me as he never says it in this series. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
It plays out pretty well as the series continues. The relationship between Manabu and Bruce is something I found, next to Louis/Manabu, the best written character development in the series. The end is just so cruel

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm reserving comment on Bruce/Manabu's... fate... until I get to my thoughts on that episode. I do agree that Manabu and Bruce is great character development. It felt like everyone else just accepted the newbies and got along.

As I'm thinking about it, are there no sexaroids on the Flame Swallow or Iron Berger? Neither seems to have the 6th crew member like the Sirius Platoon and Big One do. Now if that wasn't a random thought...

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
You know I really hope that the prices for the firstpress boxes for the seperate release drop. I mean, I got the ltd. Edition for the first Volume, the 2nd firstpress box (via Amazon.jp *lucky bastard*) but I sadly didn´t get the last one (featuring all 3 Yûki´s). I should have known better though (but I really needed to continue watching the series and couldn´t wait several months of waiting wether the firstpress appears on the Y!AJ ^_^) as AMOTokyo told me back then (when I asked them how hard it would be to get the firstpress boxes) that they are pretty hard to track down as they sold out pretty fast after the release date (in fact they told me that they may could get it second hand, but definitely not in new condition).

[/ QUOTE ]
There are some series where I can't be bothered over whether I get first press items or not. Sure, they are nice to have, but they aren't always something I HAVE to have. Given that this is such a great series, I can't imagine, had I purchased the singles, that I would have taken the chance and not found SOME way to preorder the volume with the last box well enough in advance to guarantee I received one.

I also don't mind buying used on YAJ, and you can score some great prices on complete sets like I did for GE999. The GE999 movie and TV special boxes may be OOP, but they aren't exactly scarce on YAJ, so I'm sure I'll score them some day. GTM boxes sound to not be in the same boat, like the GE999 box 6. If I see a GTM final box listed, I'll PM you. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

littleharlock

01-04-2006, 06:54 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Considering I was in pain waiting between R1 volumes, and there's more episodes per DVD on R1, I can sort of imagine only getting 2 episodes in a sitting, then having to wait a month or so for the next volume. Though in your case it sounds like you waited between some volumes anyway. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah as mentioned before, I was sceptical regarding the project in the first place (plus I was collecting the 13 DVDs of Endless Odyssey at the time the DVD release for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari started) so I hesitated a little longer to start collecting it. Of course I regret it these days as it wouldn´t have been that hard to get the damn final firstpress box back then -.-

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
The thing about the big one reusage is that it's really just the background that's recycled (well, so is the animation technically) as we see the background when the other trains (Spica and Vega's trains... Flame Swallow and Iron Berger). The lighting changes as well (night/day).

[/ QUOTE ]

That´s something I obviously didn´t pay much attention to. Thanks for pointing out /images/graemlins/happy.gif
But it´s really sad that the scenes for Layla have been re-used that often (though that made me appreciate the episodes featuring new scenes *episode 13* a LOT more than I´d thought ^_^). I heard that the Sôshûhen DVD is supposed to contain some new scenes. I plan to pick it up this month and in case of interest will post my thoughts about it here.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
LOL I hadn't thought about why they shared a cabin. If the cabin went by where you were in line, wouldn't they have been in line together? Or perhaps Louis bought her ticket (if you even need to buy the ticket considering the official nature of the trip) and Manabu bought his 20 minutes later and they were the only ones boarding? Or perhaps the tickets are sent out with the acceptance letters, and they were one after the other?
Are Louis and Manabu supposed to be from the same planet? I mean, when we meet Louis' father we aren't given the impression Manabu knows him, and he doesn't give a speech on the planet Earth. Hmmm.... So if this is the case, why were they even on the same train? I know, it's a story, don't over analyze. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I don´t remember wether they mentioned Louis´ homeplanet at all. Her father (who btw. has been voiced by infamous Isao Sasaki, performer of the OP & ED theme of GTM and the original 999 TV series among many others) however was the president of the Craios cluster...which may be were Louis came from as well.
Overanalyzing the scene in episode 2 further IIRC it was that way that we see Manabu boarding 550 on Earth and he looks for a (free /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) cabin when the train is already in space. While 550´s destination is Wakusei Destiny, it may made a stop where Louis boarded? I know too much speculating and over analyzing...but that´s part of the fun, isn´t it? ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Having watched the entire series, and now knowing there is a sequel in the works, when I got to the last episode I was wondering who the hell would be left to even MAKE a sequel about! Vega is gone. Bruce is gone. Flame Swallow is destroyed. Julia's in bad shape (well, sort of anyway). If the sequel has the same teams working on it, I can only imagine it'll be just as good as the first.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only few bits on the story of the sequel Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei are known up to now (mainly announced via the Official site´s webradio broadcast). I started a thread about the sequel in the General Anime section of this forum, containing some announced story elements of the sequel as can be seen here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=generalanimeforum&Numb er=1227089&Forum=f11&Words=%2Bwasurareta&Searchpag e=0&Limit=25&Main=1227089&Search=true&where=bodysu b&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderva l=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post1227089)
Additional the setting is supposed to start with the following:
The story is set half a year after the fight between the SDF and the invading race of the Alfort cluster. After that incident an unknown illusionary space which´s cause is unkown a appeared on the Galaxy Railroads. This mysterious phenomen leads to an operation failure for the Galaxy Railways, as each route is broken by it. Due to that incident a SOS signal arrives at Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei (Planet forgotten by time), the signal originates from a special bullet train that transports some VIPs from the planet. Of course the Ginga Tetsudô Administration Department orders the Elite Platoon Sirius to help them (since it´s the only available or better said reachable and nearby the planet *remember the roads are broken ^_^*)

Furthermore Spica team with Julia are hinted to re-appear (the seiyuu recently watched a scene from the sequel that had Julia featured) and the train section at the Official site does list Iron Berger...so I guess we´re going to see Vega Squad as well (though probably re-organised due to what happened at the end of the original series.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I don't know, after seeing her in action, and the emotion she put out, I think the part fit really well. I can think of voice actor's voices whom I like better, but after 5 minutes with her, Louis' personality works really well as presented by Sanada.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don´t get me wrong, I really agree with you that Sanada did a good job as Louis. It´s just her voice that creeps me out...don´t know how to explain that properly, but it´s like you meet someone that you don´t know and you don´t have anything personally against the person, but the voice of him/her creeps you out ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Which leads me to also comment that the characters in this series REALLY get into it. It's amazing the depth of feeling they reach. Not to say other series aren't at a similar level, but I can't honestly think of one character that was poorly played at all. Not a small feat.

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely agree with you on this. Kudos to the writers for the amount of character development they managed to handle within these 26 episodes and yet not loosing focus of the main story that has been developed througout the series in the background. Aside from animations, the characters were to me the major strong point of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. We get to know them througout the show I just loved the way the past of them has been told. Especially Buldge´s romantic but tragic past which directly links to the day Wataru Yûki is leaving his family to depart on his final journey and *my alltime favorite* Julia and Murase´s past...it´s been told so decently

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
As I'm thinking about it, are there no sexaroids on the Flame Swallow or Iron Berger? Neither seems to have the 6th crew member like the Sirius Platoon and Big One do. Now if that wasn't a random thought...

[/ QUOTE ]

Yuki is the only one. The Spica team consists of 4 members (Julia, Ai Matsura, Sheley Percy, Maggie Redfort), Vega also consists of 4 (Murase, Edwin Silver, José Antonio Valdivia, Moritz Schneider) and the only other squad that also consists of 6 members is the one for SPG led by Frederick Johanson. IIRC Sirius is, next to the Elite Squad SPG, also considered a very special Squad, which may would explain that there are more members than the other (it seems like there are SDF squads with even less members big spoilers for the endat the episode of the funeral for Bruce we also see Acrux Squad with only 3 members, even in the flashback during episode 15 this squad only consisted of Murase, Julia and the captain

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I also don't mind buying used on YAJ, and you can score some great prices on complete sets like I did for GE999. The GE999 movie and TV special boxes may be OOP, but they aren't exactly scarce on YAJ, so I'm sure I'll score them some day. GTM boxes sound to not be in the same boat, like the GE999 box 6. If I see a GTM final box listed, I'll PM you. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Very rarely, but at times there were auctions with people offering the boxes alone. I´m only missing the final firstpress box, so that would be a rather hard task to find an auction selling that one alone ^_^ (Maybe I´ll watchlist the Firstpress for the 10th DVD alone to get the box and double dip on the DVD ^_^).

Now please excuse me, I´ve got to watch some more Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari (and chim in with some thoughts laterwards).

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-04-2006, 08:22 AM

Eps 6

In this episode there is a little inconsisitency in the simulator. In the training "incident" involving Manabu and Bruce where Bruce is pushing the training level up, the perpetrator looks like a human. In this episode the perpetrator that Manabu pulls his gun on is definitely Mechanoid in nature (though he disappears). So we can assume someone messed up, or that they have the ability to make the "bad guys" look like anyone they want in the simulator. I'm going for the 2nd option. /images/graemlins/wink.gif 

Manabu again shows his innocence and naivete when he decides to spoil the little boy by allowing him to see the inside of the train. Even the old lady chides Manabu for that one.

Eps 7

There's an odd sort of irony on this episode. Here you have dejected and suspended Manabu spilling his guts to the very bomber who put him on suspension (indirectly) and treating him like a friend. How ironic.

In the list of dead as David scrolls through I only saw one name I recognized... Ingmar Burgman. I'm sure there's probably other famous people listed, I just don't know them. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Another connection between Layla and Manabu is revealed, as she is the voice he hears telling him not to let his suffering get to him. She tries to guide him, which is something she definitely doesn't do for anyone else. And of course, just as she is speaking with him, it's reported the little girl whom got him into a little trouble was the sole survivor. Which made me think, since I had already seen the episode, of Catalina (Bulge's woman) whom was the sole survivor of an accident in which Manabu's father Wataru was the person rescuing her. Fate is strange indeed.

As far as the bomber's true identity, I found they had hidden it pretty well, as I know when I first saw the episode I wasn't expecting HIM to be the bomber, though given how it all played out, it made sense. I do think his reasoning for bombing the railway was a bit excessive and the reason didn't fit all that well. So his mother dies because he can't get on the train and get her medicine, so he decides he's going to kill lots of other innocent people? I guess terrorists don't always make logical sense.

Eps 8
This was the repair depot/scrap yard episode.

Not much to say here, though I think it's pretty cool they show that there are different train engines for different jobs (like hauling ore).

Eps 9
This is the episode with Sarai the memory thief. So we get to see Bruce's past and a bit of a better explanation of the "Shinigami no Bruce" "nickname" he has.

Unsurprisingly, Manabu has no memories he'd like to lose, while the memories Louis spouts are rather petty. We are, however, presented with Louis making a slight mistake in that she actually mentions losing memories of fighting with her father, and as we know, a few episodes later, there they are, showing Louis with her father. Great foreshadowing, though I may not have noticed had I only watched the series once.

Hell, we even hear a little about David and Irene, which again foreshadows another later episode involving Irene. It's really well done.

This is also the episode with the Sennen Joo appearing on the coin that David flips.

If you keep your eye on Sarai, you can see him pull something out of Louis' pocket, which we then learn was her last chocolate. Of course, I think he "steals" it out of the wrong pocket, but that's neither here nor there.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:But it´s really sad that the scenes for Layla have been re-used that often (though that made me appreciate the episodes featuring new scenes *episode 13* a LOT more than I´d thought ^_^). I heard that the Sôshûhen DVD is supposed to contain some new scenes. I plan to pick it up this month and in case of interest will post my thoughts about it here.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, definitely let me know. If it's just a recrap movie, I'm not interested. Especially if it turns out like the Vandread "OVAs".

As for reusing Layla's animation, she really doesn't play a big role in the series in terms of needing to appear on screen. They also give her some new animation on the last episodes, where she's laying on the floor and when she is becoming transparent. I don't know why, but I really love the hand animation where she puts her hand on the railways' globe that shows the train's paths

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Well I don´t remember wether they mentioned Louis´ homeplanet at all. Her father (who btw. has been voiced by infamous Isao Sasaki, performer of the OP & ED theme of GTM and the original 999 TV series among many others) however was the president of the Craios cluster...which may be were Louis came from as well.
Overanalyzing the scene in episode 2 further IIRC it was that way that we see Manabu boarding 550 on Earth and he looks for a (free /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) cabin when the train is already in space. While 550´s destination is Wakusei Destiny, it may made a stop where Louis boarded? I know too much speculating and over analyzing...but that´s part of the fun, isn´t it? ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
So perhaps Louis was on board the train as it was running from the Craois Cluster through the stop on Earth where Manabu baords? (Is Manabu from Earth? I mean, they don't ever really say, the only thing I know is he's from Tabitto. Is that the planet, or the town he's from, I always thought it was the town he hailed from?) That makes sense to me.

Given what we know of Louis and her father, I think it's safe to assume she was coming from the Craois Cluster, as we find out she was kinda running away from him in a sense.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:Only few bits on the story of the sequel Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei are known up to now (mainly announced via the Official site´s webradio broadcast). I started a thread about the sequel in the General Anime section of this forum, containing some announced story elements of the sequel as can be seen here

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks for that. I saw the thread the other day. I tend to try and stay out of the less structured General Anime forum. Way too much discussion and way too many topics I have no real interest in posting in.[ QUOTE ]

littleharlock said:Furthermore Spica team with Julia are hinted to re-appear (the seiyuu recently watched a scene from the sequel that had Julia featured) and the train section at the Official site does list Iron Berger...so I guess we´re going to see Vega Squad as well (though probably re-organised due to what happened at the end of the original series.

[/ QUOTE ]
They could make the entire sequel series about the Spica Platoon and I'd be happy! /images/graemlins/wink.gif Though given their guest appearances in episodes, I think it makes them a little more "special" to me, kind of like you and Layla's appearances. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

The Vega Platoon would have to be an entirely new crew, considering their fate...

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:Don´t get me wrong, I really agree with you that Sanada did a good job as Louis. It´s just her voice that creeps me out...don´t know how to explain that properly, but it´s like you meet someone that you don´t know and you don´t have anything personally against the person, but the voice of him/her creeps you out ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
There is an ADV English voice actor whose voice I can't stand and if I see the person's name in the credits, I don't even switch the language over to spot check. I've met the person in person, and I still hate the voice though the person is nice enough. So yeah, I can see where you're coming from there. I don't know that "creeps out" is the right term though, as this person's voice doesn't creep me it in so much as it grates on my nerves.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:the characters were to me the major strong point of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. We get to know them througout the show I just loved the way the past of them has been told. Especially Buldge´s romantic but tragic past which directly links to the day Wataru Yûki is leaving his family to depart on his final journey and *my alltime favorite* Julia and Murase´s past...it´s been told so decently

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly. There were a few things that seemed a little contrived, like Julia and Murase but even those things worked out well IMO. Especially considering how that little spoiler above winds up in the end (though it wasn't all that much of a surprise, it's still an emotional spot in the show).

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:Yuki is the only one. The Spica team consists of 4 members (Julia, Ai Matsura, Sheley Percy, Maggie Redfort), Vega also consists of 4 (Murase, Edwin Silver, José Antonio Valdivia, Moritz Schneider) and the only other squad that also consists of 6 members is the one for SPG led by Frederick Johanson. IIRC Sirius is, next to the Elite Squad SPG, also considered a very special Squad, which may would explain that there are more members than the other (it seems like there are SDF squads with even less members big spoilers for the endat the episode of the funeral for Bruce we also see Acrux Squad with only 3 members, even in the flashback during episode 15 this squad only consisted of Murase, Julia and the captain

[/ QUOTE ]
So who would be the medical officers on their ships? Or do they just not have one? Not that that is ALL Yuki did, but it was a function of her duties, a BIG portion of her duties actually.

Thanks for the names of all the members. I caught all the Spica Platoon's names and most of Vega, though I never even caught the names of the other Platoons. Are they even mentioned by name in the series?

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:Very rarely, but at times there were auctions with people offering the boxes alone. I´m only missing the final firstpress box, so that would be a rather hard task to find an auction selling that one alone ^_^ (Maybe I´ll watchlist the Firstpress for the 10th DVD alone to get the box and double dip on the DVD ^_^).

[/ QUOTE ]
Double dipping on a single volume is understandable, and probably the route I would take considering finding JUST a box will be a pain in the ass to say the least.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:Now please excuse me, I´ve got to watch some more Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari (and chim in with some thoughts laterwards).

[/ QUOTE ]

I threw my thoughts on the next 5 episodes out, so feel free to add on or comment on my thoughts and definitely add your own. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Where I stopped, before eps 10, is actually before one of my favorite stories/episodes (eps 10). Eps 19 is still my favorite though. lol

I have more thoughts to share on Ginga Tetsudo 999 as well, as I watched the next 4 episodes last night. I'll try to get those posted today sometime if time permits.

Natsume_Maya

01-04-2006, 10:18 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
If you put it up against something from say, Gonzo, then yeah, it's average. It's not the greatest out there, but it definitely works for the series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Even compared to other studios, I think the animation in Galaxy Railways is very average at times. I was watching some Kodomo no Omocha this evening, and was thinking that the animation in that shoujo series was more consistent than in Galaxy Railways - the animation in Kodomo no Omocha is fluid, the perspectives are rendered correctly, etc (although I accept that the character designs in KnO are less "realistic" than in Galaxy Railways).

[ QUOTE ]
Are you talking about the running sequences? If you are, I know what you are saying, however the problem is that this running style matches the way they animated people running in the older series, so it matches that style IMO. It does look odd though...

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, one of the instances I noticed the animation was in the running sequences /images/graemlins/happy.gif If it's to refer to previous Matsumoto works, that's understandable.

But in other places, it was stuff like poor perspective or stiff movements which I didn't like. Some inconsistent character designs as well, but that happens in a lot of series.

