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{{short description|2001 film}}
{{short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Wangan Midnight
| image = Wangan Midnight 1.png
| caption = First ''[[tankōbon]]'' volume cover, featuring Akio Asakura and the Devil Z
| image = midnightvol1.jpeg
| caption = Cover of the first volume of the manga|
| ja_kanji = 湾岸ミッドナイト
| ja_kanji = 湾岸ミッドナイト
| ja_romaji = Wangan Middonaito
| ja_romaji = Wangan Middonaito
| genre = [[Sports]] ([[street racing|highway racing]])<ref name="TAF2007"/><!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
| genre = [[Sports manga|Sports]] ([[street racing|highway racing]])<ref name="TAF2007"/><!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| type = manga
| author = [[Michiharu Kusunoki]]
| author = [[Michiharu Kusunoki]]
| publisher = [[Shogakukan]]<br>[[Kodansha]]
| publisher = {{ubl|[[Shogakukan]]|[[Kodansha]]}}
| demographic = ''[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]''
| demographic = ''[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]''
| magazine = [[Big Comic Spirits]]<br><small>''(1990–1991)''</small><br>[[Weekly Young Magazine]]<br><small>''(1992–2008)''</small>
| magazine = {{ubl|[[Big Comic Spirits]]|{{noitalic|(1990)}}|[[Weekly Young Magazine]]|{{noitalic|(1992–2008)}}}}
| first = 1990
| first = 1990
| last = 2008
| last = 2008
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| type = TV Series
| type = TV Series
| director = Tsuneo Tominaga
| director = Tsuneo Tominaga
| producer = [[Keiichi Tsuchiya]]
| producer =
| writer =
| writer =
| music =
| music =
| studio = [[A.C.G.T]]
| studio = [[A.C.G.T]]
Line 40: Line 39:
| demographic = ''Seinen''
| demographic = ''Seinen''
| magazine = Weekly Young Magazine
| magazine = Weekly Young Magazine
| first = 2009
| first = August 4, 2008
| last = 2012
| last = July 9, 2012
| volumes = 12
| volumes = 12
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
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| magazine = Big Comic Spirits
| magazine = Big Comic Spirits
| first = August 11, 2014
| first = August 11, 2014
| last = April 13, 2015
| last = April 13, 2015
| volumes = 2
| volumes = 2
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
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| magazine = Monthly Young Magazine
| magazine = Monthly Young Magazine
| first = September 20, 2016
| first = September 20, 2016
| last =
| last =
| volumes = 4
| volumes = 10
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{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.
{{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]]'' since 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.


In 1999, ''Wangan Midnight'' won the [[Kodansha Manga Award]] for the General category.
The series has been adapted into several live action feature films, video games, and an [[anime]] television series. The anime began airing in Japan on June 8, 2007 on the anime satellite television network [[Animax]], produced by OB Planning.<ref name="anime">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-22/taf-2007-wangan-midnight|title=AF 2007: Wangan Midnight Anime Announced – Anime News Network|accessdate=2007-03-24}}</ref>


==Story==
A second series entitled ''Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner'' was published from 2008 to 2012. The third series, ''Ginkai no Speed Star'', was published from 2014 to 2015. A fourth series, entitled ''Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster'', started in 2016.
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 930|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 S30#Fairlady Z|Nissan Fairlady Z (S30)]] with a highly tuned [[Nissan L engine#L28|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}}. However, 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 his Nissan 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.
In 1999, ''Wangan Midnight'' won the [[Kodansha Manga Award]] for general manga.<ref>[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.</ref>


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|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.
== Story ==
The story primarily revolves around street racing that occurs on Tokyo's [[Shuto Expressway]], [[Bayshore Route]]. ''Wangan'' ("湾岸", literally ''bayshore'' in Japanese) is the endonym of the longest, straightest road in Japan. There is also road traffic to contend with, including a fair number of heavy trucks and buses. Because of this, the action is inherently hazardous, and wrecks are common. Blown engines are also a frequent hazard, especially cars with extremely high-powered engines.


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.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} 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.
One day, Akio Asakura (a high school student with a knack for attracting many girls and taking them for rides in his car), was passed by a black [[Porsche 964|Porsche 911 Turbo (964)]], dubbed the "Blackbird" (driven by Combat Medic Tatsuya Shima). With his friend in the passenger seat and two girls in the back, Akio attempts to win, but (quickly "eats its dust"), is defeated.


