A thread that kicked off with the simple line “There’s that car anime, Cyber Formula, right?” revealed just how much people’s memories of broadcast stations and time slots varied by region — with one poster even testifying that even though it was supposedly a Nippon TV network show, it aired as early as 5:30am where they lived. Fans traded memory after memory: how the TV series got canceled due to poor toy sales but kept a devoted fanbase alive through the OVAs, praise calling the climax of episodes 35–37 “among the best in anime history,” and the observation that thanks to a shared screenwriter, Bakusou Kyoudai Let’s & Go! has a similar kind of appeal.
When did this even air?
Maybe it was a Kanto-local timeslot thing?
Given the era, I feel like if it was anime we'd just tune in regardless of whether it was aimed at girls or boys.
Given the era, I feel like if it was anime we'd just tune in regardless of whether it was aimed at girls or boys.
>>8
I'm from Aichi and I watched it.
I'm from Aichi and I watched it.
The TV series was on Nippon TV.
After that it was OVAs.
After that it was OVAs.
>>11
Maybe Yomiuri TV just didn't carry the network feed?
I have zero memory of it.
Maybe Yomiuri TV just didn't carry the network feed?
I have zero memory of it.
Right from episode 1 they're running formula cars off-road.
>>16
You've got stock-car-looking things, silhouette-formula-looking things, proto-racing-car-looking things, formula-car-looking things, concept-car-looking things, and off-road-buggy-looking things all racing together — it's a pretty chaotic field.
You've got stock-car-looking things, silhouette-formula-looking things, proto-racing-car-looking things, formula-car-looking things, concept-car-looking things, and off-road-buggy-looking things all racing together — it's a pretty chaotic field.
Wasn't the original TV version over 30 years ago?
There was a character like Schumacher, right.
There was a character like Schumacher, right.
>>18
Not so much "like Schumacher" — there's literally a character named Schumacher.
Not so much "like Schumacher" — there's literally a character named Schumacher.
I'm a fan of it, but the toy cars didn't sell, the sponsor pulled out, and the TV series got canceled.
And yet the OVAs kept going for that long, so there must've been a really devoted fanbase.
And yet the OVAs kept going for that long, so there must've been a really devoted fanbase.
>>22
Well, people online who were probably around my age were making a huge fuss about it, but I'd never seen it at all, so I was just like "what is that?"
Well, people online who were probably around my age were making a huge fuss about it, but I'd never seen it at all, so I was just like "what is that?"
I remember going from Grandzort, to Wataru 2, then suddenly Cyber Formula, and being like "huh?"
F1 was popular around that time too, so maybe that had something to do with it.
F1 was popular around that time too, so maybe that had something to do with it.
>>27
It was so popular that even as a kindergartner I already knew terms like "Senna," "Nakajima," "McLaren," "Ferrari," and "Tyrrell."
It was so popular that even as a kindergartner I already knew terms like "Senna," "Nakajima," "McLaren," "Ferrari," and "Tyrrell."
It aired on TV Asahi
Around 2005
Monday late night.
Around 2005
Monday late night.
>>28
TV Asahi — that's the same as Asahi Broadcasting, right? (they're actually separate but affiliated stations, a common point of confusion)
TV Asahi — that's the same as Asahi Broadcasting, right? (they're actually separate but affiliated stations, a common point of confusion)
It's sad how Randall increasingly gets turned into a punching bag (a "kamase" — a character who exists just to lose and show how strong someone else is).
>>30
Who's that? He hasn't shown up yet.
Who's that? He hasn't shown up yet.
>>25
That's a series the Gundam SEED director worked on.
That's a series the Gundam SEED director worked on.
>>31
Oh, the old guy who looks like my "waifu"? (joking that the character design style is the same one he's a sucker for)
Oh, the old guy who looks like my "waifu"? (joking that the character design style is the same one he's a sucker for)
By the way, I'm currently watching it through… let's say methods I can't say too loudly.
Is Bandai Channel the only legit place to watch it? My go-to TSUTAYA closed down last month too.
Is Bandai Channel the only legit place to watch it? My go-to TSUTAYA closed down last month too.
>>34
You can watch it on U-NEXT.
You can watch it on U-NEXT.
Feels like reality finally caught up to "cyber" now that AI can talk.
Also, the variable-geometry feature has kind of made its way into modern F1 too.
Also, the variable-geometry feature has kind of made its way into modern F1 too.
>>40
It started singing without even needing a cassette tape!
It started singing without even needing a cassette tape!
Honestly I like the brash American racer more than the main character.
>>46
That's why he keeps getting good treatment for the rest of the series.
That's why he keeps getting good treatment for the rest of the series.
>>46
You mean Guderian?
You mean Guderian?
Wasn't it Wataru → Grandzort → Wataru 2 → Cyber Formula?
>>53
Looking back, I knew Wataru and Grandzort, but I only found out Wataru 2 even existed recently.
Looking back, I knew Wataru and Grandzort, but I only found out Wataru 2 even existed recently.
I never watched it, but I remember it being pretty popular in the anime magazines back then.
>>57
Just looked it up — apparently in my area, Wataru 2 and Cyber Formula both aired super early, like 5:30am.
Just looked it up — apparently in my area, Wataru 2 and Cyber Formula both aired super early, like 5:30am.
I remember Asurada's song being JUN SKY WALKER(S)' "Aruite Ikou" ("Let's Walk On") — is that right?
>>63
Yeah, I think it was something like that?
Yeah, I think it was something like that?
I remember the last 2–3 episodes of the first series being incredibly intense.
>>82
Hayato basically turns into a "Kira" (a Gundam SEED reference — an overpowered, ability-creep protagonist) and gets too strong, so even though he's the main character he's not that popular.
Hayato basically turns into a "Kira" (a Gundam SEED reference — an overpowered, ability-creep protagonist) and gets too strong, so even though he's the main character he's not that popular.
>>82
The way it builds from the end of episode 35 through 36 and 37 is up there with the best moments in anime history.
The way it builds from the end of episode 35 through 36 and 37 is up there with the best moments in anime history.
Since it shares the same screenwriter, the Let's & Go WGP arc has that same kind of appeal as Cyber Formula.
>>109
Well, the cars are Mini 4WD too, so…
Well, the cars are Mini 4WD too, so…
>>109
I got hooked on Let's & Go! I love how Carlo isn't trying to crush anyone, he just absolutely cannot afford to lose, and Bled, who plays it cool-headed but can't hide that he's actually a hot-blooded entertainer who obsesses over winning in style.
I got hooked on Let's & Go! I love how Carlo isn't trying to crush anyone, he just absolutely cannot afford to lose, and Bled, who plays it cool-headed but can't hide that he's actually a hot-blooded entertainer who obsesses over winning in style.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “There’s that car anime, Cyber Formula, right?.”
Leave a Reply