7.4 /10 1 Votes
6.6/10 MyAnimeList First episode date 22 September 1977 Network Fuji Television Program creator Kogo Hotomi | 8.2/10 IMDb Original network Fuji Television Final episode date 31 August 1978 Number of episodes 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Written by Masaki TsujiKeisuke FujikawaShozo Uehara Original run September 22, 1977 – August 31, 1978 Cast Masako Nozawa, Mami Koyama, Kei Tomiyama, Hidekatsu Shibata, Rihoko Yoshida Similar Magne Robo Gakeen, Wakusei Robo Danguar, Majokko Megu‑chan, Attack on Tomorrow, Hana no Ko Lunlun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arrow Emblem: Hawk of the Grand Prix (アローエンブレム・グランプリの鷹, Arō Enburemu Guranpuri no Taka) is an anime series aired from 1977 to 1978 in Japan. There are 44 episodes aired at 25 minutes each. It is also known as "Arrow Emblem Grand Prix no Taka". In the United States, it was re-edited to a short movie called "Super Grand Prix".
Contents
Original story
The story is about a young man named Takaya Todoroki who dreams of becoming a F1 racer. He puts all his energy into winning a beginners heat in stock cars, but slips on oil when in the lead due to a momentary loss of focus and has an accident. This makes Takaya lose his confidence and initially swear to give up racing. Then a masked stranger appears by his bedside in the hospital who introduced himself as the world-famous driver Nick. He encourages him to dust himself off and try driving a new prototype. Before long, he is a team member of "Katori Motors", hoping to become a world F1 champion, driving the "Todoroki special", a car built to his own design.
Staff
Creator: Kogo Hotomi
Series Directors: Rintaro, Nobutaka Nishizawa
Additional Directors: Nobutaka Nishizawa, Yugo Serikawa, Takenori Kawada, Yasuo Yamayoshi, Katsutoshi Sasaki, Rintaro, Osamu Kasai, Susumu Ishizaki, Tokiji Kaburagi
Screenwriters: Masaki Tsuji, Keisuke Fujikawa, Shozo Uehara
Original Character Designer: Akio Sugino
Animation Character Designers: Kenzo Koizumi, Takuo Noda
Mechanical Concept Designer: Dan Kobayashi
Art Designers: Tadanao Tsuji, Mukuo Takamura
Animation Directors: Bunpei Nanjo, Eiji Kamimura, Takeshi Shirato, Toshio Mori, Kazuo Komatsubara, Kenzo Koizumi, Sadayoshi Tominaga, Takuo Noda
Music: Hiroshi Miyagawa
Theme Song Performance: Ichiro Mizuki
Producers: Fuji TV, Toei Animation
DVD release
There are 2 DVD releases for the series, a 4 disc set and a 5 disc set.
Merchandise
There were a number of Arrow Emblem race cars released under the Popynica toyline by Popy Pleasure in 1978 and 1979.
PB-34 Todoroki Special
PB-35 Todoroki Special, mark 2
PB-36 Todoroki Special, mark 3
PB-37 DX Todoroki Special
PB-38 Katori Super Roman
PB-39 Katori Rally Version
PB-40 DX Katori Super Roman
PB-41 Anchor
PB-44 DX Anchor
PB-45 Countach LP500S
Aside from these model cars, Popy also made a 1:1 scale racing helmet which could be worn by children. Unfortunately the serial number for this helmet is unknown.
References to two other pieces of merchandise have been found: