Sep 6, 2021
Welcome, to my first ever review on this website!
Introduction:
Initial D is one of the first anime I've ever watched, back when I was young and did not know much about anime and cars. Every single race that immediately got me hooked on, the mesmerizing euro beat soundtracks on standing out on a league of their own and of course, the characters, changed me. We'll get onto those in detail in a bit. To me, cars and anime were never really my thing, but after watching this show I wanted to get a license, I could not wait until I was legally allowed to get one.
...
It motivated me, to advance in my life.
Story (10/10):
The story of Initial D is quite simple and easy to grasp. You can watch your TV, phone, computer screen, or whatever you watch it on laid back. A high school student works part time at a gas station, where he meets his co-workers, who are car freaks and members of the "Akina Speed Stars". I shall not tell you more about it. If what you read convinced you so far, you should watch it unfold yourself.
Art (7/10):
The weakest point of Initial D. The animation is sometimes fully computer generated, which I am not really judgeful against, it's more of a "save the budget" thing. The artstyle of this anime though, is not far from the manga. Their facial expressions and the way they look in general look exactly how they looked in Shigeno Shuuichi's source material, if not, even better. With sharp details onto the characters that tend to be underlooked at distant angles, but a problem it is not, as it's not a series that focuses the most on its art and animation.
Sound (10/10):
Music
Car racing and Eurobeat go hand-to-hand now, that is because of Initial D. I would not blame anyone that would listen to a 10 hour playlist of just Initial D music and doing a car crash. The music is just so fitting. The uplifting and energetic atmosphere work perfectly mixed together.
Voice Acting (Sub)
I have watched this series with subtitles, therefore, hearing their original "Seiyuus". The voice acting is pretty good. Takumi Fujiwara was one of Shinichiro Miki's first roles and I could not say it was a disappointing one. It managed to portrait the type of a human being Takumi is. The rest of the cast's voices match their personality also, as most of the people chosen to voice are solid voice actors that provided hard work in the industry for decades. I would not go on with this until I talk about Keiji Fujiwara, which was an amazing voice actor. His voice was just so awesome and in character and I would never forget him. May rest in peace, Keiji Fujiwara! Your work shall always be remembered.
Character (10/10):
A strong point to this series are its characters. Takumi Fujiwara, an 18 years old genius. He is not an archetype of a driving series' main character, in fact, his apathic attitude makes him stand out. He is not this overly energetic loud bastard, he is rather reserved but sharp. Looking at him for the first time, you would not think to yourself that he, is the second fastest racer in Mount Akina. The rest of the characters blend in perfectly and their interactions are real. There is rivalry, there is friendship, even a tad bit of romantic atmosphere between some characters.
Enjoyment (10/10):
I absolutely LOVED watching this show. Every single episode, every single minute spent on it felt like a ride. A night ride, that is. This show has actually changed me as a person, as well, as I previously stated in the introduction. Developed an inner love for cars in me that I didn't even know I had.
Overall (10/10):
Treat yourself and start watching this series right now. I could not recommend it to you more. Likeable characters, simple story, absolutely amazing soundtrack and an enjoyable one, that is. Watch it and see for yourself.
If you agree with my review, be sure to give it a "Helpful" button. If you don't agree, haha, well that's unfortunate. Maybe talk to me about it, as I'm open to discussions about this series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
