Initial D Second Stage Review: The appeal and evolution of the second stage

"Initial D Second Stage" - The ultimate car action that spins the legend of the mountain pass

■Overview of the work

"Initial D Second Stage" is a TV anime series that aired on Fuji TV every Thursday from October 28, 1999 to February 3, 2000. It consists of 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long. The series is based on the manga of the same name, "Initial D" by Shigeno Shuichi, and is directed by Masaki Shinichi, produced by Pastel, and produced by Prime Direction OB Planning.

■ Story

Takumi Fujiwara is a genius driver who has reached the top of Mount Akina. However, he is troubled by his lack of knowledge about mechanics. Takumi is aware that his beloved Hachiroku has reached its performance limit, but does not know how to deal with it. Meanwhile, the Lancer Evolution group "Emperor", based in Irohazaka, Gunma, has heard rumors about Takumi and challenges him to a race. Takumi will deepen his driving technique and knowledge of mechanics as he faces off against the new challengers.

■Explanation

"Initial D Second Stage" is the sequel to "Initial D" which was broadcast in April 1998. It depicts the coming-of-age story of Takumi Fujiwara, a genius racer who attacks mountain passes in his Trueno AE86, commonly known as "Hachiroku". The appeal is in the car action which pursues realism, with all the cars being created with CG and the action itself being supervised by the driver Keiichi Tsuchiya. In terms of music, it is also notable for the use of Eurobeat in various parts, including the opening theme. The ending theme is not animated, but is made using footage of actual artists.

■Cast

• Takumi Fujiwara - Shinichiro Miki
• Bunta Fujiwara - Unsho Ishizuka
• Kyoichi Sudo - Masahiko Tanaka
• Seiji Iwaki - Kazuhisa Kawahara
• Wataru Akiyama - Yasunori Matsumoto
• Kazumi Akiyama - Ryoko Yuzuki

■ Main staff

• Planning - Ryuzo Shoji
• Executive Producer - Ren Usami
• Production - Pastel
• Director: Shinichi Masaki
• Producer - Yoshiyo Fukuda
• Assistant producers: Kuniyasu Ichikawa, Kazuhiko Inodono
• Production Producer - Toshiaki Horie
• Screenplay - Hiroshi Toda
• Character design - Masaki Sato
• Mechanic design - Shohei Obara
• CG Director: Akihiro Nagao
• Synthesis Technology - Kazuaki Kishimura
• CG - Nest, A-CAT
• Chief animation director: Masaki Sato
• Art director: Maeda Minoru
• Background - Studio Tulip
• Music - Ryuichi Katsumata
• Sound Director - Masafumi Mima
• Sound Design - Techno Sound
• Music cooperation: Avex Trax
• Recording assistant - Yuji Tagami
• Supervised by Keiichi Tsuchiya and Hot Version Editorial Department
• Orchestration - Daisuke Kawakami
• Color design - Kenji Shimanuki
• Color specification, inspection - Yukiko Arioka
• Editor-in-chief: Sadanori Kaneda
• Edited by Hideto Ota
• Video editing - Tokyo Development Laboratory
• Recording Studio - Aoi Studio
• Public Relations - Sachio Tamenaga
• Produced by Prime Direction OB Planning

■ Main Characters

• Takumi Fujiwara - Son of the Fujiwara Tofu Shop run by his father, Bunta. He has been winning against many strong opponents with his drifting techniques and his beloved Hachiroku since he was a child. He is nicknamed "Akina's Hachiroku."
• Bunta Fujiwara - Takumi's father. He was once known as the "legendary racer". He has a free-spirited personality, such as letting his 13-year-old son drive a car even though he doesn't have a license.
• Kyoichi Sudo - Leader of the Lancer Evolution group "Emperor". He is called "Iron Man" because he is unfazed by anything and sticks to the basics when it comes to steering.
• Wataru Akiyama - A street racer who came to Gunma from his hometown of Saitama in search of stronger opponents. He has a temper that easily gets the better of him when it comes to cars, and one of Takumi's words makes him openly hostile.