==Characters==
Determined to drive a faster car, Akio heads for the junkyard and finds an old blue [[Nissan S30|Fairlady Z (S30)]] (known as the [[Datsun 240Z]] in North America), discovering that it has been tuned from an old and outdated piece of junk, into a souped-up racing monster known as "{{Nihongo|The Devil Z|悪魔のZ|Akuma no Zetto|lead=yes}}".

Despite warnings about how the car is supposedly cursed, that all of its previous owners happen to share his full name, and that every one of those owners has died due to accidents, he takes the dealer up on the offer and gives the Devil Z a spin, and discovered that the Z (which had a tuned 3.1-liter [[Nissan L engine|L28]]-kai <!-- Guest and Registered users are prohibited to remove the "-kai" suffix, as it is mentioned in the anime.
-->triple-carburetor, twin-turbo engine) not only has unparalleled power, but seems to have a mind of its own, as he soon wipes out spectacularly trying to control it.

Despite what happens when he's behind the wheel of the Devil Z, Akio is determined to take mastery of the Devil Z and get back at his new rival. As he develops his career as the infamous owner of the Devil Z, Akio meets many other racers and tuners along the way, though the central plot revolves around the constant battle with Blackbird, for Wangan superiority.

The new story arc, ''Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner'', features the new adventures of the new main character, Shinji Ogishima (which debuted in the last chapters of the original story), and his friend, Nobu Setoguchi, both are part of "GT Cars" project which is in dispute and conflict, and must settle these problems by driving [[Mazda RX-7]]<nowiki/>s around [[Shuto Expressway]], and meeting with Tatsuya Shima.

== Characters ==
{{See also|List of Wangan Midnight characters}}
; {{nihongo|Akio Asakura|朝倉アキオ|Asakura Akio}}
; {{nihongo|Akio Asakura|朝倉アキオ|Asakura Akio}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Shun Oguri]]}}
:{{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 was driving his red [[Nissan 300ZX|Nissan Fairlady Z (300ZX)]] until, after a humiliating defeat to [[list of Wangan Midnight characters#Tatsuya Shima|Tatsuya Shima]], he discovered the "Devil Z", a {{Convert|620|HP|kW|abbr=unit}} [[Nissan S30|Nissan Fairlady Z (S30Z)]] which is supernaturally fast and extremely difficult to drive.
: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 300ZX#Z31|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 S30#Fairlady Z|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.
:Akio was actually very popular among the girls in his school, as shown in one episode of the anime when he greeted Rumi Shimada one morning. The girls in the background all had a look on their faces that screamed "SQUEE!", but Akio's too obsessed with street racing (especially in the Devil Z), to notice.
:Akio is regarded as a legend on the Wangan, although he is a humble young man. Despite his gentle demeanor, he is so serious about racing that he skips school to the point of repeating a grade to drive the Devil Z. Lamp-shaded by his best friend [[List of Wangan Midnight characters#Ma|Masaki Takahashi]] who claimed that because Akio had to repeat a year due to too many absences, the girls from the graduating class cried as a result.
:Akio has trouble forming intimate relationships, although he has made some slight inroads with [[list of Wangan Midnight characters#Reina Akikawa|Reina Akikawa]].
:His night job is a waiter for Midnight Club, but he had either been laid off (due to Midnight Club going bankrupt), resigned from Midnight Club (like how Keiichiro Aizawa did), or still working there (even though Midnight Club was never heard of again after several volumes of the manga/several episodes of the anime).
:He is regularly exposed to the active social scene at the heart of Tokyo, and he was already an accomplished racer with his Nissan Fairlady Z (300ZX), but behind the wheel of the [[Nissan S30|Nissan Fairlady Z (S30Z)]], Akio is nearly invincible. He is very adaptable and can learn to drive virtually any car he sees.

