Ever since he published a picture that sparked a wave of online harassment, freelance photographer Kouya Madoka has lost everything: his wife Saeko Yukihira, his confidence, and his courage to photograph people. However, years later, a job offer introduces him to the exhilarating world of Formula 4 (F4). A single fierce battle between the amateur drivers in the junior category of open-wheel car racing becomes enough to make Madoka unable to put his camera down.
When Komaki Motors' Haruka Asahina bursts into tears on the track, Madoka manages to capture this vulnerable moment. This photo eventually leads Madoka to an impulsive decision: he will help sponsor both the Komaki team and Haruka himself. But the unreasonable costs of the sport quickly cause Madoka to reassess his ambitions, and he seeks different ways to support the severely underfunded F4 team. Despite the uphill battle, Madoka's determination for Haruka to succeed may be the trigger that can propel the young driver straight to the top.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
KANLen09
Overtake!...it's not about overtaking in the literate sense, but rather about overcoming the difficulties in life, with some real-life situations thrown in for some realism. Truth be told, after Studio TROYCA's last offering, which was the rather cumbersome Shinobi no Ittoki from last Fall, the fault doesn't square on the studio itself but rather on the people involved in creating the original series itself, which is, quite frankly, a mess. And if you have ANY reason to doubt the studio's offerings, look no further than the in-house studio chief director Ei Aoki, which this show is his 3rd directorial series after both Summer 2014's Aldnoah.Zero andSpring 2017's Re:Creators, which shows you that Ei Aoki is still the best man to represent the rather small studio that's still flowing with creativity, backed by IDOLiSH7's series composer Ayuki Sekine, with supervision from screenwriter Takayama Katsuhiko. Also, despite the Fall season having two sports (racing) series airing at the same time: this vs. Initial D's successor sequel MF Ghost, I would recommend this show in a heartbeat.
In its simplest form, Overtake! is the story of both young and old: an up-and-coming high school student aiming to be a driver in F4, and a freelance photographer who has an episodic slump of his own.
The said driver, Haruka Asahina of Komaki Motors, backed by owner Futoshi Komaki and best friend-cum-engineer of his son Kotarou Komaki, the small privateer team is as a clean sheet as it is with no sponsors at all, literally funding by the skin of their own earnings. And being an up-and-coming team, Komaki Motors had to work doubly as hard as compared to the other teams, especially the one team that's had it going for them: the Ferrari-like emblazoned Belsorriso team of lead drivers Satsuki Harunaga (being the ladies' man, backed by his skillful driving talent) and Toshiki Tokumaru (who's always considered as the former's support driver), as well as grid girl Alice Mitsuzawa (who has an interest with Satsuki, despite being Kotarou's childhood friend), with the team's owner, Kyousuke Ena. Also, if this is your first introduction to Formula 4 racing, then congratulations! You most likely know about Formula 1, but F4 is the starting point for aspiring, beginner drivers. With Haruka fighting to achieve victory for his rather empty team to rise up the ranks, this is as typical as it gets for professional racing, laden with the usual issues of self-confidence and support.
On the other hand, said photographer Kouya Madoka, along with his chief editor and ex-wife Saeko Yukihira, seems like the usual happy-go-lucky character doing his freelance work, but something beneath him lurks so much that it causes him to sync out of whack. Sure, he can take regular photos for the press, and whilst not knowing anything about F4, he decides to take the opportunity and plunge to overcome his trauma, which is solely referenced to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake incident, just for inspiration and nothing more.
Like as mentioned, both the young and old with rather different personalities and a generational gap that still manages to have common inklings between each other, I'd think that the formula may be simple for what both Kadokawa and TROYCA were going for, but it executes rather well for an easy-going series that always has to balance the intricacy between both sports and daily private lives, so you don't need to be an F4 connoisseur just to watch this show.
As expected, TROYCA delivers on their impressive animation as one of the show's strongest features, relying on smooth and well-animated 3DCG to show the realism of F4 racing, plain and simple. The music, on the other hand, is decent as well; I quite liked Vtuber Kanae's OP song, as much as Tasuku Hatanaka's ED song is just OK at best.
All in all, Overtake! is a rather simple show; while it may not have the "revolutionary revelation" story plot that it offers, what it has is pure adrenaline and simplicity, which I think is a smart move on Ei Aoki's behalf that's accessible for just about anyone interested in the show (compared to MF Ghost, where you definitely need to have some knowledge of the original prequel source material).
So, I'll say, go for it if you want some casual sports anime.
