“Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express,” a new CG anime short, has unveiled its second trailer, offering a deeper look at its expanded cast, confirming its theme song, and solidifying its premiere date of July 3. This highly anticipated follow-up to Yohei Kameyama’s viral 2022 CG short “Milky☆Highway” is set to transport audiences into a chaotic space-train spectacle.
Premiering on July 3 Across Multiple Platforms
The “Milky☆Subway” short is scheduled to premiere on July 3, 2025. Viewers in Japan will be able to catch the debut on TOKYO MX, while a global audience can tune in via YouTube, with the short planned for simultaneous streaming and availability in 10 dubbed languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and more. This broad release strategy underscores the creator’s aim for international reach, building on the success of its predecessor.
Expanded Voice Cast Introduces New Dynamics
The second trailer for “Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express” has revealed a host of new voice actors joining the previously announced main cast. The sequel features a completely new ensemble of voices to bring its quirky characters to life.
The confirmed cast members and their respective roles include:
- Anna Nagase as Makina, a cyborg. Nagase is known for her roles such as Harley Quinn in “Suicide Squad ISEKAI.”
- Momoko Terasawa as Chiharu, a super human. Terasawa previously voiced Chika Komari in “Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!”
- Hisako Kanemoto as Akane. Kanemoto’s notable roles include Zenith Greyrat in “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.”
- Makoto Koichi as Kanata. Koichi is recognized for his work as Lloyd in “I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince.”
- Koki Uchiyama as Kurt. Uchiyama has lent his voice to characters like Rin Itoshi in “BLUE LOCK.”
- Yoshitaka Yamaya as Max. Yamaya’s credits include Itsuki Kawasumi in “The Rising of the Shield Hero.”
- Mikako Komatsu as Ryoko, a police officer. Komatsu is known for her role as Fels in “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon?”
The dynamic between the “super human” and “cyborg” duos, alongside the stern police officer Ryoko, promises an engaging narrative as they navigate their unexpected predicament.
A Blast from the Past: Candies’ “Gingakei Made Tonde Ike!” as Theme Song
Adding a nostalgic touch to its futuristic setting, “Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express” will feature the 1977 song “Gingakei Made Tonde Ike!” (Fly to the Galaxy!) by the Japanese girl group Candies as its theme song. This choice provides a unique auditory experience, blending classic Japanese pop with modern CG animation, a distinctive element that aligns with the short’s quirky nature.
The Outlandish Premise: Cleaning Duty Goes Awry
The narrative of “Milky☆Subway” centers on Chiharu, a super human, and Makina, a cyborg, who find themselves arrested for violating space traffic laws. As part of their community service, they are assigned to clean the “Milky☆Subway,” an old interplanetary train. However, what should have been a straightforward task quickly spirals into chaos when the train unexpectedly takes off into deep space. This unforeseen event throws them, along with other “misfits” like Akane, Kanata, Kurt, and Max, into a high-speed, unpredictable journey across the galaxy. The official description hints at a spectacle “powered by nothing but pure momentum,” emphasizing the chaotic and unscripted nature of their adventure.
A One-Man Production Marvel: Yohei Kameyama’s Vision
The driving force behind “Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express” is animator Yohei Kameyama, who reprises his extensive roles from the original “Milky☆Highway.” Kameyama is credited with writing, directing, producing, handling sound production, and character design for the short. His ability to manage nearly every aspect of the production, including modeling, animation, and editing, as a singular endeavor, has garnered significant attention and praise. This one-man production approach contributes to the unique artistic vision and cohesive style of the anime.
Building on Viral Success: The Legacy of “Milky☆Highway”
“Milky☆Subway” serves as a direct sequel to Kameyama’s 2022 CG short, “Milky☆Highway,” which began as his graduation project from Kadokawa’s Vantan Game Academy CG Animator major. The original short achieved viral success on YouTube, accumulating over 6.7 million views combined for its English-subtitled and original versions. Its quirky worldbuilding and laid-back dialogue resonated with audiences worldwide, setting a strong precedent for the sequel. The return of Kameyama’s distinctive style and character dynamics, particularly the chemistry between Chiharu and Makina, is eagerly anticipated by fans of the original.
Global Reach Through Multi-Language Dubbing
In an effort to maximize its international appeal, “Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express” will be released globally on YouTube with dubbing in ten languages. This includes English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Thai, Russian, and Chinese. This extensive localization strategy demonstrates a commitment to reaching a diverse audience and solidifies Kameyama’s standing as an exciting creator on the global stage.
The upcoming premiere of “Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express” on July 3 promises a fresh, fast-paced, and wildly unpredictable animated adventure, continuing the unique vision established by Yohei Kameyama.
