Initial D (Anime)

Initial D (頭文字D, Inisharu Dī) is an anime adaptation of the manga of the same name by Shuichi Shigeno. The anime is comprised of 11 "stages" (6 main stages, 2 extra stages, and 3 battle stages), which were released between 1998 and 2021. The series has two English dubs, a dub of the First and Second Stages (including Extra Stage) that were released from 2002 to 2009 by Tokyopop, and a dub by Funimation of First through to Fourth Stage released in 2010-11.

The series was followed with the New Initial D the Movie trilogy: Awakening, Racer and Dream. The films are a retelling of the early stages, though they are somewhat different from the original anime since it's based more on the manga version.

Initial D (1998)
Initial D (retroactively known as Initial D: First Stage) was released from the 18th of April 1998 to the 5th of December 1998 and had 26 episodes.

Synopsis
Takumi Fujiwara is an 18-year old high school student uninterested in most things while delivering tofu every day to a hotel in Akina. Along with his best friend Itsuki Takeuchi, they both work part-time at a gas station. One day, while delivering tofu, he begins to become a racer himself just as he passes Keisuke Takahashi and his Mazda RX-7 in an impromptu race. This attracts the attention of the Akagi RedSuns, who seek to defeat the "ghost of Akina". Takumi's victory against Keisuke Takahashi in a rematch attracts other teams who seek to challenge him, including the Myogi NightKids.

Second Stage (1999-2000)
Second Stage was released from the 14th of October 1999 to the 6th of January 2000 and had 13 episodes.

Synopsis
A new team called Emperor has come to Gunma, defeating street racers on its path until Takumi Fujiwara defeats Seiji Iwaki, breaking their winning streak. In response to this, Kyoichi Sudo decides to challenge Takumi to a race in order to teach him a lesson, resulting in Takumi's Eight-Six blowing its engine. While Takumi tries to have a new engine for his car, Ryosuke Takahashi comes out of retirement to challenge Kyoichi on Akagi. Meanwhile, a fellow driver with another AE86 comes to challenge Takumi to a race!

Extra Stage (2000)
Extra Stage was a 2 part OVA released on the 22nd and 29th of February 2000.

Synopsis
With the threat of the Emperor team's rise on their Gunma sweep, Mako Sato and Sayuki prepares to face the possible threat of a a dangerous battle while Takeshi Nakazato and Shingo Shoji meets up with Impact Blue to warn them about the impending battle. Later on Impact Blue and the NightKids go on a winter vacation while Miyahara confesses his feelings to Mako.

Third Stage (2001)
Third Stage was a 105 minute (1 hour and 45 minutes) anime film released on the 13th of January 2001.

Synopsis
About to graduate from high school, Takumi has been given the offer by Ryosuke Takahashi to join his new team, Project D. Deciding whether or not to join him, he first settles the score with Kyoichi Sudo on Irohazaka, resulting in Takumi winning. However, he feels like the victory was a tie than an actual win. Later, the son of an old rival challenges Takumi to a race on the same home course after witnessing him defeat Kyoichi Sudo. The movie also shows the appearance of Miki, a former student at the same high school Takumi attended who was once punched by him for bragging about his sexual exploits with Natsuki. As time goes by, Takumi challenges Ryosuke to another race and parts ways with Natsuki after graduating high school, just as he joins the new team.

Battle Stage (2002)
Battle Stage was a compilation of every race from the first three stages. It featured brand new animation and a new soundtrack, along with guest commentary by Keiichi Tsuchiya. It was released on the 15th of May 2002. It also features an exclusive battle that was mentioned in the manga.

Fourth Stage (2004-2006)
Fourth Stage was released from the 17th of April 2004 to the 18th of February 2006 on Animax and had 24 episodes.

