According to my friend, this is the only good anime. Figures that a Death Race-style bonanza featuring sci-fi shenanigans makes for the anime-hater’s exception. (Here’s where I add that I do not believe this friend’s purported anime dislike as he has too strong an opinion on Evangelion for that to be true.) But he’s right to put these wacky racers on a pedestal! First feature effort from director Takeshi Koike (known for the Animatrix short “World Record” as well as multiple Lupin the Third OVAs) the kinetic street-race story comes straight from studio Madhouse, aka the folks who brought you Perfect Blue, Death Note, and Wicked City. See you on Planet Roboworld, or eat my dust. – James Scott