History Main / Itasha

The term ''itasha'' refers to any car which has been modified with vinyls, stickers, or other decorations relating to anime or games - most often featuring female characters and a heavily {{Moe}} aesthetic. Literally translated as "Painful car", this is a pun based on the fact that "ita" can also stand for "Italian", a reference to the rather flamboyant/extravagant exterior styling of Italian supercars. The pain in question is referring to either the car being a self-acknowledging eyesore, or the painful embarrassment which the owner is expected to undergo when explaining to his (it's almost always "his") family and friends exactly [[WhatWereYouThinking what the hell he was thinking]].

* ''Film/TheFastAndTheFuriousTokyoDrift'': [[HighSchoolHustler Twinkie's]] "Hulk car", a green 2005 Volkswagen Touran with custom bodywork that makes it look like ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk is trying to smash his way from within and a huge Hulk-face decal on the front. Twinkie loves it, but Sean Boswell (our heroic outlaw car racer of the film) takes one look at it (and then at Twinkie) with a notable "dear Lord, this is your daily ride, is it?" look on his face.

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/OtakuDad https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/otakudaditasha.png]]]]

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16716833000.93800100
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
%%
[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/LoveLive https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/niconicoitasha.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''Franchise/LoveLive'' is a certified [[{{Pun}} hood]] classic.]]
%%
%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion in the Caption Repair thread:
%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
%%

The term ''itasha'' refers to any car which has been modified with vinyls, stickers, or other decorations relating to anime or games - most often featuring female characters and a heavily {{Moe}} aesthetic. Literally translated as "Painful car", this is a pun based on the fact that "ita" can also stand for "Italian", a reference to the rather flamboyant/extravagant exterior styling of Italian supercars. The pain in question is referring to either the car being a self-acknowledging eyesore, or the painful embarrassment which the owner is expected to undergo when explaining to his (it's almost always "his") family and friends exactly what the hell he was thinking.

There is an unknown number of these cars currently at large, mostly in Japan. As per SturgeonsLaw, these run the gamut from beautiful works of {{Thememobile}}s as AdvertisingCampaigns to incredibly tacky rustbuckets with cartoony anime stickers cartoonishly slapped on willy-nilly. Surprisingly, even expensive cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK and even proper racing cars (explained below) have been known to receive the itasha treatment, although (this being Japan) Japanese cars like the Impreza or Skyline tend to be more popular.

There is an unknown number of these cars currently at large, mostly in Japan. As per SturgeonsLaw, these run the gamut from beautiful works of {{Thememobile}}s as AdvertisingCampaigns to incredibly tacky rustbuckets with anime stickers slapped on willy-nilly. Surprisingly, even expensive cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK and even proper racing cars (explained below) have been known to receive the itasha treatment, although (this being Japan) Japanese sports cars like the Impreza or Skyline tend to be more popular.

Speaking of racing cars turned into itashas, [[https://i.imgur.com/wjfCGd9.jpg this is what happens]] when an ''Literature/InfiniteStratos'' itasha is entered into Japan's Super GT series. And they were later [[http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ikamusume-002_R_c_600w.jpg joined]] by a ''Manga/SquidGirl'' itasha.

Speaking of racing cars turned into itashas, [[https://i.imgur.com/wjfCGd9.jpg this is what happens]] when an ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'' itasha is entered into Japan's Super GT series. And they were later [[http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ikamusume-002_R_c_600w.jpg joined]] by a ''Manga/SquidGirl'' itasha.

* In the first chapter of ''[[Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka GTO: 14 Days in Shonan]]'', Onizuka paints a portrait of LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya on Vice-Principal Uchiyamada's PreciousPreciousCar.

* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': When [[SuperStrength Shizuo rips the door off Saburo's van]], Walker and Erika have it repaired with an extremely conspicuous anime girl on it. Saburo is not amused.

[[folder:Light Novels]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/opanchugo.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Raising Heart Excelion, Drive Ignition!]]

There is an unknown number of these cars currently at large, mostly in Japan; probably the most famous is the ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' fan-car, nicknamed ''Opanchu-go''. As per SturgeonsLaw, these run the gamut from beautiful works of {{Thememobile}}s as AdvertisingCampaigns to incredibly tacky rustbuckets with anime stickers slapped on willy-nilly. Surprisingly, even expensive cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK and even proper racing cars (explained below) have been known to receive the itasha treatment, although (this being Japan) Japanese sports cars like the Impreza or Skyline tend to be more popular.

