The idea of watching a car racing event from the sidelines alone is already an adrenaline rush in itself. People love these shows for their excitement and thrills. They offer high-speed racing and intense competition. If you want to get in the action, be sure to keep your eyes open.
However, tickets to these racing events, such as the Formula One Grand Pix, held regularly in developed nations such as Singapore and Qatar, are very expensive. So, if you don’t have the capacity yet to invest in this experience but want the thrill, sit back, relax, and enjoy these animes on cars and racing. You’ll see the likes of “Initial D” and “Pui Pui Molcar.” They’re equally as fun. Guaranteed.
1. ‘Initial D’
“Initial D” is often the anime that first comes to a viewer’s mind when they think of car racing animes. It also has an interesting story.
There’s Takumi Fujiwara, its handsome protagonist, who shows no interest in racing despite being surrounded by car maniacs. Instead, cars remind him of the stresses of delivering tofu from his parents’ restaurant business to customers.
But after meeting the Akagi Red Suns, two racing superstars who visited his town for a racing event, he can no longer ignore his newly discovered passion. Furthermore, he even manages to surpass those racing aces just with this old beat-up Toyota. The Akagi Red Suns sees Fujiwara’s skill, and there is no way they’re letting go of that talent.
2. ‘Redline’
“Redline” is the ultimate fave, as it doesn’t only tackle racing but is also a sci-fi anime as well. This anime movie is set in a distant future with a man named JP taking on risky motives for the chance of winning the Redline underground racing event.
You wouldn’t believe that this 2009 film was in production for a whopping seven years and used more than 100,000 hand-drawn frames. It also premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.
3. ‘Yowamushi Pedal’
The third is “Yowamushi Pedal.” Its story revolves around Sakamichi Onoda, an unabashed anime fan and a happy-go-lucky guy whose very dream is to be part of his school’s anime club. But since the club has few members, it gets disbanded. But he is persistent. He gathers his friends on board. One day, while biking to Akihabara, a neighborhood in Tokyo in real life, he bumps into first-year Shunsuke Imaizumi.
Imaizumi gets impressed by Onoda’s ability to trek the difficult terrain of the neighborhood with his bicycle alone, so he quickly challenges Onoda to a cycling race, promising that if Imaizumi loses, Onoda becomes part of his school’s anime club. You may have guessed what happens after.
4. ‘Wangan Midnight’
After Akio Asakura, a high school student, receives a challenge to get up and join a race along the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo, he loses big time. So he tells himself he won’t be embarrassed that way ever again. He goes to the local junkyard to find parts to improve his car’s performance. But, in an unexpected turn of events, he stumbles upon a midnight-blue Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) in perfect condition. In a junkyard, right?
He buys it on the spot, and it isn’t until that moment when he realizes it is faster than most cars because of its unique engine. He also learns that every driver who has driven the vehicle has passed away. But he doesn’t care about the curse. He is willing to go on a joyride with this new friend.
5. ‘Pui Pui Molcar’
Guinea pigs as cars? That’s “Pui Pui Molcar.” First look, it is childish, and why this is true, yet many anime fans worldwide, regardless of age, love it.
“Pui Pui Molcar” is a stop-motion short anime series produced by Japan Green Hearts and Shin-Ei Animation in cooperation with Bandai Namco Entertainment, the company behind “Pac-Man,” “Tekken,” “Dark Souls,” “Shonen Jump,” and “Gundam,” among many others.
Each short focuses on a world where people drive sentient hybrid cars between motor vehicles and guinea pigs. Problem-solving is involved, making it interactive, such as “Teletubbies” and “Dora the Explorer.” Moreover, some episodes also feature parodies of famous movie genres for the comedic effect.
6. ‘Overtake!’
The story of “Overtake!” starts with Kouya Madoka, a freelance photographer struggling to find inspiration for his work. One day, he discovers Haruka Asahina, an F4 racer. This racing prodigy, together with the Komaki Motors team, rekindles Madoka’s love and passion for photography, so he decides to help them make it to the top.
Despite the two’s differences in ages and personalities, their aspirations and lifestyles intertwine. The friendship and bond they will form make this anime a great watch.
7. ‘IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix’
The title says it all, but you haven’t heard of this racing event, have you? This is because “IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix” is set in 2048, featuring a futuristic plot about racers who like to combine racing with fights. This larger-than-life event grew so huge that the entire city gets built just for the purpose of it.
Moving at speeds over 400 km/hr while driving across tracks of 60 kilometers, each race focuses generally on two warring teams of three machines apiece. These IG Machines are humanoid mechs humans operate. At that speed, you will be on the edge of your seat as you watch this show.
8. ‘Capeta’
Meanwhile, here’s a car-racing anime that will have you crying. Capeta Taira, a grade school student, is living a rough life, especially after his mom passed away with him at a very young age. So he tries his best to live independently so as not to burden his dad, who works with meager pay. What’s more, Taira also has bullies in school.
But things go in the opposite direction when his father surprises him with a Go-kart he made from scrap metal. It doesn’t have an engine, but Taira cherishes this hard work. It’s everything he needs to enter the exciting world of Go-kart racing.
These car and racing animes can captivate you with thrilling races, dynamic characters, and stunning animation, of course. From classics like “Initial D” to modern hits like “Redline,” these shows will offer exhilarating experiences for both car lovers and anime fans, showcasing the adrenaline rush in and passion of the world of racing.
