This is a classic case of marketing not selling a show based on what the show actually was, and I think that threw off a lot of people's expectations. Given Production I.G. and Masamune Shirow's involvement, people were likely expecting something along the lines of Stand Alone Complex. The show is actually slice-of-life with sci-fi elements in the background. And I loved that. While there's an overarching plot lingering in the background, the majority of the runtime is enjoyable characters having low-stakes, personal adventures in a vivid, brightly colored and mostly optimistic future world. The production values are high and I liked the more zaftig approach tothe character designs.

I keep hoping Sentai Filmworks or Discotek will nab this for a US Blu-ray release! Real Drive deserves to be reexamined.