There is an unknown number of these cars currently at large, mostly in Japan; probably the most famous is the ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' fan-car pictured above, nicknamed ''Opanchu-go''. As per SturgeonsLaw, these run the gamut from beautiful works of {{Thememobile}}s as AdvertisingCampaigns to incredibly tacky rustbuckets with anime stickers slapped on willy-nilly. Surprisingly, even expensive cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK and even proper racing cars (explained below) have been known to receive the itasha treatment, although (this being Japan) Japanese sports cars like the Impreza or Skyline tend to be more popular.

* Examples that aren't fan made or nerd related come from the Honda Civic Tour, where [[https://myautoworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Civic_Tour_FINAL.jpg Honda Civics]] with paint schemes made by the headliners are given away in contests. The car designs can range from somewhat subtle, like for the Music/DemiLovato Honda Civic or more overtly themed ones like Music/PanicAtTheDisco's [[https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/zLrb/s3/2008-20731-panic-at-the-disco-honda-civic-hybrid1.jpg Civic]] matching up with their second album, ''Pretty. Odd.'', and Music/FallOutBoy's [[https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/2007-honda-civic-hybrid-customized-by-fall-out-boy-ar26946.html Civic]] matching up with their third album, ''Infinity on High''. The most "itasha" like one so far is Music/Blink182's for the 2011 Honda Civic Tour, featuring their bunny mascot hanging onto the car. Later years of the tour also featured motorcycles, which only had color scheme changes and the headliner's name. Reactions to the designs each year are unsurprisingly divisive and are often ragged on by car enthusiast blogs. For 2019's tour, even though a custom Music/CharliePuth Civic Type R and Rebel 300 motorcycle were made, the giveaway [[https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/honda-and-charlie-puth-create-special-edition-civic-type-r-ar181606.html only featured the Rebel 300]]. The other Honda vehicle option in the giveaway? The choice between three stock Civic models.

There is an unknown number of these cars currently at large, mostly in Japan; probably the most famous is the ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' fan-car pictured above, nicknamed ''Opanchu-go''. As per SturgeonsLaw, these run the gamut from beautiful works of art to incredibly tacky rustbuckets with anime stickers slapped on willy-nilly. Surprisingly, even expensive cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK and even proper racing cars (explained below) have been known to receive the itasha treatment, although (this being Japan) Japanese sports cars like the Impreza or Skyline tend to be more popular.

Speaking of racing cars turned into itashas, [[https://i.imgur.com/wjfCGd9.jpg this is what happens]] when an ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'' itasha is entered into Japan's Super GT series. And they were later[[http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ikamusume-002_R_c_600w.jpg joined]] by a ''Manga/SquidGirl'' itasha.

* Two of the Premier series in Japanese Motorsport: Super GT and Super Formula have a regular team that featured itashas for 5+ years. Despite the looks, both teams are multiple season Champion holders in their respective discipline. These were only the two most successful examples, but there are more teams using itasha as motorsport in Japan.
** The success GSR & Team Ukyo (using [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Hatsune Miku-themed]] car) raised them to a de facto Mercedes-AMG Japan works team status [[spoiler: as they are the first =GT300= Champion Team using Mercedes-AMG]]. Even the Belgian Mercedes-AMG works team Black Falcon is also the fan of it: They became GSR's stablemate during their second visit of 24 Hours of Spa in 2019, they also gave GSR the opportunity to design for their special coloring for that race.

** Further updates added more such liveries for other vehicles, and now there are a total of 14 vehicles with optional itasha-style paint jobs, all of which are themed after Princess Robot Bubblegum, her rival Shiny Wasabi Kitty, or her ally Sword Boy.

* The ''VideoGame/Forza'' racing video game series from ''Forza Motorsport 2'' onwards has won some popularity among itasha fans due to its robust car-painting system; it is quite possible that more ''Forza'' itasha exist than real-life itasha.

