Real Drive(2008)

6.7

1 Seasons

AnimationAction & AdventureSci-Fi & FantasyCrime

Overview

The story takes place in 2061, 50 years after humanity developed the "Net society" that depended on information networks despite their security issues. To improve security, a new network called Meta Real Network — or "Metal" for short — was developed. People's personal memories are reduced to information and placed within "protected virtual stand-alone organic cyber enclaves" called bubble shells online. The result was a virtual "explosion" of creative freedom as people felt safe enough to explore instincts and desires on Metal that they would not otherwise explore in real life. This "friction" between the Metal's alluring lack of restrictions and rules-bound reality led to trouble and incidents that investigators known as "cyber divers" must handle. Masamichi Haru is one such cyber diver.

Episodes

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Ep 1

Underwater Island Drive

Construction of an artificial island is disrupted by an unexplained phenomenon known as "burning sea". Masamichi Haru is injured by burning sea during a test of early Meta-Real technology, leaving him comatose for fifty years. Now elderly and wheelchair-bound, he still hopes to solve the mystery of burning sea. His friend Eichiro Kushima now hopes to use the Meta-Real, also known as the Metal, to research the burning sea phenomenon.

09/04/200823 min

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Ep 2

Girl

Aoi Minamo is hired to be Haru's assistant. When burning sea causes a power outage that threatens life support systems on the artificial island, Minamo rushes to the electrical substation, while Haru uses his cyberbrain to dive into the Metal Network.

16/04/200823 min

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Ep 3

Re-dive

Haru struggles to become proficient enough at Metal diving to help Kushima's research. During his final test, he experiences braindown.

23/04/200823 min

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Ep 4

Atoll of Desire

Haru has become an official investigator and is asked to dive into the Metal to rescue the consciousness of an Artificial Island shareholder who has experienced braindown.

30/04/200823 min

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Ep 5

Sous Marin

Minamo searches for a pair of antique Sous-Marin sunglasses as a gift to congratulate Haru on becoming an official investigator. During the search, Minamo and Sota have a run-in with champion fighter Iron Schwartz.

07/05/200823 min

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Ep 6

Love Letter

Because of her lack of a cyberbrain to read online texts, Minamo must find a physical book for a book report. Her discovery reveals the true story of a lost love.

14/05/200823 min

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Ep 7

Hand in Hand

Minamo and Haru discover a dog whose consciousness was swapped with that of his owner. They hurry to find the owner's body before it becomes too late for them to switch them back.

21/05/200823 min

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Ep 8

No Friend

Minamo and Sota investigate reports of ghost sightings at Minamo's school.

28/05/200823 min

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Ep 9

Employment

Minamo and Sota's father shuts down the core server to minimize damage from a virus intrusion, putting his job on the line.

04/06/200823 min

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Ep 10

Supremacy Negotiations

Those who contact a mysterious oracle in the Metal named Eliza end up with lost memories. During the investigation, Minamo realizes that Haru has been talking to none other than Eliza.

11/06/200823 min

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Ep 11

Just Intonation

Minamo tries to help violinist Ichinose, who has been discouraged ever since Kushima suddenly quit playing violin long ago.

18/06/200823 min

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Ep 12

Morning Without Light

Minamo meets Amy, a girl who has just received cybernetic eyes to cure her blindness, but learns that Amy is struggling to adjust to being able to see. Meanwhile, Haru is asked to investigate the disappearance of a highly sought-after artist in the Metal.

25/06/200823 min

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Ep 13

Another Sea

Haru reminisces about his youth, from his parents' struggles with poverty that led to trouble with the yakuza, to his meeting a dolphin that inspired his fascination with the sea, and finally to his exploration of the ruins of his city, now underwater because of climate change, which led him to become a test diver for early Meta-Real experiments.

02/07/200823 min

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Ep 14

Wave and Wind

Minamo goes for a dive in the sea. This episode is a recap of the series so far.

09/07/200823 min

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Ep 15

Last Dinner

Haru investigates cyberbrain deterioration in a group of food connoisseurs.

16/07/200823 min

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Ep 16

Clear Power

Sota tries to train enough to defeat Holon in battle. Meanwhile, Haru investigates a case of a female android being illegally used for prostitution.

23/07/200823 min

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Ep 17

Home Sweet Home

Minamo's family comes to visit.

30/07/200823 min

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Ep 18

Green Rebellion

Haru, Minamo, Sota, and Holon go to a distant jungle island to investigate a mysterious background noise in the Metal. All seems well until ionization in the rainforest disrupts Holon's cyberbrain.

06/08/200823 min

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Ep 19

Returning Water Drops

Holon collapses, and the others attempt to complete their investigation without her help.

13/08/200823 min

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Ep 20

With These Feet

At the jungle island, Haru realized that he can learn to walk again, and he begins to practice in secret to avoid jeopardizing his job as a Metal diver. Meanwhile, Minamo gets tested for suitability to receive a cyberbrain.

20/08/200823 min

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Ep 21

Eternity

Following the success of weather particle experimentation, the Secretary-General and Jeni En want to install weather particle plants as soon as possible. Kushima is opposed to the plan, suspecting that the weather particles will cause complications that threaten the Artificial Island. Meanwhile, Sota goes on a date with Holon.

27/08/200823 min

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Ep 22

Peaceful Death

Kushima goes missing, and is later found without his cyberbrain. Brain death will occur within twelve hours, so Sota and Holon search for his cyberbrain while Haru searches the Metal for his consciousness. Meanwhile, with Kushima missing from the Trustee meeting, the Secretary-General has no choice but to approve Jeni En's motion to begin bringing the weather particle plants online.

03/09/200823 min

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Ep 23

Human Commandments

With help from the Secretary-General, Sota deciphers the clues to bringing Kushima's cyberbrain back online, but instead of Kushima, an emergency AI awakens. The AI explains Kushima's suspicion that the weather particles cause the burning sea phenomenon, convincing the Secretary-General to halt weather particle production until Kushima can prove his theory. However, Jeni En temporarily revokes the Secretary-General's authority with a vote of no confidence.

10/09/200823 min

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Ep 24

Earth Commandments

Sota breaks into the weather particle facility with help from Haru in the Metal, but before he can reach the control room where the weather particle launch can be halted, Sota must fight Jeni En.

17/09/200823 min

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Ep 25

Last Dive

After the spread of weather particles, drastic weather changes occur across the planet, and the burning sea phenomenon returns. Haru decides to use the experimental deep dive suit in an attempt to make contact with Kushima.

24/09/200823 min

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Ep 26

Real Drive

Haru makes contact with Eliza and receives Kushima's proof that the weather particles will cause worldwide disaster. Haru broadcasts the proof on the Metal, and the world's leaders quickly agree to shut down the Metal to kill the weather particle nanomachines. Kushima's consciousness then contacts Haru and explains that the ocean itself will replace the functionality of Metal via the salt water in the human body. Haru, restored to his younger self, is safely returned to the surface, where he reunites with Minamo.

01/10/200823 min