Ginga Tetsudou 999, also known as Galaxy Express 999, is an epic and classic science fiction manga series created and first drawn by Matsumoto Leiji in 1977. There is a manga version, a TV version, movie versions, and manga sequels (the "Eternal" series).
Matsumoto was inspired to create Galaxy Express 999 by the idea of a steam train running through the stars in the 1934 fantasy novel Night on the Galactic Railroad by Miyazawa Kenji.
A little known fact is that the 999 in the title of the series is supposed to be pronounced three nine in English, instead of the nine hundred ninety-nine or the nine nine nine most westerners use.
