Vroom! It's hard to deny the thrill of putting the pedal to the metal and reaching break-neck speeds. Since not everyone can afford suped-up vehicles or don't want to risk severe accidents, some people try to live out their dreams vicariously by watching anime.
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Films like Redline have shown that anime with powerful vehicles and intense races can enrapture an audience. Thankfully, those looking for longer trips on the visual open road also have some excellent series to choose from.
10 Super Grand Prix (Arrow Emblem Grand Prix No Taka)
Super Grand Prix is a fondly remember anime classic from the 70s. The story follows Takaya who longs to be an F1 racer but manages to crash a stock car after slipping on oil. When he somehow comes out uninjured, he's approached by a mysterious man asking him to join a famous racing team while driving a unique new prototype car.
Fans of classic Formula 1 racing will recognize wonderful nods in the show as well with some characters loosely based on racing legends from Mario Andretti to James Hunt.
9 F-Zero: GP Legend
While fans have longed for a new F-Zero game sadly none has ever come. However, fans can still get a taste of the iconic series they love by checking out the anime based on the franchise!
F-Zero: GP Legend released all the way back in 2003 and features over fifty episodes discussing the origins of Captain Falcon and the epic races he participates in. The futuristic races are a breath of fresh air in a genre that usually features everyday cars.
8 What's Up Mechadoc (Yoroshiku Mechadock)
What's Up Mechadoc is an 80s anime often overlooked by western anime as it never received dubs outside of Japan and Italy. This is a shame as the show's attention to detail and amazingly tense races with vehicles anyone could buy makes it a show any petrolhead could get into.
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The show only uses real cars from the era and that's not all — the sound designers actually recorded the real engine sounds for each car used in the show. The accuracy of the show from the vehicles to details on tuning them will leave any mechanic smiling.
7 Speed Racer (Mach GoGoGo)
The original Speed Racer from the 60s may have had some issues with recycling animation a bit too much and being a bit cheesy but it's still fondly remembered to this day. Its iconic opening theme is still stuck in the heads of many viewers to this day. The classic anime inspired a new adaptation in 1997, a live-action movie, and even a spinoff focused on girls called Mach Girl.
6 F (Formula-1 – Engines On The Track)
F follows Gunma Akagi as he goes from a boy living in the countryside to the next Formula 1 racing star. Directed by Atsuko Nakajima of Ranma ½ fame, the show features an emotionally powerful story that is sure to bring fans to tears. While the 80s show isn't currently available on streaming services, it's worth tracking down physical copies of this anime classic.
5 Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go
Not all racing shows have to have big suped-up cars! Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go is the perfect show for anyone that loved remote-controlled racing cars as a kid. Retsu and Go's racing adventures spanned over 150 episodes across three seasons and even inspired an entire movie. It's a perfect 90s flick for fans to dig into that want something longer to watch.
4 Pui Pui Molcar
Pui Pui Molcar is one of the most highly reviewed children's shows from Japan of all time. While it might not pack in the heart-racing action that other shows about cars might, its adorable guinea pig cars are undeniably kawaii.
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The show originally gained popularity as a bit of a meme but has become loved by fans as an iyashikei anime — a show meant to have a healing effect on the soul. At only 2 minutes an episode, it's the perfect show to relax to and binge in a single day.
3 Wangan Midnight
Tokyo's Shuto Expressway is subject to a lot of street racing in real life which is what inspired the story of Wangan Midnight. After losing a race quite badly against a doctor, third-year high school student Akio goes to the graveyard for parts only to discover a pristine Fairlady Z for purchase.
It turns out every previous owner of the car has been in terrible accidents due to it being suped-up beyond safe levels. The story follows his racing adventures as he tries to eventually defeat the doctor in a race that originally humiliated him behind the wheel.
2 Capeta
Just about everyone has gotten behind the wheel of a regular go-kart but few people have driven one designed for professional racing. Capeta follows the story of a young boy who goes from a bullied kid to a go-kart champion with a need for speed. Seeing the down and out elementary schooler slowly come into himself through his teenage years makes for an incredible underdog racing story.
1 Initial D
Likely the most iconic racing anime of all time, Initial D is by far the most popular racing anime of all time The show inspired a video game series that spanned over twelve games, an incredibly long-running manga series, and even several movies.
Watching a kid use his local knowledge from delivering tofu for years to outrace seasoned street racers is incredibly thrilling and the series manages to keep raising the stakes through all 60+ episodes of the series. Any fan of fast cars and tight races owes it to themselves to watch Initial D.
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