Future GPX Cyber Formula, considered a classic Japanese racing anime series, will return to theaters in February 2027 to mark the 35th anniversary of its broadcast. Notably, an official direct sequel short anime, ‘ASURADA’, coming 27 years after the final OVA ‘SIN’, will also be released alongside it.
Future GPX Cyber Formula is a racing anime that first began airing as a TV series in 1991. Set in the near future featuring futuristic racing machines equipped with AI support systems, it gained strong support among 1990s robot and mecha anime fans with its intense sense of speed and appealing machine designs. Its OVA series—starting with 11 (Double One) and continuing through ZERO, SAGA, and SIN—were also immensely popular.
To commemorate the series’ 35th anniversary, Sunrise will present a theatrical HD remastered version of the TV series compilation, ‘EARLYDAYS RENEWAL’. Even more notable is ASURADA, a short anime that compresses a new year of Cyber Formula into approximately six minutes. Though short in runtime, it serves as the official sequel to SIN, which began as the series’ final OVA in 1998. This resumes a storyline left untouched for 27 years since SIN aired its final episode in 2000.
Mitsuo Fukuda, who has led the franchise since the 1991 TV series, will serve as both director and scriptwriter. Takahiro Yoshimatsu, character designer from the TV series through ZERO, will design characters, while Shoji Kawamori, a long-time contributor to the franchise, will handle machine designs. By bringing back the series’ core creative team, the production preserves the consistency of its universe. Beyond ASURADA, Director Fukuda reportedly personally supervised the compilation film, which underwent re-editing and significant visual improvements.
In addition, the original voice cast who have anchored the series since its inception will return, including Junichi Kanemaru as protagonist Hayato Kazami, Kotono Mitsuishi as Asuka Sugo, and Toshihiko Seki as Bleed Kaga.
Sunrise will screen both the compilation film and the new short anime simultaneously in theaters across Japan on February 19, 2027. Rather than simply re-screening an old compilation, pairing it with new content is seen as a strategy to stir nostalgia among long-time fans while attracting new viewers. Alongside the announcement, new machine designs by Shoji Kawamori for the Asurada and Ogre lineups were also revealed.
Meanwhile, to mark its 35th anniversary, Future GPX Cyber Formula has various initiatives planned beyond the theatrical screening, including maid cafe collaborations, a VR virtual museum, and staff event appearances. Additionally, last April, Project YNP announced ‘Future GPX Cyber Formula Spiral’, a 35th-anniversary game project. Sunrise previously stated that Mitsuo Fukuda is directly participating in the game to write a new scenario that combines the franchise’s signature drama with high-speed racing and strategic gameplay.
