Animation wise, as usual, is broken into two different parts; the driving, the non driving. I'll start with the driving as I believe this is the element that shines. Seemingly, with every season it gets better and better. It's now at a point where I'm not sure it can to be honest. Every race, with come thick and fast in this season, I'll touch on this later, is animated flawlessly. Sadly the investment and excitement for these races is lacking, again something I'll mention later. I cannot fault the animation on the driving at all however, which is not something I can say about the non driving animation.
I'm going to say it. It's poor. Really really poor. I'm watching this 20+ years after it was made so I don't know what happe ed studio wise, but it really is rubbish. From Stage 1 to 2 there was progress, progress I had to adjust too because I loved this animation in stage 1, but an adjustment that made me happy with the progress. Here in stage 3, you have to adjust quickly as otherwise, it will just be an annoyance throughout. Thank goodness for the driving quality. Without it, it would be very difficult to get through.
Another issue I had with this is the story. Stage 2 gets you really ready for this season for you to feel completely deflated by the end of Stage 3. It makes me think that Stage 3 is the real scene setter for the next (this what I thought stage 2 was to stage 3) Ultimately this season really under derlivers. It's rushed, poorly written and not a patch on 1 and 2. Races just happen, with no build up, the building up that allows you to get excited, that puts you on the edge of your seat before the racers are at the start line. They happen, then they're are done and that's it.
Maybe this season is about Takumi
'finding himself' or 'forgiving' so that he can truly move on. Sadly, I don't care. I just want to start Stage 4 knowing it doesn't get worse than this....I hope.
