The anime world is full of genres and almost indulges every demographic. Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Romance- anime has everything. But there’s a sore spot in there too. Fans have been devoid of new good racing/car anime series for too long now.
A few years back, anime about cars were popular. But as more and more viewers shifted towards Shonen, Isekai, and other popular genres, Racing anime went missing.
Now, all we get is an OVA or a feature film. And although the trailer for MF Ghost has everyone excited, it won’t be out till 2023.
So, what to do until then?
There’s no anime about cars on Netflix that you can load up. However, there are some classics and some modern hits that can satisfy your cravings.
We’ve listed 20 anime about cars and their watch links for you to discover. And since we’re so short on supply, we’ve also listed a couple of OVAs.
A word of advice- don’t get too caught up with animation quality. Some of these anime about cars are from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They provide quality entertainment, just not in 4K.
And with that in mind, let’s shift the gears.
20 Best Anime About Cars
After hours of searching, we chose the following 20 anime about cars. And as much as we wanted to keep the list series-only, we had to include a couple of movies because they’re too good.
Do check out the movies if you don’t find any series enticing enough.
20. Tomica Hyper Rescue: Drive Head
- Creator: Kenichi Araki
- Studio: OLM, Inc., Xebec
- Release Date: April 15, 2017
- Episodes: 37
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: GoGoAnime
This is really the bottom of the barrel when it comes to anime about cars. It’s “so bad that it’s good” kind of stuff.
Tomica Hyper Rescue: Drive Head is a series made to promote toy cars, but the creators took it very seriously.
Set in a utopian future, the police developed transforming cars called Drive Head. These can transform into any vehicle to protect and serve humanity during different disasters.
But to operate the Drive Head, skilled drivers are needed.
19. Chou Soku Henkei Gyrozetter
- Creator: Teruaki Mizuno
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Release Date: October 2, 2012
- Episodes: 51
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
Set in 21st-century Japan, Chou Soku Henkei Gyrozetter is about saving the world with Transformers.
A.I. Cars have become common, and children are taught how to operate them. When an evil organization, Xenon, starts wreaking havoc around the globe, the chosen drivers come together to stop it once and for all.
Kakeru Todoroki, along with his transforming car, will lead the others against Xenon. But the war is long and hard.
18. Leave It To Mecha-Doc
- Creator: –
- Studio: Tatsunoko Productions
- Release Date: September 1, 1984
- Episodes: 30
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
Three friends run a garage and fix domestic cars, but one of them is a great driver who dreams of going pro. After turning a scrap domestic car into a race car, the MC heads to the tracks to realize his dream.
This classic will really bring back the nostalgia for some.
The animation style and music are so 80s that it’s hard to keep going. But the story and the car scenes are superb! So, you should give it a go.
17. Wangan Midnight
- Creator: Michiharu Kusunoki
- Studio: A.C.G.T
- Release Date: September 12, 2005
- Episodes: 26
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
Some love an underdog story, and you wouldn’t find a better one in car anime than Wangan Midnight.
Akio Asakura is a young boy who thinks he’s the fastest. But after a humiliating defeat at the hands of a mysterious racer, he rebuilds a discarded Nissan Fairlady Z, a cursed car that’s caused a lot of accidents.
As he masters the Devil Z, Akio wants to beat the mysterious racer who drives a Porsche 911 Turbo nicknamed Blackbird.
But, he’ll have to win many races before he can challenge Wangan’s racing king.
16. Tailenders
- Creator: –
- Studio: Picograph
- Release Date: October 16, 2009
- Length: 27mins
- Where To Watch: Animeflix, 9Anime
Tailenders is a half-hour OVA with an interesting premise.
The MC is a prodigy making waves in the racing world. But after a fatal accident and having his heart replaced by a car engine, everything changes. Although he makes a full recovery, the rules don’t allow him to participate in races anymore.
But, he learns of a planet where others like him are allowed to come together and face off. And so the races begin!
15. Appare-Ranman!
- Creator: Masakazu Hashimoto
- Studio: P.A. Works
- Release Date: April 10, 2020
- Episodes: 13
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: Hulu, Funimation, Crunchyroll
Samurais, outlaws, cars, and a whole lot of racing, Appare-Ranman! is unmissable. Besides, it’s the only good anime about cars from this decade.
