“GRIP: A Toyota Story” is essentially an anime-styled ad. That’s fine—just make sure the cars and merch are real, okay?
Could it be? Toyota’s performance future revealed to the world… through a cartoon? Maybe we’re overthinking it—or maybe not.
In February, Toyota debuted GRIP: A Toyota Story, an original anime series. At its core, it’s automotive marketing in animated form. But for enthusiasts, GRIP delivers a burst of exhaust-fueled excitement, clearly inspired by Initial D, the legendary Japanese street-racing manga turned global phenomenon. Like Initial D, GRIP centers on a team of skilled young racers—only this time, the stakes are even higher.
In their futuristic city, the “thrill of driving” has been nearly snuffed out by Synthcorp, a powerful corporation that enforces an autonomous, uniform fleet of gray vehicles. In the opening scene, a blue GR Corolla stands out as it weaves through traffic, a rebel among monotonous metal clones.
“Ugh, look at these stupid metal sheep everywhere,” grumbles the show’s hero and heartthrob. The villain? A ruthless Synthcorp leader hellbent on wiping out human driving altogether. Sound a little too close to reality? You’re not alone.
Still, this is animation—every detail onscreen is intentional. Unlike live-action productions where prop mishaps can slip through (looking at you, GoT fans), GRIP leaves little to chance. Despite its painfully short episodes (around a minute each, excluding the title sequence) and tantalizing cliffhangers, the show makes one thing clear: the protagonists are die-hard Toyota enthusiasts. If they’re not decked out in branded gear, they’re behind the wheel of a GR Corolla, GR Supra, or GR86.
So, when the team’s mentor is shown in his Toyota Gazoo Racing-themed garage, standing beside a whiteboard scribbled with intriguing car notes, we hit pause, snap a screenshot, and start decoding.
“Supra MK6. Celica MK8. MR2 MK4. GR86 MK3. GR GT3.”
Wait—hold on. It’s just a cartoon, right? None of these cars are actually happening. Or… are they?
Let’s break it down. The current Supra’s future seemed doomed with the impending end of BMW Z4 production, but Toyota has hinted it doesn’t need BMW to keep the Supra alive. Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corp. chairman, has been openly teasing a Celica revival, even rubbing shoulders with “Mr. Celica” at rally events.
The MR2? Rumors suggest it might return as an AWD model—MR2x2, anyone? Toyota has a knack for quirky names (hello, bZ4X). Meanwhile, strong GR86 sales make a next-gen hybrid model with more power seem almost inevitable, if overseas reports hold true. And the GR GT3? Whether it lands as a Toyota or Lexus, prototypes have already been spotted tearing up iconic racetracks.
Perhaps all this speculation is exactly what GRIP’s creators wanted. Well played, anime-ad hybrid. Well played. Just don’t tell me the GR merch isn’t real, because those jackets? Absolute fire.
