Who would have thought that the fastest driver in town is just your everyday tofu delivery boy. High schooler Takumi Fujiwara’s perception of driving changes after being encouraged to enter his first street race. Remember it’s illegal!
Story –
You would think that an anime revolving around street racing would get pretty dull after a couple of races or so but that is not the case with Initial D. The story begins with the laid-back Takumi being forced to enter a street race by his father which was meant to be Ikitani’s problem who is his co-worker at his part-time job. Takumi accepts the proposal and wins it in convincing fashion with an ulterior motive, which is he would be rewarded with a full tank of gas for his date with a girl named Natsuki.
There is romance development but it’s not a major thing in this season from what I’ve seen. After seemingly doing the impossible, Takumi inevitably gains a reputation of being the fastest driver on Mt. Akina that drives a [i]’Toreno 8-6’[/i] which gets rumours spreading mainly about his skill. This results in numerous challenges being thrown at Takumi one after another, with each being under different circumstances that gives rise to an entertaining racing series. After overcoming many challenges, Takumi comes to a realisation that there is more to being a good driver in street racing.
Art –
The computer graphics should be highlighted as it’s either a hit or miss with some people. The fact that it composes 50% of the driving scenes signifies its overall importance as without it, this anime just may not be possible. The fact that the CG used in an anime made in the late 90s makes it kind of surreal in a sense, as the quality was fantastic and maybe on par with series further down the timeline. The CG animation was smooth throughout and never really dragged too much which left a great impression on me. The only real downside to the CG is when certain scenes are used for more impact such as the slow-motion which makes the CG look awkward compared to a faster moving scene that is more natural.
That said, the CG was well choreographed with the human backgrounds being used effectively at certain angles. The hand-drawn art however was tolerable as it used standard designs that are prevalent in many series but I hadn’t set any expectations considering how dated it was anyway. The background art was more pleasing to the eyes than the character designs personally which adds to the overall experience. I’d rather watch this show for the CG which just shows you the sheer difference between the two elements.
Sound -
Probably one of my favourite aspects of the show. The method in which the tracks were used every time a street race would take place would get me excited. The tracks that were used in the races were various and consisted of some very nice vocals. The tempo and pace at which the pace at which the tracks were played is another plus, as they never went on for too long whilst remaining sufficient and appropriate for the different parts. The show had that natural 90s tune every time a slice of life scene came into play which always gets to me. The OP/END themes were OK as they really are there just to get you hyped for the contents of the episode. Skip them and save time.
Characters
Character development for the MC is evident throughout this show and so you must be blind to casually dismiss it. Takumi is very caring and holds much respect to the ones close to him as he detests other making vulgar remarks humiliating his friends which brings consequences. Takumi is quick to act, which is seen from him getting into a physical brawl or through a driving challenge. Takumi before being addicted to street racing would just see driving as a normal thing that helped his family’s business. After his numerous feats against other drivers, he really understood the joy of being in the race and the thrills it gave off to the competitors and even the spectators who are everywhere.
The side characters were also explored in some depth such as his chummy best friend Itsuki and co-worker Ikitani who both had their fair share of problems regarding other drivers. The number of mistakes that led to Takumi being called to correct their faults was numerous, which was something I despised greatly as it gave off the impression that he is truly dependable at any time.
The other challengers were analysed to various levels such as the Takahashi brothers from the Redstuns who were primarily responsible for Takumi’s awakening for the streets. The Night Kids also had some members who literally put Takumi in a tricky situation that may be interpreted as being too extreme. There was also a lot of focus on identity evaluation/perceptions as was the case with the female driver at Uuso pass.
Verdict –
The series was so enjoyable that it didn’t take me that long to finish it. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a competitive racing series with high stakes involved or maybe any car enthusiast as some of the terminology really threw me for a loop. A very good series 8/10.
