Overtake!
Short Synopsis (Anilist): Haruka Asahina is a 16 year old high school boy racing F4 cars while staying at Komaki Motos, an auto-body shop in Shizuoka prefecture. Komaki Motors is a family-run shop that regularly competes in F4 with the team comprised of: owner Futoshi Komaki who is also a mechanic, his daughter Mako Komaki, and now Haruka Asahina. Because this is a family-run business, they receive no support usually from any major manufacturers. Haruka Asahina boldly confronts the top teams head-on to get the attention of these revered companies in hopes of making it to the podium himself.
Here we have the first of two racing anime not only of the season, but of this very post. Starting off, I wasn’t expecting much from Overtake. The CGI cars look meh, which they usually do, as do the flat racetrack/ground textures. Yet in spite of this something about the way Overtake was shot just… It felt passionate to me. The focus on the human element of racing, the emotions involved, etc. For example, my favorite shot of the entire episode was just of Haruka standing on the sidelines watching as all the cars flew past him. The sheer loneliness and dissatisfaction in that one image alone, with how it was framed, was incredible. And the fact we watch it all from the sidelines, our lead character being a photographer with his own issues and trauma rather than the racer, it makes it hit for me.We’re watching it from the sidelines yeah, but those sidelines are still Koya’s own perspective, so we aren’t really separated from the action despite not truly being involved. I have no idea if Overtake has enough going on to keep my interest for the entire season. But what I do know is that it’s earned another few episodes from me.
Potential: 60%
MF Ghost
Short Synopsis (Anilist): Self-driving cars are in widespread use in Japan, and public roadways are used for auto racing. In such an era, a race called MFG has become popular around the globe. Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini… Participants are invited to race with their fastest cars. One such participant, a British racing school graduate, Kanata Rivington, returns to Japan to achieve his goal.
For our second racing show of the season we have MF Ghost. This one is a lot less emotional than Overtake. All of the character stuff is mostly teen bullshit and setup for the race, nothing particularly interesting. There’s a bit about a missing father but really, who cares? We have no stake in either the dad or the son yet. And the female lead kind of walks back her only defining character trait almost immediately upon meeting him? Plus the odd amount of sexualization she gets as a highschooler, it’s a little weird. As for the racing, I wish I could tell you but we didn’t actually get any of it this week. What kind of racing show doesn’t lead with the racing? Especially one known for being so energetic and upbeat about it as Initial D, the series this is the successor to? Suffice to say I’m not particularly enthused. If I have to pick a racing anime this season, it’s going to be Overtake, and it isn’t even close.
Potential: 30%
Berserk of Gluttony
Short Synopsis (Anilist): Fate Graphite was born into a world where magical skills shape your destiny. His skill is Gluttony, a seemingly useless curse of unending hunger that has left him shunned and looked down upon. Until one day, after he takes the life of a thief, his true power awakens: he can devour the skill of anyone he kills to feed his appetite. Will he learn to control this gruesome ability for the better?
Ah, here’s the basic edgy fantasy series I was expecting from Ragna Crimson. It has everything from stats and unique skills to blatantly evil asshole knights with no redeeming qualities and a holier than thou waifu’s. And judging by the PV and the banner our MC is going to get a couple other Waifu’s to join his harem as the series goes on. At least it’s not diving into slavery or trying to justify child grooming. It can’t resist touching on those by the end, but at least it doesn’t justify or lean into them. I’m not going to beat around the bush, Gluttony is lowest common denominator shlock, or maybe slightly above that. There’s nothing particularly interesting in it, it doesn’t look great, nothing about it screams “watch me”. At best it’s good for brain-off popcorn viewing, which if that’s your thing more power to ya. Personally? I don’t have the time to waste on something like this
Potential: 1%