* Examples that aren't fan made or nerd related come from the Honda Civic Tour, where [[https://myautoworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Civic_Tour_FINAL.jpg Honda Civics]] with paint schemes made by the headliners are given away in contests. The car designs can range from somewhat subtle, like for the Music/DemiLovato Honda Civic or more overtly themed ones like Music/PanicAtTheDisco's [[https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/zLrb/s3/2008-20731-panic-at-the-disco-honda-civic-hybrid1.jpg Civic]] matching up with their second album, ''Pretty. Odd.'', and Music/FallOutBoy's [[https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/2007-honda-civic-hybrid-customized-by-fall-out-boy-ar26946.html Civic]] matching up with their third album, Infinity on High. The most "itasha" like one so far is Music/Blink182's for the 2011 Honda Civic Tour, featuring their bunny mascot hanging onto the car. Later years of the tour also featured motorcycles, which only had color scheme changes and the headliner's name. Reactions to the designs each year are unsurprisingly divisive and are often ragged on by car enthusiast blogs. For 2019's tour, even though a custom Music/CharliePuth Civic Type R and Rebel 300 motorcycle were made, the giveaway [[https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/honda-and-charlie-puth-create-special-edition-civic-type-r-ar181606.html only featured the Rebel 300]]. The other Honda vehicle option in the giveaway? The choice between three stock Civic models.

There is an unfortunate amount of truth in the slogan "Anime: CrackIsCheaper". Despite this, there are some {{otaku}} who end up with money left over after sinking everything they possibly can into their obsession. For a small and truly devoted subset of these, there is only one option left:

There is an unknown number of these cars currently at large, mostly in Japan; probably the most famous is the [[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha Nanoha fan-car]] pictured above, nicknamed ''Opanchu-go''. As per SturgeonsLaw, these run the gamut from beautiful works of art to incredibly tacky rustbuckets with anime stickers slapped on willy-nilly. Surprisingly, even expensive cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLK and even proper racing cars (explained below) have been known to receive the itasha treatment, although (this being Japan) Japanese sports cars like the Impreza or Skyline tend to be more popular.

[[https://i.imgur.com/wjfCGd9.jpg Speaking of racing cars turned into itashas, this is what happens when an itasha is entered into Japan's Super GT series.]] [[http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ikamusume-002_R_c_600w.jpg And they're not]] [[https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1609/25884145112_a053403058_b.jpg the only ones either.]]

!!Fictional Examples
* The TransformingMecha of the team in ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'', named Machine Itasshar, is an itasha car that transforms into a robot called Itasshar Robo.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation'', ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon'' and ''VideoGame/AceCombatInfinity'' take this trope to extreme (and literal -- they're on airplanes) heights with ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster''-themed paintjobs. Of course, when you're flying a fighter jet that can blow anything else out of the sky, [[RealMenWearPink no one will question your manliness]].
** ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy +'' later does this with Creator/{{Nintendo}} characters, unlocked by Nintendo's Toys/{{amiibo}} toys.
* The ''VideoGame/ForzaMotorsport'' racing video game series (from the second game onwards) has won some popularity among itasha fans due to its robust car-painting system; it is quite possible that more ''Forza'' itasha exist than real-life itasha.
* As with ''Forza'', ''[[VideoGame/GranTurismo Gran Turismo Sport]]'' is laden with itasha due to having a livery editor with the ability to upload custom decals and liveries.
* The Playstation Vita release of ''VideoGame/RidgeRacer'' had palette swaps of the available cars based on the characters of ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster'', just like Ace Combat 6. Unfortunately, [[NoExportForYou they were only released in Japan.]]
** Alternatively, the purchasable '[[{{Anime/Yumeria}} Neneko]]' paint scheme of the Soldat Raggio in ''Ridge Racer 7'' features a monotone version of the character.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Carmageddon}} Carmageddon: TDR 2000]]'' has The Mecha, a [[RiceBurner tuned up]] Ford Ka driven by an {{Animesque}} girl, making it quite the oddball in the series. Apart from the distinctive anime girl vinyl, it's also decked out with [[WeaponizedCar wheel blades and a pumping bumper blade]] designed to [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential cut up pedestrians]].
* ''[[VideoGame/{{GrandTheftAutoV}} Grand Theft Auto Online]]'' introduced the Sultan RS in the January 2016 update. One of the optional liveries is themed after [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot Princess Robot Bubblegum]], a fictional anime within the GTA universe.
** Further updates added more such liveries for other vehicles, and now there are a total of 14 vehicles with optional itasha-style paint jobs, all of which are themed after Princess Robot Bubblegum, her rival Shiny Wasabi Kitty, or her ally Sword Boy.
* ''VideoGame/EuroTruckSimulator'' has a fairly generous assortment of third party anime-themed truck liveries available on the Steam Workshop.
* One of these is in Akihabara in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}''. Morgana thinks the car has been vandalized.
* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': When [[SuperStrength Shizuo rips the door off Saburo's van]], Walker and Erika have it repaired with an extremely conspicuous anime girl on it. Saburo is not amused.
* ''VideoGame/AssettoCorsa Competizione'', ''SWDC: Sega World Driver's Championship'': as being a licensed race game of certain reallife motorsport series that has itasha racing in it, featured the respective series' itashas.
* Parodied in the ''Webcomic/{{Whomp}}'' comic, [[https://www.whompcomic.com/comic/cloak-and-swagger "Cloak And Swagger"]] with ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''.

