Image depicting the Scan 2 Go logo, showcasing the title of this futuristic racing anime review.
Looking for a high-octane anime series that blends the thrill of racing with futuristic battles? Then you need to buckle up for Scan 2 Go. Initially launched a few years back, this series might have slipped under your radar, especially with its television run cut short. However, with its arrival on platforms like YouTube, there’s no better time to discover – or rediscover – this gem. Scan 2 Go isn’t just another show riding the toyetic wave; it’s a surprisingly deep and engaging story that takes exhilarating turns, especially in its final episodes, reminiscent of the epic scale of Gurren Lagann. For those unfamiliar with this somewhat obscure title, let’s dive into what makes Scan 2 Go a must-watch.
Plot: More Than Just a Race to the Finish Line
Yes, Scan 2 Go has a compelling narrative driving all the racing action. The story centers around Kaz Gordon, an Earth native, and his trio of friends. Together, they form Team Jet, all aspiring to conquer the universe’s racing circuits. Their chosen arena is Scan 2 Go, a cutting-edge game that allows players to mentally synchronize with miniature toy cars, piloting them through incredibly challenging and often perilous tracks. While the Scan 2 Go phenomenon hasn’t quite taken off on Earth, it’s a massive hit across the cosmos.
Driven by ambition and skill, Kaz convinces his mentor to permit Team Jet to journey across the universe, a decision spurred by Kaz’s decisive victory in a toy car duel. From there, the team embarks on an interstellar adventure, participating in tournament after tournament, forging alliances with intriguing characters, and facing off against cunning adversaries. The series unfolds through a series of tournaments and rigorous training sequences, forming a loose yet engaging narrative structure. A significant arc sees Team Jet travel to Gurao for intensive training, a pivotal period where they strengthen bonds with their allies. Ultimately, their journey leads them back to Earth for the ultimate showdown: the universal tournament, the Grand Prix that will crown the fastest racer in the universe. However, the stakes are raised dramatically with the unexpected return of a formidable old enemy, setting the stage for conflicts far beyond the racetrack.
Animation and Visuals: A Cut Above the Toyetic Crowd
Scan 2 Go’s animation quality is a definite highlight. While some might expect standard fare for a toy-driven show, the visuals truly shine, particularly during dynamic sequences like space battles or any scene featuring the character Ryu. The energy effects are vibrant and impactful, and the animation team convincingly portrays the intense speed and action. It’s clear that the animators could have even delivered compelling hand-to-hand combat scenes, given the fluidity and dynamism on display.
How does it compare to other series in the toyetic genre? While shows like Cardfight and Buddyfight might have a slight edge in overall animation polish, Scan 2 Go surpasses the likes of Tenkai Knights and the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series in visual fidelity. Animation isn’t always the defining factor for a show’s success, but in Scan 2 Go, it significantly elevates the racing scenes, making each race visually exciting and engaging. Consistent quality is maintained throughout the series, with no noticeable dips in animation standards across episodes, which is a notable strength.
Soundtrack: An Auditory Adrenaline Rush
The soundtrack of Scan 2 Go is undeniably one of its strongest assets. While the show doesn’t feature an overwhelmingly vast number of distinct themes, the existing tracks are so impactful and well-composed that repetition hardly diminishes their effect. From the energetic opening theme, to character-specific themes like Ryu’s intense and menacing theme, the music in Scan 2 Go is expertly chosen to amplify the on-screen action and emotion. Ryu’s theme, in particular, stands out as a powerful villain motif, sharply contrasting with the more upbeat and hopeful racing themes that typically accompany the races. Although the opening theme itself might not be the most memorable, the strength of the overall soundtrack more than compensates, contributing significantly to the show’s immersive experience.
Ryu: The Catalyst for Change and Chaos
Ryu is the character who dramatically reshapes the entire Scan 2 Go series, a testament to his impactful presence. Before Ryu’s introduction, the series largely revolved around Kaz’s competitive spirit and enjoyment in outmaneuvering opponents, showcasing the superiority of his Galaxy Falgor car. Ryu’s arrival shifts the paradigm, introducing a darker, more aggressive style of racing—racing to annihilate competitors. His car is established as the fastest and most powerful in the series, placing him in a league of his own and making fair races virtually impossible for others to win against him. However, fair play is not in Ryu’s agenda; his ultimate goal is universal destruction. This drastic shift in tone and stakes is a surprising and compelling development in the series. The escalation from competitive racing to universe-level threats is a bold narrative move.
Ryu’s power source is rooted in his nature as a living embodiment of a black hole, amplified by a power gem embedded in his forehead. His car possesses incredible regenerative capabilities, possibly mirroring Ryu’s own inherent abilities due to their deep synchronization. In a visually stunning and impactful moment, Ryu demonstrates his immense power by destroying a moon simply by ramming his car into another—a feat of destruction rarely seen in similar series. This scene marks a significant tonal shift, introducing real stakes and consequences beyond mere racing competition.
Image from Scan 2 Go Episode 37, highlighting the intense racing action and visual style of the anime.
In fact, only one character in the entire series meets a definitive end, and predictably, it’s at the hands of Ryu. His climactic battle against Zero, the previously undisputed greatest racer in the universe, is a high-budget spectacle set in space. This episode is arguably the darkest and most pivotal in the series, marking a permanent shift in tone and stakes. Ryu’s villainy is captivating; he manipulates the heroes, exploiting the inherent weapon potential of their cars—vehicles capable of generating thunder, tsunamis, and even black holes. He questions why such power should be confined to mere races, pushing the boundaries of what Scan 2 Go can be.
