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.
[edit] TV series
In the future, special AI computer called "Cyber Systems" has been used in racing as to help racers improve his ability and reduce accidents, one of them is a machine called "Asurada", a super-intelligent AI developed by Sugo Corporation, which is being targeted by Smith, who wants to use it as a military weapon. As the system is built for racing, Sugo puts Asurada in a machine called GSX and delivers it to the Cyber Formula GPX's qualifying round in Fukuoka, however, during the delivery, the machine is attacked.
The story focuses on a young 14-year-old boy, Hayato Kazami, the son of the designer of the car, who activates Asurada GSX in order to escape from Smith's men. But because of the machine has locked Hayato's driver data, he has no choice but to become a racer for the Sugo Team. In the first qualifier, he races heatly with Naoki Shinjyo from Aoi and ends up in 3rd place. In the second qualifying round, Hayato meets Johji Ohtomo, a racer from Albatross DDT and become good friends. During Hayato's training at night, he's attacked by Smith's men. In the race, Asurada's tire blows up, Hayato barely wins the race in third place.
Hayato made it into the Final 10 rounds of Cyber GPX mainly with Asurada's ability and luck, still that makes him impetuous. In the first race he starts to quick and get a 60 second time penalty. Hayato over pushing Asurada and is forced to retire. This make him realized that he has no skill at all. Hayato has gone through a desperation for while but makes a comeback after he makes more friends and he gets a forth place in the second race.
In the third race, one of the racer, Knight Schumacher, crashed his car into Edelhi Bootsvorz's Missionel to protect Asurada from being attacked by him. Smith is killed after that, and Knight Schumacher is revealed to be Osamu Sugō, Asuka's brother, and Hayato learns that his father is already dead.
With his shock, Hayato lose his control in the forth race by pulling a boost in the dangerous spot, resulting Asurada GSX totally wrecked up. The team then leave to Japan to find Hayato's father's last gift, a new machine called Super Asurada 01. Hayato successfully unlocks Asurasda's code and install Asurada into that machine and preparing for the next Grand Prix.
In the fifth race however, Super Asurada is suffering a problem that it can't change modes and will blow up if the machine races after sometime. But with Hayato and Asurada's trust toward each other, they finishes the race in the first place safely. Shinjyo overpushes his car in the race against Hayato and get his engine blown up right before the finish line.
Entering Karl Richter von Randoll, a prince and a racing genius who falls in love with Asuka, and therefore, building his rivalry with Hayato, after having a race duel, Randoll enters the Cyber GPX's sixth race and win the first place. Shinjyo, even with a new car, loses in this race.
In the seventh race, Hayato's friend, Bleed Kaga shows up and race for Shinjyo's team, while he is forced into a secondary team. Shinjyo, though, work up with his new team almost win this race, but because of overuse of gas, his car stops right before the finish line. Shinjyo walked out and pushes the car to the finish line in the 4th place.
8th race's mostly like a duel between Hayato and Randoll, Hayato win by the end and Randoll get pushed into the sea.
In the 9th race, Hayato start losing his trust with his Asurada. He crashes with Othomo in this race, forcing Ottomo to retire the final race. Hayato, filled with rage, tries to destroy Asurada, but Asurada and his team mates snap some sense into him.
With Super Asurada's badly damaged, Sugo Team decides to use the old GSX until the repair is finished. Hayato swaps his car during the middle of the race and catches up with Shinjyo and Randoll. After the heat race, Hayato wins the race and the Grand Prix in the end.
[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, propose, and promise 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 Hayato. 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] 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 manufacture/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 the episode 29 and 30 of the TV series, the 1991 Mitsubishi HSR-III concept car appeared under cooperation by Mitsubishi Motors. It was different from the real concept car, the car was set as a driverless car that can talk.
- Future GPX Cyber Formula
- Game Boy, Barie
Released: February 28, 1992
- Future GPX Cyber Formula
- Super Famicom, Takara
Released: March 19, 1992
- Future GPX Cyber Formula: A New Challenger (新たなる挑戦者 Aratanaru Chousensha)
- PlayStation, VAP
Released: March 18, 1999
- Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity
- PlayStation 2, Sunrise Interactive
Released: December 18, 2003
- Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Evolution
- Nintendo GameCube, Sunrise Interactive
Released: July 29, 2004
- Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity 2
- PlayStation 2, Sunrise Interactive
Released: August 4, 2005
- Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity 3
- PlayStation 2, Sunrise Interactive
Released: October 26, 2006
- Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity 4
- PlayStation 2, Sunrise Interactive
Released: October 4, 2007
- Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula VS
- PlayStation Portable, Sunrise Interactive
Released: July 10, 2008
[edit] External links