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, the opening and the ending give it that feel. The upbeat opening theme (with a male singer instead of female) and the somber light ending theme. The ending actually kinda reminds me of the Macross ending theme.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't really like the opening song, but I think the ending song is great. Reminds me of the Macross ending too /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Ironically, since slerch has brought it up, I found that this series (although not being the highest budget once around) did manage to handle CG sequences more fitting than GONZO projects (as much as I enjoyed Gankutsuô as project, the CG sequences at times looked really odd *the city of Paris in the 3rd episode as example*)

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that the CG in Galaxy Railways fits better with the 2D animation than some Gonzo works. Then again, a number of Gonzo projects involve giant robots etc, where moving arms and legs will probably emphasise the 3D effect, whereas there's not that kind of stuff in Galaxy Railways.

[ QUOTE ]
It actually is Herlock as in Uchû Kaizoku Captain Herlock, but the little guy I´ve taken as username is a character appearing in the Eternal arc of the Ginga Tetsudô 999 manga named littleharlock who´s not related to the Space Pirate (so much for the borring story as how I came to choose my username /images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, okay. I thought your name was a reference to the Captain himself /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Eps 7
<snip>
As far as the bomber's true identity, I found they had hidden it pretty well, as I know when I first saw the episode I wasn't expecting HIM to be the bomber,

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I thought it would be that person. Maybe it's one of those situations where if the main character develops some relationship or bond with a guest character, you know that character will play an important role in the episode /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Eps 8
This was the repair depot/scrap yard episode.

Not much to say here, though I think it's pretty cool they show that there are different train engines for different jobs (like hauling ore).

[/ QUOTE ]

The plot of this episode was pretty straightforward, but I liked the ending and its theme about things having their own value.

Whereas I thought the first few episodes of Galaxy Railways were a disappointment, I thought things picked up in the second group of five episodes or so. My favourite up to there is probably episode 9, with its theme of the value of memories, even the bad or painful ones, and some character development for Bruce.

littleharlock

01-05-2006, 06:56 AM

<regarding episode 1 & 2>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
So perhaps Louis was on board the train as it was running from the Craois Cluster through the stop on Earth where Manabu baords? (Is Manabu from Earth? I mean, they don't ever really say, the only thing I know is he's from Tabitto. Is that the planet, or the town he's from, I always thought it was the town he hailed from?) That makes sense to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought it was Earth at first as well. However it´s been stated that the planet is actually called Tabitto, supposed to be famous for its mineral resources gained via terra-forming and located at the outside of Andromeda.

So I finally got around to watch some more episodes of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari the other day and thought to post my thoughts on them here as well ^_^"

• Episode 3 - "Unmei no Dôrin"
Animationwise really good (as good as the series started, also slightly better in terms of chara designs than the 2nd episode). As slerch mentioned, there are little elements included in these early episodes, that you probably won´t notice during the inital viewing (well at least I didn´t notice /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) of the series, which will play a bigger part in later episodes. One of such elements in this episode (which, as said, I completely missed back when I watched it the first time) was when they already introduced Shou Kayamori or let´s say he was walking by in the background and appeared in IIRC episode 5 to hand some refreshment to Manabu. The story of this episode was rather enjoyable and directly connects with how the last episode ended (meaning that Manabu arrived at Wakusei Destiny, at the SDF headquarters and is about to finally enter the Sirius Squad for real *gotta love the scene when Manabu walks the floor proud and bit nervous followed by a lovely Layla Destiny scene before he enters the briefing room*).
This episode introduces us also the rest of the Sirius squad, the nice and dandy David Young, Louis Fort Drake (which we already had been introduced in the previous episode), gentle and charming Yuki Sexaroid, the lead of the squad Schwanhelt Buldge (you´ve got to love the mixing up of multi-cultural names in this series ^_~) who we also had been introduced before and last but not least Bruce J. Speed who appears as the team´s thick head and seems to act like a c*ck at first. However, maybe it´s just me, but his actions (even without knowing more about his past) were sort of understandable in the episode. I mean, we have a young and naive newbie who thinks (against what all that has been taught at the training) he can fight without using a weapon. Kudos to Manabu, if he doesn´t mind to place his live in serious danger, yet it´s a total different thing to do the same with the live of innocent civilians whom to protect, is the main duty of the SDF. There´s much to learn for Manabu and knowing what is about to come storywise I´m looking forward to continue re-watching ^_^
Btw. the Yuki Sexaroid "changing outfits" scene was what could be called "funny fanservice"..yet my favorite scene in that regards is still coming with episode 19 (the onsen episode ^_~)

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
So who would be the medical officers on their ships? Or do they just not have one? Not that that is ALL Yuki did, but it was a function of her duties, a BIG portion of her duties actually.

Thanks for the names of all the members. I caught all the Spica Platoon's names and most of Vega, though I never even caught the names of the other Platoons. Are they even mentioned by name in the series?

[/ QUOTE ]

No the names, or at least the full-names of the members of the Spica and Vega squads have not been mentioned in the series as far as I´m aware of (heck aside from Murase I certainly can´t remember the names of the other Vega members being mentioned in the series at all ^_~) but they can be found in the passes (aka booklets) the individual DVDs came with. Regarding who is actually reponsible for medical treatment on the other squads, only few "duties" of the members are known. And after all Yuki Sexaroid isn´t only responsible for medical treatment either as can be seen during combat situations, where she isn´t spending her time at the infirmary, but at the controll center of Big 1. So it could be possible that the same applies for one of the members of Vega and Spica as well.
Speaking of which, did the Complete Box not contain a gallery for the cover art of the seperate release? I mean, that would be really sad...especially since the seperate release had reversible covers (mostly screenshots, like Station.3 containing an IMO nice shot of Julia and Ai as reversible cover). Oh and may I ask what´s the 4 promo clips I read about on several fansites? Are these just clips advertising the series or anything else noteworhty?

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
I agree that the CG in Galaxy Railways fits better with the 2D animation than some Gonzo works. Then again, a number of Gonzo projects involve giant robots etc, where moving arms and legs will probably emphasise the 3D effect, whereas there's not that kind of stuff in Galaxy Railways.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have to agree with this up to a point (there´s movement *weapons* with some trains later on and IMO that has been done equally as good as before, meaning that it was fluently and fitting). Speaking of which, the mechanical designs by Katsumi Itabashi (http://hw001.gate01.com/cosmos2/) (who worked on the majority of Matsumoto anime projects as mechanic designer) for GTM are pretty (next to the Queen Emeraldas OVA ship designs by Itabashi my favorite ones). Gotta love the designs of Flame Swallow and even more Iron Berger ^_^

• Episode 4 - "Eien to lu Na no..."
The first episode featuring rather sloppy character designs (Jane and Terry Goldmann) and rather low-budget animations. The story of this episode isn´t the most interesting one either, though it isn´t any near bad. Terry who doesn´t want to let go of his beloved Karen even going that far and boarding the train that leads to the "final station". What I found a bit weak, or let´s say what I had expected and missed a bit was Manabu´s involvement in this story. I mean I was expecting him to be more convincing to Terry, after all Manabu is sadly quite experienced when it comes to loosing beloved ones and letting go. Overall not my favorite episode..but it had some nice scenes (I enjoyed the cafeteria scene at the beginning. I mean, it´s nice to see Kate *the one with the pink streak in the hair* and Sayaka *billowy hair* from the control center outside of the workplace for a change "discussing" the spooky story of the ghost train ^_^
Regarind the animation production, the credits state different studios involved. If I saw that correctly even AIC has been involved in one way or another (at least the credits for IIRC episode 4 stated AIC under "production cooperation"). However in general I don´t mind the badly animated parts of GTM are still better than the badly animated parts of let´s say Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel (and this one had to balance a budget for 26 episodes while Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel was a 13 episode series).

• Episode 5 - "Big One Gôdatsu"
Again, we have some pretty inconsistent level of animations in this episode. I wouldn´t say totally bad as it´s, well pretty inconsistent. For example in the scenes inside Flame Swallow I found the animation to look pretty good on a mediocre level, while the animations outside on Rio Glande (no typo, I just write it as the displays in the episode had it written ^_^") were for the majority not good. Interestingly the level of animation did IMO change in some scenes. I mean the start of the fight between Manabu and pirate Gaisandar didn´t look bad at first. No stills at first, but then it just looked creepy by the end. The animations aside, the story of this episode was enjoyable as well. It was nothing genius, but it´s a good episode as the Spica squad finally had some more "screen time" and we do see that they´re led by a tough lady, Julia F. Reinhardt.

That´s as far as I´ve re-watched (being quite busy with the accountancy training currently I only have time to watch a few episodes at night) but I definitely enjoy it...even more than the first time around (however I need to catch-up, hopefully having the time to watch the next four episodes tonight). Yesterday I´ve even took the Big Comic Superior special for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari from my backlog pile and started reading a bit (lots of kanji so it´ll take me quite a while ^_~). However it´s nice to see how much focus Matsumoto gives her loveliness Layla Destiny Shura as we get the story told starting with Mamoru Yuki still alive and leaving Wakusei Destiny and Layla to depart with 666, the train of Space Panzer Grenadier Squad (which he set to join in the first episode of the series ^_^). Of course Layla sees his sad fate..
It´s also surprising to see that at least the prologue chapter for the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari manga features some very detailed background art by Matsumoto yet again (something I sort of missed in the Eternal arc of the GT999 manga). I hope Matsumoto will continue with the manga soon...I´d so want to see Julia and the Spica Squad drawn by him (heck I´m really tempted to go for the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari Spica Material Collection book just to check wether it contains some original sketches by him ^_^")

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Whereas I thought the first few episodes of Galaxy Railways were a disappointment, I thought things picked up in the second group of five episodes or so. My favourite up to there is probably episode 9, with its theme of the value of memories, even the bad or painful ones, and some character development for Bruce.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looking forward to read your thoughts on the rest of the episodes /images/graemlins/happy.gif

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-05-2006, 07:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Rio Glande

[/ QUOTE ]
Wasn't it displayed as Rio Glando on the display?

littleharlock

01-05-2006, 07:44 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Rio Glande

[/ QUOTE ]
Wasn't it displayed as Rio Glando on the display?

[/ QUOTE ]

*Gomen* Now that´s the typo I was trying to avoid in the beginning /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-05-2006, 08:14 AM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
No the names, or at least the full-names of the members of the Spica and Vega squads have not been mentioned in the series as far as I´m aware of (heck aside from Murase I certainly can´t remember the names of the other Vega members being mentioned in the series at all ^_~)

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, it's not until one of the final episodes (you know THAT episode) where we actually HEAR the Vega member's names mentioned. They are used in the series, though for the most part they are just nameless muscle men attached to Murase.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Oh and may I ask what´s the 4 promo clips I read about on several fansites? Are these just clips advertising the series or anything else noteworhty?

[/ QUOTE ]

All that is on the extras disc (sadly NO artwork gallery, which does stink, and they don't even give pics of it in the booklet, which is just the passes collected into a little book format it seems) is:

Interview w/ cast after eps 26
Recording sessions for 3 of the episodes (don't recall the eps at the moment)
Interview w/ Matsumoto
Press conference video
Commercials for DVD stations 1-13 (or is it 1-12)
SDF Report (individual interviews with cast members)

I'm not sure what the promo clips are that are mentioned, unless they are hidden extras I haven't found. If I'm not mistaken all the extras presented on the disc are the same extras presented on the single releases.

I'll double check it tonight when I get home and see if perhaps I missed something. I now have 8 episodes of 999 to post thoughts on, and if I don't do that today, it's likely I'll have 12 or 16 episode thoughts to post...

slerch666

01-05-2006, 08:17 AM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Rio Glande

[/ QUOTE ]
Wasn't it displayed as Rio Glando on the display?

[/ QUOTE ]

*Gomen* Now that´s the typo I was trying to avoid in the beginning /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

so far
yours
littleharlock

[/ QUOTE ]
YOU'RE FIRED! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Actually, it's kind of funny to note that when I was watching the R1 DVDs subbed, I noticed they were spelling the planet name as Rio Glando before I saw the display. The whole time I was thinking "WTF were the subbers smoking?" as I expected it to be Rio Grande. Then when I saw the display I was like "AHHHH, they weren't smoking anything!"

littleharlock

01-05-2006, 11:41 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Actually, it's not until one of the final episodes (you know THAT episode) where we actually HEAR the Vega member's names mentioned. They are used in the series, though for the most part they are just nameless muscle men attached to Murase.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only Silver has been named (by his surename) when Murase gave orders in episode 6 or 7 IIRC.

• Episode 6 - "Yami no Dôkoku"
Again, not the best animations and partwise sloppy chara designs (note the feet of the male passenger onboard the train the first bomb is about to explode looked more like big stones than feet O_o) but the story starts to become really interesting and this episode is the first part of GTM´s only two-part episode (call me nostalgic but given how many two-part episodes the original Ginga Tetsudô 999 TV series had I found it somewhat nice they also included one in this series ^_^). Also it seems that the tragic events of Manabu´s childhood *father´s death* and of recent times *Mamoru´s death* left their traces in Manabu´s mind which shows when he freaked out at the wrack of the exploded train.
Overall the episode created a rather nice setting for the events of the next one.

• Episode 7 - "Yami no Dôkoku (kôhen)"
We´re back with a good share of animation for a change. When the series features good animation, it really has a decent share of fluently and eye-candy quality animations ^_^ Following up the events of the previous episode, we get more background on the terrorist...who turns out to be Shou, the friendly guy that re-fills the vending machines and handed Manabu a (free) refreshment every now and then. Shou´s past also reminds the strict restrtictions for the Galaxy Railways. If you don´t have a pass to board, you´re not allowed to do so, no matter the circumstances...something that has been shown on several ocassions back in the original GT999 series and now in this series as well. The final moments of this episode, when Shou asks Manabu why he cares to protect the Galaxy Railways...that was wonderfully written IMO.
Being the fanboy of her loveliness Layla Destiny that I am, the scene with her in this episode is easily my favorite one so far.

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Actually, I thought it would be that person. Maybe it's one of those situations where if the main character develops some relationship or bond with a guest character, you know that character will play an important role in the episode /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You know, the previous episode I didn´t notice and even at the beginning of episode 7 I wasn´t expecting this, but mainly because I wasn´t even trying to think of anyone responsible for these terrorist activities that had been introduced so far. However I thought that during the lunch Shou and Manabu had at the restaurant it was pretty obvious that the guy may not only be the "vending machine service guy" ^_^

Speaking of that episode, it may be of interest to note that the recently released Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari novel (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4584179492/qid=1136480155/sr=8-6/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl74/250-9410670-1293008) is about the story of this two-parter ^_^

• Episode 8 - "Zanshô"

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
The plot of this episode was pretty straightforward, but I liked the ending and its theme about things having their own value.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on that episode. Yet again we have an inconsistant level of animations in this episode. Partwise it looked rather good (especially the train action sequences featured some good combined CG and 2D animations) and partwise just mediocre with some sloppy chara designs yet again (still I think Manabu in his mechanic suite looked quite cute /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif )

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Not much to say here, though I think it's pretty cool they show that there are different train engines for different jobs (like hauling ore).

[/ QUOTE ]

Gotta love 825´s hauling ore sound /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Oh and this episode introduced Tarou Akatsuki (the friendly mechanic with the "compressed" facial expression) ^_^

On a sidenote, another thing I enjoy about the way the episodes are structured is, that you get a little teaser moment by the final scene of (almost) each episode.

Another note regarding animation production. I´ve done a bit research and most of the episode credits list Studio Kuma to be responsible for animation production. However as mentioned before several different studios were involved for the individual episodes as well. I already mentioned AIC being involved in the production for one of the first few episodes, however the above discussed episodes also had studios like Artland (who should be known with their recent production of the Mushishi anime) involved.

I´ll continue re-watching tonight and post my thoughts for the next 4 episodes by tomorrow. In the meanwhile for the figure collector´s following this thread and who happen to like Yuki Sexaroid...there is some lovely Merchandise goodness (http://www.children-of-no-return.net/community/usrpages/lhnl/pub/yukisexaroid.jpg) out there /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-05-2006, 12:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
who happen to like Yuki Sexaroid...there is some lovely Merchandise goodness (http://www.children-of-no-return.net/community/usrpages/lhnl/pub/yukisexaroid.jpg) out there /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
The face on that figure isn't very good IMO.

littleharlock

01-06-2006, 02:23 AM

Damn, I knew that Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari is an addictive series, but yesterday I found myself totally hooked on it watching through 7 episodes in total (which is a LOT for me on a daily basis). I think I finally caught up in regards of episodes discussed, so as previously I´m going to post my thoughts on the next 4 episodes:
The majority of these four episodes are pretty good featuring a lot of decent character development.

• Episode 9 - "Kioku no Kairô"

We´re back with good animation, but sloppy chara designs for a change (most notable with David...his eyes are scarry at times O_o).

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
This is also the episode with the Sennen Joo appearing on the coin that David flips.

[/ QUOTE ]

You know I loved the scene. Sarai saw the women on the coin and asked David "who the beautiful lady on it is" and he replies with Sennen Joô /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
If you keep your eye on Sarai, you can see him pull something out of Louis' pocket, which we then learn was her last chocolate. Of course, I think he "steals" it out of the wrong pocket, but that's neither here nor there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Many thanks, I hadn´t noticed that!
I loved the scene at the ending everyone back at the control station of Big One and Louis searching desperately for her chocolate ^_^

It was an episodes with sad and happy moments and I found its story and conclusion wonderfully written. Memories have their own value, the good ones as well or especially the bad ones are those that define us up to a point. Helga could finally go on in live with the sad memories (of her obviously dead loved one) gone. Unlike Bruce, Helga seems to be on her own, meaning that she doesn´t have people (friends) that help her overcome the mourning she´s been caught in.

I enjoyed that we get to see more of Bruce´s past...but I would have prefered if we wouldn´t have been introduced to a new ex-member of the Sirius Squad *Owen* but instead connecting his past with some of the two male Sirius members we already saw in the first episode when Wataru was captain of the squad (those two disappeared in the series O_o)

• Episode 10 - "Bunkiten"
Animationwise mediocre with very sloppy character designs (is it just me or did a lot of the characters in this episode look like they suddenly gained "ape arms" ?). Yet this episode had some very good elements, like we get to know Yuki Sexaroid a little bit better. Other than that, not much to say about this episode for me.

