Initial D - My Two Cents
As someone who doesn't have much knowledge about cars, I was a bit hesitant about starting this anime, wondering whether it would be something worth watching. I was not sure how technical this anime would get and whether everything would go over my head.
However, after watching the first season, I would recommend this anime to anyone who just wants to have a good time and might I add this anime goes beyond racing. Initial D has got rivalries, a generic (imo) protagonist, and a banger of a soundtrack which made this anime quite a fun watch for me.
Right off the bat, the first thing that hit me was the soundtrack. Both the opening and the ending are great. My introduction the band m.o.v.e was a great one.
Now about the protagonist, Takumi, i kinda liked his character arc. Despite starting off as someone who does not care about racing, his natural talent and his years of being a delivery boy driving in the Akina pass slowly draws him towards street racing.
Now from a driving perspective, I don't know much about cars to speak about the authenticity of the races and the and the techniques shown in the anime, but boy do the races feel great to watch. The way everything is shown makes it very engaging. The tight mountain passes, the dramatic drifts and the overtakes makes it feel like some strategy board game is being played at high speed.
Overall, Initial D is a great anime that creates a perfect balance between intense races and rivalries in a way that kept me hooked. While I really enjoyed season 1, I think it will be a while before I start season 2, mostly because I think I will get hooked again - which is not a bad thing but maybe some other time.