Line #103 Anime/IGPXImmortalGrandPrix


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18	[[quoteright:248:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/igpx.jpg]]
19	->''"In the year 2049, the world's most popular mobile sport is the Immortal Grand Prix..."''
20
21	->''"From the studio that brought you Ghost In The Shell, Cartoon Network is proud to present the first Toonami original series: IGPX."''
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23	Winning the minor league championship, IG-2, with sheer luck, Team Satomi is promoted to compete with five teams in the IG-1 division, home to the best of the best. The rookie team consists of [[SkilledButNaive Takeshi Jin]], a talented hotshot, [[ShrinkingViolet Amy Stapleton]], who at thirteen is a prodigy, telepathically linked to her feline [[TalkingAnimal co-pilot Luca]], and [[FieryRedhead Liz Ricarro]], a hotheaded martial artist. Supporting the pilots on the sidelines: owner and supervisor [[TeamMom Michiru Satomi]], mechanic [[TheEngineer Mark Ramsey]], assistant [[CuteSportsClubManager Jessie Martin]], backup pilot [[TheResenter River Marque]], and coach [[RetiredBadass Andrei Rublev]]. Together they form a close team as they reach for the crown.
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26	The sport IGPX combines motor racing with UsefulNotes/RollerDerby, via teams consisting of three HumongousMecha and their pilots. Races consist of 180 miles of track, with much of that length suspended hundreds of feet in the air in loops, tunnels, turns, and diverted side-tracks. After the first lap, competing teams are allowed to use their mecha to disable or slow down those of the other team in an all out melee at 350mph (565kph). At their discretion, racers may [[TransformingMecha transform into a high speed mode]] in the third and final lap... [[FragileSpeedster if their opponents are kind enough to let them]].
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28	Originally rejected as a series when pitched to Cartoon Network, a Microseries was released in 2003 as a replacement in Creator/{{Toonami}}'s Total Immersion Event. UsefulNotes/{{Ratings}} were high enough, and viewer response good enough, that it was picked up by Creator/{{Production IG}} and Cartoon Network as a 13-episode series airing in 2005. A second season began airing in 2006, but got moved from Saturdays at 10:30 to Friday at midnight outside of the Toonami block.
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30	IGPX enjoyed time on the [[UnCancelled revived]] Toonami block on Creator/{{Adult Swim}}, airing at 2:30 AM. On October 19th, Toonami aired the last two episodes back-to-back at 2:30 and 3:00 AM as a "one-hour finale", pre-empting ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' for one night. Afterwards, the show moved to 4:30 AM for its second run, and was taken off the air to make room for ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' once that run was finished. It now currently resides off the air in Toonami's "Regular Rotation" of shows they permanently own the rights to.
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32	The series' DVD release was handled by Creator/{{Bandai Entertainment}}, which meant that the show went into licensing limbo when they halted DVD production entirely. Thankfully, the series has been picked up by Creator/{{Discotek Media}} for a rerelease on DVD, meaning that those who wish to watch it no longer have to rely on [=YouTube=] or Toonami reruns. It was brought back to the Toonami block on November 5, 2023, 18 years to the day the show originally started its broadcast on the original Toonami block, as part of its bonus DST (Daylight Savings Time) hour, at 3:00 AM, this time being remastered in HD by Discotek Media, using [[https://astrores.io/ AstroRes]] technology, to promote their Blu-Ray release in 2024. But due to the Toonami block ended pre-maturely at that time, it aired on the without the block's on-air branding package, with the first two episodes being aired commercial-free. The show's HD remaster run started airing properly on the Toonami block on November 12, at 3:30 AM.
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34	----
35	!!Tropes:
36
37	* TheAce: Takeshi's hero is an enigmatic pilot from decades back called "The Rocket," and although we don't see much of him, he is well regarded by everyone. Later, it turns out The Rocket is [[spoiler:the team coach]].
38	%%* AcePilot: All the teams have at least one member that qualifies of AcePilot.
