It is possible that some may be put off by IGPX (Immortal Grand Prix) simply by the fact that the Cartoon Network and Toonami logos appear in a prominent position on the cover of the first DVD volume and that the first volume carries a Universal rating.

Set in 2049 the most popular sport in the world is the Immortal Grand Prix or IGPX for short. The sport involves two teams competing against each other in a match with three giant mecha piloted by the racers of each side, racing three laps on huge F-Zero like tracks at speeds of up to 350 miles per hour. The first lap is just a straight race but after that the teams can attack each others mecha, the first three units past the final flag share the points and the IGPX is divided into several leagues of varying ability with the IG-1 being the top.

The story follows the various members of Team Satomi who have just come top the IG-2 and have been promoted, despite being under funded and comprised of rookies the team has climbed up the league tables quickly amazing all, and giving the distinct impression they may walk away with the IG-1 trophy too. The characters in Team Satomi are all fairly likeable, form the cocky but full of potential Takashi Jin, to the feisty Liz Ricarro to the quiet, shy and timid Amy Stapleton, who’s cyberneticaly enhanced cat is the co-pilot of her mech.

The four episodes featured in volume one see Team Satomi go up against two of their new rival teams, Team Sledge Mamma who go straight in for the kill early on, and Team Black Egg, who’s defensive tactics are the best in the league. After these matches Team Satomi then begins to prepare for its big match against last years champions of the IG-1 Team Velshtein who’s main pilot takes an interest in Takashi but declares that Team Satomi will lose to them.

There isn’t much new in IGPX that hasn’t been done before, the idea of a racing mecha show may be new but the general racing concept has been done to death. These episodes reek of Star Wars Pod Racer mixed with Top Gun with anime mecha being used instead of planes or pods.

The 2d animation is of a great quality but then little happens outside of the races in this first volume and as the races themselves are presented using CGI the whole thing looks incredibly disjointed, and like most anime series that use CGI in this way will age badly and quickly. The characters are all rather stereotypical that have been used a thousand times before in other series and are likely to generate much interest by older anime fans.

IGPX certainly does have potential to become decent but this first volume is a massive disappointment, this is something aimed at a younger audience, and perhaps is not best suited being promoted to the general anime market.