Future GPX Cyber Formula

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Future GPX Cyber Formula
新世紀GPXサイバーフォーミュラ
(Future Grand Prix Cyber Formula)
Genre Auto racing, Drama
TV anime
Director Mitsuo Fukuda
Studio Sunrise
Network Nippon Television
Original run March 15, 1991 – December 20, 1991
Episodes 37
OVA: Future GPX Cyber Formula EARLYDAYS RENEWAL
Director Mitsuo Fukuda
Studio Sunrise
Episodes 2
Released April, June 1996

Future GPX Cyber Formula (新世紀GPXサイバーフォーミュラ Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula?, lit. New Century Grand Prix Cyber Formula) is a 37-episode anime television series by Sunrise. It originally aired in Japan between 1991-03-15 and 1991-12-20. It was followed by 4 more OVA sequels up to 2000, making it one of longest running original anime franchises that was not originated from a manga or novel.

Directed by Mitsuo Fukuda (Gear Fighter Dendoh and Gundam Seed), Cyber Formula is a show about Formula racing in the future, when race cars are equipped with computer support systems called 'Cyber Systems'. One of the most prominent anime series about motorsport in Japan, it has inspired a number of Original Video Animation series, drama CDs, and video games. Almost every audio-visual product had been released by VAP in Japan. The TV series is available on Region 1 DVD in English Subtitles (no dub) from Bandai Entertainment.

Contents

[edit] TV series

The series was planned against the background of an unprecedented Formula One boom in Japan at that time, and as a post-program of Wataru series and Mado King Granzort.

The TV series originally aired in Japan between 1991-03-15 and 1991-12-20. The series originally set to run for about 50 episodes, four cours, and was cut down to 37, three cours, by the withdrawal of sponsor, Takara, by weak sales of the toy, and lower audience ratings.

However, the series acquired popularity of anime fans as well as winning the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1991. Thus, the sequel, Future GPX Cyber Formula 11, quickly came to be released as OVA in next year.

And, because the sequels also acquired popularity, a short remake version of the TV series was produced as Future GPX Cyber Formula EARLYDAYS RENEWAL in 1996.

[edit] OVA series

There are four OVA sequels to the series:

Future GPX Cyber Formula 11(Double One)
1992 - 1993, 6 episodes. The sequel to the TV series. Hayato Kazami competes in the 11th Grand Prix in 2016 to defend his championship. However, he faces problems as the Super Asurada has already begun to show its age and his skills as a racer are falling beyond. Knight Schmacher returns to the forefront and challenges Hayato, pushing him to limits beyond everything he has seen up until this point. In this series, the Super Asurada upgrades to the Super Asurada Double One (hence the series name; also the title for 2 consecutive championship wins). Hayato also develops an inertial drift run that he uses for the rest of the OVAs
Future GPX Cyber Formula ZERO
1994 - 1995, 8 episodes. Hayato continues his career as a top racer in the 12th Grand Prix in 2017 . However, a severe accident caused by the "Zero Zone", forces him to reevaluate his career and retire. He proposes to Asuka and promises to never race again. However, Hayato yearns to race and eventually comes out of retirement to compete in the 13th Grand Prix in 2018. He must now deal with an enraged Asuka and master the "Zero Zone" to compete with everyone else's upgraded cars.
Future GPX Cyber Formula SAGA
1996 - 1997, 8 episodes. A disappointing showing in the 14th Grand Prix in 2019 pushes Hayato to switch machines to the Sugo Garland SF-03 in the 15th Grand prix in 2020. A major restructuring at Aoi Zip Formula brings in a new team president in Kyoshiro Nagumo. Nagumo brings a new, almost unbeatable precision machine driven by Phil Fritz into the fold causes major waves in the Cyber Formula world. Hayato eventually returns to using the upgraded Super Asurada AKF-0. He dominates the competition with a newly invented "Lifting Turn" which incorporates his own drift style with Asurada's fan control.
Future GPX Cyber Formula SIN
1998 - 2000, 5 episodes. An extra series. Hayato vs. Kaga in 2022. Kaga is depressed by his race record in comparison with the other top racers. He is accosted by Nagumo who offers him the powerful uncontrollable prototype of Asurada with a bio computer, the Ogre. Kaga strives to master this wild machine and finally defeat Hayato. A bonus ending video is included with the DVD edition of episode 5, which provides a glimpse of the future for all of the major & new characters as they continue on in life and move into the 2023 grand prix. This is currently considered to be the official conclusion to the Cyber Formula series (not including plot elements from future video game series or CD dramas).