;{{nihongo|Tatsuya Shima|島達也|Shima Tatsuya}}
;{{nihongo|Tatsuya Shima|島達也|Shima Tatsuya}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Shin-ichiro Miki]]}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Shin-ichiro Miki]]}}
:He is the main opponent of Akio Asakura, as Akio is the only one who regularly gives him a challenge. He drives a [[Porsche 964|Porsche 911 Turbo (964)]], named "Blackbird". In the anime and manga, the car has a {{convert|470|HP|abbr=on}} stock engine. He became annoyed with Akio becoming faster all the time so he had Jun Kitami (the man who built the Devil Z) to tune his Porsche.
: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 930|Porsche 911 Turbo (930)]], and later a black [[Porsche 964|Porsche 911 Turbo (964)]],{{efn|Due to licensing issues as well as Porsche's license deal with [[Electronic Arts|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 350Z]] in the English versions. Starting with Maximum Tune 4 until 5DX+, as well as 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|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|800|HP|abbr=on|}}, to try to keep up with the Devil Z.
:Kitami tunes the suspension and adds another turbo boost and upgrades the engine to {{convert|800|HP|abbr=on|}}, to try to keep up with the Devil Z. He is an extraordinarily skilled driver, and has only been in one wreck during the course of the anime (as a result of deep thought, he failed to notice drunkards on the road. He swerves to avoid a taxi, only to end up hitting a pole).
:He knows the limits of his vehicle and will never risk disaster by pushing it beyond its safe limits. This cost him a couple of battles, but he always learns from his failures and comes back even tougher. He is a very skilled surgeon/combat medic and uses his large salary to fund his Porsche.

;{{nihongo|Reina Akikawa|秋川零奈|Akikawa Reina}}
;{{nihongo|Reina Akikawa|秋川零奈|Akikawa Reina}}
:{{Voiced by|Reiko Suhou}}
:{{Voiced by|Reiko Suhou}}
:Reina is a very attractive model who also co-hosts a driving television show named ''Drive Go Go!'' (where the latest automotive trends are discussed). She finds Akio on the Wangan and becomes obsessed with him and the Devil Z, even trying to take the Devil Z for a joyride one night (she distracted Devil Z owner Akio Asakura, by asking him to buy her a drink (after identifying herself using a nearby poster advertising a drink, complete with the word ''drink'')).
: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 the Devil Z for a joyride one night. After getting her [[Nissan Skyline GT-R]] (R32) tuned and modified from 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.
:After getting her [[Nissan Skyline GT-R]] (R32) tuned and modified from YM Speed's Kazuhiko Yamamoto, she discovers a previously unknown aptitude for street racing (something that does not sit very well with her manager).
:She is very sociable, and has lots of acquaintances, but has no real friends. While she is an idol, she is quite modestly dressed. She has made some slight inroads with Akio Asakura.
:Like most of the women in the series, Reina is very sensitive and bursts into tears easily in some volumes and in one episode of the anime, although she calms down considerably in later volumes. In the manga, her hair is curly, but in later volumes of the manga (and the anime), she has straight hair.


== Media ==
==Media==
=== Manga ===
===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.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:作品詳細『銀灰のスピードスター』 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105174350/http://www.spi-net.jp/weekly/comic040.html |website=spi-net.jp |publisher=[[Shogakukan]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{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 Entertainment Japan|Sony Music Shop]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="movie2009"/> The series was compiled into forty-two ''[[tankōbon]]'' volumes published from January 5, 1993 to December 26, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ（１） |url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000006661 |publisher=[[Kodansha]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ（４２） |url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011094 |publisher=[[Kodansha]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref> A sequel entitled ''Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner'' started in 2008 and finished in 2012.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja |date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> It was compiled into twelve ''tankōbon'' volumes published between November 6, 2009 and October 5, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ　Ｃ１ランナー（１） |url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011121 |publisher=[[Kodansha]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{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]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref> A third series entitled ''Ginkai no Speed Star'' was serialized in ''Big Comic Spirits'' from August 11, 2014 to April 13, 2015.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja |date=August 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{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=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja |date=April 13, 2015}}</ref> Shogakukan compiled the series into two ''tankōbon'' volumes published on November 28, 2014 and May 29, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:銀灰のスピードスター　ＳＥＲＩＥＳ　１　ターボ３．６ |url=http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09186603 |publisher=[[Shogakukan]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:銀灰のスピードスター　ＳＥＲＩＥＳ２　ＧＴ－Ｒ（ＲＢ２６） |url=http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09187025 |publisher=[[Shogakukan]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref> A fourth sequel entitled '' Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster'' started in Kodansha's ''Monthly Young Magazine'' on September 20, 2016.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja |date=September 20, 2016}}</ref> The first ''tankōbon'' volume was published on January 5, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:首都高ＳＰＬ（１） |url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000052447 |publisher=[[Kodansha]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref> The series has been compiled into four ''tankōbon'' volumes as of September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:首都高ＳＰＬ（４） |url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000323831 |publisher=[[Kodansha]] |accessdate=September 14, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref>
''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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 Entertainment Japan|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}}</ref><ref name="movie2009"/> Kodansha collected its chapters in forty-two ''[[tankōbon]]'' volumes, published from January 8, 1993,<ref>{{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}}</ref> to December 26, 2008.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


