Overtake! Anime Review: F1 Racing Meets Heartfelt Drama

Overtake!

Saying that anime comes in all shapes and sizes isn't an understatement, even more so in the current day and age. From being reincarnated as a vending machine to having an octopus ready to destroy the moon for no apparent reason, it's safe to say that the abnormal is normal when it comes to the anime industry. Come to think of it, when was the last time we had something that didn't have the power of friendship or the fire of the hundred dragons ready to set everything ablaze? Never, right?

Today, I have good news for you because I am about to introduce you to a surprisingly unexplored subgenre in the anime universe. I'm referring to motorsport, which involves racing in one form or another. Yes, Shuichi Shigeno has been carrying this genre with Initial D and MF Ghost, but even without counting out Wangan Midnight, Redline, and Capeta, there aren't a lot of names that come to mind when we’re talking about this genre. That makes it even better, since today it's not just about racing but also about F1, the sport that has consumed millions of hours and dollars worldwide. Overtake! takes you down the track to see whether anime and Formula 1 are a suitable match. Let's get started!

Starting it off Right

An anime that features a rather real take on things isn't the norm, as I mentioned above. But Overtake! ensures we aren't confused while watching the first episode or two, since it's not an anime unless our lead character has amnesia or some sort of trauma, right? Not to diss anyone here, but Madoka Kouya, a photographer who has been troubled by his past to the point that he isn't able to pour the same love into his passion, is the stereotypical anime protagonist. But everything changes when the man who has lost it all is introduced to the world of F1 or F4 in this show, where the adrenaline-pumping race between the amateur drivers in the junior category makes him experience something that he had long forgotten.

One individual quite catches his eye: Haruka Asahina, the stoic driver who is brimming with passion and love for the sport, lets it all out and gives birth to a moment—a flash of the camera that finally gives Madoka Kouya the purpose he had long been searching for. He embarks on a quest to sponsor the young driver and the organization so they can achieve all that is out there. But there's a problem. The guy isn't the richest person out there by a long shot, and since we're all aware of how expensive F1 can be, you get the rest of the picture, don't you? But Madoka Kouya is adamant and ready to invest all his time in carrying Haruka Asahina to the final finish line. Now that sounds interesting, doesn't it? Well, it surely did to me as well, only for the show to let me down soon after. You see, an anime about racing should be about racing, and while I don't mind character developments and emerging bonds here and there, Overtake! manages to overdose on the latter, and what we end up with is a couple of minutes of racing at best, and that's bound to frustrate the fans who tuned in just for the wheels, you get me? That's my biggest complaint about the series.

Made With Love and Care

The most significant selling point of an anime with an F1 setting would be the F1 setting itself. Well, this show nails that category, as everything from the frames to the designs to the different shots is done well. Adding a variety of real-time tracks to the mix makes it the perfect treat for most F1 fans. The attention to detail is evident to even someone who isn't a fan of the sport, and this suggests that a superfan of F1 was entrusted to lead and work on this project, which is excellent, isn't it? Studio TROYCA, which sounds like 'toy car,' is the studio behind this series. You might remember these guys, as they are the ones behind the IDOLiSH7 series. While one might not expect them to go all out in animation, they do, and that becomes the series' most significant selling point.

An excellent comparison would be MF Ghost, an anime that was airing alongside Overtake! And while something by the god of racing manga would have turned out well without a doubt, I would surely say that Overtake! takes the cake in the animation department. It may be the F1 setting or MF Ghost simply not performing as well with the newer models, but Overtake looks better. Despite both series falling short in the story department, Initial D, a series created by the same creator as MF Ghost, possessed some sense and charm. In contrast, MF Ghost lacks this quality, and just like Overtake!, it's all over the place and doesn't cohere in a way that could be described as decent, if that makes sense. There is no news of a sequel coming out anytime soon, which suggests that the series didn't manage to hit the mark it was intended to.

Developing Bonds, Exploring Selves

I talked about the racing aspect of the show and the pros and cons of the series in general. But I know some of you guys love character development and different characters building that understanding, those bonds with each other, and that's where Overtake! shines, to be honest. The relationship between our lead characters begins in the most anime way possible, with the young prodigy only believing in his skills and not giving our photographer any room to engage in conversation.

However, as the episodes progress, you see them warming up and understanding each other more, and honestly, learning about Madoka Kouya's past and what's wrong with him makes you root for him because he's been through something truly tragic. The show primarily focuses on the photographer, who is tasked with helping the young prodigy despite his inability to do so, as he discovers ways, negotiates deals, and secures sponsorships for a sport that requires every organ in the human body. If this is your preferred genre, you will undoubtedly enjoy this series. Still, the ending might be disappointing for you, and with the conclusion not arriving anytime soon, thanks to the series being an anime original, good luck coming up with all the theories and speculations!

The show also showcases excellent music, with the opening theme particularly captivating for me. Some of the stunning moments in the anime are made even better thanks to these OSTs, and we love it when that happens, don’t we? So, be prepared to experience that as well.

All in all, Overtake! is a good show. It isn’t the best out there, even in the racing genre, but it explores a relatively unexplored genre without introducing monsters and horse girls, and that’s a massive plus in my book. Additionally, the show gets many aspects right, which ultimately contributes to the series' overall charm. My biggest problem with the series, as I mentioned earlier, is that it tends to explore a lot of subjects but fails to execute one of those elements within the 12-episode count it features. Let’s hope the sequel provides us with some closure, because I, for one, want to see how things progress moving forward, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way once you’ve finished this series.

For the rating, I’d give it a solid 7. I liked the racing aspect, and while I was watching MF Ghost when this was airing and the fight was on, I still prefer this over MF Ghost, to be honest, even today. There’s something about Overtake! It offers something different, better, and fresh—elements that we don’t often see in newer anime titles, especially in original series. If you're an F1 fan, don't miss this show; it may be the series you've been waiting for.