Greekie
Frankly my favorite seasonal of Fall 2023, by a mile. And that's saying something considering how great a show like Frieren is in Fall. I feel like prefacing this by saying this completely clear, yet somehow still ignored, fact. Overtake is NOT Initial D/MF Ghost, nor is it trying to be, and thus, it's not fair to compare them with each other, as both shows are completely different. How, you ask? Well, here are some examples I can list off of the top of my head: -Overtake's story is character driven, Initial D/MF Ghost's story is narrative driven, a very poor narrative, but a narrative nonetheless. -Characters in Overtake havenuance and a dynamic relationship between others, as well as inhibiting well written themes that are relevant to the story. Initial D/MF Ghost...has none of that, all the characters are static, and they only form relationships to satisfy the plot. Hell, it might not even satisfy that.
-Overtake is focused on open wheel circuit racing. Initial D/MF Ghost is mountain road street racing.
-Overtake is realistic, Initial D/MF Ghost isn't.
-Overtake is sponsored by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the governing body for all European motorsports, F1 included), Initial D/MF Ghost is the machinations of someone who thinks what racing is.
-Overtake's artstyle is well drawn. Initial D/MF Ghost has an artstyle that is stuck in the 80s and modern animators have to work hard to make it not ugly.
-And lastly Initial D/MF Ghost has Eurobeat, and Overtake doesn't. So I suppose that's the dealbreaker for why they prefer those two shows compared to Overtake.
I'd honestly go far as to say Overtake is what a proper racing anime should be. A narrative driven and executed by characters with their own personal motivations, goals, fears, troubles and developments. With some good old racing on the side, which I think is great, even if somewhat limited in the CG animation and music.
But more than that, it's the first modern anime to depict not only realistic racing, but how racing works outside the track. The protagonists and their cast of side characters constantly have to struggle with the financial side of motorsports and how the sport itself is a bottomless money pit that can only be filled if: A) You git gud enough to win. B) Get sponsors to help you fill that pit enough to support yourself for an entire season. Contrast that to the team of the antagonists, Belsorisso, who have enough money to run in other racing categories, fully equipped and trained teams to keep the cars running and maintained, as well as a driver's program, and you can see clearly in the first few episodes how the odds are stacked against the protagonists. It has moments that are realistic in racing, and for that, I applaud it for.
I also applaud it for how it doesn't indulge in the racing unlike other contemporaries. It takes the risk of letting us know the characters and their own motivations, beliefs, and goals and I think it does that pretty well. It's genuinely thrilling and relatable stuff, and it makes all the moments that they do race hit that much harder. Haruka isn't a generational prodigy that drove to deliver tofu. He's a kid motivated to see what his father saw in racing with friends that knew him. And all the other characters have that kind of level of nuance and depth added that makes it compelling to watch even further.
Along with themes I mentioned previously about how hard it is to get to motorsports without good financial backing, you deal with themes like loss, trauma and how it affects someone's passion/profession, the pressure added by others, and the need to prove yourself of greatness. It's all rather compelling and it's pretty amazing on how it manages to be on a well paced story of 12 episodes.
Would I recommend this to someone though? For a fan of racing and a good story, of course. But to your average weeb who might not/won't be interested in racing? I don't know, it's a hard sell.
To it's credit, the show does an amazing job of conveying racing lingo and knowledge to someone who doesn't know it. Hell, one of the two protagonists is basically that, an absolute clueless guy who doesn't know the first thing about racing. But it's honestly hard still to recommend it, especially when it's not something like Initial D. And it's a seasonal, so if it's not popular like Frieren, Bocchi The Rock, or Dress Up Darling, it'll get forgotten, as is the nature of most seasonals.
Still though. For me, this is the best seasonal for Fall 2023, and I wouldn't have it any other way. This won my heart from the moment it was teased, and if this somehow opens the door for more racing anime, fictional or grounded in realism, I'll be more than happy to say I was there when it first started.
I just hope the animation teams come packing with money because I'm sure having all these sponsors and licenses cost a pretty penny, and that's not including the FIA's official sanctioning, which I'm sure put a hole in their budget.
NogueraB
Overtake your greatest enemy, that's you and your own fears and trauma. Overtake have an very different and unique, F4 racing, TROYCA this time choosed to use a lot of real life contents, on Re:Creators they use a lot of real life places, without using an alternative and generic name to them, and this feature made the anime get some incredible immersion and create something that could be a real life story. The narrative is very consistent, the middle of the show works a lot with the moral of the characters and the society judging them about certain past events from one of the protagonists. The background isvery interesting with good explanations that can help people that don't know so much about F racings and cars, at same time can bring a good explanation to someone that know about the theme, unlike a lot of others sport animes that can't mix the reality of the real sport and a fictional story and fail with it.
Only one thing that could get the anime score low was intersting to see, that's the 3D animations on the cars and how I can say, they made a nice work on this, we still can see that these cars are 3D models with anime textures, but the animation team made a amazing work with a good mix of the 2D background and the 3D models, the peak of course was on the last racing in the last episode that was perfect mixing of 2.5D enviroment and 3D models.
I recommend this anime to anyone that likes F1, the roar of the machines was song to our ears.