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,<ref name="C1R-vol1"/> released on August 4, 2008.<ref>{{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}}</ref>}} to July 9, 2012.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (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}}</ref> Kodansha collected its chapters in twelve ''tankōbon'' volumes, published between November 6, 2009,<ref name="C1R-vol1">{{cite web|script-title=ja:湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ Ｃ１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}}</ref> and October 5, 2012.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
=== Movies ===

The series was adapted into a series of direct-to-video movies in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2009.
A third series, titled ''Ginkai no Speed Star'', was serialized in ''Big Comic Spirits'' from August 11, 2014,<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (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}}</ref> to April 13, 2015.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (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}}</ref> Shogakukan collected its chapters in two ''tankōbon'' volumes, published on November 28, 2014,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:銀灰のスピードスター ＳＥＲＩＥＳ １ 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}}</ref> and May 29, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:銀灰のスピードスター ＳＥＲＩＥＳ２ ＧＴ－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}}</ref>

A fourth series, titled '' Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster'', started in Kodansha's ''Monthly Young Magazine'' on September 20, 2016.<ref>{{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=[[Natalie (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}}</ref> Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual ''tankōbon'' volumes. The first volume was published on January 5, 2018.<ref>{{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}}</ref> As of September 17, 2021, seven volumes have been released.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:首都高ＳＰＬ（７）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000355138|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|access-date=October 22, 2021|language=ja|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022130358/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000355138|url-status=live}}</ref>

===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'' (湾岸MidNight), 1991
Line 136: Line 120:
* ''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 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 Return'' (湾岸ミッドナイト リターン), 2001
* ''Wangan Midnight The Movie'' (湾岸MidNight Movie), 2009<ref name="movie2009">[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.</ref>
* [[Wangan Midnight (film)|''Wangan Midnight The Movie'']] (湾岸MidNight Movie), 2009


=== Anime ===
===Anime===
{{main|List of Wangan Midnight episodes}}
{{main|List of Wangan Midnight episodes}}
At the 2007 Tokyo Anime Fair, OB Planning announced the production of an animated series based on the manga,<ref name="TAF2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-22/taf-2007-wangan-midnight|title=TAF 2007: Wangan Midnight Anime Announced|date=2007-03-22|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref> and aired on a pay-per-view channel of [[Animax]] in June 2007,<ref name="TAF2007" /> 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 series was released on DVD with the thirteenth volume reaching 29th on the Oricon sales chart for Japanese animation DVDs in November 2008. The Japanese opening theme for the series is ''Lights and Anymore'' by [[TRF (band)|TRF]]; the opening features clips of Akio's Devil Z, the 3 main characters of the show, and also features Akio's Devil Z racing against Shima's Blackbird. The closing theme is ''Talkin' Bout Good Days'' by Mother Ninja.<ref name="Oricon">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-25/japanese-animation-dvd-ranking-november-19-25|title=Japanese Animation DVD Ranking, November 19–25|date=2008-11-25|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref>
At the 2007 Tokyo Anime Fair, OB Planning announced the production of an animated series based on the manga,<ref name="TAF2007">{{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}}</ref> and aired on a pay-per-view channel of [[Animax]] in June 2007.<ref name="TAF2007" /> 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 (group)|TRF]] and the ending theme is "Talkin' Bout Good Days" by Mother Ninja.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


