The official Twitter account of Rail Romanesque, the anime adaptation of Lose’s Maitetsu game, made an exciting announcement. They unveiled the key visual, introduced new staff members, and revealed that the second season, Rail Romanesque 2, is set to premiere in Japan this October on the TOKYO MX channel. To build up anticipation, the anime’s first season will be re-aired on TOKYO MX starting July 13.
It was announced that Rie Tanaka would take on the role of Kaniko, based on the C11202 steam locomotive. But that’s not all! The staff has also announced the production of a new game titled Rail Romanesque Origin, which will combine the original Maitetsu game with the story and worldview of Rail Romanesque.
Picture this: a post-industrial society where railways are a characteristic trait, but not just any old trains. We’re talking about anthropomorphic trains with unique personalities and adorable appearances. Rail Romanesque, an anime spinoff of the game, Maitetsu, is a world where a unique blend of steampunk, fantasy, and waifus unite to create a relaxing watch.
All aboard the Rail Romanesque hype train, because another season of this series is all ready to take us on a ride with the Raillords.
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Rail Romanesque Release Details
Maitetsu, developed by Lose, started as a popular visual novel, which was turned into an anime series Rail Romanesque. Originally released in Japan in 2016, it gained international recognition when Sekai Project brought it to Steam in 2018.
An uncensored, 18+ version of the game is available on Fakku. A sequel titled Maitetsu: Last Run was released in 2020, and the anime spinoff, Rail Romanesque, was announced in 2019 and premiered in 2020. Crunchyroll and Funimation streamed the series as it aired in Japan.
The anime is directed by Michiru Ebira and produced by Yokohama Animation Lab. The staff features some new members, such as Tensho Sato as the new character designer, with Kō Ogata handling art direction. Yūsei Kashima handles the color design with Ryohei Miyasaka as the director of photography, and Kisuke Koizumi as the sound director.
The Plot
In the game, the story follows railroads, which were once the top dog of the transportation system. This unique world also introduces us to the concept of “Railords,” a humanoid module paired with trains. However, when a new form of travel gained popularity, the railroads were abandoned and fell into oblivion.
Players role-play as Sotetsu, who returns to his hometown to combat water pollution caused by factories. He mistakenly awakens Hachiroku, a discontinued Railord, and becomes her owner. Together, they embark on a journey to find Hachiroku’s missing locomotive, the “8620,” while simultaneously working to save their beloved hometown.
Meanwhile, Rail Romanesque is set in the revitalized Ohitoyoshi City in the anime adaptation. A Maitetsu Festival is being planned to gather all the Railords and their owners from all over Hinomoto. The beloved Suzushiro and other Railords also gather at the Amairo railroad station cafe for a “Railord Summit” to share their wisdom. The anime also introduces new original characters.
Many fans were disappointed going into this anime series as they expected it to be an adaptation of the visual novel. Although marketed as the anime adaptation of Maitetsu, it’s more of a spin-off. While the plot may lack depth and variety, each episode follows a similar pattern, which settles into a comfortable rhythm.
Given the short duration of the episodes (only 5 minutes), character development is limited. Nevertheless, the personalities of the Railords add flavor to the narrative. Rail Romanesque’s strong point is its ability to create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere, so if that’s what you’re looking for, give it a try!