* In the first chapter of ''[[Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka GTO: 14 Days in Shonan]]'', Onizuka paints a portrait of LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya on Vice-Principal Uchiyamada's PreciousPreciousCar.

!!RealLife examples
* The vanning subculture provides plenty of examples of itasha. It also provides some of the most badass promotional/advertising graphics for bands and musicians, as the HardRock / HeavyMetal scene and VisualKei have a fairly large representation among the people also drawn to vanning and its related mechanical work, owing to the presence of a ''lot'' of active or retired bosozoku and yankii. At pretty much any vanning meet, there will be at least one van that's either tricked out as a fan tribute, or that's used by a band itself.

** Beginning with 1/24 scale cars,
** Continuing with Hasegawa's 1/48 and 1/72 ranges of Idol Master modern fighters, similar to (maybe related to) the ''Ace Combat'' example above...
** Add Bandai's 1/100 Macross Frontier valkyrie series done up in such a style, in both a simpler fighter-mode kit and a transformable version...

* Examples that aren't fan made or nerd related come from the Honda Civic Tour, where [[https://myautoworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Civic_Tour_FINAL.jpg Honda Civics]] with paint schemes made by the headliners are given away in contests. The car designs can range from somewhat subtle, like for the [[https://images.carscoops.com/2016/03/3dde60d9-hondaciviclovatojonas-05.jpg Demi Lovato Honda Civic]] or more overtly themed ones like [[https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/zLrb/s3/2008-20731-panic-at-the-disco-honda-civic-hybrid1.jpg Panic! At The Disco]]'s matching up with their second album, Pretty. Odd and [[https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/2007-honda-civic-hybrid-customized-by-fall-out-boy-ar26946.html Fall Out Boy]]'s matching up with their third album, Infinity on High. The most "itasha" like one so far is blink-182's for the 2011 Honda Civic Tour, [[http://www.japanesesportcars.com/photos/d/133335-2/blink-182-2012-customized-honda-civic-si-coupe.jpg featuring their bunny mascot hanging onto the car]]. Later years of the tour also featured motorcycles, which only had color scheme changes and the headliner's name. Reactions to the designs each year are unsurprisingly divisive and are often ragged on by car enthusiast blogs. For 2019's tour, even though a custom Charlie Puth Civic Type R and Rebel 300 motorcycle were made, the giveaway [[https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/honda-and-charlie-puth-create-special-edition-civic-type-r-ar181606.html only featured the Rebel 300]]. The other Honda vehicle option in the giveaway? The choice between three stock Civic models.

* Parodied in the Webcomic/{{Whomp}} comic, [[https://www.whompcomic.com/comic/cloak-and-swagger "Cloak And Swagger"]] with Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration.

* As with ''Forza'', [[VideoGame/{{GranTurismo}} Gran Turismo Sport]] is laden with itasha due to having a livery editor with the ability to upload custom decals and liveries.

* The [[HeroSecretService WOTA]] from Anime/AKB0048 pilot mechs with 00-themed paintjobs.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Carmageddon}} Carmageddon: TDR 2000]]'' has The Mecha, a [[RiceBurner tuned up]] Ford Ka driven by an {{Animesque}} girl, a rather oddball in the series. Apart from the distinctive anime girl vinyl, its also decked with [[WeaponizedCar wheel blades and a pumping bumper blade]] designed to [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential cut up pedestrians]].

* The Playstation Vita release of VideoGame/RidgeRacer had palette swaps of the available cars based on the characters of ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster'', just like Ace Combat 6. Unfortunately, [[NoExportForYou they were only released in Japan.]]

** Further updates added more such liveries for other vehicles, and now you have a total of 9 vehicles with optional itasha-style paint jobs, all of which are themed after either Princess Robot Bubblegum or her rival Shiny Wasabi Kitty.

* Episode 10 of ''Anime/PuiPuiMolcar'' has Abbey turned into one after their beginner sign removal, getting a glittery pink paint job with a MagicalGirl decal. Abbey is rather upset about this at first since they would have preferred to get a superhero-themed makeover, but they later channel the power of the magical girl to save a cat from falling out of a tree, which everyone congratulates them for.