Wangan Midnight

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Wangan Midnight 1.png

| caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume cover, featuring Akio Asakura and the Devil Z

| ja_kanji = 湾岸ミッドナイト

| ja_romaji = Wangan Middonaito

| genre = Sports (highway racing)

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = Michiharu Kusunoki

| publisher = {{ubl|Shogakukan|Kodansha}}

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| magazine = {{ubl|Big Comic Spirits|{{noitalic|(1990)}}|Weekly Young Magazine|{{noitalic|(1992–2008)}}}}

| first = 1990

| last = 2008

| volumes = 42

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = TV Series

| director = Tsuneo Tominaga

| producer =

| writer =

| music =

| studio = A.C.G.T

| network = Animax

| first = June 8, 2007

| last = September 13, 2008

| episodes = 26

| episode_list = List of Wangan Midnight episodes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner

| author = Michiharu Kusunoki

| publisher = Kodansha

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| magazine = Weekly Young Magazine

| first = August 4, 2008

| last = July 9, 2012

| volumes = 12

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = Ginkai no Speed Star

| author = Michiharu Kusunoki

| publisher = Shogakukan

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| magazine = Big Comic Spirits

| first = August 11, 2014

| last = April 13, 2015

| volumes = 2

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster

| author = Michiharu Kusunoki

| publisher = Kodansha

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| magazine = Monthly Young Magazine

| first = September 20, 2016

| last =

| volumes = 12

| volume_list =

}}

{{nihongo|Wangan Midnight|湾岸ミッドナイト|Wangan Middonaito|lead=yes}} is a Japanese racing manga series written and illustrated by Michiharu Kusunoki. It was first serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits in 1990, but was later serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine from 1992 to 2008. The manga was compiled into 42 volumes published by Kodansha. A second manga series titled Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner was published from 2008 to 2012. A third manga series, Ginkai no Speed Star, was published from 2014 to 2015. A fourth manga series, Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster, started in 2016.

The series has been adapted into several live action feature films, video games, and an anime television series. The anime was broadcast in Japan from June 2007 to September 2008 on the anime satellite television network Animax, animated by A.C.G.T and produced by OB Planning.

In 1999, Wangan Midnight won the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award in the general category.

Story

The series revolves around street racing on Tokyo's {{Nihongo|Bayshore Route|湾岸|Wangan}}, as well as other roads on the Shuto Expressway network. The story begins with high school student Akio Asakura encountering a black Porsche 911 Turbo nicknamed "Blackbird" on the Wangan. Akio attempts to give chase, but is unable to keep up with the Blackbird, which is driven by a medical doctor named Tatsuya Shima.

Determined to drive a faster car, Akio visits a junkyard and is drawn to an old blue Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) with a highly tuned L28 engine. He learns that the car is supposedly "cursed," being extremely difficult to drive and having a history of multiple accidents, earning it the name {{Nihongo|"The Devil Z"|悪魔のZ|Akuma no Zetto}}. This does not dissuade him, and he restores the car back to its former glory. When racing with Blackbird, Akio tries to win, only to crash multiple times. He also gets to meet Eriko Asakura, the sister of the original driver who shares the same name as the current Akio, who previously died in a car accident while racing with Blackbird.

As he develops his career as the infamous owner of the Devil Z, Akio meets many other racers and tuners along the way, such as fashion model and TV host Reina Akikawa, who drives a grey (later white) Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32), and Jun Kitami, the original creator of the infamous Devil Z and Blackbird. The central plot revolves around the rivalry between the Devil Z and Blackbird for Wangan superiority as Akio tries to maintain his loyalty with the car and control it from crashing, with other racers trying to compete against both of them who are also seeking to oust their record.

The new story arc, Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner, features the new adventures of a new main character, Shinji Ogishima (who debuted in the last chapters of the original manga), and his friend, Nobu Setoguchi. They are part of the GT Cars project, which is in dispute and conflict, and must drive Mazda RX-7's along Shuto Expressway to settle these problems along with meeting Tatsuya Shima.

