Riding Bean (1989)

Riding Bean is a lean, gasoline-scented jolt of late-’80s anime craftsmanship—an OVA that treats car chases like choreography and turns Chicago streets into a playground for beautifully drawn mayhem. It drops you into a single, breathless day with Bean Bandit and Rally Vincent, where every delivery feels like a dare and every corner hides a new double-cross, all propelled by punchy animation and a soundtrack that knows exactly when to rev and when to glide. The story is simple in the best way—clean stakes, vivid villains, and characters with enough attitude to make the banter as satisfying as the action. If you’re sensitive to moderate violence or prefer slower, more reflective anime, it may not be your ride, but if you want a tight, stylish crime romp that never wastes a frame, this one earns its cult reputation.

Riding Bean is trying to be a slick, high-octane anime car-chase caper—more style and velocity than deep character drama—and on that level it can be a fun burst of 80s action. The problem is it’s essentially a short OVA that ends just as it feels like it should be ramping into a real finale, so the story can come off abrupt and a bit unsatisfying. The villain side of the plot, especially the Semmerling–Carrie dynamic, is intentionally edgy but may read as uncomfortable or simply weird rather than compelling. If you’re here for loud engines, gunfire, and a cool lead duo, you’ll get your money’s worth; if you want a complete, well-rounded crime story with a strong ending, this may leave you annoyed.