Future GPX Cyber Formula: Early Days Renewal

Story (8)

Fourteen years old Hayato's father creates a racing car with the most advanced navigation cyber system—a super neuro computer—but Cyber Formula team Sugo Grand Prix is perplexed, seeing that Hayato is the only one whom the car accepts as its driver, so—although the chief mechanic doesn't think it's a good idea—he'll join the team as a novice.

As might be expected of a state-of-the-art technology, it could be used in a criminal way, so you have a helicopter pilot who wants to steal it. As the series progresses, he's replaced by Karl, your usual hot-blooded rich talent, whom Hayato has to race in order to ... win the world championship. Other than him, there are other opponents, like the famous ex-F1 driver Shoemach, or two-time European F3 champion Shinjou.

The Cyber System helps the driver, telling him e.g. when it's ideal to break, how much more the engine can endure, or simply how much time the distance between the driver and an opponent is. The tracks used in the Cyber Formula series are located in the usual countries like Brazil or the US, and—surprisingly—even African countries. Other than the excessive G force, the drivers have to fight Mother Nature—25-feet high seawaves or snow on the track are not unheard of. Some tracks are off-road.

Other than Shoemach being a reference to Schumacher, it's notable that Hayato's car resembles Tyrrell P34, a six-wheeler, that was the most unique design in F1 and that Mary Fendrich Hulman—whom the famous phrase "Gentlemen, start your engines!" is attributed—makes a cameo.

Art (5)

Made in the previous millenium, its not its strength in our age. There's panning applied to save costs, but no long repetitive animations I noticed. The human anatomy is alright, though the legs are a little longer than ideal.

Sound (4)

Nothing exceptional. There's no soundtrack in some of the emotional parts and when you're supposed to be listening to engine sounds.

Character (8)

The females in the anime are quite motivating for Hayato and Shinjou, regardless of whether they're stupid or not. Also, the two drivers make some important reflections.

It was nice to see how Asurada—Hayato's car—learned some about humanity.

Enjoyment (7)

The crashes were worth it.

Depicting how sheer persevearence is not always enough in a technical team sport felt life-like.