IGPX Episode 20: Comeback
Original Japanese title: Comeback
Amy Stapleton has been in the hospital a long time and can't wait to get out. However, she isn't completely well. Andrei knows this and will not let his current position of Midfielder go easily. Will her condition negatively affect Team Satomi and their next race against Team Sledgemamma, or will Amy show her fighting spirit and help bring the team to victory? This episode features the first look into the Team Sledgemamma facility. This episode also features a look at Amy's doctor and Amy's parents.
Spoilers Below
Don't scroll down any further if you want to avoid spoilers! The action reports, music credits and screenshots contain some spoilers from the episode!
Report #1
The Return of Amy Alternates Generations
The next race sees a joyful team clashing with a pressured team
We are now entering Round 5 of races of the 2049 IGPX season! The most important thing to note regarding this is, of course, that Team Satomi, currently in the lead in points this season, is only 4 points ahead of Team Sledgemamma, the team that they will be facing next. Both teams have, however, had some lesser known pieces of news that have been hidden until now, involving comebacks and firings. We'll highlight both in this report!
The comeback is referring to Team Satomi's Amy Stapleton. In Round 2 of the 2049 Season races, in their race against Team White Snow, she sustained injuries. A spokesperson for the team said that there was even a point where "we thought she might be out for three races in a row", but she was released from Central Hospital two weeks ago. A day before the race, in a simulator test held in the team's headquarters, even though it was just a program, she nonetheless won against The Rocket in a one-on-one battle. Team owner, Michiru Satomi, gave a few comments, saying, "Amy's condition has been completely healed back to where she was before. Her responsiveness in the race is even better than before. There's no aspect today that would cause us concern." A head physician at Central Hospital, Sergey Guess, also commented on her medical condition, saying, "She's at a stage where we want her to avoid as much rigorous exercise as possible, but faster than expected, she has recovered, and that has led her to be able to race in the next race. Amy has shown much motivation, and is back to speed in terms of both physical and mental health." Guess' words give confidence that there is certainly no physical issue with Amy. While Amy was gone, there was a special feeling that an old, classic veteran was back with the two races where Rocket G could race. To older fans of the IGPX, losing The Rocket in upcoming races is unfortunate, but it is not unsatisfying to see the original champion team lineup again, with Amy back as Midfielder.
On the other hand, there's a rumor brewing of the firing of another pilot. With The Rocket off of Team Satomi's lineup, the throne for the title of the longest running pilot now belongs to Team Sledgemamma's Yamma. He first started racing in the IGPX at the age of 22 and signed a contract with Team Sledgemamma in 2041. Because he was the team's 4th pilot in 2041, he didn't have a chance to race that year, but the following year, he was able to race in three races for Team Sledgemamma in the 2042 season. His skills were well received in that race, and he went on to become a regular pilot in 2043. He went on to become the team leader in 2044, and in 2044 and 2045, the team won those two IG-1 championships and have not won since then. They won these championships under the leadership of Yamma. But this year, Yamma is 31 years old. Even people related to the team are voicing concerns that his reign as a team leader seems to be falling with their second race against Team Satomi last year, a team that only just got to the IG-1 that year. The concerns are not just for his physical condition but for his capacity to be a team leader. The average age of current IG-1 pilots is 19-20 years old. But, if you look at the average age of the pilots amongst each team themselves, all teams except Team Sledgemamma have pilots with an average age of under 21 years old. Team Sledgemamma is the sole team with their pilots' average age being over the average for the entire IG-1. Looking at that, the team has to think about how they are going to solve their problem of getting in younger pilots soon. That being said, with Yamma as a long-time supporter of the team, this problem won't be easily solved. The team's owner has reportedly told Yamma, "We'll respond to his winning a race this season with a contract for next season." Can Yamma pull off an IG-1 championship this year for the first time since 2045? The remaining races are their Round 5 race with Team Satomi, and their Round 6 race* with Team Velshtein, who are both upper-level teams. We'll see based on the results of those races if the rumor of Yamma being removed from the team will come true or not.
*Each team only races 5 times in the Regular Season. Due to scheduling, not every team races in every round. So, Round 6 of races was necessary this year for any teams that will not have finished 5 races by the end of Round 5.
Music Credits
Toonami Version
"Count Your Blessings"
By Hint
Album: Portakabin Fever
Heard: At the beginning of the episode
"Swedenborgske Rom"
By Jaga Jazzist
Album: What We Must
Heard: When Amy stands outside of the hospital
"So Long"
By Mr. Scruff
Album: Keep it Unreal
Heard: When Amy eats the meal prepared by the team
"Ulterior Motif"
By Trulife
Album: Chill Out 2
Heard: When Amy is discharged from the hospital and returns home
"Distorted Minds (Zero dB Mix Instrumental)"
By Hexstatic
Album: Distorted Minds
Heard: When Amy returns to Team Satomi's "gym" area
"Triptych Part 2"
By Blockhead
Album: Music by Cavelight
Heard: When we see Luca and Amy at nighttime
"Boogie Man"
By Coldcut
Album: Sound Mirrors
Heard: When Team Sledgemamma and Team Satomi
members are training
"Libera me, Domine (Red Heat)"
By Brian de Mercia
Album: The Secret OST
Heard: Towards the middle of Amy's simulation run
"Verbal"
By Amon Tobin
Album: Out from Out Where
Heard: Towards the end of the simulation race
"Getting Pumped ALT"
Licensed Track (not commercially available)
Album: Alternate Emotions
Heard: After the simulation race
"Stop Motion Traffic"
By Blockhead
Album: Downtown Science
Heard: Just before the race begins
"15 Levels of Magnification"
By Neotropic
Album: 15 Levels of Magnification
Heard: The last song in the episode
Production I.G Version
"Warm Waves"
By Steve Carter
Album: The Seasons
Heard: At the beginning of the episode
"The Turnaround"
By The Herbaliser
Album: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Heard: When Takeshi, Liz and Jesse are in the kitchen
"Verbal"
By Amon Tobin
Album: Out from Out Where
Heard: When Amy eats the meal prepared by the team
"Ulterior Motif"
By Trulife
Album: Chill Out 2
Heard: When Amy is discharged from the hospital and returns home
"Chicken Spit"
By Pest
Album: Necessary Measures
Heard: When Amy, Takeshi and Liz are in the gym
"Dark Arts"
By Brian de Mercia
Album: Licensed Track (not commercially available)
Heard: When Team Sledgemamma and Team Satomi members are training
"Libera me, Domine (Red Heat)"
By Brian de Mercia
Album: The Secret OST
Heard: Towards the middle of Amy's simulation run
"Running out of Time"
By Donn Wilkerson
Album: Killer Stage & Screen 1A
Heard: As Amy does well during her simulation run
"Getting Pumped ALT"
Licensed Track (not commercially available)
Album: Alternate Emotions
Heard: After the simulation race
"Noble Globe"
Licensed Track (not commercially available)
Album: Action 2
Heard: Before the race begins
"Power Struggle"
By Klaus Badelt
Album: Action (not commercially available)
Heard: At the beginning of the race
Additional Information
US original broadcast date: July 1, 2006
Japan original broadcast date: March 8, 2006
Toonami Version Differences
- A very small segment is cut: Dimma is seen addressing Yamma in a brief conversation at the beginning of the race. The segment is no more than 5 seconds long.
Screenshot Gallery