[edit] Main characters

[edit] Drivers
Hayato Kazami Junichi Kanemaru
Naoki Shinjyo Hikaru Midorikawa
Karl Richter von Randoll Youko Matsuoka
Bleed Kaga / Jōtarō Kaga Toshihiko Seki
Osamu Sugō / Knight Schumacher Show Hayami
Jackie Gudelhian Bin Shimada
Franz Heinel Ryōtarō Okiayu
Edelhi Bootsvorz Naoki Tatsuta
Pitalia Lope Tomomichi Nishimura
Henri Claytor Hiro Yūki
Phill Fritz Atsushi Kisaichi
Leon Earnhardt Nobutoshi Hayashi
Johji Ohtomo Kousuke Tomita
Akira Hiyoshi Bin Shimada
Marie Arbert Luisa Masako Katsuki *voice only for CD drama and videogames
Seiichirō Shiba Akira Ishida *voice only for videogames

[edit] Others
Asurada Kenichi Ono
Asuka Sugō Kotono Mitsuishi
Tetsuichirou Kurumada Shōzō Iizuka
Miki Jounouchi Shinobu Adachi
Ryōhei Sumi Shinya Matsuda (TV-ZERO), Naoki Tatsuta (SAGA-SIN)
Shinsuke Maki Taku Takemura
Clair Fortran Yumi Touma
Megumi Shinohara Mifuyu Hiiragi
Satsuki Nanase Yuri Amano
Daisuke Amagi Kazuya Ichijō
Kyōko Aoi Yuri Amano
Kyōshirō Nagumo Shūichi Ikeda
Makoto Katagiri Nobutoshi Hayashi
Gray Steinbeck Takeshi Watabe
George Grayson Motomu Kiyokawa
Smith Masato Hirano
Checker Sugimoto Kōzō Shioya
Jun Nakazawa Motomu Kiyokawa
Dave Lombard Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi
Aya Stanford Aya Hisakawa
Lisa Heinel Akemi Okamura *voice only for CD drama and videogames
Rena Yuuki Ayako Kawasumi *voice only for videogames
Buihachi (V8) Junichi Kanemaru


