Star Driver

A washed-up teenager named Takuto shows up on the coast and enrolls at Southern Cross High, where he quickly fits in around classmates who are as quirky as they are secretive. Underneath the everyday school life, giant mechs called Cybodies sleep in hidden terminals and can be summoned when an alternate frame of time, Zero Time, is activated. Takuto, who carries the public persona of the "Galactic Pretty Boy," gets pulled into the struggle between those protecting the town and the militant Glittering Crux Brigade, a group with its own cryptic goals. The series balances schoolroom moments and high-stakes robot combat while keeping key mysteries intact.

Created by Takuya Igarashi and Yoji Enokido, Star Driver premiered in 2010 as an original TV anime. It features a voice cast including Mamoru Miyano, Saori Hayami, Jun Fukuyama, Akira Ishida, and Ami Koshimizu, and it's known for stylish character designs and confident direction.

Critics and viewers tended to respond positively to the show's energy and aesthetics, though opinions split over pacing and plot complexity. On user-driven platforms it holds a modestly favorable score, reflecting fans who enjoy its flashy mecha scenes and those who wished for tighter storytelling. Major themes include growing up, responsibility, loyalty, and the tension between public image and private motives.

The series popularized a few standout elements that fans still reference, like the concept of Zero Time and the theatrical flair of the Cybodies' battles. Its visual motifs, theme songs, and character nicknames helped it build a steady cult following among mecha and anime enthusiasts, with cosplay and online discussion keeping the show's personality alive years after broadcast.

Star Driver did not earn widely reported industry awards, but it secured a durable fanbase that values its blend of high-school drama and surreal, stage-like robot fights. Its reputation rests more on style and fan affection than on mainstream prizes.