===Video games===
===''Wangan Midnight: The Movie'' (2009) ===
* ''Wangan Midnight'' – Developed by Genki and released on February 2, 2001, for [[arcade game|arcade]] (by [[Namco]], using the [[Namco System 246]] hardware), and for the [[PlayStation 2]] on March 21, 2002 by Genki.
{{Main|Wangan Midnight: The Movie}}
** ''Wangan Midnight R'' – Released for arcade on December 20, 2001.
[[File:Wmposter001.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Theatrical release poster of Wangan Midnight: The Movie (2009).]]
* ''[[Wangan Midnight (2007 video game)|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.
On September 12, 2009, Jolly Roger and [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan|Geneon Universal Entertainment]] released a live-action adaptation of the manga, titled ''Wangan Midnight: The Movie''.<ref name="movie2009">[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]. ''Anime News Network''. 2009-04-26. Retrieved on 2009-04-26.</ref> The film was shot in [[San Mateo, Rizal]], [[Philippines]], as a stand-in for the expressway racing scenes. Like the previous anime television series and video features, ''Wangan Midnight: The Movie'' centers on Akio Asakura's "Devil Z" and the rivalry with Tatsuya Shima's "Blackbird".
* ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune'' – Developed by Bandai Namco Amusement and released on July 6, 2004, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2'' – Released on April 25, 2005, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3'' – Released on July 18, 2007, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX'' – Released on December 16, 2008, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus'' – Released on March 4, 2010, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4'' – Released on December 15, 2011, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' – Released on March 12, 2014, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX'' – Released on December 15, 2015, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus'' – Released on December 15, 2016, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' – Released on July 12, 2018, for arcade.
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6R'' – Released on January 21, 2020, for arcade.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
**''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR'' – Released on November 17, 2021, for arcade.
** ''Wangan Midnight Maxmum Tune 6RR+'' – Set to be released in April 17, 2024, for arcades in Japan.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


== Games ==
==Reception==
In 1999, ''Wangan Midnight'' won the [[Kodansha Manga Award]] for the General category.<ref>[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.</ref>
The series has been adapted into a series of video games, developed by Bandai Namco Amusement.


==Notes==
;Wangan Midnight and Wangan Midnight R
{{notelist}}
''Wangan Midnight'', developed by Genki and released in February 2, 2001 as an arcade game, plays much like ''Shutokou Battle''. The objective is to drain the opponent's Life Meter by maintaining a major advantage or causing the opponent to crash into things.


==References==
On December 20, 2001, ''Wangan Midnight R'' was released. A PS2 version of ''Wangan Midnight'' was released later on March 21, 2002. It was basically a home port of ''Wangan Midnight R''.

[[Wangan Midnight (PlayStation 3 game)|A sequel to the original game]] was released in 2007 for the [[PlayStation 3]], and [[PlayStation Portable]] (as Wangan Midnight Portable) platforms. The PS3 and PSP games were re-released in 2008, under the "Genki The Best" label. The game has nothing to do with the arcade games and is mostly centered on the manga's story.

On release, ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine scored the first PlayStation 2 version of the game a 30 out of 40.<ref>''プレイステーション2 – 湾岸ミッドナイト''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.91. 30 June 2006.</ref>

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune
''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune'' (marketed as ''Maximum Tune'' in North America), developed by Bandai Namco Amusement (was formerly developed by Namco), is the series of Wangan Midnight games as most fans know it. Originally released in '''July 6, 2004''', ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune'' features a card system, more lenient and drifty driving physics, more colorful graphics, a more traditional "point A to point B" racing system, and a tuning system in which players can tune their car all the way to 800&nbsp;hp (600&nbsp;kW)<!-- Got ya! Didn't used the "Convert" template. --> by completing 60, 80, or 100 stages of Story Mode.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2

Released on April 25, 2005, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2'' introduces the Hakone mountain pass, and increased the maximum horsepower to 815.

Story Mode has been revamped, expanded to 80 stages from 60 with the latter half of Story Mode following various story arcs from the Wangan Midnight manga.

When a player's card expires, they can use the expired card, now a "Discarded Vehicle Card", to make up to two clones of their car with everything other than vehicle color and Story Mode progress up to stage 20 reset.

Also, VS races are also done on circuits; the lead player deciding the next route at forks would not come until ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3''.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3

Released on July 18, 2007, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3'' expands the Tokyo map to include longer stretches of the Yokohane and Wangan lines, and adds the Osaka Hanshin line as a new map.

The Story Mode was completely revamped and are now fully integrated to the stories from the original manga. Ghost Battle is introduced, allowing players within the same arcade to race against AI opponents representing past runs within the mode; winning battles in Ghost Battle earns the player Dress-Up points that can be used to make cosmetic changes to their car.

VS Mode has been overhauled; on Tokyo and Osaka, instead of racing fixed circuits, certain junctions allow the lead player to choose the next route.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX

Released on December 16, 2008, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX'' adds the Nagoya Speed Ring area.

