Initial D: First Stage

I like the series ever since I was a freshman at college. Students involved in anime stuff brought different series every week to my college's student center, and one evening I was studying for some exam until I heard some J-pop music; then I peeked at the big screen there and saw some anime figures and then a super-realistic image of a 1983 Toyota Corolla GTS liftback. I thought to myself: What is this thing about? Then I saw further into the series and saw drifting cars. But the most outstanding thing was that the cars appeared photo-realistic, when I then realizes they were relying on 3D graphics to simulate the cars. That's what got me into Initial D. I attempted to rent it at my nearest Blockbuster but found it always missing (or rented out), so I never got a chance to rent it on my own until I went to Dallas TX on some coop practice and subscribed to Netflix. Then I really got my chance to rent Initial D.

But then I discovered an awful thing: The English dub by Tokyopop got rid of the series' Eurobeat-style music by m.o.v.e and instead inserted its own local crappy hip-hop by some unknown DJ Milky with no known album on the market. Solution: Whenever you start playing any episode, set it to Japanese audio to listen to m.o.v.e's awesome opening; then when the opening's over, switch back to English if you want to listen to the dialogs without having to read subtitles. Then when the episode's over and the credits are about to start rolling, switch again to Japanese to listen to m.o.v.e (eps 1-13) or Galla (14-26), then back to English to listen the next ep's preview, then repeat the same cycle for the next episode(s).

I started this series years ago with my brothers and I mean all of them. My oldest brother would come by the house every time a new DVD would be available. We all started this show like right when it hit the American market. So glad we did!! I remember waiting in sun coast videos waiting for my pre order when these dropped.

The story is great, at the character are interesting and the story evolves. Any anime fan should give this a chance if you haven't yet. It is definitely worth a watch and you will rewatch it so many times as well.

It's the story of a high school student, Takumi Fujiwara who works as a delivery boy in his father's Tofu Shop. Every morning he makes his deliveries, in his father's Ae86 ( Toyota Corolla ) passing through Mt. Akina's full of hairpins track. In the process of making his deliveries, he becomes a skilled driver and Mt. Akina his turf. Those who see him call him the ghost of Akina. When racers from other regions make an expedition to Mt. Akina, they come to know about this ghost. The Racers start to challenge Takumi and how he deals with each challenge and in the process becomes a legend is what Initial D is about.

Visuals/Graphics: 10/10

Apart from the races it's just like what you'd expect an anime to be. The races have been done in 3D which really adds to the thrill. With each and every season the graphics have gotten better, stage Four being the best.

Story: 9/10

The story is simply about the journey of Takumi from an ordinary High school kid to a legendary street racer and how he meets other racers who help him achieve it in the process.

Screenplay: 9/10

There are a few flashbacks but apart from that the anime proceeds in one direction only. Nothing unnecessary has been done, making it an easy to watch experience.

Initial D is a must watch, even if you're not an anime freak. You don't have to be ! It's much better than the Fast 'n Furious movie series, where they pull off stunts defying the laws of physics. This anime actually bothers to explain how the machines are working. Trust me, if you watch this you wouldn't be disappointed. The best thing is it has also been dubbed in English so you won't have to stress reading subtitles.

Overall: It's a 10/10. Watch it !

This show takes place in a more rural area which has a very popular street racing culture. This isn't an ordinary bunch of guys who like cars, these guys very knowledgeable when it comes to cars and racing. YOU KNOW the directors or some people who made the show has lived that Street Racing lifestyle because it is depicted dead on. It is a little old but the fundamentals and ideas are all the same and you'll learn a thing or two.

After watching this show and already being into cars (I own a DSM Eclipse but drives a DC5 Base model) I can't even get behind the wheel of my car at night without wanting to get into a street race. This show has also fueled my love of old street racing cars like the FC3S and others.

OVERALL! Its a MUST WATCH FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES CARS AND STREET RACING!!!

I think the author is trying to convey a message that give up on everything and just care about your car , nothing is important than your bond with your car and I'm at a point in my life where i can totally relate to that . I have always been a car enthusiast since i was 10 but recently i have started driving cars and now i understand everything . Its like post nut clarity , every time i drive any car it seems like i can understand it much more and this anime radiates that same feeling. Other than that anything that should be important to a 19 year old is of no importance to me now ( especially woman ). After watching this i can understand much more about cars in a single episode then i can understand woman in my whole life.