Hello anime fans, welcome back to AniWorldTV! You’re reading the Weekly Anime News Part 4 article.
In this article, we’ve gathered some great anime updates for you. This weekly recap covers all the big news—from TV original anime and crossovers to upcoming new seasons and much more, all right here at AniWorldTV.
So, let’s dive into the article!
1. New Sport Anime Is Here By Toyota
Toyota Announce Futuristic Anime Series GRIP .
GRIP is a new five-episode anime series aimed at attracting car enthusiasts by capitalizing on the popularity of anime, particularly inspired by the success of “Initial D.” The show will explore themes like artificial intelligence while showcasing high-speed Toyota race cars. Check out the first trailer below.
Toyota’s New Anime Is Inspired by Retro Favorite Initial D.
GRIP created by Intertrend, explores the modern fear of artificial intelligence in a future controlled by SynthCorp. The story follows protagonist Jae Kang and his friends as they challenge AI-driven cars promoted by the corporation. Interwoven with the real Toyota Gazoo racing team, the series includes Easter eggs for fans. Aimed at Gen Z and Asian-American youth, “GRIP” uses anime to connect with viewers and showcase Toyota’s vehicles.
.png)
Matthew Choy, Intertrend’s Executive Director of Strategy/Creative, emphasized “GRIP’s” inspiration from classics like Initial D, known for its portrayal of racing and real-world vehicles. This positions “GRIP” as a significant instance of narrative product placement. Another example is the Hi-Drivers series by Sunrise, announced in 2022, which collaborates with car manufacturers, although updates on its development have been limited since its initial announcement.
Initial D Remains a Car-Racing Anime Classic.
Originally penned by Shuichi Shigeno, Initial D began as a manga series running from 1995 to 2013, totaling 48 volumes. Its anime adaptation extended over 80 episodes and was supplemented by a live-action movie and various video game adaptations. Arcade versions of these games often utilized steering wheel controls to emulate the series’ signature drift racing. Takumi’s Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 notably features prominently, highlighting Toyota’s enduring association with anime.
International fans often associate Initial D with its Eurobeat soundtrack, which perfectly encapsulated the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere of the races and became iconic within anime culture, spawning various memes. Shigeno continued his work with the manga’s sequel series, MF Ghost, starting in 2017, which eventually received an anime adaptation in 2023.
