The highly anticipated CG anime short, Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express, is set to make its debut on July 3, 2025, with its second trailer revealing an expanded cast and its retro-pop theme song. This follow-up to the viral sensation Milky☆Highway promises a chaotic and comedic journey through space, helmed once again by the multi-talented animator Yohei Kameyama.
From Viral Sensation to Galactic Express
Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express is the direct sequel to Yohei Kameyama’s 2022 short 3D animated film, Milky☆Highway. The original Milky☆Highway, which served as Kameyama’s graduation project from Kadokawa’s Vantan Game Academy CG Animator major, garnered significant international attention, accumulating over 6.7 million views on YouTube across its English-subtitled and original versions. Kameyama’s distinctive one-man production approach, where he handles nearly every aspect including directing, screenwriting, character design, modeling, animation, and editing, impressed fans worldwide and continues with this new installment. Shin-Ei Animation is involved in planning production, with Titan Industries handling the overall production.
A Chaotic Space-Train Spectacle Unfolds
The premise of Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express revolves around the misadventures of superhuman Chiharu and cyborg Makina. After being apprehended for violating space traffic laws, they are sentenced to community service: cleaning the “Milky☆Subway,” an antiquated interplanetary train. What should be a straightforward task quickly spirals into pandemonium when the train unexpectedly hurtles into deep space. The official description playfully notes the series has “no purpose, no principle, no point,” promising a “never-before-seen space-train spectacle, powered by nothing but pure momentum!” This unique narrative approach suggests a comedic and unpredictable adventure, characteristic of Kameyama’s prior work.
Expanded Ensemble and Classic Soundtrack
The upcoming short sees the return of its main duo, Chiharu and Makina, voiced by Momoka Terasawa and Anna Nagase, respectively. Terasawa takes on the role of Chiharu, the genetically enhanced human, while Nagase portrays Makina, her cyborg best friend, with their chemistry highlighted as a key draw.
The second trailer for Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express also revealed several new additions to the voice cast, enriching the ensemble of eccentric characters:
- Hisako Kanemoto as Akane
- Mikako Komatsu as Ryōko
- Kōki Uchiyama as Kurt
- Makoto Koichi as Kanata
- Yoshitaka Yamaya as Max
These newly announced cast members will join Chiharu and Makina, alongside Akane and Kanata (another superhuman pair), and Kurt and Max (cyborg companions), all of whom were caught around the same time for space traffic infractions. Ryoko, the police officer, is the one who assigns them their unusual community service.
Adding to the anime’s distinctive charm is its theme song: “Gingakei Made Tonde Ike!” (Fly to the Galaxy!). This track, originally released in 1977, is performed by the classic Japanese girl group Candies, providing a nostalgic yet fitting backdrop to the futuristic, chaotic adventure.
Global Premiere and Accessibility
Fans eager to board the Milky☆Subway will not have long to wait, as the anime is slated to premiere on July 3, 2025. It will be broadcast on Tokyo MX in Japan at 9:54 p.m. JST. For international viewers, the short will be simultaneously streamed on YouTube, ensuring global accessibility. In a move to reach a wider audience, the anime will also be available with dubs in ten different languages, including English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, French, Hindi, and Russian. This expansive release strategy highlights the creators’ ambition to share Kameyama’s unique vision with a worldwide audience.