Story Mode has been extended further to 100 stages; along with ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus'', this results in the longest and most expensive Story Mode cycle (the next installment to do so is ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'', though many fans were also relieved to find out that the unlock conditions for new tachometers were changed. Instead of completing an entire story loop from start to finish, unshaded, players can obtain them by ''completing any 100 story chapters without losing once''). The maximum horsepower has been increased from 815 hp to 825 hp.
;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus
Released in Japan on March 4, 2010 and in Indonesia on May 2010. ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus'' (stylized as ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3DX+'') is the last version to support proprietary read/write data cards. ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus'' adds the Fukuoka Urban Expressway area.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4

Released in Japan, on December 15, 2011, Australia, on December 15, 2012, Indonesia, on November 27, 2013, and China, on 2016, it operates on the ''System ES1'' system, an upgraded version of ''System N2''. The maximum horsepower has been increased from 825 hp to 830 hp.

Before ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4'' it's quite common for a player to have more than one card, as the card can store one car per card. This became a thing of the past when ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4'' ditched the previous installments' magnetic cards in favor of Bandai Namco ID system; since player data is stored on the server rather than on the card, there is no issue of cards having limited data, and thus the player can have up to 100 cars in their profile.

''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4'' was the first installment to use the Bandai Namco ID network and corresponding BanaPassport card system (Banapassport cards are read-only NFC cards and only contain the card ID, and all player data is stored in Bandai Namco's cloud infrastructure and the card is used for player authentication. It isn't vulnerable to the issue of the card wearing out from read-write cycles like magnetic cards), with all player data being stored on the server. SEGA's Aime cards are compatible with the game as well, due to Namco and SEGA sharing the same online infrastructure; conversely BanaPassport cards can be used on games using Aime readers.

This network functionality allows players to race ghosts from other arcades, see server records when racing in Time Attack, and access player data from the web. The ''Wangan Terminal'' (a companion cabinet that allows players to change customizations and game settings at no cost, and (depending on the arcade), can sell unactivated BanaPassport cards to players (since BanaPassport cards can be purchased independent of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune'' cabinets for play with other games on the network, it is common for arcades to only load cards into the ''Wangan Terminal'' and not into the gameplay cabinets, or to not even load cards at all and sell them in person through the counter instead)) is also introduced.

Aside from these dramatic changes to player data structure, Story Mode has been shrunk from 100 stages back to 60, Porsche cars are officially available for the first time outside of Japan under the [[Ruf Automobile|RUF]] license (they exist in a dummied-out form in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2'', but all data pertaining to them was scrubbed from ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3'').

Chevrolet cars were added making them the first American cars in the series, and a few new areas have been added: Yaesu loop within C1 and the Yokohama line.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5

Released in Japan, on March 12, 2014, Australia, on October 22, 2014, Indonesia, on December 15, 2014, and North America, on March 8, 2017. ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' is distributed as an ''upgrade kit'' for ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4'' arcade machines.

''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' adds the Shibuya/Shinjuku and Ikebukuro sub-center lines, as well as the Mt. Taikan pass, and introduces two more car-makers, [[Audi]] and [[Dodge]]. Non-Japanese versions notably have a large number of changes: the game uses the same hardware and interface as ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4''; some exclusive cars and two new car-makers were added while removing some other ones, and the sub-center lines were not added to these versions. The U.S. version is additionally segregated from Asia regions, takes out two more cars, and is officially called ''Maximum Tune 5'', without the ''Wangan Midnight'' part of the title.

The Japanese version of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' has some exclusive soundtracks for its menus. While the "Entry" sountrack for the Japanese version of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' is completely different, the non-Japanese versions of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' re-uses the "Entry" soundtrack for ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4.''

However, a common complaint about the English-language versions of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'', which doesn't add as much new content as the Japanese version. For many players, it may as well be called ''<u>Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4 DX</u>''.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX
Released early in Japan on December 15, 2015, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX'' adds the Kobe area's Hanshin Expressway Route 3 as a new area. The Asian and Indonesian version was released on August 2, 2016, and the Chinese version was released on January 30, 2018.

The Japanese versions add back two more foreign car-makers only available in overseas versions of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5''. The Ikebukuro course was redesigned due to a road along its route being closed down. The non-Japan Asia version adds back some of the content that went missing in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'', including the aforementioned sub-center lines, and uses ESA3 hardware and the interface was updated.