• Episode 11 - "Bojô"
Good animations back again and good character designs...the only thing in that regards that took me some time to get used to was Catalina (at least it´s written with "l" on the letter she left Buldge) and her hair...I mean you could pretty easy tell when they had a flashback to Buldge´s past as the big streak over her face isn´t fully grown back then/images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Aside from that we do get another dramatic past of one of the Sirius Squad´s members told via this episode. I thought it was good to finally have something that makes you relate with Buldge. This makes him more "human" than the über-manly Captain and legend among the SDF that Wataru Yûki has been which adds a nice difference between those two. Buldge´s past directly connects with Wataru or better said the final mission the previous Captain of the Sirius Squad departed on. IMO you can understand his actions or better said why he just can´t face Catalina after all that happened, though it was a big surprise for me when you hear the doorbell ring, Catalina greeting and then scene change and you realize that it wasn´t Buldge who entered her restaurant.

• Episode 12 - "Tasogare"
Great animations and equally good chara designs IMO. I read that Artland (of Mushishi fame) had been involved in this episode...and honestly the wonderfull background art we get presented in episode 12 looked that way ^_^ Were to start with things I enjoyed about this episode? Oh we got several nice fanservicey moments of Manabu (while I´m normally not the biggest fanboy of bishônen, Manabu is too adoreable to resist /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif). The most hilarious moment being when old lady Ine tried to make her beloved "Makoto" ready for his bath and Louis and David entering the scene in the right moment.
Also funny Ine managed to make the whole Sirius Squad helping her at her household (but she can be a very persistant and convincing old lady ^_~)
The final scene was simply beautiful Ine thanking Manabu and along with her the whole fields and her house disappears. This incident made Manabu remember that a mother is always there for her children whenever there´s trouble. The ending shows that Manabu returns to Tabitto, to his mother´s restaurant...where the next episode is going to continue

Knowing what will come, I´m looking forward to watch the next 4 episodes this afternoon/night (can´t wait to re-watch episode 13 ^_^) and post my thoughts either later today or by tomorrow.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
who happen to like Yuki Sexaroid...there is some lovely Merchandise goodness (http://www.children-of-no-return.net/community/usrpages/lhnl/pub/yukisexaroid.jpg) out there

[/ QUOTE ]
The face on that figure isn't very good IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmhh I like the face design (http://www.children-of-no-return.net/community/usrpages/lhnl/pub/yukiface.jpg) of the kit ^_^
Of course there´s a different kit for her available (http://www.children-of-no-return.net/community/usrpages/lhnl/pub/Yukimodel2.jpg) as well ^_^ (though personally I found this one not to look as good *though it appears to be cheaper than the one by Mugen Giko (http://homepage2.nifty.com/mugengiko/gallery.html). A third one is (or was at Wonder Festival) available as well, made by Kaiyodo and can be seen here (http://www.destiny-gr.com/TGR/Data/Official_Goods/TGR_Yuki-Figure.html)

<regarding Complete Box>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Commercials for DVD stations 1-13 (or is it 1-12)

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume that´s the promotion clip collection that the fansites were referring to ^_^"

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-06-2006, 10:54 AM

• Episode 13 "Unmei Ressha"
This episode (sort of) starts where the previous episode ended with Manabu back at his mother´s restaurant on Tabitto (it seems to be the winter season incidentally). When it´s time to take the train back to Wakusei Destiny Manabu of course takes the wrong train in his hurry (you could say he got up on the wrong side of the bed ^_~), namely 777 only to find himself re-united with a childhood friend of his (like a wiseman once said "there exists not such a thing as "coincidence", it´s destiny" especially in Matsumoto works /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif) , Subaru who back then dreamed of becoming an artist. However the Subaru of these days is quite changed, without motivations and he seems to "blame" everything on destiny (or better said he doesn´t care for anything anymore). Before Manabu can actually talk to Subaru about what changed him that way, 777 gets into major trouble as a "space hole" appears and the train gets sucked into the strange space phenomen. As if that wouldn´t be enough, a large ship similar to the one that attacked the Galaxy Railways back in the days of Wataru Yûki awaits the "arrival" of 777 (yeah I know that my summaries suck /images/graemlins/happy.gif)
After the greatness that episode 12 IMO was, the following up episode is no let-down either. We´re back with really good animation again and aside from the little character development in regards of Manabu, this episode provides us at last with the major plot that seems to go on in the background right from the events of the very first episode of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. We get to see the aliens that attacked Big One in the past for the very first time "in person" (well actually they wear suits, but that´s a closer look to them as it has been provided up to now ^_~). The major attraction of this episode was, at least to me, the ending. I already admitted that I´m a little fanboy of Layla Destiny, so this episode was IMO the best way to mark the series´ first half. The final scene, with Manabu at Layla Destiny´s chamber (I think it was episode 6 were it was made clear her chamber is located above the actual Ginga Tetsudô Controll Center) was pure fanboy gold ^_^ Not only do we get to see some lovely animated new scenes with the blue beauty, we also get to hear some rather interesting information regarding her "appearance" in dangerous situations. I know I said I´d have wanted more scenes with Layla in the series...yet the spare moments with her during the whole series added some more mystery to this mysterious character IMO (kudos to the writters yet again)

• Episode 14 "Akashi"
Bad animations, sloppy character designs. The story of this episode was focused on Louis Fort Drake, or better said her difficult relationship with her father, president of the Craios cluster. The Sirius squad (Louis and Manabu) have been assigned to guard the president on his way for an important speech as his live is threatened.
And here I was thinking Asami Sanada´s voice creeped me out...guess what her mother´s voice is even more creepy -.- And that´s actually Miyuki Ueda who already did good jobs on Matsumoto projects such as HARLOCK SAGA Nibelungen no Yubiwa as Frika (one of the characters I quite liked in the OVA O_o) and Starsha in 3 theatrical movies of Uchû Senkan Yamato...don´t know what´s wrong with me ^_^"
Speaking of seiyuu one of the highlight from this episode (all flaws aside) was that famous Isao Sasaki (performer of the OP/ED of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari and oh-so-many other Matsumoto anime and classic anime in general) also had a part in this episode as Louis´ father (I still liked him better as Captain Ozuma in Dai Yamato Zero-gô). The story itself was rather nice (I won´t say good as it was IMO one of the weaker character development episodes to me).

• Episode 15 "Kyôdô Sensen"
At last, we get to see an episode devoted to Murase and Julia F. Reinhardt, leaders of the Vega and Spica Squad we´ve seen before in action. A huge meteor swarm that wanders through space in a circle every 1,000 years is approaching one of the Galaxy Railway Space Stations. Joining forces Sirius, Vega and Spica squad are trying to stop the swarm. Sounds pretty mediocre, but the action aside (and this episode features some awesome CG sequences *gotta love the Iron Berger/Big One scene*) this episode provides character development for Julia and Murase, as we learn more about their past back in the days both were members of the Acrux squad (and how Murase got his scars ^_^) as well as the relationship between both (gotta love the final scene when Manabu and Louis saw both walking off in the same direction ^_^).
While we don´t get the names of the Vega squad mentioned, aside Murase, Julia mentioned the names of all her members though ^_^
Pretty good animations though the character designs are a little bit inconsistent at times (at the beginning, Vega and Spica squad *though Julia looks great all the time /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif*) and near the end. But overall the episode is really well made in both the story department (which the majority of the series is pretty good in) as well as in regards of animation (as mentioned above, the battle action in this episode is among the best so far IMO).

• Episode 16 "Sexaroid"
After the last episode, this one seems to be a bit of the "low-budget" edge. Yet, I do think that the character designs staid relatively consistent and I would say the animation was rather nice as well. Storywise nothing to argue about, as can be guessed by this episode´s title, the character that gets the focus here is Yuki Sexaroid. The story starts with the casino train 254 (onboard young businessman Takashi Ooyama ^_~) who transports only rich people. This train gets attacked by pirates which leads 254 to land on Planet Gwynn, a planet which´s atmosphere as well the soil makes metallic objects to rust/corrode. Big One is sent to rescue the people (and the snobby bunch of course can only bitch around "why the rescue took so long", etc.). At first the rescue seemed to be a sucessfull job done quickly, but then there´s a little accident involving Ooyama, Yuki Sexaroid and the "native inhabitants" of Planet Gwynn ^_~
While definitely not my favorite episode so far, I was looking forward to this one back when I bought the seperate DVDs, because I wanted to see more development in regards of Yuki Sexaroid and in the end this episode was no let-down. One of my favorite scenes being near the end, when Yuki faints and memories of Manabu are rushing through her mind that moment. The scene with Louis standing outside the ward and listening to the conversation between Ooyama and Yuki was rather nice as well

All in all another bunch of four good to great episodes for this series. I´m probably going to watch the next four episodes tonight (I need to see episode 19 ASAP ^_^) and will post my thoughts on them tomorrow. Looking foward to read some thoughts from others here (assuming slerch isn´t too busy watching Ginga Tetsudô 999 /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif)

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-06-2006, 01:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
• Episode 13 "Unmei Ressha"
lots of stuff that I'm being a bastard and cutting (sorry I haven't much time to post)

[/ QUOTE ]
One thing that I think you may not have vocalized was part of the reasoning behind Subaru being in the "leave it to fate" funk he was in. I mean, we find out the guy lost his hand/arm and now has a mechanical/robotic arm. Perhaps this makes it harder, or maybe impossible, to be a real artist in terms of drawing. So he lost his motivation to live becuase he could no longer pursue his dream. It happens from time to time in people in real life.

This was also the episode where the aliens go up in Mazone flame. When I first saw the series I had no Herlock experience so it didn't matter one way or another to me. Now that I've seen Herlock and the the aliens themselves from later on, I can't help but think they are ancestors of the Mazone, or a similar race as they all appear to be female and have plant qualities to them. I could be way off base with that one though.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
• Episode 14 "Akashi"
And here I was thinking Asami Sanada´s voice creeped me out...guess what her mother´s voice is even more creepy -.- And that´s actually Miyuki Ueda who already did good jobs on Matsumoto projects such as HARLOCK SAGA Nibelungen no Yubiwa as Frika (one of the characters I quite liked in the OVA O_o) and Starsha in 3 theatrical movies of Uchû Senkan Yamato...don´t know what´s wrong with me ^_^"

[/ QUOTE ]
DUDE... she BARELY has any lines! How the heck did you get creeped out by her!? LOL

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Speaking of seiyuu one of the highlight from this episode (all flaws aside) was that famous Isao Sasaki (performer of the OP/ED of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari and oh-so-many other Matsumoto anime and classic anime in general) also had a part in this episode as Louis´ father (I still liked him better as Captain Ozuma in Dai Yamato Zero-gô). The story itself was rather nice (I won´t say good as it was IMO one of the weaker character development episodes to me). 

[/ QUOTE ]
I didn't know about the seiyuu for the President when I watched it either the first 2 times on R1 DVD or the one time on R2, so I didn't even pay much attention to the character behind the voice or vice versa. When I watch it again, which WILL happen eventually, I'll keep my ears open for it. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

As far as you thinking this was a weaker character development episode, I disagree. We are presented with an idea as to what Louis was getting at when she made the comment on the Sarai episode when she mentions her father. We are also given her reason for joining the SDF, or at least her initially mistaken impression on why. She joined to spite her father, but as proven in the episode itself, she's grown above that, either on her own or through the persistence and consistancy of her fellow Sirius members. Just as Manabu originally joined because he idolized his father and brother, but had grown above that, focusing instead on what Wataru at least did, that being on helping people who need it. Louis is the same. We also have a moment of shared understanding between Louis and Manabu on the caboose, something that helps develop the relationship that we all know they will share, but have thus far not been presented much of at all. You can't dimiss this episode, even if the characters weren't all that well designed or the animation wasn't great. It was an important episode at least in part IMO.

I also love how the body guards all looked like freaking Arnold Schwarzenegger. lol

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
this episode provides character development for Julia and Murase, as we learn more about their past back in the days both were members of the Acrux squad (and how Murase got his scars ^_^) as well as the relationship between both (gotta love the final scene when Manabu and Louis saw both walking off in the same direction ^_^).
While we don´t get the names of the Vega squad mentioned, aside Murase, Julia mentioned the names of all her members though ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
I felt the past given to Julia and Murase, while believable, wasn't as well developed as it should have been. I mean, the relationship just seemed sort of forced as we weren't really presented with anything beyond Julia trying to get Murase to be a little less rash when trying to save the ill fated train in which he gained his scar. The only time we are given to believe they had a relationship is when Murase is being carted back onto the train and is wounded with Julia crying beside him. I didn't think her frazzled nature during the incident was due to her feelings for Murase until AFTER I saw this part, in which makes the relationship less... ah, what's the word... acceptable maybe?

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
*though Julia looks great all the time /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif*)

[/ QUOTE ]
*cough* AI *cough*

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
• Episode 16 "Sexaroid"
At first the rescue seemed to be a sucessfull job done quickly, but then there´s a little accident involving Ooyama, Yuki Sexaroid and the "native inhabitants" of Planet Gwynn ^_~

[/ QUOTE ]
The whole Yuki incident was so obvious from the start of the episode when you find out about the nasty nature of the atmosphere. When Bulge tries to keep her on the Big One, for good reason, it just says "yep, what you think is going to happen will."

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
While definitely not my favorite episode so far, I was looking forward to this one back when I bought the seperate DVDs, because I wanted to see more development in regards of Yuki Sexaroid and in the end this episode was no let-down. One of my favorite scenes being near the end, when Yuki faints and memories of Manabu are rushing through her mind that moment. The scene with Louis standing outside the ward and listening to the conversation between Ooyama and Yuki was rather nice as well

[/ QUOTE ]
Take a look at Ooyama's eyes when he is dispatched from the acquaintance of the bitch with the purse. His eyes turn into Tetsuro looking eyes! He gets the "amoeba" look to his eyes, something that seems to happen to Tetsuro quite a bit.

A couple of telling moments on Louis' part is when she seems more concerned over Manabu than Yuki when Manabu is told to abandon the search. You also, of course, have her rather disappointed and jealous reaction when she learns about Yuki's "feelings" for Manabu.

Good, but not great, episode IMO.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
All in all another bunch of four good to great episodes for this series. I´m probably going to watch the next four episodes tonight (I need to see episode 19 ASAP ^_^) and will post my thoughts on them tomorrow. Looking foward to read some thoughts from others here (assuming slerch isn´t too busy watching Ginga Tetsudô 999 /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif)

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been watching the hell out of GE999, and have thoughts up to eps 28 which I haven't posted. I'm definitely going to watch through more of that this weekend. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

slerch666

01-06-2006, 06:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
• Episode 10 - "Bunkiten"
Animationwise mediocre with very sloppy character designs (is it just me or did a lot of the characters in this episode look like they suddenly gained "ape arms" ?). Yet this episode had some very good elements, like we get to know Yuki Sexaroid a little bit better. Other than that, not much to say about this episode for me.

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry I didn't reply to this bit previously.

I have to disagree with you slightly on a few things on this episode. I can't argue with the animation, but would sound "silly" of me to say that at this far into the series I had really stopped watching the animation for the animation because I was so caught up in the show as an entire package? So I was seeing it as the complete deal instead of "animation, music, voice acting and story."

Something that take into account was that in this episode something (2 things actually) VERY significant occurs. This is the episode in which Manabu FINALLY uses his gun, not to protect himself, but instead to protect one of his cherished friends. Yuki tells him to let her die/get shot because she is jut a sexaroid and can be rebuilt, while during the entire episode Manabu is going out of his way to let her know that her comrades don't see her as a sexaroid, they see her as a person, as a friend. Manabu proves he is willing to do what it takes to protect his friends, which is quite significant towards building Manabu's character. He's willing to kill to protect people, something that up until that point he was never really forced to decide either way.

And one thing I'm definitely surprised you didn't pick up on/mention is that this episode is the first in which Bruce stops calling Manabu "rookie/newbie/greenhorn" and actually uses Manbu's family name, Yuki, without a -chan, -san or -sama to boot. He finally acknowledges Manabu as a fellow squad member who has earned his wings.

Yuki also finally accepts that she isn't viewed as an "it" but as a living, breahing, feeling person. Is it also possible that this is where she begins to develop the knowledge of her remembered "feelings" for Manabu? And is it when she admits this to Ooyama later on that we are supposed to connect her to Kei? Manabu does sorta seem to resemble Daiba in a way, or so I think.

slerch666

01-06-2006, 06:47 PM

Since littleharlock continued on with the episode discussions where I left off, I'll post some thoughts on the episodes up to 20, as that's where the 4th disc in the set left off.

Eps 17
For me, this episode was similar to littleharlock's feelings for episode 10.

We get filled in on the backstory, at least a little, of David, a seemingly neglected Sirius member. If you recall in the Sarai/memory episode, Bruce knocks on David a little, questioning whether he'd like to forget his memories of Irene. This of course led nicely into this particular episode.

It turns out Irene is a treasure hunter and is after a piece of jewelry whose name escapes me at the moment that is rumored to grant eternal life. What we learn, however, is this eternal life is more of a curse (wouldn't eternal life be a curse of sorts for anyone?). The person who wears the jewel is possessed by a rather malignant spirit that takes over their bodies and causes them to murder. Irene's crew was murdered, and she is wandering the planet surface when what group should be requested to investigate? None other than the Big One and the Sirius Platoon, of course!

So David hasn't seen his beloved in 7 years. Not surprisingly, it turns out she owes David MONEY from some sort of bet, that unfortunately we don't really learn about, though we are promised she will see him again.

This episode just seemed sort of forced and out of place, too much like a little fairy tale or something. It was OK, and developed a bit of a character, but it still wasn't "all that."

Eps 18
This episode revolves around another piece of the Sarai/memory, that being Bruce and his "nick name" of Shinigami no Bruce. He and Manabu are searching for an invader in the Ginga Tetsudo Headquarters. Manabu is, what I would say looks to be mortally wounded and Bruce doesn't take this too well. He thinks he's the reason Manabu is nearly killed (turns out to be more of a flesh wound) as he finally began seeing Manabu as a partner. All of Bruce's partners up to that point turn up dead. It's kind of ironic what happens to Bruce a few episodes from now, though I'll discuss that when I get to it.

