Tokyo Override Now Streaming on Netflix!
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has announced it has collaborated with Netflix, one of the world's leading entertainment services, on the production of Tokyo Override, an original anime streamed globally, exclusively on Netflix from November 21, 2024.
Tokyo Override is set in Tokyo 100 years in the future where AI has been integrated into daily life and all aspects of urban living is automated. In this sci-fi anime full of motorcycle action, existing and originally designed motorcycles roar through the streets of Tokyo.
Yamaha Motor's collaboration with Netflix for this project began when we received their request for permission to select and use Yamaha motorcycles in the anime. We cooperated by providing 3D data, images, and sound recordings of the YZF-R1, superbike, and the VMAX, muscle cruiser. In addition to these iconic models, hoping that we could attract the audience to become interested in the world of motorcycles, we also assisted in building the anime's world of 100 years in the future, offering ideas for mobility, designing the race machine concept "Y/AI", and providing other support such as supervising the sound effects.
Watch Yamaha's film about creation of the concept models
The YZF-R1, VMAX, and Y/AI are all featured in the anime series. We also created a full-scale concept model of the Y/AI, to be world premiered at the Motor Expo 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand running from November 29 to December 10.
The dynamic motorcycle action is one of the highlights of this anime. Yamaha Motor cooperated and oversaw various parts of the production process. For example, the characters ride through the future city streets on legendary classics such as Yamaha YZF-R1 and VMAX.
Yamaha provided the 3D design data and assisted with recording the sounds of the actual motorcycles. Yamaha designers and planners were also actively involved in the series’ production process, envisioning the motorcycle racing scene 100 years in the future and designing the machines that race. “What was particularly interesting was the scenario creation process called World Building we did with the production team,” recalls NAKAMURA, Satoshi from the Planning Design Division. “We spent a lot of time over numerous discussions about what the world of Tokyo 100 years in the future would be like and compiled the results into a ‘bible’ to follow during production. The events and vehicles you see in the series, as well as the story itself, are all based on that 400-page bible.”
In the highly AI-driven society depicted in Tokyo Override, traffic accidents and other problems are far less likely to occur. On the other hand, natural disasters still remain out of human control. As a way to prepare for such disasters, the production team focused on the world of racing. “In racing, unexpected accidents can always occur. The idea of positioning this as a means of identifying risks and finding pathways to move to a safe location is very unique, and with the added entertainment factor inherent to racing, I felt there was a sense of reality when looking at it from the perspective of what meaning racing would have 100 years from now,” explains Nakamura.
One of the star riders, Amarin, rides the Y/AI, a machine that trusts in human possibilities. One of the highlights is in pursuit for realism, the future bike design keeps the rider position the same as the MotoGP machine “YZR-M1”, while the form of the bike balances in the perspective of advanced design and product design. “The story is set based on the social structures, technology, and people’s values 100 years in the future that we created in the World Building bible. If you watch the show while imagining about how these things come together, you may find it even more interesting,” says Nakamura. “I don’t know the ending yet. As a viewer, I would like to really immerse myself in the world and its story when I watch it.”
Visit the Netflix Tokyo Overdrive web page for more
From The Editor - Maiko Kawai
The Creative Center has a program that encourages self-study and self-improvement among our designers and planners. The 12 members who assisted in the production of Tokyo Override were also brought together from various departments through this system, and they participated in the project while making use of their respective expertise. One of the 12 recalled, “This was a good opportunity to seriously think about our world 100 years from now. From all the discussions and deep diving we did through the project, I got the sense that the world will actually not change as much as I imagined.”
