IGPX - Immortal Grand Prix
Publisher
Beez Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes aprox. 25 mintues each
Year
2003
IGPX ~ Immortal Grand Prix - Volume 1
By Joseph (Joe) Wood
21st Nov 06  It is possible that some may be put off by IGPX (Immortal Grand Prix) simply by the fact that the Cartoon Network and Toonami logos appear in a prominent position on the cover of the first DVD volume and that the first volume carries a Universal rating. Set in 2049 the most popular sport in the world is the Immortal Grand Prix or IGPX for short. The sport involves two teams competing against each other in a match with three giant mecha piloted by the racers of each side, racing three laps on huge F-Zero like tracks at speeds of up to 350 miles per hour. The first lap is just a straight race but after that the teams can attack each others mecha, the first three units past the final flag share the points and the IGPX is divided into several leagues of varying ability with the IG-1 being the top. The story follows the various members of Team Satomi who have just come top the IG-2 and have been promoted, despite being under funded and comprised of rookies the team has climbed up the league tables quickly amazing all, and giving the distinct impression they may walk away with the IG-1 trophy too. The characters in Team Satomi are all fairly likeable, form the cocky but full of potential Takashi Jin, to the feisty Liz Ricarro to the quiet, shy and timid Amy Stapleton, who’s cyberneticaly enhanced cat is the co-pilot of her mech. The four episodes featured in volume one see Team Satomi go up against two of their new rival teams, Team Sledge Mamma who go straight in for the kill early on, and Team Black Egg, who’s defensive tactics are the best in the league. After these matches Team Satomi then begins to prepare for its big match against last years champions of the IG-1 Team Velshtein who’s main pilot takes an interest in Takashi but declares that Team Satomi will lose to them. There isn’t much new in IGPX that hasn’t been done before, the idea of a racing mecha show may be new but the general racing concept has been done to death. These episodes reek of Star Wars Pod Racer mixed with Top Gun with anime mecha being used instead of planes or pods. The 2d animation is of a great quality but then little happens outside of the races in this first volume and as the races themselves are presented using CGI the whole thing looks incredibly disjointed, and like most anime series that use CGI in this way will age badly and quickly. The characters are all rather stereotypical that have been used a thousand times before in other series and are likely to generate much interest by older anime fans. IGPX certainly does have potential to become decent but this first volume is a massive disappointment, this is something aimed at a younger audience, and perhaps is not best suited being promoted to the general anime market.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: Pilot Episode 1, Cast interview (Haley Joel Osment), Interview with producers from Cartoon Network, Audio commentary from the Cartoon Network producers, Clean opening and ending animation, Trailers
Release information: Publisher: Beez Entertainment
Release Date: 30-10-2006
Length: 100 min (Not including extras)
Classification: U
Notes: Theres quite a few extras on this DVD that slightly make up for the poor quality of the episodes.
The first episode of the mini-series on which IGPX became a fully fledged series created by Cartoon Network an Production IG. This first episode a IG-3 team are sent into the IG-1 (but the IGPX is about mecha fighting rather than racing), the remaning episodes will likely feature on the next few discs.
Cast intervew with the English voice of Takashi (who is voiced by Haley Joel Osment the kid in Sixth Sense) which has some intresting moments.
The interview and Audio Commentary with the Cartoon Network Produces actualy offers some realy intresting info not just on IGPX itself but on the industry and were both entertaining.
-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 21st Nov 06
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