marilou.lindgren - 2014-01-10 18:50:55

IGPX is a nice balance between the popular mech-genre, and the highly overlooked motorsport genre. I'm big into racing like F1 and LMP1, so I had to give this series another go after seeing a couple episodes on Toonami as a kid. The premise of IGPX is simply for the racing team to compete for the championship. The storyline is simple, and doesn't get overly complicated with motives or politics. The team members pilot mechs that race around a roughly 7-mile course, averaging 350 mph. The technical workings are never explained, so one must assume that some kinda propulsion is going on. This doesn't hinder the story, but puts a bit of mystery behind the machines. Team Satomi makes a great returning champion team as much as their former underdog title. During this season, they focus a little less on the public relations of running a racing team, which I felt benefited the first season greatly. Finances are extremely important in motorsports, and I'm glad that they were not left out of the plot. However, no teams ever really seem financially struggling. It would be cool to see some underdog in that category, but that is also the nature of motorsports not being welcoming to unrepresented teams. Can't knock the reality of the situation.

The animation is pretty top-notch. Team I.G. is responsible for the much-acclaimed GITS Stand Alone Complex, as well as some work on the recently famous Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyoujin). Everything is smooth and looks quality. The scenery is lush, with great detail in most situations. Some of the action sequences use really dramatic angles that are popular in film, which really add to the depth of the scenes. All good stuff. When it comes to the mechs, you have your typical rendered-in-Maya models that are sequenced outside of the animation. This allows for some really cool battles, but I felt like it contrasted too much with the regular animation style. Ghost in the Shell does a better job at mixing 3D-models into the drawn scenes. If they took some time (and had the budget) to do so with IGPX, it would greatly benefit the show.

This soundtrack is phenomenal. They use some really interesting IDM music in most of the scenes, along with your typical action-y orchestral stuff. However, the IDM tracks really make the show shine. It reflects the vibe imbued within the Toonami/Team I.G. partnership. The IDM music makes the show feel urban and fresh, while keeping the mood from getting too dramatic. "Cool" sums it up pretty nicely. They did a killer job with the dub on this show, so I'd recommend watching with the English voice overs rather than the sub. It gives the teams a greater cultural identity that is reinforced by their background. There are some popular voice actors on this roster, so don't be surprised if you notice some cross-over. Try to dive into the characters, and you'll be able to enjoy it fully.

The characters in IGPX are a blast. Team Satomi has a pretty diverse roster. Liz and Andrei stood out the most to me. They have strong personalities that shine in the more light-hearted parts of the show. The characters are easy to relate to due to the voice acting that brings out their personality well. There is some underlining history that links a lot of the characters together, which creates a solid footing for the story to operate upon. Most of the teams have pretty defined characters who get at least a moment or two to show their individual personality. The show really shines outside of the races, where the team members interact. In this aspect, IGPX is just as much a slice-of-life show as it is action. Team Satomi feels very honest and realistic. At no point was I turned off by any of the actions of the characters in their roles. Satomi's members all have a good deal of insecurities that are explored within the show. However, it avoids being too dramatic by throwing in comedic zingers and twists that keep the viewer on their feet. It plays with your emotions a bit, but in a smart, clever way. It keeps the show from feeling cliché, which is nice considering how easily they could have submitted to typical character traits on a basic level.

What does this all make collectively? I would say 26 episodes that feel complete and well orchestrated. There's little-to-no filler, so the storyline constantly progresses. The battle scenes keep you interested, by the show shines outside of the races where the characters get to pick a fight or squash their beef with another team. This is really a gem of a series considering the quality of production and level of care taken into character development, and even just soundtrack choice. It fulfilled my thirst for speed with my underlining interest in racing, as well as the inherent risks involved with action-sports. I definitely that I could watch the series again and be just as entertained. IGPX gets a special place in my heart that I won't soon forget.

P.S. Download Toonami's IGPX: Ichi Megamix album. It's a free mixtape that features all music from the show, and some sampling that'll definitely give fans a laugh.