8 Best Anime About Racing Every Fans Should Watch

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Speed, danger, and the dream of being the fastest. These are things that people all over the world love. But what if you could feel all of that just by watching a show? Anime about racing does exactly that. From quiet mountain roads in Japan to wild races across the galaxy, this genre has something for everyone. Whether you are a car fan or just love a good story, these shows will keep you watching until the very end.

If you are ready to start your engines, here are eight of the best anime about racing that every fan should add to their watchlist.

The first on our list is the anime that started it all. Takumi Fujiwara is just a tofu delivery boy who drives his father's old Toyota AE86 down Mount Akina every morning. He does not care about racing, but his skill, built over years of early deliveries, is extraordinary. When a famous racing crew comes to challenge the mountain locals, Takumi's hidden talent is suddenly exposed. Based on Shuichi Shigeno's manga (1995 to 2013), Initial D is the definitive street racing anime.

lSet in a near-future Japan where self-driving electric cars rule the roads, a racing series called MFG keeps the spirit of human driving alive. Kanata Rivington, a half-Japanese driver trained in Europe by legendary racer Takumi Fujiwara, enters MFG in a modest Toyota 86, competing against Lamborghinis and Ferraris. This is the direct sequel to Initial D, also written by Shuichi Shigeno, with Season 3 currently airing as of 2026.

Directed by Takeshi Koike and produced by Madhouse, Redline is a 2009 animated film that took seven years to make, and every frame shows it. JP, a daredevil racer with a rockabilly look, qualifies for the Redline: the most dangerous race in the galaxy, held on a planet ruled by a hostile military. There are no rules, no limits, and no mercy. With over 100,000 hand-drawn frames, this film is a visual masterpiece that every racing fan must experience at least once.

Haruka Asahina is a 16-year-old Formula 4 driver with no big sponsor and no top team. He races for a small family-run shop called Komaki Motors. His world changes when Kōya Madoka, a photographer dealing with personal trauma, starts documenting his journey. Together, they push each other forward. An original anime from studio Troyca, directed by Ei Aoki, Overtake! uses real Formula 4 settings around Fuji Speedway to deliver one of the most grounded racing stories in the genre.

Darker and more mature than most racing anime, this series follows high school student Akio Asakura after he loses a street race to the mysterious "Blackbird," a Porsche 911 driven by a doctor named Tatsuya Shima. Determined to win, Akio finds a blue Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) at a junkyard. The car carries a dark history: every previous owner shared Akio's name, and each one crashed. Based on Michiharu Kusunoki's award-winning manga, Wangan Midnight explores what happens when a driver becomes too attached to his machine.

Originally called Mach GoGoGo in Japan, Speed Racer was created by Tatsuo Yoshida and first aired in 1967, becoming one of the first anime series to find a major audience in the United States. The story follows Go Mifune, known in the West as Speed Racer, a young driver who races around the world in the Mach 5, a high-tech car built by his father. Every race brings new rivals and real danger. A timeless classic that helped introduce anime about racing to the rest of the world.

Starring an unlikely hero, a 10-year-old boy from a poor family, Capeta begins when a father builds his son a go-kart from junk parts. That one act changes both of their lives. Taira Capeta discovers a natural talent for karting, and what starts as a small local race grows into a long road toward Formula Three. Based on Masahito Soda's Kodansha Award-winning manga, Capeta stands out for its honest look at family, financial struggle, and the true cost of chasing a dream in motorsport.

Produced by Sunrise and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda, this 1991 original anime imagines a future where racing cars are powered by advanced AI navigation systems called Cyber Systems. Fourteen-year-old Hayato Kazami accidentally bonds with Asurada, the most powerful AI in racing, while trying to protect it from thieves. Because Asurada locks onto a single driver, Hayato is forced to race for Team Sugo. The series ran for 37 episodes and was followed by four OVA sequels, making it one of the most beloved original racing anime franchises ever made.[Movie explanation]