Some of you might remember this trailer from several years ago when it made the rounds. http://www.youtube.com/?v=Fd6tn42F5b8
They were eventually able to get an international co-production going and are finally in the middle of making a full 26 episode season. Where the original promo was all 3D, they've moved to 2D animation for the characters while keeping 3D for backgrounds and race scenes. I must say it looks a lot better even though they did a pretty good job with the earlier 3D characters. There's a new trailer here for the series. http://www.savtheworld.com/eng/oban_trailer.php3
It's the first anime influenced western show that doesn't look to me like an utter disappointment at first glance. It feels like anime. They do use some of the animation staples, but it's not overdone. Character's movements looks "right" somehow and displayed emotions feel genuine.
It STILL doesn't have a release date now, does it?
They're still shopping it around to TV buyers, but there is this at least.
http://www.kidscreen.com/articles/magazine/20051101/sav.html
"Just as involved now that production is wrapped, Bandai Visual is currently locking down a Japanese broadcaster for Oban, as well as handling merch rights in its territory. The series will debut across Jetix's 57 Euro channels in 2006, and it may also get some play on Toon Disney Japan, which is launching next month and will feature a daily four-hour Jetix-branded action block."
Somehow, I'm not as excited about it as >>1 is
Toon Disney confirmed.
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=8852
>* As of fall 2006, Toon Disney will be the exclusive destination for Jetix programming. The Jetix block will feature more than 100 hours of programming each week. New series joining the Toon Disney Jetix schedule include the following:
>Oban Star-Racers, an animated galactic adventure set in the year 2082, will premiere in June 2006. The stories follow an alien spaceship that has arrived to collect Earth's fastest star-racing heroes for The Greatest Race of Oban, one that only takes place every 10,000 years. Rebellious teenager Molly joins Earth's racing team, along with Rick Thunderbolt, Jordan, Stan, and Koji, for the thrilling adventures. The series is produced by Sav! the World Productions.