Vichy974
"Overtake" is definitely a unique experience and adds its own unique twist to the genre. It's vastly interesting to see things from different viewpoints and it has deep emotions rooted in it also. The story is great and rather straightforward we follow the path of a photographer who happens to discover motor racing and wants to help the team and pilot. It's very refreshing and while you still get some good racing it's definitely not the focus here. The characters and interactions between them are really what's the most important thing here. The art is clean and the animation is decent. It's not the bestfor sure but racing is just one way for the author to convey his message. The animators still did a great job and we come across some good races and some nice moments. There are no flashy or jaw dropping moment but it for sure does the job well !
The opening song is absolutely great as i think the vibe is amazing and fits the anime really well. It's also really catchy as a stand alone too. The sound design is on point overall too with the sound of tires and engines being really realistic. It feels like a real race.
The characters are the driving part of this show and really the main focus here. I woudn't say there's a lot of character development (especially for one of the main protagonist). However their interactions and bonds really makes you feel satisfied and feels very natural. It's like a life lesson but with racing as a medium and prism of focus.
I found the show enjoyable as it was unique and really conveyed deep feelings and emotions. Also it's a breath of fresh hair from the shounen type hero racing. And more of a slice of life/mature vibes. The difference in age between the two protagonist also makes it feel like a great passing of knowledge of some sorts. And a way for both of them to get to know each other and move forward to the future while keeping their past in check.
Overall it's been fabulous for an anime. I highly recommend it if you're here not just for the excitement of racing but for the real aspect around it and also the instrospection it gives us ! Give it a watch then !!!
Margs7
Whew boy. This was a ride. Haha, get it? A great show. I found this on MAL before it was released and slapped it onto my PTW list not thinking much of it—thought it’d just be some short, sweet, but nothing special anime I would watch as the episodes came out—but oh man was I wrong. First off, it just oozes good vibes, and the animation is actually pretty well done. Not a single moment I can think of where the animation dropped in quality. It’s an overall positive and lighthearted narrative compared to numerous others. There’s no crazy superpowers, no insane special moves that the charactersdo in order to win—just a good, classic underdog story.
The sport is secondary to the drama and emotional journeys of the characters, something that I am totally fine with. It actually got me crying during a few episodes that had to do with our photographer character, Koya. If you are a creative person yourself, perhaps you can relate to Koya’s struggles with trying to reignite a passion he lost years ago. As somebody who considers themselves as a creative individual, Koya’s story in particular struck close, even if I have never gone through anything like his situation before.
The characters are all pretty lovable—and I absolutely adore how the relationships, most notably between Haruka and Kota, truly feel like loving bonds. They have small scenes together, and I feel like it truly paid off.
It’s not a ground-breaking show, it’s not insanely hype, but it brought a warmth into my chest that very few animes lately have been able to do, and perhaps that’s why I enjoyed it so much.
MrKessler
Barring Frieren, this is, by far, the most surprising show of autumn 2023, maybe even 2023 as a whole. I came into this expecting just a fun show about Formula 4, which is something i'm not super into, but I wanted to give it a shot. And I'm glad I did because what I DID NOT expect was a fun show about formula 4 that is an expertly directed story that explores deep themes of PTSD, disasters, survivors guilt and how to move forward. This show was directed by Ei Aoki, who directed Re:Creators, another HIGHLY underrated anime just like this one. And he does aphenomenal job. The entire production here is really good but I have to give special props to the direction. Those races utilize the cgi to their advantage to create super dynamic camera angles that make the races really exciting to watch. Especially that last race, the way the camera moves around the race track is chef's kiss.
The show follows 4 characters who all seem a bit basic in the beginning, I almost rolled my eyes at first because I knew exactly what those characters were and where they were going. But I was completely wrong, they subvert the tropes and give the characters realistic character arcs, very akin to some of my favourite shows like Haikyu.
If I have to be negative about this show is that I would've liked some sort of epilogue, but this is a non issue if a season 2 comes out, which while not necessary at all, would be interesting to see where they would go if they do it.
I'm feeling an 8.5/10 maybe going up to a 9
Marinate1016
I have to hand it to them, I thought Troyca were dead in the water. After the disappointment that was Shinobi no ittoki, I thought they lost some of their magic. I’ve never been happier to be wrong. Overtake! is not just one of their best works, it’s one of the best anime originals of the year and a great underdog story of perseverance and determination. Racing fans ate good this season. Both Overtake!! And MF Ghost aired on the same day, but for me it was Overtake! as the best one from the start. I was instantly hooked by Kouya’s story and all the membersof the Komachi motorsports family. As someone who plays racing games, but wasn’t familiar with the ins and outs of being on a racing team, maintaining cars, just how expensive it is to be a team, etc., I found this to be equal parts educational and enjoyable. I mean there is so much that goes into making sure both the vehicle and driver are prepared for a race that I didn’t appreciate until I saw this anime. I’ve come out of it with a newfound appreciation for the athletes that drive these vehicles and everyone behind the scenes that makes it happen.
