IGPX TV series
The IGPX TV series made its hour-long premiere on November 5, 2005, at 10/9c. The series is set in 2049 and revolves around the Immortal Grand Prix, or IGPX, which is a team-based mecha-motorsport racing/combat sport-hybrid circuit. The sport is so popular that an entire city has been built for the racing industry, where competitions take place on a huge 60 mi track. An IGPX race consists of two teams of three pilots: a forward (usually places first or second), a midfielder (usually places third or fourth), and a defender. The mechs are high-tech fighting machines driven by humans, race at speeds greater than 350 mi/h. The IGPX also contains fighting elements; attacking the opposing team to disable their mechs (thus preventing them from winning the race) is not only legal, but also expected and the primary popularity of the sport.
Each IGPX race consists of three laps, and each lap has specific rules and objectives[1]
The scoring system awards points to teams based on their finishing positions in a race. The top three teams receive the most points: 15 for first place, 7 for second, and 5 for third. Lower positions receive fewer points, with the bottom three teams getting 3, 2, and 1 point respectively. Racers who are knockedout or otherwise do not finish the race receive no points. The first team to eliminate all three of the opposing team's mechs before crossing the finishing line automatically wins the match. For example, if Team Satomi wins against Team Skylark, with Satomi's pilots placing 1st and 3rd and one retiring, and Skylark's pilots placing 2nd, 4th, and another retiring, Satomi would receive 20 points (15 + 5 = 20) and Skylark would receive 10 points (7 + 3 = 10).[2]
Team Satomi, a crew of amateur pilots, has just won a minor-league championship, the IG-2, vaulting them into the sport's highest level, the IG-1. Now, the untested rookies of Team Satomi must overcome impossible odds and beat the world's most skilled and ruthless pilots.
The anime is Toonami's first ever original television series.
- This initial lap serves as a reconnaissance phase for the teams. Combat is prohibited and speed limits are enforced. Teams focus on establishing their positions on the track, evaluating the course conditions, and setting up their overall strategy. Pilots can troubleshoot any issues with their mechs during this lap.
- The second lap serves as a combat phase for the teams.. Teams activate their mech's "Battle Mode" and are allowed to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Teams are prohibited from using attacks with parts that completely detach from the mechs (intentionally or unintentionally). Mid-race 30-second repairs are permitted during this lap using specialized pit machines called "running skeletons". Each team can only utilize the running skeleton once per race.
- The final lap serves as a racing phase for the teams. Speed inhibitors are removed, allowing Teams to activate their mech's "Speed Mode"; this transforms the mech into a more streamlined, F1-style race car, greatly increasing speed. However, activating Speed Mode comes at the cost of losing all combative and defensive capabilities.
English cast
- Haley Joel Osment – Takeshi Jin
- Hynden Walch – Amy Stapleton
- Michelle Rodriguez – Liz Riccaro
- Kari Wahlgren – Luca, Michiru Satomi
- Steven Blum – Alex Cunningham
- Louise Chamis – Jane Rublev
- Peter Cullen – Opening Narration
- Erik Davies – Ricardo Montazio
- Doug Erholtz – Zanak Strauss
- Michael Forest – Hans
- Crispin Freeman – Bjorn Johassen
- Barbara Goodson – Misaki
- Mark Hamill – Yamma
- Lance Henriksen
