Review of Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985) by Alex H — 19 Dec 2013
Beloved Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa's most famous work, Night on the Galactic Railroad, seems to have slipped through most cracks, and is now criminally unheard of outside of Japan (as is Kenji Miyazawa himself).
But, for me, this animated adaptation sits easily among the greatest children's movies ever made. While any synopsis is doomed to miss the point: young Giovanni is unexpectedly whisked away on a ghostly, space-faring locomotive, and undergoes something of a journey.
Due to the movie's deliberate, contemplative pace, most kids would find it unspeakably boring, as I fear would most adults... Nonetheless, this is a powerful, transfixing, dreamy masterpiece, rich with psychedelic details and memorable scenes.
Ghibli's Only Yesterday now has a serious competitor for the title of My Favorite Animated Movie Ever.
This review of Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985) was written by Alex H on 19 Dec 2013.
Night on the Galactic Railroad has generally received very positive reviews.
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