Rina Touin
06-11-2007, 11:45 PM
湾岸ミッドナイト
Wangan MIDNIGHT
Genre: Shounen, sports (auto racing)
Mangaka: Kusunoki Michiharu (楠 みちはる)
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Production: OB Planning
Release date: June 9th, 2007
Website: [Only registered and activated users can see links]
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 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) since 1993, with a total of 36 volumes currently in print. An anime ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) adaptation was announced in YOUNG MAGAZINE ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) in November according to an ANS ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) 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 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) games ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), 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 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).
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.
Wangan MIDNIGHT
Genre: Shounen, sports (auto racing)
Mangaka: Kusunoki Michiharu (楠 みちはる)
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Production: OB Planning
Release date: June 9th, 2007
Website: [Only registered and activated users can see links]
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 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) since 1993, with a total of 36 volumes currently in print. An anime ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) adaptation was announced in YOUNG MAGAZINE ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) in November according to an ANS ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) 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 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) games ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), 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 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).
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.