# Ōban Star-Racers (2006)

> Teams from across the universe race for a legendary wish-granting prize in a mysterious intergalactic competition.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/4120

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 22 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, science fiction, adventure
- Created by: Savin Yeatman-Eiffel
- Network: Toon Disney, France 3, NHK BS2, Jetix
- Cast: Chiara Zanni, Sam Vincent, Ron Halder, Kirby Morrow, Alessandro Juliani, Michael Dobson, Dexter Bell, Brian Drummond
- TMDB rating: 8.0/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813808/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: adventurous, playful, high-stakes, mysterious

## What critics say

Audiences rate the single season positively, praising its high-octane racing and intriguing mythology for a younger audience.

## Synopsis

Ōban Star-Racers (2006) is a Japanese-French animated science fiction adventure series created by Savin Yeatman-Eiffel for Toon Disney. Set in a far-future universe, it follows racers gathered by the enigmatic Avatar for the Great Race of Ōban, a competition held once every ten thousand years. The main characters include Molly and Jordan Wilde, voiced by Chiara Zanni and Sam Vincent, along with Don Wei (Ron Halder), Koji (Alessandro Juliani), and Rick Thunderbolt (Michael Dobson). Each team races flying cars across the cosmos, hoping to claim the legendary Ultimate Prize, a reward rumored to grant any wish, from vast destruction to the return of a lost loved one. Some competitors chase glory while others pursue universal domination, and the rivals' rivalries and alliances fuel each episode. The single season of twenty-six episodes balances brisk racing action with a mystery about what the prize truly is. The show is a family-friendly anime-style adventure with a bright, adventurous tone and a sense of cosmic wonder. Fans of Speed Racer and Star Fox will find resonance in its vivid space racing spectacle and its playful, high-stakes intergalactic energy, while the series' mythic framing evokes the sweeping scale of Cowboy Bebop.

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