For some reason, the nerve gas the invader sprays around, while they make it sound like it should kill someone pretty quickly, only causes Bruce to hallucinate, and finally manages to kill the Shinigami within himself with the assistance of his partner, Manabu.

Noteworthy as well is Bruce now begins calling Manabu, Manabu without the honorifics. He only really does it once, well, for the most part, but he does call him Manabu.

Eps 19

This... episode... f-ing... RULES!

Fanservice and fun!

The various platoons, Sirius, Spica and Vega, all get a little R&R, coincidentally at the same time! They take a trip to Murase's home planet, on which his parents run a hot spring! Fun, fun, fun!

This is where you see the Spica Platoon, Manabu and Louis playing cards, and are flashed a glimpse of the joker... Herlock! There are several little bits of jealous rage coming from Louis as well, which causes lots of fun.

I loved the tennis incident! This happens, if I'm remembering correctly, after Louis and the Spica Platoon are bathing together. In the bath, Ai asks Louis if she's seeing Manabu, and as a mistake on her part, she tells her no. Ai then decides SHE is going to pursue him, much to the disatisfaction of Louis.

So as far as the tennis match, Louis gets to be the score taker, while Manabu pairs off with the Spica Platoon, who are of course wearing the Anime staple tennis outfit, SHORT skirts! Plenty of panty shots and lots of angry Louis!

I also loved when the Spica Platoon was singing... and drug Manabu on stage with them. THAT outfit! *barf* LOL

And of course, the always serious Manabu is concerned with work and doesn't even recognize that there are WOMEN there, 2 of which, at the very least, have a romantic interest in him. Idiot. LOL Hell, even Bruce manages to relax!

There were so many little Louis jealous spikes that it's difficult to remember them all. Loved the cats in the bath scene.

One of the absolute funnies things to happen in the episode didn't involve fan service of any kind. It had to be the "mission" the Platoons decided to take on in saving the cat. Holy shit was I laughing when they began rolling out, all Military like, in an attempt to locate the cat. Bruce, who had just told Manabu to relax, is fired up like nobody's business, and the rest of the squads, without a sleeping Louis, take on the mission. Ironic and funny that the mission ends in a fizzle and not a bang.

As a gesture of Louis kindness, Manabu unknowingly grants her what is likely at least a small wish, that being a picture of the 2 of them to commemorate their trip, a picture in which no one else was present and Manabu has his arm around her.

GREAT episode!

Eps 20
No more fun or fan service, it's back to serious business!

So it turns out Manabu has been scouted as a possible member of the SPG or Space Panzer Grenadiers (henceforth known as SPG). This is the group, if you'll recall, in which his brother Mamoru served, and forfeit his life to save Yuki. Mamoru indeed.

Unsurprisingly, Manabu seeks the advice of his fellow members, all of whom give him a rather cold reception, instead deciding it's better for Manabu to make his decision on his own, untethered by their personal feelings. This causes plenty of anxiety and suffering on Louis' part, all the more so because Manabu is a numbskull when it comes to how she feels about him.

I loved Bulge's advice to Manabu. He tells him your sense of justice can fit anywhere you decide to go. Basically he tells Manabu that no matter where he goes or serves, his heart of hearts will continue to pull him down the path of helping others. Manabu must decide where it is he belongs.

Also rather unsurprising is that he decides to stick with the Sirius Platoon. I mean, crap, what would the show be without 5 of the characters they just spent 19 episodes developing? I liked how even Bruce and David were affected by Manabu's sudden invitation to the SPG. Bruce loses the bet, which was obvious as well. /images/graemlins/wink.gif Manabu decides protecting the happiness of the comrades he has been slowly (OK, so he got attached rather quickly) been drawn into and developed a "familial" sense of love towards.

A touching, if not semi-cliched/obvious episode, but good none the less. Just not an episode 19 though. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Since my final disc contained episodes 21-26, I'll wait for littleharlock to either reply to my comments, post his own and/or continue on before I finish out.

This has been another great Matsumoto discussion. Now if only Helen would return and talk with me about Ginga Tetsudo 999!

Natsume_Maya

01-06-2006, 09:14 PM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I think the R1 DVDs have the clean op/ed for this and the following episode, though I let my sister borrow the DVD so I cannot verify this. Anyone with the DVD is welcome to fill us in. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

No, the R1 DVD does not have a textless ending version of episode 1. The R1 DVD only has the textless versions of the standard OP and ED.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
However in general I don´t mind the badly animated parts of GTM are still better than the badly animated parts of let´s say Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel (and this one had to balance a budget for 26 episodes while Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel was a 13 episode series).

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm, if the animation in Maetel is worse, it must be really bad at times /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[ QUOTE ]
• Episode 5 - "Big One Gôdatsu"
<snip>
It was nothing genius, but it´s a good episode as the Spica squad finally had some more "screen time" and we do see that they´re led by a tough lady, Julia F. Reinhardt.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hope we get to see more of the different squads in the series. Adds a bit of rivalry to the show.

[ QUOTE ]
That´s as far as I´ve re-watched (being quite busy with the accountancy training currently I only have time to watch a few episodes at night) but I definitely enjoy it...even more than the first time around (however I need to catch-up, hopefully having the time to watch the next four episodes tonight).

[/ QUOTE ]

So you feel it's one of those series that grows on you? That's good to know. Some shows I've enjoyed more with each viewing, eg Mononoke Hime.

[ QUOTE ]
Looking forward to read your thoughts on the rest of the episodes /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately, I only have up to episode 10 at present, and I'm about to go overseas in a couple of days, so it'll be a while before I can watch any more episodes... /images/graemlins/sad.gif

[ QUOTE ]
• Episode 6 - "Yami no Dôkoku"
<snip>
this episode is the first part of GTM´s only two-part episode (call me nostalgic but given how many two-part episodes the original Ginga Tetsudô 999 TV series had I found it somewhat nice they also included one in this series ^_^).

[/ QUOTE ]

Shame that that's the only two part story. I tend to prefer shows with story arcs (that's part of what attracts me to anime as compared to Western TV shows).

[ QUOTE ]
• Episode 7 - "Yami no Dôkoku (kôhen)"
<snip>
[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Actually, I thought it would be that person. Maybe it's one of those situations where if the main character develops some relationship or bond with a guest character, you know that character will play an important role in the episode /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You know, the previous episode I didn´t notice and even at the beginning of episode 7 I wasn´t expecting this, but mainly because I wasn´t even trying to think of anyone responsible for these terrorist activities that had been introduced so far. However I thought that during the lunch Shou and Manabu had at the restaurant it was pretty obvious that the guy may not only be the "vending machine service guy" ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess I'm the type of person who tries to look for cliches and standard plot ideas as I'm watching a show. The introduction of Bruce as the hardened veteran who likes to operate alone, and certainly without a rookie, is pretty standard. And if there's a mystery involved, as with episodes 6 and 7, I start looking for guest characters /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
On a sidenote, another thing I enjoy about the way the episodes are structured is, that you get a little teaser moment by the final scene of (almost) each episode.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that was an interesting point I noticed too. I guess that's one way of giving a bit of continuity to a series which is otherwise episodic on its face.

[ QUOTE ]
• Episode 9 - "Kioku no Kairô"
<snip>
I enjoyed that we get to see more of Bruce´s past...but I would have prefered if we wouldn´t have been introduced to a new ex-member of the Sirius Squad *Owen* but instead connecting his past with some of the two male Sirius members we already saw in the first episode when Wataru was captain of the squad (those two disappeared in the series O_o)

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought Owen was a great character. A shame that we won't see any more of him (I'm assuming).

littleharlock

01-07-2006, 01:59 AM

• Episode 17 - "Yoroi no Megami"
Sloppy chara designs and no good animations combined with a mediocre story...I guess you can see it wasn´t my favorite episode (though I wouldn´t say it wasn´t enjoyable).

[ QUOTE ]
slerhc666 said:
This episode just seemed sort of forced and out of place, too much like a little fairy tale or something. It was OK, and developed a bit of a character, but it still wasn't "all that."

[/ QUOTE ]

I pretty much agree with you on this. I did enjoy the fantasy setting of the episode though (maybe it´s my love for black knights ever since Lodoss tô Senki) but that wasn´t the problem I had with the episode. I found the interaction between David and Irene felt forced at times. Maybe it felt that way due to David´s normally cool and relaxed nature...but it just didn´t work for me well. I had an other theory back when I watched the series the first time in regards of David, but I assume that´s a pretty bad theory that will drive fans angry and only cater to the Doujinshi cirlces (though that one seem to be busy with another pairing /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif ).

• Episode 18 - "Shinigami no Meikyû"
A wonderfull episode in pretty much all regards. Great story (continuing a bit with the larger story developed in the background), decent animations and DECENT character design.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
For some reason, the nerve gas the invader sprays around, while they make it sound like it should kill someone pretty quickly, only causes Bruce to hallucinate, and finally manages to kill the Shinigami within himself with the assistance of his partner, Manabu.

Noteworthy as well is Bruce now begins calling Manabu, Manabu without the honorifics. He only really does it once, well, for the most part, but he does call him Manabu.

[/ QUOTE ]

Episodes like these are the major reason I consider this series to be a great show. The writers managed to give us a big portion of character development as well as moving on with the story that seems to be woven since the series´ started Bruce is up to that point, still the lonesome fighter he prefers to be, especially after what happened to his ex-partner Owen. You didn´t think he changed 180° just because of the events of the 3rd episode, or? Well this episode taught you better. The invading alien aside, Bruce is in a rage to confront the Shinigami that seems to haunt him ever since the death of Owen. This has been portrayed in an awesome way.
I also loved the scene when Buldge didn´t get a response from Bruce and Murase and Julia saying to him that he should go as they can understand how he feels when a friend is in trouble. Buldge is a great leader in my eyes ^_^
Oh and we finally get to see the invading aliens in their true shape, meaning outside of the space suit (as we saw them in episode 13). Female and shown with curves, but yet not as sexy as the Mazone soldiers ^_^

• Episode 19 - "Seihitsu no Koku"
One word: O-N-S-E-N While the episode itself featured some sloppy chara designs (though good animations) it´s among my favorites, simply because it´s a lot of fun for a change. Btw. did anyone notice the "name" of the train ^_^ ? In the episode before (episode 18) (the final moment) when we see the 610 that brought the Sirius, Vega and Spica squad to the planet...we also see (for a very short moment) that the plate states that 610 is named "Fuji". And you know Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari had been broadcasted on Fuji TV /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif I found this was a funny little sidenote added to an overall wonderfull and hilarious episode ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
This is where you see the Spica Platoon, Manabu and Louis playing cards, and are flashed a glimpse of the joker... Herlock! There are several little bits of jealous rage coming from Louis as well, which causes lots of fun.

[/ QUOTE ]

Despite my dislike of Asami Sanada, this episode was one of my favorites also in regards of Louis ^_^ It had so many hilarious moments with her included, like when she was playing the "referee" during the tennis match or when she got drunk during the later half of the episode and Manabu sustains her *kawaii*. I also loved the little "conversation" between Louis and Julia ^_~ Speaking of which this episode also showed us IMO some of the chemistry going on between Julia and Murase. While the previous episode that gives us development regarding this two characters may not have showed enough of this, I enjoyed the gentle side of these two tough leaders

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Loved the cats in the bath scene

[/ QUOTE ]

THAT scene was f*cking brilliant /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Especially when the two start to swing.
Also the running gag of Jose falling asleep was hilarious

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
GREAT episode!

[/ QUOTE ]

And by the end you can´t help but love the characters. Honestly if you didn´t like or enjoy them up to now (though that´s IMO nearly impossible) you have to love them and feel nostalgic when they take the photos at the end. Especially if you know what is about to come it´s a nostalgic moment.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Since my final disc contained episodes 21-26, I'll wait for littleharlock to either reply to my comments, post his own and/or continue on before I finish out.

[/ QUOTE ]

I´ll definitely try to watch the next few episodes (maybe I´ll watch what is left in one go) today. Episode 20 is among my favorites and it was hard to resist and continue watching it yesterday (but it was pretty late at night ^_^").

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-07-2006, 02:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Hmm, if the animation in Maetel is worse, it must be really bad at times /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I´ve only watched the series once (back when I bought the DVDs) and wouldn´t call it bad (in fact some elements of the story were pretty good handled, way better than the horrible Maetel Legend OVA) but it had partwise (as it seems to be standard for the 13 episode series ever since Cosmowarrior Zero) bad animations and sloppy character designs in the middle. It´s really a shame, because character designer Keisuke Masunaga prooved to be very talented when it comes to adapt Matsumoto characters (i.e. the first two episodes of the Queen Emeraldas OVA and I loved the art he did for the firstpress cards that came with the DVDs of Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel, note that Masunaga also did the illustrations for the recently released Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari novel).
Same with the Dai Yamato Zero-gô OVA. I´ve seen the first two episodes and honestly the first one was really good in regards of animations & chara designs (I adore that scene (https://www.daiyamato-zerogo.com/pho/photo/ep01-g5-1.jpg) in episode 1 with Hongou), atmosphere and story. The second one made me realize that it is Venture Soft involved in the production in the end, animations as well as chara designs went down the hill, the CG sequences looked like from a PSX game. No wonder the series´ production had to be stopped (I doubt they sold really much of the DVDs) and while I have no big hope left, maybe they´re up for a surprise with Volume 4 (however if it´s not released within this year, the anniversary year of Yamato, I highly doubt it´ll be released at all -.-)

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
I hope we get to see more of the different squads in the series. Adds a bit of rivalry to the show.

[/ QUOTE ]

We do get more of them. But again, I wouldn´t dare to spoil anything ^_^ I know I mentioned this already, but let me repeat I´d wish Matsumoto to include the squads into the manga (/me wants to see Matsumoto style Julia ^_^)

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
So you feel it's one of those series that grows on you? That's good to know. Some shows I've enjoyed more with each viewing, eg Mononoke Hime.

[/ QUOTE ]

That´s difficult to answer, but my personal impression was that I loved the series back when I watched it the first time (when I bought the seperate DVDs) however I do have to mention that I didn´t get as much enjoyment out of it as I do now, after some time passed and I´m rewatching it "marathon"-like.

[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Unfortunately, I only have up to episode 10 at present, and I'm about to go overseas in a couple of days, so it'll be a while before I can watch any more episodes... /images/graemlins/sad.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I see. Well I hope you will come back and post your thoughts once you find the time ^_^"

<regarding episode 6>
[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
Shame that that's the only two part story. I tend to prefer shows with story arcs (that's part of what attracts me to anime as compared to Western TV shows).

[/ QUOTE ]

Well we do have story arcs, technically they could have "titled" some of the later episodes 2-parter as well, but I somehow thought this was more of a note to the original Ginga Tetsudô 999 series, which had a LOT of two-part (and even one three-part) episodes (of course I could be wrong with that, but that´s how it felt to me ^_^)

<regarding episode>
[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
I guess I'm the type of person who tries to look for cliches and standard plot ideas as I'm watching a show. The introduction of Bruce as the hardened veteran who likes to operate alone, and certainly without a rookie, is pretty standard. And if there's a mystery involved, as with episodes 6 and 7, I start looking for guest characters /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I see. I´m looking forward to hear how you think about Bruce by the end of the series ^_^

<regarding episode 9>
[ QUOTE ]
Natsume Maya said:
I thought Owen was a great character. A shame that we won't see any more of him (I'm assuming).

[/ QUOTE ]

I did like Owen as well (as much as you can say that by the few scenes he appeared in the flashback), however, I don´t know why, but given that we see a lot of the characters from the past re-appearing I´d have enjoyed seeing the two ex-Sirius members for which Louis and Manabu joint the squad instead, re-appearing somewhere as well

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-07-2006, 02:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I can't argue with the animation, but would sound "silly" of me to say that at this far into the series I had really stopped watching the animation for the animation because I was so caught up in the show as an entire package? So I was seeing it as the complete deal instead of "animation, music, voice acting and story."

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn´t sound silly to me at all. In fact I do feel similar about Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. Its main attraction to me IS the story and the characters that have been decently developed througout these 26 episodes (something, shows with a LOT more episodes didn´t manage). The reason why I try to point out how the individual episodes are in terms of animation and character designs could be considered silly though. I just try to provide people reading this thread (and who are thinking of wether or not to start collecting the series) with an idea of how many "good/bad" animated episodes the series has, since the animation quality has been mentioned by a few people up to now and I don´t want to "color" a series that is already decent on its own and little flaws aside, because I think the series doesn´t "need this". As said, may sound silly though /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Something that take into account was that in this episode something (2 things actually) VERY significant occurs. This is the episode in which Manabu FINALLY uses his gun, not to protect himself, but instead to protect one of his cherished friends. Yuki tells him to let her die/get shot because she is jut a sexaroid and can be rebuilt, while during the entire episode Manabu is going out of his way to let her know that her comrades don't see her as a sexaroid, they see her as a person, as a friend. Manabu proves he is willing to do what it takes to protect his friends, which is quite significant towards building Manabu's character. He's willing to kill to protect people, something that up until that point he was never really forced to decide either way.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don´t disagree with you in any way /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif As I mentioned in my thoughts on that episode, I did enjoy it for the development in regards of Yuki Sexaroid. Up to a point I also thing that the feelings she has for Manabu are more on a friendship level...meaning that he was the person that made her realize the first time, that she IS considered an important friend by the rest of the crew and not just a Sexaroid that could be repaired when damage occurs.

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-07-2006, 04:02 AM

<regarding episode 13>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
One thing that I think you may not have vocalized was part of the reasoning behind Subaru being in the "leave it to fate" funk he was in. I mean, we find out the guy lost his hand/arm and now has a mechanical/robotic arm. Perhaps this makes it harder, or maybe impossible, to be a real artist in terms of drawing. So he lost his motivation to live becuase he could no longer pursue his dream. It happens from time to time in people in real life.

