Aug 25, 2011
When I first began watching Initial D, I thought I would end up dropping within the first few episodes as it was show about street racing, something I knew absolutely nothing about, but to my surprise, I instantly became hooked and couldn't stop watching until the very end.
Let me first point out that you don't need to have any kind of background information on cars, racing or anything to fully enjoy this show. Also, don't let the old look of the anime fool you. It has some amazing CG effects done for the cars that was not only outstanding for it's time but is still
...
outstanding now!
The story was gripping and amazingly kept itself from becoming repetitive. You'd think that since it's an anime about street racing you'll just see the same thing every time during every race. WRONG! Thanks to the fantastic CG effects for the cars, they were able to make every race it's own unique and exciting thrill ride for the viewer. I got goosebumps during every big race and constantly found myself doubting that the main character could win even though he's practically considered a god among street racers.
The main character Takumi was one of biggest reasons this show worked out so well for me. His modesty about his skills and his laid back attitude towards everything made him an entertaining character to watch in every situation. (Especially during races.) Most of the other characters though were unfortunately a little bland compared to Takumi.
One look at the art style and you yourself would think that this show couldn't be any good. I thought the same in the beginning but for a show about street racing, the art matches almost perfectly. But that was one of my major gripes with this show. The art ONLY matched when stuff about street racing was happening. Whenever the show tried to be anything else, I couldn't help but find it terribly boring simply because the art style did not fit.
I especially hated when it tried to show romance between the characters. The designs for the female characters were absolutely hideous and I just could not take it seriously. I thought it was a real shame too since the anime's soundtrack had something great for every situation, and if the girls appearances were better, the romantic scenes could've fit really well.
Don't get me wrong here. I'm not trying to say that the show is only good once the characters get behind the wheel. Even when they're not racing, the anime does a damn good job of developing the characters and building up the tension for the next big race, then keeping you on the edge of your seat until they cross the finish line.
I watched the subbed version of the anime and I suggest you do the same. The English dub by Tokyo pop was an insult that should never be viewed by anyone. Funimation has currently taken over the dubbing rights to Initial D and I have yet to see if they did a good job or not, but I still recommend the subbed version anyway.
Overall, this was an incredibly good anime. If not for a few major flaws it could have been perfect. I highly recommend checking it out if your looking for something exciting to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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