Characters

; {{nihongo|Akio Asakura|朝倉アキオ|Asakura Akio}}

:{{Voiced by|Shun Oguri}}

:An ambitious racer who started when he was very young, Akio was in his final year of high school as the story began. He drove a red Nissan Fairlady Z (Z31) until, after being defeated by Tatsuya Shima's Blackbird, he discovers the "Devil Z," a {{Convert|620|HP|kW|abbr=unit}} Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) which is supernaturally fast and extremely difficult to drive. Akio is regarded as a legend on the Wangan, though he is a humble character.

;{{nihongo|Tatsuya Shima|島達也|Shima Tatsuya}}

:{{Voiced by|Shin-ichiro Miki}}

:A talented surgeon and Akio's main rival, as Akio is the only one who regularly gives him a challenge. He drives a black Porsche 911 Turbo (930), and later a black Porsche 911 Turbo (964),{{efn|Due to licensing issues as well as Porsche's license deal with EA at that time, the early Maximum Tune video games have him drive either a Gemballa 3.8 RS in Japanese versions, and a Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33) in the English versions. Starting with Maximum Tune 4 until 5 DX Plus, as well in the Genki-developed games, he drives a RUF CTR Yellowbird colored and modified in black. Later chapters have him switch the CTR for the RCT.}} nicknamed "Blackbird", in homage to the RUF CTR "Yellowbird", RUF's 911 counterpart, using his large salary to fund his Porsche. Later, Shima had Jun Kitami (the man who built the Devil Z) tune his Porsche, upgrading the engine to {{convert|700|HP|abbr=on|}} to try to keep up with the Devil Z.

;{{nihongo|Reina Akikawa|秋川零奈|Akikawa Reina}}

:{{Voiced by|Reiko Suhō}}

:Reina is a model and television host, co-hosting an automotive news show named "Drive Go-Go!". She finds Akio on the Wangan and becomes obsessed with him and the Devil Z, even trying to take it for a joyride one night. After getting her R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R tuned by YM Speed's Kazuhiko Yamamoto, she discovers a love for street racing (something that does not sit very well with her manager). Though formerly a competing rival, she becomes friends with Akio after crashing her Skyline whilst racing him, even developing feelings for him. As a result, Reina just spectates the races on sidelines while driving her R32 or just coming with Akio to see him race.

Media

=Manga=

Wangan Midnight is written and illustrated by Michiharu Kusunoki. The series was first briefly published in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits in 1990 and transferred to Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine, where it ran from 1992 to 2008.{{cite web|script-title=ja:作品詳細『銀灰のスピードスター』|url=http://www.spi-net.jp/weekly/comic040.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105174350/http://www.spi-net.jp/weekly/comic040.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2014|website=spi-net.jp|publisher=Shogakukan|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:湾岸ミッドナイトMAXIMUM TUNE 5 Original Sound Track|url=http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&ima=2000&cd=UMA0000001104|publisher=Sony Music Shop|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|title=SonyMusicShop|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620150935/https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&ima=2000&cd=UMA0000001104|url-status=live}} Kodansha collected its chapters in forty-two {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, published from January 8, 1993,{{cite web|script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ（１）|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3233723|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717035127/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3233723|archive-date=July 17, 2012|language=ja|url-status=live}} to December 26, 2008.{{cite web|script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ（４２）|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3617440|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721111037/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3617440|archive-date=July 21, 2012|language=ja|url-status=live}}

A second series, titled Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner, was serialized in Weekly Young Magazine from August 4, 2008,{{efn|It started in the combined 36/37 issue of 2008, released on August 4, 2008.{{cite web|script-title=ja:Back Number 2008年|url=http://www.yanmaga.kodansha.co.jp/ym/backnamber/top_main2008.html|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414165414/http://www.yanmaga.kodansha.co.jp/ym/backnamber/top_main2008.html|archive-date=April 14, 2012|language=ja}}}} to July 9, 2012.{{cite web|script-title=ja:ヤンマガで「センゴク」第3部始動、「湾岸」続編は最終回|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/72177|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|date=July 2, 2012|archive-date=May 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530233851/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/72177|url-status=live}} Kodansha collected its chapters in twelve tankōbon volumes, published between November 6, 2009,{{cite web|script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴＣ１ランナー（１）|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011121|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123204812/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011121|url-status=live}} and October 5, 2012.{{cite web|script-title=ja:湾岸ミッドナイトＣ１ランナー（１２）＜完＞|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000016510|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701025418/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000016510|url-status=live}}

