Name of Series:

Galaxy Express 999

 Manufacturer:

Lotte, figurines produced by Kaiyodo

 Date of release (estimated):

Unknown, should be between late 2002 to early 2003

Price (singly in ¥):

300 ¥

Sculptor:

Kagawa Masahiko

No. of Pieces in the series:

6

Secret (SP)/Chase:

None

Variants:

None

Size:

4-5cm

Availability (in Singapore):

Not available locally anymore

Other Remarks:

One of the most famous people in anime, Leiji Matsumoto's career of manga and anime spans decades including work on famous franchises like Starblazers and Captain Harlock. One of Matsumoto's most critically acclaimed animes is Galaxy Express 999, a story about a boy named Tetsuro who travels to various planets aboard the famous space train 999 with the mysterious woman Maetel. Tackling issues like immortality and growing up, Galaxy Express 999 is an anime that can be enjoyed by all. In 2002 (?), a spontaneous one-time collaboration between Lotte, a popular snaks manufacturer with Kaiyodo to produce a series of vignettes done by none other than the vignette king himself, Kagawa Masahiko sensei. This is a 7-11 convenience store exclusive.

Maetel (A)

This first vignette featuring the enigmatic Maetel standing by a European style lamp-post with a suitcase in her hands. Most probably awaiting to begin his next journey to another out of this world destination.

A pretty nice and big vignette, taking Kagawa's usual vignette standard as a gauge. The lamp-post itself is standing at a full 8 cm tall. I think Kagawa sensei is the ideal sculptor for the retro anime style as he has done before with the World Masterpiece theater and Tesuka Ozamu Anthology. However it's tough for him to adapt to Matsumoto's slim and sharp facial features as for Maetel while he's more into rounder features (like for Heidi). But generally I like the backdrop especially the stone pavement and that Victorian style lamp-post, really puts one into an usual European street. The leather suitcase and the round hat on the ground also adds to the European style he wants to potray. I also like the hair blown in the wind, giving the piece a bit of life.

Maetel (B)

Another vignette featuring Maetel, this time within a carriage of the galaxy express 999. She looks rather tired or in some sort of depression as she gaze out of the window, to have a look of the galaxy out there; as she is in thoughts about the dilemma that has been pestering her throughout her life.

Another wonderful vignette by the master itself as he tried is best to create a melancholic atmosphere, focusing on Maetel within that train carriage. The overall backdrop of the piece is fantastic as Kagawa included details like the wooden nature of the carriage wall and ground. The window pane (even though be halved) which Maetel leans on is quite real like. He even includes a hook on the left of the window pane which is nost probably use to bundle up the curtain of the carriage. Once again we spot that European style suitcase on the ground. The red jacket which Maetel is holding, is another nice feature. But once again Maetel's face is not sculpted too nicely as we could not vividly depicts her expression as she crouched her head downwards.

Hoshino Tetsuro

The story and myriad characters of Galaxy Express 999 focus on this boy from the slums of Megalopolis City. In the beginning of the story, his mind thinks about three things: Captain Harlock, a man wanted by the public but admired by Tetsuro; Count Mecha, the machine man who hunted and killed his mother for sport; and the Galaxy Express, the means by which he believes all his dreams will come true. It is along the train ride that Tetsuro matures, faster than he had ever wanted to. From the Paradise Law of Titan to Pluto's Graves of Ice, from Count Mecha's Time Castle to his ultimate destination, Andromeda, Tetsuro becomes that much more of a man with each journey he takes. This is what changes Tetsuro's view of life and the universe completely. He has to change his goals, embrace reality, and ultimately let go of his childhood. Only then can Tetsuro truly be a man.

A cool vignette showing Tetsuro in the slums of Metropolis, fighting his war. He is sitting by a self-created fireplace with his rifle resting on his shoulder, always ready for a sudden attack. Kagawa really created those kind of warring slum-like atmosphere. The fire place with the kettle is another cool feature to the vignette. Of course the sculpting and paintjob for Tetsuro is top class too!

The Conductor

From Absolute Anime: The conductor is a rather amusing fellow, informing passengers of upcoming stops and layover times and having to fix his numbered armlet when it slides down his arm every so often. When Tetsuro is surprised by the lengthy stopover announced for Titan, he and Maetel help explain the reason for it (the train stops for exactly one local day). The conductor also explains one of the rules of the three-nine: the train leaves at its scheduled time, not a second later, whether all the passengers have returned or not. At first, it seems like a callousness on the part of the conductor until one realizes that it's a quirk of the train and not him. The conductor's merely doing his job.

A simple yet attractive piece featuring the conductor doing his routine welcome to the passengers of the Galaxy Express. He is doing his routine check of the ticket as well as assuring the spacetrain leaves on time. I really like the character design of this robotic conductor which reminds me a lot of Vivi from "Final Fantasy IX". I think Kagawa sensei really followed the design as close as Matsumoto sensei's manga character. The backdrop of the carriage door is really intricate (especially there's the carriage number on top of the door). The medical bag on the ground is another nice touch to this vignette.

Count Mecha

The one which Tetsuro is looking for to avenge his mother's death. Count Mecha is an insane persona who loves to hunt people for sports. One day, Tetsuro's mother, Hoshino Kanae, was busy preparing for the winter ahead when Count Mecha and his hunting party of mechanized noblemen chance upon her and hunt her down as a prized item. Tetsuro thus vowed revenge against the evil Count.

A pretty cool vignette but the awkward sculpt of a mechanical horse kind of spoiled the piece itself. The head of the horse seems slightly larger as compared to the rear but maybe because of it's robotic nature, it's designed to be that way. Do notice the eye of both Count Mecha and the horse are made of translucent PVC which you can see through them. I like the overall design of Count Mecha as he loads his hunting rifle. The torn-up cape illustrates a sinsiter feel to the character himself. The snow covering him and the snow-capped boulder really set the britter cold winter mood. The pegs on the horse's hooves could not fix securely onto the boulder, and I have to apply glue to hold them down.

Hoshino Kanae (Tetsuro's mother)

As mentioned, Tetsuro's mother met a tragic end as she was killed as a hunting prize for Count Mecha as the beginning of the story.

Not the best piece of this set but I like the solemn mood to this vignette. A injuries-ravaged Kanae knelt by a snow-capped tree as she is graspping for her last few breath before she passes away. A sad scenerio indeed. This piece can actually link with the Count Mehca's piece to show the actual killing scene from the story.