[/ QUOTE ]

As said my summaries tend to suck /images/graemlins/happy.gif
I do agree with your theory on why Subaru may have given up drawing after he got the mechanized arm. Maybe it was (or maybe it just felt like) not possible for him to continue drawing with the passion he once had? Thinking of this, it would fit the theme of how we see some of the mechnoid people in Ginga Tetsudô 999 regreting their decision due to lost human elements like passion, beauty, etc.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I could be way off base with that one though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Given all the subtle hints of connections to the Leijiverse that Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari included and for which you really have to look twice at times, I wouldn´t say it would be too paranoid to see a remark to the Mazone soldiers included as well /images/graemlins/happy.gif

<regarding episode 14>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
DUDE... she BARELY has any lines! How the heck did you get creeped out by her!? LOL

[/ QUOTE ]

Let´s just say I´m very sensible when it comes to voices that I can´t stand /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif The little lines were enough for my taste ^_~

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
As far as you thinking this was a weaker character development episode, I disagree. We are presented with an idea as to what Louis was getting at when she made the comment on the Sarai episode when she mentions her father. We are also given her reason for joining the SDF, or at least her initially mistaken impression on why. She joined to spite her father, but as proven in the episode itself, she's grown above that, either on her own or through the persistence and consistancy of her fellow Sirius members. Just as Manabu originally joined because he idolized his father and brother, but had grown above that, focusing instead on what Wataru at least did, that being on helping people who need it. Louis is the same. We also have a moment of shared understanding between Louis and Manabu on the caboose, something that helps develop the relationship that we all know they will share, but have thus far not been presented much of at all. You can't dimiss this episode, even if the characters weren't all that well designed or the animation wasn't great. It was an important episode at least in part IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don´t dismiss the episode just because of its animation/CD quality, but mainly because the father/daughter relationship felt a bit forced to me (and partwise a bit cliché). While I did enjoy that we´re given an episode that had Louis as focus, I just didn´t like the way it´s been presented
Mind you I did enjoy the moments between Manabu and Louis

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I also love how the body guards all looked like freaking Arnold Schwarzenegger. lol

[/ QUOTE ]

They reminded me more of the MiB /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

<regarding episode 15>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I felt the past given to Julia and Murase, while believable, wasn't as well developed as it should have been. I mean, the relationship just seemed sort of forced as we weren't really presented with anything beyond Julia trying to get Murase to be a little less rash when trying to save the ill fated train in which he gained his scar. The only time we are given to believe they had a relationship is when Murase is being carted back onto the train and is wounded with Julia crying beside him. I didn't think her frazzled nature during the incident was due to her feelings for Murase until AFTER I saw this part, in which makes the relationship less... ah, what's the word... acceptable maybe?

[/ QUOTE ]

I tend to disagree with this. I found that this episode served pretty well to introduce us that there is a relationship between the captain of the Vega Squad and the captain of the Spica Squad. It´s not the most "outgoing" sort of relationship, as you said, it´s been very subtle in this particular episode. Both characters are portrayed as professionals up to now, so the relationship also stayed rather private/subtle. IIRC it was episode 19 when Julia said to Louis that the "right timing is important". This episode (19) showed us more of the bond between Julia and Murase (you´ve got to love the Julia´s glance at Murase´s parents in the end of the episode). The flashback gave me the impression that Julia probably (please note that´s just my speculations/feeling) didn´t really "notice" how important Murase has become to her until she was about to loose him forever. Speculating further maybe that was one of the starting points for their relationship?

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
*cough* AI *cough*

[/ QUOTE ]

Did I mention that I like cover for Station.8 (http://www.discstation.co.jp/VSSHOP/cgi/DS_image.aspx?img=http://img.discstation.co.jp/image3/O/OPSD-A008_L.jpg)? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

<regarding episode 16>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
The whole Yuki incident was so obvious from the start of the episode when you find out about the nasty nature of the atmosphere. When Bulge tries to keep her on the Big One, for good reason, it just says "yep, what you think is going to happen will."

[/ QUOTE ]

It was predictable, but IMO worked out pretty well to serve as Yuki Sexaroid episode /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Take a look at Ooyama's eyes when he is dispatched from the acquaintance of the bitch with the purse. His eyes turn into Tetsuro looking eyes! He gets the "amoeba" look to his eyes, something that seems to happen to Tetsuro quite a bit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Also worth noting the scene when Yuki kisses Ooyama. His pupil turning to pounidng hearts, that´s something we get to see in a lot of Matsumoto works in scene involving the beauty and the beast *ahm* I ment potatoe-head of course /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif (most notable with Tochirô Ooyama)

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I've been watching the hell out of GE999, and have thoughts up to eps 28 which I haven't posted. I'm definitely going to watch through more of that this weekend. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Once I´m finished re-watching Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari, 999 is definitely on my list for the series to be re-watched next (though it all depends on when my Amazon.jp order with the final MONSTER box arrives /images/graemlins/happy.gif)

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-07-2006, 08:33 AM

Had some time this afternoon and popped-in the next two DVDs for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. Only a few more episodes of this great series left to go for, so here are my thoughts on the next couple of episodes.

• Episode 20 - "Sentaku"
One of my favorite episodes (and while my interest in mechanical designs are pretty limited, I just can´t help and love the designs of 666 *and the sound while driving through space*). After all these episodes past, this episode shows what a tight (family) bound the Sirius Squad now has become. Everyone including Buldge are sort of worried that Manabu is going to leave to join SPG (Space Panzer Grenader), the elite Squad which his brother left home to join.
Some of my favorite scenes during this episode were when Manabu remained on the train during the training and things that his fellow Sirius comrades said to him came to his mind which made him continue and rescue himself from the situation he´s been caught in and also near the end when Sirius was waiting for Manabu to return from Johanson´s chamber. Everyone being pretty sure that Manabu would join SPG and therefore down, yet Louis tried to motivate them to cheer up and smile (though you could tell she felt the most miserable among them all due to this situation). You simply have to love the final scene when Manabu returned (ran back) entered the room and said "I´m home" /images/graemlins/happy.gif This "family" feeling among the Sirius squad however shall make things more cruel in the upcoming episodes than you can imagine by now
Animationwise not bad with good chara designs (though a bit sloppy in a few scenes)

• Episode 21 - "Haihan"
There´s the smell of "ending" in the air, with a few more episodes left to go. Time to weave the plot that has been developed in an IMO perfect pacing in the background since the series started. Sirius Squad has been sent to investigate a rescue signal from Planet Kuron/Cron. On board, the biggest a*s the SDF ever had, Ivanov Leonidovich Velitschkov (sounds like a bulgarian name?), from the intelligence investigation department. When Big One investigates the origin of the rescue signal they find the enemy...or so you´d think ^_^
Decent episode which ends in cliffhanging ways (that´s what I ment with, that the series could technically have more episodes marked as two-part episodes). Yet there were some minor things I wondered like at the end of this episode you see the plate of Big One (the one that can be seen on the front of the train), among other parts of it, floating in the space. This gave me the impression (when I watched the series the first time) that Big One has been destroyed...yet the next episode features a major damaged Big One WITH the plate still on its place and relatively good shape /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.
Decent episode (also the scene with Layla "talking to" Shura, that the darkness should never cease the light was wonderfull), with good chara designs (though sloppy at times) and overall setting a first step towards the end of this great series.

• Episode 22 - "Mujô no Kaze"
Loosely translated to "Wind of uncertainty" this title is something that fits the episode IMO perfectly. Featuring some of the series best animations and character designs, the story we get presented this time directly connects to what happened previously and having some major twists prepaired (twists that are certainly not predictable in any way). BIG spoiler for this episode (and believe me, if you´re reading this and have even slight motivations to start watching this series the following is something you wouldn´t want get spoiled!)Bruce´s death. A twist that caught me totally off guard. I can´t remember the last time I was actually that shocked to see a main character dying! After all "you´ve gone through" with the Sirius squad, especially episode 18 (!) in which I thought he´d die, this way of ending the episode was not only fitting for the title, but also totally surprising. I remember that I cursed SPO (manufacturer of the seperate DVD release and boxset) for letting the DVD end with such a "cliffhanging" episode. The way he died was subtle, heck he´s been shot by one of the "punks" from before (at least that´s what I think...who else would have had some grief against him on that planet) while he hesitated to buy the "Tabitto Tea" and the final words of Bruce, "I don´t want to die" honestly had me crying a river the first time I saw it (it still had quite a lot shocking potential the second time around /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif)...and then his eyes. Yet it was "fitting" in a twisted way, as it was as unpredictable as live itself and IMO an heroic death like it may could have been done back in episode 18 would have felt cliché (maybe I´m reading too much into this scene).
That aside the best part was when Bulge hit Ivanov...that was something I found highly enjoyable ^_~
Also note that this episode shows cool and relaxed David pissed-off ^_^

Now I´m going to watch the final few episodes tonight, posting my thoughts on them by tomorrow.

so far
yours
littleharlock

01-07-2006, 12:06 PM

I'm about to start watching Space Symphony Maetel. What're your brief thoughts on it going in>

littleharlock

01-07-2006, 12:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Darkseid said:
I'm about to start watching Space Symphony Maetel. What're your brief thoughts on it going in>

[/ QUOTE ]

The story of Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel ~ Ginga Tetsudô 999 Gaiden is pretty good. I´d even say surprisingly good, as it does outweight the crime that the Maetel Legend OVA IMO is. They really did a good job in creating an original story featuring elements from Matsumoto´s Sennen Joô manga and somehow connecting them with Ginga Tetsudô 999. That said, knowledge of characters from the Sennen Joô manga would be required to fully enjoy this series (i.e. Leopard who btw. appeared in this series the very first time with the designs that Matsumoto gave him in the manga ^_^ The series features several hints to the Sennen Joô manga as well). Sadly the later half of the series, or better said right a couple of episodes before the end of it, the story had one of those WTF twists prepaired which really does not fit in any way (it felt like you missed an episode once you watch it).

In regards of animations, the series is a mixed bag. Starts out pretty good (though the partwise fully 3D CG ships are a hit or miss thing for some), keeps up the quality for a while and then you have some pretty mediocre to bad animated episodes featuring very sloppy character designs in the middle. Of course the series peaks up in quality near the end...and I found the worst (animated) parts of Uchû Kôkyôshi Maetel were still better than the worst from Cosmowarrior Zero. Still the problematic phase in terms of animations is something that I had hoped this series would not have (silly me thought that due to the series originally airing on jp pay TV means higher budget ^_~).

So in summary it´s not as decent as Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari (to compare it with another recent Matsumoto anime and stay on-topic /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif) but it´s not downright bad as Cosmowarrior Zero. Worth watching if you´re a Matsumoto fan (and collecting...damn I LOVE the firstpress cards featuring one theme illustration by chara designer Keisuke Masunaga and one by a guest artist like Shin Takahashi of Saikano fame, or Kôta Hirano of HELLSING fame ^_^)

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-07-2006, 03:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
Did I mention that I like cover for Station.8 (http://www.discstation.co.jp/VSSHOP/cgi/DS_image.aspx?img=http://img.discstation.co.jp/image3/O/OPSD-A008_L.jpg)? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

FUNimation has used that pic for something worthwhile at least, (http://www1.funimation.com/wallpapers/download.cfm?image_id=244&property=galr&size=big)e ven if it ends up not being on any covers... /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Once I´m finished re-watching Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari, 999 is definitely on my list for the series to be re-watched next (though it all depends on when my Amazon.jp order with the final MONSTER box arrives /images/graemlins/happy.gif)

[/ QUOTE ]
I just finished 2 more discs of GE999, so I'm up to eps 37, the first disc of box 3. At this rate I should have this whole thing finished by February, which would be cool. I have the TV specials on order from CD Japan and I just won the Movie Box off YAJ as well. It's going to set back my buying of Sennen Joo a little, but I felt it was worth getting these 2 boxes sooner rather than later. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

slerch666

01-07-2006, 04:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
• Episode 21 - "Haihan"
Stuff cut

[/ QUOTE ]

Something I'm surprised you didn't mention was Leafle. She may only be around a single episode, but the legacy she leaves behind plays a big part not only in this episode, but also a bit in an upcoming episode. You can't forget Louis/Manabu have the pendant she had when she died.

There was at least an instance or so where I was getting a slight jealous twinge from Louis over Leafle, though I may just be remembering incorrectly.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
• Episode 22 - "Mujô no Kaze"
BIG spoiler for this episode (and believe me, if you´re reading this and have even slight motivations to start watching this series the following is something you wouldn´t want get spoiled!)Bruce´s death. 

[/ QUOTE ]
I have to agree with all you said here, especially that people shouldn't be reading the spoilers if they plan on watching and haven't gotten this far. I'd say the same really goes for the rest of the series, as we ARE playing into the end game after all.

As far as *don't read if you plan on watching or haven't seen this far! Seriously*Bruce dying, I was thinking to myself in the episode, "finally Bruce found something else to live for." Next thing we know, he's ambushed by the guys from whom he saved his love interest, left to die alone in the middle of nowhere. Even as the episode began to fade to black I kept thinking to myself "no way, he's going to be saved by someone, he's gotta be." Of course, then I saw the next episode preview, and while I still didn't want to believe, it was obvious he was gone.

It was nice he died at least performing a seemingly small, yet nice act for Manabu. Who else would he buy Tabitto Tea for after all?

Especially poignant was when the hat he had stopped to pick up blew out of the jeep he was dying near. As soon as that happened it really started sinking in. Great scene, though not expected and not what I wanted. I was still waiting for Bruce to yell out "Umi wa iiii nnnaaaa!" in his Kayama way. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said: I remember that I cursed SPO (manufacturer of the seperate DVD release and boxset) for letting the DVD end with such a "cliffhanging" episode.

[/ QUOTE ]
You obviously haven't watched Tsukuyomi. Damn Victor Entertainment. Sometimes I wish I would watch fan subs!

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:when Bulge hit Ivanov...that was something I found highly enjoyable ^_~
Also note that this episode shows cool and relaxed David pissed-off ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd have killed him and buried him on the planet somewhere, telling HQ he was thrown from the train and we couldn't find his body. Of course, that would have messed up a bit of the next episodes. LOL

Since littleharlock is likely to finish this evening (or may already be), I'm going to post my thoughts on the remaining episodes and then after a few more posts, this thread may be done for a spell until Natsume Maya or someone else catches up or decides they wish to join.

I'll say again, ***anyone reading this thread still, and still plans to watch the series but has not yet gotten this far, these spoilers will likely ruin your enjoyment of the show a bit, unless you don't mind not being surprised by a series.***

Eps 23

We get the funeral for Bruce. Even while it's going on, and everyone is there to see Bruce off, you still don't want to accept it. You know it's final, you know he's not coming back, yet you still HOPE something happens. Of course, if it did I'd definitely be complaining about what a stupid plot twist/device that would be... /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif You just can't win sometimes. lol

There were several touching and pointed moments in this episode. Just after the funeral, we find out Bulge is basically relieved of his duty thanks to his punching asshole... er I mean Leonidovich. Manabu is sent to the Vega Platoon, Louis goes to Spica Platoon and Yuki/David go to Acrux Platoon? Not sure on that one, or were they at HQ? I know they weren't on 666...

We are presented a dejected Manabu wandering the town, eventually getting his butt kicked and left in an alley. This is where Louis comes in, (this happens prior to the members taking up their new duties) and, after 22 episodes and a large portion of the 23, we no longer have to wonder "WHEN THE HELL WILL THEY GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!?" The 2 embrace and finally acknowledge their feelings. Took long enough, but I think the pace at which it played out was damn near perfect. Yuki also congratulates Louis after what it most likely a "wild night" with Manabu, as the Manabu and Louis are now "official."

Eps 24
This is where the real final battle begins. The 666 is dispatched to protect one of the space stations, and is dispatched itself by the invading aliens. The Spica Platoon is sent in to back the 666 up, and is also promptly destroyed. The Vega Platoon is then sent to follow up on THEM. One thing I found odd about this whole incident is Louis getting knocked from the Iron Berger. I mean, she and Manabu were JUST standing in the doorway of the rail car one instant, then the next they are on the TOP of the car. And Louis is lost to the vastness of space, with no clear indication by the end of the episode what her fate was.

Also what bothers me is that Manabu doesn't really seem all that shaken up by it! Compared to his reaction to Bruce dying, you'd think THEY were the couple and not Louis+Manabu! Sure, he doesn't have time to get depressed, what with all the action going on, but he doesn't even seem to take more than a second or 2 to reflect on it after his initial screaming of her name as she floats away! Weird.

I also liked how as they were continuing on you see flashes of all the lives the Sirius squadron/Manabu touched, such as Shou and the old lady. Great and artistic addition to the sequence.

Eps 25
Of course, you didn't REALLY think they'd let Louis die, did you? We find she was picked up and taken back to the enemy's mothership by Tull (?). It turns out that the pendant I posted about above comes in handy, as it turns out when Tull sees this pendant which Louis has with her, Tull asks Louis how she obtained the pendant. Louis explains about what happened with Leafle and how they had accepted the Como Matrix. This is when we learn that Leafle was Tull's sister. As Louis and the Sirius Platoon showed Leafle kindness, Tull shows Louis the same by allowing her to go free... but not after putting on one of the TIGHT black Alfort (that's the name of the alien race, right?) suit. A brief moment of fanservice in a hectic situation!

Because of Ivanov's persistence, ignorance and stupidity, one of the Galaxy Railway's big hopes for surviving the invasion and saving everyone on Destiny, the Annex is lost. Stupid dick. See, I told you they should have killed that douche before now!

This also the episode where we are presented the NAMES of the Vega Platoon, as Murase basically goes from member to member, really watching them die one by one. It was a really emotional bit, but not because the up-to-then-nameless members die, but instead because Murase and the Iron Belger are destroyed. You are presented with, once the poop hits the fan, Julia lying in her hospital bed, shedding a tear in a fashion that let's us know she really cared for Murase and was connected with him in such a way to allow her to know he was no longer among the living, instead spread as ashes in the sea of space.

As the end of the episode approaches, you see off in the background, if you pay attention, Space Holes opening up, letting you know that the finale is approaching in one way or another. And of course you can't forget the gathering of the Sirius Platoon around the Big One... or does that happen in the next episode?)

