IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix Volume 1 (DVD) - Anime Reviews


	Number of Episodes 4 Language Options English/Japanese/English Subtitles Released by Bandai Entertainment Extras - Original IGPX Pilot Episode (one episode) - Haley Joel Osment (Takeshi) Interview - Cartoon Network Producers Interview - Commentary Track w/CN Producers & English ADR Director
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IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix Volume 1 (DVD)

It is the year 2049. The world’s most popular motor sport is the Immortal Grand Prix, where hi-tech fighting mechs race at speeds over 350 mph. The IGPX has become so popular that an entire city, “IGPX City” has been built around its 60 mile course. After wining the minor-league IG-2 championship, Team Satomi has been catapulted into the major leagues – the IG-1. This rookie team, led by young phenom Takeshi Jin, better tighten up their team work if they’re gonna win their first race against Sledge Mamma – a team that doesn’t play by the rules…

IGPX (the anime) introduces the watcher into the intense racing world that is IGPX (the racing circuit), where teams of 3 robots storm down a race track in a battle of not only racing ability, but teamwork and guts. Featuring 6 different teams, each race is a 3 on 3 rush to the finish with the winning team taking the points. With a similar animation style to the series Planetes, we get a pretty good balance of action with our drama.

Episode 01: Time to Shine

Team Satomi has managed to win their final race of the season, and with that victory, seize the top spot in their circuit and advance to the majors. However, their victory is less about actual teamwork and more a tribute to the individual talents of their star pilot Takeshi than any sort of team cohesion. The team is a shambles – Takeshi is indifferent to his teammates, almost apathetic to their needs; Amy is a hard worker, mousy and generally underappreciated except by her cat co-pilot Luca; Liz is the hot-head, most angry with Takeshi’s work ethic; and River is the substitute pilot who wants to race but is being kept out of competition in favor of Takeshi’s hot hand. Now that they have made it to the big leagues, they get to experience the pomp of the high life and meet their new competition - Team Black Egg, Team Edgeraid – Bjorn, Team Skylark, Team Sledgemama, and Team Velshtein (with each team in place of their finish last season). At their introduction, the captain of last season’s winner – Cunningham admitted that he was interested in the potential of Takeshi. Unfortunately, Team Satomi has drawn the runners-up Sledgemama for the first round and they aren’t too excited about hearing their competition being praised by the last champion. In the bathroom, the members of Team Sledgemama confront Takeshi, but the laid back pilot is indifferent to the threats and walks off.

As the team prepares for the coming race, River is reaching a boiling point on being kept on the bench – he desperately wants to race, but the manager isn’t going to sit the racer who keeps winning, no matter how bad his teamwork is. The episode ends with all 3 pilots boarding their rides and heading out for their race.

Episode 02: Win… or Lose

The first race didn’t go particularly well – after the first lap, teams are free to engage and immediately Liz’s machine sustained damage forcing them to call in their one pit-stop, then on the re-start both Liz and Takeshi end up getting knocked out. Thankfully, Amy managed to get to the front and hold on for the top spot. As a result, they end up with a draw. Despite their fortunate finish, no one is particularly

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happy with that result; Liz blows up at Takeshi but she can’t possibly be as mad at him as he is already disappointed in the result. He goes to the park to blow off some steam and while he withdraws into his game, he ends up meeting Fantine – the youngest pilot from the all-female team Skylark who helps him keep the results in perspective. Able to finally digest what happened, he returns to the compound and has a new aggressive approach about wanting to be more prepared for their opponents.

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The next race will be against Team Black Egg, and their strategist Sergei shows them the film from the race. Unlike other teams, Black Egg does not actively attack other teams, they are defensive specialists and as such Team Takeshi is going to have to come up with something to crack this egg.

Episode 03: Black Egg

Ms. Satomi is the unheralded leader of Team Satomi – she’s the respectable manager who is in charge of all the dealings and professional business face of the organization. She’s been called into a board room meeting with the parent companies and she’s been given the bad news – they want the team to drop to a lower bracket, but when she refuses, she is told that their funding will now be cut. She pleads with the board member to hold off until the race that will be starting today and is granted a temporary reprieve – she will be given the money to compete in the race, but the Team will lose its funding.

The race itself starts off rather tough. Takeshi is caught in a tight battle against the Black Egg forward, and cannot breach his defense no matter what. He doesn’t lose his drive though and continues to press the attack until he ends up damaging the arm of his machine. The damage calls for a pit-stop, and Sergei gives him some cryptic advice “make the egg stand”. Takeshi can’t make heads or tails or the suggestion, but Liz and Amy are able to talk out the solution – attack at the center of gravity to force the opponent up. As the caution lifts, Takeshi renews the attack and is finally able to penetrate the defense and slightly damage his opponent just before the 3^rd lap. Now in the lead, he easily keeps his position against his injured foe and crosses the line first and garnering the win for the team. The victory is witnessed by Fantine, who sits in the sidelines with her team. As the celebration wears down and the team makes it back into the garage – Ms. Satomi addresses the team with the news about their corporate backers. With their finish, they were able to find a new sponsor with much more favorable terms than they previously had.

Episode 04: The Ghost

We get a look into Amy’s past, as a young girl, she was a lonely child and often forgotten by her busy parents. Now back in normal time, it’s her birthday and apparently her mom isn’t going to make it again. She’s a little bummed out today because of it, and no one on the team has said anything yet – everyone is focused on tomorrow’s race which will be against the defending champions Team Velshtein. Takeshi spends some time on the course to help focus him before the competition and he runs into a surprising person – Cunningham, Velshtein’s forward is also on the track and talks to him. He recognizes the talent in the younger opponent, but he still thinks that he’s a better and to prove his point he asks him to a simulated quick-draw duel (kenjutsu, normally done with bokken or katanas). To Takeshi’s surprise, Cunningham is much quicker and when he goes back to the team facilities he asks River to spar against him (to make sure nothing’s wrong). After whomping him, he starts to have more respect for the defending champions.

Amy is quite glum now and almost mopey, and she ends up asking Takeshi, Liz, and River if they want to hang out (even Luca seems to be missing)… all claim to have alternate plans, and Amy’s really depressed when she walks into the locker room and a surprise party has been organized by Ms. Satomi and the entire team has shown up for the event. Amy lights right back up and is very happy to have all of her friends there for her. Next day, as the team members are walking to their machines they come across their opponents and Takeshi goes to greet Cunningham but he ignores him. That sleight gets Takeshi focused and the whole team is now pumped and ready to race.

The opening lap has Velshtein in the lead, with Satomi cycling well behind; as the second lap starts, Velshtein pulls up a bit to allow Takeshi to jump into the fray. Sergei sees this as a trap and tells Takeshi to not fall for it, but Takeshi responds that he wants to engage Cunningham or else they aren’t going to have a chance against them.

Well that concludes the first disc of IGPX and I will certainly give it the proper due for animation – excellent character animation, good voice work, and although the equipment is animated in a more angular CG style than the rest of the show, it still looks great. The series is a bit formulaic at times, but it that may just be a case of too little exposure for myself, my opinions may change after the second disc. I normally don’t comment too much on Extras on DVDs, but this one included a clip from the pilot version of this show. It was a really cool addition to the disc and it’s not something that I’ve ever seen on this side of the ocean before. Seeing how not only the character designs changed for everyone as well as the premise of the show going to a racing style show from a combat show that the pilot was looking to become was rather surprising and a welcome deviation from the usual types of extras that we get.

- Tazman

(March 5, 2006)

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