While some might call the title misleading since there aren’t a ton of straight up racing scenes in the show, I completely disagree. I think the term Overtake! is a double entendre here not just for the actual physical overtaking that occurs during a race, but also for the characters who overcome their own individual obstacles during the course of the show. Whether it’s Haruka in the actual vehicle, or Kouya trying to get back into taking pictures of people again, everyone’s dealing with some deep rooted trauma that gets explored. Troyca really nailed one of the most difficult things with an anime original series, having us fall in love with characters we knew nothing about before.
This is one of a handful of series to make me cry this year. Episode 9 was genuinely one of the best episodes of anime this year, full stop. An actual masterclass in direction, conveying emotion and humanisation of characters. I can’t emphasise enough how much I fell in love with this cast and will be sad to see them go. They really nailed this family dynamic that oozed through the screen in every scene. Something akin to what you’d see while watching hard knocks in the NFL or an NBA locker room behind the scenes vid.
Troyca rarely miss from a technical perspective and this is no different. They brought out all the stops for their 10th anniversary series. The art is gorgeous, character designs are pleasant, animation is smooth and the motions of all the characters are so fluid. Really well done here. In the few races that we have, the CGI isn’t obtrusive and doesn’t distract, but enhances each moment making for a more engaging and exhilarating experience.
While it may not have the Eurobeat soundtrack, skimpy bikinis and over the top races of MF Ghost, what it lacks in action it makes up for in emotion, drama and spirit. Much like Komachi motors, this is an underdog show that probably won’t get the appreciation it deserves, but anyone who watched it will be able to testify to its greatness. If you’re at all a fan of well written characters, racing, sports, bromances, etc, this is a must watch. One of the hidden gems of the year for sure and a great return to form for Troyca.
Overtake!! Gets 8 out of 10.
PanzerIV-J
"Did I ever tell you what the definition of insanity is? " "Insanity is doing the exact... same f#cking thing... over and over again expecting... sh!t to change..." "The first time somebody told me that, I thought they were bullsh!tting me, so, I shot him. The thing is... He was right" "And then I started seeing it, everywhere I looked, people doing the exact same f#cking thing... over and over again, all thinking 'this time is gonna be different" - Vaas (FarCry 3 Video Game) [Slightly Shortened & Cleaned] This is the epitome of this show, it does the exact same thing over and over again, expecting itto change. But... much like Far Cry 3... it's story is magnificent, it does everything correct for a story driven plot. Even though Overtake's theme is F4 automotive racing, it really does a great job on characterization and personality in the characters, which they actually feel realistic and believable in their development.
And also like Far Cry 3 it really is subjective to what the plot focuses on, as such, the two main characters have completely different arcs in the plot, its main theme can be the F4 racing, but its focus is really the two main characters Kouya (Photographer) & Haruka (F4 Racing Protagonist).
It focuses on Haruka's ascension up to the podium spot, but this also shows that he has become one like the Belsorriso with his improvements from being with them & against them, and much like how Jason Brody became more like Vaas to become more strong like his opponent, Haruka has become more like the Belsorriso racing team to give him an edge in races.
Where Kouya straightens out his personal trauma, but keeps doing the exact thing that assisted his dive into his own personal insanity, which is, in fact, his love for photography. He does the exact same thing over and over, even though it ruins his mood and sometimes gives him panic attacks, but he believes he can change, but in this he changes his personality and identity, becoming more like his original self from when he didn't have to re-live the "accident" that makes him push himself down.
Overall this is a great anime, I would say its as good as Frieren, but not as understood as well as Frieren. Give this a watch, it will be, at the bare minimum, a good watch, and to me, one of the best this season.
Also want to add that this was the major surprise of the season for me, I believed that MF Ghost was going to be the better automotive anime this season...
But this takes the cake for having a really good story, something that MF Ghost absolutely doesn't have to the same degree. Even though this doesn't have a race every episode, it's characters carry this show amazingly well, and races do not feel forced, and the ending is pretty good.
And lastly thank YOU for reading :)
Smilomaniac
Full score. A common complaint, that I've held myself, is that this is not *primarily* a racing show, it is first and foremost a story. While it's not a full throated racing show it does give you some insight into racing and that it takes more money, data and drive than you might suspect to truly compete. As for the technical driving the shots seem competent to me, but I can't tell for sure. Storytelling has changed over the decades and now it's common to try to make directed content that appeals to established but relatively niche markets - Romcoms, isekai, shonen and so on. Episodalshows that tend to focus on the now and try to tie everything into a neat bow at the conclusion, but these shows rarely escape the writer's room's tendency to try and one up the previous arc or episode.