Eps 26
The leader of the Alfort, Hesius (?), reminds me a lot of Lafreshia from Herlock. She doesn't seem to mind losing subordinates and spends a lot of time barking out orders. Her fate was similar to that of Lafreshia as well, though not nearly as artistically done.

In another nod to previous episodes, Manabu's experience as a repairman helps get the Big One, which has relaunched with Bulge at the helm, ready for the coming battle. The repair crew from the Destiny Station are riding with the Sirius Platoon in order to integrate the Cosmo Matrix into the ship's weapons system, without causing the overload they had in the previous battle.

Something I found to be touching but cliched, was when Louis contacts the Big One. It was cool how Bulge called Manabu to the bridge to let him speak with her, but it was also highly cliched when you can clearly see the door to the room she is in standing in the background. Who'd have thought they'd watch as the aliens open the door and open fire on Louis (who is hit, if I'm not remembering incorrectly)!

I also loved the epic scene where the Big One tears a massive hole in the side of the mother ship. The way they were presenting the angles and the way the scene began playing out, all I could think of was how Star Wars-ish it was. Now where's teh guy yelling "stay on target?" LOL

As the final battle with Horesius plays out, one thing that I started thinking when I saw Manabu pierced by all those tentacles was "is littleharlock certain Manabu is in the sequel?" j/k It was kind of shocking with how many tentacles went THROUGH him, yet he survives. It was nice how Tull seems to take over once Horesius was dispatched.

One of my favorite scenes was where Manabu is falling out of the ship, and a bleeding/wounded Louis is holding him up from falling (there is no gravity in space, so I'm assuming they were in a section of the ship where gravity control was still functioning). Her heartfelt words of how she doesn't want to lose anyone else (or something along those lines, I unfortunately didn't put that in my notes) had me chuckle a little, as it sounded so... like Manabu! Guess they really are closer to being like one another than they thought. And of course just as Louis' grip on Manabu fails, David saves the day!

All in all the end plays out well, however I felt that while everything is closed, the ending played out a little too quickly. I wish they had just 1/2 and episode more and could have expanded the ending by that much. It's not BAD, not by a long shot, it just feels like it all ends too quickly.

The series is easily one of the best I began watching last year, and while I can't say it's the best I've seen this year (sorry, afraid that is being pulled towards being Ginga Tetsudo 999) it is definitely something I HIGHLY recommend.

littleharlock

01-08-2006, 04:41 AM

• Episode 23 - "Hijô naru Saitei"
This episode could have been titled "The Sirius Squad´s worst day". If you didn´t believe what you saw last episode, this one makes you realize that it really happened BIG spoilersBruce IS dead. As stupid as that may sound, but I couldn´t believe, heck I didn´t even believe the preview for this episode...but it really happened. A sad episode, with the members of Sirius "broken up" and send to other Squads (due to Bulge´s "action" in the previous episode)

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Manabu is sent to the Vega Platoon, Louis goes to Spica Platoon and Yuki/David go to Acrux Platoon? Not sure on that one, or were they at HQ? I know they weren't on 666...


[/ QUOTE ]

Manabu --> Vega, Louis --> Spica, David --> Acrux and I think (I´m sure Bulge said it when he told them that the Sirius members will be divided up to different Squads *damn memory*) Yuki was on Antares squad? I´m pretty sure that David was the only one on Acrux though

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:

We are presented a dejected Manabu wandering the town, eventually getting his butt kicked and left in an alley. This is where Louis comes in, (this happens prior to the members taking up their new duties) and, after 22 episodes and a large portion of the 23, we no longer have to wonder "WHEN THE HELL WILL THEY GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!?" The 2 embrace and finally acknowledge their feelings. Took long enough, but I think the pace at which it played out was damn near perfect. Yuki also congratulates Louis after what it most likely a "wild night" with Manabu, as the Manabu and Louis are now "official." 

[/ QUOTE ]

That was a damn perfect scene! You can´t help but cry (or at least I cried *yes I´m a cry baby at times*) when you see how the different members deal with Bruce´s death. Even Yuki sheds a tear when she´s "cleaning-up" the room of Bruce *very touching moment*


• Episode 24 - "Moeru Ginga"
Another sad episode, yet kudos to the writers for it. While rather...unspectacular I mean, you know that the invading race of Alford is pretty powerfull, with the Cosmo Matrix being the only thing that can stop them...but yet I found it was such a sudden end to the Elite Squad SPG. While you didn´t really get to know the crewmembers of 666 in the series...I found it sad that Johanson died as I really liked his character from the little we get to know.
For those watching Ginga Tetsudô 999 it may be interesting to note that 666 also appeared (though not as SPG train) in episode 13 (looks totally different) and in episode 38 we get to see a pretty similar looking train to 666 of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari

One of the best moments IMO in this episode was the end when we see pretty much all the characters that the Sirius Squad met during their journey, hearing the whistle of Big One departing from Wakusei Destiny to its final journey (or so you think).
And also very touching Julia´s final scene on Flame Swallow..."Sayonara Flame Swallow" man that got me ---> /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif yet again

• Episode 25 - "Inochi no Kodama"
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Of course, you didn't REALLY think they'd let Louis die, did you? 

[/ QUOTE ]

You know, after what happened some episode before and what is going to happen I wasn´t really sure on how the series will end or better said who´s going to survive in the end ^_~

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
This also the episode where we are presented the NAMES of the Vega Platoon, as Murase basically goes from member to member, really watching them die one by one. It was a really emotional bit, but not because the up-to-then-nameless members die, but instead because Murase and the Iron Belger are destroyed. You are presented with, once the poop hits the fan, Julia lying in her hospital bed, shedding a tear in a fashion that let's us know she really cared for Murase and was connected with him in such a way to allow her to know he was no longer among the living, instead spread as ashes in the sea of space

[/ QUOTE ]

The final moments of Murase and Vega squad was, while sad, AWESOME. Murase standing in the control center of Iron Berger and his final words..."forgive me Julia" /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif You know when I watched this episode the first time around, I enjoyed it totally, but found it was a bit unnecessary to kill Vega..re-watching it now I found it was perfectly fitting. The Vega Squad, introduced at first as a bunch of men among men now dying an heroic death. It´s definitely fitting in my opinion.
Followed by Julia shedding a tear for her beloved and the cats at his homeplanet realizing that something happened *I honestly waited for the picture of young Murase falling off the chimney...like it was the case with another popular Matsumoto chara*

• Episode 26 - "Harukanaru Omoi"
It´s the end...and what an end. I love the way this episode has been presented, especially with no actual OP sequence and going right into where the previous episode stopped.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
The leader of the Alfort, Hesius (?), reminds me a lot of Lafreshia from Herlock. She doesn't seem to mind losing subordinates and spends a lot of time barking out orders. Her fate was similar to that of Lafreshia as well, though not nearly as artistically done. 

[/ QUOTE ]

Her name was credited as Foresis/Phoresis and she reminded me a lot of Lafreshia as well ^_^

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Who'd have thought they'd watch as the aliens open the door and open fire on Louis (who is hit, if I'm not remembering incorrectly)! 

[/ QUOTE ]

I looked like she got a grazing shot at her shoulder during that scene. Speaking of Louis...I wouldn´t want to bed on it, but didn´t she wear a yellow suit in the previous episode?

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
All in all the end plays out well, however I felt that while everything is closed, the ending played out a little too quickly. I wish they had just 1/2 and episode more and could have expanded the ending by that much. It's not BAD, not by a long shot, it just feels like it all ends too quickly.


[/ QUOTE ]

I found the ending pretty fitting. The battle between SDF and the invaders from Alford IMO did take quite long after all

So all in all Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari has been a "great ride" /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif I remember back when the series started airing in Japan and the Matsumoto fans raving it (heck there even exist webrings soley dedicated to this series ^_~) I wanted to check it out, to see what the appeal of this series is (to be honest I wasn´t expecting much at first), however this series surprised me in a VERY positive way. If one is wondering what the appeal of Leiji Matsumoto series is, and why there are still new anime projects based on his works made these days...Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari is the answer. Don´t get me wrong, the series has it flaws (the animation/chara designs that are in a bunch of episodes rather sloppy/low budget) HOWEVER it has it flaws much like any other thing out there as well, and while other series may provide decent eye-candy to outweigh the lack of story and character development, Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari does it vice-versa...and honestly I´d definitely rather have it that way (btw. the majority of GTM is animated pretty good anyway ^_~).
While having finished re-watching the end of this series, I realized how glad I am that there IS comin up (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=generalanimeforum&Numb er=1227089&Forum=f11&Words=%2Bwasurareta&Searchpag e=0&Limit=25&Main=1227089&Search=true&where=bodysu b&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderva l=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post1227089) as this series definitely deserves more to be made (I now took the position that it IMO is not possible nor fair to do a short OVA or theatrical movie for this series as it would lack the depth the writers managed to give it in TV series format). So (as cheesy as this may sound) I´m looking forward to the continuation of Big One´s journey /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Since littleharlock is likely to finish this evening (or may already be), I'm going to post my thoughts on the remaining episodes and then after a few more posts, this thread may be done for a spell until Natsume Maya or someone else catches up or decides they wish to join.

[/ QUOTE ]

I definitely hope that Natsume Maya will join here, once he is finished watching the series (also other people that watched it are welcome to join /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif).
I now have the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari Sôshûhen DVD on order and it hopefully will arrive in late January, so I´m going to come back and post thoughts on it by then. Also as stated before I finally grapped the manga for this series from my manga backlog pile, and (don´t know wether it´s allowed here?) can provide some thoughts on it while reading (it sure will take me some time though ^_~)

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-09-2006, 04:39 AM

<regarding episode 21>
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Something I'm surprised you didn't mention was Leafle. She may only be around a single episode, but the legacy she leaves behind plays a big part not only in this episode, but also a bit in an upcoming episode. You can't forget Louis/Manabu have the pendant she had when

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay then let me catch up on that now she was a pretty neat character /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif One of my favorite scenes in that episode (in an artistical way) was when she looked at Manabu and you see their faces with the homeplanet of both floating towards each other. Another kudos to the writers for the twists in regards of the events in that episode. You have technically the enemy (to be correct she´s from a planet in the Alford system that had been occupied by the Foresis) that hands the only way (Cosmo Matrix) to stand-up against the invaders to the SDF and furthermore Manabu seems to be sceptical for a moment as well (not that this wouldn´t be understandable, after all the Alford invaders did cause his fathers death). Also her seiyuu Miyuki Sawashiro did a great performance in that episode. 

<regarding episode 22>
The following contains BIG SPOILERS
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Bruce dying, I was thinking to myself in the episode, "finally Bruce found something else to live for." Next thing we know, he's ambushed by the guys from whom he saved his love interest, left to die alone in the middle of nowhere. Even as the episode began to fade to black I kept thinking to myself "no way, he's going to be saved by someone, he's gotta be." Of course, then I saw the next episode preview, and while I still didn't want to believe, it was obvious he was gone.


[/ QUOTE ]

I know what you mean as I didn´t want to believe what just happened either, once I watched the series the first time around. Also back during my initial viewing, I pretty much thought that, while fitting, it was so...sudden, rashed and felt like to be included just to shock the audience. Now after some time has passed and I re-watched that particular episode, I think it was brilliantly handled and furthermore I´m now thinking that killing him couldn´t have been done any other way. The lonesome warrior that died...well alone. Doesn´t mean he was left alone, as his death caused a major impact for his fellow crewmates. Sort of (as stupid as this may sound) he died alone, yet wasn´t alone

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Especially poignant was when the hat he had stopped to pick up blew out of the jeep he was dying near. As soon as that happened it really started sinking in. Great scene, though not expected and not what I wanted. I was still waiting for Bruce to yell out "Umi wa iiii nnnaaaa!" in his Kayama way. 

[/ QUOTE ]

You know, I played the game, but didn´t realize it was the same seiyuu /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif (even though I loved Kayama ^_^)

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I'd have killed him and buried him on the planet somewhere, telling HQ he was thrown from the train and we couldn't find his body. Of course, that would have messed up a bit of the next episodes. LOL


[/ QUOTE ]

I guess that the Sirius squad wasn´t the first one that had the pleasure to endure Ivanov /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Yet killing a member of an Investiagtion "agency" that seems to be known for pissing off people might have arised some "questions" ^_^ Best scene was IMO when Ivanov laid at the bottom unconscious and the marks of Buldge´s hit on his face...man I swear I had to push the "pause" button back when I watched the show the first time to have a nice glance at that picture ^_^

Btw. continue reading the manga (at slow peace) I did notice something regarding the discussion we had about Manabu´s homeplanet Tabitto. The following contains spoilers for the Eternal arc of Ginga Tetsudô 999. Technically the manga is heavily connected with the Eternal arc of 999. In that story, pretty early on, the earth has faded into darkness caused by Dark Queen. So assuming that (and yeah I know they never mentioned anything about this in the actual Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari anime) it would seem pretty impossible to "make Manabu coming from Earth" if you know what I mean.

PS: The Official site for the sequel will update on 13th January (probably another broadcast at the web radio section)...I really hope now they will announce a broadcast start for the series (it´s been hinted in previous broadcasts of the webradio that the TV start is already set *though not the station it´ll be broadcasted* )
I demand more GTM now! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

01-11-2006, 06:03 PM

BIG SPOILERS!!

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
I know what you mean as I didn´t want to believe what just happened either, once I watched the series the first time around. Also back during my initial viewing, I pretty much thought that, while fitting, it was so...sudden, rashed and felt like to be included just to shock the audience. Now after some time has passed and I re-watched that particular episode, I think it was brilliantly handled and furthermore I´m now thinking that killing him couldn´t have been done any other way. The lonesome warrior that died...well alone. Doesn´t mean he was left alone, as his death caused a major impact for his fellow crewmates. Sort of (as stupid as this may sound) he died alone, yet wasn´t alone

[/ QUOTE ]
He was a character you go from disliking in the beginning, to one you actually LIKE in the end. All the worse to have him kick the bucket. I still think it was cool that he died doing something NICE for the person he treated the worst.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
You know, I played the game, but didn´t realize it was the same seiyuu /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif (even though I loved Kayama ^_^)

[/ QUOTE ]
Holy crap, if you had played Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2, how could you FORGET his voice? Even my brother, who is not a fan of anything I am, was making fun of him!

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I guess that the Sirius squad wasn´t the first one that had the pleasure to endure Ivanov /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Yet killing a member of an Investiagtion "agency" that seems to be known for pissing off people might have arised some "questions" ^_^ Best scene was IMO when Ivanov laid at the bottom unconscious and the marks of Buldge´s hit on his face...man I swear I had to push the "pause" button back when I watched the show the first time to have a nice glance at that picture ^_^

[/ QUOTE ]
Hey now, I didn't say it would look good, but it certainly would have made me feel better! It's probably a good thing the rest of the world isn't like me.

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:Btw. continue reading the manga (at slow peace) I did notice something regarding the discussion we had about Manabu´s homeplanet Tabitto. The following contains spoilers for the Eternal arc of Ginga Tetsudô 999. Technically the manga is heavily connected with the Eternal arc of 999. In that story, pretty early on, the earth has faded into darkness caused by Dark Queen. So assuming that (and yeah I know they never mentioned anything about this in the actual Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari anime) it would seem pretty impossible to "make Manabu coming from Earth" if you know what I mean.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well thanks for putting in a spoiler I don't want to read. /images/graemlins/wink.gif One less thing to make a big reply to.

Sorry I can't discuss the Manga, but it's not something I'm likely to ever pick up unless it gets translated. Gotta save my money for Matsumoto Anime!

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:PS: The Official site for the sequel will update on 13th January (probably another broadcast at the web radio section)...I really hope now they will announce a broadcast start for the series (it´s been hinted in previous broadcasts of the webradio that the TV start is already set *though not the station it´ll be broadcasted* )
I demand more GTM now! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, be sure to update us, as I'm certain I'll forget about the update. I honestly try to stay away from certain sites so as to avoid spending money on things that will make it to R1 land. GTM series 2 will likely be an R2 investment regardless though... I can hear my wallet screaming now!

Hopefully they'll do more than 2 episodes for $50 this time out though. And give me LPCM audio dammit!

Sorry for the late reply, but work has been hectic so I can post often there, when I come home I want to watch stuff (up to eps 45 or so on GE999) and try to avoid spending time on the Internet when I'd rather spend that time enjoying my Anime investment. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

I have about 12 freaking episodes of GE999 that I have notes on now, and I'm sure with my viewing tonight it'll be up to 16 or 20!

littleharlock

01-14-2006, 07:51 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
BIG SPOILERS!!
He was a character you go from disliking in the beginning, to one you actually LIKE in the end. All the worse to have him kick the bucket. I still think it was cool that he died doing something NICE for the person he treated the worst.

[/ QUOTE ]

But you know, as cliché as this character may have appeared at the beginning...it´s amazing what the writers did with him througout these 26 episodes. I will definitely miss Bruce in Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei that´s for sure...and I hope Kirian will proove to be a somewhat similar decent character.

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Holy crap, if you had played Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2, how could you FORGET his voice? Even my brother, who is not a fan of anything I am, was making fun of him!

[/ QUOTE ]

It was a while ago before I watched Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari...the only Seiyuu I´m going to remember for eternity as being part of Sakura Taisen 2 is Masako Ikeda (man I love that lady) /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
GTM series 2 will likely be an R2 investment regardless though... I can hear my wallet screaming now!

