éX-Driver Danger Zone

Released in 2002 as a two-episode original video animation, éX-Driver Danger Zone serves as a prequel to the original 2000 éX-Driver television series. Produced by Bandai Visual and animated by Actas, the project was designed to expand upon the high-speed, futuristic world where human drivers intervene when AI-controlled autonomous vehicles malfunction. It focuses on the origins of the three main protagonists—Lorna, Lisa, and Souichi—offering viewers a glimpse into their pasts and the formation of their dynamic team before the events of the series.

The series is noted for its focus on automotive culture and mechanical animation, a hallmark of director Junichi Fujisaku, who brought a sleek, technical aesthetic to the production. The character designs maintained the vibrant, stylized look established in the previous series, aiming to capture the excitement of racing while grounding the narrative in the relationship between human instinct and machine logic. Upon its release, it was well-received by fans of the original series for providing necessary context and continuing the franchise's dedication to detailed car chases and retro-futuristic world-building.