Future GPX Cyber Formula
A futuristic racing anime with AI-driven cars.
Future GPX Cyber Formula is a Japanese futuristic motorsports anime television series produced by Asatsu and Sunrise. It originally aired on Nippon Television from March 15 to December 20, 1991, and was later followed by four OVA series collectively known as Future GPX Cyber Formula 2. The franchise has expanded into games, art-books, toys, audio dramas, and novels.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Hajime Yatate
- Director
- Mitsuo Fukuda
- Developer
- Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
- Music
- Kow Otani
- Opening theme
- "I'll Come"
- by G-Grip
- ja
- G・GRIP
- End theme
- "Winners", by G-Grip
- Producer
- Hibiki Itō (NTV)
- Shin'ichirō Maeda (NTV)
- Yuko Sagawa (Asatsu)
- Yōichi Ikeda (Sunrise)
- Company
- Asatsu, Sunrise
Facts from the source article.
Summary
Set in the near future, Cyber Formula is a racing category distinct from Formula One, featuring pollution-free engines such as hydrogen engines and room-temperature superconducting motors, along with artificial intelligence for navigation. The story follows Hayato Kazami, a young driver accidentally registered as a driver of Asurada, a Cyber Formula machine developed by his father. He enters the Cyber Formula Grand Prix, facing a cycle of setbacks and triumphs across the first two seasons. The TV series is set in 2015, while the sequel OVAs Double One through SAGA cover the years 2016–2020 from the perspective of the Sugo Asurada team, with Hayato as the main character. The OVA SIN is set in 2021–2022 and features Bleed Kaga as the main character in a life-or-death struggle with Hayato, now known as the young emperor of the circuit. Non-canon games depict the 18th and 19th Cyber Formula tournaments.
Production
Future GPX Cyber Formula was produced by Sunrise and aired on early Friday mornings from March 15 to December 20, 1991 on Nippon TV. It was Mitsuo Fukuda's directorial debut. Initially planned for children, the style was envisioned as cars with artificial intelligence running through strange places in an obstacle race, similar to Speed Racer, with races described as a triathlon of motor sports including circuits, city courses, gravel surfaces, and ice. However, the F1 boom shifted the series to a full-fledged racing series. Shōji Kawamori, known for his Valkyrie designs in Macross, handled the futuristic car designs. Red Company was involved in production, with Chōji Yoshikawa directing the series structure handled by Hiroyuki Hoshiyama. Jun'ichi Kanemaru was cast as Hayato in his first starring role, selected through a tape audition after initial objections within the company.
Related media
Four sequel OVAs were produced: Future GPX Cyber Formula 11 (Double One) in six episodes from November 1, 1992 to June 1, 1993; Future GPX Cyber Formula ZERO in eight episodes from April 1, 1994 to February 1, 1995; Future GPX Cyber Formula SAGA in eight episodes from August 1, 1996 to July 2, 1997; and Future GPX Cyber Formula SIN in five episodes from December 21, 1998 to March 17, 2000. These OVAs are collectively known as Future GPX Cyber Formula 2. A two-episode OVA, Future GPX Cyber Formula: Early Days Renewal, released between April and June 1996, recaps the TV series with new scenes and voice acting. A spinoff novel written by Toshirō Ōyama and illustrated by Takahiro Yoshimatsu was published on July 1, 1992, depicting events after the first half of the TV series. A novel about Bleed Kaga's past was announced but cancelled due to the publisher's bankruptcy. A novelization of the Saga arc, written by Mitsuo Fukuda and illustrated by Mutsumi Inomata, was published on April 1, 1998, covering the first half of the OVA; a sequel was never completed.
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