39	* AlternateContinuity: In the original IGPX Microseries, the IGPX was a three-against-three armed mecha battle, not a race. Takeshi Noa was a pilot for Team Suzaku. Creator/CartoonNetwork even made a game out of this on its website.
40	* AmazonBrigade: Team Skylark is an all female team.
41	* AndTheAdventureContinues: The series ends with Team Satomi gearing up for next year's competition.
42	* AmbiguousEnding: The Pilot Microseries ends with Team Suzaku being blackmailed by Velshtein's owner into merging their teams and having their pilots be forced to take on cybernetic enhancements in addition to the merger. Team Suzaku's refusal meaning they would be billed for the weapons they were provided. This sudden conflict is never resolved as the microseries ends right here with the next series taking place in a new continuity altogether.
43	* AsYouKnow: In the first episode.
44	-->'''Benjamin Bright''': Lets go over the rules of the IGPX, for the two or three of you who don't know.
45	* BattleCouple: [[spoiler: It is established early on in the series that Liz and Takeshi regularly spar together, long before the second season started hinting at their RelationshipUpgrade. Given that Liz and Takeshi often fill the combat role in races, including a scene of them facing down Yamma, this trope easily fits their relationship.]]
46	* ChickMagnet: Takashi, if how the girls from other teams act toward him are any indication. He even hooks up with Skylark's leader, Fantine.
47	* CombatCommentator: Benjamin Bright is the announcer for the IGPX races.
48	* CombiningMecha: Team White Snow's "Operation Snowman." has a unique unification tactic they use to defeat serious opponents.
49	* DreamSequence: There are several mid-race sequences with Team Satomi confronting their opponents on foot. The first has Takeshi dueling Cunningham in a kendo vs fencing match. Then later Takeshi and Liz team up against Yamma, who fends them off with wild knife attacks. [[spoiler:Season 2 has Team Satomi fighting Max.]]
50	* CoolOldGuy: Yamma's the oldest pilot in the [=IG1=]. That doesn't mean he's a pushover on or off the track.
51	* DubNameChange: Masa Ishikawa/Mark Ramsey and Himawari Aoi/Jesse Martin.
52	* EagleLand: One can make a case about Sledge Mamma being the Boorish type.
53	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Sledge Mama will fight dirty ''during'' a race but never outside of a race. They show a strong disdain for sabotage and cheating, which is more than what can be said for White Snow.
54	-->'''Yamma:''' We just wanna beat ya; not beat ya up.
55	* ExpressiveHair: Takeshi has a little tuft of hair on the side of his head that tends to pop up or droop down at various comedic moments, particularly when [[spoiler: it [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything raises up]] when he and Liz kiss at the very end]].
56	%%* FalseCameraEffects: LensFlare.
57	* FeminineWomenCanCook: Jesse and Liz look like they can cook, but a few accidents ruin their preparation. Two scenes later though, they have put it all together nicely.
58	* FlashStep: [[spoiler:Andre]] pulls one off against Team Velshtien to show his advanced skill.
59	* GratuitousFrench: Done by Fantine in the dub. In RealLife, Creator/KarenStrassman really does know how to speak French.
60	* HardWorkHardlyWorks: Guys who rely on this trope piss Liz and River off, and Takeshi's use of this contributes to River's FaceHeelTurn.
61	* HeelFaceTurn: In the second season, an underhanded team called Team White Snow is introduced and presented as the OpposingSportsTeam of the rest of the series until its very end, after their captain realizes that being an InsufferableGenius and fighting dirty can't compensate for honest effort and rapport with team-mates. White Snow then resolves to fight fair next year.
62	* HeirToTheDojo: Mark the mechanic is the heir to a conglomerate.
63	* HumongousMecha: The titular race features giant robots both racing and fighting each other.
64	* InNameOnly: The Microseries was battles and the genuine series is races.
65	* InsultBackfire: Lampshaded by River after watching Takeshi race during an IG Festival.
66	-->'''River:''' Yo, Takeshi. I saw your race. You haven't changed, man.
67	-->'''Takeshi:''' Thanks, River!
68	-->'''River:''' That wasn't a compliment...
