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- Initial D
- Gallop, Studio Comet
The 16 Best Car Racing Anime Of All Time
Vote up your favorite anime about car racing.
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- Initial D
- Gallop, Studio Comet
When most people think about car racing anime, Initial D is the first one that comes to mind.
Despite being surrounded by car maniacs, Takumi Fujiwara has no interest in the subject. Cars remind him of his burdensome morning job of delivering tofu for his parents' restaurant. But after an encounter with the Akagi Red Suns, two racing aces who come to his town to conquer a nearby race track, he might not be able to avoid the subject much longer. Why? Because he manages to surpass these pro racers by driving an old beat-up Toyota, and the Red Suns aren't about to let that kind of talent go to waste.
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Wangan Midnight
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- Wangan Midnight
- OB Planning
After high school student Akio Asakura is challenged to a race along Tokyo's Shuto Expressway, he loses pitifully. Determined not to be embarrassed again, he searches the local junkyard to find parts to improve his car. Instead, he finds a midnight blue Fairlady Z (S30) in perfect condition.
He buys it on the spot, then learns that it's faster than a car has any right to be because of its unique engine. He also learns that everyone who has ever driven the car has passed away. The car seems to be cursed, but he's going to use it anyway.
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Overtake!
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- Overtake!
- TROYCA
Koya Madoka is a freelance photographer who has been struggling with finding inspiration - That is until he discovers F4 racer Haruka Asahina and his racing talents. The racing prodigy and the Komaki Motors team reignite Koyaâs love of photograph, so he decides to help them make it to the top.
Despite Koya and Haruka's difference in ages and personalities, their goals and lifestyles align with each other and the friendship that develops is part of what makes this a great watch.
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- Capeta
- Studio Comet
Elementary school student Capeta Taira has a rough life. His mother passed away, so he's trying his best to be independent in order to avoid putting additional pressure on his father, who spends most of his time working for low pay. What's more, he has to deal with bullies at school.
Things turn around for Capeta when his dad surprises him with a Go-Kart made from scrap metal. Though it's not perfect and it doesn't have an engine, it's just what Capeta needs to enter the world of Go-Kart racing and lead a more exciting life.
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- Redline
- Madhouse
Even if you're not into racing, you should still watch Redline for its absolutely stellar art and animation - but it's an even better experience for racing fans.
Every five years, a massive, no-holds-barred intergalactic racing event called Redline occurs. Drivers don't have to abide by rules - as long as it's physically possible, anything is allowed. JP is a reckless daredevil who can't wait to participate in this thrilling competition. But this year's race will be more dangerous than usual - it's being held on the planet Roboworld, which is rife with criminal activity. JP isn't going to let that stop him - in fact, it only makes things more exciting.
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eX Driver
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- eX Driver
- Actas
eX Driver was written by Kosuke Fujishima of Ah! My Goddess fame. If you're interested in one of his more obscure works, this one may be worth checking out.
In the future, transportation of all kinds is controlled by AI. While this is enormously useful, it can also cause problems. AI can break down or go rogue. Three high schools who drive non-AI cars have made it their mission to protect the public when things go wrong with AI.
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- Speed Racer
- Tatsunoko Production
First airing in 1967, Speed Racer is a must-watch for lovers of classic anime. Gou Mifune desperately wants to race using his father's creation, a technologically advanced race car called the Mach 5. But Gou's father doesn't want him getting involved with racing.
With support from girlfriend, brother, and brother's pet monkey, he defies his father and enters the world of racing anyway. But it turns out to be a lot more difficult than he anticipated. Not only are other drivers like his rival nearly impossibly to defeat, he also has to deal with his father's company's underhanded corporate enemies.
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F
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- F
- Studio Deen
Akagi Gunma leaves his hometown in the countryside to become a Formula One racer in the big city. His father, a local politician, isn't exactly thrilled with his son's racing aspirations. Whether his family supports him or not, Akagi intends to not just join Formula One, but to dominate it.
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- Immortal Grand Prix
- Production I.G.
In the year 2048, a new sporting event called the Immortal Grand Prix has emerged. This sport involves piloting gigantic humanoid mechs that can race at least 400km or 248.5 miles per hour.
If you love mecha but aren't into all the politics and space warfare you'll find in more well-known series like Gundam, this might be the show for you.
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Future GPX Cyber Formula
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- Future GPX Cyber Formula
- Sunrise
Cyber Formula is a Grand Prix race in which competitors use a cybernavigation system called Asurada. As the youngest driver in the race, 14-year-old Kazami Hayato has his work cut out for him. Not only does he have to amp up his own skills, but he has to gain the esteem of drivers with more experience.
What's more, he has to stop nefarious people from stealing the Asurada, and start thinking about what other races he'll participate in once the Cyber Formula ends.
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Shakotan Boogie
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- Shakotan Boogie
- Kodansha
In the world of Shakotan Boogie, a group of punks steal cars and strip the parts to sell. But before they cash in, they take those cars for one last ride in the form of a drag race.
The Shakotan Boogie anime OVA starts where a 1987 live-action movie left off, so it might be a bit confusing if you haven't seen it.
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Appare-Ranman!
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- Appare-Ranman
- P.A. Works
Appare Sorrano is a genius inventor who is obsessed with all things mechanical - especially those involved in transportation. Appare hopes to be able to create something that won't just take him across the ocean, but straight to the moon. In 19th century Japan, this is a pretty far-off goal, but it doesn't mean he won't try.
His life takes a turn when he ends up stranded at sea with his miniature steamship. After he's rescued by a larger ship, he travels to Los Angeles. With no other plans and no way to get home, he teams up with a samurai named Kosame Ishikki to enter the Trans-America Wild Race, which requires participants to build their own vehicles and then race across the USA.
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- F-Zero: GP Legend
- Production Reed
After being severely injured while pursuing a criminal named Zoda, police detective Rick Wheeler is placed in artificial cold sleep for 150 years. When he's brought back to life, he's given a new mission - to keep nefarious groups like the Dark Million Organization from stealing racing prize money from honest, hardworking racers.
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Twocar
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- Twocar
- SILVER LINK.
Do you feel like racing anime can be a little too male-centric? If you want to check out a series with female protagonists, try Twocar.
Yuri Miyata and Megumi Meguro are a team of motorcycle sidecar racers who go around challenging other teams. The series has been noted for its beautiful background art.
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Scan2Go
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- Scan2Go
- d-rights
In a future timeline when Earth has established communication with planets all over the universe, a racing phenomenon called Scan2Go takes hold. Kazuya Daidoh loves racing and wants to be a champion, but from his vantage point on Earth, he doesn't realize how challenging the road ahead will be.
When he competes in the Pro-Racer Exhibition Race, he loses miserably. If he wants to improve his skills, he'll have to leave Earth and explore the rest of the universe. Luckily, he has his friends with him to help.
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- 16
Tailenders
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- Tailenders
- d-rights
After expert racer Tomoe Shiro gets into a serious accident, his career is completely derailed. While he does recover from his injuries, his heart is replaced with the engine of his car. According to the rules of the racing circuit, his artificial heart makes him ineligible to participate in any more races, as he is now classed as hardware instead of a person.
To get around these draconian rules and continue his career, he'll have to leave the planet. He soon discovers a new racing circuit, filled with people who have been thrown out of mainstream circuits for various reasons.
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