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Plot Summary:
Shinozaki Mikoto is a student who’s life is really routine. Going to school, going home, going to school, going home…nothing changes….until the day the girl he likes talks to him and introduces him to bicycling. His life now has a new meaning, and a bright path has shown itself to Shinozaki. Experiencing both failure and success throughout his training, he works hard to become the best cyclist in the world.
Company:
Xebec
Cast:
Kaori Nazuka as Yuki Fukazawa
Kenji Nojima as Kouichi Terao
Kishô Taniyama as Takeshi Yamato
Genre:
Comedy, Romance, Sports
Air Time:
Overdrive aired from April 03, 2007 - September 25, 2007
Episodes:
Overdrive is a 26 episode long series with a possible second season.
Review:
When I started watching Overdrive I wasn’t really too sure what to expect. I figured it would be a the Intial D but on bikes, what I got however was completely different.
Overdrive is a pretty average looking anime. The character design for the main characters is solid and the core characters all have their own individual and unique looks. The other characters, are somewhat bland looking and can be confused. Where Overdrive shines are the “fighting” sequences during races. The art style and animation really portray a strong sense of action and emotion.
Overdrive’s plot is fairly simple but in my opinion quite charming (but maybe a bit corny.) The plot is a typical underdog story, but it does it well due to likeable characters. Overdrive hasn’t been fully subbed into english at the time of this episode (damn you Toki-Fansubs), but it looks promising. The anime is split essentially into two sections, Shinozaki learning to ride and Shinozaki’s first race. While the first half is fairly slow, the second half’s drama definitely makes up for it. The race has so many twists and exciting moments that waiting for the next episode is almost impossible.
The characters of Overdrive are probably the highlights. A lot of time is spent in Overdrive with flashbacks of the different characters which makes them all more likeable. The characters are probably the best part of Overdrive. Each character has their own unique qualities and give you a reason to cheer them on.
The music in Overdrive is above average. The Opening and Ending themes are both good, and help create the energy in Overdrive. The sounds in Overdrive are another highlight. Specifically during the race the sound of the crowds, the riders and the weather make the experience seem real. The voice actors are all good, although Kenji Nojima can be a little annoying at times.
I personally enjoyed Overdrive and found it fresh and fun. The fact that it’s based on bicycle road racing, which is a fairly unused idea for an anime, helps keep the anime interesting. Overdrive delivers a unique glorified view of biking and makes it seem so much more exciting. After watching the some of the race episodes I actually borrowed a bike and went out riding. Overdrive is definitely a hit and miss anime, but if you can get past the corny moments you’ll find an exhilarating experience and a reason to break out your bike and go ride somewhere.
Final Rating: 4/5
This review was brought to you by Ondema!
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