[Rina Touin]

湾岸ミッドナイト
Wangan MIDNIGHT

Genre: Shounen, sports (auto racing)
Mangaka: Kusunoki Michiharu (楠 みちはる)



Production: OB Planning
Release date: June 9th, 2007
Website: http://www.ppvj.co.jp/anime/0706wanganmidnight/
Channel: ANIMAX (PPV)

The story gets its roots from actual racing that takes place on a stretch of Tokyo's Shuto Expressway called the "wangan" (literally: bay side), which is the longest and straightest run of road in Japan. Racers who choose to run the wangan are met with traffic, high-speed accidents, and blown engines.

One day, while driving with three friends in his Z31 Nissan Fairlady, third-year high school student Asakura Akio is challenged by a black Porsche 964 Turbo, which is known as the legendary "Monster of Wangan, BlackBird." Akio's car is easily beaten, which sets Akio on a course to a local junkyard to look for parts. By chance he finds a pristine, midnight blue S30 Fairlady Z. Akio, intrigued as to the reason why the car was to be junked, buys the car and takes it to a friend's garage. There they find that the S30 isn't just any car; it's the "Devil Z," which has been very highly tuned in the past- and became legendary for killing its first owner in a fatal crash and severely injuring the other previous owners. Akio begins the long road of taming the Devil Z and battling the BlackBird for wangan supremacy.

The ongoing manga has been serialized in YOUNG MAGAZINE since 1993, with a total of 36 volumes currently in print. An anime adaptation was announced in YOUNG MAGAZINE in November according to an ANS article. It was not specified if the anime would air on Spring or if production would begin in Spring. Wangan MIDNIGHT has spawned several arcade and console games, with the newest PS3 version slated for a 2007 release; a little-known series of live action movies is also loosely based on the manga.

The manga is currently unlicensed and being scanlated by New Comer of Wangan.

OP: 「lights and any more」 - TRF
ED: 「Talkin' bout good days」 - Mother Ninja

I think it's probably a good thing that the series is being broadcast on a PPV channel. Racing anime does not exactly equal popularity for the general otaku public. It'll boil down to people who are waiting for more Initial D and people who play the CS/AC games. I'm hoping that great care is given to the car designs, as well as the exhaust notes and other various automotive sounds (the Devil Z's blow-off valve as heard in the games is very distinctive). I was happy with these things in ID 4th Stage, so my hopes are high.

[renegadesoul]

Hmmm....Interesting....woot woot...LOL!

[LeXiO]

The only car racing focused anime I'll probably watch is ID. I don't like car racing focused animes though.

[theredpirate]

Well I've personally seen the first 6 episodes and its great, Its not posing off of initial d at all its completely different but great. Initial d was great too but Wangan does a great job of catching another side of street racing that initial d ignores. I've also played the game for Wangan and for Initial D and they are both great games but it all depends what you are in the mood for, mountain runs or street races. Not to mention the story line is great and the detail of the cars is truly amazing. I'm working on uploading it cause I don't see it here yet but if it is someone please let me know. Also Arika I was wondering if i could just steal your description of it when i get it all posted?

[theredpirate]

I posted the anime in the on going section

[ZoddGuts]

I'm really enjoying this series it's a shame though that their aren't anymore subs hopefully more episodes will get subbed.

[ermeyers]

Nice....thanks for the post.

[flipmrsuave]

hey. episode 11 just came out this week. Do the episodes come out at 3 mo. intervals like ID?

[ayanochan]

Look similar intital D

[renzogga]

Hi, thanks for this post, I was watching the tv series and it's excellent. It's very similar to initial D but with story more dark.