Red Line

In the far future, racing has evolved.  Drivers update and max out their rides with the latest hover tech to make them go faster and right over the edge.  Those who think they’re hot and brave enough, yearn to take a shot at Red Line, the greatest underground race in the galaxy.  This year, Red Line is going big, setting up shop on one of the most hostile worlds in the galaxy: RoboWorld, whose rulers will stop at nothing to keep the race from happening in the first place.  Joshua “Sweet JP” Punkhead and Crab Sonochee McLaren have both dreamed of racing in this infamous death gauntlet and now fate has given them their chance.  But to be in Red Line, you’ve gotta put it all on the line and leave nothing but dust in your wake.  This is the race where Legends are born and those who cant cut it might not survive.

Red Line is a title ive heard mostly in whispers throughout the Anime community, that or I just don’t listen to the ground hard enough.  Well, it was loaned to me recently and I decided to check out what ive heard to be a visual feast for the eyes.  I had no idea what I was in for other than knowing this was an Anime about racing.  I didn’t expect to see the insane Anime fusion of Ralph Bashki, Heavy Metal and Mad House’s fever dream animation.

And really, that’s what makes Red Line truly stand out immediately.  From the quiet opening seconds to the thunderous roars and rush of engines being pushed to the limit, when the race is on, the Animation is tearing apart the screen along with it.  While I didn’t expect Red Line to take place in the far future and in another galaxy, the concept of a high profile underground race consisting of some of the most souped up racing mecha ever is pretty nifty.  Each racing team brings its own flair to their ride from spider like capabilities to a sexy robot mode or just a straight up old fashioned four wheeled racer with a shiny exterior.  I’d say that each racing machine reflects its respective racer.  But while everyone is unique for sure, their personalities are all the same: bat crap crazy with a need for speed and the urge to push it to the limit and win the race, no matter the cost to themselves or their rides.  Mad House should be commended for their work on this.  All of the exaggerated facial expressions, the stretching of bodies and faces when the nitro is ignited, to just all the chaos of the actual Red Line race itself, the overall presentation definitley puts this Anime in the Top 5 best looking features Mad House has ever done alongside One Punch Man and Ninja Scroll.

The wide world of Red Line is begging to be explored in more than just a two hour feature.  I actually continuously felt that was this films Achilles Heel.  There is so much going on from the politics to the journeys of each individual racer to how the universe thrives on racing that two hours just doesn’t feel like enough, no matter the rush of the race.  Lead characters JP, Sonochee and Frisbee all get their own due with their stories but the other racers deserved a little more time to develop besides their zany or sexy quirks.  I’m not saying what we got in terms of story or character development was bad, it just felt like it could have been stretched into a 13-26 episode season (actually why hasn’t their been a Red Line TV Anime?).  Plus, the look of this universe of Red Line, as I mentioned above, looks heavily influenced by adult animation practices of the 70’s and 80’s from Ralph Bashiki’s violent sex fueled animation fests like American Pop and Fritz the Cat to Heavy Metal and all of its full on edgy, nudity filled sci fi action.  Needless to say, this Anime aint for kids and yet it feels juvenile enough with all the adrenaline pumping through its engines.

If you come to Red Line for a in depth look at characters and what makes them tick, you’ve come to the wrong place.  If you’ve come to see an Anime who’s insane races make The Fast and the Furious and Need For Speed look like a Kindergarten class, then this is the Anime for you.  Shakespeare this is not.  Red Line is a full on assault on all senses that gets the heart pumping on NOS and leaves you breathless right up til the finish line…and wishing there was a more extended look at this in a TV series or an OVA.  Don’t be surprised if you’re having trouble breathing for a little bit once the movie is done, it is, if nothing else, one helluva rush. 

8/10