Initial D is an anime with intense driving action, over the top girl drama, absolutely wild antagonists, educational explanations of car mechanism, and car waifus.
The show is one of the best street racing anime out there, exploring the lesser-known sub-culture of Japanese gangs.
Initial D anime has six parts in the form of five TV series anime and one movie. There are three OVAs and one special that are side stories to the main plot.
Three New Initial D movies were also released that are summary to the first TV installment.
The anime showcases a bunch of young adults taking part in various street races across Japan, where the only stake is their pride and ego.
There’s quite a bit of dramatic romance where the races always fail in the love department.
However, this drama complements the racing’s fast and furious nature, giving the show an extra edge over most sports’ anime.
If you’re bored with the new seasonal anime, take a step back and enjoy this classic with a rouge plot!
1. Release Order
I. TV Series
- Initial D First Stage (1988)
- Initial D Second Stage (2000)
- Initial D Fourth Stage (2004)
- Initial D Fifth Stage (2013)
- Initial D Final Stage (2014)
II. Movies
- Initial D Third Stage (2001)
- New Initial D Movie: Legend 1 – Kakusei (2014)
- New Initial D Movie: Legend 2 – Tousou (2015)
- New Initial D Movie: Legend 3 – Mugen (2016)
III. OVAs
- Initial D Extra Stage (2001)
- Initial D Battle Stage (2002)
- Initial D Extra Stage 2 (2008)
IV. Specials
- Initial D: Project D to the Next Stage – Project D e Mukete (2003)
2. Chronological Order
- Initial D First Stage (1988)
- Initial D Second Stage (2000)
- Initial D Third Stage
- Initial D Fourth Stage (2004)
- Initial D Fifth Stage (2013)
- Initial D Final Stage
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3. Conclusion
The recommended order to watch Initial D is its chronological order.
The OVAs and the special are side stories about certain characters of the show and do no fit in with the main plot, so you can skip them.
The new Initial D movies are essentially a remake of the series and can be skipped as well. However, they have amazing animation, so you should check them out after completing the entire series.
4. Quick Review
I. Story
Initial D has a simple yet powerful storyline. Takumi’s journey to becoming one of the greatest racers in Japan is not an easy one.
Despite his genius, he faces many hurdles that he overcomes with the help of his friends. The racing is an integral part if the show, and the racing battles are serious, with each competitor stronger than the last one.
The story is engaging and intense, with each episode full of adrenalin-inducing races.
II. Characters
From the nonchalant protagonist to his best friend who enthusiastically supports him, Initial D has all sorts of characters.
The rivals are pro racers with wild personalities and abundant knowledge about the technicalities of cars and racing.
Their petty criminal nature, high egos, and dramatic shenanigans make the characters memorable and realistic.
III. Animation
The animation for Initial D is beyond its time. The races are phenomenal to look at, which increases the action of the show even more!
IV. Sound
The soundtrack is really awesome. With all its Eurobeat music gives an extra dimension to the series.
5. About Initial D
Initial D is a street racing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno. Initial D was adapted into anime in 1998. It was produced by OB Planning and Prime Direction.
The anime follows the story of Takumi Fujiwara, a teenage Tofu delivery boy by morning and a student working as a gas station attendant by night.
Itsuki, Takumi’s best friend, is a street racing enthusiast, hoping to join Akina Speedstars, the local street racing gang. Takumi, on the other hand, has no interest in racing despite being a secret racing genius.
Takumi descends into the word to street racing when he defeats the second-best racer so that he could borrow his father’s car for a date.
His father, Bunta Fujiwara, was a good street racer himself and, through the tofu deliveries, trained Takumi to become a great driver.
Takumi slowly starts enjoying the spot as he grows and defeats pros with cutting-edge advanced cars with his old Toyota.
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