Entertainment
This Overlooked Anime Classic Does Podracing Better Than Star Wars
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
It’s kind of a weird time to be a Star Wars fan: the Sequel Trilogy was a bust, over half the shows are disappointing, and Disney has more canceled projects than Jawas have droid parts. This is doubly frustrating because the formula for these movies doesn’t seem all that hard to crack. Surely, after nearly half a century, somebody in charge can figure out what worked and what didn’t work for earlier movies, right?
While we’re still waiting for Disney to do something interesting with this galaxy far, far away, but it took a completely different company to create the perfect tribute to Star Wars. Redline (2009) is basically one big pod race, one filled with the coolest action and the freakiest aliens this side of Tatooine. Fortunately, you don’t need the Force to discover this overlooked anime masterpiece: all you have to do is grab your remote and head to Tubi, where you can stream this full-throttle film for free!
Shut Up And Drive
The premise of Redline is that a professional racer participates in a scheme to fix a race, all to get himself and a buddy out of trouble with the mafia. He comes in second place, but after some other drivers drop out, he qualifies for Redline, an upcoming race that will take place on a planet ruled by fascist robots. There, he will face a choice that could define the rest of his life: to keep fixing races or go for the prize, which would establish him as the greatest racer in the entire galaxy.
Unfortunately, Redline was a box office flop when it was first released, earning only about $8.5 million against a budget estimated to be as high as $30 million. Later, the movie achieved a major cult following on home video and streaming, and it made a particular impact on anime superfans who were looking for something new. Thanks to its minimal plot, thumping soundtrack, and high-octane animation, Redline quickly established itself as the perfect movie for anyone looking to just kick back and enjoy an unforgettable cinematic ride.
A Film Of Dazzling Beauty
When Redline raced into theaters, it impressed reviewers with its style and delightfully unhinged energy. On Rotten Tomatoes, it had a rating of 70 percent, with critics praising the movie for its relentless pace and hypnotically beautiful animation. Notably, the film had an audience rating of 90 percent, indicating that it impressed the collective anime fandom even more than it impressed the professional critics.
I recently showed Redline to my wife, and we agreed that the movie embraced a very unique storytelling philosophy: all world, no building. The film presents a very rich fictional universe populated with exotic aliens, mindblowing technology, and even a little bit of space magic. But you get almost no exposition or explanation regarding any of these elements, forcing you to figure everything out on the fly.
All World, No Building
This storytelling method may be annoying to certain viewers, especially those who were clamoring for a meatier plot. However, I would argue that this effectively makes Redline more immersive because, like the charismatic racer protagonist, everyone watching is just along for the ride. You can try to get a handle on this chaotic cosmos of characters, or you can do what I did: just tune out all the noise and focus on the buttery-smooth animation that brings this celebration of speed to life.
While Redline is great for anime fans and anyone who loves a good car chase, the film is certain to resonate even more with fans who loved the podracing sequence in The Phantom Menace. That first prequel was deeply flawed, but most Star Wars fans agree that the podrace was great because it simplified this galaxy far, far away down to its most basic elements: exotic characters doing something both cool and dangerous. That narrative spirit is alive and well with Redline, a movie whose chief appeal is seeing colorful aliens pushing their high-tech hotrods to the limit in order to emerge as the greatest racer in the galaxy.
Buddies, Brews, Bots, And Battles
In the end, reviewing Redline is almost an exercise in futility: this is more of an experience than a movie, one in which a kaleidoscope of colors and a hypnotic soundtrack combine with some of the craziest visuals ever put onscreen. It’s truly one of a kind and unlike any film before or since. As such, it’s a film you owe yourself to check out, especially if you’ve been hungry for a movie capable of completely blowing your mind.
If you’re ready to take the ride, you don’t even have to buy a ticket: Redline is currently streaming for free on Tubi. It’s a movie best played loud and experienced on the biggest television you can find. Just be careful: by the time the credits roll, you might be tempted to shop for a new muscle car and turn your daily commute into a madcap race for the finish line!