A third series, titled Ginkai no Speed Star, was serialized in Big Comic Spirits from August 11, 2014,{{cite web|script-title=ja:相田裕、楠みちはる、玉井雪雄ら新作がスピで|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/122724|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|date=August 4, 2014|archive-date=August 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805013332/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/122724|url-status=live}} to April 13, 2015.{{cite web|script-title=ja:原克玄の破天荒JKギャグ「るみちゃんの事象」タイトルも新たにリニューアル|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/143922|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|date=April 13, 2015|archive-date=April 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414015418/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/143922|url-status=live}} Shogakukan collected its chapters in two tankōbon volumes, published on November 28, 2014,{{cite web|script-title=ja:銀灰のスピードスターＳＥＲＩＥＳ１ターボ３．６|url=https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091866035|publisher=Shogakukan|access-date=June 10, 2021|language=ja|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210610221717/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091866035|archive-date=June 10, 2021|url-status=live}} and May 29, 2015.{{cite web|script-title=ja:銀灰のスピードスターＳＥＲＩＥＳ２ＧＴ－Ｒ（ＲＢ２６）|url=https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091870254|publisher=Shogakukan|access-date=June 10, 2021|language=ja|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210610221926/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091870254|archive-date=June 10, 2021|url-status=live}}

A fourth series, titled Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster, started in Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine on September 20, 2016.{{cite web|script-title=ja:楠みちはるが中年GT-R乗り描く新連載「首都高SPL」、月刊ヤンマガで開幕|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/202558|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|date=September 20, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921194213/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/202558|url-status=live}} Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on January 5, 2018.{{cite web|script-title=ja:首都高ＳＰＬ（１）|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000052447|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=September 14, 2019|language=ja|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604015419/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000052447|url-status=live}} As of September 19, 2024, twelve volumes have been released.{{cite web|script-title=ja:首都高ＳＰＬ（１２）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000398242|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=November 1, 2024|language=ja}}

=Films=

The series was adapted into a series of direct-to-video movies in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001, and a theatrical movie in 2009:

Wangan Midnight (湾岸MidNight), 1991
Wangan Midnight II (湾岸ミッドナイトII), 1993
Wangan Midnight III (湾岸ミッドナイトIII), 1993
Wangan Midnight 4 (湾岸ミッドナイト4), 1993
Wangan Midnight Special Director's Cut Complete Edition (湾岸ミッドナイトスペシャルディレクターズカット完全版), 1994
Wangan Midnight Final: GT-R Legend – Act 1 (湾岸ミッドナイト FINAL ~GT-R伝説 ACT1~), 1994
Wangan Midnight Final: GT-R Legend – Act 2 (湾岸ミッドナイト FINAL ~GT-R伝説 ACT2~), 1994
Devil GT-R Full Tuning (魔王GT-R チューニングのすべて), 1994
Showdown! Devil GT-R (対決!魔王GT-R), 1994
Wangan Midnight S30 vs. Gold GT-R – Part I (新湾岸ミッドナイト S30vsゴールドGT-R Part I), 1998
Wangan Midnight S30 vs. Gold GT-R – Part II (新湾岸ミッドナイト S30vsゴールドGT-R Part II), 1998
Wangan Midnight Return (湾岸ミッドナイトリターン), 2001
Wangan Midnight The Movie (湾岸MidNight Movie), 2009[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-26/wangan-midnight-the-movie-to-open-in-japan-this-summer Wangan Midnight the Movie to Open in Japan This Summer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126091744/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-26/wangan-midnight-the-movie-to-open-in-japan-this-summer |date=2021-01-26 }}. Anime News Network. 2009-04-26. Retrieved on 2009-04-26.