Due to regional segregation, the Chinese version skipped ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5'' in favor of ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX''.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus

Released in Japan, on December 15, 2016, Asia, on July 19, 2017, and Indonesia, on October 5, 2017, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus'' (stylized as ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5DX+'') adds two new car-makers (namely Lamborghini (Italian) and Honda (Japanese))<!-- When can they add Ferrari cars to the roster? --> and Hiroshima Expressway.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6

Released in Japan on July 12, 2018, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' adds [[Porsche]] as a new car manufacturer (which replaced [[Ruf Automobile|RUF]], after Porsche's exclusive-16-year-license with [[Electronic Arts]] (since 2000) had expired), revamped Dress-Up parts, an increase in maximum horsepower from 830 to 840, updates to Story Mode that extend it from 60 to 100 stages, most similar to ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus''<!-- Since the 6 uses the first 60 chapters from 4 - 5DX+, and then the latter 40 from the 3DX and 3DX+. -->. ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' also reintroduces new rivals which appeared in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX'' and ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX+''.

The Asian and Indonesian versions were merged as the International version, and released on July 2 - August 7, 2019, in phases:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6's release date in countries
!Country and region
!Date
|-
|Hong Kong, Taiwan, [[Korea (Republic of)]], Cambodia, Brunei, Malaysia, Macau
|July 2, 2019
|-
|Singapore, Thailand
|July 9, 2019
|-
|Australia, Philippines
|July 23, 2019
|-
|Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka
|July 30, 2019
|-
|New Zealand
|August 7, 2019
|}
''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' also introduces ''4-way Ghost Battles'', whereby players can choose from one to three Online ghosts to battle from. The selection can be done on the ''Wangan Terminal'', or on the ''Wangan Navigator'' app.

''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' also dumped ''Maxi G'' in favor of a system similar to that of the original Dress-Up system. Also, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' takes the Banapassport card storage was doubled, to 200 cars per card.

The announcement that ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'' would increase the number of chapters in Story Mode from 60 to 100, did not go over well with fans, as well as the fact that those who already finished the story, would have to finish it again to go from 830&nbsp;hp cap in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus'', to 840&nbsp;hp cap in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6''.

However, when the game came out, it was revealed that the player needs to get up to Stage 80 to get up to the 840&nbsp;hp cap, prompting a sigh of relief from fans.

After the sheer amount of backlash received from resetting dress-up progress across the board in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6'', and replacing the older aero-sets with newer aero-sets, Bandai Namco announced that they would re-add all eight of the aero-sets from ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus'', in a later update in ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6''.

A parallel companion app, ''Wangan Navigator'', is released to iOS App Store and Google Play Store on July - August 2019.

;Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6R

Released in Japan on January 21, 2020, ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6R''<ref>{{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}}</ref> is the first installment in the ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune'' series to use the ''R'' (as in ''Wangan Midnight'' to ''Wangan Midnight R'') suffix instead of the ''DX'' suffix (''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX'', and ''Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX'').

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* [http://wanganmaxi-official.com/ News on the Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune series]
* [http://wanganmaxi-official.com/ News on the Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune series]
* {{Ann|manga|4562}}
* {{Anime News Network|manga|4562}}


{{Big Comic series}}
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{{Kodansha Manga Award - General}}
{{Kodansha Manga Award - General}}
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Revision as of 23:03, 4 May 2024

Wangan Midnight
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Akio Asakura and the Devil Z
湾岸ミッドナイト
(Wangan Middonaito)
GenreSports (highway racing)[1]
Manga
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published by
Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original run1990 – 2008
Volumes42
Anime television series
Directed byTsuneo Tominaga
StudioA.C.G.T
Original networkAnimax
Original run June 8, 2007 – September 13, 2008
Episodes26 (List of episodes)
Manga
Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published byKodansha
MagazineWeekly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 4, 2008 – July 9, 2012
Volumes12
Manga
Ginkai no Speed Star
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published byShogakukan
MagazineBig Comic Spirits
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 11, 2014 – April 13, 2015
Volumes2
Manga
Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published byKodansha
MagazineMonthly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runSeptember 20, 2016 – present
Volumes10

Wangan Midnight (Japanese: 湾岸ミッドナイト, Hepburn: Wangan Middonaito) 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 Kodansha Manga Award for the General category.

