Initial D Images

Initial D is a manga created by Shuichi Shigeno and was published in Young Magazine by Kodansha starting 1995 and ended in 2013. The anime adaptation’s first season, “Initial D First Stage” was created by Studio Comet and Gallop, directed by Noboru Mitsusawa and aired in Fuji TV starting April 18, 1998 and ended December 5, 1998. The second season, “Initial D Second Stage”, was directed by Shin-ichi Masaki under Studio Pastel and aired in Fuji TV starting October 14, 1999 and ended January 6, 2000. An anime film, Initial D Third Stage, featured the return of director Noboru Mitsusawa under Studio Deen and was released on January 13, 2001. Initial D Fourth Sage was directed by Tsuneo Tominaga under studio A.C.G.T and ran starting April 17, 2004 and ended February 18, 2006. The fifth installment, Initial D Fifth Stage, was directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto under Studio SynergySP and aired in Animax PPV starting November 9, 2012 and ended May 10, 2013. Initial D Final Stage called for the second comeback for director Mitsuo Hashimoto under SynergySP and was released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Initial D Plot

Initla D revolves are Fujiwara Takumi, works as an attendant at a gas station along with his friend, Itsuki. They plan to save enough for a car which they can drift on the winding roads of Mount Akina. His co-workers are unaware that Takumi’s father hired Takumi to work as a part time tofu delivery driver slowly honing his skills with a rundown Toyota Sprinter Trueno.

When the story starts, an amateur racing team from the Akagi Prefecture, RedSuns, challenge the Speedstars to a race in Mount Akina. After the RedSuns demonstrate their superior driving skills, the Speedstars are disheartened. One member of the Speestars was going home after a late practice run when he was beaten by a mysterious, rundown Sprinter Trueno, despite having a more powerful car. The Speedstars investigate who might be the owner of the car to find Takumi’s father, Bunta. They asked Bunta to help them beat the RedSuns but he refuses saying he might show up during the race. On the same day, Takumi asks if he can take a girl out using the car when Bunta says that he can lend him the car and a full tank of gas if Takumi beats the RedSuns.

During the race, the Toyota Trueno does not show and the Speedstars decide to enlist a substitute driver instead but just as the race is about to start, the Trueno shows up and the eager Takumi gets out to the surprise of the Speedstars. Takumi easily beats the RedSuns by making dangerous turns during hairpin corners.

The defeat of the RedSuns spreads like wildfire and other drivers try to beat Takumi and his team called the “Legendary Eight-Six of Akina” to prove themselves. Takumi eventually gets bored of driving through the same track and joins ex-RedSuns members to reach his goal of being the fastest driver.

Initial D Characters

Fujiwara Takumi – Takumi wants to develop his racing abilities to become the faster driver in Kanto but is stuck driving an aged Toyota Sprinter Trueno because he has been doing tofu delivery runs for his father for 5 years. He slowly became better at driving using the beat up car which was his father’s intent.

Fujiwara Bunta – Bunta is Takumi’s father and is the owner of the Toyota Sprinter Trueno and a tofu shop. He used to be the best downhill racer in Mt. Akina several years ago but now mentors Takumi in driving.

Takahashi Ryosuke – Ryosuke is one of the RedSuns’ best drivers and its leader and is the older brother of Takahashi Keisuke. He’s a very intelligent driver spewing technical jargon and has the ability to know what modifications a car might need just from its sound and the capabilities of its driver.

Initial D Similar Series
1. Wangan Midnight
2. Capeta
3. Future GPX Cyber Formula

source: Zerochan; written by Bootan