I just recently got into
Initial D, and oh boy, did it deliver!
Where should I start.
1. Story
We are somewhere in the 90s. The story introduces us to a local street racing team who specializes in drifting on the hairpins of the local mountain pass. They don't bet money, nor do they aspire for world fame; they just do it out of passion, for fun. Some night however, a rival team from a different region challenges them to a race they cannot win. If they lose, their pride as racers will be demolished. To avoid this, they need to find the mysterious drifter of Akina, who they only recently heard about.
Some of the races are so good, that they would even get in a Top 10 Anime Fights list.
2. Music
The music is the heart of the series. During the parts when there is relevant race going in, we hear tunes that the fans call "Eurobeat". The show uses fast-paced and upbeat soundstracks that fills you with adrenaline. It really goes well with the show, because it helps you to embrace the sense of speed that goes on during the races. The opening and ending songs were also catchy enough for me to listen to every time. Well, at least until they decided to change the outro song.
Here's a few of the most notable soundtracks:
If you can't stand Eurobeat though, this show is not for you. :/
3. Technical Background
A thing that blew a few real-life drivers away was the technical accuracy of it all. The creators of the story worked closely with real drivers to nail the technical details, and the result was something that felt very real. Sure, Initial D is not afraid of going into fiction, but here was a story where characters talked about oversteer, understeer, late braking and the differences between natural and turbocharged engines.
3. Visuals
Initial D is a not a new anime, so the graphics used for most parts are outdated. The cars, however, are so well-made, that sometimes they are easily mistaken with real cars. Look at this image for example:
And even though the graphics are outdated for everything else, it doesn't make it any worse than the rest. It holds up very well, and sometimes it gives a nice retro feeling to the show.
5. Characters
The characters (and even the stories) of Initial D are also more grounded in reality than in other racing shows. The characters are regular young people who love cars and racing while also dealing with jobs, relationships and other stuff that real people face. They blend humor with realism and great storytelling. Most of them go through crucial character development too.
On the downside though, there is one character who was designed to be cringy, so don't mind him. The girls also tend to be very unrealistic sometimes, but they are still closer to reality than those in the Fast and Furious or Transformers movies.
6. Memes
Initial D has them. If it can drift or race, it's worthy of having a cover song from the show:
I might have missed a few points. But there's only thing I can say:
"Don't miss it!"