Overtake is a cohesive overarching story about two people meeting by chance, the adult photographer divorcee Kouya and the fatherless teenage F4 racer Haruka, both whom are in precarious positions in their lives, doing the best they can but are struggling to make headway (both male, not a romance).
Kouya despite his profession is incapable of taking pictures of people due to unknown circumstances - His ex-wive and editor has gotten him a job at a racing event where he can snap shots of cars and races.
He happens to come across the Formula 4 event (age 15+) that is running simultaneously, where he comes across a curious small racing team that has only a white bare car with a 'Komaki Motors' label on it, a stark contrast to the professional Belsorriso (beautiful smile) team who have multiple 'Ferrari red' cars, uniforms and sponsors galore.
Kouya is inspired by the stoic looking driver for the Komaki Motors team, an obvious underdog who has none of the tech, money or manpower of the other teams, only a garage owner and his son to support the young driver.
Inspired by this team Kouya follow the race with interest and spots what looks like obvious talent held back by his circumstances.
For the first time in years, by reflex, Kouya takes an emotional picture of Haruka who has lost a close race. He decides to support them in any way he can and in so doing, explore why he could suddenly take this picture and what it is that is holding him back.
---
Overtake is mostly lighthearted and positive while also exploring tragic personal stories that are gut wrenching but aren't cheap or overly dramatized. You can feel that they want to tell you a story and not just string you along needlessly. The main focus is on the two, though there are multiple stories that are followed alongside them.
While there is some exposition, the show doesn't necessarily handhold the audience, it feels like a mature story that lets itself play out naturally for the most part, something most Japanese media is NOT good at.
On the technical side...
The animation is crisp - normal 2D is mixed with 3D cars coming off looking entirely natural with beautiful shots of the races themselves. No uncanny valley here.
The art is less exaggerated than what's normal for anime but still has its distinctive style with each character having their own shape and distinct looks, there are no copy paste character designs here, resulting in a show that almost has a movie quality to it.
The music is good and seems largely on point, though this is not something I usually take note of. Sound design in general seems good.
Now I'm not an expert, but in the after credits scene of the final episode, there is a distinct engine sound that may signal another story or season. Something I found interesting.
Leopardonn
Really enjoyed the similarities between two characters and Niki Lauda and James Hunt. The writer recreated their rivalry and the respect they had for eachother really well. The main character being outside of the sport is a great way to introduce viewers to the sport without bombarding them with information. The characters don't feel shallow, though the main action revolves mainly around a few certain places it never feels boring or repeated. Every episode manages to deliver a nice experience for the viewer. The anime is not perfect. There are many small issues like plot holes, exaggerations or various plot devices that make no sense. Great watcheven if you are not into any sort of motorsports.
TheEtherea
In the end Overtake ended up not what I originally expected it to be and ironically it was for the best. We have only just got an MF Ghost anime that clearly showed that cars go vroom without an idea isn't interesting to follow (where as in Initial D there was always an idea). Overtake takes an entirely different approach. It tells a story from an outsider's perspective who learns of F4 by chance and how both Main Characters each with his own problems came together to overcome their own ghosts (pun intended) and come on top each in their own regard. Kouya a professional photographer whogets interested in F4 by chance is dealing with ghosts of his past that haunt him preventing him from escaping the personal trauma he has. The whole sequence of his background when actually explained and shown later in the show I feel was very strong and directed on a level that you can feel personally. The way his story goes on is cruel unforgiving and sounds like something I heard about in real life.
Haruka a young teenager has his own set of problems that gets resolved eventually through his bond with Kouya and some of the scenes involved were also done very nice. As a son of a racing driver he is trying to get by in F4 with the help of a team ran by a friend of his family with limited budget.
I enjoyed the simple, clear and correct explanation on why is it that in Spec series one teams will dominate while others will struggle. I believe for those who have no knowledge it does a good job in this regard. As someone trying to get into autosport in the past I can vouch for the troubles they portrait they are universal. It's really one of the stories where it's believable enough to say they did it barely as a team and it felt nice as a healing story to see a good ending for a change unlike it usually is in real life.
Overtake also doesn't create a false drama for the sake of it, or false unhealthy sportsmanship instead making it a more life like relationship characters have as sportsman and it translates well to actual pro racing drivers and how their relationships continue throughout their career.
Overtake isn't a show about cars going around the track, but it's more about autosport than MF Ghost could hope to be. Not for everyone, but it was for me on a personal level.
OneFaintingRobin
I'm a big fan of motorsports. In this coming year, I intend to follow, to some degree of commitment or another, at least seven different racing championships. I'm a little bit obsessed. So, hearing that one of my favourite studios, Troyca, and a director as respected as Ei Aoki, were making a series based around the Formula 4 junior category, I was pretty excited. I didn't really care what the show ended up being; I barely even cared if it was good. A proper anime about single-seater racing, sign me up. I was expecting something a bit shouneny, to be honest. Big personalities, loud, dramatic, in-your-faceaction, a bit of quite abstract direction. Big and exciting and a little over-the-top. Something that attempted to capture a similar feeling to Netflix's Drive To Survive F1 series. What we actually got was not that. Not in the slightest, in fact. We did not get a big, over-the-top series about hotheaded racers and their high-stakes duels.
