Initial D Second Stage

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Alternative Titles

English: Initial D Second Stage

Japanese: 頭文字〈イニシャル〉D SECOND STAGE

Information

Type: TV

Episodes: 13

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Oct 15, 1999 to Jan 21, 2000

Premiered: Fall 1999

Broadcast: Fridays at 01:55 (JST)

Producers: OB Planning, Fuji TV

Licensors: Funimation, Tokyopop

Studios: Pastel

Source: Manga

Genres: Action, Cars, Drama, Seinen, Sports

Duration: 23 min. per ep.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 8.12¹ (scored by 90,128 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #397²

² based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #1101

Members: 145,714

Favorites: 752

8.12

Ranked #397Popularity #1101Members 145,714

Fall 1999TVPastel

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Episodes: /13

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Synopsis

Accumulating an impressive series of victories with his AE86, Takumi Fujiwara has imposed himself as street racing's newest rising star. However, his newly found confidence of winning at his home turf of Mount Akina has been put in jeopardy by a new Emperor team exclusively using a car model favored by most professional racing pilots: the Mitsubishi four-wheel drive Lancer Evolutions—also known as Lan Evos. The Emperor team leader, Kyouichi Sudou, looks down on Takumi and regards him as an inferior pilot for driving an antique car that lacks the makings of a true modern race car. Kyouichi's elitist philosophy is also the reason why his team is only made of Lan Evo drivers.

Will Takumi be able to keep his perfect track record intact against the highly skilled and mechanically superior Emperor team, or does his hot streak end here?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Related Anime

Adaptation:	Initial D
Prequel:	Initial D First Stage
Sequel:	Initial D Third Stage
Summary:	Initial D Battle Stage, Initial D: Project D to the Next Stage - Project D e Mukete
Side story:	Initial D Extra Stage

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Fujiwara, Takumi

Main

Miki, Shinichiro
Japanese

Fujiwara, Bunta

Supporting

Ishizuka, Unshou
Japanese

Takahashi, Ryousuke

Supporting

Koyasu, Takehito
Japanese

Takahashi, Keisuke

Supporting

Seki, Tomokazu
Japanese

Takeuchi, Itsuki

Supporting

Iwata, Mitsuo
Japanese

Shouji, Shingo

Supporting

Fujiwara, Keiji
Japanese

Nakazato, Takeshi

Supporting

Hiyama, Nobuyuki
Japanese

Iketani, Kouichirou

Supporting

Yao, Kazuki
Japanese

Sudou, Kyoichi

Supporting

Tanaka, Masahiko
Japanese

Mogi, Natsuki

Supporting

Kawasumi, Ayako
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Masaki, Shinichi

Director, Storyboard

Vale, Eric

Script

Hanyuu, Naoyasu

Storyboard

Kanbara, Toshiaki

Storyboard

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Opening Theme

"Blazin' Beat" by Move

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Ending Theme

"Kimi ga Iru" by Galla

More reviews

Reviews

Feb 14, 2012

13 of 13 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 9

apatch3 (All reviews)

57 people found this review helpful

I'll be honest with you guys, I really enjoyed the second stage, much more so than its predecessor. With only 13 eps to spare the series wastes no time, almost everything that is said or done adds to the story or develops the characters significantly, it was this that kept me glued to the screen as I watched it. The first stage was much more spaced out there was a lot more needless comic relief.

Itsuki from stage 1 annoyed me, he was brash, loud, irritating and a failure as a human being, it was frustrating that he didn't develop at all - but the during read more

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Oct 11, 2008

13 of 13 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 8

ParaParaJMo (All reviews)

35 people found this review helpful

Though this series is much shorter than the previous season, it does cover a lot of ground. What I really liked about 2nd Stage is that it focuses more on character development and the relationships of the characters. Specifically the main ones like Itsuki and Takumi. Iketani and Kenji are still around, but they play their uses, but they aren’t really that central or given the same screen time like in season 1. You get to see more of how emotional and passionate Takumi can really be at times, and I like how Itsuki is not just really a comic relief character and has his good side to him.

