EVERY CAR FROM INITIAL D DRIVEN IN REAL LIFE - TAKUMI WOULD BE IMPRESSED.
This is some pretty cool content from the Donut Media chaps. They’ve pulled off what more than a few people I know would love to do. They rounded up a bunch of the star cars from the iconic Japanese anime series Initial D. The series is set in Japan and features some cool JDM cars, but it appeals to most car fanatics thanks to, well, everything. We mentioned Initial D to someone at a recent event and they hadn’t heard of it. After composing myself, I lined up a bunch of Google search results to help explain things. I figured that there are probably quite a few people out there who don’t know what Initial D is, and a bunch may have heard the name but nothing more. So before you click through to the vid, here’s a full synopsis of the popular show. Initial D in anime form was on the air for ages, from 1998 to 2014 and it was set in Japan's Gunma Prefecture. The story revolves around an introverted high school kid, Takumi Fujiwara, who works at the family tofu shop. Without realising it, his late-night tofu delivery runs honed his driving skills, especially downhill drifting on Mount Akina. His father, Bunta Fujiwara, is a former street racer who has been subtly training him by letting him drive the family’s Toyota AE86 Trueno. If you ever wondered why the AE86 is so collectable, it’s Initial D’s fault. Takumi gets pulled into the underground world of street racing, where he gradually gains recognition as a drifting prodigy, facing off against various racing teams and opponents throughout the show. A big reason for the show’s success is its accurate representation of car tuning, drifting techniques, and the underground racing scene in Japan during the 1990s and early 2000s. The creators were careful to get the technical details right, and this resonated with both car enthusiasts and general viewers alike. The show even helped to popularise drifting culture worldwide.
Characters & Cars
Takumi Fujiwara - Toyota AE86 Trueno: The protagonist, quiet and unassuming, becomes a street racing legend behind the wheel of his father’s Toyota AE86. A lightweight, rear-wheel-drive car known for its agility, making it perfect for drifting on mountain roads.
Bunta Fujiwara - Subaru Impreza WRX STI: Takumi’s father and mentor, a former street racer. He teaches Takumi through indirect methods. In later seasons, he drives a Subaru Impreza WRX STI..
Keisuke Takahashi - Mazda RX-7 FC3S: Keisuke is a member of the Akina Speed Stars and later becomes part of the RedSuns Racing Team. His rivalry with Takumi pushes him to improve as a driver.
Ryosuke Takahashi - Mazda RX-7 FD3S: Ryosuke, Keisuke's older brother, is a strategist and an expert driver. His RX-7 FD3S is a faster, more modern version of Keisuke’s car, and he becomes a mentor figure to Takumi as the series progresses.
Nakazato Takeshi - Nissan Skyline GT-R R32: An aggressive driver who specializes in grip racing in his R32 representing a different style of driving compared to Takumi’s drifting.
Shingo Shoji - Honda Civic EG6: A rival driver from the NightKids Team, known for using underhanded tactics. His front-wheel-drive Civic EG6 is a noticeable contrast to the rear-wheel-drive cars that dominate the series.
Kenta Nakamura - Nissan 180SX: A member of the RedSuns, Kenta is a skilled wet-weather driver. His car, the Nissan 180SX, which as you should know is popular among drift enthusiasts for both its balance and tunability.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the crew that's still left at Donut Media as they take us on a fantasy literal drive in all the star cars that feature in motoring's most well-known and iconic anime series - Initial D: We Drove Every Car from Initial D | Donut
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