Instead, 'Overtake!' is a surprisingly gentle, subtle, character-driven story, closer to the tone of a slice-of-life. It mixes in a teen coming-of-age story with a mature adult story about regrets, blending the two seamlessly through its protagonists, F4 racer Haruka and slightly oblivious former photojournalist Kouya. It's a story with a very grounded tone, clearly placing its focus on the relationship between these characters, and especially Haruka and Kouya, and it's often incredibly wholesome. There are rivals, but no antagonists, with the dynamics between the tiny Komaki Motors team and their bigger rivals being professional and full of deep respect; at the end of the day, they're all there because they love to race. It's emotional when it needs to be, giving both Haruka and Kouya some deep-seated traumas to process and work through, but doesn't cross the line of losing the verisimilitude of the story; you can see both of these people existing in real life quite easily.
Of course, this is also a racing show, and as a fan of motorsport, I feel well served. It's clear that the writers on this show went to great lengths to ensure that they were portrayed an authentic vision of Formula 4, and as someone who knows a lot about those fine details, they did a near perfect job. I do feel similar watching these races as I do to watching real racing at that level; this goes for both the world-building details of the sport and the industry surrounding it, which largely rings true, and the animation, which gives the cars exactly the right feel and physicality to make it clear that authenticity was a big focus.
In the end, it all comes together into exactly what it needed to be. An authentic, grounded portrayal of a wonderful area of motorsport, with incredibly easy characters to connect to and root for, and a final conclusion that isn't unpredictable, but managed to bring me to the brink of tears, purely because the goals and drives of the characters were things I came to care so much about. It isn't overly complicated, but because of that it manages to be the best version of what it is; a story about two people doing their best and improving each other's lives for the better. A wonderful experience for a motorsport fan like myself, but also an easy recommendation for anyone who just wants a neat, emotional story that will make you feel.
SkinnyBoyKitty
If you're looking for an intensive car race throughout series, this series might NOT suit for you (At least for last race has really good intensity). But, if you're looking for how the characters solved their own problem and ego. It's a really good deal to watch then. The main focus of this series is on their drama (It was obvious 'cuz the genre is Drama not SPORTS). Why I emphasized that point though (?) Well, it's because some people thought this series would focus on the race and guessed whose would win the next race. However, this is all about the interaction of each character whosupports each other and ultimately changes their perspective to solve their problems. The F4 race only for a complement to brought the story more interesting.
Story (3/5)
└ "Interested story". Honestly, at first I wasn't hooked on the story. All because, it's just a common reason to bring up the story. 'Win a single race for entire his life'. But, I had altered my outlook and concentrated on how they brought the drama in this series.
Animated (4/5)
└ "Caught My Eye. Means, most of the scenes have a fluidness above average". Aside of how CGI works and people complaining about it.. I kind of like the atmosphere they brought in every episode, how the characters depressed, happy, or anxious had delivered to me well. It's like I'm the one who involve their emotions.
Chara Development (5/5)
└ "They have great backstories and are developed so well". Yeah! This is the reason why I put on recommended reviews. The interactions between our main characters is to complement each other. Not only supported their each goal, but changed their perspective on how face their ego.
World Building (5/5)
└ "Built perfectly and conveyed to me well according to their genres and themes". Even so, this series doesn't seem to have a strong identity regarding what exactly they are focusing on. But trust me, this is a good deal to watch into if you were focusing on drama aspect.
Song & Sfx (3/5)
└ "Skip Op and End, but still appreciate their Sfx". This is subjective opinion from me, so pardon. I do like how Opening song describes and built up the impression of this series would look like, but not for the Ending song. For the sound effects, I'd say "It's alright", not impressed me. Especially, the sound engine which is the main aspects of race scenes. But, for after all, great Sfx throughout series though.
I'd say thanks for reading my reviews and happy watching from SBK ^-^
WDUNE
"I've been fighting against myself the whole time" Overtake! is a beautiful experience to have, whether you're a fan of Formula and racing in general or not. I won't tell you you'll have the enjoyment of your life watching it nor you'll regret it, but it's a decent anime full of emotions, ear-pleasing SFX, and dramatic competitiveness. The anime takes a wild turn after 6-8 episodes and elevates on the dramatic side of the character building and writing which will explain things you've been wondering about since the first episode, and I enjoyed it a lot. Although I didn't like certain things, I still loved and enjoyedthe experience. I absolutely recommend it.
Ratings:
Plot 7/10: The plot of Overtake! is solid, even though you need 6-8 episodesto reach the full dramatic depth to character development, it still is enjoyable the whole run.