Two guys from Japan, an engineer and a samurai, stranded in America need money to get back home. And for that, the two have races to win, thugs to beat, and outlaws to survive.
A cross-country race set in 19th-century America is a lot more exciting than it sounds. And you’ll fall in love with character design, costumes, and the various cars!
14. Bakusou Kyoudai Let’s & Go
- Creator: Tetsuhiro Koshita
- Studio: Xebec
- Release Date: January 8, 1996
- Episodes: 51
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
Very similar to Dash! Yonkuro, this anime also revolves around mini 4WD racing.
Go and Retsu are twin brothers who love to customize their miniature 4WD cars and compete with others. The twins want to find out who is the best among the two, but they ended up joining forces to take on the world.
After meeting Dr. Tsuchiya, Go and Retsu get better cars to try and conquer mini 4WD racing. But, the competition’s upgrading their cars too!
13. eX-Driver
- Creator: Kōsuke Fujishima
- Studio: Bandai Visual
- Release Date: April 20, 2002
- Episodes: 6
- Seasons: –
- Where To Watch: Tubitv, 9Anime
If you are looking for some unconventional anime about cars, eX Driver is where it’s at.
Setup in a distant future, eX-Driver is all about self-driving cars. AI has taken over the wheel, and people no longer know how to drive cars, except for the eX- Drivers.
And when the self-driving cars go haywire, the eX-Drivers are the only ones capable of tracking them down, thanks to their manual cars.
It’s more of a mini-series with 6 episodes. When you finish it though, make sure to watch eX-Driver The Movie too!
12. F
- Creator: Noboru Rokuda
- Studio: Studio Deen
- Release Date: March 9, 1988
- Episodes: 31
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
F is a classic masterpiece. For a series that aired in the 80s, F still feels fresh, thanks to amazing animation design and a solid story.
Two friends living in the countryside move to a bustling city to try and enter the Formula One world. Gunma Akagi is a teenage driver, and his best friend Tamotsu Oishi is a fine mechanic.
But, entering the Formula One game is a far-fetched dream that proves realistically difficult for the two friends.
11. Arrow Emblem: Grand Prix no Taka
- Creator: Kogo Hotomi
- Studio: TOEI Animation
- Release Date: September 22, 1977
- Episodes: 44
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: Playpilot
Takaya Todoroki wants to become an F1 driver, but his dream and his confidence take a big hit when he gets into an accident during a street race. Just as he decides to give up racing, a mysterious mentor gets him back on track by providing a new prototype race car.
A 70s hit that capitalized on a cliche plot before anyone else could. Still, a good watch with some exciting racing sequences.
10. F-Zero: GP Legend
- Creator: Akiyoshi Sakai
- Studio: Ashi Productions
- Release Date: October 7, 2003
- Episodes: 51
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
For a change, how about watching an anime based on a video game instead of a manga?
Set in the year 2201, F-Zero: GP Legend is a hot pursuit story of Ryu Suzaku (Police Officer) and Zoda (Criminal). At first, Zoda escapes because of Ryu’s accidental death. Ryu’s put in cryosleep until the Mobile Task Force revives him and teams him up with Captain Falcon.
They’ll lead another charge on Zoda and the Dark Million Organization to prevent the end of the world.
But success isn’t guaranteed!
9. Future GPX Cyber Formula
- Creator: Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
- Studio: Sunrise
- Release Date: March 15, 1991
- Episodes: 37
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
Future GPX Cyber Formula was one of the best anime about cars in the 90s. The secret was the futuristic premise.
The racing world has evolved, and the cars are now controlled via a Cyber Formula, Asurada. The formula boosts every aspect of a race car. In theory, anyone with Asurada is a clear winner. So, the 14-year-old protagonist has a clear route to greatness.
But, the Cyber Formula isn’t the only formula for success. As he finds out on the race track, the 14-year-old needs to learn a lot.
8. Two Car
- Creator: Katsuhiko Takayama
- Studio: Silver Link
- Release Date: October 8, 2017
- Episodes: 12
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, 9Anime
Not exactly an anime about cars, but it’s a racing anime nonetheless.
Two Car is about motorcycle sidecar racing, and it follows two high school friends- Yuri Miyata and Megumi Meguro. The pair is poles apart, but once the race begins they are the perfect partners.
In the end game, our MCs go head to head with 6 more sidecar racers from all over Japan at Miyake Island to crown the best sidecar racer.