69	* LastMinuteHookup: [[spoiler:Takeshi and Liz became a couple at the end of the second season.]]
70	* LonelyAtTheTop: Cunningham was blessed with a talent that allowed him to become the best in the league, but he found no satisfaction with being unchallenged, so he was rather happy when Takeshi came along.
71	* LoopholeAbuse: Several special techniques used are allowed because there are no rules against them. Said techniques then get banned for being dangerous and game-breaking. [[spoiler: Still doesn't stop White Snow from using even more underhanded moves and cheats during the final race]].
72	* LoveEpiphany: [[spoiler: Takeshi has one in the final episode when he finally finishes the puzzle Yuri gave him, and learns that it was really a gift from Liz. Upon putting it back together, he reminisces about Liz during her best and worst moments, and the following scene is him asking her out (awkwardly) on a date]].
73	* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:Zanak isn't White Snow's leader, it's Max.]]
74	* MidSeasonUpgrade: Inverted--in between season 1 and 2 one of the local Game Breakers is banned for being dangerous and unfair.
75	** Played straight with Team Satomi in the final race of Season 1, counting as an EleventhHourSuperpower. After reviewing the Indoraga Mano attack, Mark designs a ''counter'' Indoraga Mano tool, that gives them extra speed and allows them to jump farther than normal. They are later used to evade attacks, get the drop on enemy mechs, and save themselves from being knocked off the track.
76	* MultinationalTeam:
77	** Takeshi, Mark, and Michiru are Japanese, Amy is Irish, Liz is Puerto Rican, River is Canadian, Andrei is Russian, and Luca is a domestic shorthair.
78	** All the teams share this aspect, save for Team Sledge Mamma, whose members are all American (with the exception of [[spoiler: River, who joins the team after he leaves Satomi]]).
79	** Here are the teams and pilots by nationality:
80	*** Team Black Egg of Argentina has an Argentinian, an Australian, and a Englishman.
81	*** Team Edgeraid of Switzerland has a Swede, an Italian, and a Englishman.
82	*** Team Skylark of France has a Frenchwoman, a Dutch, and a New Zealander.
83	*** Team Velshtein has a German, a French, and a Spaniard.
84	*** Team White Snow has an Australian, an American, and a Norwegian.
85	* ObviousRulePatch: On two occasions game breaking and dangerous techniques are banned from use.
86	* PrecisionFStrike: Takeshi does this near the end of the series.
87	-->'''Takeshi:''' Well, thanks for the concern, dude... but I'm just wondering when you're gonna stop talking, ya punk bitch.
88	* ReTool: The main series is wildly different from the microseries, being about races instead of battles.
89	* SceneryPorn: The races are gorgeous if you aren't completely absorbed by the HumongousMecha.
90	* ShoutOut : [[Literature/LesMiserables Fantine Valjean]].
91	* ShownTheirWork: Team Skylark- and eventually Satomi- use the "slipstream" or drag from a slower leading mech to catchup. This technique is also used in NASCAR, known as "drafting".
92	* ShowWithinAShow: Takeshi spends his time playing "Watch World" an MMORPG game with cute player characters. Fantine has an avatar of her own. [[spoiler:As does Max, named "Mini-Bear.]]
93	* TournamentArc: Both seasons are framed by the annual [=IGP1=] tournament.
94	* TransformingMecha: The mecha can alternate between battle and speed mode for different jobs.
95	* {{Tuckerization}}: Team Edgeraid's Bella [=DeMarco=] is named after producer Jason [=DeMarco=]'s daughter.
96	* WaveMotionGun: Team Velshtein's Indoraga Mano attack. Mark's description of how it works is as follows:
97	--> '''Mark''': High voltage pulses create an imbalance in the air pressure, which results in a high impact tornado.
98	** By season 2, it's been banned from the sport for being a GameBreaker and insanely dangerous to use (the second use resulted in a massive rain storm appearing almost instantly).
99	----
100	->''Life... in the fast lane.''

Context Anime / IGPXImmortalGrandPrix