[edit] Cyber Machines

Name Year Entrant(s)
Sugo
Asurada GSX 2015 Sugo Asurada
Super Asurada 01 2015–2016 Sugo Asurada
Super Asurada AKF-11 2016–2019 Sugo Asurada, Sugo Winners
Garland SF-01 2018 Sugo Grand Prix
Garland SF-02 2019 Sugo Grand Prix
Garland SF-03 2020–2021 Sugo Grand Prix
ν-Asurada AKF-0 2020–2021 Sugo Grand Prix
AKF-0/1B Nemesis 2020 Sugo Winners
ν-Asurada AKF-0/G 2022–2023 Sugo GIO Grand Prix
Garland SF-03/G 2022– Sugo GIO Grand Prix
ν-Asurada II AKF-0/G II 2023– Sugo GIO Grand Prix
Aoi
Superion GT 2015 Aoi Formula
Fire Superion G.T.R 2015 Aoi Formula
Stealth Jaguar Z-7 2015–2016 Aoi ZIP Formula
Fire Superion GTO-15B 2016 Aoi Formula
Ex-Superion Z/A-8 2016–2019 Aoi Formula, Aoi ZIP Formula
Al-Zard NP-1 2020 Aoi ZIP Formula
Ex-Superion Z/A-10 2022 Aoi ZIP Formula
Ogre AN-21 2022 Aoi ZIP Formula
Al-Zard NP-2 2023 Aoi ZIP Formula
Ex-Zard Z/A-11 2023– Aoi ZIP Formula
Union Saviour
Knight Saber 005 2015 Union Sabre
Issuxark 007 2015 Union Sabre
Issuxark 008 2016–2017 Union Sabre
Knight Saber 006R 2017 Union Sabre
Issuxark 00-X1 2018–2019 Union Sabre
Issuxark 00-X3 2020 Union Sabre
Issuxark 00-X3/II 2020– Union Sabre
Sturobrahms
Stil HG-161 2016 Sturozech Project
Stil HG-162 2017–2018 Sturozech Project, Stormzender
Stil HG-164 2018–2019 Sturozech Project, Stormzender
Stil HG-165 2019–2021 Sturozech Project, Stormzender
Spiegel HP-022 2022– Stormzender
Missing Link
Missioner VR-4 2015 Missing Link
Neo Missioner VR-40 2015 Missing Link
Missioner VR-50/1 2016 Missing Link
Strat Missioner MS-1 2017–2019 Missing Link
Strat Missioner MS-3/B 2020– Missing Link
A·G·S (Aurum General Staff)
El Condor B-15 2015 A.G.S
El Condor B-16A 2016 A.G.S
El Condor B-17 2017–2018 A.G.S
El Condor B-19 2019– A.G.S
S·G·M (Silent German Mind)
Silent Screamer β 2015 S.G.M
Silent Screamer β/2 2016 S.G.M
Silent Screamer γ-2 2020– S.G.M
K·A·M Stampede
Stampede RS 2015 Star Stampede
Star Saber RS 2016–2019 Star Stampede
Stampede J-1001 2020– KAM Stampede
Albatross
Albatrander 602 2015 Albatross DDT
Albatrander 603 2016–2019 Albatross DDT
Theodolite
Corundum 50P 2016–2017 Theodolite T.T
KOH-I-NOOR Formula
Counterarrow T.O.S 2015 Kohinoor Formula
Counterarrow T.O.S.R 2016–2019 Kohinoor Formula
Counterarrow T.O.S.X-R 2020– Kohinoor Formula

[edit] Trivia

  • The name of "Knight Schumacher" (seen spelled as "Shoemach" in the series) is in reference to Michael Schumacher who won Formula Three German championship in 1990. The reason for the name was because it seemed to be a fitting name for a fast driver. The staff was rather surprised when they learned that Michael Schumacher debuted in Formula One racing that same year in 1991. For this reason, Knight Schumacher wears the racing suit of Benetton Formula in the final episode of the TV series. Additionally in a case of life imitating art, Knight Schumacher during his second season used numerous 'dirty' tricks and tactics; something Michael Schumacher would later be accused of several years later.
  • The AKF code name used in later models of the Super Asurada is derived from the initials of Asurada (car), Kazami (original designer, Hiroyuki Kazami or driver, Hayato Kazami), Fortran (designer). In the Sin OVA series, most of the SUGO car models (including the AKF) also included the initial G for SUGO's new engine manufactur/sponsor Gio.
  • The staff of the show were in favor of younger actors and casted the likes of Hikaru Midorikawa, Ryotaro Okiayu, Kotono Mitsuishi, and others. For many of them, this was their first major role and was a launching point for their careers.
  • Several of the actors/actresses in this series later went on to do Gear Fighter Dendoh and Gundam Seed, both directed by Mitsuo Fukuda. Mitsuo Fukuda supposedly likes working with actors/actresses that he has worked with previously.
  • In one episode, the Mitsubishi HSR-III was introduced.

[edit] Staff

Original Creator Hajime Yatate
Director Mitsuo Fukuda
Series Writer Hiroyuki Hoshiyama (TV)
Writer TV - ZERO: Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, Michiru Shimada, Tsunehisa Ito, Mitsuo Fukuda, etc.
SAGA - SIN: Chiaki Morosawa
Character Concept Design Mutsumi Inomata (All series)
Character Design Takahiro Yoshimatsu (TV - ZERO)
Hirokazu Hisayuki (SAGA - SIN, videogame)
Machines' Design Shōji Kawamori
Mechanical Art Director Satoshi Shigeta (SIN)
Music Kō Ōtani (TV - ZERO), Mari Konishi (11)
Toshihiko Sahashi (SAGA - SIN)

[edit] Game

[edit] External links