Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)

In a quaint cat village, a young boy named Giovanni is grappling with life's relentless trials. His father has vanished on a distant hunting expedition, his mother is ailing, and he's juggling the demands of school with a job at a printing press. The weight of his world is exacerbated by the cruel taunts of his peers. Amidst this turmoil, he barely has time for his sole confidante, Campanella. One day, wearied by his struggles, he seeks solace in the woods, where he succumbs to sleep's embrace. It is here that the ordinary dissolves into the extraordinary – a train materializes from the heavens, and Giovanni, lured by curiosity, embarks on an unparalleled journey. To his astonishment, Campanella is already a passenger, and together they traverse the cosmos, making otherworldly stops at fantastical landscapes brimming with peculiar inhabitants. The night of their village's Festival of the Stars thus transforms into a celestial odyssey aboard a mystical locomotive, taking them through the heart of the Galactic Railroad. As they encounter unusual sights and even more peculiar co-travelers, they glean profound life lessons. But as the journey unfolds, Giovanni gradually unravels the enigmatic purpose of this cosmic voyage. Each stop, each encounter, is a step closer to understanding the train's true destination, propelling him and Campanella towards an unforgettable revelation. Night on the Galactic Railroad is a stirring tale of friendship, hardship, and discovery, where a young boy's struggles pave the way for an extraordinary voyage of enlightenment. This celestial journey is bound to captivate viewers, inviting them to ponder the mysteries of life and the universe.

Night on the Galactic Railroad is an anime movie featuring Mayumi Tanaka and directed by Gisaburō Sugii.

Night on the Galactic Railroad is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Cineverse, Freevee, Pluto TV, Retrocrush and The Roku Channel and it's also available on Crunchyroll Amazon Channel and Viewster Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Night on the Galactic Railroad on Amazon Video.