Product Details

• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Anime Works
• DVD Release Date: July 30, 2002
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000065AYK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,296 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The cars are hot but the girls are hotter! pull over highway patrol lorna endou & lisa sakakino have ex-driver licenses assigned only to the best of the best. They are authorized to drive fast drive recklessly & hunt down malfunctioning al-controlled cars that endanger the populace. Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 07/16/2002 Run time: 90 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Animated Car Chase Heaven, January 15, 2003

By 

Strategos "The Guardian of Time" (In Space above Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ex-Driver - Downshift (Vol. 1) (DVD)

What makes a great car chase? Impressive cars, cool lens effects, famous movie stars in the driver's seat? Well I sure don't think so. I feel that recently in hollywood movies we've seen car chases with overpowered cars, special effects to make look like they're accelerating REALLY fast, slow-mo effects (WAY too many) to emphasize key moments, and plently of stuff that's just plain boring. Just what am I getting at?

If you agree with me that great car chases are about realistic engine sounds, cars behaving realisticly, beautiful exotic sports cars, incredible driving skill, close misses, huge powerslides, and innocent bystanders jumping out of the way in the nick of time, you will love this anime. What can I say? I love car chases, and these are WAY better than what you see in the average american movie nowadays. More like what you'd see in one of the excellent (and highly recommended) short films BMV made as part of it's commercial series "The Hire". Truly great stuff.

This anime also features tight animation, and fantastic japanese voice-acting. It's also worth mentioning that the engine sounds on this show are outstanding. If you love hearing exotic engines rev, you'll love the sound on this dvd.

All in all, you only have to ask yourself one question. Do you mind the fact that these car chases are animated instead of live-action? If you answer yes, I feel sorry for you. But if you dig car chase action whatever form it may take, this is the anime for you.

4.0 out of 5 stars CARS THAT GO HAYWIRE, February 24, 2006

By 

Sesho "www.sesho.libsyn.com" (Pasadena, TX USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ex-Driver - Downshift (Vol. 1) (DVD)

The smart-aleck and impulsive Lisa and the more demure, classy, and beautiful Lorna are both Japanese high school students in the near future. Well, that at least qualifies as their day job. In reality they are "Ex-Drivers", one of a select few people that still know how to drive cars manually. You see, in their world, AI computers have taken over the driving from humans. But this doesn't mean the system is foolproof. Lisa and Lorna are called on when AI cars get out of control due to computer glitches or viruses. In addition to her love for driving, Lisa longs for a man to sweep her off her feet, but he also has to be a great driver and super intelligent. Two of her three wishes are fulfilled when she's introduced to the newest member of the Ex-Driver team, Souichi, who is perhaps a better driver than her and has skipped a few grades in school to be in her class. The only problem is that he's transferred from elementary school! These first three episodes focus on introducing the characters and the conflicts that arise between them, especially between Lisa and Souichi, who enter into a competitive antagonism to prove who is the better driver.

The animation for this title was really good and the kinetic energy of the chase sequences is underscored by authentic auto sounds and fluid motion. They are not CG cars. As the director of the show states in one of the extras, he decided to use hand drawn animation because of its cohesiveness. The characters are interesting, especially Lisa who comes off as very funny and likeable. At first I didn't really like the introduction of a kid into the show but I acclimated myself to it in a short time. Yes, it is a one trick pony anime but it is still exciting and eye catching.

The extras on the DVD include interviews with the Japanese staff and the sound recording footage of the actual car models used by the Ex-Drivers. Also a brief clip of the actors engaged in go-cart races and a clean opening.

I would also recommend Speed Racer.

4.0 out of 5 stars Light Hearted and Fun, January 22, 2003

By 

Moe - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ex-Driver - Downshift (Vol. 1) (DVD)

The premise is a bit outragious, but what anime isn't? If you are a fan of Kosuke Fujishima's animes (Ah! My Goddess, You're Under Arrest, etc), you won't dispointed. The animation is top-notch and the quality is excellent. The series is a short 6 episode "Original Video Animation". There is a movie for the series however there hasn't been a North American release yet. The story is a bit inconclusive, and the characters are not really developed at all. However, the car chases through the city are what really caught my eye. Excellent detail to all the cars and just seeing some current and vintage cars racing through the streets along side of futuristic AI cars is just fun!I would recommend this to anyone who's new to Japan Animation, or a fan of Fujishima's work. The 2 volumes is very reasonably priced for North American releases these days. However, if you consider yourself 'hardcore' anime fan, then rent the titles first.