Ex-Driver (OVA) DVD

Sometime in the near future, humanity got exactly what it wanted: cars that drive themselves. AI-controlled vehicles have completely replaced human drivers, turning every road into a seamless, efficient automated network. There's just one problem — AI systems occasionally malfunction, and a runaway AI car in a populated city is a serious threat that conventional emergency services aren't equipped to stop. That's where the éX-Drivers come in: a specialized unit of drivers who operate older, non-computerized gasoline-powered cars and use pure manual driving skill to intercept and neutralize rogue vehicles before they cause casualties. Lisa Sakakino is seventeen, aggressive, and genuinely talented behind the wheel of her Subaru Impreza. Lorna Endou is equally seventeen, calmer, more strategic, and drives a Lotus Europa. They're both good at their jobs. Their new partner is Souichi Sugano — twelve years old, prodigiously gifted, and cheerfully impervious to the deep personal offense both his teammates take at being outperformed by a middle schooler.

éX-Driver is a six-episode OVA series conceived and designed by Kosuke Fujishima — the creator of Oh My Goddess! and You're Under Arrest — and directed by Jun Kawagoe, who brought in animation supervision experience from the Lupin the Third car action tradition to give the chase sequences genuine kinetic energy. Produced by Bandai Visual and XEBEC, the series features meticulously detailed and accurately rendered real-world vehicles including Lotus, Subaru, Lancia, Caterham, and others, with actual engine and exhaust recordings used for the sound design.

The opening theme marks JAM Project's major debut as a unit.

Each of the first four episodes is a self-contained chase story; episodes five and six form a connected two-part arc. Released in North America by Media Blasters on DVD in 2002. 

Notable Staff & Voice Talent

Director: Jun Kawagoe
Original Creator: Kosuke Fujishima (Oh My Goddess!, You're Under Arrest)
Screenplay: Shinzo Fujita
Studio: XEBEC / Bandai Visual / Actas
Opening Theme: "Become the Wind" by JAM Project (Major Debut Single)

Cast:
- Miki Nagasawa as Lisa Sakakino (Vampire Princess Miyu TV, Spirit of Wonder)
- Yoko Asada as Lorna Endou
- Yumiko Kobayashi as Souichi Sugano
- Unsho Ishizuka as Kei Munakata
- Michiko Neya as Nina A. Thunder (Nadesico, Battle Skipper, Soul Taker)

DVD Features

- Media Blasters / Anime Works Previews

Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles

Edition Details

Japanese Title: エクスドライバー (Ekusudoraibā)
Runtime: ~150 Minutes (Complete OVA Series, 6 Episodes)
Director: Jun Kawagoe
DVD Release Year: 2002 (U.S. Release)
Original Release Date (Japan): July 25, 2000 – September 25, 2001
Publisher: Media Blasters (Anime Works)
Rating: 13+
Region: Region 1 (U.S. / Canada)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Automotive
Themes: AI Vehicles, Manual Driving, Near-Future Japan, Car Chase Action, JAM Project Debut

Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.