Initial D Genre: Action Craeyst's Overall Score:  9.0

Reviewer: Craeyst Raygal
Type of Review: General

For many fans, a series needs to be extremely complex to the point of sheer inexplicablity (a la Evangelion) to be of worth to anyone.

For these people, I say keep walking, this isn't your series. However, for everyone else (namely near 47% of Japanese television at one point) Initial D is just right for viewing. Featuring the story of young tofu delivery boy turned expert street racer, Takumi Fujiwara, Initial D is a tale of growing up, making friends, falling in love, and finding your true self.

Through Shuichi Shigeno's unique approach to character design, each character has their own unique look and style which may be a turn off for some. But, if you don't like their looks, you'll like their stories, because each one of the street racers in this series is very true to life and easy to relate to. While this is all well and good, there is one other element to Initial D that makes it worthwhile; racing.

Using the drift techniques popularized by WRC rallying and Japanese Touge running, the CGI rendered race scenes are pulse pounding and vivid and will keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more. Plus, the soundtrack will absolutely thrill you as tons of actual Eurobeat artists contributed to the soundtrack, giving it a wild, techno sound that suits the racing perfectly. Even the J-rock group Move gets its dues as suppliers of the great openings and endings that give the series even more of a great intro. Initial D was picked up for U.S distribution this year and they are marketing it heavily for television, with some revision. Accept no Fast and Furious imitation, this is the real import racing series. Rage your dream!