Toyota has a lot to thank anime for. Despite being first released in 1998 (and the manga dating back three years earlier), the Initial D series is widely known today for catapulting the Toyota AE86 towards becoming a cult classic.
The Japanese automaker wants to replicate this strategy with its own entry into the animated realm. “Grip: A Toyota Story” is a five-episode series that will stream online, launching on the 26th of May.
The plot line is something most enthusiasts can get behind. The protagonist, Jae Kang, battles the “evils of soulless automated driving.” Set sometime in the future, the premise of a fictitious tech company controlling a fleet of cookie-cutter autonomous vehicles, all in the name of safety and convenience, really isn’t that far-fetched.
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Related: Toyota Taps Into The AE86’s Anime Fame With Initial D-Inspired GR86 Commercials
Evidently, Toyota wants us to think of them as the saviors of driving engagement, and to be fair, some of their latest creations lend that notion a great deal of credence. Undoubtedly, the anime will be chock-full of their GR products, with the trailer featuring a GR Corolla and a GR Supra, while the GR86 also features in promotional material. And we’d be disappointed if some of their classic creations didn’t show up in some form or another.
In addition to Corolla-driving protagonist Kang, other characters introduced are the pink-haired Linh “Nitro” Lam behind the wheel of the Supra, Kumal Jo piloting the cup-liveried GR86, and Master Rugu, the mentor. Also showcased is Dr. Aron Synth, the CEO of SynthCorp, who is described as a famous driver, now hellbent on eradicating human driving. For maximum baddie points, Synth’s crusade follows the loss of his hand.
Admittedly heavily inspired by Initial D and its sequel M F Ghost, it isn’t the first time Toyota has embraced animation to promote its products. In 2022, a series of short commercials were released, featuring the GR86 teaming up with the Fujiwara AE86 from the Initial D universe. The new series also echoes a similar move by Acura last year, where they introduced the new NSX Type S and Integra Type S over two seasons.
The five-episode series of Grip will air on Toyota’s website on the 26th of February, 2024.
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