This poetic gem, starring a blue and pink cat, is an absolute classic of Japanese family entertainment.

Night on the Galactic Railroad is an adaptation of the classic 1934 fantasy novel of the same name by Kenji Miyazawa, read by generations of Japanese schoolchildren. In this symbolic and thoughtful film, Giovanni and Campanella, the former a blue cat, the latter a pink cat, board a steam train that takes them across the universe. At each stop, which becomes increasingly surreal, the boys meet more bizarre characters, including an obsessed archaeologist and a bird catcher who turns his catch into candy. But with each stop, the destination of the train journey also becomes more ominous.

The film shows a keen interest in European culture, from the names of the characters to the interest in Christian themes and the use of the constructed language Esperanto, which Kenji Miyazawa was very interested in. Lovingly animated and directed by an industry veteran, Night on the Galactic Railroad is a little-seen gem that deserves to be watched on the big screen.