[/ QUOTE ]

The REALLY strange thing regarding Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei is however, that Moonphase (http://www.moonphase.cc/Html/anime.html) as well as several Matsumoto fansite that do updates regarding news for this project state it´s going to be 4 episodes in totall. I say strange thing, because when I heard the seiyuu mentioning this in one of the Webradio´s broadcast I thought to myself that it may be an OVA...yet pretty much all sites are listing it as TV series. 4 episode long TV series?! /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

As mentioned previously I finally took the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari Big Comic Superior Special Issue (http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solrenew_magcode?sha=1&neoc=2600811103&keitai=80) from my manga backlog pile and started reading the chapters. I hope you don´t mind me including some thoughts on these in this thread (I wanted to include them in this thread rather than creating a new one in the manga section which probably would get "lost" without any actual talk at all). So it starts of right with the first 3 chapters of the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari manga by Matsumoto (previously released were the prologue chapters that connect the Eternal arc of Ginga Tetsudô 999 with this new series by Matsumoto by featuring 999 to stop at Wakusei Destiny and Maetel and Tetsurô meeting Layla Destiny Shura).
• Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari - Chapter 1 "Unmei no Namida"
Basically deals with Mamoru (!) Yuki arriving on Wakusei Destiny. If you remember, on why train Mamoru departed to Wakusei Destiny in the TV series and which characters were on board it then the meeting between Maetel, Tetsurô and Layla doesn´t seem that "forced" either ^_^ Layla does "show him around" her chamber before Mamoru departs with 666, the train of the squad he´s about to join, SPG (Space Panzer Grenader). It seems that Layla already saw what is about to happen with Mamoru and at the end of the chapter she sheds a tear when 666 departs from Wakusei Destiny. It´s also notable that the crewmembers on 666 are not those you´re getting to know in the actual TV series. 666´s crew consists of two androids (damn I should have noted their names) plus Mamoru in the manga.
• Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari Chapter 2 "Hedoro no Daiya"
Deals with what we basically had been told at the end of episode 1 of the TV series. Mamoru´s death. If I read that correctly the death of Mamoru (and the crashlanding of 666) has been caused by the Queen of Diamond who introduces herself as Roza Baba. When Layla hears her threatening speech...she sends Shura. Roza soon learns her lesson the hard way "never piss of Layla Destiny" as she soon finds herself literaly pierced by the claws of Shura *looks really impressive*
Also notable by the end of this chapter we get introduced to Manabu Yûki *in potatoe-head style...really if you don´t know their names you´d think Mamoru *who´s drawn in Matsumoto´s bishônen style* is Manabu ^_^ We also get introduced to a new character, a girl named Aria-san who´s going to accompany Manabu in the upcoming chapters
That´s as far as I´ve had the time to read through it yet...however it´s Matsumoto at his best. Really, while the Eternal arc of Ginga Tetsudô 999 felt a bit like Matsumoto doesn´t know where to head in regards of the story, the GTM project is IMO the best thing that could have happened in regards of anime and manga. The first two chapters were such a "refreshing" read, features Matsumoto background art at his best again and it seems there´s more planned. While I still have a couple of chapters left to read I SO hope he´s going to continue with it (probably in Big Comic Superior fashion) soon.
I will write a bit more in detail about the story if there´s enough interest (and as far as it´s allowed).

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

01-18-2006, 01:12 AM

Having continued reading the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari (http://www.children-of-no-return.net/community/usrpages/lhnl/pub/Img_02.jpg) manga I thought to come back with some comments on the most notable differences between it and the TV anime of the series. First of all I hope it is allowed to post stuff like this in the R2 forum rather than starting a new thread in the manga section (but I found it to be more fitting here since the series has been discussed here...so people that followed the discussion of the anime may are interested in what changes the manga includes). In case I should stop doing something like this, please just drop me a line and I´ll shut up /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif (I certainly don´t want this great thread by slerch getting risked to be locked due to my posting!).

Now as for the manga, back in my last reply regarding this I was still believing that it actually would fit together with the events told by the anime with some (Matsumoto typical) inconsistence story elements. After having continued reading, especially the third chapter of the manga, confirms to me that this is an almost complete different story sharing the basic elements with the anime version. Does that make the manga or the anime any less decent? I guess it´s up to every fan to decide this for him/herself, personally I found both to be jewels among Matsumoto works. The manga features so much passion again...it feels like the good old days of the Andromeda arc for Ginga Tetsudô 999 again /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
For those wondering wether the TV series is based on the manga or vice versa the following is a little run-down on the release history for Matsumoto´s Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari project:
• Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari the anime (version) had a broadcast on Fuji TV from 4th October 2003 to 10th April 2004.
• Manga-wise it seems that Matsumoto´s idea of the series has been developed a little earlier (though given that the series sure was under production long before its broadcast started it can be possible he worked with the TV staff and also planned to weave some of the elements for this series into his current works...if that makes sense ^_^"). With the Issue No. 989, No. 990 and No. 999 (nice number btw. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif) of Shôgakukan´s Big Comic mangabon the Chapter´s 40 (this one divided up in two parts) to 41 of the Eternal arc of Ginga Tetsudô 999 had been released within the time of 10th May 2003 to 10th September 2003. While these chapters are for GT999, meaning they feature Maetel and Tetsurô´s continuing journey the story of these chapters was focused on 999 reaching Wakusei Destiny as its next stop. These three chapters were named "Unmei" (Destiny ^_^) and had the "subtitle" Prologue. The whole gets a bit clearer once we´re reaching the end of the first prologue chapter and Maetel and Tetsurô meeting a mysterious women only shown as shadow greeting Maetel with "It´s been a long time". As we get to see (and read) the woman is no-one-less than Layla Destiny Shura! Furthermore during the meeting we´re told that Maetel knows Layla (it even goes that far that Tetsurô jokes *and actually wonders* wether Maetel, Emeraldas AND Layla are a sister trio ^_~). While it seems like she´s the only character, which we do get to see in the TV anime laterwards as well the end of the third prologue chapter also introduces us to...Mamoru Yûki who just arrived on Wakusei Destiny!
• The first 3 chapter of the actual Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari manga were released with the Big Comic Superior Special Issue that Shôgakukan released on 30th October 2003 while the first four episodes of the anime already had been broadcasted on Fuji TV (to be 100% precise the 5th episode aired one day after the manga release ^_^).
While (as previoulsy written) the first chapter doesn´t make THAT much changes to the TV series´ story meaning that it just showed Mamoru Yûki arriving at Wakusei Destiny...something we just didn´t see in the anime, and furthermore Mamoru was up to leave the planet to join SPG (Space Panzer Grenader) just like it´s been told in the anime, starting with (IIRC) the second chapter we get some major changes and by the end of the 3rd chapter it´s pretty save to say Matsumoto created his "own" version of the story. A short summary (keep in mind my summaries are always pretty crappy) of the first three chapters (*gomen* I mixed up the chapter count in the previous reply ^_^"):
• Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari - Chapter 1 "Unmei no Namida"
Continuing where the Prologue chapter ended, Mamoru Yûki (Manabu´s older brother) arrived on Wakusei Destiny and has his meeting with Layla Destiny Shura. Mamoru is drawn by Matsumoto much like in the style of Tadashi Daiba from Uchû Kaizoku Captain Herlock...one could say a young Herlock ^_^ Chapter ends with Mamoru boarding 666, the train of the SPG Squad.
• Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari - Chapter 2 "Hedoro no Daiy"
While Leiji Matsumoto hinted in interviews that Kei Yûki of Uchû Kaizoku Captain Herlock is related with the "Yûki´s" appearing in Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari, the manga gives a definite idea on the relation. It´s been stated in the manga that Mamoru is Kei´s brother. On the Arcadia Herlock summons Kei to the bridge to (basically) tell her that her brother has set on his journey in the sea of stars. Furthermore it´s stated that Mamoru and Kei´s father was a former "pilot" of the SDF that died in an accident (no details nor names given as far as I´ve seen that *please correct me if I´m wrong*). In the background we´re also "introduced" to a mysterious guy wearing a hat and a cloak as well as a beautiful black haired girl/woman riding a train (Train number 357 if I´m not wrong *don´t have the manga near me while typing this*).
• Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari - Chapter 3 "Eien e no Bunkiten"
357´s control doesn´t work anymore once their near Planet Diamond and the train crashlands on the planet together with 666 (as the SPG came to rescue 357 if I read that correctly). This is caused by the planet´s queen that introduces herself to Layla...and the event ends with what I wrote in the previous reply...meaning that Layla "introduces herself as well" (one of my alltime favorite scenes in the manga so far..Layla spreading her hands towards the sky, introducing herself as Layla Destiny Shura and you see the light (like in the TV series) that emitts from her and races towards Diamond. Next scene you see the claws of Shura piercing through the Queen (who seems to loose no blood but Diamonds *fitting*) ^_^ Shura then appears on Diamond and finds Manabu Yûki (he not only looks like a young Tochirô, but furthermore his assumable real name is Ooyama Shouta as Layla points out laterwards...the son of Tochirô (and Emeraldas *assumable*) born on Titan!) and the "black-beauty" that introduces herself as Aria Venus (born on Venus ^_~) as well as the crew of 666 all dead including Manabu. By the end of the chapter Manabu/Shouta and Aria agree to come with Shura back to Wakusei Destiny (for training if I saw that correctly...Manabu seems to have the wish to join the SDF *correct me if I´m wrong*). 
What comes next is what I consider Matsumoto being the brilliant manga-ka he is IMO. Under his name Shouta Ooyama, Layla gives him and Aria Venus a pass to board a new train...Ginga Tetsudô 1000 (pronounced as Ginga Tetsudô Millenium). Shouta equipped with a Cosmo Dragon (the serial number on his weapon is "Zero" ^_^) and a Samurai blade that Tochirô already possesed back in the days of Gun Frontier he borads the train (which features two...squirrel like beings as Conductors!) together with mysterious Aria Venus (wearing a "Tetsurô-fashioned" hat now). That´s as far as I´ve read the manga, as noted before please keep in mind my summaries tend to be crappy and uncomplete as I´ve been told ^_^ Anyways you see both the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari TV series as well as the manga that Matsumoto started are not only a bit but completely different. What version is better? I guess that´s something everyone has to decide for him/herself....personally I found both to be equally great. I like the way the story has been presented in the TV series, and while I´m worried that we won´t see a lot of the charas from the series appearing in the manga, I do consider it a wonderfull tale as well (I got the impression it´s filled with passion of Matsumoto creating a new series...heck the background art in this one as well as the latest GT999 chapters is back to beautiful again!). Personally I´m really looking forward (aka desperately hope) that Matsumoto will release at least one or two new chapters within this year again (with the upcoming sequel TV series set for a 2006 broadcast in Japan I´m hoping there´s going to be a new Special issue for the series released with Big Comic Superior as well ^_^).
Enough from me for the time being (I have some thoughts on the next few episodes of GT999 to be posted laterwards...now I´m off for my accountancy training ^_~)

so far
yours
littleharlock

dasboot

01-21-2006, 09:52 AM

Indeed I too am looking forward to the start of GTM2. It might make it in to the Spring season of anime eg April/May time? So I guess the DVD's will start coming out in the summer. A 3 - 4 month lag for DVD's from the shows start seems to be the normal.

By the way regarding GTM1. If you are in Japan, it is still possible to pick up brand new copies of the singles (including first press boxes) from branches of Ishimaru soft in Akihibara and also GE999 TV boxes too 1 - 6.

-dasboot

littleharlock

01-21-2006, 12:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
dasboot said:
Indeed I too am looking forward to the start of GTM2. It might make it in to the Spring season of anime eg April/May time? So I guess the DVD's will start coming out in the summer. A 3 - 4 month lag for DVD's from the shows start seems to be the normal.

[/ QUOTE ]

According to the webradio broadcasts on the Official Site (http://www.gintetsu.com) for Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei the staff already decided on a broadcast start but no broadcast station announced yet (nor decided if I saw that correctly). However work on the project IS fully ongoing (something you can´t really confirm from for the Dai Yamato Zero-gô OVA ^_~) and in previous updates at the site it´s been stated that the music recording already has been finished in early December (2nd Dec.) and the latest update at the Information section (http://www.gintetsu.com/production/index.html) of the site states that work is now fully ongoing (with the first pic on that site showing the studio at 1 O´clock in the morning with work fully ongoing and the second picture showing one of the packs of Storyboards for the series, work of one day!).

[ QUOTE ]
dasboot
By the way regarding GTM1. If you are in Japan, it is still possible to pick up brand new copies of the singles (including first press boxes) from branches of Ishimaru soft in Akihibara and also GE999 TV boxes too 1 - 6.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. I´m only missing the final firstpress box (that came with Station.10 *gladly got the others*)...which means I have to double-dip on the DVD sooner or later (looking at my budget being filled with some other releases I´d say later ^_~). Regarding the 6th GT999 box, I´m planning to go for it by March/April via the Y!AJ.

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

04-01-2006, 12:05 PM

As mentioned in this thread a "while" ago I was planning to buy the Sôshûhen DVD for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari. Anyways after a long time of cancelling it from my orders I finally bought it (http://dragonautics.co.at/pub/media/310306_03.jpg) and found the time to watch it. However my opinion on this compilated version of the TV series (originally planed to be released as theatrical version!) is anything else from good. Before writing some thoughts on the "movie" itself the disc presentation. The only extras included are a trailer and some rough designs for the characters (nothing outstanding). It may be worth noting that this DVD also contains reversible cover art like each DVD for the actual Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari TV series had. The other image taken as alternative cover art is the exact same as the DVD release of the Soundtrack (featuring Layla Destiny, Yuki Sexaroid and Louis...IMO Layla's face looks somewhat odd on the image so I'm going to leave it as it is).
The "movie" itself is (as said above) nothing outstanding. It starts off summarizing the most imporant events from episode 1 after that one quickly skips to a certain event in episode Mamoru Yuki's death and then continues with Manabu joining the SDF. Focusing on the somewhat difficult relationship between Manabu and Bruce the Sôshûhen does summarize the most action driven and dramatic scenes from the very start to the end. It leaves out a lot of the quiet character development moments which have just been staged that decently througout the series. Overall you could say I was underwelmed by this way of "jumping from one dragic event to the next one". Besides Manabu and Bruce you don't get any of the wonderful character development moments and stories presented. In fact aside from Manabu the way this "summarizing the story of a 26 episode long TV series" project does introduce you to the various characters is very poorly handled. I could totally understand if someone new to Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari wouldn't have "the best opinion" about the series (to put it politely!) after watching this hick-hack of scenes. You don't get introduced to the characters, yet the staff responsible for this project had the ill-believe that showing the various dragic scenes (that perfectly worked during the series!) for non introduced characters dying could move the audience. From that point of view I also totally understand why they didn't release this as movie and released it on DVD exclusively instead. Furthermore I was even a bit annoyed by this "dramatic event follows dramatic event" summary. Heck imagine to watch a movie consisting of characters screaming, crying and that for about 136min. ^_~ After one hour this really got on my nerves!
As for the new scenes added, I only spotted one scene (though I'm not sure wether this one was really a newly animated one or wether I just couldn't remember it from the series...it was young Manabu gazing up the stars calling for his dead brother after they got "the phonecall" oh and as previously mentioned they also changed the tiny second where the shadows of Maetel and Tetsurô sitting onboard 999 were visable. Now you can see (for a short second) that Maetel wears her blue dress and Tetsurô his cloak and hat). Not counting the OP sequence (which was different *no Isao Sasaki singing "Ginga Tetsudô wa Harukanari"*) this was yet another disappointing element. However gladyl I didn't watch this with expecting much new scenes due to a friend having "warned" me about that.
Honestly speaking this summary version would have benefited if they would have included more scenes from TV series instead!
In the end I wouldn't really want to recommend it. Even if you're a fan of the series, this isn't recommended...definitely not at a price of 4,980 Yen (excl. tax)! But that aside I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei and Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II (plus the new Matsumoto anime project *also by Planet* that has been announced back at TAF 2006 looks interesting as well ^_^) since that hopefully means "more of the good stuff".

so far
yours
littleharlock

slerch666

04-03-2006, 09:55 AM

Well, since you resurrected it, I thought it may be fitting to let everyone know I wrote up a review of the R2 box set which you can find here (http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-reviews/the-galaxy-railways/816/).

As I've stated several times before, I wouldn't post links to an outside site, but since Chris doesn't allow fan reviews any longer on the main site, I figured this should be OK. If not, I'm sure a Mod will notify my and I'll edit my link out.

littleharlock

04-15-2006, 06:18 AM

Okay forgive me for posting things like this here rather than to use the thread (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=generalanimeforum&Numb er=1309528&Forum=All_Forums&Words=%2Bwasurareta&Se archpage=0&Limit=25&Main=1227089&Search=true&where =bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y& olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post1309528) for the upcoming sequel in the General Anime Discussion section of this forum...but it looks like the Matsumoto fans here are more actively discussing things in the R2 forum so I thought it would be better suited for this thread.

The Official site for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei - a letter from the abandoned planet (http://www.gintetsu.com/) by Planet Entertainment (http://www.planet-e.co.jp/) had an update this week, featuring a first trailer (among other promo videos for the project that has been shown at Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) (http://www.taf.metro.tokyo.jp/) recently. While it's nothing special the trailer features at last some animated scenes from the series (even though the Big One launch scene is pretty much taken from the storyboard clip the site had up as special X-mas present for fans ^_~) also including the new character Kirian Black (http://www.gintetsu.com/kirian/index.html) (who's going to bring some Bishônen galore to the series *j/k*).
Is it just me, or do the character designs look a bit altered overall? I mean not that the character designs in the first series were the most consistant ones in anime, but it looks that Chiba Michinori did a more...recognizeable job on this work (judging by the trailer)...I mean just look at the brief scene showing Bulge *his face looks a bit different IMO* (but I really like those designs). I really hope that with only four episodes this sequel is going to maintain a high animation quality and more imporatntly keeps up the great atmosphere and story from the first series. Also I can't say wether that new theme song "ALL OF US" really impresses me. Maybe it's just that the trailer didn't give the song its possible glory...but I'd rather have Isao Sasaki singing (even though that may wouldn't be that "hip" these days) rather than a Maki Goto ballad as theme song for a Leiji Matsumoto project -.-

Oh and at the end of the trailer we finally get the formally announcement for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II (the third project in the GTM series *as confusing as that may sound ^_~*). Sadly no announcement for the other "secret" Leiji Matsumoto anime project that Planet Entertainment announced via a poster shown at TAF.

so far
yours
litleharlock

littleharlock

04-21-2006, 07:41 AM

While there's still no news about the release date for (the obviously pretty much completed Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei - a letter from the abandoned planet, the sequel 4 episode long planned TV anime for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari (The Galaxy Railways), the Official site (http://www.gintetsu.com/) for the series had an update announcing the new work start of the actual sequel TV series Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II.
This little sub-page for the series hinted some details on the story of GTM II:

Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II
The third series of the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari line is going to focus on Manabu Yuki and obviously about his dead father (as stupid as that may sound ^_~). As it was shown during the first series Wataru Yuki was a well respected member of the SDF. However after his death in episode 1 of Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari we only got little more chances to see (via flashbacks) what a person Wataru was. In GTM II Manabu (and the Sirius squad) is going to meet Guy Lawrence the commanding officer of the Cepheus platoon, who knew Manabu's father Wataru Yuki from the past. However while Wataru has been considered among the SDF as an honorable man that died a heroic death to save his squad, Lawrence thinks that he died a stupid and meaningless death. Furthermore Commander Lawrence (who's been around or part of the Sirius squad back at the time when Bulge was second officer on board of the Big One) has become a commanding officer that tries to avoid emotions on his duty and some consider him a cold-blooded person due to that.