■ Main robot items

Shohei Obara is in charge of the mechanical design. In "Initial D Second Stage", the realistic depiction of the cars is an important element, and CG technology is used to bring out their appeal to the fullest.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1 - The Rule-Breaking Super Weapon! (1999/10/28)
• Episode 2 - The Lancer Evolution Corps head into Akina!
• Episode 3 - Premonition of Defeat
• Episode 4 - Unburned Victory
• Episode 5 - Countdown to Doom
• Episode 6 - Goodbye Hachiroku
• Episode 7 - Akagi Battle: A flash of black and white!
• Episode 8 - That Car is Violent
• Episode 9 - The Birth of the New Hachiroku
• Episode 10 - Hachiroku Turbo declares war!
• Episode 11 - The Seal is Released
• Episode 12 - Hachiroku VS Hachiroku: Battle of the Souls
• Episode 13 - In the Changing Seasons (2000/2/3)

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1 - Blazin' Beat
  • Lyricist: motsu
  • Composer: t-kimura
  • Arrangement - t-kimura
  • Song - move
• ED1 - You're Here
  • Lyricist: Kyoya Asada
  • Composer - Yuji Tanaka, Kyoya Asada
  • Arrangement - Galla, Hiroshi Nakayama
  • Song - Galla

■Detailed review

"Initial D Second Stage" is a car action anime that depicts the battles of street racers on mountain passes, and has been loved by many fans. In particular, Second Stage depicts the growth of the main character, Takumi Fujiwara, and his confrontation with new rivals that surround him. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of the work.

Realistic car action

The biggest appeal of "Initial D Second Stage" is its realistic car action. The depiction of car movement and drifting is reproduced extremely realistically using CG technology. This was made possible thanks to the supervision of driver Keiichi Tsuchiya. Keiichi Tsuchiya is a professional driver who actually drives on mountain passes, and his experience and knowledge are reflected in the anime. As a result, the car behavior and drifting techniques are extremely realistic, and have the power to draw the viewer in.

Character Development

Another point not to be missed is the growth of the main character, Takumi Fujiwara. In the First Stage, he is depicted as a boy who drives through mountain passes to help his father deliver tofu, but in the Second Stage, he faces a new challenge: a lack of mechanical knowledge. To overcome this challenge, Takumi deepens his driving technique and mechanical knowledge while battling new rivals. This story of growth not only moves the viewer, but also evokes empathy as viewers can relate to his own growth.

Eurobeat Music

Music is also an important element of Initial D Second Stage. In particular, the opening theme "Blazin' Beat" and the ending theme "Kimi ga Iru" use the Eurobeat genre, which really livens up the atmosphere of the work. Eurobeat is a music style that was popular from the 1980s to the 1990s, and is characterized by a fast tempo and energetic melody. This music conveys to the viewer the sense of speed and tension of driving through the mountain passes. Additionally, the ending theme "Kimi ga Iru" uses footage of the actual artist instead of animation, which gives it a visually fresh impression.

New Rivals

In the Second Stage, new rivals appear. In particular, Sudo Kyoichi, the leader of the Lancer Evolution group "Emperor," is portrayed as a strong rival for Takumi. Sudo is a skilled driver known as the "Iron Man," and is known for his calmness in any situation and his faithful steering. His battles with him are an important factor in encouraging Takumi's growth. Wataru Akiyama also appears as a new rival, and his own growth is depicted through his battles with Takumi. The battles with these new rivals add to the tension and excitement of the work.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Initial D Second Stage" is highly acclaimed as a car action anime and is loved by many fans. It is a fascinating work that draws viewers in with a combination of various elements such as realistic car action, character growth, Eurobeat music, and confrontations with new rivals. It is a must-see work, especially for those who are interested in cars and drifting. It is also an excellent coming-of-age story, and you can empathize with it by overlapping your own growth with the characters. Please give it a watch.

Related information

"Initial D Second Stage" is an anime adaptation of some episodes from the original manga "Initial D." The original manga was drawn by Shuichi Shigeno and was serialized from 1995 to 2013. In addition to Second Stage, other anime series have been produced, including First Stage, Third Stage, Fourth Stage, and Final Stage. By watching these series as well, you can enjoy the world of "Initial D" even more deeply.

■ Summary

"Initial D Second Stage" is an attractive work that depicts realistic car action and character growth. The Eurobeat music and the showdown with new rivals are also points not to be missed. This work is highly recommended for those who are interested in cars and drifting, and those who want to enjoy a story of growth. You can enjoy the world of "Initial D" even more deeply by watching the related series.