éX-Driver

éX-Driver (エクスドライバー, Ekusudoraibā) is an anime OVA series planned, drafted and designed by manga artist Kōsuke Fujishima. It is produced by Bandai Visual, Dentsu, Genco, Faith and Actas. The anime series spanned 6 episodes, as well as a feature movie, entitled éX-Driver: The Movie. The complete anime series, including the movie, were broadcast by the anime television network, Animax, across its respective networks around the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and other regions.

éX-Driver
エクスドライバー
(Ekusudoraibā)
GenreRacing, Postcyberpunk
Created byKōsuke Fujishima
Original video animation
Directed byJun Kawagoe
Produced byKen Matsumoto (1-3)
Jun Yukawa (4-6)
Wataru Tanaka
Tsuyoshi Katagiri (1-3)
Written byShinzo Fujita
Music byJAM Project
Hikaru Nanase
StudioActas
Licensed by
Released25 July 2000 - 25 September 2001
Runtime24-26 minutes per episode
Episodes6
Anime film
éX-Driver The Movie
Directed byAkira Nishimori
Tetsuya Watanabe (assistant)
Produced byJun Yukawa
Wataru Tanaka
Manabu Yamatō
Written byShinzo Fujita
Takeshi Mochizuki
Music byHikaru Nanase
StudioActas
Licensed by
Released20 April 2002
Runtime62 minutes
Original video animation
éX-Driver: Danger Zone
Directed byShinichi Watanabe
Produced byKen Matsumoto
Wataru Tanaka
Manabu Yamatō
Written byKazuhiro Satō
Music byHikaru Nanase
StudioActas
Licensed by
Released20 April 2002
Runtime27 minutes

Overview

In the distant future people no longer drive cars themselves, instead relying on AI (artificial intelligence) computers to drive their cars for them. But when these AI systems start losing control and running wild somebody has to stop them. éX-Drivers are the people who are able to operate the older mechanical non-AI dependent cars who chase down the AI cars and stop them.

A good amount of future and near future technology is featured throughout the series, including automated highway systems and A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) technology. Automated highway systems have been proposed as a solution to the traffic congestion problems.

In the series, anybody, regardless of age, can be an éX-Driver as long as they possess the required skills. For example, one of the main characters is only 13 years old and drives. The premise of the show is that there are éX-Drivers all over the world but the focus is on the team operating in Japan.

Cars used by éX-Drivers are marked with an éX-D decal. Typically an éX-Driver car would be an older mechanical type car and almost always would be rear-wheel drive with the exception of an AWD (4WD) Subaru Impreza WRC since éX-Drivers usually employ techniques such as drifting when bringing down runaway cars, which is much more difficult with front wheel drive (FWD) cars and in an all wheel drive (AWD) car.

Characters
Lorna Endō (遠藤 ローナ, Endō Rōna)
Japanese voice actor: Yoko Asada
English voice actor: Philece Sampler
Cantonese voice actor: Celina Lam
Lisa's éx-Driver partner. She is a good-hearted girl who drives a Lotus Europa. She also tries to keep the team together when Sōichi and Lisa have an initial tense relationship. She maintains a good relationship between them. In relationship to Sōichi, she acts like a sister.
Lisa Sakakino (榊野 理沙, Sakakino Risa)
Japanese voice actor: Miki Nagasawa
English voice actor: Lia Sargent
Cantonese voice actor: Doris Lo
Lorna's éx-Driver partner. She drives a Subaru Impreza WRC in the first episode, but it is wrecked and has to be replaced with a Group 4 specification Lancia Stratos HF from the second episode onwards. She shuns Sōichi when he is selected to lead the team and also when he beats her in race. However, Lisa accepts him as the series progresses.
Sōichi Sugano (菅野 走一, Sugano Sōichi)
Japanese voice actor: Yumiko Kobayashi
English voice actor: Joshua Seth
Cantonese voice actor: Judy Lui
An extremely talented 12-year-old. He drives a Caterham Super Seven JPE, though he drives a modified Daihatsu Midget II on a racetrack. He soon becomes the team's leader. He initially has a tense relationship with Lisa, but they begin to gain their trust as the series progresses.

OVA

The OVA series consists of 6 episodes which are - except the last two - independent from each other.

  1. AI vs RECIPRO
  2. On And On
  3. No Problem
  4. Regulations of Love (éX-Rider)
  5. Crossroads
  6. The Last Mile

Movie

The éX-Driver anime series was also adapted into an anime movie sequel, entitled éX-Driver The Movie, which follows the adventures of Lisa, Lorna and Souichi as they participate in an international éX-Driver race held at Los Angeles. The movie also consisted of a special prequel to the series, entitled, éX-Driver - Nina & Rei Danger Zone, which served as the prologue for the movie, centering on the adventures of two of the former éX-Drivers, Nina Thunder and Rei Kazama. Three short bonus shorts were also featured with the movie, featuring Lisa, Lorna and Souichi in events set just before where the movie takes off. These bonus shorts are done in comedic style, mainly with camera pans and zooms on still images:

  1. Onsen—set in a hot spring
  2. Race Queen—set in the éX-Driver Base
  3. Airport—set in the Airport on their way to Los Angeles

Staff
  • Planning, original creator, original character concept: Kōsuke Fujishima
  • Series composition and script: Shinjo Fujita
  • éX-Car design: Shunji Murata
  • Mecha design: Takeshi Takakura, Hidefumi Kimura (ep.1)
  • Music: JAM Project, Hikaru Nanase
  • Director: Jun Kawagoe
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