Art Style 7/10: The art style generally appealing and consistent throughout the anime. While there are some issues with character designes, it doesn't significantly impact the overall visual experience. And when it comes to vehicles and race tracks: it's almost flawless.
Animation 7/10: The animation contributes to the overall beauty of the anime, offering a visually pleasing experience, though it doesn't necessarily stand out as exceptional.
Main Characters 7/10: The main characters are well-developed, and the dramatic turn in character building enhances their depth, contributing positively to the overall narrative.
Side Characters 6.5/10: While the side characters are decent, they don't quite match the level of development seen in the main characters, resulting in a slightly lower rating.
Music 6/10: While the soundtrack provides some background atmosphere, it fails to leave a lasting impression. The lack of memorable music takes away from the overall impact of the show.
Sound Effects 8.5/10: The sound effects are a standout feature, earning a high score for being ear-pleasing and enhancing the emotional and competitive aspects of the anime.
Enjoyment 7.5/10: Overtake! offers a decent and enjoyable experience, with moments of drama and emotion that, while not reaching the peak of enjoyment, still make it a recommended watch.
Overall: (7/10): Good, I recommend it.
underyourcouch
This anime was a pleasant surprise in more ways than one. When I started watching Overtake!, I expected a lighthearted and slightly above-average sports anime at best—one that I would’ve forgotten about a week after watching. Oh, how wrong I was! In fact, this show is one of the best anime I have seen so far. In real life, I have zero connection to or interest in racing, let alone specifically Formula 4 racing. Yet, this anime got me invested in a sport I didn’t even know existed before watching the show, teaching me things about it in the process. As also mentionedin its listing on MAL, this is a drama set in a racing environment, not the other way around. There are quite a few races, and they are exciting, but the focus is on the characters, their relationships, and how they face their struggles together. It’s about passion, chasing your dreams, dealing with loss, and overcoming trauma.
The OP is great, the ED is good. The OST fits well and enhances each scene without being distracting. The voice actors do a fantastic job, and the sound design makes you feel like you're really standing next to a race track.
The animation is smooth and visually stunning. As a picky viewer with an allergy to CGI, I have to say it works well here. In a fictional work like this, it's possible to use perspectives that real-life races can't capture, allowing for some truly cool shots. The lighting sets the right mood and reinforces the emotional impact of a scene, whether it's the loneliness of an empty apartment or the excitement of a race track on a sunny day.
Many dramas suffer from predictable storytelling, making it easy to guess what happens next, which can break immersion (and lose my interest). That is not the case with Overtake!. The technical details and strategies necessary for the plot are explained naturally—not through forced exposition but rather through character interactions that also advance the story. This is great storytelling, following the ‚show, don’t tell‘ principle instead of spoon-feeding information like the audience consists of five-year-olds. While explanations do occur, at no point do they feel like info-dumping.
What I love most about this show are the characters and their development. Their natural designs make it easy to connect with them emotionally, yet the art style is distinctive enough to set them apart from other anime. The motivations are reasonable, emotionally relatable, and engaging to follow. The struggle that impacted me the most was that of photographer Madoka Kouya. His trauma is incredibly well thought out and so powerfully executed that it had a stronger emotional impact on me than any other anime before.
From all the anime series and movies I have watched (more than 340 completed entries on MAL at the time of writing this review), Overtake! is the first and only anime that has ever made me cry. Seeing the other characters try to understand him and help him face his past while fighting their own demons carried true emotional weight, and I found myself rooting for everyone. The friendships spanning various age gaps were handled well, feeling natural rather than forced or intrusive.
For Harunaga and some of the other side characters, I would have liked a bit more background information, but given that this is a short 12-episode anime, it's simply a matter of prioritization. I’d rather have some underdeveloped side characters than have their arcs take away from the screen time needed for the main characters' development.
The only ‚complaint‘ I can think of is that there’s no source material to dive into, as this is an original production—so I guess I'll just have to rewatch the series! This show is what other drama or sports anime, like Free!, should have been but failed to achieve due to a lack of emotional depth.
Overtake! gets an easy 10/10 from me. I wish more anime were like this. Bravo!
Reviewholic
Half about a photographer's Japanese trauma, half about racing. Overtake! is pretty solid overall. There are some stretched interactions. Like why is the photographer uncle so obsessed with the racing boy? Kinda sus, no? Well, not every action is reasonable. So we will let the uncle pass this far. While the anime does talk a lot of technical stuffs about racing, like tires, parts and money, it does lack the heat in music and action. It's one of those anime that sets its theme on something popular like music band and sports, but ultimately spends most of its time developing characters. One anime that Ibegrudge doing this is Beck. There's more talking than music. Like... you gotta have at least 15% of the run time with stuff you advertised, you know? I wanna hear the sounds of engine rumbling constantly every episode. Funny enough, as I am writing this, there is a seasonal anime named High Speed Etoile, that does exactly this.