=Anime=

At the 2007 Tokyo Anime Fair, OB Planning announced the production of an animated series based on the manga,{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Evan|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-22/taf-2007-wangan-midnight|title=TAF 2007: Wangan Midnight Anime Announced|date=March 22, 2007|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 10, 2009|archive-date=March 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328040535/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-22/taf-2007-wangan-midnight|url-status=live}} and aired on a pay-per-view channel of Animax in June 2007. The series was co-produced by OB Planning, A.C.G.T., and Pastel, under the direction of Tsuneo Tominaga. The anime consists of twenty-six episodes. The opening theme for the series is "Lights and Anymore" by TRF and the ending theme is "Talkin' Bout Good Days" by Mother Ninja.{{cite web|script-title=ja:アニマックスPPVプレミア湾岸MIDNIGHT(ミッドナイト) 】|url=http://www.ppvj.co.jp/anime/0706wanganmidnight/|publisher=Pay Per View Japan Inc.|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029194425/http://www.ppvj.co.jp/anime/0706wanganmidnight/|archive-date=October 29, 2007|language=ja}}

=Video games=

Wangan Midnight – Developed by Genki and released on December 18, 2001, for arcade (by Namco, using the Namco System 246 hardware),{{cite web|script-title=ja:ナムコのアーケード最新作、『湾岸ミッドナイト』が12月18日より稼動開始！|url=https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/12/11/227e13d6541bad187b7cbdc852d62c83.html|date=December 11, 2001|website=dengekionline.com|access-date=June 10, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803213638/https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/12/11/227e13d6541bad187b7cbdc852d62c83.html|url-status=live}} and for the PlayStation 2 on March 21, 2002 by Genki.
Wangan Midnight R – Released for arcade in April 2002.{{cite web|title=各種レースのバランスを再調整！AC向け対戦バトルRCG『湾岸ミッドナイトR』稼動開始|url=https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2002/4/30/58c8a0773aa9dd2112ca0cc39709bedb.html|date=April 30, 2002|website=dengekionline.com|access-date=June 10, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=June 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609172207/https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2002/4/30/58c8a0773aa9dd2112ca0cc39709bedb.html|url-status=live}}
Wangan Midnight – Released in 2007 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable (as Wangan Midnight Portable) platforms. The games were re-released in 2008, under the "Genki The Best" label.
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune – Series of arcade games developed by Bandai Namco Amusement. The first entry was released on July 6, 2004.
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2 – April 25, 2005
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 – July 18, 2007
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX – December 16, 2008
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus – March 4, 2010
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4 – December 15, 2011
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 – March 12, 2014
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX – December 15, 2015
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus – December 15, 2016
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6 – July 12, 2018
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6R – January 21, 2020{{Cite web|url=http://wanganmaxi-official.com/wanganmaxi6r/|title=WANGAN MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM TUNE 6R|website=WANGAN MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM TUNE 6R|access-date=2020-01-09|archive-date=2019-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221105930/http://wanganmaxi-official.com/wanganmaxi6r/|url-status=live}}
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR – November 17, 2021
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR+ – April 17, 2024, in Japan only{{cite web|title=Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR Plus|url=https://wanganmaxi-official.com/wanganmaxi6rrplus/|website=wanganmaxi-official.com|access-date=January 16, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=February 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228032702/https://wanganmaxi-official.com/wanganmaxi6rrplus/|url-status=live}}
Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition – TBD{{cite web|title=Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition|url=https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/wmsi/|website=bandainamco-am.co.jp|access-date=April 30, 2025|language=ja|archive-date=April 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424082541/https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/wmsi/|url-status=live}}

Reception

In 1999, Wangan Midnight won the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award in the general category.[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/kodansha.shtml Kodansha Manga Award.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816031310/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/kodansha.shtml|date=2007-08-16 }} Retrieved on November 17, 2007.

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|https://magazine.yanmaga.jp/c/wanganmidnight/|Official website at Young Magazine}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Anime News Network|manga|4562}}

Category:1990 manga

Category:1990s Japanese films

Category:2000s Japanese films

Category:2001 films

Category:2007 anime television series debuts

Category:2008 manga

Category:2014 manga

Category:2016 manga