The official X (formerly Twitter) account for Yōhei Kameyama’s CG anime, Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express, announced on Thursday that a re-edited version of its 12 episodes, including additional new content, will receive a theatrical release in Japan. The announcement comes as the 12th and final episode of the anime aired simultaneously on Tokyo MX and YouTube on Thursday.
From Online Short to Theatrical Event: The Milky☆Subway Journey
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express is a sequel to Kameyama’s 2022 CG anime short, Milky☆Highway. The original Milky☆Highway gained significant traction on YouTube, accumulating over 6.7 million views globally, which led to the development of the Milky☆Subway series. The anime series premiered on July 3, 2025, and concluded its run on September 18, 2025.
A One-Man Production Powerhouse
Yōhei Kameyama is the driving force behind the Milky☆Subway project. He serves as the director, writer, producer, character designer, modeler, animator, and editor for the series, a remarkable feat that has garnered international attention. This hands-on approach defines the unique style and quirky world-building of the Milky☆Subway universe.
Synopsis: A Chaotic Space Commute
The story of Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express follows genetically enhanced “super human” Chiharu and cyborg Makina. After being arrested for violating space traffic laws, they are sentenced to community service alongside other convicts, cleaning the interplanetary train known as the Milky☆Subway. What was supposed to be a simple task quickly devolves into chaos when the train unexpectedly takes off into deep space, forcing the group to navigate an interstellar incident. The anime is described as a “high-speed space-train spectacle packed with chaos, no plans, and zero strategy. Just pure momentum!”
Cast and Crew Bringing the Galaxy to Life
The main voice cast for Milky☆Subway includes Momoka Terasawa as Chiharu and Anna Nagase as Makina. Other key cast members include Hisako Kanemoto as Akane, Makoto Koichi as Kanata, Koki Uchiyama as Kurt, Yoshitaka Yamaya as Max, and Mikako Komatsu as Ryoko, the police officer. The series’ theme song, “Gingakei made Tonde Ike!” (Fly to the Galaxy!), is a 1977 song by the girl group Candies. An insert song, “Tokimeki☆Meteostrike,” performed by Minase Minami (voiced by Yukari Tamura), was also featured.
The Theatrical Experience: What to Expect
The theatrical edit will combine all 12 episodes of the anime series, enhanced with newly added content. This expanded version promises to offer fans a fresh perspective on the fast-paced, comedic space adventure, delivering a “newly added” and “re-edited” cinematic experience. The anime was globally streamed on YouTube with dubs available in multiple languages, including English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, French, Hindi, and Russian, indicating a broad international appeal. Further details regarding the specific release date for the theatrical edit in Japan are anticipated.