The final episodes gain further depth with the introduction of the mysterious council, adding layers to the overarching plot. Their confrontation with Ryu feels like a classic Shonen Jump showdown, featuring new characters with unique abilities and grand ambitions. While Ryu’s victory seems inevitable, the spectacle of the battles is highly engaging. Ryu’s car decimates entire armies and achieves meteor-like speeds, showcasing his overwhelming power. Furthermore, Ryu’s gravitational abilities are so potent that he can shift the orbit of a moon, sending it on a collision course with Earth. His plan to achieve universe-destroying power is simple yet terrifying: win one more Grand Prix to amplify his black hole abilities, absorbing the power of defeated opponents. This sets up a dramatic final confrontation where Kaz and his allies face an overwhelming 8-12 versus 1 battle, underscoring the heroes’ underdog status against such an immense threat.
While the heroes manage to achieve Faster Than Light (FTL) speeds with their cars, Ryu’s individual power remains arguably more impressive. The stakes are raised to cosmic levels as racers traverse past planets at incredible velocities. The narrative avoids a simplistic resolution, as merely pushing Ryu into the sun proves insufficient to defeat him. The heroes, along with allies from Gurao, undertake the monumental task of moving a crashing moon—a feat even combined efforts from iconic heroes like Wonder Woman, Superman, and Martian Manhunter have struggled with. This display of combined strength highlights the extraordinary scale of power within the Scan 2 Go universe.
However, the series raises questions about the inherent dangers of Scan 2 Go racing. The level of synchronization between racers and their cars is inconsistently portrayed, yet it’s suggested that racers experience virtual damage inflicted on their vehicles. Characters wince and react to attacks, sometimes even appearing to be physically transported to their car’s location, even across vast distances. This raises questions about whether their consciousness is fully immersed, akin to virtual reality scenarios, or if there’s a physical component to their transportation and experience within the game. The series seems to fluctuate between suggesting a purely mental immersion and hinting at physical transference. This ambiguity culminates in scenes like Zero’s space battle with Ryu, where the ability to breathe in space becomes a point of confusion, further blurring the lines between virtual and physical reality within the Scan 2 Go universe.
Ultimately, the show doesn’t definitively resolve these inconsistencies, leaving room for interpretation. Perhaps the most plausible explanation is that racers project their consciousness into their cars, experiencing damage virtually but with real sensations and consequences. This also allows for strategic mind games to play a significant role in races.
Image depicting a tense moment in Scan 2 Go, possibly illustrating the high stakes and emotional investment in the futuristic races.
The inherent risks of Scan 2 Go are brought into sharp focus when considering the potential for virtual damage to translate into real-world consequences. One racer, synchronized with his car in space, is seemingly obliterated when his vehicle is destroyed. Another is annihilated by an energy blast targeting his car. These instances underscore the lethal potential of the sport, raising questions about its sanctioned status, particularly on planets like Earth, where it hasn’t gained widespread popularity. The series suggests that lower synchronization rates might mitigate the effects of virtual damage, potentially sparing less skilled or less committed racers from severe consequences. However, for elite racers, the risks are undeniably profound.
Character Deep Dive: Beyond the Cars
While Ryu is a standout, Scan 2 Go boasts a cast of memorable characters. Kaz Gordon, before Ryu’s arrival, was a top favorite. His unwavering determination and competitive spirit, evident from his early victory over his mentor, make him a compelling protagonist. Kaz’s ambition to be the “Fastest in the Universe” is a classic Shonen goal, driving his actions and development throughout the series. His Galaxy Falgor, with its flight capability, becomes iconic.
Shiro, the primary rival, adds depth with his ice powers and teleporting car. Zero, the legendary racer, embodies perfection, though his fateful battle with Ryu defines his arc. Fiona, the main heroine, evolves from strategic racer to wielding thunder powers, proving her racing prowess. Diego, the team’s food-loving powerhouse, and Myron, the intelligent but sometimes antagonistic member, add contrasting dynamics to Team Jet. Dradd, Kaz’s early rival from Gurao, and Taiga, another key rival seeking to surpass Zero, round out a diverse and engaging character roster.
Image featuring Kaz Gordon in Scan 2 Go, the main protagonist known for his determination and racing skills.
Characters like Kraken, Hebina, Jack, Ray, and Antares, while perhaps less central, contribute to the rich tapestry of the Scan 2 Go universe, each with their own quirks and roles in the racing world. Even with some characters being less developed than others, the overall cast provides a solid foundation for the series’ narrative.
Conclusion: Why Scan 2 Go Deserves Your Attention
Image capturing the dynamic energy of Scan 2 Go, encouraging viewers to experience this exciting anime series.
Overall, Scan 2 Go is a standout anime series that deserves a wider audience. While initially appearing as a straightforward racing show, it evolves into a surprisingly complex and high-stakes adventure, particularly with the introduction of Ryu. The animation, soundtrack, and compelling characters, especially the dynamic between Kaz and Ryu, elevate the series beyond typical toyetic fare. Despite some minor inconsistencies and less developed subplots, Scan 2 Go delivers a thrilling and engaging viewing experience from start to finish. If you’re a fan of racing anime, futuristic battles, or stories with unexpected depth, Scan 2 Go is a series you won’t want to miss. It’s a solid 8/10, easily earning its place as an underrated gem in the anime landscape. Give Scan 2 Go a watch and prepare to be drawn into its fast-paced, universe-spanning races!
