Imagine Tokyo a century from now—an AI-driven metropolis where humans are practically living sci-fi novels, except with more vending machines. Tokyo Override, Netflix’s latest original anime, takes this setting and amps it up with high-speed motorcycle action, featuring Yamaha classics and a futuristic concept bike called the Y/AI.
In the show, you’ll see legendary Yamaha models like the YZF-R1 and VMAX tearing through the neon-lit streets, their unmistakable engine growls captured straight from the real bikes. Then there’s the Y/AI, a machine designed to embody the trust between a rider and their two-wheeled companion. It’s sleek, futuristic, and has a rider position that mirrors the MotoGP YZR-M1—just in case you were wondering how motorcycle ergonomics will look in 2124.
The anime doesn’t skimp on realism, thanks to Yamaha’s deep involvement in creating its “World Building bible,” a 400-page guide to how Tokyo might function a century from now. While AI makes accidents rare, the thrill of racing persists, serving as both entertainment and a strategy for navigating disasters. Amarin, the show’s lead racer, embodies this spirit as he pushes the Y/AI to its limits through stunning urban circuits.
If the anime inspires you to want a closer look, Yamaha is unveiling a full-scale model of the Y/AI at the Motor Expo 2024 in Thailand, running from November 29 to December 10. Meanwhile, Tokyo Override is streaming now on Netflix.
Images: Yamaha Motor [Global].
