25 minSeason 1 • Episode 73
LatestThree powerful cyborgs must assist Princess Aurora on her dangerous journey to the Great Planet, in order to restore balance in the universe.
Direction
Matsumoto's signature melancholic grandeur in every frame
Score
That OP will live rent-free in your brain for decades
Production
Toei animation firing on all cylinders—hand-drawn spaceship porn
Creator
Leiji Matsumoto
Kazuko Sugiyama
Princess Aurora (voice)
Hiroya Ishimaru
Jean Kugo (voice)
Kei Tomiyama
Sir Djorgo (voice)
Kosei Tomita
Hakka Don (voice)
Eiko Masuyama
Professor Kitty
Joji Yanami
Assistant Professor Dodge (voice)
Keiichi Noda
Prince Gaima
Kenichi Ogata
Gingin Man
Noriko Ohara
Beramis
Satomi Majima
Captain
Banjo Ginga
King
Yumi Nakatani
Queen
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Starzinger was created to capitalize on the space opera boom following Star Wars, but Matsumoto smuggled in his signature themes of doomed romance and cosmic melancholy—it's basically Galaxy Express 999 with more punching.
The show was drastically re-edited and dubbed as 'Spaceketeers' for Western markets, with entire character arcs chopped and Hakka Don turned into a literal pig—seek out the original Japanese version, your brain cells deserve it.
JP