Story

The series revolves around street racing on Tokyo's 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 "The Devil Z" (悪魔のZ, Akuma no Zetto). However, 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 his Nissan 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.[citation needed] 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

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 620 hp (460 kW) 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.
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),[a] 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 800 hp (600 kW), to try to keep up with the Devil Z.
Reina Akikawa (秋川零奈, Akikawa Reina)
Voiced by: Reiko Suhou
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 the Devil Z for a joyride one night. After getting her Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) tuned and modified from 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.[2][3][4] Kodansha collected its chapters in forty-two tankōbon volumes, published from January 8, 1993,[5] to December 26, 2008.[6]

A second series, titled Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner, was serialized in Weekly Young Magazine from August 4, 2008,[b] to July 9, 2012.[9] Kodansha collected its chapters in twelve tankōbon volumes, published between November 6, 2009,[7] and October 5, 2012.[10]

A third series, titled Ginkai no Speed Star, was serialized in Big Comic Spirits from August 11, 2014,[11] to April 13, 2015.[12] Shogakukan collected its chapters in two tankōbon volumes, published on November 28, 2014,[13] and May 29, 2015.[14]

A fourth series, titled Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster, started in Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine on September 20, 2016.[15] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on January 5, 2018.[16] As of September 17, 2021, seven volumes have been released.[17]

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[4]

Anime

Main article: List of Wangan Midnight episodes

At the 2007 Tokyo Anime Fair, OB Planning announced the production of an animated series based on the manga,[1] and aired on a pay-per-view channel of Animax in June 2007.[1] 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.[18]

Video games

  • Wangan Midnight – Developed by Genki and released on February 2, 2001, for arcade (by Namco, using the Namco System 246 hardware), and for the PlayStation 2 on March 21, 2002 by Genki.
    • Wangan Midnight R – Released for arcade on December 20, 2001.
  • 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 – Developed by Bandai Namco Amusement and released on July 6, 2004, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2 – Released on April 25, 2005, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 – Released on July 18, 2007, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX – Released on December 16, 2008, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus – Released on March 4, 2010, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4 – Released on December 15, 2011, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 – Released on March 12, 2014, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX – Released on December 15, 2015, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus – Released on December 15, 2016, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6 – Released on July 12, 2018, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6R – Released on January 21, 2020, for arcade.[19]
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR – Released on November 17, 2021, for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maxmum Tune 6RR+ – Set to be released in April 17, 2024, for arcades in Japan.[20]

Reception

In 1999, Wangan Midnight won the Kodansha Manga Award for the General category.[21]

Notes

  1. ^ 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 350Z in the English versions. Starting with Maximum Tune 4 until 5DX+, as well as 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.
  2. ^ It started in the combined 36/37 issue of 2008,[7] released on August 4, 2008.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Miller, Evan (March 22, 2007). "TAF 2007: Wangan Midnight Anime Announced". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  2. ^ 作品詳細『銀灰のスピードスター』. spi-net.jp (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  3. ^ "SonyMusicShop" 湾岸ミッドナイトMAXIMUM TUNE 5 Original Sound Track (in Japanese). Sony Music Shop. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Wangan Midnight the Movie to Open in Japan This Summer Archived 2021-01-26 at the Wayback Machine. Anime News Network. 2009-04-26. Retrieved on 2009-04-26.
  5. ^ 湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  6. ^ 湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ（４２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  7. ^ a b 湾岸ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ Ｃ１ランナー（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  8. ^ Back Number 2008年 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  9. ^ ヤンマガで「センゴク」第3部始動、「湾岸」続編は最終回. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 2, 2012. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  10. ^ 湾岸ミッドナイト Ｃ１ランナー（１２）＜完＞ (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  11. ^ 相田裕、楠みちはる、玉井雪雄ら新作がスピで. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 4, 2014. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  12. ^ 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. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  13. ^ 銀灰のスピードスター ＳＥＲＩＥＳ １ ターボ３．６ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  14. ^ 銀灰のスピードスター ＳＥＲＩＥＳ２ ＧＴ－Ｒ（ＲＢ２６） (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  15. ^ 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. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 20, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  16. ^ 首都高ＳＰＬ（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  17. ^ 首都高ＳＰＬ（７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  18. ^ アニマックスPPVプレミア 湾岸MIDNIGHT(ミッドナイト) 】 (in Japanese). Pay Per View Japan Inc. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  19. ^ "WANGAN MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM TUNE 6R". WANGAN MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM TUNE 6R. Archived from the original on 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  20. ^ "Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR Plus". wanganmaxi-official.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Kodansha Manga Award. Archived 2007-08-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on November 17, 2007.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wangan_Midnight&oldid=1222267814"