Oban Star Racers

Robby

So, I recently felt like rewatching that 2006 award winning, highly acclaimed animated series that was heavily influenced by japanese animation thats full of great characters and animation, and all about the Avatar.

…of course, the thread title already gives away that I'm actually talking about Oban Star Racers.

I just finished rewatching my dvds for the first time in a couple years, and it holds up really well. Fantastic characters, opening credits by Yokko Kanno, great animation (And also an amazing art book)... You guys should give it a shot, I think it'd be right up your alley.

On the surface and at a glance, its a show about pod-racing. And while yes, there's aliens and races in most of the episodes and its a key element... its NOT what the show is about. (There's like five episodes with little to no racing in them) It's about a girl and her estranged asshole father... who doesn't know she's his daughter. Up against some intergalactic political alien invasion stuff.

Overlooked because it aired on Toon Disney/Jetix of all things, for like, 3 weeks, but its quite good, and in fact, a lot better than I remember, especially in the second half.

All 26 eps are up on youtube, (ANd yes, English is the native language on it.) Watch. Enjoy. Highly under-rated show that's pretty good.

…and yes, I know the characters don't have noses. I know, that's weird.

Cyan D. Funk

Remembering Like Robby

Of all the things that aired on Jetix (is ToonDisney still even a thing nowdays), this was probably the best.

Looking back, I liked all the little details about the universe that are only really alluded to and never actually explained. Like that metal stick figure alien that was one of the oldest things around, or what the previous races were like.

Deviant_Mugen

I watched this late last year on Robby's recommendation (which made me move it up my to-watch list) and it was one hell of a ride.

Also, Eva/Molly is one of the best characters I've ever had the pleasure to watch onscreen…

Robby

Conekiller

Thanks for reminding me of this. I was watching the first season as it aired on TV (it was much more than 3 weeks, I'm fairly certain the whole show was aired) but I fell out of it due to forgetting to record it a few times.

I'd bought the DVDs but never made the time to actually watch them. Guess I'll have to sit and do that soon.

Also, don't forget the original pitch where it was all CGI!

Did all those aliens from that make it into the show?

Robby

@Conekiller:

Also, don't forget the original pitch where it was all CGI!

Weird. I hadn't seen that before. Neat. Glad they went traditional animation on the characters for the final product though.

Did all those aliens from that make it into the show?

Yes, mostly in the second half.

Ubiq

That was a great show and I wish that somebody would air it again.

One scene that I always really liked was

! Canaletto straight up admitting that Sul was beyond his ability to fight so he just cheap-shots the latter with, essentially, Plane Shift. That sort of frank honesty from a villain is kinda refreshing.

Retro

I only caught the first few episodes of it cause, like Robby said, it was aired on Jetix at the time and that was only being broadcasted through ABC Family before they moved the block over to Toon Disney (A digital exclusive channel, we only got the basic). From what I saw though, it was indeed intriguing, I loved the whole intensity between the racing crew and the slowly budding camaraderie they start to gain with one another. The fact there's a lot of it on the line and the stress of trying to stay in the competition gave some good tension too. Molly and her dad did remind me alot of Shinji and Gendo though only that Molly had more of a backbone. And the alien designs, very creative, fit all their characters quite nicely As well as the interaction between all characters. Indeed this was a fine show and I would love to see the rest of it.

Robby

@Ubiq:

One scene that I always really liked was

! Canaletto straight up admitting that Sul was beyond his ability to fight so he just cheap-shots the latter with, essentially, Plane Shift. That sort of frank honesty from a villain is kinda refreshing.

That was pretty great considering he was a villain that the show had only sort of hinted at very briefly at that point, but built up very well very quickly.

Handled waaaay better than Legend of Korra did. (The awesome designs helped.)

Nolus

Right in the nostalgia~

Really loved the show as a kid. I rewatched it a few years ago and I remember liking it even more. Fantastic atmosphere and great character designs. Don't forget interesting story line and unforgettable characters.

Dammit, now I have to watch it again.

Robby

Well, I was never expecting to bump this thread again… But Oban Star Racers is doing a kickstarter for a blue ray release! Bunch of special features including ELEVEN language tracks.

I put in for it immediately. I went for the tier that has the soundtrack and physical artbook in it.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/savtheworld/oban-star-racers-15th-anniversay-bluray

It's as good n excuse as any to remind folks to go watch this great show.