The racing scenes are a treat, but you’ll have to bear a few ecchi shots.
7. Scan2Go
- Creator: Katsumi Hasegawa
- Studio: Synergy SP
- Release Date: August 9, 2010
- Episodes: 52
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: YouTube, 9Anime
Another unique take on the cars/racing genre, Scan2Go is a must-watch anime.
The story follows a team of young remote control car racers called Team Jet. Kazuya Gordon is the best RC driver on Earth, but he wants more challenges.
After losing in the Pro Racer Exhibition Race, Kazuya and Team Jet embark on an intergalactic journey to improve their skills and put their talents to a bigger test.
And that’s exactly what they get from Ryu Kaizel.
6. Race-Tin: Flash & Dash
- Creator: Cai Dong-qing
- Studio: Alpha Animation
- Release Date: November 7, 2009
- Episodes: 26
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: YouTube
Another Ganbatte anime, but with kids racing their RC cars.
Two brothers join the Race-Tin club, where other kids come to race their RC cars.
But these are no ordinary toys.
Everyone has customized cars that are fast and furious. As the two new entrants try to crack the Race-Tin club, a tournament begins to find the best RC racer in Japan. But soon they realize that the tournament isn’t just about racing.
5. Dash! Yonkuro
- Creator: Hiroyuki Takei
- Studio: Staff 21, Aubekku & Tokyu Agency
- Release Date: October 3, 1989
- Episodes: 25
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: 9Anime
If you thought Capeta’s Go-Kart racing was outlandish, wait till you see Dash: Yonkuro revving up mini 4WDs and unearthing Nazi treasures.
Yonkuro Hinomaru is a delinquent who wants to reign supreme in the world of mini-car racing. Racing through different tracks, using his various mini-4WDs, Yonkuro faces a lot of competition but mostly finds a way to win.
But, the final race will be his toughest opponent yet, his own father.
4. Initial D
- Creator: Shuichi Shigeno
- Studio: Gallop, Studio Comet, Pastel
- Release Date: April 18, 1998
- Episodes: 81
- Seasons: 6
- Where To Watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation
Widely regarded as the best anime about cars, the Initial D franchise is a must-watch for every motorhead.
Initial D is about Japan’s illegal street racing scene where a bunch of high schoolers ride the mountain passes in the dark of night. Takumi Fujiwara, the protagonist, faces different challenges during the different seasons of Initial D.
The animation and storytelling are unorthodox, but you’ll get your adrenaline pump alright!
3. Capeta
- Creator: Masahito Soda
- Studio: Studio Comet
- Release Date: October 4, 2005
- Episodes: 52
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: Animeflix, Bilibili
If you think Go-Kart racing is for kids, you’re somewhat right. But if you think it’s not thrilling, you’re totally wrong.
Capeta is a young boy introduced to the world of Go-Kart after his father builds him a Go-Kart out of scrap. Something just clicks as he nearly dies riding the Go-Kart for the first time.
Soon, the young boy competes with the best Go-Kart racers across Japan. But it’s just the beginning.
And so begins his journey from Go Kart to F1.
2. Redline
- Creator: Katsuhito Ishii
- Studio: Madhouse
- Release Date: October 9, 2010
- Length: 1h 42mins
- Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
This cult anime film about cars was seven years in the making. And the final cut showcases why it took so long.
Using 100,000+ hand-drawn frames, Redline is worth the watch time for its animation alone. The story, characters, insane action sequences- the list of positives goes on and on.
The film follows JP, a daredevil driver who wants to compete and win in the Redline race. This race happens once every five years, and it’s no rules.
1. Speed Racer
- Creator: Tatsuo Yoshida
- Studio: Tatsunoko Production
- Release Date: April 1967
- Episodes: 52
- Seasons: 1
- Where To Watch: Funimation, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll
Also known as MachGoGoGo, this is one of the oldest anime about cars adapted from a manga of the same name.
With one of the best cars in the world at his disposal, teenager Speed will become the best racer in the world. As the whole family comes together to help out Speed, their journey is full of thrills, dangers, and secrets.
When Hollywood got its hand on Speed Racer, they made a feature film of the same title. It’s a fun watch as well.
And that’s it for now.
It’s time the creators start making more anime about cars and seriously good ones at that too. Since everyone has pretty much left the racing genre, for now, we hope anime picks it up again. Because us fans, we are starving!