I guess racing is a boring sports. More boring that football, I dare say. You really need more anime gimmicks to spice it up. Like Meteor Jam! Emperor Time! Kansai Drifto! Revol Bursto! But Overtake! has an try-to-be-real and mature approach, so those cannot fly.
Try to be real, but not real enough. Try to be fun, but limited by real. Overtake! could not overtake itself. It never went full throttle.
13ad
There is always an opponent on the main straight who will overtake you on the turn. Never look back. Rely on driving skill, not luck. A pilot may not have a second chance. Really fast racers never make mistakes. Go too fast? You'll crash. Don't reach the limit? Your rivals will overtake you. You need to stay on the edge, not go beyond it - that's how you balance. These races, of course, are not of an international level, but the intensity sometimes goes beyond the limits of what is acceptable and expected. The title can be regarded as a good drama with friendly get-togethers,life's difficulties and the burdens of the past. The problem is solved when someone is nearby, not when the nature of the disaster comes to realization. Understand and let go. Move on, no matter what.
Naturally, there is practically no time left for racing, that is, this is not the main link in the picture. First of all, the relationship between Haruki and Koya, and only then the stars for the title of the best, the runs for the title of the best runner and other aesthetic angles of the photographer. The anime is not about a racer who became No. 1. No. The work is aimed at showing how in difficult life situations in a mentally difficult state you can get out, thanks to willpower and fortitude, the support of your closest comrades and friends. The races are secondary here. Let everyone decide for themselves whether this is good or bad.
The characters are adequate and pleasant, everyone knows what they want and strives for the goal. The script is consistent, without ragged episodes, does not try to aim higher and does not show how brilliant Japanese racers are, pathos in moderation. The picture is not bad, especially the animation during the race. In general, it is not so easy to make an interesting anime about Formula 4, you can take the 2001 film Racer as a basis and add Japanese specifics, but this is too difficult for a manga artist. In principle, this option is quite suitable, although it is more of a symbiosis than a full-fledged sports title.
Result. Do you like racing? Definitely watch it. Do you like drama? Also worth watching. The rest can watch it, maybe they will like it. For my part, I expected more from the title and in a slightly different format.
knd944
Man... I'm glad to have watched this anime. It is funny, great, and, most importantly, the story is amazing! It is, and I think, will be a great anime for a long time. I really loved it. The comedy aspects of the anime hits. You'll probably laugh at some jokes and scenes. I sure did! The characters are 10/10. Definitely. Some needed more story, but for now, it's 10. The characters are lovable (apart from that ONE episode...). The art is unique. I didn't really like it THAT much, but it was unique, and I applaud them for trying something unique. I appreciate it very much. Ireally liked this anime, maybe a season 2? I hope so.
CyanCheetah
It has been a while since I have sat down and straight-up binged a show. Maybe the last time was Gintama? I am not sure. What I can say though is I binged this one, and sat through 5 hours straight without breaks for this show. This show was a roller-coaster of emotions. I had a blast, cried a little, and felt many mixed feelings all in between. Overtake is about a guy who wants to win a race. Pretty simple premise, I will admit. But what's more, this season focused on the backstories of these characters. Kouya is one of the MCs, and he is aphotographer. Before he photographed for a race, he never knew any racing terms. But instantly, he fell in love with a team. It was by accident. We then progress through these 12 episodes about how much he is willing to do for this team, and how much stamina he has.
For then a couple of episodes, we take a drastic turn to what feels like a drama because for 3-4 episodes straight we have nothing to do with driving. We explore Kouya's trauma and backstory, not revealed due to spoilers, and man I rarely cry but this made me have tears. Not full-on crying, but let's just say this was near Your Lie in April levels. Seriously good backstory.
Finally, we have more racing, as expected.
The animation is great, the music is good (Not the biggest fan of the OP), and everything else was good. There was a lot of CGI, something you would expect with a racing show.
My biggest gripe with this show, however, was the fact that this was labeled a racing show. Half of the show was racing, and not even like technical engine parts or stuff like that; pure racing. The other half, though, felt like it was just a drama show, something like Clannad or whatnot.
It was a shock to say the least. I like drama's and this portrayal was very very good in fact. I wish we had more on Kouya, like at this point I do not care too much about the racing or driving, Kouya's story should have had a little more in it and more complexity and then wow that would've been an amazing 12 episodes.
I love racing shows, Initial D is one of my favorites! The racing here was actually surprisingly great, way way better than MF Ghost.
But If this had a little more clarity it would have been a 9/10
Instead, I will give it an 8/10. It is still an amazingly good show and well deserves the 8/10. Literally 2nd best racing show behind Initial D (not a high bar to pass though as MF Ghost, and Wangan Midnight were sub-par).
Thanks!
-CyanCheetah
