Let’s talk about an anime that car guys whisper about like it’s a secret handshake: Wangan Midnight.

Yeah, yeah — everyone’s heard of Initial D. Trueno this, Eurobeat that, drift king memes flooding TikTok. We get it. But while Takumi’s out there delivering tofu sideways, there’s a whole other breed of speed freaks tearing up the Japanese highways at triple-digit speeds.

And they’ve got a name for it: Wangan Midnight.

Wait… What’s Wangan Midnight?

Let’s set the scene. Tokyo. Late night. The Wangan Expressway — a stretch of road where the only speed limit is how much bravery you’ve got tucked into your driver’s seat.

And at the center of this neon-soaked chaos? The Devil Z — a monstrous blue Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) that chews up engines and spits out terrified drivers.

The series follows Akio Asakura, a high-school kid who buys this cursed Z and becomes addicted to its insane power. And by insane, we mean “blow up the engine every other episode” levels of insane.

This isn’t mountain drifting. This is pedal-to-the-metal, straight-line, top-speed carnage on public roads. The stakes? Your life, your pride, and your bank account.

Why Wangan Midnight Deserves More Hype

Here’s the thing: Wangan Midnight has everything a car nut wants:

✅ Gorgeous Car Porn

Classic Z-cars. R32s. R33s. Supras. Porsche 911s. It’s basically a rolling showroom of Japan’s best steel.

✅ Ridiculous Street Races

We’re talking speeds well north of 300 km/h. Exhaust flames. Tunnel echo. The works.

✅ Mechanical Meltdowns

Engine blows? Transmission grenades? Turbochargers exploding like fireworks? Check, check, and check. It’s mechanical chaos you can’t look away from.

✅ Serious Vibes

Unlike Initial D’s upbeat music and comedic vibes, Wangan Midnight is darker. It’s obsession, danger, and that feeling of chasing something that might literally kill you.

Characters Who Live and Breathe Speed

• Akio Asakura: Our hero. Possessed by the Devil Z’s curse. Spiraling into debt faster than the Z hits redline.
• Reina Akikawa: Model-slash-racer. Because why not have a high-speed love triangle?
• Tatsuya Shima: Drives a black Porsche 911 Turbo, a.k.a. the Blackbird. Rival, nemesis, and occasional partner in crime.
• Plus a revolving door of car-crazed maniacs who’d rather die than lift off the throttle.

The Devil Z: Star of the Show

Let’s take a second for the Devil Z itself.

• It’s a Nissan S30Z.
• Twin-turbo L28 engine (in most versions).
• Tuned to death and beyond.
• Known for killing anyone who tries to tame it.

If Christine from Stephen King were a JDM legend, she’d be the Devil Z.

Why It’s Underrated

Despite all this, Wangan Midnight sits in the shadows.

• It’s overshadowed by Initial D’s drifting popularity.
• It’s a bit older (anime aired in 2007).
• No catchy Eurobeat memes went viral for it.
• And, let’s be real, it’s not the easiest series to find.

But if you’re tired of drifting and want to see straight-line insanity, Wangan Midnight is the anime you need to binge.

Should You Watch It?

• Are you obsessed with cars? Yes.
• Do you get goosebumps at the sound of a wastegate flutter? Yes.
• Do you want to develop an unhealthy urge to hit 300 km/h on public roads? …Maybe don’t. But yes.

Where to Watch Wangan Midnight

Here’s the only downside: it’s not on Netflix or Crunchyroll in most regions. You’ll need to hunt around for DVDs, streaming sites, or cough “alternative methods.”

Just remember — if you end up racing a Devil Z replica afterward, that’s on you.

Final Verdict

If you’re a car enthusiast and you haven’t watched Wangan Midnight, you’re missing out on one of anime’s best-kept secrets.

It’s fast, furious, and absolutely addictive.

Just remember: in real life, street racing is illegal. Unless you’re on a closed course or in a video game, keep your Wangan fantasies on screen.

Chenaraa.com — where we love cars so much, we’ll even risk summoning cursed Z-cars into our garages.