Once again, the technical jargon is still present. If you did not see my review of season 1, I will once again state it may be difficult to understand, but once everything is applied, you’ll understand it better. I feel it needs to be present so it can educate the viewer. Plus, I still stand by regardless of being able to fully understand, I feel that the tech speak is what help makes it more distinctive and aims to be realistic.

Sadly, as a Keisuke fan, though he is used, he’s not useful in the way that I want him to be, but with Ryosuke being my number one favorite character, well, check out the series to find out what I mean because it’d only be a spoiler with what his character does.

Not only do the characters and the relationships develop, the art and animation tremendously improve from season 1 as well. The coloring is more shiny and glossy, there is more detail to the hair, the proportions are more even, and the cg is much better rendered. There aren’t much races in this season, but what’s good is that the races aren’t exclusive to Akina anymore and only one race happens there so it prevents itself from getting repetitive. You finally get to see the Red Suns’ home turf of Akagi, and we also get a brand new course of Shomaru as well. However, the outcome of the final race in this anime does differ significantly from the manga version which may either disappoint you, or something you can embrace since it is something different and it’d be boring just to watch something when you already know the outcome. Anyway, new factors such as a combination of psychological and environmental come into play still, but in a whole new approach in comparison to season 1 in ways you wouldn’t expect.

Once again, the cast from season 1 that return are still present. I really love how Itsuki is portrayed as more sensitive and emotional and Iwata does a great job of that. I also love Tanaka Masahiko, who I recall as the voices of the Kazekage from Naruto and Mashiba Ryo from Hajime no Ippo as Kyoichi. He’s a total asshole you want to see get his ass handed to him. And the best addition to this season is Wataru’s seiyuu, Matsumoto Yasunori, the voice of Gourry from Slayers, Jacky Bryant from Virtua Fighter, and many others. He does a great job of playing someone who is distant and has a short temper and it makes him oblivious, so I like that portrayal. Nothing really to complain with voice acting.

And the music only gets better, the perfect example, the ending theme Kimi Ga Iru by Galla. It’s so beautiful, well toned and pitched, and excellently paced. It really captures you and reflects the character relationship nature of this show on my impression. And you can’t have Initial D without the good ol’ Eurobeat. We got 100 by Dave Rodgers and we also got Burning Desire, also from the Para Para Paradise games. So pretty much everything I could say about music and voice acting from season 1 can be said here.

Well, to watch this season, I strongly recommend season 1 first. Yes, I still also say that Initial D isn’t an anime for everyone, but this season has more traits that most anime fans would want in an anime, but to understand the characters and how they developed to that point and how they further develop, you have to watch season 1 first and to get a better understanding of the cars as well. Granted it does have some significant changes if you are at all familiar with the manga, but the changes are done for all the right reasons and is still an enjoyable anime.

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Oct 4, 2011

13 of 13 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 9

Dae_Lhach (All reviews)

30 people found this review helpful

Second Stage was half as long as First Stage. Although it was shorter it still packed just as much a punch as the first stage did. The race scenes in this one were awesome! The artwork was much cleaner and flowed WAY SMOOTHER than the first. You can tell that the storytelling and character development was the main focus of Second Stage. Overall it is an excellent series and I would watch it again without a doubt. I kind of feel sorry for Itsuki though. Poor Guy can't catch a break with ANY WOMAN! haha 9 out of 10

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Jul 26, 2015

13 of 13 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 9

Groupanimenight (All reviews)

12 people found this review helpful

Tadgh: This series was always one I never thought I'd like. We draw our anime from a list out of a hat, so when the first Initial D came up I was skeptical. After the first series, I couldn't wait for more. Sad part is, we draw our anime out of a hat, so I had to wait. I was stoked when this series came up and it didn't disappoint. The characters were really fleshed out here and everyone seemed to grow. The races are still exciting. The others in my group might disagree, but I really like the CG cars. Everything about this anime read more

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More news

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Funimation acquires new 'old' anime.

Funimation announced on the New York Anime Festival that they had acquired the anime series for Initial D. This would include the series Initial D - First stage, Ini...read more

Sep 26, 2009 2:21 AM by Zirgo | Discuss (48 comments)

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