Flags in the Experiment for Eternal War—Galaxy Express 999: 永久戦斗実験室前編 September 1978

During the 47th and 48th episodes of Galaxy Express 999 (永久戦斗実験室前編) a unique flag appears that represents one side of the warring partners.  It is a horizontal tribar of white, blue, and white with a sky blue star in the center.  Also the middle blue stripe is wider.

In this episode the train stops at a planet that is at perpetual war.  But his perpetual war is controlled by the planetary tourism industry.  They pit two sides at each other so that tourists can enjoy and watch a war.

If you are unfamiliar with this ground breaking Japanese Anime, it is kind of like Star Trek but of its own bent.  Basically the Galaxy Express 999 is a throwback spaceship design of a train from the 19th century.  It is famous like the Enterprise, but its route is between the Andromeda and Milky Way Galaxies.

Oddly the army fighting under the star flag, has helmet insignia of a circle. The other side has the insignia of a star.  We never get to see the flag of the Star Helmet fighters, but it is a good bet it may have circle on it? 

The Galaxy Express makes stops at various planets all along its journey, where it makes contact with alien and weird civilizations.  

The Captain Kirk of Galaxy Express is an orphaned boy, Tetsuro, who is traveling to Andromeda for a cybernetic body so he can have an 'immortal' life.  The Spock of the series is a

mysterious, beautiful, and wise woman known as Maetel.  The conductor of the Spaceship Train is also a main character; he is a bit like Scottie, who must balance strict corporate policy of Galaxy Railways and every once and while bend the rules, to help is his beloved passengers: Tetsuro and Maetel.   This is one series the Sheldon Cooper would have flipped his nogin: Galaxy Express 999 =  Star Trek + Trains in Space!



Like all good Sci-fi: the stories deal with the heavy duty choices of human nature and the
infinite possibilities of doing good, evil, and everything else in between.  Sometimes formulaic, but so was the Original Star Trek.  This is must watch for any student of Anime and Star Trek.  Note,  this series was made just as the the OG plain Jane Han Shot first Star Wars hit our civilization in 1978.

In the sixth episode The Comet Library (彗星図書館) aired October 19, 1978.  Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2 make an appearance.  Although the writers loved Star Wars, the series is more like Star Trek.

Flag from the Planet of Eternal War—1979: Galaxy Express 999