Synopsis
The series follows the exploits of the new team founded by Ryosuke, Project D, which is compromised by Ryosuke himself as the team's coach, downhill specialist Takumi, and uphill specialist Keisuke, and a staff compromised of former Akagi RedSuns members. The team travels region by region, challenging other local teams and posting the results of the battles on their website. As Takumi begins to mature, he even begins to develop special techniques such as the Blind Attack and using weight shifting to execute maneuvers similar to the Gutter Run. However, he must also contend with the "Four Wheel Drive Complex" after being overtaken by a Subaru Impreza. But when he finds out that the mysterious driver was his father, he also must learn a lesson in the new car to improve his skills as a driver and to get a feel of the characteristics of modern cars.

Battle Stage 2 (2007)
Battle Stage 2 was a compilation of every race from Fourth Stage. It was released on the 30th of May 2007. It also features battles that didnt appear in Fourth Stage, specifically Keisuke's race against Atsuro and his race against Smiley Sakai.

Extra Stage 2 (2008)
Extra Stage 2 was an OVA released on the 3rd of October 2008. This marks the 10 year anniversary of the Initial D anime.

Synopsis
Impact Blue decides to hone their skills in the hill pass of Usui before Mako decides to retire from street racing into a pro, as they are confronted by two men in an Altezza who battles with them after the latter mocks the former. Later on it is seen that after Koichiro Iketani messes up his chance to meet up with Mako earlier, he finally gets a chance to meet her again. But this time, he lands in more trouble as he has to help an old man get to his destination, while Mako patiently waits up for him. Will he able to meet up with her just in time and tell her about his true feelings to her?

Fifth Stage (2012-2013)
Fifth Stage was released from the 9th of November 2012 to the 10th of May 2013 on Animax PPV and had 14 episodes.

Synopsis
Still working as part of the Project D driving team, Takumi and Keisuke continue to challenge courses and teams in the Kanagawa Prefecture. He later attracts the attention of a young golf phenom after having an encounter with imposters, while Ryosuke settles a score from the past, revealing their backstory. Meanwhile, a young silent spectator in a similar AE86 watches Takumi's races.

Final Stage (2014)
Final Stage was released from the 16th of May 2014 to the 22nd of June 2014 and had 4 episodes.

Synopsis
With every team defeated by Project D, it comes down to one final race. Takumi has never lost a race before, but when his new opponent is using an AE86 just like him, it turns out to be one final battle of the AE86. Will Project D succeed in the final and most difficult race? With characters going to different paths, Takumi's dream of being the "fastest one out there" will never end.

Battle Stage 3 (2021)
Battle Stage 3 was a compilation of every race from Fifth Stage and Final Stage. Unlike the previous battle stages, this battle stage doesn't feature any new content (except for its soundtrack) and doesn't feature any character dialogue. It was released on the 5th of March 2021.

Main Cast
Takumi Fujiwara - Voiced by Shin-ichiro Miki. He is voiced by Dave Wittenberg in the Tokyopop dub and Joel McDonald in the Funimation dub.

Itsuki Takeuchi - Voiced by Mitsuo Iwata. He is voiced by Robbie Rist in the Tokyopop dub and Josh Grelle in the Funimation dub.

Koichiro Iketani - Voiced by Kazuki Yao. He is voiced by Crispin Freeman in the Tokyopop dub and Eric Vale in the Funimation dub.

Kenji - Voiced by Wataru Takagii. He is voiced by Jason Spisak in the Tokyopop dub and Christopher Bevins in the Funimation dub.

Recurring Cast
Bunta Fujiwara - Voiced by Unshō Ishizuka. He is voiced by Kerrigan Mahan in the Tokyopop dub and Kent Williams in the Funimation dub.

Yuichi Tachibana - Voiced by Tomomichi Nishimura. He is voiced by Michael McConnohie in the Tokyopop dub and Chuck Huber in the Funimation dub.

Keisuke Takahashi - Voiced by Tomukazi Seki. He is voiced by Steven Jay Blum in the Tokyopop dub and Todd Haberkorn in the Funimation dub.

Ryosuke Takahashi - Voiced by Takehito Koyasu. He is voiced by Lex Lang in the Tokyopop dub and J. Michael Tatum in the Funimation dub.