Honestly as much as I had my doubts wether a sequel could be as good as the original Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari series back when first bits of plot details for Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei had been announced via the web radio of the Official site, the first bits of plot details for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II sound very promising to me. I mean, getting some more background on a person like Wataru Yuki could proove to be very interesting ^_~ Now if Planet would properly announce what this secret project they announced via a poster at TAF actually *is* ^_~

so far
yours
littleharlock

mistressh

04-21-2006, 07:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
I mean, getting some more background on a person like Wataru Yuki could proove to be very interesting ^_~

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooh... *mama*... I'm a happy little fangirl right now!!! In the absence of any Harlock I'll happily take more <spoiler> any day!!! (I do hope they get the same seiyuu back... he's a firm favourite of mine!!!) You've just made my weekend!!

<BOUNCE>

H

littleharlock

04-23-2006, 09:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Helen Fayle said:
[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
I mean, getting some more background on a person like Wataru Yuki could proove to be very interesting ^_~

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooh... *mama*... I'm a happy little fangirl right now!!! In the absence of any Harlock I'll happily take more <spoiler> any day!!! (I do hope they get the same seiyuu back... he's a firm favourite of mine!!!) You've just made my weekend!!

<BOUNCE>

H

[/ QUOTE ]

With the first TV series staff hopefully working on Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II as well (which is pretty likely since the majority of them returned for Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei as well *at least what has been confirmed up to now*) just imaging the possibilities of how they could do a story about "the Yûki's" makes me a happy fanboy /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

You know with Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei (which will hopefully soon commence broadcast or release...heck while chances are low I'm somwhat hoping for a broadcast start announcement with the upcoming update of the Official site's webradio next week) and Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II (plus the other new Matsumoto anime project Planet announced at TAF) I hope that Matsumoto himself will regain enough motivation and time to release some new chapters for the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari and Ginga Tetsudô 999 manga at last ^_^

so far
yours
littleharlock

mistressh

04-23-2006, 01:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
just imaging the possibilities of how they could do a story about "the Yûki's" makes me a happy fanboy /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

<grins> Here's a challenge for them: Reconcile the series with the manga family tree and explain why they've got an older sister flying around with a pirate who's a dead ringer for their father?? ;-P (Yamato-related gag: Wataru resurfaces having lost one eye and gained a scar on his face carving out a new career as an embittered pirate...??<g>)

Oddly, the GE999 Perfect Book offers a relationships table which states that Kei and Daiba are both related to Harlock by blood... (not completely improbable I suppose!)

[ QUOTE ]
You know with Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei (which will hopefully soon commence broadcast or release...heck while chances are low I'm somwhat hoping for a broadcast start announcement with the upcoming update of the Official site's webradio next week) and Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II (plus the other new Matsumoto anime project Planet announced at TAF) I hope that Matsumoto himself will regain enough motivation and time to release some new chapters for the Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari and Ginga Tetsudô 999 manga at last

[/ QUOTE ]

Personal hope for big project: Either Rin Taro gets a new big budget 50 part stab at remaking the manga of SPCH, or someone with a brain has finally realised just how *gorgeous* "V2 Panther" is...;-P And if it's the latter, Kazuhiku Inoue to play Sellock Maybach, and Youko Asagami for Serazard, please...!! And let's have a 26 parter minimum, none of this 13 parter malarky!! <g>

If I want Matsumoto to revisit anything, my vote's for "Kagerou no Monshu" which ends on a bloody cliffhanger... or Hotel Mars (what the hell was this... seems to have been published in 2 page installments, and goes nowhere fast...) His tendency to leave things unfinished is getting beyond a joke!! Or Gotterdammerung, which doesn't seem to wrap up...

Obviously, yes, I'd like more GE999/GTM, but there's plenty more I'd like to see wrapped up as well, damn his eyes!! <g>
(SPCH, for one, but after this long, I won't even dream about THAT ever getting finished...!)

I have a friend currently staying in Nagoya... I hope GTM gets shown there!! <G> I'd have his babies if he can get a tape over to me...!!

H

littleharlock

05-06-2006, 06:53 AM

The Webradio at the Official site for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei - a letter from the abandoned planet (http://www.gintetsu.com/) updated recently featuring more details on the project as well as some nice bits of news for the recently announced actual sequel TV series Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II. The most important bits:

Re: Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei - a letter from the abandoned planet *what a damn long title*
• This project has been stated to be a four episodes (in total) "special story"...which pretty much makes it sound like OVA IMO..still no broadcast start news though -.-

Re: Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II
• This sequel TV series has been announced to be planned as a full length 26 episode TV series! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

Now if Matsumoto could be motivated enough to present us some more of "Manabu" and Aria Venus' adventures this could turn out to be a decent year for Matsumoto fans.

so far
yours
littleharlock

Tetsuro123

07-17-2006, 05:21 PM

Is there already a Galaxy Express 999 manga synopsis someplace too? I wish! Let me know if you can. Thanks!

littleharlock

09-02-2006, 03:52 AM

After about a year of waiting, it's finally announced:

Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II - Eien e no Bunkiten will commence broadcast on 4th October 2006 on CBC (and on 6th October on TBS). Some tempting pics from the Official site's blog here (http://gintetsu.com/ps/index.php).

This series is the actual sequel announced at TAF as Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II (supposed to be the 20+ episode long TV series rather than the 4 episode planned Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei sequel).
That said, no word about the release/broadcast start of Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei aside from the staff/cast list (http://gintetsu.com/staff_cast_wasure/index.html) /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

so far
yours
littleharlock

mistressh

09-02-2006, 05:13 AM

YAAAYY!!!!!! <bounce>

Having just watched the 1st series again I'm dying to see this... Apart from "Monster" good shows have been thin on the ground of late...

I'm hoping there might be some follow-up on the stonking hints I'd mised before, dropped in one of the later episodes, that suggest that *maybe* Wataru's fate wasn't as cut and dried as it looked... ;-) (Though if he shows up from the Alfort dimension sporting an eyepatch and a major attitude, the writers want *shooting*... <g>)

Except I'll have to wait months for the DVD release... <snippy-snarl> My Japanese contact doesn't have any recording facilities...

H

littleharlock

09-17-2006, 11:30 AM

The Official site for the forthcoming Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II ~ Eien e no Bunkiten (http://www.gintetsu.com/) had a complete renewal (god I honestly hated the designed of the old page /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif) now featuring a download section that has 2 Wallpapers (http://www.gintetsu.com/wallpaper/index.html) up as of now. Note that the uniforms of the crew are a bit changed (I mean they *do* look darker or?) and Yuki Sexaroid's uniform looks different for the series (note that her uniform looks the same for Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei though)...uniforms aside one of the wallpapers also shows the crew of the Cepheus squad that will be introduced in Eien e no Bunkiten.

As mentioned before the series is planned to commence broadcast on 4th October on CBC, more broadcast details can be found here (http://www.gintetsu.com/onair/index.html).

so far
yours
littleharlock

Keith

09-18-2006, 02:08 AM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
The Official site for the forthcoming Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II ~ Eien e no Bunkiten (http://www.gintetsu.com/) had a complete renewal (god I honestly hated the designed of the old page /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif) now featuring a download section that has 2 Wallpapers (http://www.gintetsu.com/wallpaper/index.html) up as of now. Note that the uniforms of the crew are a bit changed (I mean they *do* look darker or?) and Yuki Sexaroid's uniform looks different for the series (note that her uniform looks the same for Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei though)...uniforms aside one of the wallpapers also shows the crew of the Cepheus squad that will be introduced in Eien e no Bunkiten.

As mentioned before the series is planned to commence broadcast on 4th October on CBC, more broadcast details can be found here (http://www.gintetsu.com/onair/index.html).

so far
yours
littleharlock

[/ QUOTE ]

Galaxy Railways & Eureka Seven have been my 2 favorite series in the recent decade, so I can't wait to see what happens with this sequel. I haven't been keeping up on the news though, has the inbetweener series/OVA already come out, and was it as good as the TV series?

littleharlock

09-20-2006, 02:28 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Keith said:
I haven't been keeping up on the news though, has the inbetweener series/OVA already come out, and was it as good as the TV series?

[/ QUOTE ]

Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei? While I have to admit that I haven't kept up with latest news for this series either (basically because I became tired of Planet Entertainment acting as if the series is about to be broadcasted for over a year now) checking Matsumoto news sites it doesn't seem that way. It's a bit strange since that 4 episode special project is actually supposed to be set *before* Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari II ~ Eien e no Bunkiten...
But at least we're getting the longer of these two projects for sure in October and who knows maybe they are planning to release it out of the sudden.
To make things even more confusing/weird the upcoming release of Maki Goto's single "SOME BOYS! TOUCH" is including the announced OP theme of Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei titled "All of us" (which those who check the GTM Official site regularly may remember has been played in the background of the Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei trailer the site had uploaded right after TAF).

Speaking of which I hope Shogakukan will take the upcoming GTII series start to release some more of the GTM manga (of course only if Matsumoto "finds the time" to write some more of it ^_~)

so far
yours
littleharlock

littleharlock

09-30-2006, 06:17 AM

The Official site (http://www.gintetsu.com/) updated recently featuring the TV commercial for Ginga Tetsudô Monogatari ~ Eien e no Bunkiten at the Top page (takes a while to load).
Only a few more days 'till the series will start (October 4th (http://hicbc.com/tv/gintetsu/main.htm)) /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

slerch666

09-30-2006, 10:47 AM

Watched the commercial. I just wish it wasn't so damned small!

And while I'd like to say I'm excited about the 10-4 start, I can't really get excited because I'll have to wait for a DVD release before I can begin enjoying it. Sure, I could probably obtain the show in "that" format, but I don't do any of that at all. I have too much to watch sitting on the shelf as it is!

littleharlock

09-30-2006, 02:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
Watched the commercial. I just wish it wasn't so damned small!

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess every Matsumoto nut out there does agree with you on that! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Here's hoping that with the upcoming continuation we're also going to get more background on her greatness Layla Destiny ^_^"

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
And while I'd like to say I'm excited about the 10-4 start, I can't really get excited because I'll have to wait for a DVD release before I can begin enjoying it. Sure, I could probably obtain the show in "that" format, but I don't do any of that at all. I have too much to watch sitting on the shelf as it is!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I *will* probably watch the first episode raw. I mean I generally support your theory on "these things"...but damn it's been so long since a good Matsumoto anime commenced broadcast. I mean, probably once I watched the episode I could curse myself for having done that as a DVD release most likely won't start until December/January.

In the meantime I once again throw in my hope that Matsumoto will continue on the GTM manga /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

mistressh

09-30-2006, 03:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:

I guess every Matsumoto nut out there does agree with you on that! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Here's hoping that with the upcoming continuation we're also going to get more background on her greatness Layla Destiny ^_^"

[/ QUOTE ]

Too small and nowhere near enough detail, natch!!

Me, I'm curious to see just how far they plan on examining and deconstructing Matsumoto's usual themes - Manabu seems to be completely rejecting Harlock's quiet acceptance of fate, as well as being far too respectable for a Matsumoto "young hothead"... <g> It's an interesting take and I'm looking forward to seeing more of this play out - much though I love Harlock and his various "clones", to see some of what we usually take for granted questioned and subverted, and "normalised" is refreshing...

It seems though that they'll turn the "heroic self sacrifice" thing on its head (though after re-watching the 1st series lately, I'm not convinced we've seen the last of Wataru-san...)

I do hope they calm Louis down a bit though this year... she gets on my nerves. Compared to (for e.g.) Kei's or Lisa's or Yuki's quiet, capable, competance, she's a whiney screechy brat at times... Quite my least favourite of the Matsumoto girls!) (A few days under Kei or Harlock as a commander might sort her out a bit...<g>)

As to "that format"... If I find one, I'll watch... I'd be begging my friend in Nagoya to tape it if he had a vhs - and it's not as though I won't have my fingers on the pre-order button on Amazon.jp paying over the odds for two episodes a disk, now is it?? Finding, however, is the problem... ;-(

H

slerch666

09-30-2006, 07:41 PM

I'll just wait. It's not like it will "spoil" because I wait for it. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

mistressh

10-01-2006, 02:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:
I'll just wait. It's not like it will "spoil" because I wait for it. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You're talking to someone notorious for flipping to the end of a book to see how it ends! In 37 years I've never been able to wait for *anything*... ;-)

H

littleharlock

11-08-2006, 11:44 AM

From Matsumoto Leiji Encyclopedia the first DVD release details for the OVA (now it's pretty obvious that this is supposed to be an OVA ^_~) of Ginga Tetsudou Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei:

Ginga Tetsudou Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei Vol. 1 DVD
Release Date: 2007/01/24 | Price: 4,800 Yen
16:9 | Manufacturer: Up Front Works
Containing:
- Episode 1 (scheduled running time 30 min.)
Bonus content:
- Soundtrack CD Vol. 1, Booklet

As noted in the GA thread for the 2nd TV series, a very lovely promo video can be watched at the official site here (http://www.gintetsu.com/special/1030_onair.html).

slerch666

11-08-2006, 12:02 PM

I'm ordering it as soon as it's available.

And the new TV series when it begins its DVD release too...

Keith

11-09-2006, 01:02 AM

OH my god what's gonig on in this trailer? A rough translation for awesomeness would be greatly appreciated. This trailer to me (aside from making me impatient for more Railways) stresses the need for more animated 999!

slerch666

11-09-2006, 05:19 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Keith said:
stresses the need for more animated 999!

[/ QUOTE ]
No.

They would have to change Ikeda Masako as Maetel and it just shouldn't be done. They did it with Symphony, yes, but it just shouldn't be done. I've heard her voice in other recent releases and you can tell she is getting on in years and taking her further would actually make me sad.

For me, animated Maetel should be retired.

mistressh

11-09-2006, 06:55 AM

[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:

They would have to change Ikeda Masako as Maetel and it just shouldn't be done. They did it with Symphony, yes, but it just shouldn't be done. I've heard her voice in other recent releases and you can tell she is getting on in years and taking her further would actually make me sad.

For me, animated Maetel should be retired.

[/ QUOTE ]

But the problem isn't really one of replacing the actors - it's doing so with the *right* actors...

We've seen the same problem with Harlock in a way, ne?? - neither Yamadera nor Takemoto is really a suitable replacement for Makio Inoue (Kazuhiku Inoue would get my vote, but I digress...<g>) Yamadera's too mannered (though I've no problem with him as Tochiro (but don't get me started on Yamaguchi's take in "Gun Frontier"...!) - he's actually not a bad replacement for Kei Tomiyama), and Takemoto just totally unconvincing even if he is playing the younger Harlock...

Makio-san's wonderful throaty, (Baritone?) voice was always a little incongrous coming from a guy so young and skinny, but by the gods, it *worked*, whether playing him upbeat and playful (SSX), Beaten but unbowed (WSNA), or the melancholy dipso of SPCH... Likewise, Ikeda's ability to portray the sorrow, mystery, passion and danger that is Maetel is hard to duplicate, impossible to ignore.

I'd still love to see more, myself, whatever they do - but I'm just rooting for some better VAs than we've had recently!! Matsumoto's biggest characters deserve better than they've had lately...

H

littleharlock

11-09-2006, 11:28 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Helen Fayle said:
[ QUOTE ]
slerch666 said:

They would have to change Ikeda Masako as Maetel and it just shouldn't be done. They did it with Symphony, yes, but it just shouldn't be done. I've heard her voice in other recent releases and you can tell she is getting on in years and taking her further would actually make me sad.

For me, animated Maetel should be retired.

[/ QUOTE ]

But the problem isn't really one of replacing the actors - it's doing so with the *right* actors...

[/ QUOTE ]

But the question is wether there *is* a right actor you can replace Masako Ikeda as Maetel with /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Honestly while I tend to be rather "forgeting" about seiyuu in general, Ikeda's voice struck in my head ever since I heard her as Maetel. She's IMO the perfect match for that role (and ironically looking at her work list she seems to stick with "motherly" roles in general).
As you said Helen, she manages to caputre the sorrow sadness of this particular characters, but on the other side also manages to catch the charming side of Maetel (hearing her laughing "as Maetel" just added a lot to the atmosphere and charming side the Ginga Tetsudou 999 TV anime adaption has)

As for Space Symphony Maetel...I think it *was* the right decision not to let Ikeda voice the young Maetel (she still *does* narrate the series after all), however I think that none of the seiyuu that have been chosen over the years to voice the young Maetel ever reached the level of Ikeda's "younger years" (meaning the GT999 TV series itself, in which Ikeda's voice used to be more "brighter" and in which she IMO didn't make Maetel sound as sorrowfull as these days *when she gets the chance to voice Maetel*).
I somewhat doubt that there is a right seiyuu replacing Maetel wether as adult or as younger lady.

So ultimately I tend to agree with slerch, that maybe it is the time for Maetel to "resign". However my inner fanboy really is seeing Ginga Tetsudou Monogatari ~ Wasurareta Toki no Wakusei as *the* chance to hear Youko Asagami (Layla Destiny) and Masako Ikeda combined (and let me repeat that I so hope we're going to get at least spoiler for the GT999 Eternal arc mangathe wonderful meeting between Layla and Maetel/Tetsurou animated).

Btw. nice to hear Masako Nozawa and Kaneta Kimotsuki reprise their roles as well ^_^