Bouncing Red Ball

Awesome photo galleries from Mainichi, Asahi and Response about the recent anime car festival in Odaiba called Itasha G Fesuta and covered by major news media. {Also check out this great gallery by Otasuke. Thanks for the link Yamatologic!}

The festival features more than 400 cars adorned with anime and game characters. Surely an event that would make an “otaku” pee on his pants (or get run over by these wicked machines). I must say that these cars are infinitely better than those crazy customs cars that look like they would fall to pieces if driven on the one of Japan’s superhighways.

Here is a selection of photos (click on the images to go to the galleries):

These anime-themed cars are popularly called “Itasha” (痛車) which is a somewhat self-derisive term to refer someone’s fascination with these colorful machines. “Itasha” is also a transliteration of “Itariasha” (Italian car) which often connotes fashionable design.

Related posts:

1. Anime cars, bikes and trucks descend on Chiba
2. Tokyo Auto Salon 2009: Anime Car
3. Import anime car overload in Tokyo
4. Tokyo International Anime Fair 2009 photos
5. 10 awesome views of Tokyo’s Giant Gundam