Oban Star-Racers (ABC Family, Toon Disney)

OBAN STAR-RACERS, an exciting anime series, follows a team of star-racers from Earth as they compete in the interplanetary Race of Oban, a momentous event that occurs once every 10,000 years. Rebellious teen Molly (voiced by Chiara Zanni) is a pilot prodigy who joins the Earth Team as its mechanic. But when the team reaches the planet Oban and the race begins, an injury to the team's pilot opens up an opportunity for Molly to take the pilot's seat and lead the team to victory. With young gunner Jordan (Sam Vincent) as her race partner, Molly faces many powerful opponents, but none as intense as the Crogs, an aggressive alien race that threatens the Earth. The survival of humankind now depends on the Earth Team's victory in the competition. As a subplot, enchanting alien warrior Prince Aika (Kirby Morrow), a contender in the race, develops an immediate bond with Molly.

Oban Star-Racers combines engaging plotlines and thrilling sci-fi action -- and the pace is moderate enough to make the story easy to follow. The interesting combination of Japanese anime and Western sci-fi helps draw in the viewer.

According to Disney, the target audience is ages 6 to 11, but the show is better suited for ages 8 and up (one episode deals with a parent's death, and some of the violence -- a space vehicle crash resulting in injuries and deaths, for example -- may be slightly disturbing to younger viewers. That aside, as anime series go, this one is decidedly palatable (even for viewers who aren't huge anime fans), with a nice balance of thrilling action and characters you grow to care about. Kids will surely be rooting for the young heroine as she fights to win the big race -- and save the human race.

TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: ABC Family
Cast: Chiara Zanni, Ron Halder, Sam Vincent
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: ABC Family