HIDIVE has announced that it will add all 42 episodes of the classic anime series Queen Millennia to its streaming library on September 2, 2025. Fans will be able to watch the series in Japanese with English subtitles. The announcement comes as Sentai Filmworks also prepares to release a Complete Collection Blu-ray Disc of the beloved sci-fi opera on the same date.
A Return to the Leijiverse: Understanding Queen Millennia
Queen Millennia, originally titled Shin Taketori Monogatari: Sennen Joō (The New Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Millennium Queen), is a pivotal work from the legendary creator Leiji Matsumoto. The series is set within Matsumoto’s expansive “Leijiverse,” a shared universe that connects many of his iconic works, including Galaxy Express 999 and Space Pirate Captain Harlock. The Queen Millennia manga was serialized from 1980 to 1983 in Japanese newspapers, with the anime adaptation by Toei Dōga (now Toei Animation) airing from April 1981 to March 1982.
The Dire Premise of a Doomed Earth
The anime is set in the then-futuristic year 1999 and plunges Earth into a critical situation. Professor Amamori, an astronomer in Tokyo, discovers a previously unknown 10th planet in Earth’s solar system, which he names La-Metal (also referred to as Lar Metal). His calculations reveal a terrifying truth: La-Metal is on a collision course with Earth, predicted to impact on September 9, 1999, at precisely 9 o’clock, 9 minutes, and 9 seconds.
The Secret Identity of Yayoi Yukino, the Millennial Queen
Amidst the looming catastrophe, Professor Amamori’s seemingly ordinary assistant, Yayoi Yukino, harbors a profound secret. She is, in fact, the current Millennial Queen, an operative sent from the planet La-Metal every thousand years to secretly observe and, in some interpretations, facilitate the colonization of Earth. As the impending collision draws near, Yayoi’s prolonged interactions with humans, particularly with Professor Amamori’s nephew Hajime, lead her to question her original mission and compel her to aid humanity in averting destruction. This internal conflict forms the emotional core of the series, as she decides to defy her home planet’s plans and work towards saving Earth.
Historical Context and Legacy
Queen Millennia originally aired for 42 episodes, though it was initially slated for 52. It gained a cult following, particularly in Europe during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In the United States, the series saw a unique adaptation, with Harmony Gold combining footage from Queen Millennia and Space Pirate Captain Harlock to create the 65-episode Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years, which aired from 1985 to 1986. This combined version notably differed from the original Japanese productions.
A feature film version of Queen Millennia, directed by Masayuki Akehi, was also released in Japan on March 13, 1982, offering a modified narrative of the story with music by Kitarō.
The upcoming availability on HIDIVE, alongside the Blu-ray release from Sentai Filmworks, marks a significant opportunity for both long-time fans to revisit this classic and for new audiences to discover Leiji Matsumoto’s iconic science fiction narrative in its original, uncut form.
